Audiobooks by Aldous Huxley

"When Aldous Huxley's Brave New World first appeared in 1932, it presented in terms of purest fantasy a society bent on self-destruction. Few of its outraged critics anticipated the onset of another world war with its Holocaust and atomic ruin. In 1948, seeing that the probable shape of his anti-utopia had been altered inevitably by the facts of history, Huxley wrote Ape and Essence. In this savage novel, using the form of a film scenario, he transports us to the year 2108. The setting is Los Angeles where a 'rediscovery expedition' from New Zealand is trying to make sense of what is left. From chief botanist Alfred Poole we learn, to our dismay, about the twenty-second-century way of life."

Aldous Huxley (Author), Matthew Lloyd Davies (Narrator)

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1984, Chrome Yellow, Brave New World

"In 1984 by George Orwell, one of the pivotal paragraphs that captures the essence of the novel is when Winston Smith reflects on the power and control exerted by the Party. This passage illustrates the Party's ability to manipulate reality and shape individual thought: 'Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past.' This phrase encapsulates the totalitarian regime's grip on history and truth. By constantly rewriting records and altering facts, the Party ensures that they control not just the narrative of the past, but also how people think and perceive the present and future. It is a chilling depiction of the dangers of unchecked power and the erosion of personal freedom and truth under a totalitarian state. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, ollows Bernard Marx and John the Savage as they grapple with a society that prioritizes comfort and control over freedom and authentic human experience. Through this dystopian lens, Huxley critiques the dangers of a technologically advanced, consumer-driven society that strips away personal freedom and individuality. Crome Yellow, first novel by Aldous Huxley, published in 1921. The book is a social satire of the British literati in the period following World War I. The book revolves around the hapless love affair of Denis Stone, a sensitive poet, and Anne Wimbush. Anne’s uncle, Henry Wimbush, hosts a party at his country estate, Crome, that brings together a humorous coterie of characters. Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and philosopher. He wrote nearly 50 books—both novels and non-fiction works—as well as wide-ranging essays, narratives, and poems. Born into the prominent Huxley family, he graduated from Balliol College, Oxford, with an undergraduate degree in English literature."

Aldous Huxley, George Orwell (Author), Geoffrey Giuliano, The Force (Narrator)

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[Spanish] - Un Mundo Feliz

"Un Mundo Feliz es una novela que nos advierte sobre una sociedad donde el control se disfraza de felicidad, el consumismo domina la vida cotidiana y las relaciones humanas se vacían de significado. Desde una perspectiva de autoayuda, finanzas personales y amor, la obra de Huxley ofrece una reflexión sobre la dependencia del sistema y la falta de autonomía en la toma de decisiones. En términos de finanzas personales, la novela muestra una sociedad donde el consumo es la clave del 'bienestar'. La gente no ahorra, no invierte ni busca la libertad financiera, sino que gasta compulsivamente para mantener la economía en marcha. Esto se asemeja a la actualidad, donde la publicidad y las redes sociales nos impulsan a comprar cosas innecesarias, muchas veces endeudándonos y perdiendo el control sobre nuestra estabilidad financiera. En cuanto a la autoayuda, Un Mundo Feliz revela cómo la felicidad artificial impuesta por el soma (una droga que elimina la angustia) impide el crecimiento personal. En el mundo real, muchas personas buscan evitar el dolor y la incomodidad a toda costa, ya sea con distracciones tecnológicas, redes sociales o entretenimiento superficial, en lugar de enfrentar sus emociones y desarrollar resiliencia. La novela nos invita a cuestionarnos si estamos construyendo una felicidad genuina o simplemente anestesiándonos con placeres fugaces. El amor en Un Mundo Feliz es superficial, reducido a encuentros sin compromiso ni profundidad. No hay vínculos emocionales reales, lo que refleja cómo en la actualidad las relaciones pueden verse afectadas por la cultura del desapego, la inmediatez y la sobreoferta de opciones. Huxley nos advierte sobre el peligro de perder la esencia del amor y la conexión genuina en un mundo que prioriza lo rápido y desechable. Comparado con la actualidad, la manipulación a través de la tecnología, la cultura del consumo y la búsqueda de placer inmediato son realidades que vivimos hoy."

