P.D. James - Cover Her Face (BBC Detective Mini Serial)

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P. D. James’ debut novel, introducing her famous detective, Adam Dalgliesh. Starring Robin Ellis as Dalgliesh.
Cover Her Face is the debut 1962 crime novel of P. D. James.[1] It details the investigations into the death of a young, ambitious maid, surrounded by a family which has reasons to want her gone - or dead. The title is taken from a passage from John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi: "Cover her face. Mine eyes dazzle: she died young," which is quoted by one of the characters in the novel.
The characters
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard
Detective Sergeant Martin - his assistant
Mrs. Eleanor Maxie - owner of Martingale, mother to Stephen and Deborah
Stephen Maxie - surgeon at a London hospital
Deborah Riscoe - widowed daughter of Eleanor
Mr. Simon Maxie - Eleanor's invalid husband
Felix Hearne - a former war hero and Deborah's admirer
Catherine Bowers - a guest at Martingale who hopes to marry Stephen Maxie
Dr. Charles Epps - long-time physician of the Maxies
Bernard Hinks - vicar of Chadfleet
Miss Alice Liddell - Warden of St. Mary's Refuge for Girls
Martha Bultitaft - the Maxie's long-time domestic servant
Sally Jupp - domestic servant assisting Martha at Martingale for several months.
Mr. and Mrs. Proctor - Sally's aunt and uncle who raised her after her parents were killed during the Blitz.
James Ritchie - Sally's secret husband
Literary significance and criticism
The novel was generally very well received by critics although the author later described it as her least favorite among her books.
"Her first detective story, immediately pleasing and impressive. The pace is deliberate, the characterization of the members of an English county family very well done, and the central character of Sally Jupp - a servant girl with imagination and a love of power - most unusual but compelling. Insp. Dalgliesh is perhaps too quietly competent in his disclosure of Sally's killer - and, despite the title, the girl isn't a Duchess of Malfi." - A Catalogue of Crime
In a 1966 book review, Anthony Boucher of The New York Times wrote "This is a literate and not unpromising first novel, but modeled firmly upon the detective story of 30 years ago at its dullest... When I keep urging a return to the formal detective story, this is not what I mean."
Adaptations
A television version of the novel was produced for Britain's ITV network in 1985. It starred Roy Marsden as Adam Dalgliesh, John Vine as Inspector John Massingham (instead of Detective Sergeant Martin), Phyllis Calvert as Eleanor Maxie, Rupert Frazer as Stephen Maxie, Mel Martin as Deborah Riscoe, Julian Glover as Felix Hearne, and Kim Thomson as Sally Jupp. As the television adaptation was set contemporaneously but the characters' ages had to remain unchanged, Felix Hearne's military service was relocated to Cyprus and a secondary storyline was added about Cypriot drug-dealers. It was filmed at Rainthorpe Hall in Norfolk.
BBC Radio 4 produced a radio serial, with Hugh Grant as Felix, Robin Ellis as Dalgliesh and Siân Phillips as Mrs. Maxie, releasing it on CD shortly after airing.

[@judimantos904]

Very enjoyable! Great actors+ actresses too.

[@sarahabbas-zq3ni]

Another excellent radio production very enjoyable Thank you, cast and producers.😊

[@nikolateslawirelessradio]

Thanks for listening

[@tessellatiaartilery8197]

Great production, very entertaining. Thank you very much for sharing this for us to enjoy. 😊

[@nikolateslawirelessradio]

Glad you enjoyed it I appreciate you listening.

[@helenanovak725]

Thank you for this great recording, and thank you for making the recording so nicely loud, easy to hear.

[@nikolateslawirelessradio]

Thanks for listening Helen. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@dougchance8891]

@ helen
Totally agree with your comments.👍👍👍

[@iqosuser2754]

Great stuff😊thanks

[@diannerobb8376]

These are absolutely wonderful!

[@judyappleby767]

Really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next ! Thank you.

[@nikolateslawirelessradio]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@skinnerman100]

Excellent read a few pd james books to find them in audio .heaven thank you ..Excellent actors as well

[@nikolateslawirelessradio]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@justinepenman6081]

Very enjoyable

[@nikolateslawirelessradio]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@AmandaUK123]

Thanks !

[@nikolateslawirelessradio]

No problem! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@granthurlburt4062]

Thanks for posting

[@brendolyncobb-oliver8524]

Enjoyed this story

[@Brembelia]

The ads interrupting the story are horrendous. Can you imagine going to a live stage presentation with this cast and having the show interrupted throughout for these assaults on the audience? 😮

[@nikolateslawirelessradio]

I agree, they can very distracting. Because these are owned by the BBC, YT inserts the ads (not me) and any ad revenue generated goes to the owners. Its either ads or these have to be removed.

[@oryb5408]

Thanks for the warning. I’ll avoid it as a bed time listen.

[@Tinyflydeposit]

Could that be THE Hugh Grant?

[@nikolateslawirelessradio]

Very good:
Starring Robin Ellis. With Sian Phillips and Hugh Grant.

[@misslady0075]

The way they spoke about Sally, made them sound much more dispicable.
Acid tongues!!!

[@user-jl8mp6lg4i]

45min…

[@user-om9pt7os2f]

Can not listen do not want adds .. Sorry

[@larryballard595]

🤷 promo sm

[@ritamartin4782]

Shows again how ruthless the British are around pretty girls with ambition and not staying in the correct lane.

[@janetpendlebury6808]

You do realise this was written 60 years ago?