My Dear Bessie: A Love Story in Letters
A BBC Radio 4 Adaptation
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My Dear Bessie: A Love Story in Letters
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Narrated by:
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Benedict Cumberbatch
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Jane Slavin
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Louise Brealey
About this listen
Benedict Cumberbatch and Louise Brealey read a love story in letters, played out against the backdrop of the Second World War.
'Can you feel, as you read these words, that I am thinking of you now; aglow, alive, alert at the thought that you are in the same world, and by some strange chance loving me.'
A small blue box opened in 2008 revealed a wartime world of love, longing and frustration. Inside were bundles and bundles of letters written neatly in pen, in pencil, on thin blue airmail paper or headed army notepaper. Envelopes covered in postmarks, redirections, censor's stamps. A love affair in letters between two people who barely knew each other, thousands of miles apart, in the middle of a war, with no idea when or whether they would ever see each other again.
On September 5th, 1943, Chris Barker, a signalman stationed near Tobruk in North Africa, decided to write to a former work colleague, Bessie Moore, a Morse code interpreter at the Foreign Office back in London. The unexpected warmth of Bessie's reply changed their lives forever.
Chris and Bessie's love letters first appeared in Simon Garfield's book To the Letter. They toured literary festivals as part of Letters Live before being published in a book, My Dear Bessie.
Written by Chris Barker and Bessie Moore.
Letters compiled by Simon Garfield.
Adapted by Sara Davies.
Produced and directed by Gemma Jenkins.
Cast:
Chris - Benedict Cumberbatch
Bessie - Louise Brealey
Irena - Jane Slavin
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What listeners say about My Dear Bessie: A Love Story in Letters
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- melanie
- 02-04-18
Absolutely lovely
This was an excellent letter, hopelessly romantic. This has now set a boundary for relationships to come in the future.
Performances were excellent (made me think of Sherlock and molly having a love affair) but was absolutely fantastic.
Read this book!!!!! I know I will listen to it again multiple times!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. Sarah Turnham
- 01-08-19
Just wonderful!
I confess to choosing this as a certain Mr Cumberbatch is narrating, but the love story between Chris & Bessie was simply beautiful. My only complaint was that it only lasted for such a short time! It's so easy to forget the horrors of war; never knowing if you'll be alive in the morning.
I loved this & recommend it wholeheartedly.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-04-18
Beautifully evocative
These war tine love letters are beautifully read- touching, engaging and poignant. A must listen!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Estee
- 11-07-18
Wonderful story and performance!
Spectacular performance by both artists. A Wonderful old school love story! Endearing and so honest.
Thank you for sharing these precious letters with us.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jess Kate
- 09-12-19
Beautiful words of Love!
A short but beautiful story! It was so wonderful I just wish it was longer, yet I’m happy these two were to be together as soon as possible!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Muffin's Mom
- 31-03-18
Lovely
The most beautiful love story I've ever heard. I'll be falling asleep to this for a long time to come.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Vivvy
- 20-06-21
Deathly boring.
I struggled to listen too it and the actors seemed to be bored too. it was repetitive romantic drivel. has put me off of audible too.
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