The Great Impersonation

Stunning full-cast production of the classic mystery thriller set on the cusp of the First World War

First published in 1920, The Great Impersonation was a runaway best-seller. Listen now to this stunning full-cast adaptation, available as a download for the first time.

It’s early 1914 and two men meet in the wilds of German East Africa - one is a German, the other an Englishman. Both men are roughly the same age, both share a similar background and each man looks almost identical to the other. This similarity gives Leopold von Ragastein a perfect opportunity… Sir Everard Dominey returns to England, but who really is this mysterious aristocrat? As the country moves towards inevitable conflict with Germany, Dominey takes up a powerful position in society, returning to 'his' ancestral home in Norfolk. Pursued by the passionate Princess Eiderstrom he has a lucky escape, but then the Kaiser demands a meeting and things start to unravel for the imposter. Is he Sir Everard, or the Prussian von Ragastein…?

Edward Philips Oppenheim was a prolific writer of thriller and mysteries in the early twentieth century. Over 32 of his novels were made into films and he is considered one of the earliest writers of blockbuster fiction, publishing hugely entertaining and easy-to-read novels. A 1927 review in The New York Times said he ‘numbers his admirers in the hundreds of thousands and has one or more of his books on a prominent shelf in almost every home one enters’. He appeared on the cover of Time magazine and has never been out of print. This full-cast adaptation is a must listen for any fans of gripping, fast-paced thrillers.

Cast and credits

Written by E Phillips Oppenheim

Dramatised by Barry Campbell

Directed by Brian Miller

Sir Everard Dominey / Leopold von Ragastein - David Robb
Dr Schmidt - Phillip Manikum
Mangan - William Eedle
Princess Eiderstrom - Narissa Knights
Seaman - William Hope
Duchess of Worcester/Nurse - Anne Jameson
Duke of Worcester/Dr Harrison - Garard Green
Capt Bartram - Graham Pountney

Prince Terniloff - Tim Meats

Princess Temiloff - Angela Phillips

Middleton/The Kaiser/Reynolds - Paul Nicholson

Mrs Marston - Gwen Cherrell

Parkins/Stilwell/Pelham - Howard Hoffmann

Lady Dominey - Melinda Walker

Heggs/Ludwig Miller - Mark Straker

Williams - Brian Gear

First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, February-March 1985

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