Aldous Huxley (Author), Remigia de la Rosa (Narrator)

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Brave New World Time Machine Anthem: A Dystopian Trilogy

"Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World portrays a dystopian future where societal stability is maintained through genetic engineering, conditioning, and a rigid caste system. Individual freedoms are sacrificed for collective happiness, with people pacified by the drug soma and distracted by hedonistic pleasures. The story follows Bernard Marx, Lenina Crowne, and John the Savage as they navigate a world devoid of deep emotional connections, grappling with the costs of a society that prioritizes comfort and order over humanity’s complexities. H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine follows an unnamed Time Traveller who invents a machine capable of traversing the fourth dimension. Venturing to the distant future, he encounters the Eloi, a gentle but passive race, and the Morlocks, sinister subterranean creatures. As he explores this fragmented society, he uncovers the grim consequences of humanity’s evolution and social division. The story is both an adventure and a profound commentary on the fragility of civilization and the inexorable march of time. Ayn Rand's Anthem presents a dystopian future where individuality is erased, and the word 'I' is forbidden. The protagonist, Equality 7-2521, defies this collectivist society by pursuing forbidden knowledge and discovering the power of self-expression. His journey leads him to reclaim his identity and embrace the idea of individual freedom as the highest value, rejecting the oppressive doctrines that suppress human potential and creativity."

Aldous Huxley, Ayn Rand, H.G. Wells (Author), Geoffrey Giuliano, The Force (Narrator)

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Time Machine Pillar Of Fire Brave New World

"H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine explores humanity's distant future through the eyes of a time traveler who witnesses the division of society into the fragile, passive Eloi and the brutish, subterranean Morlocks. It serves as a haunting critique of class disparities and the consequences of industrialization, painting a vision of evolution where technological and societal progress ultimately give way to decay and entropy. Ray Bradbury’s Pillar of Fire tells the story of a man resurrected in a dystopian future where books have been burned, emotions suppressed, and death sanitized. Through his defiance and yearning for the dark passions of the past, Bradbury crafts a tale of resistance against the erasure of individuality and the sterilization of humanity’s depth and complexity. Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World presents a chillingly efficient society where technology and psychological manipulation create an illusion of utopia. With individuality suppressed and genuine emotions replaced by artificial pleasures, the novel warns against sacrificing freedom and authenticity for comfort and stability, revealing the cost of a perfectly engineered existence."

Aldous Huxley, H.G. Wells, Ray Bradbury (Author), Geoffrey Giuliano, The Force (Narrator)

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Time Machine Pillar Of Fire Brave New World

Aldous Huxley, H.G. Wells, Ray Bradbury (Author), Geoffrey Giuliano, The Force (Narrator)

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1984 Leda Brave New World

"George Orwell, a writer deeply concerned with social justice and the corrupting influence of power, authored two of the most iconic and influential works of the 20th century: 1984 and Animal Farm. Though distinct in their storytelling, both novels explore totalitarianism, manipulation, and the dangers of unchecked authority. In 1984, Orwell thrusts readers into a dystopian future where the omnipresent Party, led by the mysterious Big Brother, controls every facet of life. The protagonist, Winston Smith, battles against an oppressive regime that eradicates individuality, rewrites history, and criminalizes independent thought. Orwell’s portrayal of a society under constant surveillance, where even one's innermost thoughts can be punished, serves as a chilling cautionary tale about the abuse of power and the erosion of personal freedoms. Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World transports listeners to a futuristic society where technological advancements and genetic engineering have eliminated conflict, but at the cost of individuality, emotion, and freedom. In this seemingly utopian world, people are conditioned from birth to conform, pleasure is chemically induced, and dissent is eradicated. Through the eyes of the disillusioned outsider, Bernard Marx, and the 'savage' John, Huxley explores the dangers of losing humanity in the pursuit of stability and control."

Aldous Huxley, George Orwell (Author), Geoffrey Giuliano, The Force (Narrator)

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A Letter From Aldous Huxley to George Orwell Regarding 1984

"In October of 1949, a few months after publication of George Orwell‘s masterpiece, Nineteen Eighty-Four, he received a letter from fellow author Aldous Huxley, a man who, 17 years previous, had seen his own nightmarish vision of society published in the form of the classic, Brave New World. What begins as a letter of praise soon becomes a brief comparison of the two novels, and an explanation as to why Huxley believes his own earlier work to be a more realistic prediction. It should be noted that in 1917, long before he wrote this letter, Aldous Huxley briefly taught Orwell French at Eton College in Berkshire."

