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Audiobooks Narrated by Elliot Chapman
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"Bloomsbury presents Generalship on the Eastern Front, 1941–45: A Study in Command by Robert Forczyk, read by Elliot Chapman
A comprehensive evaluation of generalship on the most important front in World War II.
The war on the Eastern Front from 1941 to 1945 was the largest sustained air-ground conflict in military history and played the decisive role in the defeat of the Third Reich. This new study seeks to analyse the command and generalship of the combatants.
The scale of the conflict was immense. Lasting over 46 months it involved over 10 million combatants at its peak, and resulted in roughly 15 million military deaths, as well as about 20 million civilian deaths. More than 50 percent of all German military fatalities in 1941–45 occurred there, and by the time the Western Allies invaded France in June 1944, the Wehrmacht was already decimated.
Who were the generals who led these campaigns on the Eastern Front? The standard historiography of World War II tends to focus on a few prominent leaders while ignoring the mass of commanders and operational-level military staffs who actually fought most of the war and this new study by renowned Eastern Front historian Robert Forczyk seeks to redress the balance.
Generalship on the Eastern Front offers an objective analytic framework for assessing the senior German and Soviet commanders on the Eastern Front through the lens of generalship and battle command, examining a total of 54 German and 140 Soviet officers. C 2026 Robert Forczyk P 2026 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"
"Life with the Durrells is seldom straightforward.
Dive headfirst into family adventures with this collection of laugh-out-loud short stories from the much-loved author of My Family and Other Animals.
Notable tales include 'The Picnic', a hilarious account of an ill-fated Durrell excursion which should have been a relaxing, jolly affair, and 'The Entrance', the critically acclaimed Gothic horror story.
Packed full of surreal Roald Dahlesque tales and anecdotal snippets recounted with Gerald Durrell's trademark sense of humour, The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium is a witty, genre-crossing adventure.
If you can't get enough of the Durrells, this is the book for you."
"Embark on a captivating adventure through the Argentine Pampas and the little-known Chaco territory of Paraguay with Gerald Durrell, the much-loved author of My Family and Other Animals.
A riveting account of one of Durrell's expeditions in search of rare animals, The Drunken Forest is informative, witty and guaranteed to have you laughing out loud. As you journey through the wilds you'll meet orange armadillos, horned toads and crab-eating raccoons, all brought to life with Durrell's wit and narrative flair, just as he portrays the chance human acquaintances he encounters along the route.
With life seen through Durrell's clear, humorous and unsentimental eyes, The Drunken Forest is a triumph of nature writing from one of the world's most pioneering conservationists.
'A renegade who was right . . . He was truly a man before his time' - Sir David Attenborough"
"Bloomsbury presents Tadej Pogacar: Unstoppable by Andy McGrath read by Elliot Chapman
'Andy McGrath's in-depth biography covers Pogi’s meteoric rise, his victories and rivalries, while revealing more about the character behind the sporting domination' – Cyclist
'This fascinating new biography draws on multiple sources to explain how the Slovenian became the best cyclist of his generation while shining a light on the trajectory of the winner of four Tour de France...' – The Times
'He doesn't just win, he wins with excitement' – Mark Cavendish
A MAJOR BIOGRAPHY OF THE MODERN ERA’S GREATEST CYCLIST, WRITTEN BY WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST.
Tadej Pogacar is not like any other professional cyclist. The Slovenian is a sporting phenomenon. He won almost everything there is to win in bike racing, has done so with breathtaking audacity and style – and all by the age of 26.
This comprehensive biography follows his meteoric rise to the top, recounts his greatest race wins and rivalries, and reveals the character, motivation and skills that have led to his domination of elite cycling.
Experienced cycling journalist Andy McGrath has documented the versatile superstar’s development from his victory in the Tour de l’Avenir in 2018 to his Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Il Lombardia and Tour of Flanders successes and his historic 2024 season, when he won cycling’s prestigious triple crown of the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the World Championship road race. His victories include four Tours de France (2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025).
McGrath explores how this diminutive child from a small, mountainous nation of Slovenia first took up the sport, his emerging talent as a teenager and the role played by his UAE Team Emirates-XRG coaches and management. He also gets the inside story from those close to him, trusted teammates and fierce adversaries.
It is not only what Pogacar has won, but the manner in which he wins that also makes him so unique and popular. McGrath gets to the very heart of the cycling phenomenon that is ‘Pogi’ – and the fascinating young man behind the runaway success story. C 2025 Andy McGrath P 2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"
"Beloved naturalist and author Gerald Durrell introduces an eccentric cast of characters in this entertaining collection of stories, first published in 1991.
Which of these stories is true and which is semi-true I have, of course, not the slightest intention of telling you, but I hope this will not detract from your enjoyment . . .
In the title story, part of the inspiration behind the ITV drama The Durrells, we join his family in Corfu, where Gerry joins forces with Larry and Margo in encouraging Mother to consider finding a new husband, only to rue the consequences. Highlights from the other tales in this collection are the acquisition of a strongly perfumed pig named Esmerelda, a foul-mouthed parrot called Moses, and a compulsive gambler who inspires a miracle.
Featuring Durrell's usual sharp eye for observing humour in any situation, Marrying Off Mother will delight fans both old and new and is the perfect celebration of Durrell's centenary.
'A renegade who was right . . . He was truly a man before his time' - Sir David Attenborough"
"Written with Gerald Durrell's usual sharp eye for observing humour in any situation, this comic novel about a man who inherits an alcoholic elephant will delight fans both old and new.
At the age of thirty, Adrian Rookwhistle's life hasn't quite turned out the way he'd have hoped. Working an unfulfilling job as a clerk in the city and living under the tyranny of his fearsome landlady, he can't help but think that there is more to life.
However, all of this suddenly changes when he receives a curious letter from his dying uncle who has bequeathed him £500 and an elephant by the name of Rosy who has a seemingly unquenchable thirst for liquor. At a loss of what to do with his unexpectedly gargantuan - and rarely sober - inheritance, Adrian sets forth on a journey believing to have the answer to his dilemma: he'll give her away to the circus.
Together Adrian and Rosy carve a trail of destruction through the peaceful countryside of southern England, meeting a curious cast of misfits along the way. Drunk or sober, Rosy spreads chaos in her wake, until the full weight of the law finally catches up with her . . .
'Uproarious' - Dailly Mirror
'Comic havoc!' - New York Times"
"'A magnificent book that sings of the romance and mystery that only old maps possess' EDWARD BROOKE-HITCHING
'Astonishingly fresh and insightful ... A triumph' ALICE ROBERTS
'Engaging, deeply satisfying and elegantly designed' SIMON WINCHESTER, SPECTATOR
The remarkable story of an overlooked map archive that reveals how maps have helped inspire some of the greatest scientific discoveries, but also led to terrible atrocities.
At the heart of University College London, nestled in the centre of Bloomsbury, lies a long-forgotten map library packed with thousands of maps and atlases. After Professor James Cheshire stumbled upon it, he spent three years sifting through hundreds of dusty drawers to see what was there. He was stunned to uncover some of the most significant maps and atlases from the last two centuries - many of which had not seen the light of day for decades.
In The Library of Lost Maps we discover atlases for the masses that expanded nineteenth-century horizons and maps that were wielded by those in power to wage war and negotiate peace; charts that trace the icy peaks of the Himalayas and the deepest depths of the ocean; and pioneering maps produced to settle borders in central Europe or the wealth of those in inner-city London. Maps have played a vital role in shaping our scientific knowledge of the world, showing the impact of climate change and inspiring the theory of plate tectonics. They have also guided politicians, encouraging both beneficial reforms and horrific conquests, the consequences of which we continue to live with today.
Brimming with astonishing discoveries, The Library of Lost Maps reveals why cartography really matters and how map-making has helped transform our understanding of the world around us. P 2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC C 2025 James Cheshire"
"Bloomsbury presents Groundwater by Thomas McMullan, read by Emily Pennant-Rea and Elliot Chapman.
By the winner of the Betty Trask Prize – an atmospheric and powerfully menacing story about family, secrets and violence
‘Groundwater masterfully and subtly begins to re-enchant all that we have reduced’ Amber Husain
'A masterful portrait of the fractious, shimmering webs underneath our not-so ordinary lives' Sophie Mackintosh
'This is a novel that gets right under your skin' Ella Frears
John and Liz have left the city behind to move to a remote house on the shores of the lake. Though the house is barely unpacked, Liz’s sister, with her children and her husband, have come to visit for the August bank holiday weekend.
Over the course of a hot, slow weekend, tensions simmer; things go unsaid – between the two couples, between the two sisters. Their time together is punctured by visits from Jim, the solitary local warden for the area; and a group of students camping nearby draw closer and closer, finally infiltrating the house – and bringing their own tensions and hierarchies with them.
As the weekend draws to a close, the landscape reveals a violence that has long lain hidden – and the summer builds to its harrowing climax.
Taut and menacing, full of disquiet and tenderness, Groundwater is about the gulfs that lies between us and those we love – and the miraculous ways our deepest desires and fears manifest. C 2025 Thomas McMullan P 2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"
"Bloomsbury presents How to Change the World: The essential handbook for social entrepreneurs, donors and policy makers by Jo Owen, read by Elliot Chapman
'Take your dream, read this, and let it fly.' JO YOULE OBE, CEO of Missing People
The world can be a challenging place. It is often tempting to say ‘why doesn’t someone do something about it?’ But why shouldn’t that ‘someone’ be you?
You don’t have to be rich, powerful or a genius to make a profound and lasting difference to our world. All you need is an idea and the determination to make it happen. How to Change the World is the springboard to help you impact the world in the way you’ve always wanted.
From finding the money, to identifying the best people with whom to join forces, Jo Owen will help you launch, develop and scale an idea so that it has the most effective and meaningful social impact, and benefits as many people as possible.
Your idea can come from anywhere: from reading an article, talking to colleagues, or stumbling across a good idea that can be developed. Jo Owen champions that anyone can turn an idea into something that can have a meaningful and lasting impact on people’s lives and can perform the miracle of creating something great out of nothing."
"The Fermi have departed from the rocky worlds, but they still haunt the gas giants. Hurled into the past by a time-slip, John Grant and his onboard AI navigate the long way back. They return to the present in a distant system, where they find Terre Nouveau, a human settlement already two hundred years old. Grant's ship takes this astounding news to the far-roving Station, where Nayak has found new problems and a new lover. As the Station explores Terre Nouveau's system, they encounter intelligent species far older than humanity, who are just as perplexed about the origins and intentions of the Fermi as they are.
On Apis, rogue agent Marcus Owen rallies the native intelligent life against the human settlers, and passes on a warning from the Fermi: the humans must stop encroaching—or else. Other settlers are not convinced, and conflict erupts.
Owen is sent on a new mission, to Terre Nouveau's colorful and verdant sister planet, where he finds that his arrival, and humanity's, has been awaited longer than he expects.
But no one is prepared for how far the Fermi are willing to go—or for the unfolding of an audacious plan, millennia in the making, that reaches beyond the light horizon."
"South Africa, 1899 - the smouldering hostility between the Boers of the Transvaal and Orange Free State and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal is about to burst into flame. War is coming and no one can prevent it. Colonel Penrod Ballantyne, hero of Abu Klea and Omdurman, is sent to Mafeking to recruit and train men for the fighting ahead. Amber, his wife, the successful novelist, accompanies him - eager to see more of the country her husband is about to risk his life for. But when war is declared, Amber must flee with their baby son and pray for her husband's survival against impossible odds.
Eight hundred miles to the south, in Cape Town, Ryder Courtney is using his wealth and connections to bankroll the British war effort. His artist wife Saffron, frustrated by stuffy Cairo society, has joined him with their three children. There is peace in the Courtney household until their eldest son, Leon, stows away on a train to the front line, determined to join his distinguished uncle, Penrod Ballantyne, in changing the course of history. Saffron and Ryder have no choice but to leave the safety of the Cape Colony and follow. Leon is convinced that his parents are without honour and courage. Little does he realise that he has no chance of escaping the people they used to be.
Two families torn apart, caught up in a battle for the heart of a country at war with itself."
"‘Monumental and eye-opening’ Reza Aslan
'A revelation […and…] an intellectual triumph' Irish Independent
'[A] massive achievement' Spectator
‘Refreshingly readable' Guardian
For the past two thousand years, Christian tradition, scholarship, and pop culture has credited the authorship of the New Testament to a select group of men: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul. But the truth is that these individuals did not write alone. In some meaningful ways they did not write at all.
Hidden behind these named and sainted individuals are a cluster of enslaved coauthors and collaborators, almost all of whom go uncredited. They were responsible for producing the earliest manuscripts of the New Testament. They took dictation, sometimes editorialising in the process, and polished and refined the final manuscripts. When the Christian message began to move independently from the first apostles it was enslaved missionaries who undertook the dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean and along dusty Roman roads to move Christianity from Jerusalem and the Levant to Rome, Spain, North Africa and Egypt. Finally, when these texts were read aloud to new audiences of curious potential converts, it was educated and trained enslaved workers who performed them – deciding whether a statement was sincere or sarcastic; a throwaway remark or something central to be emphasised. Their influence in the spread of Christianity and making of the Bible was enormous, yet their role has been almost entirely overlooked until now.
Filled with profound revelations for reading and understanding the gospels themselves, God’s Ghostwriters is a groundbreaking and rigorously researched book about how enslaved people shaped the Bible, and with it all of Christianity. It’s also an intimate portrait of lives not often considered by history, and a reckoning with the motives and methods of the early Christians as they spread their message across the ancient world."
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