Audiobooks by George Meredith

"Self-absorbed Sir Willoughby Patterne seeks a bride. After being jilted by his first fiancée he settles on the spirited Clara Middleton; but she starts to realise that he only wants a mirror for himself and his opinions. As she becomes desperate to disengage, and he becomes desperate to hold on to her, so a series of farcical, labyrinthine misunderstandings ensues. Meredith’s brand of satirical firepower won him the admiration of Robert Louis Stevenson, who read The Egoist (1879) multiple times, and Oscar Wilde, who wrote: ‘Ah, Meredith! Who can define him? His style is chaos illumined by flashes of lightning’."

George Meredith (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

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The Egoist & The Adventures of Harry Richmond: Two Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

"BBC Radio 4 adaptations of George Meredith’s classic tragicomic novel and his picaresque romantic comedy Novelist and poet George Meredith is widely regarded as the last great Victorian author. He influenced writers including Thomas Hardy, Robert Louis Stevenson and Henry James, and was nominated for the Nobel Prize seven times. This BBC collection features dramatisations of his most famous novel, The Egoist, and his witty bildungsroman The Adventures of Harry Richmond. The Egoist – Self-absorbed aristocrat Sir Willoughby Patterne wants a wife – and naturally assumes that whoever he chooses will want him. But when his chosen fiancée, Constantia, elopes, he is forced to look for another potential bride. Torn between the sentimental Laetitia and the strong-willed Clara, he finally pins one down to an engagement – only to find that she, too, has doubts… James Wilby stars as Sir Willoughby, with Keeley Hawes as Clara, in this satirical look at the Victorian marriage market. The Adventures of Harry Richmond – On a cold morning in February 1846, Richmond Roy arrives at Riversley Grange to claim his infant son, Harry, from the child’s grandfather, Squire Beltham. It is the beginning of a journey of self-discovery for the young boy, as he is rescued and abandoned by his charismatic father, escapes from a London boarding school, embarks on a Grand Tour of Europe and succumbs to the charms of a German princess… This lively coming-of-age tale stars James Aubrey, Anthony Newlands, Sebastian Shaw, Gina Bellman, Joanna David and Maev Alexander. First published 1871 (The Adventures of Harry Richmond), 1879 (The Egoist) Production credits Written by George Meredith The Egoist Sir Willoughby – James Wilby Clara Middleton – Keeley Hawes Mrs Mountstuart-Jenkinson – Hannah Gordon Laetitia Dale – Nickie Rainsford Vernon Witford – Simon Ludders Horace de Craye – Robert Patterson Dr Middleton – Bill Wallis Crossjay – Leo Brightmore Lady Busshe – Lawmary Champion Lady Culmer – Christine Pritchard Constantia – Anna North Dr Corney – Giles Thomas Lady Patterne – June Barrie Mr Dale – Paul Nicholson Crossjay – Leo Brightmore Dramatised by Jane Dauncey Directed by Alison Hindell First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 April-3 May 1998 The Adventures of Harry Richmond Harry Richmond – James Aubrey Sewis – Brian Carroll Richmond Roy – Anthony Newlands Squire Beltham – Sebastian Shaw Harry, as a boy – Howard Taylor Aunt Dorothy – Gwen Watford Janet, as a girl – Katherines Hughes Temple, as a boy – David Wilson Flo – Jacqui Burin Amy – Jo Manning Wilson Joe Double – Ronald Baddiley Capt Welsh – Haydn Jones Clara Goodwin – Roberta Symes Colonel Goodwin – Garard Green Ottilia, as a girl – Gina Bellman The Margravine von Rippau – Brenda Bruce Burgomeister – Milo Sperber Miss Sibley/Frau von Dittmarsch – Elaine Mitchell Princess Ottilia – Joanna David Mrs Waddy – Margot Boyd Captain de Witt – Michael Deacon Lady Wilts – Petra Davies Anna Penrhys – Liza Flanagan Janet Ilchester – Maev Alexander Mr Burgin – James Thomason Mr Peterborough – Jonathan Scott Baroness Turckems – Hilda Kriseman Prince Ernest – George Pravda Professor von Karsteg – Steve Plytas Prince Otto – Philip Sully Lieschen – Tammy Ustinov Countess Czezedy – Eva Stuart Kiomi/Lady Sampleman – Josie Kidd Augustus Temple – John Bull Marquis of Edbury – David McAlister Yachtsman – Gregory de Polnay Adapted by D.G. Bridson Directed by John Cardy First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 June-15 July 1979 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

