Audiobooks by Rachel Joyce

The Bronte BBC Radio Drama Collection: Seven full-cast dramatisations

"The complete canon of the Brontë sisters' classic novels, dramatised by bestselling author Rachel Joyce Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Orphan Jane falls in love with the enigmatic Rochester, but he is concealing a dark secret. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë On the bleak Yorkshire moors, Heathcliff and Cathy’s elemental passion runs wild – but their obsession has devastating consequences. Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë Determined to make her way in the world, penniless young Agnes Grey becomes a governess. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë Gentleman farmer Gilbert Markham is powerfully drawn to Helen Graham, the mysterious resident of Wildfell Hall. Shirley by Charlotte Brontë A poignant tale of friendship, romantic entanglements and turbulent times, set in Yorkshire in 1811. Villette by Charlotte Brontë Leaving England to teach in Villette, Lucy Snowe experiences the pangs of unrequited love. The Professor by Charlotte Brontë As a teacher at a boarding-school in Belgium, William Crimsworth encounters trouble and true love. Adapted by Rachel Joyce, these radio dramas boast star casts including Ellie Kendrick, Amanda Hale, Tom Burke, Lesley Sharp, Paul Venables, Robert Lonsdale, Anna Maxwell Martin, Ben Batt and Chloe Pirrie. Also included is a one-hour bonus programme featuring Rachel Joyce in conversation with producer Tracey Neale."

Anne Bronte, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brönte, Rachel Joyce (Author), Anna Maxwell-Martin, Ella Kendrick, Emma Fielding, Full Cast, Jemima Rooper, Juliet Aubrey, Lesley Sharp, Tom Burke (Narrator)

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The Homemade God

"Brought to you by Penguin. Family is everything, even when it falls apart. Discover the brand-new novel from the multi-million-copy bestselling author. AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER! Family is everything, even when it falls apart: discover the brand-new novel from the multi-million-copy bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Ann Patchett and Maggie O'Farrell. There is a heatwave across Europe. Goose and his three sisters gather at the family's house by Lake Orta in Piedmont, Italy. Their father, a famous artist, has recently remarried a much younger woman and decamped to Italy to finish his masterpiece. Now he is dead and there is no sign of a painting. Although the siblings have always been close, as they search for answers over that summer, the things they learn - about themselves, their father and their new stepmother - will drive them apart before they can come to any kind of understanding of what their father's legacy truly is. Extraordinarily compelling, at heart this is a novel about sibling relationships and those hairline cracks that can appear within a family: what what happens when they splinter, and what it would take to mend them. Featuring an exclusive interview between Rachel Joyce and bestselling author, Sarah Winman. Listen to the end for a fascinating insight into their writing processes and their experiences of narrating their audiobooks. 'A sharp, absorbing and emotionally intelligent novel.' Guardian ‘A beautifully written family drama ... Long after I finished the last page, I found I missed these characters – always the sign of a special book’ - GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 'Joyce, who was an actor before she turned exclusively to writing, modulates her [tone] with immense delicacy. It’s impossible not to feel the comedy inherent in the siblings’ well-worn to and fro, nor the sorrow when their bonds begin to break down.' – Financial Times ©2025 Rachel Joyce (P)2025 Penguin Audio"

Rachel Joyce (Author), Rachel Joyce, Sarah Winman (Narrator)

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Perfect: From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

"In 1972, two seconds were added to time. It was in order to balance clock time with the movement of the earth. Byron Hemming knew this because James Lowe had told him and James was the cleverest boy at school. But how could time change? The steady movement of hands around a clock was as certain as their golden futures. Then Byron’s mother, late for the school run, makes a devastating mistake. Byron’s perfect world is shattered. Were those two extra seconds to blame? Can what follows ever be set right?"

