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Alfred Polly is an ordinary middle-aged man who is tired of his wife’s nagging and his dreary job as a gentleman’s outfitter in a small town. Faced with the threat of bankruptcy, he decides that the only way to escape his frustrating existence is to burn his shop to the ground and kill himself. Unexpected events, however, conspire at the last moment to lead the bewildered Mr Polly to a bright new future – after he saves a life, fakes his death and escapes to a world of heroism, hope and ultimate happiness.

A comic take on mid-life crisis, The History of Mr Polly (published in 1910) is generally considered H G Wells' funniest novel. But it’s not without serious purpose. Beneath the surface is an implicit criticism of a society that forces people to suppress their imaginations and lead lives of drab conformity.

In the final episode, Mr Polly attempts to put his reckless plan of arson and self-destruction into practice.

Episode 2: Making an End to Things

Narrator ..... Stephen Mangan
Alfred Polly ..... Paul Ready
Miriam ..... Clare Corbett
Annie ..... Emma Kilbey
Rumbold ..... Richard Attlee
Captain Boomer ..... Trevor Littledale
Gambell ..... Julian Parkin
Rusper ..... Nigel Anthony
Mrs Rumbold ..... Jean Trend
Flo ..... Karen Ascoe
Uncle Jim ..... Ben Crowe
Miss Polly ..... Betsy Horsfall
Horace ..... James Joyce
Gwendoline ..... Ela Chapman

Written by HG Wells
Dramatised by Stephen Sheridan
Producer / Director: David Blount

A Pier production for Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 4