The Heart Of Midlothian BBC Radio Classic Drama

(4.5 stars; 5 reviews)

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832) was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time. In some ways Scott was the first author to have a truly international career in his lifetime, with many contemporary readers all over Europe, Australia, and North America. His novels and poetry are still read, and many of his works remain classics of both English-language literature and specifically, of Scottish literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley and The Heart of Midlothian. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Walter_Scott) The Heart of Midlothian is the seventh of Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley Novels, and by many considered the finest. It was originally published in four volumes on 25 July 1818, under the title of Tales of My Landlord, 2nd series, and the author was given as "Jedediah Cleishbotham, Schoolmaster and Parish-clerk of Gandercleugh". Although the identity of the author of the Waverley Novels was well-known by this time, Scott still chose to write under a pseudonym. The book was released only seven months after the highly successful Rob Roy. Scott was at the time recovering from illness, and wrote at an even more furious pace than usual. When the book was released, it more than matched the popularity of his last novel. The title of the book refers to the Old Tolbooth Prison in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the time in the heart of the Scottish county of Midlothian. The historical backdrop was the event known as the Porteous Riots. In 1736, a riot broke out in Edinburgh over the execution of two smugglers. The Captain of the City Guards, Captain John Porteous, ordered the soldiers to fire into the crowd, killing several people. Porteous was later killed by a lynch mob who stormed the Old Tolbooth. The second, and main element of the novel was based on a story Scott claimed to have received in an unsigned letter. It was about a certain Helen Walker who had travelled all the way to London by foot, in order to receive a royal pardon for her sister, who was unjustly charged with infanticide. Scott put Jeanie Deans in the place of Walker, a young woman from a family of highly devout Presbyterians. Jeanie walks to London hoping to achieve an audience with the Queen through the influence of the Duke of Argyll. The Heart of Midlothian has been adapted for the screen once, in 1914, and for television once, in 1966. It has also been adapted into an opera with the title Jeanie Deans by the Scottish classical composer, Hamish MacCunn (1868-1916). Two episodes of one hour each in high quality MP3. Episode 1: ---------- When a smuggler is executed, a mob storms the Tolbooth Prison where young Effie Deans awaits trial for murder. Episode 2: ---------- While her sister awaits execution in the Tolbooth prison, Jeanie decides to walk to London to plead for her life. With: ----- Jeanie Deans....Gerda Stevenson Effie Deans....Irene Allan Meg Murdockson....Ann Louise Ross Madge Wildfire....Pauline Knowles Queen Caroline....Joanna Tope Duke of Argyll....Ralph Riach George Staunton....Simon Donaldson Frank/Reuben Butler....Robin Laing Dumbiedikes....John Buick Tom....Joseph Arkley Mrs Glass....Rose Mcbain Dramatised by Gerda Stevenson Directed by Bruce Young Credit goes to CHEOPS.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.