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Audiobooks Narrated by John Higgins
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"A new collection of A. A. Milne’s short stories for grown-ups. Gathered in full for the first time, they include several never published before. They show Milne’s renowned charm, concision and whimsical flair in all their brilliance.
He paints memorable scenes – from a children’s birthday party, to an accidental encounter with murder, and a case of blackmail – often with an unexpected twist. But he also deals in poignancy, from the girl who pulls the wool over her boyfriend’s eyes, to a first dance and first disappointment or family reunion and domestic dissonance.
Beguiling and evocative, Milne’s thought-provoking stories for adults will make you see his works for children in a whole new light."
"With characteristic self-deprecating humour, A.A. Milne recalls the formative events of his life: from a blissfully happy childhood to the writing of Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin.
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In his classic memoirs A. A. Milne, with his characteristic self-deprecating humour, recalls a blissfully happy childhood in the company of his brothers, and writes with touching affection about his father whom he adored.
From Westminster School he won a scholarship to Cambridge University where he edited the university magazine, Granta. He then went out into the world, determined to be a writer. He was assistant editor at Punch Magazine and enjoyed great success with his novels, plays and stories. And of course he is best remembered for his children's novels and verses featuring Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin.
This is both an account of how a writer was formed and a charming period piece on literary life – Milne met countless famous authors including H. G. Wells, J. M Barrie of Peter Pan fame and Rudyard Kipling.
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* Praise for It’s Too Late Now *
‘A funny book, beautifully written’ NEIL GAIMAN
‘A fascinating and insightful read into one of the greatest authors’ INDEPENDENT
‘Warm and candid’ NEW YORK TIMES"
"Freckled fugitive Smiler is never far from trouble as he makes his way to North Devon in this thrilling finale to The Smiler Trilogy.
After hitching a ride south, Smiler finds his way to North Devon and the estate of the 'The Duchess' – a former fairground fortune-teller who now runs a farm. Here, he stays and tends to circus animals housed for the winter.
When a peregrine falcon, Fria, escapes, Smiler must search for ways of helping and recapturing the bird. In doing so, can he solve the problem that has kept him in hiding for so long?
Or does more trouble await?"
"Canning's classic children's trilogy continues as fifteen-year-old Smiler, still on the run from the police, hitches a ride to Scotland.
Fifteen-year-old Smiler is still on the run.
Smiler is aiming to evade the police until his father, a ship’s cook, comes home to clear him of a crime he hasn't committed. Hitching a train to Scotland, he finds work as an animal caretaker within the grounds of a castle occupied by ‘the Laird’, Sir Alec Elphinstone.
When the Laird leaves on a trip to London, Smiler discovers that thieves are planning to invade his employer's castle.
Dare he go to the police for help?"
"On a night of wild storms, two troubled figures escape from captivity.
One is a 15-year-old boy, Samuel Miles, a.k.a. ‘Smiler’, wrongly convicted of theft and sent to a young offenders institution. The other is a cheetah, Yarra, a restless resident of Longleat Wildlife Park.
Both are in danger from the outside world – and each other – but somehow their lives become inextricably bound up as they fight for survival on the edge of Salisbury Plain.
A fast-moving and compassionate adventure story, The Runaways is the first book in Victor Canning's classic children's trilogy."
"Victor Canning’s light-hearted and cleverly plotted novella set on the beautiful French Riviera
Young Paul Ashcroft has travelled to the beautiful French Riviera. His goal: to make a lot of money. His methods: more than questionable. Following his motto ‘the world owes me a living’, he steals and swindles – using what he needs for himself and passing on the rest to those less fortunate.
After coming across the beautiful Villa Triton, he disguises himself as M. Durobat, a middle-aged Frenchman, to inspect the villa and to pawn the owner’s ornaments and paintings. At the local Casino, he becomes acquainted with the rich ladies of the resort. As he steals their jewellery, he blames the robberies on 'Gringo the Greek', a small crook he knew a long time ago.
But just as Paul's schemes and tricks start to be fruitful and he falls in love with the intriguing Elise Benoit, the real Gringo the Greek appears on the scene, ready to take on the cunning thief who has been blaming him all this time…
Praise for Victor Canning:
‘Quite delightful … with an atmosphere of quiet contentment and humour that cannot fail to charm’ Daily Telegraph
‘What counts for most in the story … is his mounting pleasure in vagabondage and the English scene’ The Times
‘A paean to the beauties of the English countryside and the lovable oddities of the English character’ New York Times
‘His delight at the beauties of the countryside and his mild astonishment at the strange ways of men are infectious’ Daily Telegraph
‘A swift-moving novel, joyous, happy and incurably optimistic’ Evening Standard"
"The collected short stories of the great Victor Canning, originally written and published in the 1950s and 1960s – full of humour, charm, and in true fashion of classic crime writing.
Canning’s heart-warming vignettes and clever mysteries take us from a Welsh valley to a far-off island and across the French countryside – introducing unforgettable characters and stories along the way.
Praise for Victor Canning:
‘His gift of story-telling is obviously innate. Rarely does one come on so satisfying an amalgam of plot, characterisation and good writing.’ Punch
‘Quite delightful … with an atmosphere of quiet contentment and humour that cannot fail to charm.’ Daily Telegraph
‘A swift-moving novel, joyous, happy and incurably optimistic.’ Evening Standard
‘There is such a gentle humour in the book.’ Daily Sketch
‘What counts for most in the story … is his mounting pleasure in vagabondage and the English scene.’ The Times
‘A paean to the beauties of the English countryside and the lovable oddities of the English character.’ New York Times"
"A life-affirming story of family and personal self-discovery
When George, the eldest son of Matthew Silverman, announces he won’t follow his father’s footsteps as editor of the family-owned local newspaper, the family finds itself on a course for change. The newspaper has been going for nearly 100 years.
With younger brother Alexander and sisters Loraine and Alison growing up fast too, and gradual progress in the world around them, can Matthew do what’s best for them all?
This beautifully observed story of a loving family navigating generational change retains a timeless appeal today.
Praise for Victor Canning:
‘His gift of story-telling is obviously innate. Rarely does one come on so satisfying an amalgam of plot, characterisation and good writing.’ Punch
‘Quite delightful … with an atmosphere of quiet contentment and humour that cannot fail to charm.’ Daily Telegraph
‘A swift-moving novel, joyous, happy and incurably optimistic.’ Evening Standard
‘There is such a gentle humour in the book.’ Daily Sketch
‘What counts for most in the story … is his mounting pleasure in vagabondage and the English scene.’ The Times
‘A paean to the beauties of the English countryside and the lovable oddities of the English character.’ New York Times"
"An exuberant, life-affirming novel of taking your chances
After a spur-of-the-moment day out with his boss’ daughter in celebration of his 21st birthday, Polycarp Jarvis decides to quit his Bristol-based junior government worker job. Newly emboldened, he embarks on an erratic, engaging and not always strictly legal course through life.
Going from bus driver for the Red Dragon Motor Company to co-owner of a flying company, to seller of quack medicines, and eventually to media tycoon, Polycarp makes much of his luck along the way. Through ups and downs, his exuberance and charm carry him through.
But what kind of person will he be by the end?
This gentle coming-of-age story was hugely popular on first publication in the 1930s and retains a timeless appeal today.
Praise for Victor Canning:
‘Quite delightful … with an atmosphere of quiet contentment and humour that cannot fail to charm.’ Daily Telegraph
‘There is such a gentle humour in the book.’ Daily Sketch
‘What counts for most in the story … is his mounting pleasure in vagabondage and the English scene.’ The Times
‘A paean to the beauties of the English countryside and the lovable oddities of the English character.’ New York Times
‘His delight at the beauties of the countryside and his mild astonishment at the strange ways of men are infectious.’ Daily Telegraph
‘A swift-moving novel, joyous, happy and incurably optimistic.’ Evening Standard
‘His gift of story-telling is obviously innate. Rarely does one come on so satisfying an amalgam of plot, characterisation and good writing.’ Punch"
"The Minerva Club might look like any other London gentlemen’s club but behind its respectable and discreet façade, some of the most ambitious schemes for heists, money-making and evasion of the law are being worked out. It’s an exclusive club for criminals. Entry qualification: members must have served a prison sentence of two years minimum. Though the club’s criminal ventures don’t always go as planned…
From trying to break into an old prison cell and stealing a stash of jewels hidden during a previous incarceration, love getting in the way during a hideout from the police, a cleverly planned break-in being interrupted by an unexpected guest, to figuring out where to steal a last-minute wedding cake – the club’s amiable criminals somehow always achieve their goal in the most surprising ways.
This collection of five short stories follows the Minerva Club’s (mis)adventures and evokes the very best of humorous classic crime fiction."
"What’s going on behind the doors of Fountain Inn?
When her employer suddenly disappears, young Grace Kirkstall finds herself accepting a new job at a new company in the same building – an oasis of tranquillity off the streets of London.
Ben and Helen Brown’s startup company’s pitch is that, for a small consideration, they will help people out of their major and minor fixes. Their first big commission initiates Ben into the gentle art of house-breaking, and Helen into the mysteries of the Society for Progressive Rehabilitation…
But for Grace, it will plunge her into more danger than she could ever have imagined.
This leisurely, beautifully observed thriller marked Victor Canning’s entrée into crime fiction, and rewards with a thrilling finale - sure to delight fans of Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence."
"How far could you go living in another’s shoes?
In a mid-life moment, Paul Morison travels from America to England to discover his mother’s roots. A chance encounter and uncanny resemblance leads him to agree to assume the identity of a famous singer for a while. But it’s not just the unnerving attentions of the adoring public that he must deal with.
Seeking to regain his freedom, Paul flees the length of Britain from Southampton to the Scottish Isles. On the run, he discovers he has let himself in for much more than he bargained.
This gentle comic caper and love story was hugely popular on first publication in the 1930s and retains a timeless appeal today."
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