Rachel Joyce (Author), Paul Rhys (Narrator)

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Wuthering Heights: A full-cast BBC radio dramatisation

"Chloe Pirrie and Ben Batt star in this stunning dramatisation of Emily Brontë's classic, adapted by bestselling author Rachel Joyce When homeless orphan Heathcliff is brought to the isolated, storm-swept farmhouse of Wuthering Heights, he sparks very different emotions in the children of the house, Hindley and Cathy. While Hindley instantly hates him and makes his life miserable, Heathcliff finds a soulmate in Cathy and the two spend days playing together on the wild Yorkshire moors. Inseparable as children, passionately in love as adolescents, they are everything to each other – until Cathy meets the wealthy, handsome Edgar Linton and agrees to marry him. Consumed by jealousy and resentment, Heathcliff flees, returning three years later rich and seeking revenge. Bitter and cruel, he vows to destroy everyone who has hurt him – and his hatred and vengeance will ruin the lives of two generations before it runs its course… First published in 1847, Wuthering Heights scandalized Victorian readers with its shocking portrayal of obsession and doomed love. This radio production, dramatised by Rachel Joyce, retains all the force and intensity of Emily Brontë’s masterpiece. Cast Nelly……………………Emma Fielding Young Cathy……………………Rosie Boore Young Heathcliff……………………Reuben Bainbridge Hindley……………………Luke Bailey Mr Earnshaw……………………Clive Hayward Joseph……………………Philip Bretherton Frances/Mary (Servant girl)……………………Lauren Cornelius Edgar/Linton (adult)……………………Ryan Whittle Servant 1/Priest……………………Ryan Early Servant 2……………………Philip Bretherton Adult Cathy……………………Chloe Pirrie Adult Heathcliff……………………Ben Batt Isabella……………………Kerry Gooderson Hareton……………………Ruben Cryer/Tom Glynn-Carney Dr Kenneth……………………Clive Hayward Linton (Young child)……………………Charlie Brand Zillah (Servant)……………………Georgie Glen Catherine (adult)……………………Bryony Hannah Linton (Older child)……………………Oliver Zetterstrom Produced and Directed by Tracey Neale Production Coordinator: Joanne Hopper Studio Managers: Cal Knightley, Anne Bunting and Jenni Burnett"

Emily Brönte, Rachel Joyce (Author), Ben Batt, Chloe Pirrie, Emma Fielding, Full Cast (Narrator)

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Miss Benson's Beetle: An uplifting story of female friendship against the odds

"Brought to you by Penguin. It is 1950. In a devastating moment of clarity, Margery Benson abandons her dead-end job and advertises for an assistant to accompany her on an expedition. She is going to travel to the other side of the world to search for a beetle that may or may not exist. Enid Pretty, in her unlikely pink travel suit, is not the companion Margery had in mind. And yet together they will be drawn into an adventure that will exceed every expectation. They will risk everything, break all the rules, and at the top of a red mountain, discover their best selves. This is a story that is less about what can be found than the belief it might be found; it is an intoxicating adventure story but it is also about what it means to be a woman and a tender exploration of a friendship that defies all boundaries. ©Rachel Joyce 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020"

Rachel Joyce (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

"When Queenie Hennessy discovers that Harold Fry is walking the length of England to save her, and all she has to do is wait, she is shocked. Her note had explained she was dying. How can she wait? A new volunteer at the hospice suggests that Queenie should write again; only this time she must tell Harold everything. In confessing to secrets she has hidden for twenty years, she will find atonement for the past. As the volunteer points out, ‘Even though you’ve done your travelling, you’re starting a new journey too.’ Queenie thought her first letter would be the end of the story. She was wrong. It was the beginning. Told in simple, emotionally-honest prose, with a mischievous bite, this is a novel about the journey we all must take to learn who we are; it is about loving and letting go. And most of all it is about finding joy in unexpected places and at times we least expect."

Rachel Joyce (Author), Celia Imrie (Narrator)

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The Music Shop

"Random House presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce, read by Steve Hartley. From the author of the world-wide bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a new novel about learning how to listen and how to feel; and about second chances and choosing to be brave despite the odds. Because in the end, music can save us all ... 1988. Frank owns a music shop. It is jam-packed with records of every speed, size and genre. Classical, jazz, punk – as long as it’s vinyl he sells it. Day after day Frank finds his customers the music they need. Then into his life walks Ilse Brauchmann. Ilse asks Frank to teach her about music. His instinct is to turn and run. And yet he is drawn to this strangely still, mysterious woman with her pea-green coat and her eyes as black as vinyl. But Ilse is not what she seems. And Frank has old wounds that threaten to re-open and a past he will never leave behind ..."

