Opening Lines

Opening Lines

Producer and writer John Yorke unpacks the themes and impact behind the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.

Opening Lines

Episodes (124 available)

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, Flight - Episode One

John Yorke on a fascinating insight into Black American history: Flight, by Walter White.

22 Mar 2026

14 mins

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, My Antonia

John Yorke explores Willa Cather’s novel of frontier life, My Ántonia.

15 Mar 2026

14 mins

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, The Virginian

John Yorke explores Owen Wister’s Western novel The Virginian.

1 Mar 2026

15 mins

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, Gone with the Wind - Episode Three

John Yorke explores Margaret Mitchell’s epic novel Gone with the Wind.

22 Feb 2026

14 mins

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, Gone with the Wind - Episode 2

John Yorke explores Margaret Mitchell’s epic novel Gone with the Wind.

15 Feb 2026

14 mins

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, Gone with the Wind - Episode 1

John Yorke explores Margaret Mitchell’s epic novel Gone with the Wind.

8 Feb 2026

14 mins

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, Walden

John Yorke takes a look at Walden by Henry David Thoreau.

1 Feb 2026

14 mins

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

John Yorke takes a look at Washington Irving’s classic ghost story.

25 Jan 2026

14 mins

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, The Last of the Mohicans - Episode Two

John Yorke on James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans.

4 Jan 2026

14 mins

Opening Lines, Opening Lines, The Last of the Mohicans - Episode 1

John Yorke looks The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper.

28 Dec 2025

14 mins

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