'The sky turns the colour of a jay's eye. The sea turns a deep royal purple. The mist lifts in quick, lithe ribbons, like a conjuring trick. Before us lies the island…' It's 1935, and an eccentric English family – four children, their widowed mother, and Roger the dog – arrives on the sun-soaked shores of Corfu to start a new life. For eleven-year-old Gerry Durrell, the extraordinary landscape provides the perfect playground. Its exotic fauna inspires a life-long fascination with the animal kingdom – and his much-loved memoir My Family and Other Animals. Janys Chambers' acclaimed stage adaptation was first seen at York Theatre Royal, and invites other theatre companies to make ingenious and inventive decisions, bringing to life all the inhabitants of Durrell's cherished island – whether they walk and talk, fly and squawk, crawl or swim or slither. 'Simply a delight... The play's triumph is in the way it captures the exuberance of youth and the strangeness of the new culture that Gerald and his family find themselves in... it's there in Janys Chambers' adaptation, which keeps chunks of Durrell's evocative prose while adding some wonderfully funny embellishments' - The Stage 'Durrell gets the revival he deserves... it fairly fizzes with life' - Daily Mail 'Weaves the poetic, wide-eyed prose of Gerald Durrell's childhood memoir into a really charming and fun play' - Whatsonstage

My Family and Other Animals (NHB Modern Plays)

A woman’s seemingly perfect second marriage is rocked by a discovery about the death of her first husband in this twisty psychological thriller from Kate White, the New York Times bestselling author whom Entertainment Weekly called “impossible to outwit.” Recovering from the unsolved murder of her first husband, Derrick, thirtysomething Emma Hawke has built a new life with Tom, a handsome, successful, and loving widower who finally makes her feel safe again. Then one day a police detective shows up at their house on the Connecticut shore, asking questions about Derrick’s death. Emma was sure she’d been cleared in the days after the tragedy. So why is law enforcement taking another look now—and questioning the timing of her relationship with Tom? She hadn’t even met him until after Derrick’s death. Then Emma is shocked to discover that, in fact, she and her second husband attended the same business dinner two months before Derrick’s murder. Did Tom, unbeknownst to Emma, spot her there? Could he have set his sights on her and orchestrated a plan to make her his wife, whatever the cost. With twists and turns all the way to the last page, this fast-paced, expertly plotted novel will have you asking that age-old question: how well do you really know the ones you love?

The Second Husband

Now a Netflix original series starring Simon Baker, Travis Fimmel, and Phoebe Tonkin! “Hypnotizes you with wonder, and then hammers you with heartbreak. . . . Eli’s remarkably poetic voice and his astonishingly open heart take the day. They enable him to carve out the best of what’s possible from the worst of what is, which is the miracle that makes this novel marvelous.” —Washington Post ""The best book I read this decade."" —Sharon Van Etten in Rolling Stone A story of brotherhood, true love, family, and the most unlikely of friendships, Boy Swallows Universe is the tale of an adolescent boy on the cusp of discovering the man he will be. Eli Bell’s life is complicated. His father is lost, his mother is in jail, and his stepdad is a heroin dealer. The most steadfast adult in Eli’s life is Slim—a notorious felon and national record-holder for successful prison escapes—who watches over Eli and August, his silent genius of an older brother. Exiled far from the rest of the world in Darra, a neglected suburb populated by Polish and Vietnamese refugees, this twelve-year-old boy with an old soul and an adult mind is just trying to follow his heart, learn what it takes to be a good man, and train for a glamorous career in journalism. Life, however, insists on throwing obstacles in Eli’s path—most notably Tytus Broz, Brisbane’s legendary drug dealer. But the real trouble lies ahead. Eli is about to fall in love, face off against truly bad guys, and fight to save his mother from a certain doom—all before starting high school. Powerful and kinetic, Trent Dalton’s debut is sure to be one of the most heartbreaking, joyous and exhilarating novels you will experience.

Boy Swallows Universe

‘It's comfort reading at its most soothing’ Independent ‘Funny, heartfelt and very readable’ Good Housekeeping In this reimagined modern classic, prepare to meet a young woman who thinks she knows everything… Fresh from university, Emma Woodhouse triumphantly arrives home in Norfolk ready to embark on adult life with a splash. Not only has her sister, Isabella, been whisked away on a motorcycle up to London, but her astute governess, Miss Taylor is at a loose end, abandoned in the giant family pile, Hartfield, alongside Emma’s anxiety-ridden father. Someone is needed to rule the roost and young Emma is more than happy to oblige. And there is plenty to delight her in the buzzing little village of Highbury. At the helm of her own dinner parties and instructing her new little protégée, Harriet Smith, Emma reigns forth. But there is only one person who can play with Emma’s indestructible confidence, her old friend and inscrutable neighbour George Knightley – this time has Emma finally met her match?

Emma

FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY The World’s Leading Center for Shakespeare Studies The Folger Shakespeare Library, home to the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, brings A Midsummer Night’s Dream to life with this new full-length, full-cast dramatic recording of its definitive Folger Edition. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare stages the workings of love in unexpected ways. In the woods outside Athens, two young men and two young women sort themselves into couples—but not before they form first one love triangle, and then another. The king and queen of fairyland, Oberon and Titania, battle over custody of an orphan boy. Oberon uses magic to make Titania fall in love with a weaver named Bottom, in an effort to distract Titania from the custody battle. While all of this is going on, Bottom and his companions ineptly stage the tragedy of “Pyramus and Thisbe.” This new full-cast recording—based on the most respected edition of Shakespeare’s classic—expertly produced by the Folger Theatre, is perfect for students, teachers, and the everyday listener.

