3. The Runaway

Lady Susan’s sister-in-law is wary of the widow’s intentions towards her gullible younger brother.

Her key aims in life are to find a suitably wealthy husband for her teenage daughter, Frederica, and also one for herself…

Lady Susan’s dear friend, Alicia, narrates her story.

Written in 1794 in the form of a series of letters, Jane Austen's magnificent first novella is as subversive as it is charming.

It was published in 1871, 44 years after the author’s death.

Dramatised by Lavinia Murray.

Lady Susan …. Harriet Walter
Mrs Alicia Johnson …. Maggie Steed
Mrs Catherine Vernon …. Imelda Staunton
Lady de Courcy …. Jill Balcon
Reginald de Courcy .... Robert Hands
Sir Reginald de Courcy .... Geoffrey Whitehead
Frederica Vernon …. Michelle Wesson

Piano music composed and played by Julie Cooper.

Director: Jocelyn Boxall

Producer: Jeremy Mortimer

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1999.