Audiobooks Narrated by Claire Faulconbridge

Aldous Huxley: A BBC Radio Collection: Including Brave New World, Antic Hay, The Devils & more

"BBC Radio adaptations of Aldous Huxley’s finest works – plus a bonus documentary programme ‘Over nine hours’ worth of quality drama… The stories presented in ‘A BBC Radio Collection’ combine to give the listener a taste of Huxley’s versatility as a writer. His vivid imagination always leaves the listener with philosophical ideas to ponder.’ Greg Jameson, Entertainment Focus Philosopher, pacifist, psychonaut and prophet, Aldous Huxley was one of the 20th century’s pre-eminent intellectuals and writers. The author of over 50 books, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize nine times, and elected Companion of Literature by the Royal Society of Literature in 1962, a year before his death. Known for his mordant satire and visionary ideas, Huxley spanned the period from post-First World War disillusionment to mid-century mysticism, and the works in this collection reflect his literary evolution. Antic Hay, his witty, ironic portrait of the glittering hedonism of 1920s London, is dramatised by award-winning playwright Mike Harris, and stars James Cooney and Emily Pithon. Originally a short story, Huxley’s dark comedy of manners The Gioconda Smile was adapted as a hit West End play in 1948. This BBC Radio dramatisation stars Peter Bowles as the womanizing Henry Hutton, about to marry his second wife but accused of killing his first. Brave New World is Huxley’s classic 1932 tale of a future totalitarian dystopia, where promiscuity is the norm, eugenics a respectable science and the drug Soma is freely available. Adapted for Radio 4, it stars Jonathan Coy, Justin Salinger, Milton Lopes and Anton Lesser. Aldous Huxley’s 1953 novel The Devils of Loudun, an imagined account of a real-life witch trial in 17th-century France, was revamped for the stage as The Devils in 1960. A gripping tale of mass hysteria, religious and sexual obsession and alleged demonic possession, this radio version stars Michael Bryant and Sarah Badel. The Dwarves, a full-cast drama based on Chapter 13 of Crome Yellow, tells the story of Sir Hercules and his wife Filomena, whose country-house haven for dwarves like themselves is unexpectedly threatened. David Learner, Claire Faulconbridge and Garard Green star. Concluding our collection are readings of five of his short stories set in the 1920s and a fascinating biographical documentary. Edward Petherbridge reads ‘Cynthia’, ‘The Bookshop’, ‘Eupompus Gave Splendour to Art by Numbers’, ‘Fard’ and ‘The Portrait’, while the documentary All Those Vile Bodies explores the contradictions of the satirist of the brittle 20s turned prescient critic of 20th-century progress. Valentine Cunningham presents, with contributions from Sybille Bedford, Lord Jenkins, Sir Stephen Spender, Gavin Ewart, Julian Symons and Lewis Wolpert, and archive recordings of Huxley, his brother Julian and contemporaries. First published 1920 (‘Cynthia’, ‘The Bookshop’, ‘Eupompus Gave Splendour to Art by Numbers’), 1921 (‘The Dwarves’), 1923 (Antic Hay), 1924 (‘Fard’, ‘The Portrait’), 1932 (Brave New World), 1948 (The Gioconda Smile), 1960 (The Devils) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.(P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Aldous Huxley (Author), Anton Lesser, Claire Faulconbridge, David Learner, Edward Petherbridge, Emily Pithon, Full Cast, Garard Green, James Cooney, Jonathan Coy, Justin Salinger, Michael Bryant, Milton Lopes, Peter Bowles, Sarah Badel (Narrator)

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Liz Parker - A Confidential Agent: A BBC Radio Crime Drama Collection

"Six cosy detective dramas about secretary turned super-sleuth Liz Parker Liz Parker dreams of being a gumshoe, like her hardboiled heroes Philip Marlowe and Mike Hammer. But instead, she's stuck as secretary at the Ace Agency, a small-time investigation bureau above a curry house in the backstreets of Birmingham. Her lecherous boss, Mr Antrobus, is too tied up with typist Gloria to pay much attention to the cases that come in - so Liz decides to solve them herself... In A Confidential Agent, Liz gets embroiled in the affairs of an old friend and an old flame. But as she digs into the past, she unearths secrets, lies and shady dealings... All that Glisters sees her consulted by a young man whose girlfriend, Tracy, has gone missing. Looking into her disappearance, she uncovers a seedy photographic business with a sideline in blackmail. Poison in the Air finds Liz promoted to fully-fledged investigator. But her boss still isn't taking her seriously - so when she hears of poison-pen letters being sent to an old people's home, she's determined to unmask the culprit... In A Husband Scorned, she finds herself attracted to a teacher whose wife has gone astray: but is he a victim, or a villain? In Sharks Have Pearly Teeth, with the agency suffering a cash-flow crisis, Liz learns the bitter truth behind a case of moneylending and espionage. Finally, Fire sees her investigating threats against a Greek dressmaker - and when his clothing factory goes up in flames, she must decide if sabotage or fraud are involved. Scripted by award-winning dramatist Nick McCarty, these engaging dramas star Rosemary Martin as Liz Parker, Terry Molloy as Mr Antrobus and Clare Faulconbridge as Gloria. Production credits Written by Nick McCarty Directed by Philip Martin Pianist: Harold Rich Starring Rosemary Martin as Liz Parker, Terry Molloy as Mr Antrobus and Clare Faulconbridge as Gloria A Confidential Agent Cast: Barbara Atkinson, Edwin Richfield, Roger Hume, Terry Molloy, Joyce Gibbs, Dave Mitty, Gordon Coulson, Jackie Abbey Taylor, Pauline Wattis Other parts played by members of the cast First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 5 June 1986 All That Glisters Cast: Roger Hume, Vikki Chambers, Kim Durham, Andy Hockley, Judith Pearson, Tex Flint Other parts played by members of the cast First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 23 July 1987 Poison in the Air Cast: Roger Hume, Barbara Atkinson, Joyce Gibbs, Simon Carter, Alton Douglas, Ralph Lawton, Veda Warwick, Judy Bennett Other parts played by members of the cast First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 3 July 1991 A Husband Scorned Cast: Roger Hume, Barbara Atkinson, Joyce Gibbs, Simon Carter, Leon Tanner, Martin Matthews, Janet Whiteside Other parts played by members of the cast First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 10 July 1991 Sharks Have Pearly Teeth Cast: Roger Hume, Kimberley Hope, Kim Durham, Dave Mitty, Alan Devereux, Joyce Gibbs, Marian Kemmer Other parts played by members of the cast First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 24 July 1991 Fire Cast: Roger Hume, Ian Lindsay, Kim Durham, Patricia Gallimore, Renu Setna, Philip Molloy Other parts played by members of the cast First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 17 July 1991 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Episode sequence updated July 2023"

Nick Mccarty (Author), Barbara Atkinson, Claire Faulconbridge, Full Cast, Joyce Gibbs, Kim Durham, Roger Hume, Rosemary Martin, Simon Carter, Terry Molloy (Narrator)

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