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4. Frederica

Episode 4 of 10

Frederica, Lady Susan’s teenage daughter, causes a stir when she quits school and moves in with her. Stars Harriet Walter.

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 Âé¶¹Éç Radio 4 in January 1999.

5 days left to listen

15 minutes

Last on

Fri 12 Dec 2025 03:30

Broadcasts

  • Thu 11 Dec 2025 08:30
  • Thu 11 Dec 2025 13:30
  • Thu 11 Dec 2025 19:30
  • Fri 12 Dec 2025 03:30