Â鶹Éç

1944: In the fictional south London borough of Bexford, a German rocket explodes, destroying an entire store and part of the high street. Among the dead are Valerie, Jo, Vern, Alec and Ben - four year-olds who were accompanying their mothers to Woolworths.

‘Their part in time is done’ but what of their possible futures? In ‘some other version of the reel of time’ their might-be and could-be lives are played out across the next 65 years.

It's 1979. Ben is 39 years-old and,having been taken off medication and thrust back into the workplace, he is struggling to keep going in a world of internalised, brutally cruel voices. Working as a bus conductor offers the relief and distraction of keeping busy.

Francis Spufford’s first novel, Golden Hill, won the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, and the Desmond Elliott Prize. His second novel takes its title from the Book of Common Prayer - Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.

Written by Francis Spufford
Read by Jamie Parker
Abridged by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed
Produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for Â鶹Éç Radio 4