Audiobooks by Pierre Arthur Laure

Shakespeare’s most imaginative and merry play is set in an enchanted wood amidst fairies and sprites. When Oberon, King of the Fairies, uses his magic upon four runaway lovers in a midsummer wood outside Athens, chaos ensues. Who really loves whom? Meanwhile, a band of well-meaning but bungling local actors have thier rehearsal sabotaged by the mischievous Puck, who bewitches their leader, Bottom, and Titania, the Fairy Queen. The result is a lively and anarchic comedy which can only be resolved by an elaborate disentangling of spells. Hermia is played by Amanda Root, Oberon by David Harewood, and Bottom by Roy Hudd. “Comedy…interwoven with pathos.”—Guardian (London)

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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All’s Well That Ends Well

The young and virtuous physician’s daughter Helena desperately loves Count Bertram, but he regards her as beneath his notice. When Helena cures the king of France of a mortal illness, he rewards her with Bertram’s hand, but before their marriage can be consummated the count flees. To win her husband back again, Helena forms a daring and resourceful plan. A plot to unmask the strutting soldier Parolles makes up another strand in this sometimes disturbing comedy of deception and disguise. “All’s Well That Ends Well ranges from scenes of farce to moments of serious insight. Helena’s character, of rather dubious virtue in terms of her tactics with Bertram, sheds interesting ambiguity on the plot’s general theme of the blindness of prejudice and unreason.”—Masterpieces of World Literature

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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Antony and Cleopatra

Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman world, has become the thrall of the fascinating Cleopatra. Affairs of state call him to Rome, but the attractions of the queen of Egypt prove impossible to resist. From one of history’s greatest love stories Shakespeare builds this magnificent tragedy of the clash between love and duty. Cleopatra is played by Estelle Kohler, Mark Antony by Ciaran Hinds, Ian Hughes is Octavious Caesar, and David Burke is Domitius Enobarbus. “This dramatic performance is faithful to Shakespeare’s text, and the actors are excellent; it is no mere reading of the text.”—AudioFile

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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As You Like It

This pastoral comedy is one of Shakespeare’s best loved, owing to its delightful heroine—the wise, witty, and virtuous Rosalind. Rosalind, daughter of the deposed Duke Senior, is exiled from the court by her wicked uncle. Disguising herself as a young man and accompanied by her cousin Celia, she takes refuge in the Forest of Arden. In the forest Rosalind meets Orlando with whom she is in love, but her male disguise complicates matters, especially when Rosalind finds she has unwittingly attracted the shepherdess Phebe. But out of the confusion comes reconciliation and forgiveness, and all ends happily. Rosalind is played by Niamh Cusack, Orlando by Stephen Mangan. Victoria Hamilton is Celia, and Gerard Murphy is Jaques. “Another play in the fine Arkangel Complete Shakespeare series is performed by accomplished British players. Stephen Mangan and Niamh Cusack are especially strong as the lead characters. The original music and singing give the production a true theatrical feel.”—AudioFile

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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Bouquet Poétique à Jéhovah

This is a collection of spiritual poetry soothed with inspirational music background highlighting the personality of the Grand Creator Jehovah. it also paints a few aspects of the spiritual paradise in which we live in that constantly amazes us. The poet only exposes what you , the listener has been feeling in a poetic way. From the comfort of your home or you car after you listen to the whole collection it is a guarantee that your will feel uplifted and blessed.

Pierre Arthur Laure (Author), Pierre Arthur Laure (Narrator)

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Coriolanus

Rome is a city divided, nobility and common-people locked in mutual suspicion. The patrician Caius Marcius, later called Coriolanus, is Rome’s greatest soldier, but his proud refusal to accommodate himself to the demands of the plebeians leads to banishment and death. A Roman history as well as tragedy, Coriolanus is a complex and subtle exploration of the themes of absolution and compromise, both in the political world and in the life of the individual. Paul Jesson plays Coriolanus, and Marjorie Yates is Volumnia. Ewan Hooper plays Menenius. “This is a brisk, lean, vigorous production beautifully recorded—living theater in the finest sense. One hears not only the poetry and drama of the Bard, but the showmanship. The emphasis is on clarity, ensemble, and character. One hears the fun of actors who enjoy wrapping their tongues around Elizabethan speech, the apogee of our language, as spoken by its greatest poet.”—AudioFile

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast, Ewan Hooper, Marjorie Yates, Martin Marquez, Paul Jesson, Shirley Dixon (Narrator)