Folger Shakespeare Library Presents

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Somewhere in shadowy post-war Vienna, where everyone has something to sell on the black market, lurks the third man who witnessed the murder of Harry Lime. Novelist Holly Martins is haunted by the death of his friend. His search for the killer makes electrifying drama, in this witty and sophisticated audio adaptation of the Graham Greene classic. An L.A. Theatre Works full cast performance featuring: Ian Abercrombie as Captain Crabbin/Officer Rosalind Ayres as Anna Schmidt Ethan Glazer as Hansl Kelsey Grammer as Holly Martins John Mahoney as Major Calloway Wolf Muser as Baron von Kurtz/Priest/Official Barry Phillips as Sergeant Paine Andreas Renell as Porter/Driver Bettina Spier as Landlady Slav Troyan as Captain Brodsky/MP John Vickery as Harry Lime Tom Virtue as Mr. Tyler/Brigadier Norbert Weisser as Dr. Winkel/Sacher Concierge/Hansl's Father Original music by Raymond Guarna. Directed by Robert Robinson. Recorded before a live audience at the Guest Quarters Suite Hotel, Santa Monica in November of 1994.

The Third Man

A full-cast stage adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel. The dour Mr. Darcy is anything but popular with the Bennets, especially when he fancies a member of their clan. And as Elizabeth reluctantly deals with Mr. Darcy's advances, their romance seems destined to fail. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice set the standard for romantic comedies when it debuted in 1813, and it still speaks to audiences worldwide through countless adaptations. Includes a roundtable interview with the entire cast. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring: Julia McIlvane as Elizabeth Bennet; Nick Toren as Mr. Darcy; Jane Carr as Mrs. Bennet and Lady Catherine; with Diane Adair, Nicholas Hormann, Chloe Dworkin, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, Jill Renner, and Darren Richardson. Adapted for the stage by Christina Calvit. Directed by Brian Kite. Recorded by L.A. Theatre Works before a live audience.

Pride and Prejudice

Sir Rex Harrison and Cast perform together in this wonderful production which is available for the first time on digital download. Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero. Benedick and Beatrice are engaged in a "merry war"; they both talk a mile a minute and proclaim their scorn for love, marriage, and each other. In contrast, Claudio and Hero are sweet young people who are rendered practically speechless by their love for one another. By means of "noting" (which sounds the same as "nothing," and which is gossip, rumour, and overhearing), Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into confessing their love for each other, and Claudio is tricked into rejecting Hero at the altar. However, Dogberry, a Constable who is a master of malapropisms, discovers—unbeknownst to himself—the evil trickery of the villain, the bastard Don John. In the end, Don John is captured and everyone else joins in a dance celebrating the marriages of the two couples.

Much Ado About Nothing

A Christmas Carol is Charles Dickens's classic tale of the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge. In this all-new full-cast dramatization, we re-live the iconic story where the mean old businessman is visited by the spirits of Christmases past, present and future. With a cast of eleven actors performing the well-known roles of everyone from Jacob Marley to Tiny Tim, this fresh production breathes new life into a much-loved seasonal favourite.

A Christmas Carol

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Let me be that I am and seek not to alter me.’ Much Ado About Nothing is Shakespeare’s most frequently performed comedy. Count Claudio falls in love with Hero, the daughter of his host. Hero's cousin Beatrice (a confirmed spinster) and Benedict (an eternal bachelor) are each duped into believing the other is in love with them. Claudio is deceived by a malicious plot and denounces Hero as unchaste before they marry. She faints and is believed dead, but recovers to be proved innocent by a chance discovery. Benedict wins Beatrice’s love defending her cousin’s honour, and to his surprise, Claudio is reunited with Hero, who he believed dead. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: William Squire; Patrick Creean; Gary Watson; John Gielgud; Michael Hordern; Donald Layne-Smith; Peter Pears; Peter Orr; Cyril Luckham; Clive Swift; Peter Woodthorpe; Ian Holm; Josephine Stuart; Peggy Ashcroft; Gillian Webb; Janette Richer.

Argo Classics

A powerful exploration of machismo and sexual desire, by Peru's most acclaimed writer. A Peruvian desert town in the 1940s. When a young girl disappears it seems that only La Chunga, the barwoman, knows the truth, but refuses to tell. Undeterred, the local men make up their own version of what happened in an attempt to extract the full story. Mario Vargas Llosa's play Mistress of Desires ( La Chunga) was written in 1985 and first staged in January 1986 in the Teatro Canout, Lima, Peru, by the Grupo Ensayo. This English translation by Sebatian Doggart was first staged in February 1992 in Christ's Theatre, Cambridge University, by The Southern Development Trust.

