Helen Dunmore - The Betrayal Episode 6 of 10: Suspended From Duty
In her latest novel, The Betrayal, Helen Dunmore returns to the Soviet Union, and to the city of Leningrad whose history she so powerfully evoked in her best-seller The Siege. Now, a decade later, starvation and bitter cold have been replaced with fear and suspicion, as the people of Leningrad do their best to keep their heads down and their lives unremarkable in an era of accusations, arrests and the midnight knock at the door. For one young doctor, who has had no choice but to treat the son of a high-ranking Secret Service official, life has become more and more dangerous as the child's condition worsens and his father looks for a scape-goat.
In today's episode: With the stakes rising, Anna and Andrei know they must try to protect Kolya - then an early morning call confirms their worst fears.
The Reader is Sara Kestelman, the abridger is Sally Marmion and the producer is Di Speirs.
First broadcast: 14 Dec 2010 (b00wld70) http://vk.com/wall-84750475_106