Audiobooks

Discover the most entertaining audiobooks and the best audiobooks from Penguin, expertly narrated to bring every story to life. Dive into unforgettable fiction, inspiring non-fiction and beloved classics.

The best audiobooks of 2025

The Impossible Fortune

Richard Osman (Author) , Fiona Shaw (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. *NARRATED BY FIONA SHAW (Harry Potter, Killing Eve, Bad Sisters)* The unmissable new mystery in the bestselling, record-breaking Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman Who's got time to think about murder when there's a wedding to plan? It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal. But when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who fears for their life, the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code, and will stop at nothing to get it. Plunged back into their most explosive investigation yet, can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time? ‘Funny, clever, compelling’ HARLAN COBEN ‘Osman just gets better’ SHARI LAPENA 'The thing that shines through in Osman’s writing is that he really likes people and revels in all their foibles and eccentricities . . . a delightful read' OBSERVER © Richard Osman 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Alchemised

SenLinYu (Author) , Saskia Maarleveld (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. ***The record-breaking debut and instant Sunday Times Bestseller*** In a world ruled by necromancers, a woman with missing memories threatens the dark order that keeps her captive - and the man sent to break her. Gothic in tone, epic in scope - this debut is destined to become a modern classic. Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner – of war and of her own fractured mind. The Resistance is crushed, her allies dead, her abilities suppressed. The world she knew is gone. Paladia’s corrupt guild families and their necromancer overlords, aided by vile undead creatures now rule - and hold Helena captive. Resistance records claim she was a healer of little importance. Yet, Helena’s inexplicable memory loss makes her enemies wonder: Is she truly insignificant, or do her missing memories conceal the Resistance’s final secret? To uncover the truth, Helena is delivered into the hands of the High Reeve – Paladia’s most feared and merciless necromancer. Trapped on his crumbling estate, she must fight to protect what remains of herself and unearth the secrets buried in her mind, her prison, and her captor . . . whatever the cost. ‘A work of quite staggering ambition. Detailed world-building, intricate plot, Gothic claustrophobia, wraps the readers in its dark embrace’ Daily Mail ‘A superb dark fantasy novel set in a war torn world of black magic and alchemy’ Sun © Forest Rain Inc 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Atomic Habits

James Clear (Author) , James Clear (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. THE PHENOMENAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER - 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD. Transform your life with tiny changes in behaviour, starting now. People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions: doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call. He calls them atomic habits. In this ground-breaking book, Clears reveals exactly how these minuscule changes can grow into such life-altering outcomes. He uncovers a handful of simple life hacks (the forgotten art of Habit Stacking, the unexpected power of the Two Minute Rule, or the trick to entering the Goldilocks Zone), and delves into cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience to explain why they matter. Along the way, he tells inspiring stories of Olympic gold medalists, leading CEOs, and distinguished scientists who have used the science of tiny habits to stay productive, motivated, and happy. These small changes will have a revolutionary effect on your career, your relationships, and your life. A NEW YORK TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A supremely practical and useful book.' Mark Manson, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck 'James Clear has spent years honing the art and studying the science of habits. This engaging, hands-on book is the guide you need to break bad routines and make good ones.' Adam Grant, author of Originals and Think Again 'It's an absolutely fabulous book and it doesn't surprise me that it's sold so many copies...Very useful, very practical, super well researched.' Dr Rangan Chatterjee © James Clear 2018 (P) Penguin Audio 2018

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Don’t Let Him In

Lisa Jewell (Author) , Richard Armitage (Read by) , Joanne Froggatt (Read by) , Louise Brealey (Read by) , Gemma Whelan (Read by) , Tamryn Payne (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. PREPARE TO BE HOOKED BY THE GRIPPING NEW THRILLER FROM SUNDAY TIMES AND MULTI-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER LISA JEWELL. NARRATED BY RICHARD ARMITAGE AND JOANNE FROGATT. * AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER * He’s the perfect man. He says he loves you. You think he might even be made for you. Before long he’s moved into your house – and into your heart. And then he leaves for days at a time. You don’t know where he’s gone or who he’s with. And you realise - if you looked back - you’d say to yourself: DON’T LET HIM IN. Don’t miss the new listen-in-one-sitting Lisa Jewell novel; a cautionary story that could happen to you… 'Gripping. Shocking. Masterful.' FREIDA McFADDEN ‘Lisa Jewell is a stone-cold genius and Don’t Let Him In deserves to win mainstream literary prizes. Her best book yet. A PHENOMENAL achievement!’ MARIAN KEYES ‘A twisty mosaic of a thriller’ GILLIAN McALLISTER © Lisa Jewell 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Nobody's Girl

Virginia Roberts Giuffre (Author) , Gabra Zackman (Read by) , Therese Plummer (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. The extraordinarily powerful and unforgettable memoir by the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the woman who stood up and spoke out about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell The world knows Virginia Roberts Giuffre as Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s most outspoken victim: the woman whose decision to speak out helped send both serial abusers to prison, whose photograph with Prince Andrew catalyzed his fall from grace. But her story has never been told in full, in her own words—until now. In April 2025, Giuffre took her own life. She left behind a memoir written in the years preceding her death and stated unequivocally that she wanted it published. Nobody’s Girl is the riveting and powerful story of an ordinary girl who would grow up to confront extraordinary adversity. Here, Giuffre offers an unsparing and definitive account of her time with Epstein and Maxwell, who trafficked her and others to numerous prominent men. She also details the molestation she suffered as a child, as well as her daring escape from Epstein and Maxwell’s grasp at nineteen. Giuffre remade her life from scratch and summoned the courage to not only hold her abusers to account but also advocate for other victims. The narrative of Nobody’s Girl preserve her voice—and her legacy—forever. Nobody’s Girl is an astonishing affirmation of Giuffre’s unshakable will—first, to claw her way out of victimhood, and then to shine light on wrongdoing and fight for a safer, fairer world. Equal parts intimate and fierce, it is a remarkable narrative of fortitude in the face of depravity and despair. ©2025 Virginia Roberts Giuffre (P)2025 Penguin Audio

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The Trading Game

Gary Stevenson (Author) , Gary Stevenson (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. *NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER* An outrageous, white-knuckle journey to the dark heart of an intoxicating world - from someone who survived the trading game and then blew it all wide open 'If you were gonna rob a bank, and you saw the vault door there, left open, what would you do? Would you wait around? Ever since he was a kid, kicking broken footballs on the streets of East London in the shadow of Canary Wharf's skyscrapers, Gary wanted something better. Something a whole lot bigger. Then he won a competition run by a bank: 'The Trading Game'. The prize: a golden ticket to a new life, as the youngest trader in the whole city. A place where you could make more money than you'd ever imagined. Where your colleagues are dysfunctional maths geniuses, overfed public schoolboys and borderline psychopaths, yet they start to feel like family. Where soon you're the bank's most profitable trader, dealing in nearly a trillion dollars. A day. Where you dream of numbers in your sleep - and then stop sleeping at all. But what happens when winning starts to feel like losing? When the easiest way to make money is to bet on millions becoming poorer and poorer - and, as the economy starts slipping off a precipice, your own sanity starts slipping with it? You want to stop, but you can't. Because nobody ever leaves. Would you stick, or quit? Even if it meant risking everything? 'An unforgettable story of greed, financial madness and moral decay' Rory Stewart 'Hilarious, shocking and deeply sad — often in the same sentence' Sunday Times 'The Wolf of Wall Street with a moral compass' Irvine Welsh ©2024 Gary Stevenson (P)2024 Penguin Audio

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Mythos

Stephen Fry (Author) , Stephen Fry (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin STEP INTO ANOTHER WORLD - OF MAGIC, MAYHEM, MONSTERS AND MANIACAL GODS - IN STEPHEN FRY'S MOMENTOUS SUNDAY TIMES AND AUDIBLE BESTSELLER, MYTHOS Discover Stephen Fry's magnificent retelling of the greatest myths and legends ever told . . . No one loves and quarrels, desires and deceives as boldly or brilliantly as Greek gods and goddesses. In Stephen Fry's vivid retelling, we gaze in wonder as wise Athena is born from the cracking open of the great head of Zeus and follow doomed Persephone into the dark and lonely realm of the Underworld. Shiver in fear when Pandora opens her jar of evil torments. Listen with joy as the legendary love affair between Eros and Psyche unfolds. Read by Stephen Fry himself, Mythos captures these extraordinary myths for our modern age - in all their dazzling and deeply human relevance. If you're enthralled by the magic of Greek mythology you'll love the final instalment to Fry’s retellings, ODYSSEY, a legendary voyage of peril, temptation, loss and epic adventure. ‘The Greek myths are told to you here by the ever-soothing voice of Stephen Fry, who takes you from Zeus to Athena with his typical humour.’ The Guardian ‘Read by Fry with his accustomed ebullient showmanship [he] gives the legends modern resonance by telling them with a contemporary colloquial twist' AUDIOBOOK of the WEEK, The Times 'Mythos is the best thing he's written since his superb first novel...it is entertaining and edifying - one cannot really ask for more than that.' The Telegraph If you're enthralled by the magic of Greek mythology you'll love the final instalment to Fry’s retellings, ODYSSEY, a legendary voyage of peril, temptation, loss and epic adventure. © Stephen Fry 2017 (P) Penguin Audio 2017