George Meredith (Author), Anthony Newlands, Bill Wallis, Brenda Bruce, Full Cast, George Meredith, Gwen Watford, Hannah Gordon, Howard Taylor, James Aubrey, James Wilby, June Barrie, Keeley Hawes, Paul Nicholson, Sebastian Shaw (Narrator)

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Born in England – Exploring English Poetry - The South-East

"Poetry. A form of words that seems so elegantly simple in one verse and so cleverly complex in another. Each poet has a particular style, an individual and unique way with words and yet each of us seems to recognise the path and destination of where the verses lead, even if sometimes the full comprehension may be a little beyond us.Through the centuries every culture has produced verse to symbolize and to describe everything from everyday life, natural wonders, the human condition and even in its more hubristic moments, the crushing triumph of an enemy.In the volumes of this series, we take a look at poetry through the prism of individual regions of England, or sometimes more quaintly known as ‘Albion’, or ‘Blighty’, through the centuries of its gloried history.England, despite its perception of reserve and under-statement has, in reality, strode the global stage at various time in many things, both good and bad, from Empire to long distance running. Here our focus in on its literature. Famed for its fiction and dramas, it is equally admired for its plethora of gifted poets and the dazzling verse which has added so much to its artistic legacy. These classic poets are wonders of their age and of their art. Genius is written in their names.In this volume we explore the poets of the South-East. Although only a small fragment of the island it is layer-rich in gentle natural landscapes and poetic beauty that hold in thrall all who take time to absorb the wonder of their words. Our poets include Matthew Arnold, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Robert Seymour Bridges and many others."

Anne Kingsmill Finch, Aphra Behn, Charles Dickens, Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Waller, Ford Maddox Ford, George Meredith, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Jane Austen, Matthew Arnold, Richard Lovelace, Robert Graves, Robert Seymour Bridges, Siegfried Sassoon, Sir Phillip Sidney, Sir Thomas Wyatt (Author), Ghizela Rowe, Mark Rice-Oxley, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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The Shaving of Shagpat (Unabridged)

"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. In 'The Shaving of Shagpat,' Shibli Bagarag, a humble barber, finds himself on an extraordinary quest. Enchantress Noorna tasks him with shaving the tyrannical Shagpat, whose power rests in his magical beard. Shibli embarks on a journey filled with fantastical creatures, talking animals, and perilous trials. He acquires a magic sword and faces challenges that test his courage and wit. Humor and allegory intertwine as Shibli strives to overcome Shagpat and liberate the city from his oppressive rule."

George Meredith (Author), Digital Voice Marcus G (Narrator)

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The Poetry of Youth

"Today perhaps we all agree that youth is spoilt, ill-disciplined and in search of constant, and instant, gratification. No matter how much we love them, our children, as they mature from child to youth, are pampered. A century ago, and even further back, even the most privileged of youth was rarely indulged. In this volume we look at those years of youth through the eyes and pens of classic poets. They reveal times of hardship, of fear, of love and loss. But youth is idealistic, ready to change the world….but usually ending up in the service of others, be it parents, or patrons, or employers, from a career in trade to the slaughter of war. Life is difficult, a sometimes grim monotone and, it seems, only occasionally splashed with the colour of love, of beauty and ambition.However, one thing we can be certain of though is that these verses speak not only from the head but from the heart."

George Meredith (Author), Ghizela Rowe, Gideon Wagner, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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The Poetry of George Meredith

