The Cazalets

The Epic Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

By: Elizabeth Jane Howard, Sarah Daniels, Lin Coghlan

Narrated by: Penelope Wilton, Full Cast

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Penelope Wilton narrates BBC Radio 4’s epic dramatisation of the treasured family saga, Elizabeth Jane Howard’s five book chronicle of the upper-middle class. Cazalet family begins in 1938, as siblings Hugh, Edward, Rupert, and Rachel join together for another family holiday at Home Place, their house in the Sussex countryside.

During the course of The Light Years, Marking Time, Confusion, Casting Off, and All Change, the progress of their lives, and those of their children, will be charted. As their stories unfolds we gain a vivid insight into the lives, hopes, and loves of three generations during the Second Word War and beyond.

Dramatised by Sarah Daniels and Lin Coghlan, and with a large cast of actors across all five books, this remarkable radio event adds a new dimension to Elizabeth Jane Howard’s extraordinary chronicles. The first four Cazalet novels sold over a million copies, with the fifth being published in 2013, shortly before the author’s death.

©2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Excellent

If you like the books, you will love this. Even if you have not read them, you will enjoy this if you like soap opera take things. Not everyone does. Anyway, this was very well done.

the cazelelets

enjoyed it immensely. Penelope Winston read beautifully .A family saga at an important time in life.

Cazalet world

Excellent with the sole exception of the voice of Zoe's American lover. Terrible American accent detracted from their story.

Cazalets

It was so enjoyable. The characters were just so good. It was nice to have a relaxing book to listen at bedtime. Thanks

Cazslets

Wonderfully performed. A real family saga. I loved this. I wish there was more radio theater.

Engrossing multidimensional characters right from the jump!

I wish there were more titles like this format. I love the old radio play feel. it makes the story and characters so much more real. The only negative I have is the ending felt a little unsatisfying. I wish there was more chapters. You should download it right now you will not regret it.

Exquisite!

What an incredible journey into the minds and hearts of this family! What an amazing exploration of life and the complexities of human emotion! Wonderfully performed by a gifted group of actors whose voices were able to evoke intense emotional responses, while painting a beautiful series of canvasses depicting each scene, or creating full colour snapshots to be displayed montage-style on the giant HDTV screen of my mind's eye. I heartily recommend this collection to everyone. Cautionary note: once you begin, you will find it hard to stop listening until the very end. Any sleep lost will be worth it!

Return to Home Place

If you've never met the Cazalets, let this be your introduction. And if you have, you'll love returning to Home Place to see them all again. The casting is perfect: every performance was distinctive, powerful, and absolutely top class. It was enjoyable to hear the ever-ladylike Penelope Wilton's narration throughout. It is a bit of a soap opera, of course, and rather melodramatic in parts. (I would have liked deeper characterization in several places). But what a story! It has everything: war, peace, love, desire, denial, regret...all of human life. You won't forget these characters, nor "Home Place" the estate that is, if you will, a character in itself. Highly recommended to those who love a sweeping family saga, and to all who enjoy hearing BBC Radio at its very best.

amazing family story

so well done. so much family detail in this story, its hard not to be completely hooked.