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The best fiction audiobooks: press play, drift away

Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë (Author) , Aimee Lou Wood (Read by) , Kristin Atherton (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Aimee Lou Wood, star of Netflix's Sex Education. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Pauline Nestor. Lockwood, the new tenant of Thrushcross Grange on the bleak Yorkshire moors, is forced to seek shelter one night at Wuthering Heights, the home of his landlord. There he discovers the history of the tempestuous events that took place years before: of the intense passion between the foundling Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and her betrayal of him. As Heathcliff's bitterness and vengeance is visited upon the next generation, their innocent heirs must struggle to escape the legacy of the past. (P) Penguin Audio 2020 Artwork © 2025 WBEI

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Flesh

David Szalay (Author) , Daniel Weyman (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. **WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 2025** A propulsive, hypnotic novel about a man who is unravelled by a series of events beyond his grasp. Fifteen-year-old István lives with his mother in a quiet apartment complex in Hungary. New to the town and shy, he is unfamiliar with the social rituals at school and soon becomes isolated, with his neighbour – a married woman close to his mother’s age – as his only companion. These encounters shift into a clandestine relationship that István himself can barely understand, and his life soon spirals out of control. As the years pass, he is carried gradually upwards on the currents of the twenty-first century’s tides of money and power, moving from the army to the company of London’s super-rich, with his own competing impulses for love, intimacy, status and wealth winning him unimaginable riches, until they threaten to undo him completely. Spare and penetrating, Flesh is the finest novel yet by a master of realism, asking profound questions about what drives a life: what makes it worth living, and what breaks it. Chosen as a ‘Best Book of 2025’ by the Guardian, Observer, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail 'Brilliance on every page' Samantha Harvey, author of Orbital ‘Flesh is a wonderful novel – so brilliant and wise on chance, love, sex, money' David Nicholls, author of One Day 'It’s been a long time since I’ve been swallowed whole by a novel the way I was by this one ... So much searing insight into the way we live now' Observer 'Compelling and elegant, merciless and poignant. David Szalay is an extraordinary writer' Tessa Hadley © David Szalay 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Someone Else’s Shoes

Jojo Moyes (Author) , Daisy Ridley (Read by)

A story of mix-ups, mess-ups and making the most of second chances, this is the new novel from international sensation Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You and The Giver of Stars 'A delightful reverse-Cinderella story of two women who seem polar opposites - until circumstance forces them to experience each other's lives. Nobody writes women the way Jojo Moyes does - recognizably real and complex and funny and flawed' JODI PICOULT Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else's shoes? Meet Sam . . . She's not got much, but she's grateful for what she has: a job she's just about clinging on to and a family who depend on her for everything. She knows she's one bad day away from losing it all - and just hopes today isn't it . . . Meet Nisha . . . She's got everything she always dreamed of - and more: a phenomenally rich husband; an international lifestyle; and . . . she's just been locked out of all of it after her husband initiates divorce proceedings . . . Sam and Nisha should never have crossed paths. But after a bag mix-up at the gym, their lives become intertwined - even as they spiral out of control. Each blames the other as they feel increasingly invisible, forgotten, lost - and desperately alone. But they're not. No woman is an island. Look around. Family. Friends. Strangers. Even the woman you believe just ruined your life might turn out to be your best friend. Because together you can do anything - like take back what is yours . . . Praise for Jojo Moyes: 'Moyes somehow manages to break your heart before restoring your faith in love' Sunday Express 'Storytelling at its best' Marie Claire 'A deeply satisfying book full of big emotions' Good Housekeeping 'Britain's best contemporary female author' Sun on Sunday

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Norwegian Wood

Haruki Murakami (Author) , Jay Rubin (Translator) , Adam Sims (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. The haunting love story that turned Murakami into a literary superstar. When he hears her favourite Beatles song, Toru Watanabe recalls his first love Naoko, the girlfriend of his best friend Kizuki. Immediately he is transported back almost twenty years to his student days in Tokyo, adrift in a world of uneasy friendships, casual sex, passion, loss and desire - to a time when an impetuous young woman called Midori marches into his life and he has to choose between the future and the past. 'Evocative, entertaining, sexy and funny; but then Murakami is one of the best writers around' Time Out 'Such is the exquisite, gossamer construction of Murakami's writing that everything he chooses to describe trembles with symbolic possibility' Guardian 'This book is undeniably hip, full of student uprisings, free love, booze and 1960s pop, it's also genuinely emotionally engaging, and describes the highs of adolescence as well as the lows' Independent on Sunday © Haruki Murakami 1987 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

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I Who Have Never Known Men

Jacqueline Harpman (Author) , Ros Schwartz (Translator) , Sarah Lambie (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. THE HEART-BREAKING POST-APOCALYPTIC TIKTOK SENSATION Discover the haunting, heartbreaking post-apocalyptic tale of female friendship and intimacy set in a deserted world. Deep underground, 39 women are kept in isolation in a cage. Aboveground, a world awaits. Has it been abandoned? Devastated by a virus? Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time and only vague recollection of their lives before. But, as the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl - the 40th prisoner - sits alone and outcast in the corner. Soon she will show herself to be the key to the others' escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them aboveground. The woman who will never know men. Listeners Reviews: ‘The voice actor is FANTASTIC’ *****‘Life-changing. An absolute must read.’ *****‘Beautiful contemplation on what makes life worth living’ ***** ©2019 Jacqueline Harpman (P)2021 Penguin Audio

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I Will Find You

Harlan Coben (Author) , Steven Weber (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. David and Cheryl Baskin are living the dream - married, a beautiful new house in the suburbs, a three-year-old son named Matthew - when tragedy strikes in the worst way possible. David awakes to find himself covered in blood... but not his own, his son's. While David is sure he did not murder his son, the overwhelming evidence against him puts him behind bars indefinitely. Then, five years following his imprisonment, his wife's sisterbrings David a photograph of Matthew looking very much alive, accompanied by an unknown figure. Can David escape prison, find Matthew and bring him home? The consequences are dire, but prospect of being reunited with his son is way too tempting to resist. Soon David is on the run. But it soon transpires that he knows way too much, and that there are people out there who will do anything to silence him. For ever ... © Harlan Coben 2023 (P) Penguin Audio 2023

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My Year of Rest and Relaxation

Ottessa Moshfegh (Author) , Julia Whelan (Read by)

Random House presents the audiobook edition of My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh, read by Julia Whelan. SHORTLISTED FOR THE WELLCOME BOOK PRIZE 2019 FROM THE MAN BOOKER-SHORTLISTED AUTHOR OF EILEEN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'Savage, funny, frequently on the verge of teetering into lunacy... My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a non-negotiable in your holiday carry-on this summer' Vogue It’s the year 2000 in a city aglitter with wealth and possibility; what could be so terribly wrong? Our narrator has many of the advantages of life: Young, thin, pretty, a recent Columbia graduate, she lives in an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan paid for, like everything else, by her inheritance. But there is a vacuum at the heart of things, and it isn’t just the loss of her parents in college, or the way her Wall Street boyfriend treats her, or her sadomasochistic relationship with her alleged best friend. Blackly funny, both merciless and compassionate – dangling its legs over the ledge of 9/11 – My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a showcase for the gifts of one of America’s major young writers.

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In Memoriam

Alice Winn (Author) , Christian Coulson (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES NOVEL OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2023 THE TOP FIVE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER In 1914, war feels far away to Henry Gaunt and Sidney Ellwood. They're too young to enlist, and anyway, Gaunt is fighting his own private battle - an all-consuming infatuation with the dreamy, poetic Ellwood - not having a clue that his best friend is in love with him too. When Gaunt's mother asks him to enlist, he signs up immediately, relieved to escape his overwhelming feelings. But Ellwood and their classmates soon follow him to the front. Ellwood and Gaunt find love in the trenches – but just as war brought them together, it can tear them apart… An epic, unforgettable love story between two soldiers in the First World War, In Memoriam is a breath-taking debut.‘If you haven’t read it, you’re missing out’ Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY 'One of the best debuts I've read in recent years . . . please rush out and buy it' ELIZABETH DAY 'A genuine page-turner' Sunday Times 'BIRDSONG for a new generation' JOANNA QUINN, author of THE WHALEBONE THEATRE 'I can't remember the last time I was this invested in a love story' Sunday Telegraph 'Assured, affecting and moving' MAGGIE O'FARRELL, author of HAMNET ‘Will smash your heart to smithereens' Daily Mail ©2023 Alice Winn (P)2023 Penguin Audio

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Features

Short audiobooks you can enjoy in one sitting

Want to get stuck into a book but short on time? We recommend an audiobook – specifically, one of these 10 easy listens

Inspiring audiobooks

What's Your Dream?

