BBC Thursday – 6th of April

Have you missed BBC radio? Have you discovered any good dramas while I was gone?

I haven’t done much listening during that time so I might’ve missed a few things, but there are always new stories waiting :).

1. Journey to the Centre of the Earth Jules Verne’s novel adapted by Moya O’Shea

Renowned professor, Otto Lidenbrock, discovers a mysterious, runic cryptogram in a rare manuscript he has bought. It is his nephew, Axel, who accidentally cracks the message which is by a sixteenth century alchemist who claims to have found a pathway to the centre of the earth! “Descend, bold traveller into the crater of the Jokul of Snæfell, which the shadow of Scartaris touches before the kalends of July and you will attain the centre of the earth.”

BBC Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Goodreads | Day left: 18 | Duration: 2 x 60 min 

Let’s start today’s  stories with a classic adventure. One of the fantastic voyages Verne created. You have to admit he had quite an imagination, I might not appreciate his writing style completely, but I do love the stories.

2. King Solomon’s Mines by Rider Haggard

Hunter Allan Quatermain is asked by Sir Henry Curtis to join in the search for his brother George, who disappeared a year ago on a quest to find the legendary diamond mines of King Solomon, in an uncharted part of Africa.

BBC Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Goodreads | Days left: 26 | Duration: 2 x 60 min

And another interesting adventure that I simply couldn’t skip, especially since I’ve watched the movie during the weekend (it was the 2004th version, so not the best one, but… ah well). Anyway, this is the opening adventure to Allan Quartermain stories, which are also not easy reads, like most books from this period, but they are fascinating.

3. Shane by Jack Shaefer

A mysterious horseman, all dressed in black and wearing a six shooter, rides into an isolated valley in Wyoming. Call me Shane, he says. He’s a skilled gunslinger, and soon finds himself drawn into a conflict between homesteaders Marian and Joe Starrett and ruthless cattle baron Fletcher, who wants to force the Starretts off the land. Marian is caught between the strong, dependable husband whom she loves, and the lean, handsome stranger whom she needs if she’s to save her family.

BBC Link | Days left: 26 | Duration: 60 min

And finally, a story based on the book I have read and loved. One of the very few westerns I have on my shelves – short, mysterious and curious. I have a feeling the adaptation isn’t as good, especially after reading the last sentence of the description – it makes me think they’ve created a romance out of it. This book is not a romance. And the movie also wasn’t very good :P. But still, worth a try if you never read it and I think you should give it a go (the book that is).

Happy listening!