Audiobooks narrated by David Bradley

Émile Zola: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Nine Full-Cast Dramatisations

"BBC radio adaptations of novels and short stories by Émile Zola, plus a fascinating short documentary and an original drama Novelist, journalist and literature’s greatest whistleblower, Émile Zola was one of the 19th century’s pre-eminent authors. He is renowned for his philosophy of naturalism, which informed his 20-volume Rougon-Macquart cycle, an epic family saga set during France’s Second Empire, and for his controversial intervention in the Dreyfus affair through his infamous protest letter, J’Accuse. Here are some of his superlative works, adapted for radio with stellar casts and beginning with his breakthrough novel, Thérèse Raquin. A cautionary tale of lust, murder and madness, it stars Charlotte Riley, Andrew Buchan and Toby Hadoke. It is followed by five of the most famous novels in the Rougon-Macquart series – L’Assommoir, The Ladies’ Delight, Germinal, His Masterpiece and La Bête Humaine. With settings ranging from Paris to the far north of France, they portray 1860s French society at its most brutal, corrupt and duplicitous. Featuring a host of unforgettable characters, from slum laundress Gervaise to idealistic miner Etienne, impoverished painter Claude and tortured train driver Jacques, these poignant, powerful and provocative dramas star David Bradley, Claire Goose, Georgia King, Joe Absalom, Rob Edwards, Michael Maloney and Imogen Stubbs. Based on short stories by Zola, Kelvin Segger’s Dead Men Tell No Tales and Trooping with Crows introduce us to a dead man observing his funeral preparations, another killed by advertising, a dreamer who delays for too long and a devious entrepreneur with an extraordinary marketing idea. Michael Maloney, Norman Bird, Struan Rodger, Terry Molloy and Trevor Peacock star in these dark, inventive plays. To conclude, two captivating bonus programmes explore Zola’s involvement in the exoneration of the falsely accused and convicted army officer Alfred Dreyfus. Zola and the Dreyfus Affair charts the course of the scandal that rocked a nation; while Hattie Naylor’s original drama J’Accuse looks at events through the eyes of the right-wing, nationalistic Louis Grigori, who comes to believe that the persecution of the guiltless Dreyfus was the correct and only action. Contents Thérèse Raquin L’Assommoir The Ladies’ Delight Germinal His Masterpiece La Bête Humaine Dead Men Tell No Tales Trooping with Crows Zola and the Dreyfus Affair J’Accuse First published 1867 (Thérèse Raquin), 1876 (L’Assommoir), 1882-83 (Au Bonheur du Dames), 1884-85 (Germinal), 1885-86 (L’Œuvre), 1890 (La Bête Humaine) Copyright © Kelvin Segger 1999 (Dead Men Tell No Tales), 2000 (Trooping with Crows) J’Accuse copyright © Hattie Naylor 2009 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Emile Zola (Author), Charlotte Riley, Claire Goose, David Bradley, Full Cast, Imogen Stubbs, Michael Maloney, Struan Rodger, Trevor Peacock (Narrator)

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The People’s Passion: A Full-Cast BBC Radio Drama

