The Pillow Book: Series 1-11 cover art

The Pillow Book: Series 1-11

A Full-Cast Historical Crime Drama

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The Pillow Book: Series 1-11

By: Robert Forrest
Narrated by: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cal MacAninch, full cast, Mark Bazeley, Ruth Gemmell
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About this listen

A thriller and love story set in 10th-century Japan.

Lady Shonagon is an imperial courtesan, living at the court of the Japanese Emperor in the 10th century. When a series of disturbing thefts within the palace walls throws the court into confusion and unrest, Shonagon is appointed guide and assistant to Lieutenant Yukinari as he investigates.

Together, Shonagon and Yukinari must solve the mysteries and escalating crimes that plague the Japanese court, and their romance blossoms in the tightly enclosed world behind the high palace walls. But soon Shonagon's lover Tadanobu becomes uncomfortable with how closely they are working together....

The Pillow Book is inspired by the writings of Sei Shonagon, a poet and lady-in-waiting to the empress of the 10th-century Japanese court. The work of the real-life Sei Shonagon consists of essays, lists, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages about her daily life.

This full-cast drama stars Ruth Gemmell as Sei Shonagon, with Yukinari played by Mark Bazeley in series 1-3 and Cal Macaninch in series 4-11. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Tadanobu in series 1.

Directed by Lu Kemp.

©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Historical Thriller & Suspense Funny

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Most relevant
This is a beautiful story , told beautifully about a Japanese courtly lady and her relationships and experiences.

I was transfixed from beginning to end!!

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Loved it in short sessions. Very atmospheric and almost mesmerising. The voices are perfect and I particularly like lady Shonigon's lists.

Atmospheric

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The lady Shonagon loved two people, her Empress Teishi and the policeman, Ukinari. This is during the halcyon period a thousand years ago when court etiquette determined you must only talk in metaphor and poetry. The outstanding story is compelling and gripped me from start to end - when at last Shonagon and Ukinari have each other in obscurity. She is maddening, whimsical and intuitive though profoundly intelligent. A real pleasure to listen to and enjoy.

The two loves of the lady Shonagon

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RF wrote this title as sequences of five fifteen minute dramas spread over a week on Radio 4. That is why they are sometimes intense. If they are listened to as one long book, they will be impossible to appreciate and tedious. listen in bursts between other things and they will continue to delight and intrigue. Utterly unlike anything else on Audible.

Not written as a book...

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I picked up on the broadcasts of this about half way through - and was completely smitten with a story interspersed with moments of mindfulness - before that was invented. So wonderful to be able to hear those earlier instalments for the first time, then hear the whole sequence. I loved the use of Scottish voices for the outside the palace people - worked really well. Highly recommended.

Just loved this

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