Episode 4

A brilliant exploration of the corrosive impact of tabloid journalism on one young woman. The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum is dissects the power of the press and it's impact on individual freedom. Told in the form of an unofficial report, this intelligent and pacy story from the 1970s tackles issues of press freedom, responsibility and police tactics.

It's based on a real incident in the author's own life, when he was publicly accused of being a terrorist sympathiser and hounded by the German press. The subtitle of the book is "how violence develops and where it can lead."

Recorded on location in Berlin, The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum also features a soundtrack of 1970s Krautrock from bands such as Can, Neu, La Dusseldorf and Ash Ra Tempel.

Heinrich Boll is a Nobel Prize winning writer, a giant of German 20th century literature.
Episode 4:
The Blornas discover their high ranking politician friend Alois Straubleder is in love with their housekeeper Katharina, even though she has refused his advances. He is terrified as he has given Katharina a key for his country home, where he suspects the fugitive Ludwig is hiding. Meanwhile, tabloid journalist Totges sneaks into the hospital to interview Katharina's dying mother.

Sound design: Eloise Whitmore
Broadcast assistant: Kath Willgress
Executive producer: Joby Waldman

Abridged by Helen Meller
Produced and directed by Polly Thomas
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.