Audiobooks by Thomas Hardy

Classic Love Stories: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: 12 Full-Cast Dramatisations

"Twelve dramatisations of the best love stories ever written, performed by star casts Treat yourself to this stunning collection of classic stories of love, loss, obstacles overcome and desperate attraction. This is a beautiful, moving and at times thrilling listen which takes you on a journey through the greatest tales of romance ever told. These unmissable, dramatised novels feature stellar performances from fantastic casts including Vanessa Kirby, Hiftu Quasem, Kate Philips, Rory Kinnear, Toby Jones, John Hurt and David Tennant. Anna Karenina is Leo Tolstoy's powerful drama of desire, transgression and heartache. Starring Kate Philips (Wolf Hall), Alfred Enoch (Harry Potter) and Rory Kinnear (James Bond films). Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is a fantastic mix of injustice, romance, passion and danger wrapped up in a glorious love story. Starring Amanda Hale (Catastrophe) and Tom Burke (Strike). Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary is a masterpiece of betrayal and wantonness - the first great novel of adultery. Starring Sarah Smart (Wallander), Jude Akuwudike (Gangs of London) and James D’Arcy (Broadchurch) with John Hurt (Harry Potter) as the Narrator. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In a town full of hatred, where the streets ring with the Capulet-Montague feud and swords are too easily drawn, Romeo and Juliet find each other, fall in love, and never let go. Starring Trystan Gravelle (Mr Selfridge), Vanessa Kirby (Mission Impossible), David Tennant (Broadchurch) and Paul Ready (Motherland). Chéri by Colette is the story of a love affair between a courtesan and a man half her age, set in Paris before the First World War. Starring Frances Barber (Silk) and Joseph Millson (The Last Kingdom) with Lindsay Duncan (Birdman) as the Narrator. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen remains one of the world’s favourite novels, dealing with the timeless issues of love, social class and money with a witty, clever - though flawed - heroine at its heart. Starring Pippa Nixon (Unforgotten), Jamie Parker (The Crown) and Toby Jones (The Detectorists). The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni is an icon of Italian literature: the story of two lovers who want nothing more than to marry but are beset by the hazards of war, bread riots and the machinations of a nameless crime lord. Starring Hiftu Quasem (Killing Eve) and Ian Dunnett Jnr (Masters of the Air). The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, written in 1928, is a pioneering novel about love and attraction between women. Starring Valerie Edmond as the enigmatic Stephen. Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's iconic love story. Heathcliff and Cathy's love is the beating heart of the story, set against the backdrop of the bleak Yorkshire moors. Starring Chloe Pirrie (Temple) and Ben Batt (Shameless). North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell explores social conscience, ideological difference and love in a mill town in the 1800s. Starring Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love) and David Threlfall (Shameless). The Age of Innocence is Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a passionate life-long love affair which breaks all the rules of the restrictive high society of 1870's New York. Starring Susan Lynch (Happy Valley) and Kellie Bright (Eastenders). Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy is a story of the belief in true romance and the power of money and love. Starring Alex Tregear (Silk: The Clerk’s Room), Toby Jones (The Detectorists) and Patrick Kennedy (Boardwalk Empire). This stunning collection is packed with the best romance stories written in the last 500 years – a fully dramatised, unmissable listen featuring some of the biggest names of stage and screen. ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alessandro Manzoni, Charlotte Brönte, Colette Avital, Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Gaskell, Emily Brönte, Gustave Flaubert, Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, Radclyffe Hall, Thomas Hardy, William Shakespeare (Author), David Tennant, Full Cast, John Hurt, Kate Philips, Rory Kinnear, Toby Jones, Tom Burke, Vanessa Kirby (Narrator)

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The Three Strangers

"In The Three Strangers, Thomas Hardy offers a quietly ironic tale shaped by weather, custom, and the unpredictable drift of human fate. Set against the backdrop of rural Wessex, the story unfolds on the border between the ordinary and the uncanny — a place where identity flickers and appearances mislead. With his signature restraint, Hardy lets the narrative circle slowly inward, revealing not only the secret at its heart, but something of the way justice, chance, and character meet in the dark folds of the countryside."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Peter Coates (Narrator)

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A Changed Man

"In A Changed Man, Thomas Hardy offers a quiet meditation on fate, character, and the subtle turns of the human heart. With his signature restraint and clarity, he draws a moment when the past gently disturbs the present and a single decision reveals the deep currents beneath an ordinary life. This story reflects Hardy's enduring concern with moral struggle and the slow, often silent shifts within the self. Deceptively simple, it unfolds with the muted drama of real people shaped by time, memory, and the weight of choice."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Trevor O'Hare (Narrator)

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The Trumpet Major

"The Trumpet-Major is the seventh published novel by English author Thomas Hardy published in 1880, and his only historical novel. When Anne Garland wakes up one morning, she little realises the significance of the sight from her window; of soldiers setting up camp for the summer on the hills overlooking her quiet village of Overcombe. But she soon finds herself pursued romantically by three men: Trumpet Major John Loveday, his brother Bob and the boorish Squire's nephew and yeoman; Festus Derrimen, as the Napoleonic war roils over the continent. All three compete off and on for her affections, but who will finally win her hand? Narrated by Michael Ward."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Michael Ward (Narrator)