NHB Modern Plays

Mistress of Desires

A magical short novel from the author of All My Friends are Superheroes. A robber holds up a Canadian bank but instead of stealing money he takes from each person the item of most sentimental value. As time passes the loss of these items have a dramatic effect on the victims: one discovers God under her sofa, another is attacked by her lion tattoo when it comes to life, and the wife of our narrator starts to shrink. It is a remarkable short novella, a modern fable that is weird, uplifting and romantic all at the same time. Kaufman’s debut novel, All My Friends are Superheroes, has become a significant word-of-mouth hit and garnered rave reviews from Marie Phillips, Toby Litt and others. It is soon to be made into a feature film. This hardback of Tiny Wife will be a gorgeous gift edition with illustrations.

The Tiny Wife

A hilarious new spin on the Hollywood romcom featuring two proposals, two weddings, an elopement and a cast of unforgettable characters. Kate likes her men tall, dark and smouldering. She has a fatal attraction to bad men. Then she meets Steve… Steve is a feminist. Can Kate overcome her love of lipstick, cupcakes and Heathcliff? Can Steve forgo the ethical confetti and learn to be a little bit more ravishing in bed? Can the two of them reinvent romance for the twenty-first century? Samantha Ellis's play How to Date a Feminist premiered at the Arcola Theatre, London, in 2016, ahead of a UK tour.

How to Date a Feminist

Mr and Mrs Twit are not very nice. In fact they're extremely nasty. They're nasty to each other, and they're VILE to everyone else. They hold a family of monkeys hostage in a cage and force them to stand on their heads. ALL THE TIME. We told you they weren't very nice. Can the monkeys find a way to show those vicious Twits what for? Mischievously adapted from Roald Dahl's story, acclaimed playwright Enda Walsh has turned The Twits upside down. This revolting revolution was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in April 2015.

Roald Dahl's The Twits

“Road Dogs is terrific, and Elmore Leonard is in a class of one.” —Dennis Lehane, author of Shutter Island and Mystic River “You know from the first sentence that you’re in the hands of the original Daddy Cool....This one’ll kill you.” —Stephen King Elmore Leonard is eternal. In Road Dogs, the PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award winner and “America’s greatest crime master” (Newsweek) brings back three of his favorite characters—Jack Foley from Out of Sight, Cundo Rey from La Brava, and Dawn Navarro from Riding the Rap—for a twisting, explosive, always surprising masterwork of crime fiction the San Francisco Chronicle calls, “a sly, violent, funny and superbly written story of friendship, greed, and betrayal.”

Road Dogs

'Let's just talk until it goes.' The average person will speak 123,205,750 words in a lifetime. But what if there were a limit? Oliver and Bernadette are about to find out. Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is a tender and funny rom-com about what we say, how we say it, and what happens when we can't say anything any more. This special edition of Sam Steiner's hilarious and provocative play – featuring a revised text, plus an introduction by the author – was published alongside a major revival in 2023 performed at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End, as well as at Manchester Opera House and Theatre Royal Brighton. It was directed by Josie Rourke and starred Jenna Coleman and Aidan Turner. The play was first performed at Warwick Arts Centre in 2015, and won three Judges' Awards at the National Student Drama Festival before appearing at Latitude Festival, Camden People's Theatre in London, and several runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was a hit with both audiences and critics. It has since been performed around the world, is widely studied and has been translated into multiple languages.

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

March 2003. The Gaza Strip. 23-year-old Rachel Corrie stands between a Palestinian house and an armoured bulldozer. Meet the heroine behind the headlines. Edited by Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner and based on the writings of Rachel Corrie herself, this play captures the enduring idealism, blazing eloquence and sardonic wit of her vivid diary entries. My Name is Rachel Corrie was first performed by Megan Dodds at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in April 2005, winning Best New Play at the 2006 WhatsOnStage Awards. It was revived in a new production at the Young Vic, London, in 2017, directed by Josh Roche, winner of the JMK Young Directors Award 2017.

My Name is Rachel Corrie

'I'm the one who's left behind. I'm the one to tell the tale. I knew them both, knew how they lived and how she died.' Ella Grey and her friends are ordinary kids from ordinary families in an ordinary world. They fall in and out of love, play music, stare at the stars, yearn for excitement, and have parties on the beautiful beaches of Northumberland. One day a stranger – a musician called Orpheus – appears on the beach, entrancing them all, but particularly Ella. Where have they come from and what path will Ella follow? A Song for Ella Grey is a version of the myth of Orpheus that sings of the madness of youth, the ache of love, and the near-impossibility of grasping death. Zoe Cooper's stage adaptation of David Almond's award-winning novel was first produced in 2024 by Pilot Theatre, in association with Northern Stage and York Theatre Royal. This edition includes the full text of the play along with a range of teaching materials and resources designed to help educators bring the play to life for their students. Praise for the novel: 'Infused with lyricism and with the fire and oddness of adolescence. Fresh, involving and lucid, it is a song in itself and teens will find it fills them with poignant longing and joy' Telegraph 'The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is retold against a wild Northumbrian landscape: life, death, love and myths. Just wonderful' Bookseller 'Extraordinary' Metro 'Spell-binding… impossible to resist' Herald