"George Meredith, OM, was born in Portsmouth, England on February 12th, 1828. His mother died when he was five. As a fourteen year old teenager he was sent to a Moravian School in Neuwied, Germany, staying there for two years. After reading law he was articled as a solicitor, but quickly abandoned that career path for journalism and poetry. He collaborated with Edward Gryffydh Peacock, son of Thomas Love Peacock in publishing a privately circulated literary magazine, the Monthly Observer. At age twenty-one he married Mary Ellen Nicolls, Edward Peacock's beautiful widowed sister, on August 8th, 1849. Mary Ellen was 28.The marriage produced one child; Arthur (1853Ð1890). Meredith collected his early writings, all previously published in periodicals, in an 1851 volume, Poems. In 1856 he posed as the model for The Death of Chatterton, a well-known picture by the English Pre-Raphaelite painter Henry Wallis, which romantised the teenage ChattertonÕs demise. Although Meredith received some publicity for this his wife received rather more attention from Wallis because of it. Mary Ellen ran off with Wallis in 1858, shortly before giving birth to a child that all assumed to be Wallis. Tragically she died three years later. From that dreadful experience emerged a collection of sonnets entitled Modern Love in 1862 together with much of his first major novel; The Ordeal of Richard Feverel.Meredith married Marie Vulliamy in 1864 and they settled in Surrey. Together they had two children; William (1865) and Mariette (1874). He had a keen understanding of comedy and his Essay on Comedy (1877) remains a reference work in the history of comic theory. In The Egoist, published in 1879, he applies some of his theories of comedy in one of his most thoughtful and enduring novels. During most of his career, he had difficulty crossing over from critical acclamation to popular success. It was only in 1885 that his first genuine commercial success appeared; Diana of the Crossways. With an unreliable income stream he sought to bolster that with a job as a publisher's reader.The company that gave him this lifeline was Chapman & Hall. His advice to the company was very well received and made him influential in the world of letters. In 1868 Meredith was introduced to Thomas Hardy. Hardy had submitted his first novel, The Poor Man and the Lady. Meredith felt the book was too bitter a satire on the rich and told Hardy to put it aside as it was likely it would be savaged by reviewers and destroy his nascent career. Meredith had received the same reaction with The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. Although it had brought him success it was judged so shocking that Mudie's circulating library cancelled an order of 300 copies. But these years, creatively, were very prolific and successful for Meredith. Novels and poems flowed from his pen including everything from The Adventures of Harry Richmond to many poetry volumes including The Lark Ascending (which later inspired the Vaughan Williams music). In 1886, tragedy struck when Marie Vulliamy, died of cancer.Whilst his personal life was producing horrendous scars he was receiving many accolades. Oscar Wilde was a fan. In The Decay of Lying, he says of Meredith "Ah, Meredith! Who can define him? His style is chaos illumined by flashes of lightning". In 1891 Meredith was even the subject of homage when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes short story The Boscombe Valley Mystery. Holmes turns to Watson during case discussions and says "And now let us talk about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all minor matters until tomorrow." George Meredith, aged 81, died at his home in Box Hill, Surrey on May 18th, 1909. He is buried in the cemetery at Dorking, Surrey.This volume comes to you from Portable Poetry, a specialized imprint from Deadtree Publishing. Our range is large and growing and covers single poets, themes, and many compilations."

George Meredith (Author), Ghizela Rowe, Gideon Wagner, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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The Pre-Raphaelite Poets

"The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood began as a group of painters, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Holman Hunt, who wished to reject the stern and academic strictures of current painting and return to the simpler and more uncomplicated days before the Italian High Renaissance and the days of Raphael.The movement was short lived but very influential and, as well, was taken up by a number of different arts.For poetry, it was a major movement and, because of its depiction of pleasures of the flesh, was, at the time, heavily criticised. One critic called it ÔThe Fleshly School of PoetryÕ. However, the sensationalist aside, it unleashed works that had instant appeal. The movement pushed back against contemporary writings which seemed full of tradition and the more mundane problems of society. To exploit and gain attention for their ideas, the Brotherhood started their own periodical; The Germ, which, although it only lasted four numbers did much to bring them attention. Its devotion to the Mediaeval, to symbols and a more naturalistic and detailed approach to poetry were refreshing, especially as the movement sprang up from a Victorian Society that believed morals should be strictly managed, or at least in public.The Pre-Raphaelites as an organised group eventually went their own way but had behind them works which heavily influenced painting and literature for decades to come.With poets of the calibre of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, his sister Christina Georgina Rossetti, William Morris, Charles Algernon Swinburne and George Meredith poetry of great beauty, tenderness and even rawness was placed on the page. This volume comes to you from Portable Poetry, a specialized imprint from Deadtree Publishing. Our range is large and growing and covers single poets, themes, and many compilations."

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, George Meredith, William Morris (Author), Eve Karpf, Ghizela Rowe, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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Diana of the Crossways (Unabridged)

George Meredith (Author), Gabriel Woolf (Narrator)

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