Aldous Huxley (Author), Hugh V. Turner (Narrator)

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Banned Books: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Four Full-Cast Dramatisations of Modern Classics

"Four modern masterpieces that dared to push boundaries and disrupt the status quo Deviant. Depraved. Dangerous. Denounced for their transgressive themes and inflammatory ideas, these 20th-century classics have all been considered so seditious that they had to be suppressed. Find out what made these iconic works so threatening to governments worldwide in these superlative dramatisations, featuring stellar casts and specially composed music. Ulysses – Prosecuted for obscenity in the UK and US, James Joyce’s seminal novel tells the combined stories of Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom, as they wander through Dublin on one ordinary day: 16th June 1904. The Well of Loneliness – Radclyffe Hall’s groundbreaking tale of lesbian love was judged as obscene soon after its publication in 1928, and banned in the UK for over 20 years. It centres around Stephen, a baby girl born to well-to-do parents who grows up feeling ‘different’ and knows she will never be attracted to a man. But will she always be an outcast? Brave New World – Aldous Huxley's visionary dystopian fable, banned in Ireland and Australia when it first appeared in 1932, portrays a corrupt future society where promiscuity is the norm, eugenics a respectable science and the drug soma is the opiate of the people. Token dissidents Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson long to be free – but it is an outsider, John ‘the Savage’, who shows them the true meaning of rebellion. Nineteen Eighty-Four – London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Ministry of Truth employee Winston Smith finds love with Julia, the duo begin to question the Party – but for enemies of the state, Room 101 awaits… George Orwell’s classic tale, banned in the Soviet Union until 1988 and still one of the most-challenged books in the USA today. The star-studded casts of these dramatisations include Andrew Scott, Henry Goodman, Niamh Cusack, Stephen Rea, Valerie Edmond, Amanda Root, Justin Salinger, John Coy, Milton Lopes, Christopher Eccleston, Pippa Nixon and Tim Pigott-Smith. First published 1918 (Ulysses), 1928 (The Well of Loneliness), 1932 (Brave New World), 1949 (Nineteen Eighty-Four) Cast and credits Ulysses Cast: Stephen Rea, Andrew Scott, Kevin Trainor, Harry Livingstone, Janet Moran, Ronan Raftery, Jim Norton, Joshua Ellershaw, Aidan Dunlop, Henry Goodman, Niamh Cusack, Grainne Keenan, Stephen Hogan, Des McAleer, Christine Absalom, Jonathan Forbes, Bronagh Taggart, Sean Campion, John Rogan, Peter Hamilton Dyer, Joshua Ellershaw, Lorcan Cranitch, Gerard McDermott, Denise Gough, Pip Donaghy, Frances Barber, Susie Riddell Written by James Joyce Dramatised by Robin Brooks Directed by Jeremy Mortimer and Jonquil Panting Produced by Jeremy Mortimer Executive producer: Claire Grove Singer: Daire Halpin Pianist: Colin Guthrie The Well of Loneliness Cast: Valerie Edmond, Alexandra Bateman, Roberta Kerr, Rob Pickvance, Amanda Root, Sarah Parks, Paul Warriner, Russell Dixon, Katy Cavanagh, Sara Kaplan, Thomas Hudson, Martin Reeve, Paul Warriner, Katy Cavanagh, Malcolm Hebden Written by Radclyffe Hall Dramatised by Sarah Woods Directed by Melanie Harris Music composed and performed by Odaline de la Martinez Celloist: Andy Wardale Violinist: Janet Fuste Brave New World Cast: Justin Salinger, Jonathan Coy, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Anton Lesser, Milton Lopes, Karina Fernandez, Nicola Ferguson, Sam Rix, James Lailey, Sean Baker, Scarlett Brookes, Brian Protheroe, Nick Underwood Written by Aldous Huxley Dramatised by Jonathan Holloway Directed by David Hunter Nineteen Eighty-Four Cast: Christopher Eccleston, Pippa Nixon, Tim Pigott-Smith, Kim Wall, Robert Blythe, Sam Alexander, Susie Riddell, Christine Absalom, Don Gilet, Joe Sims and Joshua Swinney Written by George Orwell Dramatised by Jonathan Holloway Directed by Jeremy Mortimer (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, James Joyce, Radclyffe Hall (Author), Andrew Scott, Anton Lesser, Christopher Eccleston, Full Cast, Henry Goodman, Jonathan Coy, Justin Salinger, Niamh Cusack, Pippa Nixon, Stephen Rea, Tim Pigott-Smith, Valerie Edmond (Narrator)

