How to Survive the Roman Empire, by Pliny and Me: The Complete Series 1-3

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

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How to Survive the Roman Empire, by Pliny and Me: The Complete Series 1-3

By: Hattie Naylor

Narrated by: Joanna Scanlan, Kieran Hodgson, full cast, Mia Soteriou, Matthew Gravelle, Nigel Barrett, Ewan Bailey

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About this listen

Kieran Hodgson stars as Pliny the Younger in Hattie Naylor’s engaging drama charting the fortunes of a household in Ancient Rome.

The Emperor Domitian has informers everywhere; no-one is safe. He rules Rome with a rod of iron, and is dangerously unstable and paranoid. In the snake-pit of Imperial Rome, all Pliny the Younger wants to do is get his letters ready for publication.

Except if he, his mother Marcella, their Greek cook Doris (who narrowly missed out on becoming the next Oracle at Delphi), and Venta, their slave with secretarial skills have any chance of surveying, they are going to have to negotiate a political minefield, keep their eyes peeled for spies and, most of all, not do anything to annoy the Emperor.

Easier said than done.

Cast and credits

Pliny the Younger………………..Kieran Hodgson
Venta………………………………..Nigel Barrett
Marcella……………………………Joanna Scanlan
Doris the Cook…………………Mia Soteriou
Regulus……………………….Matthew Gravelle
Lucipor…………………………Ewan Bailey
Produced by and directed for radio by Kate McAll
Written by Hattie Naylor

Action & Adventure

Ancient

Historical Fiction

Literature & Fiction

Comedy

Fiction

Ancient History

Funny

Roman Empire Mystery

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I was genuinely disappointed when it finished! Some great acting combined with an excellent narrative!