Simon Squibb (Author) , Simon Squibb (Read by)

'Brought to you by Penguin. A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER. Find Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life. What's your dream? It's a simple question, but one which very few of us ever really think about. From early on, we are taught that there's only one path to getting ahead: do well at school, get a certain kind of job, and avoid failure at all costs. We're so busy trying to follow these rules that we never stop and ask ourselves: What's my purpose? What do I really want? Do I have the power to make it happen? Simon Squibb is on a mission to change people's lives for the better. Here, he shares the hard-won life lessons from his years in the business world plus his own personal life, from facing homelessness as a teenager to selling a multi-million pound business, and now inspiring a new generation of budding entrepreneurs. Simon will empower readers to identify their own meaningful goals, to remove the barriers that stand in the way, and ultimately to build a richer life. Sometimes, it just takes one person to believe in you... 'Simon loves dreams and he wants you to live yours. This book will stop you from giving up on your goals and start building the life you want' Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author and host of the On Purpose podcast 'The book I recommend if you want to start or grow a business' Ali Abdaal, productivity expert and bestselling author of Feel-Good Productivity ‘Inspiring stuff…Simon empowers you to follow your dreams without fear’ Jamie Oliver © Simon Squibb 2024 (P)Penguin Audio 2024

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Book of Lives

Margaret Atwood (Author) , Margaret Atwood (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. The greatest writer of our time tells her own story. Immerse yourself in the creative universe of Margaret Atwood for a riot of life, art and everything in between Raised by scientifically minded parents, Atwood spent most of each year in the wild forest of northern Quebec: a vast playground for her entomologist father and independent, resourceful mother. It was an unfettered and nomadic childhood, sometimes isolated but also thrilling and beautiful. From this unconventional start, Atwood unfolds the story of her life, linking key moments to the books that have shaped our literary landscape, from the cruel school year that would become Cat’s Eye to the unease of 1980s Berlin, where she began The Handmaid’s Tale. In pages alive with the natural world, reading and books, major political turning points and her lifelong love for the charismatic writer Graeme Gibson, we meet poets, bears, Hollywood stars and larger-than-life characters straight from the pages of an Atwood novel. As she explores her past, Atwood reveals more and more about her writing, the connections between real life and art – and the workings of one of our boldest imaginations. 'She's taken our times and made us wise to them' ALI SMITH 'She's Margaret Atwood and she can do anything' ANN PATCHETT 'She saw it all coming' TIME 'The outstanding novelist of our age' SUNDAY TIMES © Margaret Atwood 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Always Winning

Ashley Walters (Author) , Chris Isaie (Author) , Ashley Walters (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. FROM THE STAR OF THE PHENOMENAL NETFLIX SHOW, ADOLESCENCE, COMES A POWERFUL MEMOIR, PACKED WITH INSPIRING STORIES AND HARD-EARNED WISDOM FOR LIFE'S MOST CHALLENGING MOMENTS. “I wanted to write this book for that person who feels like the world doesn’t understand what life is like for them. I want to be honest about where I have been and how I have got to where I am. Because we can’t be what we can’t see.” – Ashley Walters From Adolescence and Top Boy to So Solid Crew, Ashley Walters’ explosive on-screen performances and trailblazing music has always explored the same conflicting forces that have governed his life. Born and raised in Peckham, his father in and out of prison, Ashley found the gang culture in inner city London inescapable. At 15, he was stabbed in the neck and left for dead. At 18, he had a gun held to his head as he cradled his newborn son. At 20, he was sentenced to eighteen months in prison. In this brave and inspiring book, Ashley opens up about his turbulent past. He writes candidly about his battles with identity, addiction, family and fame, and the realisation that, after years of struggle, only he could change his future. ‘Always Winning’ is the framework Ashley developed to turn his life around. Revealed for the first time in this book, explored through powerful stories from his life and career, he shares the principles of this philosophy and shows how anyone can use them to overcome their own challenges, helping them to align a true sense of purpose with inner happiness and personal success and fulfilment. ‘An icon of British and wider Black British culture.’ GQ 'A raw and inspiring testament to resilience.' STEVEN BARTLETT 'A deeper truth that speaks to our whole time and culture, and offers us all a way forward.' AFUA HIRSCH © Ashley Walters 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Is a River Alive?

Robert Macfarlane (Author) , Robert Macfarlane (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. From celebrated writer Robert Macfarlane comes this brilliant, perspective-shifting new book – which answers a resounding yes to the question of its title. At its heart is a single, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings – who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law. Is a River Alive? takes the reader on an exhilarating exploration of the past, present and futures of this ancient, urgent concept. The book flows first to northern Ecuador, where a miraculous cloud-forest and its rivers are threatened by goldmining. Then, to the wounded rivers, creeks and lagoons of southern India, where a desperate battle to save the lives of these waterbodies is under way. And finally, to north-eastern Quebec, where a spectacular wild river – the Mutehekau or Magpie – is being defended from death by damming in a river-rights campaign. At once Macfarlane’s most personal and most political book to date, Is a River Alive? will open hearts, spark debates and lead us to the revelation that our fate flows with that of rivers – and always has. © Robert Macfarlane 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Becoming

Michelle Obama (Author) , Michelle Obama (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Winner of the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album Winner of the 2020 Audie Award for Autobiography/Memoir An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir; 17 million copies sold worldwide THE NO. 1 BESTSELLER BRITISH BOOK AWARDS, NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR THE SUNDAY TIMES, MEMOIR OF THE YEAR BOOKS OF THE YEAR: THE TIMES, OBSERVER, GUARDIAN, EVENING STANDARD 'A polished pearl of a memoir' New York Times In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America - the first African American to serve in that role - she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the United States and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare. In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her -- from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it -- in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations -- and whose story inspires us to do the same. 'A genuine page-turner, full of intimacies and reflections' Evening Standard 'A rich, entertaining and candid memoir. And overall Obama's a fun person to sit alongside as she tells you the story of her life . . . it is as beautifully written as any piece of fiction' i 'Offers new insights into her upbringing on the south side of Chicago and the highs and lows of life with Barack Obama. . . a refreshing level of honesty about what politics really did to her. I have read Barack Obama's two books so far, and this is like inserting a missing piece of reality into the narrative of his dizzying journey' Guardian 'I found myself lifting my jaw from my chest at the end of every other chapter . . . this was not the Obama I thought I knew. She was more' Independent 'An inspirational memoir that also rings true' Daily Telegraph 'It seems a wonderful privilege to have the former First Lady speaking her own words straight into your ear, and her own reading gives the anecdotes extra meaning and emotion' Daily Mail MICHELLE OBAMA'S NEXT BOOK, THE LIGHT WE CARRY, IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW ©2018 Michelle Obama (P)2018 Penguin Books Ltd

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A Promised Land

Barack Obama (Author) , Barack Obama (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES AND AUDIBLE BESTSELLER A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making-from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy. In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency-a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil. Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation's highest office. Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune's Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden. A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective-the story of one man's bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of "hope and change," and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible. This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama's conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day. WINNER OF BEST NARRATION BY THE AUTHOR - AUDIE AWARDS 2022 'What is unexpected in A Promised Land is the former president's candour' David Olusoga, Observer 'Gorgeously written, humorous, compelling, life affirming' Justin Webb, Mail on Sunday © 2020 Barack Obama (P) 2020 Penguin Audio

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Four Thousand Weeks

Oliver Burkeman (Author) , Oliver Burkeman (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. The instant Sunday Times bestseller A FINANCIAL TIMES, GUARDIAN AND OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR ONE OF THE DAILY TELEGRAPH'S 75 BEST BOOKS OF 2021 What if you stopped trying to do everything, so that you could finally get round to what counts? We're obsessed with our lengthening to-do lists, our overfilled inboxes, the struggle against distraction, and the sense that our attention spans are shrivelling. Still, we rarely make the connection between our daily struggles with time and the ultimate time management problem: the question of how best to use our ridiculously brief time on the planet, which amounts on average to about four thousand weeks. Four Thousand Weeks is an uplifting, engrossing and deeply realistic exploration of the challenge. Rejecting the futile modern obsession with 'getting everything done,' it introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing rather than denying their limitations. Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman sets out to realign our relationship with time - and in doing so, to liberate us from its tyranny. Embrace your limits. Change your life. Make your four thousand weeks count. 'Life is finite. You don't have to fit everything in... Read this book and wake up to a new way of thinking and living' EMMA GANNON 'A much-needed reality check on our culture's crazy assumptions around work, productivity and living a meaningful life' MARK MANSON, bestselling author of THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F*CK 'Comforting, fascinating, engaging, inspiring and USEFUL, actually genuinely useful' MARIAN KEYES © Oliver Burkeman 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

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A Life on Our Planet

David Attenborough (Author) , David Attenborough (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. See the world. Then make it better. I am 93. I've had an extraordinary life. It's only now that I appreciate how extraordinary. As a young man, I felt I was out there in the wild, experiencing the untouched natural world - but it was an illusion. The tragedy of our time has been happening all around us, barely noticeable from day to day - the loss of our planet's wild places, its biodiversity. I have been witness to this decline. A Life on Our Planet contains my witness statement, and my vision for the future - the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake, and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right. We have the opportunity to create the perfect home for ourselves and restore the wonderful world we inherited. All we need is the will to do so. © David Attenborough 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

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Best non-fiction audiobooks: meet the experts

The Brain at Rest

Joseph Jebelli (Author) , Joseph Jebelli (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Blending science and personal stories with practical tips, neuroscientist Dr Joseph Jebelli reveals how new research is solving the mystery of the brain at rest, with profound implications for intelligence, creativity and even life expectancy. We are constantly told to make the most of our time: to stop procrastinating, to 'optimise' and be efficient with every precious hour. But when we let our brains rest, and our minds wander, something magical happens: the brain’s ’default network’ switches on, and we are able to think in completely new ways. Drawing on groundbreaking new research, Dr. Jebelli reveals how napping can enhance brain size, spending time in nature can boost creativity and problem-solving skills, and how silence fosters the growth of new brain cells. Authoritative and inspiring, The Brain at Rest offers practical advice for achieving a happier, healthier, and more balanced life. 'A tonic for the frazzled mind' DAVID ROBSON 'This excellent book is precisely what we need to stop, reset, and rest' JOHANN HARI 'Offers practical, science-backed solutions for reclaiming your life' NIR EYAL 'Addicted to work? Stop what you’re doing and read this book' ANNA LEMBKE 'The most important part of your brain you've never heard of' ALEX SOOJUNG-KIM PANG 'If you want to accomplish more, without any relaxation guilt, this book is for you' CHRIS BAILEY © Joseph Jebelli 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Why We Sleep

Matthew Walker (Author) , John Sackville (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER TLS, OBSERVER, SUNDAY TIMES, FT, GUARDIAN, DAILY MAIL AND EVENING STANDARD BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2017 Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our life, health and longevity and yet it is increasingly neglected in twenty-first-century society, with devastating consequences: every major disease in the developed world - Alzheimer's, cancer, obesity, diabetes - has very strong causal links to deficient sleep. In this audiobook, the first of its kind written by a scientific expert, Professor Matthew Walker explores twenty years of cutting-edge research to solve the mystery of why sleep matters. Looking at creatures from across the animal kingdom as well as major human studies, Why We Sleep delves into everything from what really happens during REM sleep to how caffeine and alcohol affect sleep and why our sleep patterns change across a lifetime, transforming our appreciation of the extraordinary phenomenon that safeguards our existence. Includes a bonus PDF of graphs and diagrams. 'Astonishing ... an amazing book ... absolutely chocker full of things that we need to know' Chris Evans 'Matthew Walker is probably one of the most influential people on the planet' Evening Standard 'Startling, vital ... a life-raft' Guardian 'A top sleep scientist argues that sleep is more important for our health than diet or exercise' The Times 'Passionate, urgent . . . it had a powerful effect on me' Observer ©2017 Matthew Walker (P)2017 Penguin Books Ltd

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The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did)

Philippa Perry (Author) , Philippa Perry (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER From the UK's favourite therapist, as seen on Channel 4's Grayson's Art Club. How can we have better relationships? In this Sunday Times bestseller, leading psychotherapist Philippa Perry reveals the vital do's and don'ts of relationships. This is a book for us all. Whether you are interested in understanding how your upbringing has shaped you, looking to handle your child's feelings or wishing to support your partner, you will find indispensable information and realistic tips in these pages. Philippa Perry's sane, sage and judgement-free advice is an essential resource on how to have the best possible relationships with the people who matter to you most. 'A wonderful book' Richard Osman 'So clear and true ... Helpful for all relationships in life' Nigella Lawson 'A fascinating read on the emotional baggage we all carry' Elizabeth Day 'It gave me hope as a new parent' Babita Sharma 'This has genuinely had such a positive impact on my life and my relationship with my daughter' Josh Widdicombe 'She writes with an inquisitive elegance rarely found in parenting guides ... it is forgiving and persuasive' Hadley Freeman, the Guardian 'Philippa Perry is one of the wisest, most sane and secure people I've ever met' Decca Aitkenhead, Sunday Times Magazine © Philippa Perry 2019 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

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The Myth of Normal

Gabor Maté (Author) , Daniel Maté (Author) , Daniel Maté (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. We tend to believe that normality equals health. Yet what is the norm in the Western world? Mental illness is on an unstoppable rise. Some 45% of Europeans suffer high blood pressure, and nearly 70% of Americans take at least one prescription drug. Illness and trauma are defining how we live. In his new masterpiece, renowned physician, addiction expert and author Gabor Maté dissects the underlying causes of this malaise - physical and emotional, and connects the dots between our personal suffering and the pressures of modern-day living. Over four decades of clinical experience, Dr Maté has found that the common definition of 'normal' is false: virtually all disease is actually a natural reflection of life in an abnormal culture, as we grow further and further apart from our true selves. But he also shows us the pathway to reconnection and healing. Filled with stories of people in the grip of illness or in the triumphant wake of recovery, this life-affirming book shows how true health is possible - if we are willing to embrace authenticity above social expectations. The Myth of Normal is Gabor Maté's most ambitious, compassionate and urgent book yet. © Gabor Maté, Daniel Maté 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

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Food for Life

Tim Spector (Author) , Leighton Pugh (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Food is our greatest ally for good health, but the question of what to eat has never seemed so complicated. In his new book, Tim Spector creates a unique, thorough, evidence-based guide to the real science of eating. Moving away from misleading notions of calories or nutritional breakdowns, Food for Life empowers us to make our own food choices based on a deeper understanding of the true benefits and harms that come from our daily transactions with the foods around us. Combining cutting-edge research with a personal insights, and taking a wide angle lens on everything from environmental impact and food fraud to allergies and deceptive labelling, Spector takes a deep dive into each food type. Food for Life also includes easy-to-implement action points and useful tables as practical tools in our everyday food decisions, presented in a novel and comprehensive format. Ultimately, this book encourages us to fall in love again with food and celebrate its many wondrous properties, which science is still only just beginning to understand. Audio updated as of November 2022 © Tim Spector 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

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Why We Eat (Too Much)

Andrew Jenkinson (Author) , John Sackville (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Articulate, clear, a joy to read, this is a book that really needed written' Joanna Blythman, author of Swallow This 'Highly persuasive ... a radical approach to weight' Sunday Times ___________________________________________________________ A practical, accessible guide to understanding the diet myth and the secret to lasting weight loss. For over two decades, weight loss surgeon Dr Andrew Jenkinson has treated thousands of people who have become trapped in the endless cycle of dieting. Why We Eat (Too Much), combines case studies from his practice and the new science of metabolism to illuminate how our appetite really works. Debunking the great myths of the body, and systematically explaining why dieting is counter-productive, this unflinching book investigates every aspect of nutrition. From the difference between good and bad fats to the impact of genes and genetic mutation on our weight and what happens to our hormones long after a diet ends, Dr Jenkinson explores the fields of agriculture, pharma, anthropology and medicine to uncover the truth behind our bad food habits and the escalating obesity crisis. With a new chapter about the link between obesity and COVID-19, this incredible book will help you understand your body better than ever before. © Dr Andrew Jenkinson 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

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Features

Elisabeth Moss reads The Handmaid’s Tale audiobook

Elisabeth Moss, star of the Channel 4 TV adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale, has narrated the audiobook edition of Margaret Atwood’s iconic novel. Listen to excerpts from the audiobook.

Best audiobooks of all time: the Classics

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen (Author) , Indira Varma (Read by) , Kristin Atherton (Read by) , Tony Tanner (Introducer)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Indira Varma, who has starred in Luther and Game of Thrones. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Vivien Jones. When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited; he is indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossip and snobberies of provincial middle-class life. (P) Penguin Audio 2020

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Frankenstein

Mary Shelley (Author) , Peter Noble (Read by) , Colin Salmon (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Colin Salmon known for his starring roles in Resident Evil and Alien Vs Predator. He is also known for his role as Charles Robinson alongside Pierce Brosnan's James Bond. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Maurice Hindle, read by Peter Noble. A terrifying vision of scientific progress without moral limits, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein leads the reader on an unsettling journey from the sublime beauty of the Swiss alps to the desolate waste of the arctic circle. Obsessed with the idea of creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material with which to fashion a new being, shocking his creation to life with electricity. But this botched creature, rejected by its creator and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy Frankenstein and all that he holds dear. Mary Shelley's chilling gothic tale was conceived when she was only eighteen, living with her lover Percy Shelley near Lord Byron's villa on Lake Geneva. It would become the world's most famous work of Gothic horror, and Frankenstein's monster an instantly-recognisable symbol of the limits of human creativity.

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Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë (Author) , Anna Popplewell (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Anna Popplewell, best known for her leading role as Susan Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia films. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Stevie Davies. Orphaned Jane Eyre grows up in the home of her heartless aunt, where she endures loneliness and cruelty, and at a charity school with a harsh regime. This troubled childhood strengthens Jane's natural independence and spirit - which prove necessary when she finds a position as governess at Thornfield Hall. But when she finds love with her sardonic employer, Rochester, the discovery of his terrible secret forces her to make a choice. Should she stay with him and live with the consequences, or follow her convictions, even if it means leaving the man she loves? A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre (1847) dazzled and shocked readers with its passionate depiction of a woman's search for equality and freedom.

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The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde (Author) , Ben Barnes (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Ben Barnes, star of the film adaptation of Dorian Gray, also known for his roles in Westworld and The Chronicles of Narnia. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Robert Mighall. Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life; indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence. The novel was a succès de scandale and the book was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895. It has lost none of its power to fascinate and disturb.

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Oroonoko

Aphra Behn (Author) , Isabel Adomakoh-Young (Read by) , Kristin Atherton (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Isabel Adomakoh Young. Isabel's credits include The Provoked Wife with the RSC and playing Lady Macbeth in the West End with the National Youth Theatre Rep Company. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Janet Todd. Restoration-era poet, playwright and novelist Aphra Behn was the first truly professional woman writer in English, and Oroonoko is her sophisticated and insightful condemnation of slavery. This Penguin Classics edition is edited with an introduction by Janet Todd. When Prince Oroonoko's passion for the virtuous Imoinda arouses the jealousy of his grandfather, the lovers are cast into slavery and transported from Africa to the colony of Surinam. Oroonoko's noble bearing soon wins the respect of his English captors, but his struggle for freedom brings about his destruction. Inspired by Aphra Behn's visit to Surinam, Oroonoko reflects the author's romantic view of native peoples as noble savages in 'the first state of innocence, before man knew how to sin'. The novel also reveals Behn's ambiguous attitude to African slavery - while she favoured it as a means to strengthen England's rule, her powerful and moving work conveys its injustice and brutality. This new edition of Oroonoko is based on the first printed version of 1688, and includes a chronology, further reading and notes. In her introduction, Janet Todd examines Aphra Behn's views of slavery, colonization and politics, and her position as a professional woman writer in the Restoration. Little is known of Aphra Behn's (1640-1689) early life. She was probably born in Kent, and in the early 1660s claims to have visited the British colony of Surinam. She turned to literature for a living, producing numerous short stories, 19 stage plays and political propaganda for the Tories. (P) Penguin Audio 2020

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The War of the Worlds

H G Wells (Author) , David Harewood (Read by) , Brian Aldiss (Introducer)

Brought to you by Penguin. Shortlisted for the Best Solo Narration Award at the New York Festival Radio Awards 2020. This Penguin Classic is performed by the critically acclaimed actor David Harewood, one of the stars of the television series Homeland. Harewood is also known for his roles in award-winning productions The Night Manager and Blood Diamond. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Brian Aldiss' read by Roy McMillan. The night after a shooting star is seen streaking through the sky from Mars, a cylinder is discovered on Horsell Common in London. At first, naïve locals approach the cylinder armed just with a white flag - only to be quickly killed by an all-destroying heat-ray, as terrifying tentacled invaders emerge. Soon the whole of human civilisation is under threat, as powerful Martians build gigantic killing machines, destroy all in their path with black gas and burning rays, and feast on the warm blood of trapped, still-living human prey. The forces of the Earth, however, may prove harder to beat than they at first appear. The War of the Worlds has been the subject of countless adaptations, including an Orson Welles radio drama which caused mass panic when it was broadcast, with listeners confusing it for a news broadcast heralding alien invasion; a musical version by Jeff Wayne; and, most recently, Steven Spielberg's 2005 film version, starring Tom Cruise. H.G. Wells (1866-1946) was a professional writer and journalist. Among his most popular works are The Time Machine (1895); The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), filmed with Bela Lugosi in 1932, and again in 1996 with Marlon Brando; The Invisible Man (1897); The War of the Worlds (1898); and The First Men in the Moon (1901), which predicted the first lunar landings.

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To the Lighthouse

Virginia Woolf (Author) , Ruth Wilson (Read by) , Hermione Lee (Introducer)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Ruth Wilson, star of Luther, Mrs Wilson and His Dark Materials. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Hermione Lee. To the Lighthouse is at once a vivid impressionistic depiction of a family holiday, and a meditation on marriage, on parenthood and childhood, on grief, tyranny and bitterness. For years now the Ramsays have spent every summer in their holiday home in Scotland, and they expect these summers will go on forever; but as the First World War looms, the integrity of family and society will be fatally challenged. The novel's use of stream of consciousness, reminiscence and shifting perspectives gives it an intimate, poetic essence, and at the time of publication in 1927 it represented an utter rejection of Victorian and Edwardian literary values. (P) Penguin Audio 2020

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Dubliners

James Joyce (Author) , Andrew Scott (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Andrew Scott, star of Sherlock, Fleabag and Black Mirror, also known for his on-stage roles in Present Laughter and Hamlet. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Terence Brown. Joyce's first major work, written when he was only twenty-five, brought his city to the world for the first time. His stories are rooted in the rich detail of Dublin life, portraying ordinary, often defeated lives with unflinching realism. He writes of social decline, sexual desire and exploitation, corruption and personal failure, yet creates a brilliantly compelling, unique vision of the world and of human experience. "Scott's intonation and pacing made the book really easy to follow, and the fact that every chapter is a full story kept me engaged for much longer than if I was reading it on the page." i News (P) 2019 Penguin Audio

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Crime and Punishment

Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Author) , Oliver Ready (Translator) , Don Warrington (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Don Warrington, known for his roles in Death in Paradise and The Five as well as his multiple Shakespearean performances. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Oliver Ready. 'A truly great translation . . . This English version really is better' - A. N. Wilson, The Spectator TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2014 This acclaimed new translation of Dostoyevsky's 'psychological record of a crime' gives his dark masterpiece of murder and pursuit a renewed vitality, expressing its jagged, staccato urgency and fevered atmosphere as never before. Raskolnikov, a destitute and desperate former student, wanders alone through the slums of St. Petersburg, deliriously imagining himself above society's laws. But when he commits a random murder, only suffering ensues. Embarking on a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a suspicious police investigator, Raskolnikov finds the noose of his own guilt tightening around his neck. Only Sonya, a downtrodden prostitute, can offer the chance of redemption. Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) was born in Moscow and made his name in 1846 with the novella Poor Folk. He spent several years in prison in Siberia as a result of his political activities, an experience which formed the basis of The House of the Dead. In later life, he fell in love with a much younger woman and developed a ruinous passion for roulette. His subsequent great novels include Notes from Underground, Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons and The Brothers Karamazov. Oliver Ready is Research Fellow in Russian Society and Culture at St Antony's College, Oxford. He is general editor of the anthology, The Ties of Blood: Russian Literature from the 21st Century (2008), and Consultant Editor for Russia, Central and Eastern Europe at the Times Literary Supplement. Translation copyright (c) Oliver Ready 2014 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

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War And Peace

Leo Tolstoy (Author) , Sam Woolf (Read by) , Michael Fox (Read by) , Olivia Darnley (Read by) , Anthony Briggs (Translator) , Terence Wilton (Read by) , Chloe Pirrie (Read by) , Orlando Figes (Afterword by)

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Chloe Pirrie, Sam Woolf, Michael Fox, Olivia Darnley and Terence Wilton. At a glittering society party in St Petersburg in 1805, conversations are dominated by the prospect of war. Terror swiftly engulfs the country as Napoleon's army marches on Russia, and the lives of three young people are changed forever. The stories of quixotic Pierre, cynical Andrey and impetuous Natasha interweave with a huge cast, from aristocrats and peasants, to soldiers and Napoleon himself. In War and Peace (1868-9), Tolstoy entwines grand themes - conflict and love, birth and death, free will and fate - with unforgettable scenes of nineteenth-century Russia, to create a magnificent epic of human life in all its imperfection and grandeur. Translator Copyright © Anthony Briggs 2005 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

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Best audiobooks for children

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper (Book 20)

Jeff Kinney (Author) , Jeff Kinney (Illustrator) , Dan Russell (Read by)

Brought to you by Puffin. It’s Wimpy Kid Greg’s birthday – and you’re invited to the chaos. In Partypooper, the 20th book in Jeff Kinney’s global smash-hit Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Greg Heffley is planning the ultimate party – for himself. But when the guest list grows, the decorations flop, and the surprises backfire, this birthday bash turns into a total blowout—just not the kind Greg had in mind. Packed with cake disasters, family fiascos, and laugh out loud Wimpy Kid fun, this book is perfect for readers ages 8–12. Collect all the books in the #1 bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (#1) | Rodrick Rules (#2) | The Last Straw (#3) | Dog Days (#4) | The Ugly Truth (#5) | Cabin Fever (#6) | The Third Wheel (#7) | Hard Luck (#8) | The Long Haul (#9) | Old School (#10) | Double Down (#11) | The Getaway (#12) | The Meltdown (#13) | Wrecking Ball (#14) | The Deep End (#15) | Big Shot (#16) | Diper Överlöde (#17) | No Brainer (#18) | Hot Mess (#19) | Partypooper (#20) © Jeff Kinney 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

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Peter Rabbit: Tales for Bedtime

Beatrix Potter (Author) , Theo Solomon (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Settle down for bedtime with Peter Rabbit and all his friends in this enchanting collection of brand new stories perfect for a cosy bedtime read with all the family. Follow Peter and all his friends through beautiful night-time scenes and exciting woodland adventures before cosying-up for bedtime. Help Peter find a lost toy ladybird, camp by the lake, and even set out on a night-time raid of Mr. McGregor's vegetable patch! Featuring 24 brand new stories, inspired by Beatrix Potter's original tales, and activities to help little ones create a healthy bedtime routine, this beautiful book makes the perfect gift to read every night and will become an evening tradition for Peter Rabbit fans young and old. Discover more beautifully illustrated Peter Rabbit collections: Peter Rabbit: Tales from the Countryside Peter Rabbit: Christmas is Coming The World of Peter Rabbit - The Complete Collection of Original Tales © Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd, 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

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Natural Wonders of the World

Ladybird (Author) , Ben Bailey-Smith (Read by)

Brought to you by Ladybird. Audiobook of the Year, Week Junior Book Awards 2023. Follow our fearless adventurers Otto (and Missy, the smartest bird in the universe) as they set out on their next action-packed Ladybird Audio Adventure! On this adventure we're going to travel all around the globe and learn more about the seven natural wonders of the world! Dive amongst the coral in the weird and wonderful Great Barrier Reef in sunny Australia, climb to the coldest heights of Mount Everest, and strap in for some splashingly good fun down the rapids at The Grand Canyon. There are many more natural wonders to visit and so much more to learn and discover about them all so don't miss out on this global adventure! These audiobooks help children learn about their environment on a journey of discovery with narrators Ben Bailey Smith (a.k.a. Doc Brown, rapper, comedian, and writer) and Sophie Aldred (best known for her role as Ace in Doctor Who). Ladybird Audio Adventures is an award-winning original series for three to seven-year-olds; an entertaining and engaging way for children to learn about the world around them. Special stories written exclusively for audio so little ones can become their own adventurers with fun sound and musical effects that are perfect for listening at home, before bed and on long journeys. Have you listened to all our Ladybird Audio Adventures? Dinosaur Times The Human Body Outer Space Deep Sea Dive The Animal Kingdom Ancient Egypt Ancient Rome Incredible Inventors Lake, Lochs, and Rivers Volcanoes This Ladybird story was written by Sidra Ansari. ©2022 Ladybird (P) Penguin Audio 2022

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods

Rick Riordan (Author) , Jesse Bernstein (Read by)

Brought to you by Puffin. THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER The original hero. A brand-new adventure. Percy Jackson has saved the world multiple times - battling monsters, Titans, even giants - but these days the modern-day son of Poseidon is hoping for a regular final year at school. Too bad the Greek gods have other plans, and three new quests for Percy to complete. First up: the cupbearer of the gods, Ganymede, is missing his golden chalice. Not only is this embarrassing (why do the gods keep losing their magical items?), it's also potentially disastrous. One sip from the cup will turn any mortal into a powerful god. And the old gods do not take kindly to newbies. Can Percy and his friends Annabeth and Grover find the chalice before it falls into the wrong hands? And even if they do, will they be able to resist its awesome power. . .? Listeners new to the Percy Jackson universe and long-time fans will love this epic adventure - full of legendary heroes, mythical creatures, ancient Greek gods and enduring friendship - from the global bestseller Rick Riordan. ©2023 Rick Riordan (P)2023 Penguin Audio

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Peppa Pig: Bedtime Stories

Peppa Pig (Author) , John Sparkes (Read by)

Brought to you by Ladybird. Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Peppa Pig: Bedtime Stories by Ladybird, read by John Sparkes. A collection of ten newly recorded audio stories based on Peppa Pig, the hit TV show! Includes dialogue, songs and sound effects from the show! Stories include: Bedtime Story, Night Animals, The Wishing Well, Teddy's Playgroup, Pet Competition, Mrs Rabbit's Bump, Naughty Tortoise, The Rainy Day Game, Madam Gazelle's Leaving Party, and Freddy Fox.

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Space Band

Tom Fletcher (Author) , Nico Mirallegro (Read by)

Brought to you by Puffin. An out-of-this-world new adventure from bestselling author of THE DANGER GANG and THE CHRISTMASAURUS, Tom Fletcher. George, Neila and Bash are the worst band on Earth. George wants them to be brilliant - but Neila has stage fright, and Bash is too distracted by his obsession with stars, aliens and faraway planets. But what they lack in talent and confidence, they make up for in heart. They're determined to blow their friends away at their school Battle of the Bands contest. But the moment they start to play... They're beamed up into space!!! Now the kids face an even bigger challenge: Battle of the Bands, but the intergalactic version. They're competing against alien bands from every galaxy! And if they don't win, they might never make it home again... Can the worst band on Earth become the best band in the universe? An intergalactically awesome tale of celebrating difference, believing in yourself, and the power of friendship. © Tom Fletcher 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

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The Ministry of Unladylike Activity 2: The Body in the Blitz

Robin Stevens (Author) , Samantha Shortall (Read by) , Thaddea Graham (Read by)

Brought to you by Puffin. The second thrilling and unputdownable mystery starring a new generation of the Detective Society, from the million-copy-bestselling author of Murder Most Unladylike: Robin Stevens. April 1941. Britain is at war, and a secret agency called the Ministry of Unladylike Activity is training up children as spies - because grown-ups always underestimate them. Enter May, Eric and Nuala: courageous, smart, and the Ministry's newest recruits. They have travelled to London for spy training, and are staying on a quiet street close to the Ministry, home to an unlikely collection of people thrown together by the war. One day, while exploring the bombed-out house at the end of the street, they discover something that should not be there. Something that was not there when the Blitz wreckage was first combed through. Something that has been placed there recently. A body... Could this be the missing Ministry spy that Daisy Wells is on a dangerous mission in France to find? Or could it be someone else - someone a resident of the street wanted silenced . . . ? ©2023 Robin Stevens (P)2023 Penguin Audio

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Escape to the Discworld

The Colour Of Magic

Terry Pratchett (Author) , Colin Morgan (Read by) , Peter Serafinowicz (Read by) , Bill Nighy (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Over 1 million Discworld audiobooks sold – discover the extraordinary universe of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld like never before The audiobook of The Colour of Magic is read by Colin Morgan (Merlin; Testament of Youth; Belfast). BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning actor Bill Nighy (Love Actually; Pirates of the Caribbean; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) reads the footnotes, and Peter Serafinowicz (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace; Shaun of the Dead) stars as the voice of Death. Featuring a new theme tune composed by James Hannigan. 'It was octarine, the colour of magic. It was alive and glowing and vibrant and it was the undisputed pigment of the imagination . . .' Somewhere between thought and reality exists the Discworld, a magical world not totally unlike our own. Except for the fact that it travels through space on the shoulders of four giant elephants who in turn stand on the shell of an astronomically huge star turtle, of course. Rincewind is the world's worst wizard who has just been handed a very important job: to look after the world's first tourist, upon whose survival rests the peace and prosperity of the land. Unfortunately, their journey across the Disc includes facing robbers, monsters, mercenaries, and Death himself. And the whole thing's just a game of the gods that might send them over the edge . . . You can listen to the Discworld novels in any order, but The Colour of Magic is the first book in the Wizards series. The Colour of Magic is the first book in the Discworld series and was published in 1983. Some elements of the Discworld universe may reflect this. 'If you've never read a Discworld novel, what's the matter with you?' Guardian 'Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own' The Times © Terry Pratchett 1983 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

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Mort

Terry Pratchett (Author) , Tony Robinson (Read by)

Although the scythe isn't pre-eminent among the weapons of war, anyone who has been on the wrong end of, say, a peasants' revolt will know that in skilled hands it is fearsome. For Mort however, it is about to become one of the tools of his trade. From henceforth, Death is no longer going to be the end, merely the means to an end. He has received an offer he can't refuse. As Death's apprentice he'll have free board, use of the company horse and being dead isn't compulsory. It's the dream job until he discovers that it can be a killer on his love life...

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Small Gods

Terry Pratchett (Author) , Andy Serkis (Read by) , Bill Nighy (Read by) , Peter Serafinowicz (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Over 1 million Discworld audiobooks sold – discover the extraordinary universe of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld like never before The audiobook of Small Gods is narrated by the BAFTA award-winning actor and director Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings; Planet of the Apes). BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning actor Bill Nighy (Love Actually; Pirates of the Caribbean; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) reads the footnotes, and Peter Serafinowicz (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace; Shaun of the Dead) stars as the voice of Death. Featuring a new theme tune composed by James Hannigan. 'You should do things because they're right. Not because gods say so. They might say something different another time.' Religion is a competitive business in the Discworld. Everyone has their own opinion and their own gods, of every shape and size - all fighting for faith, followers, and a place at the top. So when the great god Om accidentally manifests himself as a lowly tortoise, stripped of all divine power, it's clear he's become less important than he realised. In such instances, you need an acolyte, and fast. Enter Brutha, the Chosen One - or at least the only One available. He wants peace, justice and love - but that's hard to achieve in a world where religion means power, and corruption reigns supreme... 'An intriguing satire on institutionalized religion corrupted by power . . .' Independent 'Deftly weaves themes of forgiveness, belief and spiritual regeneration' The Times You can listen to the Discworld novels in any order, but Small Gods is a standalone. The first book in the Discworld series - The Colour of Magic - was published in 1983. Some elements of the Discworld universe may reflect this. ©1992 Terry and Lyn Pratchet (P)2022 Penguin Audio

