Madame Bovary

John Hurt stars in this BBC radio dramatisation of Gustave Flaubert’s infamous tale of adultery and tragedy Beautiful Emma meets and marries Doctor Charles Bovary. He's happy for the first time in his life – but Emma is distraught that her marriage lacks the passion and romance of her fantasies. Dazzled by the splendour of a Marquis’ ball, she longs for excitement and soon becomes infatuated with a young solicitor, Léon Dupuis. But when Dupuis moves away, her memories of him lead her to despair – and into the arms of wealthy landowner, Rodolphe Boulanger. As she moves from one illicit liaison to another, Emma’s complicated life begins to unravel. Exhausted from her debts and her affairs, she feels she is left with only one course of action… A French masterpiece of betrayal and wantonness, Flaubert’s notorious novel features Sarah Smart as Emma Bovary, Conrad Nelson as Charles, Jude Akuwudike as Rodolphe and James D’Arcy as Léon. Cast and credits Narrator – John Hurt Charles – Conrad Nelson Emma – Sarah Smart Madame Bovary Snr – Brigit Forsyth Monsieur Rouault/Maître Guillaumin – Russell Dixon Viscomte/Dr Lariviere – Martin Reeve Nastasie/Mère Rollet – Julie McCabe Madame Lefrancois – Siobahn Finneran Monsieur Homais/Priest – David Fleeshman Léon Dupuis – James D’Arcy Monsieur Lheureux – Seamus O’Neill Félicité – Sarah Jayne Hallworth Rodolphe Boulanger – Jude Akuwudike Justin – Sam Curtis Berthe Bovary – Daisy Jones Written by Gustave Flaubert Dramatised by Diana Griffiths from a translation by Margaret Mauldon Pianist: Stephen Reynolds Produced by Pauline Harris First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4-15 September 2006