A Song for Ella Grey

Celebrate the incredible journey of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's outrageously funny, blazingly forthright Fleabag, from fringe theatre hit to international cultural phenomenon, in this special edition – featuring the original playscript, never-before-seen colour photos, and exclusive bonus content by Phoebe, director Vicky Jones and key members of the creative team. In 2013, Fleabag made its debut as a one-woman show in sixty-seater venue the Big Belly, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe's Underbelly. It was an immediate hit, going on to enjoy two runs at London's Soho Theatre, national and international tours, whilst picking up prizes including Critics' Circle, The Stage, Fringe First and two Off West End Theatre Awards, plus an Olivier Award nomination. The 2016 TV adaptation propelled Fleabag and Phoebe to worldwide fame, earning critical acclaim and further accolades including Writers' Guild, Royal Television Society and BAFTA Television Awards. A second series followed in 2019, winning an amazing six Emmy Awards (including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series), along with a sold-out run of the original play in New York. This special edition of the play is released alongside Fleabag's first West End run at Wyndham's Theatre, London. It is introduced by Deborah Frances-White, stand-up comedian, writer and host of The Guilty Feminist podcast.

Fleabag: The Special Edition

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1606. This is a classic audiobook recording read by Sir Anthony Quayle, Robert Hardy and other cast members. Promised a golden future as ruler of Scotland by three sinister witches, Macbeth murders the king to ensure his ambitions come true. But he soon learns the meaning of terror – killing once, he must kill again and again, and the dead return to haunt him. A story of war, witchcraft and bloodshed, Macbeth also depicts the relationship between husbands and wives, and the risks they are prepared to take to achieve their desires.

Macbeth

Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BCE conspiracy against the Roman dictator Julius Caesar, his assassination and the defeat of the conspirators at the Battle of Philippi. Although the title of the play is Julius Caesar, Caesar is not the central character in its action; he appears in only three scenes, and is killed at the beginning of the third act. The protagonist of the play is Marcus Brutus, and the central psychological drama is his struggle between the conflicting demands of honour, patriotism, and friendship. The play reflected the general anxiety of England over succession of leadership. At the time of its creation and first performance, Queen Elizabeth, a strong ruler, was elderly and had refused to name a successor, leading to worries that a civil war similar to that of Rome might break out after her death

Shakespeare

Julius Caesar

Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Henrik Ibsen's mighty epic, by turns fantastic and tragic, based on the Norwegian fairy tale Per Gynt. Ibsen's play, his last to be written in verse, follows the poet and braggart Peer Gynt as, fleeing disgrace, he swaggers and seduces his way from the fjords of Norway to the deserts of Africa and back. Peer Gynt was originally published in 1867, and first performed in Christiania (Oslo) in 1876. This English version, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is translated and introduced by Kenneth McLeish.

NHB Drama Classi

Peer Gynt

William Thornhill arrives in New South Wales a convict from the slums of London. Upon earning his pardon he discovers that this new world offers something he didn't dare dream of: a place to call his own. But as he plants a crop and lays claim to the soil on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, he finds that this land is not his to take. Its ancient custodians are the Dharug people. A deeply moving and unflinching journey into Australia's dark history, Andrew Bovell's adaptation of Kate Grenville's acclaimed novel The Secret River was first performed by the Sydney Theatre Company in 2013. The play had its UK premiere in August 2019, as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, before transferring to the National Theatre, London. This edition includes an introduction by adapter Andrew Bovell, a foreword by historian Henry Reynolds, and music used in the original production. ' The Secret River is a sad book, beautifully written and, at times, almost unbearable with the weight of loss, competing distresses and the impossibility of making amends' Observer on the novel The Secret River

The Secret River

Narrated with warmth, humor, exceptional candor and wisdom, The Sum of Our Days is a portrait of a contemporary family, tied together by the love, strong will, and stubborn determination of a beloved matriarch, the indomitable New York Times bestselling author of The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende. ""An inspiring and thought-provoking work."" –Denver Post Isabel Allende reconstructs the painful reality of her own life in the wake of the tragic death of her daughter, Paula. Narrated with warmth, humor, exceptional candor, and wisdom, this remarkable memoir is as exuberant and as full of life as its creator. Allende bares her soul while sharing her thoughts on love, marriage, motherhood, spirituality and religion, infidelity, addiction, and memory—and recounts stories of the wildly eccentric, strong-minded, and eclectic tribe she gathers around her and lovingly embraces as a new kind of family.

The Sum of Our Days

Shakespeare combined his love of theater with Greek mythology and the supernatural to create what is arguably his most playfully imaginative work. From love potions to bizarre transformations to the unforgettable play-within-a-play, A Midsummer Night's Dream is a non-stop delight, and remains one of the milestones of the Bard's canon. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring: Tara Barr as Hermia Erin Bennett as Moth and Second Fairy Jamie Bamber as Oberon Janine Barris as Peaseblossom and First Fairy Brendan Bradley as Lysander Chris Butler as Theseus Kyle Colerider-Krugh as Egeus and Robin Starveling Sue Cremin as Hippolyta Hector Elizondo as Peter Quince Logan Fahey as Francis Flute Glenne Headley as Titania Simon Helberg as Demetrius Stacy Keach as Nick Bottom David Krumholtz as Puck Danny Mann as Snug Jon Matthews as Cobweb and Mustardseed Kira Sternbach as Helena André Sogliuzzo as Philostrate and Tom Snout Directed by Martin Jarvis.

A young woman finds herself washed up back home on the Scottish archipelago of Orkney, trying to rebuild her life after a decade of addiction. The life she has left behind in London, with all its intoxicating temptations, has pushed her to the point of destruction. Now there is wildness of a different form – an alluring wilderness that she must learn to navigate. Speaking to the impact of isolation and loneliness and – ultimately – the resilience of people, Amy Liptrot's bestselling memoir The Outrun has been adapted for the stage by Stef Smith. Directed by Vicky Featherstone, and co-produced by The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh and Edinburgh International Festival, it premiered at the 2024 Festival. Amy Liptrot's The Outrun was a Sunday Times bestseller, BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, won the Wainwright Prize and the PEN Ackerley Prize, and was shortlisted for the Wellcome and Ondaatje Prizes. 'One of Scotland's boldest chroniclers of contemporary women's lives' The Stage on Stef Smith 'A lyrical, brave memoir… compelling' Guardian on The Outrun

The Outrun

Celtic Soul - Rituals for Spiritual Awakening - By Allan Shepard A forgotten wisdom whispers through the winds, calling those who seek a deeper connection with the unseen forces of nature. Within the sacred cycles of existence, an ancient path reveals itself—one where rituals are more than mere ceremonies; they are gateways to the Otherworld, where gods, spirits, and ancestral voices intertwine with the breath of the earth. The Celts knew that magic was not something apart from life but woven into the very fabric of reality. Every tree, every river, every stone held a secret, and those who listened could hear the pulse of creation itself. This book is an initiation into the mysteries of Celtic spirituality, where divination, sacred symbols, and elemental forces merge in a dance of transformation. Discover the wisdom of the druids, the keepers of arcane knowledge who read the stars and whispered to the trees. Walk the Wheel of the Year, where festivals like Samhain, Beltane, and Imbolc mark the rhythm of life and death, of endings and rebirths. Invoke the presence of the gods—Dagda, Morrigan, Lugh, and Brigid—who do not reside in distant heavens but in the very essence of nature. Through rituals, meditation, and magic, this journey is a call to awaken the ancestral fire that sleeps within you. In a world disconnected from the sacred, the echoes of Celtic wisdom resurface to remind us that spirituality is not a concept—it is a living force, waiting to be embraced. Step beyond the veil, feel the energy of the sacred groves, and reclaim the lost harmony between self, nature, and the divine. The path is open. The fire is lit. The journey begins.

Celtic Soul

Fifteen years after the release of the first Mediator novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a deliciously sexy new entry to a fan-favorite series. Suze Simon—all grown up and engaged to her once-ghostly soulmate—faces a vengeful spirit and an old enemy bent on ending Suze's wedded bliss before it begins. You can take the boy out of the darkness. But you can’t take the darkness out of the boy. All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva). But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight. From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child, to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night. Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first? What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you? If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.

Mediator

Remembrance

“The Trojan Women“ is a tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides. It was first presented at the City Dionysia of 415 BCE, along with two other unconnected tragedies, “Alexandros“ and “Palamedes“, and the comedic satyr play “Sisyphos“, all of which have since been lost to antiquity. The play is a famous and powerful indictment of the barbarous cruelties of war. It was first produced only months after the Athenians captured the city-state of Melos, butchering its men and reducing its women to slavery, and the mood of the drama may well have been influenced by Athenian atrocities. "The Trojan Women" follows the fates of Hecuba, Andromache, Cassandra and the other women of Troy after their city has been sacked, their husbands killed, and their remaining families about to be taken away as slaves (it runs parallel to the events in Euripides‘ play “Hecuba“). It is often considered one of Euripides‘ greatest works, and among the best anti-war plays ever written.

The Trojan Women

The author of the “sparkling” and “steamy” (Entertainment Weekly) Never Kiss a Duke returns with the delightful third book in the Hazards of Dukes series as a rigid duke enters into marriage with a rebellious lady. Thaddeus, the new Duke of Hasford, holds his new title reluctantly, but his sense of duty is strong. Task number one: find a wife and secure an heir. He thinks he’s found the perfect choice in Lady Jane Capel—until her sister Lavinia bursts onto the scene. Vivacious, rebellious, and strikingly beautiful, Lavinia is determined to keep him away from her shy, sweet sister. And she’s also determined not to think so much about his broad chest and strong thighs. When Lady Lavinia and Thaddeus end up in the most compromising position, witnessed by Lavinia’s mother and nearly everyone at a party, they’re forced to get married to protect their reputations. With no love between them, but with an heir to conceive, they strike a bargain in bed. Only Lavinia demands passion, and Thaddeus complies, with both of them realizing this marriage of convenience may turn into much more... This steamy historical romance novel by Megan Frampton is a must-read for fans of the genre, featuring a marriage of convenience that turns into much more between the Duke of Hasford and the vivacious Lady Lavinia. Perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean and other popular regency romance authors.

A Wicked Bargain for the Duke

'I'd get freaked out here, alone in the dark. Wondering what's lurking at the bottom of the bed, ready to grab your feet.' Jenny and Sam – and their baby Phoebe – have recently moved into their new home. But something feels frightening and wrong. Very wrong. Over the baby monitor, at 2:22 every night, Jenny hears footsteps around her daughter's cot. Could the house be haunted? When their friends Lauren and Ben come round for a housewarming dinner, they drink wine, relive their pasts, and argue about the existence of ghosts. They decide to stay up until 2:22, to discover the truth. Over one adrenaline-filled night – as the foxes scream outside – secrets will emerge and ghosts may appear… Spine-chilling, funny and scary, Danny Robins' play 2:22 was premiered at the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End in August 2021, directed by Matthew Dunster, and starring Lily Allen, Julia Chan, Hadley Fraser and Jake Wood. It went on to win Best New Play at the 2022 WhatsOnStage Awards, and was nominated for Best New Play at the Olivier Awards. 2:22 provides rich opportunities for any drama group wanting to make things go bump in the night – and their audiences scream.