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The Mayor of Casterbridge

"In 'The Mayor of Casterbridge,' Thomas Hardy unravels the tragic tale of Michael Henchard, a man whose impulsive sale of his wife and daughter at a country fair haunts his ascent to prosperity and power as the mayor of Casterbridge. As his past resurfaces, Henchard's life spirals into adversity and isolation, reflecting the themes of fate, guilt, and the relentless march of time. Hardy's novel is a profound exploration of character, consequence, and the human capacity for change."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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Jude the Obscure

"'Jude the Obscure' chronicles the life of Jude Fawley, a stonemason with grand academic aspirations thwarted by societal norms and his own heart. His love for his cousin, Sue Bridehead, becomes his joy and torment, challenging the conventions of marriage, religion, and society. Set in Hardy's fictional Wessex, the novel boldly critiques social institutions, leading to public outcry upon its release. A poignant exploration of ambition, love, and the constraints of societal expectations."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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The Woodlanders

"The story unfolds in the rural landscape of Little Hintock, where class divisions and unrequited love shape the fates of its inhabitants. Giles Winterborne, a humble woodsman, loves Grace Melbury, but her ambitious father pushes her toward a more prosperous suitor, Dr. Fitzpiers. As relationships unravel amid betrayal, heartbreak, and societal expectations, themes of nature versus civilization emerge. Hardy’s vivid portrayal of the forest mirrors the characters’ emotional struggles, exploring loyalty, desire, and sacrifice. With rich symbolism and poignant tragedy, the novel critiques social hierarchies while celebrating humanity’s deep connection to the natural world and its enduring rhythms."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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Desperate Remedies

"A young woman named Cytherea Graye becomes entangled in a web of mystery and intrigue while working as a lady’s maid for the enigmatic Miss Aldclyffe. As secrets unravel, themes of love, deception, and obsession drive the plot forward. Cytherea faces moral dilemmas and societal pressures, torn between her loyalty to Miss Aldclyffe and her growing affection for architect Edward Springrove. Hardy crafts a tale blending suspense with romance, exploring human frailty and the consequences of impulsive choices. Set against Victorian England’s rigid class structures, the novel delves into themes of identity, ambition, and sacrifice, showcasing Hardy’s early experimentation with psychological depth and dramatic tension."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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Two on a Tower

"'Two on a Tower' elevates a tale of star-crossed lovers to the celestial sphere, where Hardy intricately explores the themes of love, class, and the cosmos. Viviette, a lonely, beautiful widow, and Swithin St. Cleeve, an ambitious young astronomer, find their fates intertwined under the watchful gaze of the heavens. Amidst the backdrop of a Victorian society rife with social constraints, their forbidden love story defies the bounds of their worlds. Hardy crafts a poignant narrative that is as much about the universal longing for connection as it is about the infinite mysteries of the stars above."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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The Withered Arm

"Milkmaid Rhoda Brooks cannot control her jealousy of Gertrude - a beautiful woman who has just married a rich farmer. So when Gertrude appears in her dream, she cannot help but reach out and grab the arm of the woman she wishes she was. As Gertrude's arm begins to wither away in real life and no physician is able to help her, she must turn to a conjurer... Considered one of Hardy's most successful short stories, 'The Withered Arm' is unmissable for those who enjoyed Laura Purcell's ´The Silent Companions´. Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), a trade architect, made significant contributions to the literary world through his novels and poetry, Known for his pessimistic outlook, Hardy's notable works include 'Jude The Obscure', 'Far from the Madding Crowd', and 'Tess of the d'Ubervilles'."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Luke Francis (Narrator)

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The Return of the Native, Volume 1

"In Thomas Hardy's 'The Return of the Native,' the wild, untamed landscapes of Egdon Heath are a backdrop to human passions and desires. Eustacia Vye, disillusioned and dreaming of a larger life beyond, sees her chance in Clym Yeobright. But their love, marred by misunderstandings and societal pressures, unfolds into tragedy. Hardy weaves a tale of love, ambition, and destiny, challenging the constraints of society against the raw beauty of nature. A masterful exploration of the human condition and its inherent conflicts."

Thomas Hardy (Author), James Harrington (Narrator)

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The Return of the Native, Volume 2

"In Thomas Hardy's 'The Return of the Native Volume 2,' the tempestuous landscape of Egdon Heath mirrors the tumult within its inhabitants. Eustacia Vye's restless yearning clashes with the return of Clym Yeobright, whose ambitions unravel amid personal tragedy. Amidst entangled fates, Hardy masterfully weaves themes of passion, disillusionment, and fate's inexorable pull. As relationships fracture and dreams dissipate, the heath stands as an enduring witness to human frailty."

Thomas Hardy (Author), James Harrington (Narrator)

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