Rachel Joyce (Author), Steven Hartley (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry

"Brought to you by Penguin. Winner: New Writer of the Year - Specsavers National Book Awards 2012 When Harold Fry nips out one morning to post a letter, leaving his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other. He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof, or mobile phone. All he knows is that he must keep walking - to save someone else's life. Harold Fry is the most ordinary of men. He just might be a hero for us all. Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent has starred in a huge range of films, from British favourites including Bridget Jones, Hot Fuzz and The Iron Lady, to Hollywood blockbusters such as Moulin Rouge, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the Harry Potter films. He is set to star in the upcoming film adaptation of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry."

Rachel Joyce (Author), Jim Broadbent (Narrator)

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Jane Eyre: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

"Amanda Hale and Tom Burke star in a brand new BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Charlotte Brontë's most beloved novel, adapted by Rachel Joyce. Orphan Jane learns at an early age that self-control is the surest means of retaining self-respect in adversity. It is a lesson that serves her well in the years ahead as she endures the misery of life with her cruel, uncaring aunt, followed by the harsh regime at Lowood Institution, a charity school for poor children. After taking the post of governess at Thornfield Hall, she meets the master of the house, the brooding, enigmatic Edward Rochester, and finds herself falling in love with him. It seems as if happiness may finally be within her grasp – but a series of strange events leads her to believe that Rochester is concealing a dark secret. When the truth is revealed, the heartbroken Jane will need all her inner strength and resilience to face up to it... Dramatised for radio by bestselling novelist Rachel Joyce (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry), this iconic love story stars Amanda Hale as Jane and Tom Burke as Rochester. Suffused with romance, passion, mystery and danger, it is a spellbinding tale that is as real and relevant today as when it was first published in 1847. Duration: 2 hours 30 mins approx."

Charlotte Brontë, Rachel Joyce (Author), Amanda Hale, Full Cast, Tom Burke (Narrator)

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A BBC Christmas Collection: 30 Festive Dramas and Stories

"A sparkling seasonal anthology of BBC dramas and readings Christmas is the perfect time to curl up with a good story, and this cracking collection brings you 30 wonderfully diverse tales inspired by this most special of seasons. From Santa Claus, gift-giving and family gatherings, to an unexpected encounter in a snowstorm and an alternative take on the Nativity, they're sure to get you in the festive mood. Here are modern readings of classics such as Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Tree', Anton Chekhov's 'At Christmas Time', Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Fir Tree', O Henry's 'The Gift of the Magi', Elizabeth Gaskell's 'Christmas Storms and Sunshine' and Leo Tolstoy's 'Papa Panov's Special Christmas'. Alongside them is some superb short fiction by contemporary authors, including Stella Duffy ('South'), Paul McVeigh ('Daddy Christmas'), Laura Barnett ('Survivors'), and nine delightful stories by Alexander McCall Smith. Among the stellar narrators are Don Gilet, Nina Sosanya, Hannah Gordon, Stephanie Cole and Meera Syal. Interspersed with these are a range of spellbinding plays, including Rachel Joyce's poignant Christmas by the Lake; festive action comedy Lena Marsh, Live and Schticking! by Jeremy Front; a very unusual and very dangerous Santa in The Morpeth Carol by Timothy X Atack; and Robert Hudson and Marie Phillips' epistolary animal tale, Some Hay in a Manger, introduced by Stephen Fry. All feature star casts including Niamh Cusack, Robert Lindsay, Sam Troughton, Clare Corbett, Tamsin Greig and Joel Fry. Heartwarming and heartfelt, comic and bittersweet, moving and magical, these fantastic, evocative stories are a real Christmas treat. Note: Chapter metadata updated in January 2023. Contents Christmas by the Lake by Rachel Joyce Christmas Short Stories by Alexander McCall Smith: · 'Motordrome' · 'The Revenge, or Otherwise, of Herbie Bontemps' · 'How to Escape in Gaelic' · 'The Colourful Life of Cousin Grace' · 'Good President Wenceslas' The Christmas Present by Ben Crompton Christmas Compass: Series 1: · 'North' by Malachy Tallack · 'South' by Stella Duffy · 'East' by Ruth Thomas · 'West' by Mike McCormack A Time to Dance by Lucy Gannon Christmas Compass: Series 2 by Alexander McCall Smith · 'Winter Journey' · 'In the DRC' · 'Primatologist' · 'On The Island' Midnight at Christmas by Elliott Kerrigan 'The Fir Tree' by Hans Christian Andersen 'At Christmas Time'by Anton Chekhov 'Papa Panov's Special Christmas' by Leo Tolstoy Some Hay in a Manger by Robert Hudson and Marie Phillips 'Daddy Christmas' by Paul McVeigh 'Christmas Storms and Sunshine'by Elizabeth Gaskell The Morpeth Carol by Timothy X Atack 'Survivors' by Laura Barnett Lena Marsh, Live and Shticking!by Jeremy Front 'A Christmas Tree' by Charles Dickens 'The Gift of the Magi' by O Henry Get Santa by Peter Gibbs 'Home' by Christine Dwyer Hickey © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alexander McCall Smith, Anton Chekhov, Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Jeremy Front, Leo Tolstoy, Rachel Joyce (Author), Full Cast, James Fleet, Meera Syal, Michelle Fairley, Niamh Cusack, Nikesh Patel, Nina Sosanya, Rebecca Front, Robert Lindsay, Stephanie Cole, Stephen Fry, Tamsin Grieg (Narrator)