2:22 – A Ghost Story

'I promise you more patience, more gratitude. I promise you less vanity, less selfishness, less complaining, less fear. I promise you. You just have to survive.' A Little Life follows the complex relationships of four college friends in New York City: Willem, an actor; Malcolm, an architect; JB, an artist; and, at the centre of their group, Jude, a lawyer. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, changed by ambition, addiction and pride. Yet their greatest challenge is Jude himself, whose secrets – and shame – define not just his own life, but that of his friends as well. A bruising and beautiful story of love, the limits of human endurance, and the tyranny of memory, Hanya Yanagihara's novel A Little Life has sold over a million copies and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the Women's Prize for Fiction. The stage adaptation – conceived by Ivo van Hove, and adapted by Koen Tachelet, van Hove and Yanagihara herself – was first performed in a Dutch-language production at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam in the Netherlands in 2018, before transferring to New York in 2022. This English-language version opened in London's West End in 2023, directed by Ivo van Hove and with a cast led by James Norton as Jude.

A Little Life

Faust is a tragic play in two parts: Faust. Der Tragödie erster Teil (translated as: Faust: The First Part of the Tragedy) and Faust. Der Tragödie zweiter Teil (Faust: The Second Part of the Tragedy). Although rarely staged in its entirety, it is the play with the largest audience numbers on German-language stages. Faust is Goethe's most famous work and considered by many to be one of the greatest works of German literature. Goethe completed a preliminary version of Part One in 1806. The 1808 publication was followed by the revised 1828–29 edition, which was the last to be edited by Goethe himself. Prior to these appeared a partial printing in 1790 of Faust, a Fragment.

Faust

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Though I am not naturally honest, I am sometimes so by chance.’ Based on Robert Greene’s story Pandosto, The Winter’s Tale play tells the story of Leontes, king of Sicilia, and his childhood friend, Polixenes, king of Bohemia. In a jealous rage, Leontes mistakenly accuses Polixenes and his own his wife, Hermione, of adultery and her newborn daughter as illegitimate, casting her into the wilderness, causing their son to die of grief and Hermione to seemingly follow suit. With his family dead or believed dead, Leontes must face the tragic consequences of his actions. With unbridled honesty and the pain of love, the final act is one of Shakespeare’s most moving reconciliation scenes. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: William Squire; Denis McCarthy; Terrence Hardiman; Corin Redgrave; Toby Robertson; Anthony White; George Rylands; John Barton; Michael Bates; Margaretta Scott; Mary Conroy; Joan Hart; Jill Daltry; Janette Richer; Clive Swift; Ian McKellen; Richard Marquand; Donald Beves; Anthony Arlidge.

The Winter’s Tale

A wonderful classic recording of some of the greatest actors performing Shakespeare for the first time release on digital download. Richard II is the main character of the play. The first Act begins with King Richard sitting majestically on his throne in full state. We learn that Henry Bolingbroke, Richard's cousin, is having a dispute with Thomas Mowbray, and they both want the king to act as judge. The subject of the quarrel is Bolingbroke's accusation that Mowbray had squandered monies given to him by Richard for the King's soldiers. Bolingbroke also accuses Mowbray of the recent murder of Duke of Gloucester, although John of Gaunt—Gloucester's brother and Bolingbroke's father—believes that Richard himself was responsible for the murder. After several attempts to calm both men, Richard acquiesces and Bolingbroke and Mowbray challenge each other to a duel, over the objections of both Richard and Gaunt

Richard II

"The Giaour" is a narrative poem written by George Byron in 1813. The poem is set in the time of Muslim rule. The story is told from three different points of view. It is a tale of love, revenge and repentance. Almost it is fragmented, full of adventure and courage that leads a slave to fight a Lord.

The Giaour

'Love's irrelevant – we're talking about marriage.' This unique take on Jane Austen's beloved novel is an adaptation like no other, drawing on over two hundred years of romantic pop history, and featuring five young women with a story to tell. You might have seen them before, emptying the chamber pots and sweeping ash from the grate; the overlooked and the undervalued making sure those above stairs find their happy ending. Of course, these women have always been running the show – after all, 'You can't have a whirlwind romance without clean bedding' – but now the servants are also playing every part. Let the ruthless match-making begin! Isobel McArthur's acclaimed Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) was first produced in 2018 by theatre company Blood of the Young at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, before a UK tour the following year, produced by the two companies and the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. It transferred to the Criterion Theatre in London's West End in October 2021, and won Best Entertainment or Comedy Play at the 2022 Olivier Awards, with its author winning the Emerging Talent Award at the 2022 Evening Standard Theatre Awards. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an amateur company in want of an irreverent all-female adaptation of a literary classic to perform, need look no further.

Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

William Shakespeare's comedy "as you like it" Done as a radio play. Immerse yourself in the forest of arden where all the action happens including usurped dukes, love sick young men, a clown, and of course an impossible love story that eventuality works itself out.

As you like it

'Maybe it's in the air. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's the pace of life. Maybe it's breathing in that black soot everyday on the tube. Maybe it's commuting. Maybe it's the cultural consciousness. Maybe it's being a millennial. Maybe it's the climate crisis. Maybe it's the patriarchy.' When 'intimidating' Rachel and eternal 'nice guy' Nick meet at an awkward work Christmas party, what was meant to be a one-night-stand becomes a sexual odyssey of self-discovery… and mutual destruction. Adrift, isolated and insecure, they scramble for new ways to connect. Can some playful, passionate pegging provide a pathway through the pitfalls of modern relationships and present the possibility of a deeper bond? A penetrating comedy about the search for sexual knowledge, true love and top-notch Tupperware, Lisa Carroll's play The Misandrist was first produced by Metal Rabbit Productions at the Arcola Theatre, London, in May 2023.

The Misandrist

'There was a moment... Where it looked at me. The stag. We looked at each other. And I had this feeling like... Like it was gonna show me something.' Meet Oskar, Rio and Hazel: three people getting on with their lives in different corners of the globe. They've never spoken. They've never met. But they're each about to experience a startling wild-animal encounter. One that will transform the way they think about their world. From Norway's glittering fjords to Colorado's stunning peaks via Halewood's majestic Tesco, The Walrus Has a Right to Adventure is a swooping, soaring play about instinct, expectation and identity – and what it means to be truly free. Inspired by real stories from around the world, Billie Collins's powerful and inventive play premiered at the Liverpool Everyman in 2025, directed by Nathan Crossan-Smith.

The Walrus Has a Right to Adventure

'Do you remember how long ago it was? The last time we saw each other…' On the eve of July 4th, in the Hamptons, Elena is preparing to throw a party to celebrate her husband, Henry, as he unveils his latest architectural masterpiece. But their already vulnerable union is shattered by the unexpected arrival of a former student of Henry's, Mathilde, with whom he shared an intimate connection… Inspired by Ibsen, Lila Raicek's My Master Builder is a startling play that lays bare the vulnerabilities we expose when we leave ourselves open to love. It was first performed at Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End in 2025, directed by Michael Grandage and starring Ewan McGregor, Elizabeth Debicki and Kate Fleetwood.

My Master Builder

Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and As You Like It are usually regarded as Shakespeare’s crowning achievements in the world of mirth and humor. In this group of plays, written during the playwright’s Second Period (1595–1600), the author depicts chiefly the cheerful, energetic side of life. In As You Like It, a wicked Duke expels his virtuous brother, the lawful ruler, from his domains. The banished Duke takes refuge with his followers in the Forest of Arden, where they live as free a life as did Robin Hood and his merry men. They are presently sought out by the Duke’s daughter Rosalind and her cousin Celia, who have been banished by the usurper. Also among the banished is Orlando, a virtuous young man, who is being pursued by his wicked brother Oliver, pursuant to the orders of the usurping duke. Orlando and Rosalind immediately fall in love, and she, disguised as a boy under the name of Ganymede, makes sport with him throughout the play. Eventually all ends happily – with conversions, repentance and revelations of love. Featuring the voices of Linda Barrans, Blaise Doran, Laura Richcreek, Emma Faye, Claudia Anglade, P J Morgan, Gary MacFadden, Denis Daly, Marty Krz, Dara Brown, Trisha Rose, John Burlinson, and Kendra Murray. Audio edited by Denis Daly Tunes for songs provided by Alan Weyman. The text used for this performance was kindly provided by playshakespeare.com. Production copyright 2024 is held by Voices of Today.

As You Like It

Hedda Gabler is a classic play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Set in the late nineteenth century, the play follows the life of Hedda, a young socialite whose life is filled with endless boredom and longing. As she struggles to find her place in society, Hedda’s inner turmoil is reflected in her desperate attempts to break free of the societal norms that bind her. This emotional journey is filled with suspense and drama, as Hedda’s choices have the power to shape her own destiny. With its timeless themes, Hedda Gabler is one of the most powerful and thought-provoking plays of all time. This edition is based on the 1907 translation by William Archer (1856–1924) and Edmund Gosse (1849–1928).

Hedda Gabler

John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States and the country's youngest and first Catholic leader. His singularity foreshadowed a sort of challenge to his presidency from the start. Many people were taken aback by his assassination. It was the height of the Cold War and the United States' involvement in Vietnam. John F. Kennedy was elected President on January 20, 1961, by a razor-thin margin of 113,000 votes out of 69 million against his Republican opponent, Richard Nixon. He was almost immediately confronted with the Cuban Missile Crisis, which he handled carefully, allowing him to defuse tensions and avert war. This immediately helped to establish a new image for him, which is still held in high regard today. On November 22, 1963, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States of America, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. For nearly 50 years after President John F. Kennedy's assassination, much speculation, theory, and movement have existed. The only remaining mystery from the previous century appears to be this one.

Who Killed The President?

"The Scarlet Letter" is an 1850 romantic work of fiction in a historical setting, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and is considered to be his magnum opus. Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts, during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt. The author Nathaniel Hawthorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer.