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Moving Pictures

Terry Pratchett (Author) , Jason Isaacs (Read by) , Peter Serafinowicz (Read by) , Bill Nighy (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Over 1 million Discworld audiobooks sold – discover the extraordinary universe of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld like never before 'Holy Wood is a different sort of place. People act differently here. Everywhere else the most important things are gods or money or cattle. Here, the most important thing is to be important.' Cameras roll, for the first time, on the Discworld when alchemists discover the excitement of the silver screen. But what is the dark secret of Holy Wood hill? As the cliches of Tinsel Town pour into the world, it's up to the Disc's first film stars to find out . . . Join Victor Tugelbend ('Can't sing. Can't dance. Can handle a sword a little') and Theda Withel ('I come from a little town you've probably never heard of') as they battle the forces of evil and cinema advertising. They're about to discover that the magic of the silver screen might be powerful enough to put an end to, well, everything. The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Moving Pictures is a standalone novel. 'Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy' Sunday Times © Terry and Lyn Pratchett 1990 (P) Penguin Audio 2023

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Pyramids

Terry Pratchett (Author) , Alfred Enoch (Read by) , Bill Nighy (Read by) , Peter Serafinowicz (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Over 1 million Discworld audiobooks sold – discover the extraordinary universe of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld like never before The audiobook of Pyramids is narrated by Alfred Enoch, known for playing Dean Thomas in the Harry Potter film series, and Wes Gibbins in How To Get Away With Murder. BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning actor Bill Nighy (Love Actually; Pirates of the Caribbean; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) reads the footnotes, and Peter Serafinowicz (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace; Shaun of the Dead) stars as the voice of Death. Featuring a new theme tune composed by James Hannigan. '"LOOK AFTER THE DEAD," SAID THE PRIESTS, "AND THE DEAD WOULD LOOK AFTER YOU."' Young Prince Teppic is sent far away from his desert homeland to the city of Ankh-Morpork for the best education money can buy. Which just so happens to be at the Assassins' Guild. But when Teppic's father dies suddenly, fate takes him away from assassination to something far more unsavoury: politics. Teppic returns home to the small, penniless kingdom of Djelibeybi to take his place as ruler. It isn't easy, being a teenage pharaoh. As tradition dictates, the new king must build a monumental pyramid to honour his dead father. But this one might just bankrupt the kingdom, and warp the very fabric of time and space itself... The Discworld novels can be read in any order but Pyramids is a standalone. The first book in the Discworld series - The Colour of Magic - was published in 1983. Some elements of the Discworld universe may reflect this. 'Pratchett remains a consistently clever, charming and funny voice' - Independent ©1989 Terry and Lyn Pratchett (P)2023 Penguin Audio

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A Stroke of the Pen

Terry Pratchett (Author) , David Tennant (Read by) , Claire Foy (Read by) , Derek Jacobi (Read by) , David Jason (Read by) , Paterson Joseph (Read by) , Indira Varma (Read by) , Stephen Briggs (Read by) , Rhianna Pratchett (Read by) , Pat Harkin (Read by) , Jan Harkin (Read by) , Colin Morgan (Read by)

Brought to you by Penguin. Far away and long ago, when dragons still existed and the only arcade game was ping-pong in black and white, a wizard cautiously entered a smoky tavern in the evil, ancient, foggy city of Morpork... A truly unmissable set of unearthed stories from the pen of Sir Terry Pratchett: award-winning and bestselling author, and creator of the phenomenally successful Discworld series. Twenty early short stories by one of the world's best loved authors, narrated by David Tennant, Claire Foy, Steffan Rhodri, Jon Culshaw, Derek Jacobi, David Jason, Katherine Parkinson, Paterson Joseph, Hattie Morahan, Indira Varma, Tony Robinson, Nigel Planer, Maggie Service, Stephen Briggs, Rhianna Pratchett, Jason Watkins, Richard Coyle, Mathew Baynton and Rob Wilkins. With a foreword by Neil Gaiman, and an introduction by Colin Smythe. These are rediscovered tales that Pratchett wrote under a pseudonym for newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. Whilst none are set in the Discworld, they hint towards the world he would go on to create, containing all of his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination. Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and go on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork... A STROKE OF THE PEN is a must-have collection for fans of all ages. Praise for Terry Pratchett 'Pratchett is a master storyteller' - A. S. Byatt, Guardian 'The Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies' - Independent 'Compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world . . . There's never been anything quite like it' - Evening Standard ©2023 Terry Pratchett (P)2023 Penguin Audio

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Reading lists

Audiobooks to help you understand other people

From Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers to David Kahneman’s masterpiece Thinking, Fast and Slow, here are 10 books to help you better get to grips with the human mind.

Our picks from the BBC collection

Sherlock Holmes: The Complete BBC Collection

Arthur Conan Doyle (Author) , Bert Coules (Author) , Clive Merrison (Read by) , Michael Williams (Read by) , Brian Blessed (Read by) , Judi Dench (Read by) , Andrew Sachs (Read by) , Robert Glenister (Read by) , Harriet Walter (Read by) , Full Cast (Read by)

Fully-dramatised adaptations of all 60 Sherlock Holmes stories, brought to life with a full cast of actors, sound effects and music 'A remarkable undertaking... applauding them, and particularly Clive Merrison's Holmes, made my hands sore' The Times Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his dear friend Dr Watson are among the most enduringly popular fictional characters ever created. Their adventures have been dramatised countless times on radio, TV and film, but until BBC Radio 4 took on the challenge in 1989, no-one had ever attempted to adapt all sixty stories. Beginning with A Study in Scarlet and concluding with The Hound of the Baskervilles, their epic project took over 8 years to complete - and this landmark collection contains the extraordinary result of their labours. Here is the world's first ever fully-dramatised Sherlock Holmes canon: 56 short stories and 4 novels, all made by the same team of directors, producers, dramatists and leading actors, and packed with the high production qualities of a film or TV drama that set it apart. Starring one of radio's great double acts, Clive Merrison and Michael Williams, as Holmes and Watson, and with guest stars including Brian Blessed, Judi Dench, Maurice Denham, Andrew Sachs, Peter Davison, Robert Glenister and Harriet Walter, this definitive collection contains over 48 hours of enthralling listening. Also included is a bonus interview with Adrian Conan Doyle about his father, Sir Arthur, and some fascinating behind-the-scenes revelations from the series' head writer, Bert Coules, about the making of the radio adaptations. Cast Sherlock Holmes - Clive Merrison Dr John Watson - Michael Williams Mrs Hudson - Anna Cropper/Mary Allen/Joan Matheson/Judi Dench/ Inspector Gregson - John Moffatt Inspector Lestrade - Donald Gee/Stephen Thorne Mary Morstan/Mary Watson - Moir Leslie/Elizabeth Mansfield/Hannah Gordon Irene Adler - Sarah Badel Inspector Jones - Nigel Carrington Colonel Moran - Fraser Kerr/Frederick Treves Mycroft Holmes - John Hartley Professor Moriarty - Michael Pennington Production credits Written by Arthur Conan Doyle Dramatised by Bert Coules with David Ashton, Michael Bakewell, Roger Danes, Robert Forrest, Denys Hawthorne, Gerry Jones, Peter Ling, Vincent McInerney and Peter Mackie Produced and directed by Ian Cotterell, David Johnston, Patrick Rayner and Enyd Williams Musicians: Alexander Balanescu, Leonard Friedman, Richard Friedman, Michael Haslam, Ian Humphries and Abigail Young Contents A Study in Scarlet The Sign of the Four The Hound of the Baskervilles The Valley of Fear The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes A Scandal in Bohemia The Red-Headed League A Case of Identity The Boscombe Valley Mystery The Five Orange Pips The Man with the Twisted Lip The Blue Carbuncle The Speckled Band The Engineer's Thumb The Noble Bachelor The Beryl Coronet The Copper Beeches The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Silver Blaze The Yellow Face The Stockbroker's Clerk The Gloria Scott The Musgrave Ritual The Reigate Squires The Crooked Man The Resident Patient The Greek Interpreter The Naval Treaty The Final Problem The Return of Sherlock Holmes The Empty House The Norwood Builder The Dancing Men The Solitary Cyclist The Priory School Black Peter Charles Augustus Milverton The Six Napoleons The Three Students The Golden Pince-Nez The Missing Three-Quarter The Abbey Grange The Second Stain His Last Bow Wisteria Lodge The Cardboard Box The Red Circle The Bruce-Partington Plans The Dying Detective The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax The Devil's Foot His Last Bow The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes The Illustrious Client The Blanched Soldier The Mazarin Stone The Three Gables The Sussex Vampire The Three Garridebs The Problem of Thor Bridge The Creeping Man The Lion's Mane The Veiled Lodger Shoscombe Old Place The Retired Colourman First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between November 1989 and March 1995 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Charles Paris: A BBC Radio Collection

Jeremy Front (Author) , Simon Brett (Author) , Bill Nighy (Read by) , Suzanne Burden (Read by) , Jon Glover (Read by) , Full Cast (Read by)

