Play over 2000 programmes from the BBC’s archive of literary adaptations, performances and critiques. Click here for an A-Z list of featured authors.
"H.G. Wells" (47 results)
Drama telling the story of the father of science fiction, HG Wells, and his messianic ambition to create a World State and avert mankind's hea...
Documentary on the enduring appeal of science fiction author HG Wells.
Stephen Baxter, who is writing a sequel to The War of The Worlds, and Dr Sarah Dillon discuss HG Wells, time and space with pre...
Why George Orwell's novel remains topical 70 years after publication
Juliet Gardiner looks at the dystopian predictions of the future from the father of science fiction.
At a country house party, Mrs Arbuthnot's long-concealed secret comes back to haunt her. Stars Diana Rigg and Martin Jarvis.
Matthew Sweet talks to Stephen Baxter about his sequel to HG Wells' novel War Of The Worlds, which was first ser...
Sci-fi novel by HG Wells first published in 1898, dramatised in six parts by Jon Manchip White and starring Paul Daneman and Martin Jarvis. Scie...
Melissa Murray's two part dramatisation highlights the questions Wells poses: What if we were the colonised? How would we fare if a vastly super...
Orson Welles' classic radio version (unexpurgated) of HG Wells' novel, first broadcast in America on Hallowe'en, 1938. It caused widespread pani...
Fay Weldon, Louise Welsh and Harriett Gilbert discuss favourite books by Lionel Shriver, HG Wells and Jean Rhys.
Francis Spufford follows in the wake of HG Wells' all-con...
Francis Spufford wheels his bicycle along Maybury Road and through Woking to consider the de...
And we conclude our series of specially commissioned introductions to some of the books on the GCSE English literature syllabus with novelist and ...
HG Wells' classic novel The War of the Worlds has been adapted many times including the infamous occasion on which Orson Welles' ra...
James Naughtie talks to Stephen Baxter who has taken on the grand task of writing a sequel HG Wells' classic story The War of the Worlds.
Dominic and leading writers and film-makers look at science fiction's obsession with alien inv...
Three-part adaptation of HG Wells's classic tale of a Martian invasion of Earth.
Orwell's dramatisation of his tale of the corrupting effect of power is narrated by Tamsin Greig and features Nicky Henson, Toby ...
The truth about writing reviews for a living and English language oddities. Orwell's non-ficti...
The author attempts to reconcile his patriotism with his left-wing views. Orwell's non-fiction writi...
Rudolph Cartier's 1954 adaptation of George Orwell's story about a man who tries to rebel against the totalitarian state in which he lives and wo...
George Orwell's classic dystopian novel 1984, reimagined through dance by choreographer Jonathan Watkins for Northern Ballet.
An animated version of George Orwell's classic allegorical novel about the totalitarian aftermath of a barnyard revolution.
A historical background to George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' being studied for English Lit GCSE.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss George Orwell's Animal Farm, which he struggled to publish in WW2 as the USSR was an ally.
A look at two of George Orwell's books, 'The Road to Wigan Pier' and 'Animal Farm'. A programme for schools narrated by Harvey...
Patrick Wright begins the second series of his examination of English identity under threat with Orwell's famous essay in the face of Nazi ag...
Lisa Mullen asks whether some contributions to literature are less equal than others as she reads newly discovered letters showing the inf...
Christopher Frayling presents a film about the design of ''1984'', the film based on George Orwell's 1948 novel, including interviews with the fi...
Walter Cronkite compares the oppressive society in George Orwell's 1984 with present developments.
Film documentary looking at the reality of living in Britain in 1984, as opposed to the vision created in George Orwell's novel ''Ninetee...
Prog about the two television adaptations of George Orwell's prophetic vision of the future '1984', the first starring Peter Cushing and caus...
George Orwell has been dead for 70 years. What can his ideas tell us about life in 2020? BBC documentary-maker Phil Tinline takes five words...
Chris Ledgard explores if a version of Newspeak, the artificial language of George Orwell's dystopian fantasy 1984, could be imposed on people today.
The story tells of George Orwell'S marriage to Eileen O'Shaughnessy and his growing political awareness (his important trip ...
Christopher Frayling explores the most notorious hoax in radio, broadcast in 1938 - Orson Welle...
Documentary which explores the Mars inspired literature and cinema through the decades from ''The War of the Worlds'' to ''Mars Atta...
The inexorable progress of the Martian war machines meets an organised military ...
In a house in Mortlake, Francis Spufford is joined by Prof Sally Shuttleworth and Maggie...
Francis Spufford moves through an eerily silent London to the outskirts of Primrose Hill, the last staging post of ...
Series of talks by Orson Welles, illustrated by his own sketches.
From Apes to Aliens: Series looking at the history of British science fiction. This episode looks at our fascination with aliens.
Donald Holms pres an historical review of science-fiction films,against the background of real events, with clips from feature films and news.
Historical drama chronicling Thomas Cromwell's rise to power. Lacking a male heir, King Henry VIII is desperate to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon.
A bleak dystopian future plays out before us as Royal Television Society award-winning actor Sacha Dhawan narrates George Orwell’s profoundly impactful...
Matthew Bourne’s adaptation of the legendary film has won two Olivier Awards and dazzled audiences across the UK and the USA. A recordin...
Cookies help us run our services and give you a better experience. For the full details please read our Cookie Policy.