Audiobooks narrated by Dylan Thomas

Louis MacNeice: The Dark Tower, Christopher Columbus & more: Six Classic Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas

"A rare collection of vintage radio dramas from the renowned Ulster poet, plus bonus documentary Born in Belfast in 1907, Louis MacNeice wrote some of the most beautiful and best-loved poetry of the 20th century. But he was also one of the BBC’s most innovative writers and producers, scripting numerous dramas for radio, including the landmark production The Dark Tower and the epic verse play Christopher Columbus. Those two seminal productions are included here, alongside tales drawn from Irish mythology and Graeco-Roman history, a psychological drama about a distracted painter and a fascinating profile of MacNeice himself. They Met on Good Friday – AD 1014, just north of Dublin, and as Good Friday dawns, Brian Boru and his army of Irishmen face a formidable force of Viking warriors on the battlefield at Clontarf. Who will prevail, and gain control of Ireland? Patrick Magee and Patrick Wymark star in MacNeice’s ‘sceptical historical romance’ dramatising a key event in Irish history. Christopher Columbus – First broadcast on 12 October 1942 to mark the 450th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the New World, this ambitious, theatrical play blends MacNeice’s verse with music by William Walton to tell the story of the famed explorer. Starring Laurence Olivier as Columbus, with Marius Goring, Stephen Murray and Margaret Rawlings. Cupid and Psyche – Jealous of the beautiful Psyche, the goddess Venus orders her son to make the girl fall in love with a hideous creature. But Cupid scratches himself with his own arrow, and becomes enamored with her himself… Alan McClelland and Betty Linton star in this dramatisation of the famous story from Apuleius’ ancient Roman novel The Golden Ass. Trimalchio’s Feast – Dramatised from a section in The Satyricon, a first century AD work by the Roman author Petronius, this satirical story revolves around a lavish, ostentatious banquet hosted by a nouveau riche shipping merchant and former slave. Starring Wilfred Pickles as Trimalchio, with Dylan Thomas as Agamemnon. Persons from Porlock – Louis MacNeice 's last work for radio was broadcast just a few days after his death in 1963. Spanning over 20 years, it tells the story of an artist whose creative process is continually derailed by unforeseen – and unwelcome – interruptions. Jon Rollason stars as the frustrated painter, Hank. The Dark Tower – Initially transmitted in 1946, this iconic parable play in verse was inspired by Robert Browning's poem ‘Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came’. It centres on Roland, the last of a family whose menfolk are all doomed to set out on a quest from which there is no return… Starring Cyril Cusack, with music specially composed by Benjamin Britten. In the Dark Tower: Louis MacNeice at the BBC – Poet Paul Muldoon recalls a fellow Belfast wordsmith, exploring Louis MacNeice’s life and work through broadcasts from the BBC’s archive. Production credits Written by Louis MacNeice Contents: They Met on Good Friday Christopher Columbus Cupid and Psyche Trimalchio’s Feast Persons from Porlock The Dark Tower In the Dark Tower: Louis MacNeice at the BBC © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Louis MacNeice (Author), Adrian Scarborough, Dylan Thomas, Full Cast, Harry Lloyd, Jude Akuwudike, Laurence Olivier, Lucy Robinson, Margaret Rawlings, Mary Wimbush, Matthew Tennyson, Patricia Gallimore (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dylan Thomas Reads His Most Famous Poems

"Dylan Marlais Thomas (October 27, 1914 to November 9, 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer. He became widely popular in his lifetime, and remained so after his death at the age of 39 in New York City. By then, he had acquired a reputation, which he had encouraged, as a "roistering, drunken and doomed poet." In the following recordings, Thomas reads his poems "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," "Poem In October," "In My Craft or Sullen Art," "Lament," "Fern Hill," "Poem On His Birthday," "A Refusal To Mourn," and "If I Were Tickled By The Rub of Love.""

Dylan Thomas (Author), Dylan Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Dylan Thomas BBC Radio Collection: Under Milk Wood, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Rebecca’s Daughters & more

