This is a reminder...

[telophase]

...to me, to listen to The Pillow Book on Radio Four next week, while it's still available on Listen Again. Well, provided the first episode keeps my interest. :D



Monday 11 - Friday 15 August

The Pillow Book

By Robert Forrest

A thriller and love story inspired by the diary of Sei Shonagon, a court lady to the Empress Sadako in 10th century Japan.

Within the Palace walls, a series of disturbing crimes throws the court into confusion and unrest. Shonagon's brilliance and wit is called upon for more than her Empress’s amusement.

Shonagon ...... Ruth Gemmell
Narimasa ...... John Rowe
Empress ...... Laura Rees
Tadanobu ...... Benedict Cumberbatch
Saisho ...... Caroline Martin
Emperor ...... Richard Madden
Yukinari ...... Mark Bazeley

Producer Lu Kemp.


(Okay, okay, the concept of SEI SHONAGON - DETECTIVE!!! may be jsut too silly for words, but we'll see. :D)

Comments

[ebony14.livejournal.com]

It sounds a little like a feudal Japanese version of Miss Marple.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I'd think more on the order of Harriet Vane.

[fuchsoid.livejournal.com]

I've just finished reading Lisa Dalby's Tale of Murasaki, so this sounds perfect. I'm sure I've read a book with another female detective set in the same period, and a quick search turned up a whole series of books featuring a male detective in Heian Kyo by someone called I J Parker, that I must check out.

[fuchsoid.livejournal.com]

Found it! The author is Ann Woodward, and the detective is called Lady Aoi. The one I read was The Exile Way - rather low-key, but definitely worth reading.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I haven't read any Woodward. :D I've read 3 of the 4 books Parker has out (I think she's a she), and ... oh dear, I can't remember if I own the 4th and haven't read it yet, or if it's on my Amazon wishlist. Since I'm in the bad habit of forgetting to take books off the wishlist when I buy them, I can't rely on that. :/ I suppose it'll have to wait until the weather cools down and I can unpack the books in my garage.

At any rate, I enjoyed them although not so much that I recall much of the details of the plots (but that means I can reread them and wonder whodunnit!).