Audiobooks narrated by Freya Parker

Wedded Wife: a feminist history of marriage

In this fascinating and insightful book, feminist curator Rachael Lennon provides an intimate and intersectional examination of the history of marriage around the world. In this fascinating feminist history, Rachael Lennon tells a remarkable story of how this institution has developed from the ancient customs of the stone age through to the modern form it takes today. In this eminently readable and relatable study, Lennon also explores themes such as the pressure to marry, the politics surrounding proposals, the spectacle of marriage, the business behind it, and the politics tied to consummation as well as issues such as taking a man's name, the nuances of marriage vows and obedience, 'having it all' and trying to keep up the fight to have an enduring marriage. Having married her wife just a few years after the legalisation of same sex marriage in the United Kingdom, Lennon interweaves her own personal experiences of marriage with stories and anecdotes from throughout history to explore how marriage has transformed over the years. In shaking off patriarchal expectations, Rachael examines marriage's troubling past and celebrates a more joyful present, celebrating the feminist activists who have fought to make marriage a pure and equitable celebration of love, open to everyone regardless of gender or sexuality. She also asks what compels us to keep making this choice? Can we let go of the gendered baggage that we have inherited? Can we hold true to feminist values as we commit to our partners? And what does that look like? How can we build on the past to continue to redefine marriage for the future?

Rachael Lennon (Author), Freya Parker (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ångström: A BBC Radio comedy

Matthew Holness stars in this superbly silly Scandinavian detective yarn Knut Ångström is a brooding, alcoholic, maverick Swedish detective from the mean streets of Oslo. Following the deaths of his beloved wife Christa, and cheeky duck Elvin, he is posted to the Njalsland peninsula, where he becomes embroiled in a labyrinthine mystery which bears an eerie similarity to the Askeladden killings - a case from his distant past. Arriving at a secluded valley after an anonymous tip-off, Ångström finds his crime scene is missing a corpse. It seems the attack was so brutal that it's obliterated all trace of the body (or maybe there was no murder?) But Ångström is undeterred, and together with young, blue-haired investigative reporter Mina Oblong, he follows his hunch to the offices of Councillor Birgit Lundstrom. But when Lundstrom turns up dead, Ångström himself is in the frame for her murder. Determined to clear his name, he seeks the help of Benny from ABBA - but why is Benny from ABBA suddenly Mexican? A clue left by the killer leads Ångström and Mina from a novelty troll factory to the remote Celibate Puffin Island (but it's all one word in Swedish) where they find a possible connection between the Askeladden murders and the sinister Bolax Corporation - and get one step closer to discovering the identity of the mysterious Ash Lad... This gag-packed, snow-packed, flat-packed Scandi-spoof was created by Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley (The Ladybird Books for Grown Ups, Charlie Brooker's ...Wipe,That Mitchell and Webb Look, A Touch of Cloth) and stars the Perrier Award-winning Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace) as Knut Ångström. Written by Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley Cast: Matthew Holness, Nadia Kamil, Simon Kane, Morgana Robinson, David Reed, Freya Parker, Kevin Eldon and Anna Crilly Produced by Lyndsay Fenner First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10-31 January 2018

Jason Hazeley, Joel Morris (Author), Anna Crilly, David Reed, Freya Parker, Kevin Eldon, Matthew Holness, Morgana Robinson, Nadia Kamil, Simon Kane (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dot: The Complete Series 1-3

A rollicking wartime comedy set in the personnel department of the Cabinet War Rooms, starring Fenella Woolgar as Dot. "Little chills the blood so much as the phrase 'new Radio 4 comedy'. But, dear reader, be un-chilled... a lovely, period-mocking script delivered with its eyebrow at precisely the right level of archness," - The Times "Dot's quirky wit is all of her own," - The Observer "Excellent, eccentrically comic," - The Daily Mail. Dot's had quite enough of making tea in the Cabinet War Rooms. When she finds a cryptic message in the newspaper she enlists the help of her gals - will this be the big break Dot's been waiting for? Follow Dot as she gets squiffy over Agent Bertie Whiff-Whaff, concocts stirring yet pithy slogans for the war effort, and goes on a mission to St Horribly Vulture's School for Boys to enlist a teacher for... "shhhh... Bletchley Park!" Dot will do her bally utmost for King and Country in these spiffing tales of derring-do (and, occasionally, derring-don't), whether investigating suspicious deaths, outwitting dastardly spies, or helping the Prime Minister with his French vocab. Cast: Dot...Fenella Woolgar Myrtle...Kate O'Flynn Peg...Freya Parker Millicent...Jane Slavin Peabody...David Acton Other parts played by Roslyn Hill, Stephen Critchlow, Adie Allen, Alicia Ambrose-Bayly, Susan Jameson, Sean Baker, Brian Protheroe, Sam Rix, Nick Underwood, Scarlett Brookes, David Sterne, Nicholas Murchie, John Dougal, Emma Handy, Ryan Whittle, Stephen Hogan, Elizabeth Counsell, Sean Murray, John Lightbody, Lauren Cornelius and introducing Officer Background as himself. Written by Ed Harris. Produced and directed by Jessica Mitic (Series 1 and 2) and Sasha Yevtushenko (Series 3)

Ed Harris (Author), , David Acton, Fenella Woolgar, Freya Parker, Jane Slavin, Kate O'flynn (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Freya Parker