The Scarlet Letter

Shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria, Viola assumes the role of a male page to Duke Orsino. The Duke sends Viola, now disguised as 'Cesario' to press his suit with the beautiful Olivia - who promptly falls in love with Cesario. Confusion reigns until the truth is untangled and true love triumphs. Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood in July 2022. Adapted and directed by Martin Jarvis Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast recording starring: Rosalind Ayres as Maria Tara Lynne Barr as Olivia Chris Butler as Orsino JD Cullum as Antonio Sarah Drew as Viola Martin Jarvis as Sir Toby Belch Adhir Kalyan as Sir Andrew Aguecheek Stacy Keach as Feste, the Fool André Sogliuzzo as Fabian, Curio, Valentine and others Josh Stamberg as Malvolio Mark Jude Sullivan as Sebastian Senior Producer: Anna Lyse Erikson Recording and Mixing Engineer: Charles Carroll Editing and Sound Design: David Wilson and Charles Carroll Senior Radio Producer: Ronn Lipkin Foley Artist: Jeff Gardner Guitar Accompaniment by JD Cullum

Twelfth Night

Christopher Marlowe's 'Doctor Faustus' is a seminal work of Elizabethan literature, written in blank verse and exploring themes of ambition, power, and the consequences of making a pact with the devil. The play's literary context is rooted in the Renaissance humanism of the late 16th century, with Marlowe drawing upon classical myths and Christian theology to craft a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition. The use of soliloquies and dramatic irony adds depth to the character of Faustus, a scholar who sells his soul in exchange for knowledge and power. Marlowe's writing is both poetic and thought-provoking, inviting readers to reflect on the nature of sin and redemption. Christopher Marlowe, a contemporary of William Shakespeare, was a prominent playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era. His own mysterious life, marked by rumors of espionage and heresy, may have influenced his exploration of themes such as rebellion against authority and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge in 'Doctor Faustus'. Marlowe's tragic death at a young age adds a layer of intrigue to his work, suggesting a complex relationship between the author's life and his literary creations. I highly recommend 'Doctor Faustus' to readers interested in Renaissance literature, classical influences in drama, and the exploration of moral dilemmas in literature. Marlowe's play continues to captivate audiences with its timeless themes and masterful storytelling, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of human nature and the pursuit of knowledge.

Doctor Faustus

The Metamorphosis (German: Die Verwandlung) is a novella written by Franz Kafka which was first published in 1915. One of Kafka's best-known works, The Metamorphosis tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a huge insect and subsequently struggling to adjust to this new condition...

Metamorphosis (Illustrated)

The early hours of Wednesday 14 June 2017. The north-west corner of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. A twenty-four-storey residential tower. The scene of a national tragedy. This powerful verbatim play is drawn from the testimony of residents – a group of survivors and bereaved – at the heart of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It reveals the impact of the multiple failures that led to the most devastating residential fire in the UK since the Second World War, and asks: how do we stop this ever happening again? Startling, urgent and deeply moving, Grenfell: in the words of survivors explores the courage and resilience of an ill-treated community and their continued campaign for justice. Created from interviews by Gillian Slovo, the play was first performed at the National Theatre, London, in July 2023, co-directed by Phyllida Lloyd and Anthony Simpson-Pike. 10% of the net proceeds from sales of this book will be donated by the publisher to the Grenfell Foundation, who support the bereaved and survivors in the aftermath of the fire, as well as help them ensure Grenfell is remembered long into the future. 'Moving, heartfelt and important… a powerful piece of verbatim theatre that demands empathy, not sympathy' - Evening Standard 'An engulfing experience… harrowing but not sensational… Slovo's play is new and important. It is not only that she uses the words of survivors; it's that they are her collaborators. The result is an inquiry of the best sort – the most humane kind – on stage' - Observer 'A tour de force… deeply humane… infinitely more meaningful than dispassionate news footage… a tremendous piece of theatre' - Time Out 'Gripping… shocking… piles up devastating detail… an ensemble masterpiece' - Guardian 'Powerful' - Telegraph 'A visceral insight into a human tragedy' - The Times

Grenfell: in the words of survivors

Goethe's "Faust" is a monumental literary work that intricately weaves together themes of ambition, desire, and the quest for meaning through the dual narratives of scholarly pursuit and moral quandary. Written in a poetic and dramatic style, the text captures the essence of Romanticism, showcasing deep philosophical reflections, vivid characterizations, and a dynamic interplay between light and darkness. The story chronicles the eponymous protagonist, Faust, who, dissatisfied with his life, makes a pact with Mephistopheles, the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures, ultimately reflecting humanity'Äôs eternal struggle with existential dilemmas. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), a seminal figure in German literature, drew on his diverse experiences'Äîfrom his studies in law and natural sciences to his deep interests in philosophy and art'Äîto craft "Faust." Written over several decades and influenced by various philosophical movements, including Enlightenment and Romanticism, Goethe's exploration of human emotions and ethical choices reflects his own intellectual evolution and a profound engagement with contemporary concerns about reason, spirituality, and the limits of ambition. "Faust" is not merely a tale of damnation; it is an invitation to explore the depths of human ambition and the intricacies of moral choice. I recommend this profound work to anyone captivated by the interplay of knowledge and desire, as it remains a timeless reflection on the human condition, urging readers to ponder their own paths in life.

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