Audiobooks by David Torrance

The Edge of Revolution: The General Strike that Shook Britain

"Bloomsbury presents The Edge of Revolution written and read by David Torrance Author of the critically acclaimed The Wild Men, David Torrance explores another tumultuous and era-defining moment in British political history. On Tuesday 4 May 1926, two million workers downed tools in the only nationwide all-hands strike ever held in Britain. The General Strike had begun, and the country braced itself for what many believed was a moment akin to the Russian Revolution, which had shaken the world only a decade earlier. Industry was deprived of gas and electricity; the buses, trains and trams all stopped; newspapers ceased publication; and workers abandoned mines and iron, steel and chemical works around the country. The General Strike has entered our national mythology. Even though it lasted only nine days, it left a legacy of bitterness that has had a profound impact on politics. Now, a century on, Torrance tells this dramatic story from the perspective of everyone involved, drawing on extensive archival research to recreate those nine days through the accounts of those who lived and breathed it. The result is an absorbing and comprehensive analysis of this unique episode in British history. C 2026 David Torrance P 2026 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"

David Torrance (Author), David Torrance (Narrator)

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The Wild Men: The Remarkable Story of Britain's First Labour Government -- A Waterstones Book of the Year 2024

"Bloomsbury presents The Wild Men by David Torrance, read by Nathaniel Priestley. A century ago a Labour government took power for the first time, meet the Wild Men who led the way... 'Thoroughly researched… brings superbly to life figures whom history should not have forgotten.' – Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph 'A highly readable, enjoyable and informative book.' – John McTernan, Financial Times 'A meticulously researched collective biography.' – Andrew Marr, New Statesman 'Superb' — New Statesman 'Fascinating' — The Sunday Times In 1923, five short years since the end of the First World War, and after the passing of the Act which gave all men the vote, an inconclusive election result and the prospect of a constitutional crisis opened the door for a radically different sort of government: men from working-class backgrounds who had never before occupied the corridors of power at Westminster. Who were these ‘wild men’? Ramsay MacDonald, their leader and Labour’s first Prime Minster, was the illegitimate son of a Scottish farm labourer; Arthur Henderson was a Scottish iron moulder; J. H. Thomas, a Welsh railwayman; John Wheatley, an Irish-born miner and publican; and William Adamson, a Fife coal miner. Never before had men from such backgrounds occupied the corridors of power in Westminster. The Wild Men tells the story of that first Labour administration – its unexpected birth, fraught existence, and controversial downfall – through the eyes of those who found themselves in the House of Commons, running the country for the people. Blending biography and history into a compelling narrative, David Torrance reassesses the UK’s first Labour government a century after it shook up a British establishment still reeling from the War – and how the establishment eventually fought back. This is an extraordinary period in British political history which echoes down the years to our current politics and laid the foundations for the Britain of today."

David Torrance (Author), Nathaniel Priestley (Narrator)

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Inside North Korea: A BBC Radio Documentary Collection

"A compelling collection of programmes exploring one of the world's most repressive and dangerous nations The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a highly secretive totalitarian state - and one that poses an increasing threat to the West due to its rapidly expanding nuclear weapons programme. This unique 3-part collection takes an in-depth look at the country, encompassing its history, the human stories behind the regime, and its possible future. Part 1: Inside North Korea examines the politics, economy and leadership of this isolated nation. The Real Story: How dangerous is North Korea? discusses whether the country's increasing military belligerence rules out any hope for engagement with the rest of the world, while The Inquiry: Is North Korea broke? investigates how the state makes its money, from coffee shops to counterfeiting. And in two illuminating Profile programmes, David Torrance and Becky Milligan scrutinize the Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, and his sister and closest confidant Kim Yo-jong. In Part 2: The People, North Koreans and Westerners recount their experiences. Assignment: Escape from North Korea talks to the forgotten survivors who made it across Asia's iron curtain, while The Documentary Podcast: North Korea's celebrity defectors discovers how these escapees have become a valuable commodity in South Korea. Seven fascinating Outlook documentaries focus on the extraordinary stories of ordinary individuals, including a defector interrogated for playing Western music; a young man who led a street gang; a female soldier; an author who befriended dictator Kim Il-sung; a former spy; a woman who fled North Koreat twice - and another who claims her defection was a terrible mistake. Trending: North Korea's YouTube Stars looks at the vloggers uploading footage from inside the hermit kingdom, and in an episode of HARDtalk, American missionary Kenneth Bae tells of his arrest and imprisonment in a Pyongyang labour camp. Part 3: Looking Forward asks, what next for North Korea? Three engrossing episodes of The Inquiry delve into the regime's missile capability and its global repercussions; reveal the conversations inside the war rooms; and consider whether China may hold the key to getting North Korea to step back from its nuclear ambitions. Finally, A Korean Thaw revisits the 2018 Winter Olympics, when North and South Korea competed under a single banner, and poses the question, could sports diplomacy stop a war in the peninsula? Cast and credits The Real Story: How dangerous is North Korea? Presented by Ritula Shah. First broadcast BBC Radio World Service, 16 October 2020 The Inquiry: Is North Korea Broke? Presented by Celia Hatton. First broadcast BBC Radio World Service, 24 May 2018 Profile: Kim Jong-un Presented by David Torrance. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 April 2012 Profile: Kim Yo-jong Presented by Becky Milligan. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 May 2020 Assignment: Escape from North Korea Presented by Chris Gunness. First broadcast BBC World Service, 14 May 2003 The Documentary: North Korea's celebrity defectors Presented by Jonathan Griffin and Natalia Zuo. First broadcast BBC Radio World Service, 26 March 2020 Outlook: I fled North Korea for playing the wrong song Presented by Rajan Datar. First broadcast BBC World Service, 26 March 2020 Outlook: I led a street gang in North Korea Presented by Matthew Bannister. First broadcast BBC World Service, 13 October 2016 Outlook: A Woman Inside North Korea's Army Presented by Matthew Bannister. First broadcast BBC World Service, 28 September 2017 Outlook: My Time with North Korea's Dictator Presented by Matthew Bannister. First broadcast BBC World Service, 4 April 2018 Outlook: I Spied for North Korea Presented by Lucy Ash. First broadcast BBC World Service, 21 October 2013 Outlook: Escaping North Korea Twice Presented by Jo Fidgen. First broadcast BBC World Service, 5 March 2018 Outlook: I Want to Go Back to North Korea Presented by Matthew Bannister. First broadcast BBC World Service, 30 September 2015 Trending: North Korea's YouTube stars Presented by Jonathan Griffin. First broadcast BBC World Service, 6 April 2018 HARDtalk: Former North Korea Detainee - Kenneth Bae Presented by Stephen Sackur. First broadcast BBC World Service, 28 August 2017 The Inquiry: North Korea Deep Dive Presented by Ruth Alexander. First broadcast BBC World Service, 22 December 2017 The Inquiry: What Would War with North Korea Look Like? Presented by Neal Razzell. First broadcast BBC World Service, 27 July 2017 The Inquiry: Can China Solve the North Korea Problem? Presented by Neal Razzell. First broadcast BBC World Service, 21 September 2017 A Korean Thaw Presented by Jean Lee. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 February 2018 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Becky Milligan, David Torrance, Sara Jane Hall (Author), Becky Milligan, David Torrance, Jonathan Griffin, Matthew Bannister, Natalia Zuo (Narrator)

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