Episode 1
Richard turns up on the Khao San Road in Bangkok looking for adventure. He soon finds it when a chance encounter with Mister Duck puts him on the trail of a secret island beach.
Our first Book of Bedtime of 2016 celebrates twenty years since the publication of Alex Garland's cult novel, The Beach. Joe Dempsie reads this thrilling tale of paradise sought and lost.
Jaded young backpacker Richard is in Thailand looking for a place unspoilt by tourism. An encounter with a dead man leaves him with a map for 'the beach', a select traveller community cut off from the degradations of vacationing westerners. He joins the commune, but his breadcrumb trail, fantasies of Vietnam War films, and very real armed drug guards risks turning Eden into hell on earth.
'Lord of the Flies' meets 'Heart of Darkness' among the beautiful, young drop-outs, dreamers and drug-takers of the mid-1990s.
Abridged by ..... Sara Davies
Produced by ..... Jenny Thompson
Read by ..... Joe Dempsie
Music ..... Narayan by The Prodigy.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Next
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Reader | Joe Dempsie |
| Author | Alex Garland |
| Abridger | Sara Davies |
| Producer | Jenny Thompson |
Broadcast
- Mon 4 Jan 2016 22:45BBC Radio 4
Books
Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.
How many of these 100 Novels have you read?
After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.
Finding Your Story
Ten remarkable novels about identity: Which one will help you discover yourself?
Short stories to keep
The fiction podcast featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers