Tolkien’s acclaimed modern classic ‘fairie’ tale, read by Derek Jacobi. Smith of Wootton Major journeys to the Land of Faery thanks to the magical ingredients of the Great Cake of the Feast of Good Children.

Smith of Wootton Major

Tolkien’s acclaimed modern classic ‘fairie’ tale, read by Derek Jacobi. Leaf by Niggle recounts the strange adventures of the painter Niggle, who sets out to paint the perfect tree. But he senses that he will be snatched away from his work long before it is finished – if indeed it could ever be finished in this world. For it is in another and brighter place that Niggle finds his tree is finished, and learns that it is indeed a real tree, a true part of creation. Written in the early 1940s at the same time as The Lord of the Rings was taking shape, ‘Leaf by Niggle’ is a passionate adult fairy tale about a man who has ‘a long journey to make’, thought to be an allegory of Tolkien’s own life.

Leaf by Niggle

Combined into one volume, this is the definitive collection of Tolkien’s five acclaimed modern classic ‘fairie’ tales in the vein of The Hobbit, read by Derek Jacobi. The five tales are written with the same skill, quality and charm that made The Hobbit a classic. Largely overlooked because of their short lengths, they are finally together in a volume which reaffirms Tolkien's place as a master storyteller for readers young and old. Roverandom is a toy dog who, enchanted by a sand sorcerer, gets to explore the world and encounter strange and fabulous creatures.Farmer Giles of Ham is fat and unheroic, but – having unwittingly managed to scare off a short-sighted giant – is called upon to do battle when a dragon comes to town;The Adventures of Tom Bombadil tells in verse of Tom's many adventures with hobbits, princesses, dwarves and trolls;Leaf by Niggle recounts the strange adventures of the painter Niggle who sets out to paint the perfect tree;Smith of Wootton Major journeys to the Land of Faery thanks to the magical ingredients of the Great Cake of the Feast of Good Children.Taken together, this rich collection of tales from the author of The Children of Húrin will provide the reader with a fascinating journey into lands as wild and strange as Middle-earth.

Tales from the Perilous Realm

Tolkien’s acclaimed modern classic ‘fairie’ tale, read by Derek Jacobi. ‘Here is something that no devotee of the Hobbit epic can afford to miss, while awaiting a further instalment of the history of these fascinating people – a selection [of verses] offered as an ‘interim report’ to those interested in Hobbit-lore, and to any others who may find amusement in this mixed bag of old confections.’ One of the most intriguing characters in The Lord of the Rings, the amusing and enigmatic Tom Bombadil, also appears in verses said to have been written by Hobbits and preserved in the ‘Red Book’ with stories of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and their friends. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil collects these and other poems, mainly concerned with legends and jests of the Shire at the end of the Third Age. This special edition has been expanded to include earlier versions of some of Tolkien’s poems, a fragment of a prose story with Tom Bombadil, and comprehensive notes by acclaimed Tolkien scholars Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond.

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil

The complete series of Father Christmas letters written by JRR Tolkien for his own children between 1920 and 1943. Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply? Every year, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien would write to Father Christmas, and the letters they received told wonderful stories of his adventures at the North Pole. These humorous tales are brought to life by Derek Jacobi as Father Christmas, John Moffatt as Polar Bear, and Christian Rodska as Ilbereth the Elf, complete with specially composed music.

Letters from Father Christmas

For over sixty years, readers of all ages have been enchanted by the magical realms, the epic battles between good and evil, and the unforgettable creatures of Narnia. This box set includes all seven titles in The Chronicles of Narnia—The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle.

Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia Complete Audio Collection

The fifth in the series of the classic fantasy tales – The Chronicles of Narnia. A complete and unabridged edition of this enduringly popular Children’s book. “Stop it!” cried Eustace. “It’s some silly trick you are playing! Ow!” A great cold salt splash had broken right out of the frame and they were breathless from the smack of it, as well as being wet through. Lucy and Edmund, stuck with their awful cousin Eustace, suddenly find themselves in a picture of a sailing ship – the Dawn Treader – and realise they have been drawn back into the land of Narnia. They are reunited with old friends, the young King Caspian and Reepicheep the mouse on a voyage of discovery to the End of the World

The Chronicles of Narnia

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

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

A Stroke of the Pen

Great poetry can indeed outlast stone and the glory of princes, and the English poetic tradition is perhaps the richest in the world. This audiobook tells the story of that tradition through its towering figures – Spenser and Shakespeare, Milton and Dryden, Wordsworth and Tennyson, Whitman, Dickinson and Eliot – and through scores of other poets. Clear and accessible, blending criticism with imagination and illustrated with scores of quotations, this new history will delight all who care about the past and the future of English poetry.

The History of English Poetry

The Doctor ventures into alternative dimensions in these four exciting novelisations of TV stories. In The Mind Robber, by Peter Ling, the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe land in a world populated by storybook characters - but who, or what, lurks behind the fiction? In The Invisible Enemy, by Terrance Dicks, the Fourth Doctor and Leela make a terrifying journey into the Time Lord's own brain in order to confront the Nucleus of the Swarm. Warriors' Gate, by Stephen Gallagher, is the destination at the ethereal intersection between universes for the Fourth Doctor, Romana, Adric and K9, and in Twice Upon a Time, by Paul Cornell, it's a case of déjà vu for the First and Twelfth Doctors when they meet by chance in a strange yet familiar No Man's Land. Derek Jacobi, John Leeson, Jon Culshaw and Mark Gatiss read these stories of adventure in weird worlds. © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Doctor Who: The Alt Reality Collection

‘As no man is born an artist, so no man is born an angler.’ Isaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler, long considered the bible of fishing, is a joyful celebration of the English countryside and the relaxed and reflective lifestyle of the devoted fisherman. Through dialogue between teacher and student, the book sheds a unique light on fishing, baiting and cooking, including an original recipe for trout. Its music, rhymes, poetry, and humour are all brought to life by a full cast. As winding as a quiet brook and as bountiful as a bursting riverbank, The Compleat Angler is essential listening for any outdoors enthusiast.

The Compleat Angler

To escape a catastrophic volcanic eruption the Doctor takes the TARDIS out of space and time - and into a void he can only describe as ‘nowhere’. But the crisis is far from over, and when the time-machine’s circuits overload, the TARDIS explodes.   The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe come to in a dark unearthly forest. There they encounter a host of characters who seem somehow familiar: a beautiful princess with long flaxen hair, a sea traveller dressed in eighteenth-century clothes, and a white rabbit frantically consulting his pocket watch... What is happening to the three time-travellers? What strange power guides their actions? In the Land of Fiction who can really tell?   Derek Jacobi, who played The Master in the Doctor Who episode Utopia, reads Peter Ling’s complete and unabridged novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1986.   'BBC Audiobooks has chosen well with its books and has taken the right approach with its readers... they benefit from new music and sound effects' - Doctor Who Magazine.

Doctor Who: The Mind Robber

Sir John Betjeman’s unique relationship with the BBC left a lasting legacy of poetry, readings and performances. A First Class Collection features a selection of some of his most memorable and best-loved poetry.   Betjeman was one of the best-known and loved Poet Laureates and over a hundred years after his birth he continues to attract acclaim and admiration. Some of his fascinating BBC Archive recordings can be enjoyed again in this specially selected collection of poetry.   A First Class Collection includes the poet’s own readings of some of his most popular works, introduced by Andrew Motion, as well as readings specially commissioned for BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please and exclusive readings from actors Derek Jacobi, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry, Susan Jameson and Samuel West.

John Betjeman A First Class Collection

When Mole goes boating with the Water Rat instead of spring-cleaning, he discovers a new world.   As well as the river and the Wild Wood, there is Toad's craze for fast travel and motor-cars that leads them all on a timeless adventure.

The Wind in the Willows

Spine-tingling stories by M. R. James, plus a chilling original drama and two bonus programmes about his life and work M. R. James was the master of the uncanny. His classic supernatural stories have haunted readers for over a century, and been adapted countless times for radio, TV and film. This collection features dramatisations of twelve of his most popular stories – The Mezzotint; Casting the Runes; The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral; A Warning to the Curious; Rats; Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come To You, My Lad; The Tractate Middoth; Lost Hearts; The Rose Garden; Number 13; Martin’s Close and Count Magnus. Among the star-studded casts are Mark Gatiss, Derek Jacobi, James D’Arcy, Anton Lesser, Julian Rhind-Tutt and Donald Wolfit. Also included are a trio of readings by Benjamin Whitrow: Canon Alberic’s Scrapbook; A School Story and The Haunted Dolls’ House. Neil Brand’s disturbing drama The Haunting of M. R. James, starring Mark Gatiss and Fenella Woolgar, sees horrific events from James’s own stories echoed in reality. The life of M. R. James is discussed by Muriel Gray and Christopher Frayling in an episode of biography series Great Lives, presented by Humphrey Carpenter. Finally, in a fascinating documentary – The Ghosts of M.R. James – Michell Raper examines the author’s life and work, with readings from several of his stories. Running Order: The Mezzotint Casting the Runes The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral A Warning to the Curious Rats Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come To You, My Lad The Tractate Middoth Lost Hearts The Rose Garden Number 13 Canon Alberic's Scrapbook A School Story The Haunted Doll's House Martin's Close Count Magnus The Haunting of M. R. James Great Lives: M. R. James The Ghosts of M. R. James

The M. R. James BBC Radio Collection

Star of stage, screen and television, and one of only two people to be awarded two Knighthoods, Sir Derek Jacobi is one of Britain’s most distinguished actors. ‘If you want to be an actor, don’t. If you need to be an actor, do.’ The world of theatre could not have been further from Derek’s childhood: an only child, born in Leytonstone, London. With his father a department store manager father and his mother a secretary, his was very much a working class background. But nonetheless Derek always knew he was going to be an actor, and he remembers clearly the first time he was in costume – draping himself in his mother’s glorious wedding veil as he paraded up and down the Essex Road with his friends. A few short years later, at the age of seven, Derek made his acting debut, playing both lead roles in a local library production of The Prince and the Swineherd. By the age of 18 Derek was playing Hamlet (his most famed role) at the Edinburgh festival. He won a scholarship to Cambridge, where he studied and acted alongside other future acting greats including Ian McKellen. His talent was quickly recognised and in 1963 he was invited to become one of the first members of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre. Often admired for his willingness to grapple with even the most dislikeable of characters, Derek Jacobi has worked continuously throughout his career, starring in roles ranging from the lead in I, Claudius to Hitler in Inside the Third Reich and Francis Bacon in the controversial Love Is The Devil. But it is his numerous Shakespearean roles that have gained him worldwide recognition. This book is, however, much more than a career record. Funny, warm and honest, Jacobi brings us his insider’s view on the world of acting. From a simple childhood in the East End to the height of fame on stage and screen, Derek recalls his journey in full: from the beginnings of his childhood dreams to the legendary productions, the renowned stars and the intimate off-stage moments.

As Luck Would Have It

A sparkling collection of nine witty full-cast comedies from the early Restoration era Raunchy, risqué and rebellious, early Restoration comedies were a breath of fresh air for 17th century theatregoers. With Charles II restored to the throne in 1660, Oliver Cromwell's ban on stage performances was rescinded, and for the first time, women were invited to tread the boards as actresses. Playwrights developed a new style of social comedy, packed with amorous escapades, bawdy humour, wicked wit and sexual innuendo. This scintillating anthology showcases six leading lights of early Restoration drama, beginning with George Etherege, the creator of the 'comedy of manners': The Man of Mode, an irreverent portrait of the fops and libertines that populated London's beau monde; and She Wou'd If She Cou'd, a racy, fast-paced romp mocking society's double standards for men and women. Among the casts are Derek Jacobi, Anna Massey, Ian Richardson, Prunella Scales and Hattie Jacques. Also poking fun at hypocrisy and immorality was William Wycherley. However, his comedies were considered far more daring - especially The Country Wife, which was judged too obscene to be staged in its original form for over 200 years. Centred around a notorious rake who resorts to deception to pursue a naïve married woman, this effervescent BBC radio dramatisation stars Jonathan Pryce and Maggie Smith. Male playwrights were not the only ones penning scandalous dramas during this period. Aphra Behn, Britain's first professional female writer, was a poet, spy and the most prolific playwright of the 1670s and '80s. Her sex comedy The Rover, featured here, revolves around love, lust, intrigue and mistaken identity, and stars Julia Ford, Suzan Sylvester and Juliet Aubrey. England's first Poet Laureate, John Dryden, dominated Restoration literature to such an extent that it came to be known as the Age of Dryden. His 1677 play All For Love, a powerful reworking of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, is regarded as his finest work. John Turner and Barbara Jefford star in this heroic tragedy. A rival of Dryden, Edward Ravenscroft was the first British playwright to introduce characters from the 'commedia dell' arte' into his farces. His seminal comedy The London Cuckolds, featuring three ridiculous husbands, three beautiful wives, and one dissolute young cad, was hugely popular, and this BBC adaptation retains all the original's ribald wit. It stars Carleton Hobbs, Norman Shelley and Madi Hedd. Thomas Otway achieved his greatest success in the last five years of his life. Three of his acclaimed works appear here: his 1683 comedy The Soldier's Fortune and its sequel The Atheist, focussing on disbanded army officers looking for sex and money, and his masterpiece Venice Preserved, a dark political thriller about power, revolution, love and betrayal. The ensemble casts feature Dennis Quilley, John Rowe, Michael Turner and Donald Wolfit. Content list The Man of Mode First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 27 Jun 1986 She Wou'd If She Cou'd First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 6 Sep 1968 The Country Wife First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 22 Dec 1985 The Rover First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 22 Jan 1995 All For Love First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 7 Jul 1983 The London Cuckolds First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 30 Dec 1974 The Soldier's Fortune First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 24 May 1981 The Atheist First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 31 May 1981 Venice Preserved First broadcast BBC Third Programme, 10 Aug 1960 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Humour and Madness: Early Restoration Comedies

Widely acknowledged as the master of the supernatural, M. R. James penned many of his classic ghost stories to be read aloud to friends, by candlelight, in his study on Christmas Eve. These five adaptations, originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, perfectly capture the mood of nerve-jangling suspense that would surely have been present during those readings.   In ‘Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’, Professor Parkins embarks on a terrifying journey of discovery after he removes a curious artefact from the ruins of a Templar preceptory; while ‘The Tractate Middoth’ sees diligent curator David Garrett caught up in the machinations of the mysterious Dr Rant when he’s sent to retrieve an obscure manuscript from the library stacks.   ‘Lost Hearts’ tells of a young boy haunted by two ghostly children, and in ‘The Rose Garden’, terrifying forces are unleashed when the Goodmans tear down their old summer house. Finally, ‘Number 13’ takes us to the Danish town of Viborg, where Dr Anderson puts himself in terrible danger as he investigates why the hotel he’s staying at does not contain a room 13.   Starring BAFTA and Emmy-award winning actor Derek Jacobi, and with powerfully chilling music and sound effects, these rich, riveting dramatisations make for irresistible listening.

Spine Chillers

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Georgy Porgy by Roald Dahl, read by Derek Jacobi. In Georgy Porgy, Roald Dahl tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a young curate has very, very good reasons to be afraid of his parishioners . . . Georgy Porgy is taken from the short story collection Kiss Kiss, which includes ten other devious and shocking stories, featuring the wife who pawns the mink coat from her lover with unexpected results; the priceless piece of furniture that is the subject of a deceitful bargain; a wronged woman taking revenge on her dead husband, and others.

Georgy Porgy (A Roald Dahl Short Story)

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Trickery by Roald Dahl, read by Kevin Eldon, Stephen Mangan, Cillian Murphy, Derek Jacobi, Richard E. Grant, Stephanie Beacham, Jessica Hynes, Andrew Scott and Tom Felton. How underhand could you be to get what you want? In these ten tales of dark and twisted trickery Roald Dahl reveals that we are at our smartest and most cunning when we set out to deceive others - and, sometimes, even ourselves. Here, among others, you'll read of the married couple and the parting gift which rocks their marriage, the light fingered hitch-hiker and the grateful motorist, and discover why the serious poacher keeps a few sleeping pills in his arsenal.

Trickery

Sir Derek Jacobi is an award-winning actor who is famous for his many roles on television, film and on stage. He received a Tony Award for his performance as Benedick in the RSC's production of Much Ado About Nothing and is probably most famous for his TV roles in Cadfael and I, Claudius. In this collection we hear, in his own words, about his influences, his school years and early acting performances, as well as the many roles he has played. He talks about being a star and working with other famous names, and discusses playwrights, casting, Shakespeare, the skill needed in acting and future roles. Sir Derek also talks about his relationships - on and offstage - and about his personal beliefs and perceptions. Interviews include: radio archive interview (first broadcast 1 January 1976, featuring Louis Robinson); Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcat 10 June 1978, featuring Roy Plomley); The Brian Morton Show, BBC Radio Scotland (first broadcast 14 August 2000, featuring Brian Morton); Front Row, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcast 16 September 2004, featuring Mark Lawson); Front Row, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcast 19 November 2012, featuring Mark Lawson). Due to the age and nature of this archive material, the sound quality may vary. ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Derek Jacobi In His Own Words

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Bitch by Roald Dahl, read by Derek Jacobi and Richard E. Grant. In Bitch, Roald Dahl tells a funny, fruity story about one of his favourite characters, adventurer and seducer Oswald Hendryks Cornelius. Here, Uncle Oswald gets involved with an aphrodisiac that drives men wild with passion . . . Bitch is taken from the short story collection Switch Bitch, which includes three other black comedies which capture the ins and outs, highs and lows of sex (including another Uncle Oswald story, The Visitor).

Bitch (A Roald Dahl Short Story)

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Deception by Roald Dahl, read by Richard Griffiths, Andrew Scott, Derek Jacobi, Mark Heap, Juliet Stevenson and Stephen Mangan. 'The cruelest lies are often told in silence . . .' Why do we lie? Why do we deceive those we love most? What do we fear revealing? In these ten tales of deception master storyteller Roald Dahl explores our tireless efforts to hide the truth about ourselves. Collected together for the first time, stories include My Lady Love, My Dove, Mildenhall Treasure, The Parson's Pleasure, Henry Sugar, The Umbrella Man, The Bookseller, Vengeance is Mine Inc., Lamb to the Slaughter, Mr Botibol and Man from the South.

Deception

Read by Derek Jacobi and Michael Morpurgo Set on a farm in rural Devon, this is a collection of Grandpa’s reminiscences and stories as told to his grandson. Grandpa’s nature and his touching relationship with the boy is evoked superbly by Michael Morpurgo’s writing. This two-voice read brings the characters to life as the story of Grandpa’s ‘shame’ (the fact that he cannot read and write) unfolds. Derek Jacobi is sensitive and compelling in the role of Grandpa, inspiring a true sense of achievement and triumph as he finally tells his own story in his own words.

Farm Boy

Brought to you by Penguin. What should it be, this whopping terrific exploding shocker for Grandma? This edition of George's Marvellous Medicine, part of The Roald Dahl Classic Collection, is perfect for Dahl fans old and new. So, enter a world where invention and mischief can be found on every page and where magic might be at the very tips of your fingers . . . The Roald Dahl Classic Collection reinstates the versions of Dahl’s books that were published before the 2022 Puffin editions, aimed at newly independent young readers. ©2014 Roald Dahl (P)2014 Penguin Audio

The Roald Dahl Classic Collection

George's Marvellous Medicine

Penguin presents the audio download edition of Doctor Who: Tales of Terror read by Sophie Aldred, Adjoa Andoh, Rachael Stirling, David Bailie and Derek Jacobi. A new spine-chilling collection of twelve illustrated adventures packed with terrifying Doctor Who monsters and villains, just in time for Halloween . . . Written by Jacqueline Rayner, Mike Tucker, Paul Magrs, Richard Dungworth, Scott Handcock and Craig Donaghy, each story stars an incarnation of the Doctor on a brand new adventure in time and space. Each also features a frightening nemesis for the Doctor to face, plus appearances from favourite friends and companions such as Sarah Jane, Jo, Ace and Donna.

Doctor Who

Doctor Who: Tales of Terror

Brought to you by Penguin. Pplifting and heartwarming life lessons from a truly inspirational man, Captain Sir Tom Moore 'One small soul like me won't make much difference' Captain Tom If Captain Tom's big heart and generosity of spirit helped see us through difficult days, this was his parting gift. Full of the wit, warmth and wisdom that made him so special, his reflections and guiding principles form a long life, well lived; Life Lessons will be a source of reassurance, hope, and encouragement for generations to come. And a reminder, whenever times are hard, that tomorrow will be a good day. Praise for Captain Sir Tom Moore: 'A wonderful life story with lessons for us all . . . beautifully written' Daily Telegraph 'Engaging . . . His upbeat nature shines through and reminds us how much worse this year would have been without him' Evening Standard 'A wonderful read. Captain Tom is a beacon of light, and hope, and positivity' Piers Morgan, Life Stories, ITV 'A great book' Good Morning Britain 'A beautiful book. We have so much to learn from Captain Sir Tom' Chris Evans © Tom Moore 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Captain Tom's Life Lessons

Sir Derek Jacobi is an award-winning actor who is famous for his many roles on television, film and on stage. He received a Tony Award for his performance as Benedick in the RSC's production of Much Ado About Nothing and is probably most famous for his TV roles in Cadfael and I, Claudius. In this collection we hear, in his own words, about his influences, his school years and early acting performances, as well as the many roles he has played. He talks about being a star and working with other famous names, and discusses playwrights, casting, Shakespeare, the skill needed in acting and future roles. Sir Derek also talks about his relationships - on and offstage - and about his personal beliefs and perceptions. Interviews include: radio archive interview (first broadcast 1 January 1976, featuring Louis Robinson); Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcat 10 June 1978, featuring Roy Plomley); The Brian Morton Show, BBC Radio Scotland (first broadcast 14 August 2000, featuring Brian Morton); Front Row, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcast 16 September 2004, featuring Mark Lawson); Front Row, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcast 19 November 2012, featuring Mark Lawson). Due to the age and nature of this archive material, the sound quality may vary. ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Here are four of Hans Christian Andersen's best-loved short stories, specially adapted for young children and read by some of Britain's most well-known actors.   In 'The Brave Tin Soldier', read by David Tennant, a one-legged toy soldier falls in love with a paper ballerina.   In 'Thumbelina', read by Anne-Marie Duff, a tiny but beautiful girl grows from a barleycorn which has been enchanted by a witch.   In 'The Nightingale', read by Sir Derek Jacobi, an emperor prefers a sparkling mechanical bird to the song of a real nightingale.   And in 'The Ugly Duckling', read by Penelope Wilton, a little bird is called ugly by others until he matures into a beautiful swan.

The Brave Tin Soldier & Other Fairy Tales

Perry Keenlyside tells the remarkable story of the world’s richest literary resource. The story-telling, the poetry, the growth of the novel and the great histories and essays which have informed the language and the imagination wherever English is spoken. This is the fourth in the Naxos AudioBooks Histories series.

The History of English Literature

Nearly 150 years since his poetry was first published, Lear’s nonsense rhymes are still popular today. In this lively and colourful audiobook recording, Derek Jacobi reads Lear’s most famous poems and most fantastic creations, including The Owl and the Pussy-Cat, The Daddy Long-Legs and the Fly, The Jumblies, The Dong with the Luminous Nose and a collection of assorted limericks.

The Finest Nonsense of Edward Lear

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Visitor by Roald Dahl, read by Derek Jacobi and Richard E Grant. In The Visitor, Roald Dahl tells a funny, fruity story about one of his favourite characters, adventurer and seducer Oswald Hendryks Cornelius. Here, Uncle Oswald gets more than he bargained for in Arabia . . . The Visitor is taken from the short story collection Switch Bitch, which includes three other black comedies which capture the ins and outs, highs and lows of sex (including another Uncle Oswald story, Bitch).

The Visitor (A Roald Dahl Short Story)

'The Gospel of Matthew':  Derek Jacobi reads St Matthew's account of the life and teachings of Jesus. Specially composed music is included. The readings were part of BBC Radio 4's series of 341 daily episodes of the Bible, broadcast in 1991 and 1992. Abridged by Catherine Czerkawska.  'The New Testament':  These abridged readings of the New Testament are taken from the 1989 Revised English Bible, which was translated directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek into modern English to produce a Bible that was at once accessible and authoritative.

The Gospel of Matthew

A landmark collection of BBC Radio productions of the works of Katherine Mansfield - plus bonus dramas and documentary One of the great Modernist authors, Katherine Mansfield was a short story virtuoso, redefining the genre with her subtle, powerfully perceptive tales. A prolific writer, she penned over 60 stories and several poetry collections before her death from TB in 1923, aged only 34. This outstanding collection opens with Radio 4's 2020 series And Other Stories: Katherine Mansfield. It comprises dramatisations of 'Marriage a la Mode', 'Something Childish But Very Natural', 'Bliss', 'Daughters of the Late Colonel', 'The Garden Party', 'Ma Parker' and 'Her First Ball', all starring Hattie Morahan, as well as readings of 'The Stranger', 'Miss Brill', 'A Cup of Tea', Poison' and 'The Doll's House', narrated by Hugh Bonneville, Barbara Flynn, Hattie Morahan and Blake Ritson. Morven Christie reads Mansfield's newly-discovered early short story 'Little Episodes', and selected stories from her first collection In A German Pension - 'Germans at Meat and Frau Fischer', 'The Sister of the Baroness', 'The Modern Soul', 'The Advanced Lady' and 'Frau Brechenmacher Attends a Wedding' - are dramatised with a cast including Claire Skinner, Eleanor Bron and Emma Cunniffe. Also included are eight of her lesser-known tales: 'A Dill Pickle' (read by Clare Corbett), 'Mr Reginald Peacock's Day' (read by Brian Gear), 'Sun and Moon' (read by Lin Sagovsky), 'Psychology' and 'Pictures' (read by Eileen Atkins), 'The Voyage' (read by Indira Varma), 'Honeymoon' (read by Emilia Fox) and 'The Fly' (read by Sam Dale). In addition, her evocative poem 'Winter Song' is read by Sir Derek Jacobi. Two original dramas explore moments in the life of the great author. Katie Hims' Luxembourg Gardens reimagines Katherine Mansfield's last day in Paris and stars Hattie Morahan, while Cherie Rogers' An Oddly Complete Understanding looks at Mansfield's friendship with Virginia Woolf and stars Rosalind Shanks and Penelope Wilton. The passionate correspondence between Katherine Mansfield and her husband John Middleton Murray is revealed in Darling Mouse, Precious Worm, read by Kerry Fox and Michael Maloney. And in Great Lives: Katherine Mansfield, Jacqueline Wilson assesses the impact of Mansfield's brilliant but tragically short career. Track listing: 1. Bliss 2. Something Childish But Very Natural 3. Marriage a la Mode 4. Daughters of the Late Colonel 5. The Garden Party 6. Life of Ma Parker 7. Her First Ball 8. The Stranger 9. Miss Brill 10. A Cup of Tea 11. The Doll's House 12. Poison 13. Little Episode 14. Germans at Meat and Frau Fischer 15. The Sister of the Baroness 16. The Modern Soul 17. The Advanced Lady 18. Frau Brechenmacher Attends a Wedding 19. Dill Pickle 20. Mr Reginald Peacock's Day 21. Sun and Moon 22. Psychology 23. Pictures 24. The Voyage 25. Honeymoon 26. The Fly 27. Winter Song 28. Luxembourg Gardens by Katie Hims 29. An Oddly Complete Understanding by Cherie Rogers 30-34. Darling Mouse, Precious Worm - letter between Katherine Mansfield and John Middleton Murray 35. Great Lives: Katherine Mansfield - with Jacqueline Wilson ©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Katherine Mansfield BBC Radio Collection

“Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime” is a masterpiece of polished cynicism in which poison, explosive clocks, and finally murder forerun married bliss. Also included are “The Canterville Ghost,” “The Model Millionaire,” “The Young King,” “The Fisherman and His Soul,” “The Happy Prince,” “The Devoted Friend,” and “The Portrait of Mr. W. H.” These eight stories were produced in the heyday of Wilde’s career.

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, and Other Stories

Brought to you by Penguin. From his humble Yorkshire childhood, via the battlefields of Burma and the peaks of the Himalayas, to becoming the NHS and the nation's hero during Lockdown, Captain Tom Moore's story is a journey for all of us - brought to you by Penguin. Who is Captain Sir Tom Moore? You've seen him on the television walking the length of his garden. A frail elderly man, doing his bit at a time of crisis. But he wasn't always like this. Where did he come from? Where was he made? From a childhood in the foothills of the Yorkshire Dales, Tom Moore grew up in a loving family, which wasn't without its share of tragedy. It was a time of plenty and of want. When the storm clouds of the Second World War threatened, he raised his hand and, like many of his generation, joined up to fight. His war would take him from a country he had never left to a place which would steal his heart, India, and the Far East, to which he would return many years later to view the sight he had missed first time around: the distant peak of Everest. Captain Tom's story is our story. It is the story of our past hundred years here in Britain. It's a time which has seen so much change, yet when so much has stayed the same: the national spirit, the can-do attitude, the belief in doing your best for others. In this rich, happy life packed with incident you will encounter time and again the curiosity, courage and generosity that saw Captain Tom look around him during our current crisis and decide that something had to be done . . . © Tom Moore 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day

Valerio Massimo Manfredi's Empire of Dragons is set in Anatolia, AD 260. The Roman outpost of Edessa is on its last legs after the Persian siege, and Roman Emperor Publius Licinius Valerianus agrees to meet his adversary to negotiate peace. But the meeting is a trap and the Emperor ends up in enemy hands, along with the commander of his personal guard, Marcus Metellus Aquila, and ten of his most valiant and trusted men. Their destiny is sealed: they will rot away in a mine, forced into slavery. But Metellus – legate of the Second Augusta Legion, hero of the empire – and his men break free and find shelter at an oasis, where they meet a mysterious, exiled prince. The Romans become the prince's private militia, agreeing to safeguard the prince's journey back to his homeland, Sera Maior, the mythical Kingdom of Silk –China. And so they begin an extraordinary and epic journey through the forests of India, the Himalayan mountains, the deserts of central Asia, all the way to the heart of China – as the very survival of the world's greatest two empires is at stake.

Empire of Dragons

Full-cast adaptations of James Hilton’s two most famous novels English author and screenwriter James Hilton is best remembered for his hugely successful novels Lost Horizon – which gave the world the term ‘Shangri-La’ – and Goodbye, Mr Chips. The books made him a household name, and were both adapted as Oscar-winning films. Now, those two classic stories have been brought together on audio, dramatised with full casts including Derek Jacobi, Carol Marsh and John Church. Lost Horizon – May, 1931. Evacuated from war-torn Baskul, four passengers are plunged into adventure when their plane is hijacked and subsequently crash-lands in the Himalayan mountains. Out of the Tibetan wilderness, a man approaches, and leads British consul Hugh Conway and his fellow travellers to the hidden lamasery of Shangri-La. There, they find an idyllic haven, lost to the outside world – but this mystical utopia is hiding an astonishing secret... Goodbye Mr Chips – Ensconced in comfortable retirement at Mrs Wickett's, gentle old headmaster Mr Chipping has a thousand tangled memories of his long tenure at his beloved Brookfield School. Looking back, he recalls his arrival as a shy, nervous novice; how he won the respect and adoration of his pupils; and how he found – and lost – his one great love, the beautiful, kind-hearted Kathie. Spanning over 60 years, from the Franco-Prussian War to the rise of Hitler, this is a touching, nostalgic tale of a life well-lived. Text copyright James Hilton 1933 (Lost Horizon), 1934 (Goodbye, Mr Chips) Cast and credits Written by James Hilton Produced by Graham Gauld Lost Horizon Hugh Conway – Derek Jacobi Mallinson – Andrew Branch Barnard – Alan Tilvern Miss Brinklow – Carol Marsh Rutherford – John Livesey Wyland – Sion Probert Hilton – Alaric Cotter Sanders – Gary Cady Doctor – John Bull Chang – Garard Green High Lama – Alan Wheatley Lo-Tsen – Pik-Sen Lim American – Crawford Logan Dramatised by Barry Campbell Goodbye Mr Chips Mr Chipping – John Church Mrs Wickett – Katherine Parr Kathie – Lolly Cockerell Dr Merivale – Lewis Stringer Wetherby – Godfrey Kenton Lucy – Hilda Schroder Rowden – Alaric Cotter Barker – John Bott Whitby – John McAndrew Meldrum – John Forbes-Robertson Bryce – Haydn Wood Brookfield boys – Adrian Breeze, Matthew Emerson, Ian Land, Adam Bass & Adam Landor Mission boys – Paul Beardshaw, Colin McDonagh & Stuart Sampson Sutton – Gordon Reid Ralston – Nigel Anthony Chatteris – Walter Hall Staefel – Graham Faulkner Williams – Christopher Scott Wadham – Harold Reese Deakin – John Gray Midwife – Sonia Fraser Linford – Arthur Haycraft Dramatised by Margaret Simpson © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Lost Horizon & Goodbye Mr Chips

The new novel from the best-selling author of Miss Garnet's Angel holiday: a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation. [literally: holy day] Many years ago Mr Golightly wrote a work of dramatic fiction which grew to be an international best-seller. But his reputation is on the decline and he finds himself out of touch with the modern world. He decides to take a holiday and comes to the ancient village of Great Calne, hoping to use the opportunity to bring his great work up to date. But he soon finds that events take over his plans and that the themes he has written on are being strangely replicated in the lives of the villagers he is staying among. He meets Ellen Thomas, a reclusive artist, young Johnny Spence, an absconding school boy, and the tough-minded Paula who works at the local pub. As he comes to know his neighbours better, Mr Golightly begins to examine his attitude to love, and to ponder the terrible catastrophe of his son's death. And as the drama unfolds we begin to learn the true and extraordinary identity of Mr Golightly and the nature of the secret sorrow which haunts him links him to his new friends. Mysterious, light of touch, witty and profound Mr Golightly's Holiday confirms Salley Vickers's reputation as one of our most original and engaging novelists.

Mr Golightly’s Holiday

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Lesley Manville (winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress and known for Phantom Thread and Mum), Derek Jacobi (winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor and known for Gladiator and Gosford Park), Michael Balogun (known for National Theatre Live: Macbeth), Jay Bernard (writer of Surge, artist, film programmer and activist) , Seroca Davis (known for Prime Suspect and Doctor Who), Daniel Weyman (winner of Audiobook Narrator of the Year at the Audio Production Awards 2016 and known for Gentleman Jack and A Very English Scandal) and Roy McMillan (winner of an Earphone Award for narration on Conclave and award-winning producer). This definitive recording is translated by, and includes an Introduction by Nevill Coghill. In The Canterbury Tales Chaucer created one of the great touchstones of English literature, a masterly collection of chivalric romances, moral allegories and low farce. A story-telling competition between a group of pilgrims from all walks of life is the occasion for a series of tales that range from the Knight's account of courtly love and the ebullient Wife of Bath's Arthurian legend, to the ribald anecdotes of the Miller and the Cook. Translation copyright © Nevill Coghill, 1951 and Nevill Coghill Ltd, 2019 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

The Canterbury Tales

This bold undertaking covers Western theatre from ancient Greece to the present day. It traces the development of dramatic art through the miracle plays, the great Shakespearean period, Molière and Racine in France, Goethe in Germany, through the nineteenth century and the main movements in the twentieth century. It is illustrated by numerous examples of differing styles, with some historical recordings as well and excerpts from nearly fifty plays – a fascinating journey. It is written by David Timson, the British actor and director who features extensively on Naxos AudioBooks in both roles.

The History of Theatre

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Lust by Roald Dahl, read by Mark Heap, Derek Jacobi, Richard E Grant, Gillian Anderson, Shane Rimmer, Julian Rhind-Tutt and Jessica Hynes. We fall not in love but in lust . . . Lust, in all its myriad forms, consumes us. What won't we do to achieve our heart's desire? In these ten tales of twisted love master storyteller Roald Dahl explores how our darkest impulses reveal who we really are. Collected together for the first time, stories include Madame Rosette, Neck, Georgy Porgy, The Visitor, The Last Act, The Great Switcheroo, Bitch, Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life, The Ratcatcher and Nunc Dimittis.

Lust

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Parson's Pleasure by Roald Dahl read by Derek Jacobi. In Parson's Pleasure, Roald Dahl tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a priceless piece of furniture is the subject of a deceitful bargain . . . Parson's Pleasure is taken from the short story collection Kiss Kiss, which includes ten other devious and shocking stories, featuring the wife who pawns the mink coat from her lover with unexpected results; the young man in need of room who meets a most accommodating landlady; a wronged wife taking revenge on her dead husband, and others.

Parson's Pleasure (A Roald Dahl Short Story)

Brought to you by Penguin. In the sweltering summer of 1938, with Lisbon in the grip of Portugal's dictatorship of António Salazar, a journalist is coming to terms with the rise of fascism around him and its insidious impact on his work. Consumed by the passing of his wife and the child he never had, Pereira lives a quiet and lonely existence. One day, the young and charismatic Monteiro Rossi enters his life, changing everything. A man who once shied away from criticizing Portugal's authoritarian regime finds himself unable to stay quiet any longer, resulting in his political awakening and a devastating act of rebellion. Tabucchi's celebrated masterpiece is an ode to courage and solidarity in the face of political oppression. 'Subtle, skillful, and clear. It's so clear, in fact, that you can see a very long way down, into the heart of a flawed but valiant human being, into the sickness of a nation, into the depths of political evil. It's the most impressive novel I've read for years, and one of the very few that feels truly necessary' - Philip Pullman 'A stunningly good novel, and it goes on getting better in one's head after one has stopped reading it - it works as an experience - something that has happened to one, which is of course the proof of great writing' Diana Athill © Antonio Tabucchi 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Pereira Maintains

Suetonius wrote his Lives of the Twelve Caesars in the reign of Vespasian around A. D. 70. He chronicled the extraordinary careers of Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian and Domitian and the rest in technicolour terms. They presented some high and low times at the heart of the Roman Empire. The accounts provide us with perspicacious insights into the men as much as their reigns – and it was from Suetonius that subsequent writers such as Robert Graves drew so much of their material.

The Lives of the Twelve Caesars

What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium The Year 1000 is a vivid and surprising portrait of life in England a thousand years ago – no spinach, no sugar, but a world which already knew brain surgeons and property developers, and yes, even the occasional gossip columnist. Uncovering such wonderfully unexpected details, authors Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger bring this distant world closer than it has ever been before. How did monks communicate if they were not allowed to speak? What punishments could the law impose without stone and iron prisons in which to lock up offenders? Why was July called “the hungry month”? The Year 1000 answers these questions, and reveals such secrets as the recipe for a medieval form of Viagra and an hallucinogenic treat called “crazy bread”. In the spirit of modern investigative journalism, Lacey and Danziger interviewed the top historians and archaeologists in the field. Their research led them to an ancient and little-known document of the period, the Julius Work Calendar, a sharply observed guide which takes us back in time to a charming and very human world of kings and revellers, saints and slave-labourers, lingering paganism and profound Christian faith. This exuberant and informative book concludes as the shadow of the millennium descends across England and Christendom. While prophets of doom predict the end of the world, AD 1000 sees the arrival of such bewildering concepts as infinity and zero, along with the abacus – the medieval calculating machine. These are portents of the future, and The Year 1000 finishes by examining the human and social ingredients that were to make for success and achievement in the next thousand years.

The Year 1000

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Robert Graves' brilliant account of the madness and debauchery of ancient Rome, starring Tom Goodman Hill as Claudius and Derek Jacobi as Augustus.   The wickedly entertaining inside story of the lives and deaths of the Imperial dynasty from Augustus to Caligula is told by their obscure relation, Claudius.   In public, Claudius is a stammering, drooling weakling, whose reputation as an idiot keeps him safe from office and assassination. But in private, he's as sharp as they come, and keeps a secret history of everything he discovers. Until one day, as one of the few of his family left alive, he's acclaimed Emperor against his will. Can he save Rome from the corruption he's grown to detest?   Featuring Derek Jacobi (who won a BAFTA for his performance as Claudius in the acclaimed 1977 BBC television production) as Augustus, and with an all-star cast, this gripping dramatisation will enthral anyone who loves the decadence of Ancient Rome.

I, Claudius

Tolkien’s acclaimed modern classic ‘fairie’ tale, read by Derek Jacobi. Farmer Giles of Ham is one of Tolkien’s most popular stories, full of wit and humour, set in the days when giants and dragons walked the earth. He did not look like a hero. He was fat and red-bearded and enjoyed a slow, comfortable life. Then one day a rather deaf and short-sighted giant blundered on to his land. More by luck than skill, Farmer Giles managed to scare him away. The people of the village cheered: Farmer Giles was a hero. His reputation spread far and wide across the kingdom. So it was natural that when the dragon Chrysophylax visited the area it was Farmer Giles who was expected to do battle with it! Two further stories in this collections are Smith of Wooton Major which tells of the preparation of the Great Cake to mark the Feast of Good Children, and the strange events which follow, and Leaf by Niggle, which recounts the strange adventures of the painter, Niggle.

Farmer Giles of Ham

A desert-island adventure, and a subtle observation of friendship, trust and humanity. Winner of The Children’s Book Award. Superbly read by DEREK JACOBI. When Michael is washed up on an island in the Pacific after falling from his parents’ yacht, he struggles to survive on his own. He can’t find food and he can’t find water, and as Michael and his dog curl up to sleep, he knows they cannot last long. But he soon realises there is someone close by, someone who is watching over him and helping him to stay alive. Following a close-run battle between life and death, the mysterious stranger – Kensuke – allows Michael into his world and they become friends, teaching and learning from each other, until the day of separation becomes inevitable.

Kensuke’s Kingdom

Based on the Dalai Lama’s talks in London this ebook addresses the current difficulties facing humanity including: racial hatred, gender and environmental protection. Modern life is so full of confusion and suffering that people need the courage to face their anger and hatred, in order to transfrom their lives and relationships. This ebook describes in a clear and simple style how to live and die well and how to bring wisdom and compassion into our everyday lives. ‘Genuine compassion is based on a clear acceptance or recognition that others, like oneself, want happiness and have the right to overcome suffering. On that basis one develops concern about the welfare of others, irrespective of one’s attitude to oneself. That is compassion.’ The Dalai Lama

The Power of Compassion

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