The Antiquary

The Antiquary is a man who hoards secrets as well as treasures.

Will his knowledge allow Lovel to marry his secret love?

Starring Richard Wilson and David Tennant.

A tale by Sir Walter Scott dramatised by Robin Brooks.

Published in 1816, this novel is about an amateur historian, archaeologist and collector of items of dubious antiquity. Although he is the eponymous character, he is not necessarily the hero, as many of the characters around him undergo far more significant journeys or change. Instead, he provides a central figure for other more exciting characters and events – on which he provides a sardonic commentary.

This is Scott's gothic novel, redolent with family secrets, stories of hidden treasure and hopeless love, with a mysterious, handsome, young man, benighted aristocracy and a night-time funeral procession to a ruined abbey. The romance and mystery is counterpoised by some of Scott's more down-to-earth characters, and grittily unromantic events.

Scott wrote in an advertisement to the novel that his purpose in writing it, similar to that of his novels Waverley and Guy Mannering, was to document Scottish life and manners of a certain period - in this case the last decade of the 18th century.

David Tennant ...... Sir Walter Scott
Oldbuck ...... Richard Wilson
Edie ...... Alexander Morton
Sir Arthur ...... Stuart McGugan
Isabel ...... Melody Grove
Lovel ...... Dominic Rye
Geraldin ...... Christian Rodska
Tafril ...... Charles Davies
Hector ...... John Wark
Caxon ...... David Haydn
Macleucha ...... Beth Tuckey

Music by Ross Hughes and Esben Tjalve.

Cello played by George Cooke.

Produced and Directed by Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2015.