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Cymbeline

This strange, dark romance includes two songs composed by Shakespeare that are amongst the most beautiful in the English language. Imogen, the daughter of King Cymbeline, is persecuted by her wicked stepmother, the Queen, and by Cloten, the Queen’s doltish son. Disguised as a boy, she sets out to find her husband, the banished Posthumus. On her journey, she unwittingly meets her two brothers, stolen from the court as infants. Posthumus, meanwhile, has been convinced by the villainous Iachimo that Imogen is unchaste and agrees to a test of her faithfulness. Sophie Thompson is Imogen, and Ben Porter is Posthumus. Cymbeline is played by Jack Shepherd while Suzanne Bertish is the Queen. Stephen Mangan plays Cloten, and Ron Cook plays Iachimo. “Fine songs and poetry. The energetic Arkangel cast, striv[es] successfully for clarity and drama.”—Audiofile

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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Hamlet

Shakespeare’s most famous play is one of the greatest stories in the literature of the world. Distressed by his father’s death and his mother’s over-hasty remarriage, Hamlet, prince of Denmark is faced by a specter from beyond the grave bearing a grim message of murder and revenge. The young prince is driven to the edge of madness by his struggle to understand the situation he finds himself in and to do his duty. Many others, including Hamlet’s beloved, the innocent Ophelia, are swept up in his tragedy. Hamlet is played by Simon Russell Beale. Imogen Stubbs plays Ophelia, Jane Lapotaire is Gertrude, and Bob Peck is Claudius. Polonius is played by Norman Rodway. “Listening to Hamlet again, one is struck by how many of the play’s lines have become etched in our collective memory—from the Dane’s early soliloquies to his humorous exchange with the grave digger in the final act. It’s all here in this recording, of course, and the acting is largely excellent.”—AudioFile

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast, Imogen Stubbs, Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

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Henry IV, Part 1

This play introduces Shakespeare’s greatest comedic character, the dissolute knight Sir John Falstaff. While King Henry’s England is threatened by rebellion, the king’s scapegrace son Hal haunts the taverns of London, his companions a crew of rogues and thieves let by Falstaff. The earl of Northumberland and his fiery son Hotspur scheme to overthrow the crown. Can Hal be brought to a sense of duty as Prince of Wales? Or will the influence of Falstaff prove too strong? The issue is decided when Hal, Hotspur, and Falstaff come together at the climactic battle of Shrewsbury. Hal is played by Jamie Glover and King Henry by Julian Glover. Richard Griffiths is Falstaff. “The emotional core of Henry IV, Part One is the contrast between men: between King Henry (Julian Glover); his son, Prince Hal (Jamie Glover); and the lovely, fat villain, Falstaff (Richard Griffiths). All of these men dramatize their parts masterfully. There is always more to them later in a scene than earlier…Even in the heat of battle or the middle of a saloon, with swords clashing or tankards clanking to set the scene, all the voices come through clearly.”—Audiofile

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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Henry IV, Part 2

Prince Hal parts from his past to fulfill his royal destiny in this essential conclusion to Henry IV, Part 1. Rebellion still simmers in England and King Henry’s health is failing. Prince Hal has proved his courage but the king still fears that his son’s pleasure-loving nature will bring the realm to ruin. Meanwhile, Falstaff and his ribald companions waste the nights in revelry, anticipating the moment when Hal will ascend the throne. Falstaff is in Gloucestershire when news arrives that the king has died. Has the dissolute old knight’s hour come at last? Hal is played by Jamie Glover and King Henry by Julian Glover. Richard Griffiths is Falstaff. “A magnificent production, with John Glover as King Henry IV and Jamie Glover as Prince Hal, also offers an outstanding supporting cast, musical interludes, and sound effects. A collector’s item for any audiobook library.”—AudioFile

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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Henry V

Henry V is a study of kingship, patriotism, and heroic determination tempered by tender comedy as Henry courts Katherine, princess of France. Henry, the noble and courageous young king of England, decides to invade France, believing he has a rightful claim to the throne. At Agincourt he leads his army into battle against the powerful French forces and, against all the odds, wins a famous victory. Henry is played by Jamie Glover, Brian Cox is the Chorus, and the Hostess is played by Elizabeth Spriggs.

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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Henry VI, Part 1

The all-conquering King Henry V is dead and the throne is occupied by his infant son, Henry VI. The good Duke Humphrey of Gloucester has been appointed protector, but a struggle for power soon develops between the young king’s Lancastrian relatives and the powerful house of York under Richard Plantagenet. Meanwhile the French, led by Joan of Arc, the maid of Orleans, threaten to win back the territories lost to Henry V. “Besides the powerful David Tennant performing the title role, supporting cast members are all impressive. Listeners can look forward to Kelly Hunter as Queen Margaret, played with energetic ruthlessness, as well as Clive Merrison’s ambitious Duke of York. Any one of the Arkangel recordings is well worth collecting, and this is no exception.”—AudioFile

E.A. Copen, Pierre Arthur Laure, Robert T. Kiyosaki, Tom Wheelwright, William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast (Narrator)

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