Joanna Trollope: Parson Harding’s Daughter, A Spanish Lover, Second Honeymoon

Aug 2, 2025 7:01 AM

Author:Joanna Trollope,Rebecca Egan,Jemma Redgrave,Caroline Langrishe,Christine Kavanagh,Full Cast,Nicholas Le Provost,Sam Dale

BBC Radio adaptations of three of Joanna Trollope's much-loved novels - plus bonus interview

Bestselling author Joanna Trollope has been described as one of the most insightful chroniclers and social commenters writing fiction today. Her books have been translated into over 25 languages, and several have been adapted for television. This collection comprises the BBC Radio dramatisations of her historical novel Parson Harding's Daughter (written under the nom de plume Caroline Harvey) and two of her most popular contemporary novels, A Spanish Lover and Second Honeymoon, as well as an edition of the literary chat show The Book Café.

Parson Harding's Daughter - 1775, and Caroline Harding's only suitor has disappeared to India without her. A plain, impoverished rector's daughter, she is left with few prospects - so when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to sail to Calcutta, bound for marriage to a man she hasn't seen for eight years... Rebecca Egan stars in this engaging love story, winner of the 1980 Romantic Novel of the Year Award.

A Spanish Lover - Lizzie and Frances are twins, but while Lizzie appears to have everything, Frances' life seems to lack romance. But when Frances impulsively jets off to Spain, everything changes. While Frances discovers excitement and adventure, Lizzie's world begins to fall apart...Starring Jemma Redgrave as Frances, with Caroline Langrishe as Lizzie.

Second Honeymoon - When Edie's youngest son leaves home she tries to come to terms with the empty nest, but her husband's thoughts turn to the second honeymoon that is about to begin. Or so he thinks... Starring Christine Kavanagh as Edie and Sam Dale as Russell.

The Book Café: Joanna Trollope - Clare English talks to the acclaimed novelist about her life and work, discussing her Scottish heritage, her love of Chelsea FC - and why there is no sex in her books.

Cast and credits

Written by Joanna Trollope (Parson Harding's Daughter written under the nom de plume Caroline Harvey)

Parson Harding's Daughter

Cast: Rebecca Egan, Charles Simpson, Ross Livingstone, Geoffrey Whitehead,

Jane Whittenshaw, Roger May, Jennifer Hilary, David Collings, Jilly Bond, Paul Jenkins,

Nicholas Le Prevost, Andrew Wincott, Dhirendra, Stephen Critchlow, Patience Tomlinson,

Tessa Worsley, David Timson, Emma Gregory, John Turner, Jillie Meers, Sam Dastor, Raj Patel,

Becky Hindley, Joshua Towb, Badi Uzzaman, Gavin Muir, Monica Dolan, John Hartley.

Dramatised by Eric Pringle

Directed by Jane Morganl

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13-27 August 1995

A Spanish Lover

Cast: Jemma Redgrave, Caroline Langrishe, Dorothy Tutin, Geoffrey Palmer, Paul Rhys,

John Turner, Zulema Dene, Sandra James Young, Kim Staines, George Allonby, Guy Witcher, James Cohen, Kirsty Adams, Patience Tomlinson, Andrew Branch, Roger May, Linda Reagan, Stephen Critchlow, Tessa Worsley, David Timson, Ross Livingstone

Dramatised by Melissa Murray

Produced and directed by Janet Whitaker

First broadcast BBC Radio 2, 24 October-28 November 1995

Second Honeymoon

Cast: Christine Kavanagh, Sam Dale, Liza Sadovy, Jonathan Forbes, Alex Tregear, Simon Bubb, Carl Prekopp, James Lailey

Dramatised by Rachel Joyce

Directed by Tracey Neale

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26-30 September 2011

The Book Café: Joanna Trollope

Presented by Clare English

With Joanna Trollope

First broadcast BBC Radio Scotland, 18 March 2013

Reviews

Mesmerising . . . I became completely immersed in this emotional, intimate read

—— Good Housekeeping

[An] uplifting debut novel . . . joy is a vital ingredient in Ruth & Pen

—— The Observer

The debut novel from the author of the personal essay collection Notes to Self is a poignant, raw exploration of the courage needed to find your space in the world

—— i

Impressive . . . Pine explores with great acuity and tenderness the restorative, capacious nature of love. A wise and lovely book

—— Daily Mail

Pine makes her chapters playful, writing with a friendly curiousness that brings to mind Ali Smith . . . Pine's measured yet tender juxtaposition of the women's days doesn't draw overly neat parallels so much as prove that one needs the other - younger needs older, optimist needs pessimist, introvert needs extrovert. And our opposites might help us find clarity

—— i

[Ruth & Pen] finds heartbreaking beauty in our everyday lives . . . There is a real tenderness in the way in which Pine writes about the teenage girls in the novel

—— The Irish Times

Pine reinforces her reputation as one of the most empathetic writers in the country

—— The Irish Examiner

There's no doubting the novel's basic integrity; its warmth, its undogmatic interest in ordinary lives, and the impressive range of its imaginative sympathies

—— Kevin Power , The Irish Times

Moving and raw . . . Pine's ability to enter the heads of two such different characters is a sure sign of literary promise

—— The Sunday Times (Ireland)

This book is an intimate portrait of love and grief, and the tender, fragile courage required just to live each day

—— Irish Country Magazine

A confident walk through the lives of others, two women seeking their place in the world and a peace in themselves

—— RTE Guide

An engulfing, bighearted, and heartbreaking novel. Illuminates the shocking injustices suffered in the 1800s, and in doing so, makes us stop and consider how much of that cruelty and injustice survives to this day

—— Ann Patchett

A sweeping adventure of identity, love, and belonging

—— C Pam Zhang, Man Booker longlisted author of 'How Much of These Hills are Gold'

Brilliant and devastating. Weaving together myth and history, it is both timeless and utterly necessary right now

—— Anna North, 'Outlawed'

An instant and necessary classic, easily among the best novels of this decade. The story lingers long after its final pages

—— T Kira Madden, acclaimed author of 'Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls'

An exhilarating rush of character, history, and storytelling. This unforgettable novel dazzles

—— Kali Fajardo-Anstine, National Book Award finalist author of 'Sabrina & Corina'

Biting and very funny

—— The Times

A compelling page-turner rendered in exquisite prose

—— Shelley Harris

Whip-smart and thoughtful with a dark vein of humour. Compulsively readable. I loved it

—— Christina Sweeney-Baird

An important novel . . . Jo Harkin does a masterful job . . . this mind-bending debut will certainly make you think

—— Book Reporter

A terrific read - I enjoyed it tremendously

—— The Ryan Tubridy Show, RTÉ Radio 1

Jo Harkin has created a speculative novel which digs into our instinctual curiosity and our need to know everything

—— Irish Examiner

Filled with delightful characters... this heart-warming book explores relationships and the dilemmas of everyday life

—— Candis

Tackling many relevant issues, it's a heart-warming read

—— Heat

Poignant, totally joyful, this is a great read

—— Fabulous

A feel-good read, with great characters to care about, it takes current issues seriously but adds plenty of humour

—— Choice

[It leaves] the reader with that fuzzy feeling you want from a feel-good book. Fans of her previous hit, The Authenticity Project, will not be disappointed

—— Woman's Weekly

A feel-good tale about the power of real-life connections

—— Sun

You can always rely on Pooley to deliver not just wonderful, lively characters but a story that leaves you feeling uplifted and hopeful

—— CultureFly

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