4. Frederica

Expires on Sunday 3:45am

Frederica causes a stir when she quits school and moves in with her mother, Lady Susan. Lady Susan's 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.