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1984 Anthem Brave New World

"In 1984 by George Orwell, one of the pivotal paragraphs that captures the essence of the novel is when Winston Smith reflects on the power and control exerted by the Party. This passage illustrates the Party's ability to manipulate reality and shape individual thought: 'Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past.' This phrase encapsulates the totalitarian regime's grip on history and truth. By constantly rewriting records and altering facts, the Party ensures that they control not just the narrative of the past, but also how people think and perceive the present and future. It is a chilling depiction of the dangers of unchecked power and the erosion of personal freedom and truth under a totalitarian state. In Anthem by Ayn Rand, the story is set in a dystopian future where individuality has been entirely suppressed in favor of collective control. The protagonist, Equality 7-2521, struggles to break free from a society where the word 'I' is forbidden, and personal identity is considered a sin. As he discovers the power of independent thought and embraces his own identity, he ultimately rejects the oppressive collective and declares the sanctity of individualism. The novel explores themes of freedom, self-expression, and the importance of personal choice in shaping one's deSTINY. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, ollows Bernard Marx and John the Savage as they grapple with a society that prioritizes comfort and control over freedom and authentic human experience. Through this dystopian lens, Huxley critiques the dangers of a technologically advanced, consumer-driven society that strips away personal freedom and individuality."

Aldous Huxley, Ayn Rand, George Orwell (Author), Geoffrey Giuliano, The Force (Narrator)

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Brave New World

"No library's complete without the classics! This new audio collects the legendary masterpiece of Aldous Huxley. More than ever, everybody interested in upholding the human spirit has to listen to and comprehend Aldous Huxley's timeless outstanding work. 'A masterpiece... One of the most prophetic dystopian works.' Wall Street Journal A profoundly significant work of world literature, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley presents a disturbing picture of an unequal, technologically advanced future in which people are drugged, socially indoctrinated, and genetically bred to passively uphold an authoritarian ruling order—all at the expense of our freedom, our humanity, and possibly even our souls. Huxley, described by The New Yorker as 'a genius [who] spent his life decrying the onward march of the Machine,' was a man of unparalleled ability who was also a keen observer of human nature and society, an artist, and a spiritual quest. Millions of readers have been captivated and horrified by this masterpiece, Brave New World, which is still very relevant today as a thought-provoking, gratifying piece of writing as well as a warning to be heeded as we go into the future. Written in the midst of the fascist movement in the 1930s, Brave New World also addresses the mass-entertainment industry, technology, drugs and medicine, persuasive techniques, and the covert power of the elite. For the first time, this audio book features his 'effortlessly crafted' piece titled 'Brave New World Revisited,' where Huxley has discussed his dystopian masterpiece 'Brave New World' and its impacts in the real world decades later. 'Aldous Huxley is the greatest 20th century writer in English.' — Tribune of Chicago"

Aldous Huxley (Author), Skye Stafford, Tommy Anderson (Narrator)

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The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell

"'A genuine spiritual quest. . . . Extraordinary.' — The New York Times A work that profoundly affected the counterculture of the 1960s and shaped the outlook of a generation. In this Audio are the two complete classic books, The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell, by Aldous Huxley, the author of Brave New World, which are among the most profound and influential explorations of mind-expanding psychedelic drugs ever written. Huxley reveals the uncharted territories of human consciousness as well as the mind's remote frontiers. An additional essay, 'Drugs That Shape Men's Minds,' is featured in this audio for the first time. Aldous Huxley delves into the uncharted territories of human awareness and the far reaches of the mind. The first two remarkable pieces rank among the most in-depth analyses of the effects of mind-expanding medicines that have been published in the past century."

Aldous Huxley (Author), Sofia Lorenzo (Narrator)

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