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4 Extra Debut. An obsessed editor heads to Venice set on gaining previously unseen papers of the late poet Jeffrey Aspern. Read by Samuel West.

Henry James took as his inspiration for his tale The Aspern Papers the story of a mistress of Byron's who outlived the poet into lonely old age. He transposed the setting to Venice and cast the city he loved as a character in a taut narrative of literary theft and deception.

Episode 1

The lure of previously unseen papers relating to the long-dead poet Jeffrey Aspern brings one of his editors to Venice in the grip of an obsession. He must see them, he must have them; and he will lie and betray in order to do so.

Read by Samuel West.

Abridged and produced by Christine Hall.

2 months left to listen

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 17 Feb 2015 00:00

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  • Mon 26 Apr 2010 22:45
  • Mon 16 Feb 2015 14:00
  • Tue 17 Feb 2015 00:00

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