Main content
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast

In 1974, Gerty Freely writes a memoir for her daughter, looking back to 1914 Russia, war and revolution. Read by Barbara Flynn.

Early in 1914, 22 year-old Gerty Freely travels to Russia to work as a governess, little-knowing the huge upheavals in the world and in her own life that lie ahead.

In London, 1974, 82 year-old Gerty embarks on a memoir for her daughter Sophy, looking back at that extraordinary time of war, revolution and civil war.

Most of her memories are centred on a young inventor, Nikita Slavkin, who mysteriously disappeared in 1919 and was subsequently celebrated in Soviet culture as The Vanishing Futurist.

“No word has been heard from him since… Yet the idea persists that one day he will reappear.”

Omnibus of the first five of ten episodes written by Charlotte Hobson.

Read by Barbara Flynn.

Abridged and produced by Jeremy Osborne

A Sweet Talk production for ѿý Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2020.

Release date:

1 hour, 10 minutes

On radio

Sun 22 Jun 2025 07:30

More episodes

Previous

You are at the first episode

Next

Coming soon

See all episodes from The Vanishing Futurist by Charlotte Hobson (Omnibus)

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 Jun 2025 07:30
  • Sun 22 Jun 2025 12:30
  • Sun 22 Jun 2025 18:30
  • Mon 23 Jun 2025 02:30