"Five original dramas about life, love and death in a cathedral close in Holy Week Cathedrals are at the heart of our cities. Beautiful, imposing and steeped in history, they were once potent symbols of temporal power and technological wonder. But what do they mean to us today? These five linked dramas explore how our great cathedrals – borderlands between God and people – embody the complexities and contradictions of faith in 21st century Britain. Penned by award-winning dramatist Nick Warburton and set in a fictional cathedral in the week leading up to Easter, the plays tell the ‘small stories’ of the people who live, work and visit there. Each is centred around different characters, with themes echoing the Gospel accounts of the last days of Christ. Coming to Jerusalem introduces us to Ellen, a volunteer in the shop seeking respite from problems at home; and in Betrayal, we meet Callum, who has two loves: singing and his fiancée, Sonia. Last Supper finds Vice-Dean Clive and verger Graham breaking bread with two very different guests, while Trial focusses on Samir, who has come to the Cathedral to remember the dead – but is not made welcome. In The Road to Emmaus, it’s Good Friday – a big day for Robert, the Cathedral’s Director of Music. As he prepares for the afternoon service and the evening’s performance by the Voluntary Choir, he finds himself beset by confusion... Starring David Bradley, Adjoa Andoh, Don Gilet, James Fleet, Sarah Gordy and Claire Rushbrook, these poignant plays feature original music specially composed for the series by Sasha Johnson Manning, with lyrics by the poet Michael Symmons Roberts. Production credits Written by Nick Warburton Produced and directed by Jonquil Panting Original music by Sasha Johnson Manning, with lyrics by Michael Symmons Roberts Performed by: Manchester Chamber Choir, directed by Christopher Stokes, with Jeffrey Makinson (organ), Rob Shorter (tenor), Rebecca Whettam (cello), Jahan Hunter (trumpet) and Holly Marland (recorder) BBC Singers with Eleanor Gregory (soprano), Margaret Cameron (alto), Chris Bowen (tenor), Stephen Charlesworth (bass) and Andrew Earis (piano) Andrew Kirk (organ), and the choir of Saint Mary Redcliffe, Bristol Cast The Old Man – David Bradley Ellen – Adjoa Andoh Graham – Kim Wall Paul – Jim Norton Clive – Don Gilet Caroline – Alex Tregear Robert – James Fleet Priest/Jo – Tracy Wiles Callum – Harry Livingstone Sonia – Rina Mahoney Hannah – Emerald O'Hanrahan James Greenstock – Gerard McDermott Samir – Shane Zaza Alice – Sarah Gordy Rebecca – Claire Rushbrook Lynne – Tina Gray Priests – Adjoa Andoh & Peter Hamilton-Dyer With James Lailey First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2-6 April 2012 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Nick Warburton (Author), Adjoa Andoh, Claire Rushbrook, David Bradley, Don Gilet, Full Cast, James Fleet, Sarah Gordy (Narrator)

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D. H. Lawrence: A BBC Radio Collection: 14 dramatisations and radio readings including Lady Chatterl

"Dramatisations and readings of selected works by DH Lawrence – plus a radio play by Dan Allum and two bonus documentaries exploring Lawrence’s life and writings Crowned ‘the greatest imaginative novelist of our generation’ by EM Forster, DH Lawrence has an undisputed place in England's canon of great authors. In this wide-ranging collection, dramatisations and readings of some of his major works are brought together, exploring themes such as romantic love and sexual desire, individual freedom, class division, war, the beauty of nature and the ugliness of industrialisation. This rich and varied anthology contains the radio productions of five of Lawrence’s classic novels, and nine short stories and novellas. It includes: Goose Fair, The Christening, Daughters of the Vicar, Her Turn, Love Among the Haystacks, The Shades of Spring, Sons and Lovers, The Rainbow, Women in Love, The Fox, The Ladybird, Kangaroo, Rawdon’s Roof and Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Also featured is an original radio drama by Dan Allum, The Gypsy (inspired by Lawrence’s The Virgin and the Gypsy), while two bonus radio documentaries – Great Lives and Michael Rosen: On the Trail of DH Lawrence – provide further insight into the inner life of the controversial author. Due to the archive nature of these recordings, sound quality may vary. With thanks to Keith Wickham, Greg Linden and Roy McMillan."

D.H. Lawrence (Author), Andy Hockley, Benedict Sandiford, Cathy Sara, Clare Holman, David Bradley, Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Estensen, Full Cast, Ian Hogg, Leo Mckern, Matthew Parris, Michael J. Rosen, Peter Meakin, Philip Jackson, Rachel Atkins, Samuel Edward- Cook, Stella Gonet (Narrator)

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Much Ado about Nothing

"Young Claudio has fallen for the lovely heiress Hero, who also loves him. Their path to the altar looks smooth, until the evil Don John intervenes. All ends happily, thanks to his incompetent assassins and the lucky discoveries of the bungling constable Dogberry. Central to the play, one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies, are Beatrice and Benedick, masters of wit and sworn foes to marriage—until a plot is hatched to bring them together. Beatrice is played by Saskia Reeves, while Samuel West plays Benedick. Paul Jesson is Don Pedro, Jason O'Mara is Claudio, and Abigail Docherty is Hero. Dogberry is played by Bryan Pringle."

William Shakespeare (Author), Abigail Docherty, Amanda Root, Bryan Pringle, David Bradley, Jason O'Mara, Paul Jesson, Samuel West, Saskia Reeves, Steve Hodson, a full cast (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by David Bradley