A stunning BBC radio adaptation of Monica Ali's bestselling, Booker-shortlisted novel.

1985. Uprooted from her home in Bangladesh, 18-year-old Nazneen is sent to London for an arranged marriage with a much older man. Her new life is strange and bewildering - the busy streets and crowded tower blocks of the East End are a world away from the rural village she grew up in, and she struggles to adapt to living with her self-important husband, Chanu.

Back in Bangladesh, Nazneen's sister Hasina has eloped with the man she loves, and been disowned by her family. Homesick and isolated, Nazneen reads her letters with envy, longing to have such independence and romance for herself. As the years pass, she devotes herself to becoming a dutiful wife and mother - and then she meets a passionate young radical, Karim, and finds herself drawn to him. Can she finally decide to take charge of her destiny?

Monica Ali's stunning debut has become a modern classic. Published in 2003, its themes of immigrant identity and integration, racism and nationalism, free will and fate still resonate with us today. Dramatised by leading playwright Tanika Gupta, this enthralling adaptation was shortlisted for a BBC Audio Drama Award, and stars Anneika Rose, Zubin Varla, Chetna Pandya, Hiftu Quasem, Nina Wadia and Nikesh Patel.

Written by Monica Ali

Dramatised by Tanika Gupta

Directed by Anne Isger

Sound by Caleb Knightley, Ali Craig and Pete Ringrose

Production Co-ordination by Luke MacGregor

Production Assistance by Hannah O'Reilly

A BBC Audio Production

Cast

Nazneen - Anneika Rose

Chanu - Zubin Varla

Razia - Chetna Pandya

Hasina - Hiftu Quasem

Mrs Islam - Nina Wadia

Dr Azad - Neil D'Souza

Karim - Nikesh Patel

Tariq - Ragevan Vasan

Shahana - Rameet Rauli

Bibi - Riti Suthar

Secretary - Gavi Singh Chera

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7-14 August 2022