I need very little excuse to blather on about Frances Hodgson Burnett and, in particular, The Making of a Marchioness and now, to my utter delight, I noticed that it is being broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Charles Dance is Walderhurst, perfect casting with that superb voice of his, and the first episode is on the Sunday before Easter (April 1st) and then on Easter Sunday itself (April 8th) from 3-4 pm.
I have Deluzy to thank for sending me the link so that anyone outside the UK who wishes to listen via the internet can do so. I was about to emabark on the tortuous process of tracking it down which would, no doubt, have taken me hours and lo and behold, she sent it to me. THANK YOU. And here it is:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/openbook/openbook_20070325.shtml
The Marchioness was originally published in two volumes and here is volume one pictured on the left. I think this is a simply gorgeous cover. My old copy of The Shuttle (now sitting next to my lovely new Persephone copy) is in the same style as this one with a very well preserved picture in the middle. This is not painted on the book jacket, it is actually an old style sticker so it is amazing that mine is in such good condition.
(I have just pulled down my copy of The Shuttle to double check the cover and do you know, the publishers have used exactly the same picture of the same lady in the same large picture hat for that that one as well as this!)
Happy listening and then of course, if you do not already have a copy of this wonderful book, then it will not take you five minutes to log onto Persephone and order one. This is a truly lovely book and though, on the surface it is a Cinderella type story and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, Frances Hodgson Burnett was making it quite clear to the reader that women were on the marriage market and if they did not get a husband, they were failures and doomed to a poverty stricken and miserable old age. Because Emily Fox-Seton is so nice, we are delighted she has a happy ending but for many others this did not happen.