"Matthew Rhys introduces this collection of plays, poems and prose by the great Welsh writer, featuring Dylan Thomas reading his own work plus bonus biographical plays based on his life 'A spellbinding homage' The Guardian 'Sure to satisfy every admirer of Dylan Thomas’ works from the most ardent aficionados to casual poetry lovers... Thomas demonstrates his gift for seeing the beauty in the ordinary and affectionately ribbing the frailties of the human condition.' Entertainment Focus Dylan Thomas was the 20th Century's first rock star author, famed for his dazzling imaginative poetry and chaotic personal life. Best known for Under Milk Wood, he also wrote numerous poems, short stories and screenplays, and made regular BBC broadcasts. A legend in his own lifetime, he remained hugely popular after his death at the age of 39, influencing cultural icons from Bob Dylan to The Beatles. This definitive collection is presented by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Perry Mason), who played Dylan Thomas in the 2008 film The Edge of Love. It begins with sunny, summery recollections in ‘Holiday Memory’, which sees Dylan Thomas recalling an evocative August Bank Holiday, followed by A Child's Christmas in Wales, dramatised with a full cast including Philip Madoc and Freddie Jones. Two Thomas masterpieces follow: ‘Quite Early One Morning’, in which Dylan Thomas reads the story that later became Under Milk Wood, and then Under Milk Wood itself, a masterpiece and a lyrical 'play for voices' focusing on one day in the life of a Welsh fishing village and starring Richard Burton as the Narrator. Next, Dylan Thomas’s unfilmed screenplay The Beach of Falesá, adapted from a Robert Louis Stevenson short story. Narrated by Matthew Rhys and starring Matthew Gravelle and Nicky Henson, it tells the thrilling tale of the clash between good and evil on an unnamed Pacific Island. A less sinister seaside trip is recalled in ‘The Outing’, Thomas's story of a childhood excursion read by Matthew Rhys and interspersed with memories from Swansea residents and music from the 1920s and '30s. We hear from Thomas in his own words in ‘A Return Journey to Swansea’, followed by four readings of his short stories narrated by Siân Philips, Geraint Morgan, Iestyn Jones and William Thomas. Rebecca's Daughters, a romantic adventure set in 19th Century Wales, stars Patrick Mower. Dylan Thomas tells of a rollercoaster experience of a lecture tour across the US in ‘A Visit to America’, and in The Voice of Dylan Thomas, introduced by Douglas Cleverdon, we hear him reading a choice selection of his works. Our final programmes are three original plays based on moments in Dylan Thomas’s life: Badgers in My Vest by John Fletcher, Investigating Mr Thomas by Rob Gittins and Chelsea Dreaming by D J Britton. We join Thomas in a Newquay pub during World War II, follow private detective Jimmy as he tries to dig the dirt on Thomas, and see the poet through the eyes of the Chelsea Hotel. Contents Holiday Memory A Child's Christmas in Wales Quite Early One Morning Under Milk Wood The Beach of Falesá The Outing A Return Journey to Swansea Patricia, Edith and Arnold A Visit to Grandpa’s Extraordinary Little Cough The Followers Rebecca's Daughters A Visit to America The Voice of Dylan Thomas Badgers in My Vest Investigating Mr Thomas Chelsea Dreaming Text copyright © the estate of Dylan Thomas, 1940 (Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog), 1944 ('Quite Early One Morning'), 1945 ('A Child's Christmas in Wales'), 1946 ('Holiday Memory'), 1948 ('Rebecca's Daughters'), 1953 ('The Outing'), 1954 (Under Milk Wood), 1963 (The Beach of Falesá) Badgers in My Vest copyright © John Fletcher 2003 Investigating Mr Thomas copyright © Rob Gittens 2008 Chelsea Dreaming copyright © D J Britton 2003 ©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Dylan Thomas (Author), Dylan Thomas, Freddie Jones, Full Cast, Matthew Gravelle, Matthew Rhys, Patrick Mower, Philip Madoc, Richard Burton, Roger Allam, Sian Philips (Narrator)

Audiobook

Live Fast Die Young St. Pete Hideout Audiobook

Dorian Welch (Author), Dylan Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dylan Thomas at the BBC

"Dylan Thomas is one of the 20th century's most celebrated poets. His rich rhetoric created poems of magical imagery, and nowhere is language more rich and fantastic than in his best-known work, 'Under Milk Wood'. He was also a popular radio entertainer and the BBC Archives contain a wealth of material featuring Dylan Thomas - not only readings of his own work, but also dramatic readings of other work such as 'Dr Faustus'. These, together with interviews with the poet, form a fascinating audio portrait of a brilliant man. Presented by Paul Ferris, biographer of Thomas and editor of his letters.Includes: ‘The Hand that Signed the Paper’ (18.10.38), ‘Return Journey to Swansea’ (15.6.47), poems (24.9.49, 26.10.52, 25.9.50) and prose: (3.11.52, 17.6.53, 5.10.53, 5.11.53)."

Dylan Thomas (Author), Dylan Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Child's Christmas In Wales: And Five Poems

"First recorded in February of 1952, this remastered recording of Dylan Thomas reading A Child’s Christmas in Wales recalls all of the sights, smells, and sounds of a long-ago Christmas. Thomas’s wonderful recollection of this holiday in the seaside town of his youth is captured in this vivid performance. Also included are five poems selected and read by Dylan Thomas, including arguably his most well-known Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night. Includes: A Child’s Christmas in Wales Fern Hill Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night In the White Giant’s Thigh Ballad of the Long-Legged Bait Ceremony After a Fire Raid"

Dylan Thomas (Author), Dylan Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Dylan Thomas

Join Our Community