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A Snow Garden and Other Stories: From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fr

"Seven stories to span the Christmas holidays: A Faraway Smell of Lemon: The School Term has ended. It is almost Christmas but Binny, out last-minute shopping couldn't feel less like wishing glad tidings to all men. Ducking out of the rain she finds herself in the sort of shop she would never normally visit. The Marriage Manual: Christmas Eve. Two parents endeavour to construct their son’s Christmas present from a DIY kit and in the process find themselves deconstructing their marriage. Christmas Day at the Airport: A glitch in the system, travellers stranded and all sorts of lives colliding in the face of a sudden birth... The Boxing Day Ball: Maureen has never been out with the local girls before. Who knew that a disco in the Village Hall could be life-changing? A Snow Garden: Two little boys, dumped with their divorced father for his share of the Christmas holidays and none of them with a clue how to enjoy it. I'll Be Home for Christmas The most famous boy in the world comes home hoping to escape the madness with a normal family Christmas. Trees: As if Christmas wasn't wearing enough, now his elderly parent is asking for a hole in the ground … Father and son break old habits and plant a tree to mark the start of the new year. Seven stories as funny, joyous, poignant and memorable as Christmas should be."

Rachel Joyce (Author), Niamh Cusack, Paul Venables, Rachel Joyce (Narrator)

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An Unlikely Pilgrimage: The Radio Dramas of Rachel Joyce: A BBC Radio Collection of Fifteen Full-Cas

"Collected radio plays and short stories by Rachel Joyce Rachel Joyce captured the hearts of millions with her bestselling debut novel, which told the moving tale of an ordinary man, Harold Fry, who embarks on an epic journey to deliver a message and save a life. But Harold’s story began its life on radio, in the award-winning play which opens this collection: To Be A Pilgrim, starring Anton Lesser, Anna Massey and Niamh Cusack. Here, too, is an adaptation of the companion novel, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, with Sophie Thompson as Queenie; as well as a collection of linked Christmas tales, A Snow Garden and Other Stories, read by the author herself. Also featured here are eleven more superb radio productions, each showcasing Joyce’s characteristic empathy, compassion and understanding of the human heart. Including a dark modern fairytale set in Baghdad, a Brief Encounter-style romance and the heartbreaking story of the Lindbergh baby, they are: Painting Mrs Jones, Feather, Kissing Shadows, Talking, Take One Night, The Porter and the Three Ladies, The Art of Balance, Little Lower than the Angels, The Wall, and The Memory Thief. Life-affirming, touching and redemptive, these magical dramas explore themes of friendship, connection, the role of memory in our lives and the true nature of happiness. Among the star casts are Lindsay Duncan, Sophie Thompson, Shaun Dooley, Kenneth Cranham, Stephen Tompkinson and Lia Williams. This special edition also features Rachel Joyce in conversation with Niamh Cusack."

Rachel Joyce (Author), Anna Massey, Anton Lesser, Full Cast, Niamh Cusack (Narrator)

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