BEDTIME STORY: Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson 29 April 2026

Tonight’s story takes you into the quiet, thoughtful world of one of Australia’s most remarkable literary voices… a woman who chose to write behind a man’s name, and in doing so, revealed something deeply human about identity, belonging, and the search for self.Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson, known to readers as Henry Handel Richardson, lived a life that moved between continents, between expectation and independence, and between the person she was and the voice she chose to become. In this beautifully told bedtime story, we explore the life behind the pen… from her early years in Melbourne to her time in Europe, and the creation of one of Australia’s most powerful literary works, The Fortunes of Richard Mahony. It’s a story of quiet rebellion, creative courage, and the kind of legacy that lingers long after the final page is turned. Settle in, slow down, and let this story carry you gently into the night. The Nightline Bedtime Story, every night on The Nightline with Cheralyn Darcey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.