麻豆社

Willa Cather鈥檚 beloved novel about an emblematic East European settler on the unspoiled plains of Nebraska in the 1880s, who, against terrible odds, reinvents the American Dream.

Dramatised by Kate Clanchy.

Starring Danny Mahoney, Lorelei King and Vera Graziadei.

My 脕ntonia became an instant classic when it was first published in 1918. It inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald and is now regarded as a cornerstone of the American novel, an exquisitely written, feminist Little House on the Prairie for adults.

This adaptation 鈥� the first for the 麻豆社 鈥� is a soulful, affirming drama about the resilience of the human spirit, young love that lasts forever, and our connection to the land.

It continues the Story of America collection of dramatisations of milestone American titles marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence and the foundation of the United States.

鈥楢s I went back alone over that familiar road, I could almost believe that a boy and girl ran along beside me, as our shadows used to do, laughing and whispering to each other in the grass.鈥�

As children, Jim, an orphan from Virginia, and 脕ntonia, a Bohemian immigrant, are among the first pioneer settlers when they arrive in the Midwest 鈥� a world with 鈥榥o fences. Only the ground and sun and sky were left鈥�. (Willa Cather was also a child when her family arrived as settlers in Nebraska from Virginia.) The children play rapturously but, as they grow up, and the pristine prairie goes rapidly under the plough, their paths diverge. 脕ntonia鈥檚 family, ill-equipped to farm, stumbles towards tragedy. Jim excels at school while 脕ntonia loses her chance of education. But love endures, as does the hope of the American Dream. Jim returns from his life in New York to search for 脕ntonia and ask if there can be more than the 鈥榩recious, incommunicable past鈥� between them.

Jim 鈥�.. Danny Mahoney
Emmaline 鈥�.. Lorelei King
脕ntonia 鈥�.. Vera Graziadei
Ambrosch 鈥�.. Greg Kolpakchi
Child 脕ntonia 鈥�.. Emily Costtrici
Child Jim 鈥�.. Max Lester

With specially composed music by Katharine Seaton, performed by Yeva Volkava (violin) and Katharine Seaton (piano).

Production Co-ordinator: Sarah Tombling
Sound Designer: David Thomas

Director / Producer: Amber Barnfather

A Flare Path production for 麻豆社 Radio 4

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