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In 1974, Gerty Freely writes a memoir for her daughter, looking back to 1914 Russia, war and revolution. Read by Barbara Flynn.

Early in 1914, 22 year-old Gerty Freely travels to Russia to work as a governess, little-knowing the huge upheavals in the world and in her own life that lie ahead.

In London, 1974, 82 year-old Gerty embarks on a memoir for her daughter Sophy, looking back at that extraordinary time of war, revolution and civil war.

Most of her memories are centred on a young inventor, Nikita Slavkin, who mysteriously disappeared in 1919 and was subsequently celebrated in Soviet culture as The Vanishing Futurist.

“No word has been heard from him since… Yet the idea persists that one day he will reappear.”

Omnibus of the first five of ten episodes written by Charlotte Hobson.

Read by Barbara Flynn.

Abridged and produced by Jeremy Osborne

A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2020.

1 hour, 10 minutes

Last on

Mon 23 Jun 202502:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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Episode 2

See all episodes from The Vanishing Futurist by Charlotte Hobson (Omnibus)

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 Jun 202507:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 22 Jun 202512:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 22 Jun 202518:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 23 Jun 202502:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra