Audiobooks narrated by Frank Duncan

Headlong Hall, Crotchet Castle & Nightmare Abbey: A BBC Radio Collection

"Three stunning full-cast dramatisation of Thomas Love Peacock’s classic stories Listen now to this collection of three of the finest stories from Thomas Love Peacock. A contemporary and close friend of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Love Peacock was born in 1785 and wrote satirical novels discussing and criticising the philosophical opinions of the day. Packed with witty dialogue, intriguing ideas and featuring the iconic voices of Sir Michael Hordern (Lord Of The Rings) and Kenneth Williams (Carry On films, Just a Minute) this collection is a must listen for any fans of classic audio productions. In Headlong Hall it’s winter, 1815 and Harry Headlong, like all Welsh squires, is fond of shooting, hunting and drinking. But he becomes seized with a passion to form the acquaintance of philosophers and dilettanti. Sir Michael Hordern narrates this classic novella. Love Peacock assembles a group of eccentrics in Crochet Castle, each with a single monomaniacal obsession. Hilarity ensures as their various interactions and conversations play out a rich social satire of the day. Reverend Doctor Folliott, a vigorous middle-aged clergyman with a love for ancient Greek language and literature, is greatly suspicious of the reform slogan of the 'March of Intellect', as well as anything done by Lord Brougham. Romance stirs between Mr. Chainmail (who is convinced that the world has gone downhill continuously since the twelfth century) and Susannah Touchandgo (the daughter of a disgraced banker), and between Captain Fitzchrome (an attractive gentleman with only a moderate income) and Lady Clarinda Bossnowl (the daughter of an impoverished peer, who is cynically determined to make a financially rewarding marriage). Voted one of the 100 best novels ever in 2023 in The Guardian, Nightmare Abbey is read by Kenneth Williams who brings this story to life in Martin Remes’s brilliant adaptation. A true radio archive gem. Written in 1818, this is classic satire poking fun at the Romantic Movement and its obsession with the morbid. Raised by his widower father in the bleak family mansion in Lincolnshire, on a dry stretch of land between the sea and the fens, Scythrop Glowry vows to change the world… This is a listening treat for any fans of the classics, featuring a star-studded cast and stories that will both intrigue and delight. Cast includes: Michael Horden, Daniel Massey, Carlton Hobbs, Vivienne Chatterton, Esme Percy and more. Content Headlong Hall Crotchet Castle Nightmare Abbey ©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Thomas Love Peacock (Author), Alan Dudley, Andrew Branch, Carleton Hobbs, Caroline Gruber, Daniel Massey, Esme Percy, Frank Duncan, Full Cast, John Baddeley, Kenneth Williams, Michael Horden, Norman Shelley (Narrator)

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Life and Intrigue in Tudor Britain: A Collection of BBC Radio Historical Docu Dramas

"Six gripping dramatised documentaries detailing the history of the turbulent Tudor period. Passion, power, sex and suspicious deaths – the Tudor story is one of drama and dysfunction, and it has kept us enthralled for over 400 years. In these six dramatised documentaries, we take a behind-the-scenes look at Tudor England and get to know the key characters we have grown to love and hate, such as Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Compiled from contemporary sources by Alison Plowman and featuring first-hand accounts and letters, these thrilling, historically accurate retellings bring this tumultuous era to vivid life. The Most Unhappy Lady spans three critical years in the life of Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, and later Queen of England. It begins in 1533, when her father divorces her mother and marries Anne Boleyn. Refusing to accept the validity of Henry’s actions, Mary finds herself facing danger and disgrace… In Elizabeth's Admiral, we follow the events which took place in the immediate aftermath of Henry VIII’s death in 1547 – events which led to the execution of the Lord High Admiral Thomas Seymour and came near to seriously compromising the future of the 15-year-old Princess Elizabeth. The Killing at Kirk O’Field, set between March 1566 and June 1567, tells the tragic tale of the murder of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary Queen of Scots: a crime that remains one of the most controversial 'whodunnits' of all time. Chance or Villainy? explores the mysterious death of Amy Robsart in 1560. Her husband, Lord Robert Dudley, was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I and was rumoured to be having an affair with her – so when Amy was found dead at the foot of a staircase, it seemed that a serious crisis might ensue… In A Knot of Secret Might, we hear the ill-fated love story of Lady Katherine Grey, sister of the doomed ‘Nine-Day Queen’ Lady Jane Grey. And in The Great Enterprise, 1588, we are transported back to sixteenth-century Spain, as Philip II prepares to launch his ‘Invincible Armada’... Among the ensemble casts of these superb docu-dramas are Beryl Calder, Haydn Jones, Marjorie Westbury, Kathleen Helme, Patricia Leventon, Nerys Hughes and Roger Delgado. Credits Compiled from contemporary sources by Alison Plowden Special thanks to Keith Wickham for Archive material. The Most Unhappy Lady Produced by Joe Burroughs First broadcast BBC Home Service, 22 Dec 1964 Elizabeth’s Admiral (A Pattern of Tudors) Produced by Joe Burroughs First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24 Apr 1968 The Killing at Kirk O’Field Produced by Alison Plowden First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 Sep 1969 Chance or Villainy? (A Pattern of Tudors) Produced by Joe Burroughs First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 Feb 1966 A Knot of Secret Might Produced by Richard Wortley First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Oct 1970 The Great Enterprise, 1588 (A Pattern of Tudors) Produced by Joe Burroughs First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 11 Aug 1968 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alison Plowden (Author), Beryl Calder, Frank Duncan, Full Cast, Haydn Jones, Jane Wenham, Kathleen Helme, Madi Hedd, Marjorie Westbury, Nerys Hughes, Nigel Lambert, Patricia Leventon, Pauline Letts, Richard Hurndall, Roger Delgado, Stephen Thorne (Narrator)

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A Midsummer Night's Dream

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.’ Shakespeare's most popular comedy, set in an enchanted forest with fairies, sparring lovers and a group of amateur actors who are putting on a play. Four Athenians run away to the forest only to have Puck the fairy make both of the boys fall in love with the same girl. The four run through the forest pursuing each other while Puck helps his master play a trick on the fairy queen. In the end, Puck reverses the magic, and the two couples reconcile and marry. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Frank Duncan; Joan Hart; Julian Curry; John Tracy-Phillips; Ian McKellen; Terrence Hardiman; Jeannette Sterke; Prunella Scales; Miles Malleson; Peter Woodthorpe; John Sharp; John Wood; Trevor Nunn; Christopher Kelly; Anthony White; Jill Balcon; Richard Goolden; Elizabeth Proud; George Rylands; John Sharp; Richard Kay."

William Shakespeare (Author), Frank Duncan, Ian McKellen, Julian Curry, Prunella Scales, full cast (Narrator)

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The Taming Of The Shrew

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.’ Bianca is beautiful and demure, with a plethora of wood-be suitors, but marriage is forbidden until her older sister Katherina finds a suitable match. The hitch? Fiery Katherina has sworn to deny the hand or demands of any would-be suitor. That is, until she meets her match in the wily Petrucio. As Katherina’s own sharp tongue is met by Petrucio’s feigned cruelty, the ‘shrew’ apparently capitulates. Or does she? All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Frank Duncan; Tony Church; Beatrix Lehmann; V.C. Clinton-Baddeley; Dudley Jones; Peter Orr; Derek Godfrey; Donald Layne Smith; David King; Gordon Gardner; Philip Strick; Michael Bates; Peggy Ashcroft; Janette Richer; Freda Dowie."

William Shakespeare (Author), Beatrix Lehmann, Dudley Jones, Frank Duncan, Tony Church, full cast (Narrator)

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Pericles, Prince of Tyre

"William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘For death remembered should be like a mirror, Who tells us life’s but breath, to trust it error.’ The medieval poet John Gower returns from the grave to tell the story of Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Pericles, Prince of Tyre leaves home to escape death only to win a jousting contest and marry a princess. Once he can return home, his family sails with him, but a storm separates them, so Pericles returns alone. Years later, Pericles finds his daughter and reunites with the wife he had thought was dead. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Frank Duncan; William Squire; Tony Church; John Tydeman; Michael Bate; Philip Strick; Norman Mitchel; Yvonne Bonnamy; David King; Margaret Rawlings; Denis McCarthy; Michael Hordern; Peter Orr; Margaretta Scott; Peter Woodthorpe; Patrick Wymark; David Buck; Gary Watson; Janette Richer; Prunella Scales; Richard Marquand; David Jones; Patsy Byrne."

William Shakespeare (Author), Frank Duncan, Michael Hordern, Patrick Wymark, William Squire, full cast (Narrator)

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Alice In Wonderland

Lewis Carroll (Author), Frank Duncan, Jane Asher, Leslie French, Margaret Rawlings, Margaretta Scott, Tony Church, Vivienne Chatterton (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Frank Duncan

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