Audiobooks by Ann Radcliffe

Tales of Terror: A BBC Radio Gothic Drama Collection: The Castle of Otranto, The Monk, The Mysteries

"Four full-cast dramatisations of classic Gothic novels, plus documentaries exploring the genre’s rise and enduring appeal Dark deeds, dastardly villains, innocent victims and supernatural happenings – these are the terrifying tropes that make up Gothic fiction, a genre that has captured our imagination for over 250 years. Blending both classic and modern dramatisations, this specially curated anthology couples thrilling masterpieces with insightful documentaries… We begin with A Gothic Quest, in which Louise Welsh examines what ‘gothic’ really means, and takes a look at its many appearances in poetry, fiction, art, architecture and film. In A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto, Rory McGrath explores the origins of gothic horror, first manifested in Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel. It is followed by a dramatisation of The Castle of Otranto itself, a dark supernatural tale of duplicity and dynastic rivalry. Treading warily into the book’s strange world in Kaleidoscope Feature: A Little Gothic Castle, Peggy Reynolds draws parallels between Walpole’s vision for his London villa, Strawberry Hill, and the haunted mansion in the novel. Next, we unveil the male gothic in a gripping drama featuring disguise, abduction, incest and murder. The Monk, based on the 1796 classic by Matthew Lewis, tells the story of Ambrosio (Michael Pennington), who is tempted into breaking his vows of chastity by a beautiful young nun. The dawn of the female gothic is revealed in The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, centred on a powerless young heroine trapped in an isolated castle and pitted against an evil Italian Count. Showcasing the Gothic satire is Jane Austen’s 1817 novel Northanger Abbey, poking fun at the popular sensation fiction of her day. In this witty drama, Catherine Morland is taken to Bath for the season, and finds that in her fertile imagination, danger and hair-raising horrors lurk around every corner. Georgia Groome, Miriam Margolyes and Bridgerton’s Luke Thompson star in this full-cast dramatisation. Wrapping up our collection is In Our Time: Gothic, which sees Melvyn Bragg and guest experts considering the origins and significance of the 18th century Gothic movement. First published 1764 (The Castle of Otranto), 1794 (The Mysteries of Udolpho), 1796 (The Monk), 1817 (Northanger Abbey) Content List Part 1. Gothic Imagination A Gothic Quest Presented by Louise Welsh Part 2. The First Gothic Novel: The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto Presented by Rory McGrath The Castle of Otranto cast and credits to be announced Kaleidoscope Feature: A Little Gothic Castle Presented by Peggy Reynolds Part 3. Unveiling A Male Gothic: The Monk by Matthew Lewis The Monk Starring Michael Pennington, Sorcha Cusack, Emily Morgan, Christopher Douglas, Brian Smith, Jenny Funnell, Tessa Worsley, Mary Wimbush, Simon Hewitt, Anne Jameson, Alan Thompson, Melinda Walker, Mia Soteriou, Allan McClelland, Garard Green, Graham Blockey, Peter Acre, David Learner and Bernard Brown Part 4. The Dawn of a Female Gothic: The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe The Mysteries of Udolpho Starring Georgia Groome, Tracy Wiles, John Dougall, Finlay Robertson, Luke Thompson, Natasha Cowley, Stephen Wight, John Bowler, Karen Bartke and Alison Belbin Part 5. Gothic Satire: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Northanger Abbey Starring Georgia Groome, Luke Thompson, Tracy Wiles, Kim Wall, Ainsley Howard, Alison Belbin, John Bowler, Karen Bartke, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Wight, Finlay Robertson, Natasha Cowley, John Dougall, Nick Murchie, Keziah Joseph and Luke MacGregor Part 6. Gothic Legacies In Our Time: Gothic Presented by Melvyn Bragg With Chris Baldick, A N Wilson and Emma Clery © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ann Radcliffe, Horace Walpole, Jane Austen, Matthew Lewis (Author), Full cast, Garard Green, Georgia Groome, John Bowler, Karen Bartke, Louise Welsh, Luke Thompson, Melvyn Bragg, Miriam Margolyes, Rory McGrath, Tracy Wiles (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Romance of the Forest

"Ann Radcliffe, a pioneer of Gothic literature, had her first major success with The Romance of the Forest. Critically acclaimed as the ‘mighty enchantress’, she fused the supernatural, terror, romance and history to forge clever and compelling novels. Here young Adeline escapes danger with the La Motte family, finding refuge in the darkness of a decaying abbey, with its hidden passages… but what secrets are held here? Whom can she trust? Threatened and tested, she gradually uncovers her mysterious heritage. Sublime landscapes and psychological tension enrich a thrilling story – which, thanks to this superb audio performance that includes original song settings, can now be enjoyed in the dark for full effect!"

Ann Radcliffe (Author), Sarah Lambie (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Mysteries of Udolpho

"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. A cornerstone of Gothic literature, The Mysteries of Udolpho is a sweeping tale of suspense, romance, and eerie enchantment that helped define an entire genre. First published in 1794, Ann Radcliffe’s masterpiece continues to mesmerize readers with its blend of atmospheric storytelling, emotional depth, and spine-tingling mystery. Set in 16th-century France and Italy, the novel follows the virtuous and imaginative Emily St. Aubert, who, after the death of her beloved father, is placed under the care of her cruel and manipulative aunt. Emily is soon imprisoned in the gloomy and remote Castle Udolpho, where haunting events, dark corridors, and strange apparitions begin to unfold. Surrounded by secrecy and shadows, Emily must navigate loss, betrayal, and hidden threats as she clings to hope—and to love. Radcliffe’s rich descriptions, psychological tension, and use of sublime landscapes transport listeners into a world where every whisper of wind might hide a secret, and every locked door might conceal a haunting truth. The Mysteries of Udolpho is a must-listen for fans of classic literature, Gothic romance, and tales where beauty and terror exist side by side. A profound influence on authors like Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Brontës, this audiobook is a journey into the heart of the Gothic imagination."

Ann Radcliffe (Author), Digital Voice George E (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Mysteries of Udolpho

"The novel follows the story of Emily St. Aubert, an orphaned young woman, who finds herself entangled in a web of mysteries and intrigues. As she navigates through the eerie and foreboding landscapes of the European countryside, she encounters dark castles, secret passages, and a series of mysterious events that challenge her sanity and understanding of reality. Themes of love, betrayal, and the supernatural are interwoven as Emily unravels the secrets surrounding the castle of Udolpho."

Ann Radcliffe (Author), Jason Smith (male Synthesized Voice) (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Sicilian Romance

"The commission of one crime often requires the perpetration of another. When once we enter on the labyrinth of vice, we can seldom return, but are led on, through correspondent mazes, to destruction. On the northern shore of Sicily, a tourist visiting the ruins of the once-magnificent castle of the house of Mazzini uncovers the noble family’s turbulent history. The Marquis Mazzini’s daughters, Emilia and Julia, are beautiful and accomplished young ladies. Julia quickly falls in love with the young and handsome Italian count Hippolitus de Vereza, but, to her dismay, her father decides that she should marry Duke de Luovo instead. On the night before her wedding, Julia flees to elope with Hippolitus, but the Marquis ambushes them and seemingly kills Hippolitus, whose body is carried away by his servants. The Marquis demands that Julia accepts the engagement with de Luovo, but she manages to escape again, this time alone. In a tense game of cat-and-mouse, the Marquis and the spurned Duke de Luovo set out to catch Julia, who adopts various hiding places as she narrowly avoids capture and eventually ends up, by way of a secret tunnel, in the abandoned and supposedly haunted southern apartments of the Mazzini castle. There Julia discovers that her mother, thought to be dead, has instead been imprisoned here for years by the Marquis, who had grown to despise her. The newly reunited mother and daughter are determined to help each other. Meanwhile, the Marquis faces his own marital troubles with his new wife, Maria de Vellorno, and boldly accuses her of infidelity … with fatal consequences. First published anonymously in 1790, A Sicilian Romance is a haunting Gothic novel from Ann Radcliffe, whom Sir Walter Scott dubbed “the first poetess of romantic fiction.” She has influenced such notable authors as Sir Walter Scott, Victor Hugo, the Marquis de Sade, Alexandre Dumas, Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, and H. P. Lovecraft."

Ann Radcliffe (Author), Justine Eyre (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Sicilian Romance (Unabridged)

"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. The salty spray kissed Isabella's tear-stained cheeks as she watched the sun bleed crimson into the Sicilian sky. Below, the waves crashed against the jagged cliffs, mirroring the turmoil in her heart. Betrothed to a cruel lord for power, her love for the dashing Marco was forbidden. Tonight, under the cloak of darkness, they planned a desperate escape. But amidst the scent of jasmine and the haunting melody of a lone lute, a chilling shriek shattered the night. Would love conquer the shadows that clung to the ancient castle walls, or would Isabella become another tragic heroine whispered on the wind?"

Ann Radcliffe (Author), Digital Voice Marcus G (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Italian

"Brought to you by Penguin. From the first moment Vincentio di Vivaldi, a young nobleman, sets eyes on the veiled figure of Ellena, he is captivated by her enigmatic beauty and grace. But his haughty and manipulative mother is against the match and enlists the help of her confessor to come between them. Schedoni, previously a leading figure of the Inquisition, is a demonic, scheming monk with no qualms about the task, whether it entails abduction, torture - or even murder. The Italian secured Ann Radcliffe's position as the leading writer of Gothic romance of the age, for its atmosphere of supernatural and nightmarish horrors, combined with her evocation of sublime landscapes and chilling narrative. (P) Penguin Audio 2020"

Ann Radcliffe (Author), Sara Alexander (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne

"The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne. A Highland Story is a gothic novel by Ann Radcliffe first published in London by Thomas Hookham in 1789. The novel is a set in a powerful landscape which became familiar in her later work, with complex clan feuds and mysterious romantic intrigues played out against a backdrop of ruined medieval castles and rugged Scottish coastlines. Each of the characters can be defined by their passions: The present Earl of Athlin, Osbert, is driven by a passionate desire to avenge his father’s murder at the hand of Malcolm, the Baron of Dunbayne. His sister, Mary, is ever swooning and fainting in an attempt to resist her passion for Alleyn, a highlander not of noble birth (and therefore unworthy). Alleyn is likwise driven to heroic deeds of rescue because of his love for Mary. Even the villain, Baron Malcolm, is driven by his desire—first a desire to kill Osbert; it is later supplanted by his desire to possess Mary. Although the passions of its leading characters dominate the plot, the castles of the title are as central to the narrative, establishing an enduring Gothic trope."

Ann Radcliffe (Author), Shelby Reinhart (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Italian

"Vincentio di Vivaldi has fallen in love with Ellena Rosalba. However, his proud and noble family vehemently oppose the match: they cannot allow him to wed someone with no money or social standing. Thus, his mother, the mean-spirited Marchesa, and her minion, the evil monk Father Schedoni, set in motion a malign plot that has Ellena kidnapped and imprisoned in a convent, to prevent a hasty marriage. Vivaldi’s attempt to free Ellena leads to his arrest and incarceration in the dungeons of the Inquisition, a terrifying maze of tunnels and chambers beneath Rome, while Ellena is taken to a lone dwelling by the sea... In part a response to Matthew Lewis’s The Monk, The Italian is a deeply atmospheric novel, combining sublime landscapes and unnerving feelings of fear and dread. It is one of the landmarks of Gothic fiction."

Ann Radcliffe (Author), Georgina Sutton (Narrator)

Audiobook

EDWY: A Poem, in Three Parts

"In Edwy, Ann Radcliffe gives us a delightful piece of poetic moonshine, whose eponymous hero seeks assistance from the world of faerie in order to spy on his girlfriend, Aura, and see if she really loves him. He does this by venturing unseen into Windsor Forest at night to trap the love-fay, Eda, who, once spellbound, must reveal all and let him remotely view Aura's activities by means of a magic mirror cut from crystal. In addition to this early form of cyberstalking, Edwy, on his night-journey into the forest gets to witness a royal procession of the Fairie Queen, followed by midnight revels of elves and spirits. What seems like a mid-summer night's dream turns into a comedy of errors, though, as Edwy suffers memory loss, makes a false start, and unintentionally looses a mischievous wood sprite in the course of his romantic quest. Puckishly playful, Mrs. Radcliffe imbues her tale with a remarkable sense of the glimmering feyness of the nighttime forest, making a principal appeal of the poem's dreamlike world the inscrutability and ultimate indeterminacy of events glimpsed by moonlight. (Summary by Grant Hurlock)"

Ann Radcliffe (Author), Grant Hurlock (Narrator)

Audiobook

Italian

"The love story between a nobleman and a beautiful lady whom he meets in church leads both of them to unexpected places, as many people would not put up with their love. This novel is considered to be one of the best Gothic novels ever written, by one of the first (and best) writers of the genre. How does an "indecent" love story become a Gothic tale? What is the outcome of this love story? If you want to know, read this book. (Summary by Stav Nisser)"

Ann Radcliffe (Author), LibriVox Volunteers (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Mysteries of Udolpho

"Considered a change agent in early Gothic romance; oft-referenced in later literary works or paid homage to by such authors as Jane Austen (influential novel ready by her heroine, Catherine Morland, in Northanger Abbey); Edgar Allen Poe (borrowed plot elements for the short story The Oval Portrait); and Sir Walter Scott. - In The Mysteries of Udolpho, one of the most famous and popular gothic novels of the eighteenth century, Ann Radcliffe took a new tack from her predecessors and portrayed her heroine's inner life, creating an atmosphere thick with fear, and providing a gripping plot that continues to thrill readers today. - The Mysteries of Udolpho, set in Europe in the year 1584, is the story of orphan Emily St. Aubert, who finds herself separated from the man she loves and confined within the medieval castle of her aunt's new husband, Montoni, after being forced to travel through France and Italy. Inside the castle, she must cope with an unwanted suitor, Montoni's threats, and the wild imaginings and terrors that threaten to overwhelm her. - The mysterious happenings in the story always have a natural and probable explanation because Radcliffe was a very rational person and did not believe in the supernatural. Radcliffe's strengths in writing were in describing scenery as well as suspense and terror. Many critics have called the work "dreamlike" and "suggestive of the cinematic technique of slow-motion." (Summary by Wikipedia/Michelle Crandall)"

Ann Radcliffe (Author), LibriVox Volunteers (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks by Ann Radcliffe

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