Five full-cast BBC radio dramatisations, starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris Thespian sleuth Charles Paris is his own worst enemy, a louche lush who can resist anything except temptation - especially in the form of women and alcohol. Estranged from his long-suffering wife, Frances, his personal life is shambolic, and as an actor, he's C-list at best. But he does have a talent for solving murders - which is just as well, because wherever he goes, someone seems to drop dead... A Series of Murders - Charles has landed a juicy part playing Sergeant Collins in the TV detective series, 'The Stanislaus Braid Mysteries'. But will all the deadly doings be restricted to on-screen? Sicken and So Die - A suspected poisoner is on the loose in a production of Twelfth Night - can Charles track down the culprit before this comedy turns into a tragedy? Murder Unprompted - There's drama backstage when a murder is discovered in a West End theatre production. Has Charles time to find the killer before the curtain goes up? The Dead Side of the Mic - A job with the BBC radio rep coincides with the mysterious death of a studio manager in Broadcasting House. Once again, Charles steps in to investigate... Cast in Order of Disappearance - Playing a middle-management vampire in 'The Wreathing', Charles finds himself dealing with a blackmailer, a maiden in distress - and a murderer. Has he bitten off more than he can chew? Written by Jeremy Front Based on the novels by Simon Brett Produced and directed by Sally Avens Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice Text copyright © Simon Brett 1975 (Cast in Order of Disappearance), 1980 (The Dead Side of the Mic), 1982 (Murder Unprompted), 1989 (A Series of Murders), 1995 (Sicken and So Die) © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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That Mitchell and Webb Sound: The Complete Series 1-5

Robert Webb (Author) , David Mitchell (Author) , Robert Webb (Read by) , Olivia Colman (Read by) , James Bachman (Read by) , Sarah Hadland (Read by)

All five series of the award-winning sketch show - plus standalone comedy Daydream Believers 'Fresh and full of invention' The Telegraph Welcome to the inside-out world of Mitchell and Webb, a strange and surreal place populated by misfits, eccentrics, talking animals and a few stray Radio 4 arts programme presenters. Included here are all five series of their fantastically skewed comedy show, packed with offbeat sketches and peculiar characters. Meet seedy snooker commentators Ted and Peter; poorly matched crime-fighting duo Angel Summoner and BMX Bandit; a cop who doesn't get results but, by God, he does things by the book; and some nervous Nazis who've just noticed their caps have skulls on them... Find out what James Bond is really like as a party guest; thrill to The Surprising Adventures of Sir Digby Chicken-Caesar; and play the maths quiz that everyone is talking about, but no one understands - Numberwang! In addition, you can listen to the Alpine Archers on Radio Switzerland; join Raymond Terrific and his panel of boffins on Big Talk; and tune in to the exciting new reality show Make Me a Celebrity Centaur, featuring soap stars, cutting-edge surgery and some horses. Absurd, imaginative, and very funny, this acclaimed series won a Sony Silver Award and led to the hugely successful TV series That Mitchell and Webb Look. It stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb, with Olivia Colman, James Bachman and Sarah Hadland. Also included is the half-hour sci-fi comedy Daydream Believers, in which David Mitchell and Robert Webb star as tetchy novelist Ray and his gormless flatmate Colin and, in a parallel space adventure concocted by Ray, as Baron Amstrad and his retro-looking android Info. The supporting cast incudes Olivia Colman, Mark Benton, Simon Greenall and Mark Evans. Production credits That Mitchell and Webb Sound Written by and starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb With Olivia Colman, Sarah Hadland and James Bachman Produced by Gareth Edwards First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 August-2 October 2003 (Series 1), 10 February-17th March 2005 (Series 2), 24 May-28 June 2007 (Series 3), 25 August-29 September 2009 (Series 4), 26 November-17 December 2013 (Series 5) Daydream Believers Written by and starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb With Olivia Colman, Mark Benton, Simon Greenall and Mark Evans Produced by Gareth Edwards First broadcast BBC Radio 2, 5 May 2007 NB: Contains humour that some listeners may find offensive © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

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The Bronte BBC Radio Drama Collection

Charlotte Brontë (Author) , Anne Brontë (Author) , Emily Brontë (Author) , Rachel Joyce (Author) , Juliet Aubrey (Read by) , Ella Kendrick (Read by) , Tom Burke (Read by) , Lesley Sharp (Read by) , Jemima Rooper (Read by) , Anna Maxwell-Martin (Read by) , Full Cast (Read by) , Emma Fielding (Read by)

The complete canon of the Brontë sisters' classic novels, dramatised by bestselling author Rachel Joyce Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Orphan Jane falls in love with the enigmatic Rochester, but he is concealing a dark secret. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë On the bleak Yorkshire moors, Heathcliff and Cathy’s elemental passion runs wild – but their obsession has devastating consequences. Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë Determined to make her way in the world, penniless young Agnes Grey becomes a governess. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë Gentleman farmer Gilbert Markham is powerfully drawn to Helen Graham, the mysterious resident of Wildfell Hall. Shirley by Charlotte Brontë A poignant tale of friendship, romantic entanglements and turbulent times, set in Yorkshire in 1811. Villette by Charlotte Brontë Leaving England to teach in Villette, Lucy Snowe experiences the pangs of unrequited love. The Professor by Charlotte Brontë As a teacher at a boarding-school in Belgium, William Crimsworth encounters trouble and true love. Adapted by Rachel Joyce, these radio dramas boast star casts including Ellie Kendrick, Amanda Hale, Tom Burke, Lesley Sharp, Paul Venables, Robert Lonsdale, Anna Maxwell Martin, Ben Batt and Chloe Pirrie. Also included is a one-hour bonus programme featuring Rachel Joyce in conversation with producer Tracey Neale.

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Brick Lane

Monica Ali (Author) , Full Cast (Read by) , Anneika Rose (Read by) , Zubin Varla (Read by) , Nikesh Patel (Read by) , Hiftu Quasem (Read by)

A stunning BBC radio adaptation of Monica Ali's bestselling, Booker-shortlisted novel 1985. Uprooted from her home in Bangladesh, 18-year-old Nazneen is sent to London for an arranged marriage with a much older man. Her new life is strange and bewildering - the busy streets and crowded tower blocks of the East End are a world away from the rural village she grew up in, and she struggles to adapt to living with her self-important husband, Chanu. Back in Bangladesh, Nazneen's sister Hasina has eloped with the man she loves, and been disowned by her family. Homesick and isolated, Nazneen reads her letters with envy, longing to have such independence and romance for herself. As the years pass, she devotes herself to becoming a dutiful wife and mother - and then she meets a passionate young radical, Karim, and finds herself drawn to him. Can she finally decide to take charge of her destiny? Monica Ali's stunning debut has become a modern classic. Published in 2003, its themes of immigrant identity and integration, racism and nationalism, free will and fate still resonate with us today. Dramatised by leading playwright Tanika Gupta, this enthralling adaptation was shortlisted for a BBC Audio Drama Award, and stars Anneika Rose, Zubin Varla, Chetna Pandya, Hiftu Quasem, Nina Wadia and Nikesh Patel. Written by Monica Ali Dramatised by Tanika Gupta Directed by Anne Isger Sound by Caleb Knightley, Ali Craig and Pete Ringrose Production Co-ordination by Luke MacGregor Production Assistance by Hannah O'Reilly A BBC Audio Production Cast Nazneen - Anneika Rose Chanu - Zubin Varla Razia - Chetna Pandya Hasina - Hiftu Quasem Mrs Islam - Nina Wadia Dr Azad - Neil D'Souza Karim - Nikesh Patel Tariq - Ragevan Vasan Shahana - Rameet Rauli Bibi - Riti Suthar Secretary - Gavi Singh Chera First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7-14 August 2022 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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Paul Sinha’s Perfect Pub Quiz: The Collected Series 1 and 2

Paul Sinha (Author) , Paul Sinha (Read by)

Paul Sinha and his audience join together to compile the questions for a perfect pub quiz'If you love armchair quizzing, chances are you'll love this' The TimesStand-up star, quizzer and Rose d'Or winner Paul Sinha is banned from taking part in pub quizzes - so he's decided to create his own. In his bid to put together the ultimate syllabus for this great social tradition, he offers up a wealth of surprising and original questions - as well as the fascinating stories behind the answers. He then goes on to open it up to the audience, who attempt to stump him with their own favourite puzzlers.Series 1 comprises four rounds - Literature, The World, Four-Letter Words and Everything - while Series 2 ranges across a variety of topics including New Cities, Themes, Monkeys and Apes, Truth, Chat GPT and 2023. Each show is packed with jokes, puns, fascinating facts and scintillating trivia.Which author's bestselling work was inspired by his filing cabinet? How many countries sit along the Equator? Where was the first British woman to win Miss World born? And which anagram of 'A TWISTED COLON' connects gorillas in 2001 and orangutans in 1978 and 1980? Find out in this quirky, question-packed quiz show!Production creditsWritten and presented by Paul SinhaAdditional material: Oliver LevyAdditional questions: The AudienceOriginal music: Tim SuttonSound engineers: Jerry Peal and David Thomas Photographer: Andy HollingworthProduced by Ed MorrishA Lead Mojo production for BBC Radio 4First broadcast BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:Series 1Round One: Literature 21 April 2022Round Two: The World 28 April 2022Round Three: Four-Letter Words 5 May 2022Round Four: Everything 12 May 2022Series 2Episode 1: New Cities 4 September 2023Episode 2: Manchester 11 September 2023Episode 3: Hampshire 18 September 2023Episode 4: Suffolk 25 September 2023Episode 5: Somerset 2 October 2023Episode 6: Themes 9 October 2023Episode 7: Monkeys and Apes 16 October 2023Episode 8: Truth 23 October 2023Episode 9: Chat GPT 30 October 2023Episode 10: 2023 6 November 2023© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.