Sunday 5 October 2008

Last night I dreamed...



I was asked to write a short story last year, for Radio 4, about Daphne du Maurier -- it was first broadcast in May 2007, to coincide with the centenary of her birth, and was repeated again earlier this evening. Here's the link, if you'd like to listen to it -- Anna Massey read it for Radio 4, and she was completely brilliant. She brought something extra to the story -- gave it more depth, I think. And of course, she was an unforgettable Mrs Danvers in 'Rebecca'.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Look forward to hearing the story read, something about listening to a story instead of reading, lets the magic in. Hope my internet connection is fast enough.

Fab pictures too, is that Gerald's portrait at the top of the stairs?

Justine Picardie said...

Yes -- that's Gerald's picture that you can see behind Daphne as she stands on the stairs at Menabilly. It's such an evocative picture, isn't it? And so suggestive of 'Rebecca' and Manderley...

GlassCurls said...

I look forward to hearing it, once the BBC website decides to work! Did you know (you probably did) that today is the day of George du Maurier's death in 1896?

Justine Picardie said...

I didn't know that -- or at least,I did, but I'd forgotten, even though I walk past his grave in Hampstead at least once a week. Here's to George...

Anonymous said...

yes here's to Mr. Dreaming True...

Jan said...

Anna MAssey's face AND voice are both instantly recognisable...and both are fascinating.
What a wonderful choice she was.

Sibylle said...

Both the story and the reading were exquisite. Thank you so much ! I even recorded it to keep on my computer forever. My mother (who doesn't speak English, we're both French) said Anna Massey has a "hypnotic voice", I must say I agree.