BBC adaptations of four of Rosamond Lehmann’s best-known novels, plus short stories and a bonus documentary

Rosamond Lehmann’s first novel, Dusty Answer, was published in 1927 when she was just 26. It was a scandalous success, and was followed by six more acclaimed novels exploring human relationships and the emotional lives of girls and women. Four of the finest are dramatised here, alongside readings of two of her short stories and a fascinating profile of Lehmann herself.

Dusty Answer – Growing up, Judith Earle’s only friends are the Fyfe family cousins, who live next door. As Judith moves from childhood to adulthood, Charlie, Roddy, Julian and Martin drift in and out of her life, bringing with them romance, heartbreak and disillusionment. Starring Julia Hills, Rosina Carbone, Jack Farthing, Brodie Ross, Oliver Gomm and Tom Ferguson.

Invitation to the Waltz – Waking on her 17th birthday, Olivia senses her rite of passage has begun. Anticipating her very first dance, she is both anxious and excited – will it live up to her hopeful expectations? Mary Nighy stars in this adaptation of Lehmann’s 1932 classic.

The Weather in the Streets – Now living a bohemian life in London, Olivia embarks on a passionate affair with the handsome and unhappily married Rollo. Eve Best and Jonathan Firth star in this sequel to Invitation to the Waltz.

The Echoing Grove – After 15 years apart, two sisters meet to seek reconciliation. Between them lay various ghosts – not least that of Rickie, husband of Madeleine and lover of Dinah… Starring Janet Suzman, Susan Engel and Christopher Cazenove.

‘When the Waters Came’ – Ensconced in an English village during wartime, a mother and her two children experience a sudden sharp freeze and a violent, torrential thaw. Read by Lin Sagovsky.

‘A Dream of Winter’ – In the midst of a great frost, a woman in bed with flu is visited by the bee man, who has come to remove the swarm living in the walls of her country house. Read by Maureen O’Brien.

Kaleidoscope: An Inner Life – Presented by Richard Mayne, this absorbing profile from 1985 interviews with Rosamond Lehmann, in which she discusses her debut novel, the impact of World War Two on her work, the death of her beloved daughter and her subsequent spiritual visions. With contributions from Sybille Bedford, Anita Brookner, Valentine Cunningham, Marghanita Laski, John Lehmann and Gillian Tindall.

First published 1927 (Dusty Answer), 1932 (Invitation to the Waltz), 1936 (The Weather in the Streets), 1946 (‘When the Waters Came’, ‘A Dream of Winter’) 1953 (The Echoing Grove)

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