Audiobooks narrated by Jonathan Keeble

The Surreal and Supernatural Stories of Walter de la Mare: A BBC Radio Collection

Full-cast dramatisations and readings of classic tales by Walter de la Mare – plus bonus material. An award-wining poet, short story writer and novelist, Walter de la Mare is probably best known for his works for children and his perennially popular poem ‘The Listeners’. His ghost stories were much admired by H. P. Lovecraft and inspired subsequent authors of supernatural horror such as Robert Aickman and Ramsey Campbell. In 1921, his novel Memoirs of a Midget won the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction, and this haunting, surrealistic tale is the opening tale in our anthology. It tells the extraordinary life story of the diminutive Miss M, who struggles to find her place in Victorian society. Torn between her obsessive suitor Mr Anon and the cruel, beautiful Fanny Bowater, she seeks freedom in the dangerous world of the circus… Emma Fielding stars as Miss M, with Robert Glenister, Sylvestra Le Touzel and Anna Massey. Based on de la Mare’s 1923 short story and starring Samuel West and Margaret Robertson, ‘Seaton’s Aunt’ sees Rupert Withers recalling the sinister relative of a boyhood friend – a woman he met just three times, but who left an indelible impression. Ghost Stories of Walter de la Mare contains four more uncanny tales – ‘All Hallows’ (read by Richard E. Grant), ‘Crewe’ (read by Kenneth Cranham), ‘A Recluse’ (read by Anthony Head) and ‘The Almond Tree’ (read by Julian Wadham). It is followed by a dramatisation of ‘The Trumpet’, starring Garard Green, in which a rector’s son meets his best friend in church one moonlit night for a dare that ends in disaster. Also included are two bonus programmes celebrating the poetry of Walter de la Mare. In Adventures in Poetry: The Listeners, Peggy Reynolds introduces a reading of the much-loved poem, and explores its background, effect and lasting appeal with guests Russell Hoban, Sean Street and de la Mare’s grandson Giles. And in Three Score and Ten, Ian Macmillan presents an archive recording from Christmas Day 1953 of Walter de la Mare reading his poems ‘England’ and ‘The Little Salamander’. Credits Written by Walter de la Mare First published 1921 (Memoirs of a Midget), 1923 (‘Seaton’s Aunt’, ‘The Almond Tree’), 1926 (‘All Hallows’), 1930 (‘Crewe’, ‘A Recluse’), 1936 (‘The Trumpet’) Memoirs of a Midget First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 March-2 April 1993 Please note that the language used reflects the era in which the original novel was written. ‘Seaton’s Aunt’ First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 December 1995 Ghost Stories of Walter de la Mare First broadcast BBC Radio 7, 24-28 December 2010 The Trumpet First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 April 1986 Adventures in Poetry: The Listeners First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 November 2008 Three Score and Ten First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 October 2016 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Walter De La Mare (Author), Andrew Wincott, Anthony Head, Emma Fielding, Full Cast, Garard Green, Jonathan Keeble, Julian Wadham, Kenneth Cranham, Margaret Robertson, Richard E. Grant, Samuel West, Walter De La Mare (Narrator)

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Dear Oliver: An Unexpected Friendship with Oliver Sacks

To the world, he was Dr. Sacks, the brilliant neurologist behind bestselling books like Musicophilia and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. To professor Susan Barry, he became Dear Oliver-her mentor, friend, and confidant over the course of their ten-year correspondence. It begins with a letter that Sue almost doesn't send. Sue's unheard-of case history-as a 'stereoblind' patient who acquired 3D vision in adulthood-so fascinates Dr. Sacks that he immediately asks to visit her. As 'Stereo Sue,' she becomes the subject of one of his indelible New Yorker pieces-and, as a fellow neuroscientist, his sounding board for every kind of intellectual inquiry. Their shared passions spark a friendship that buoys both of them through life's crests and falls: as Sue becomes an author, as she supports her father in his decline, and as Oliver becomes a patient himself-battling cancer that robs him of his own vision. Dr. Sacks's letters to Sue offer listeners an unprecedented glimpse of the man himself-from his compassion and insight to his love of the periodic table. Throughout Dear Oliver, we are reminded that true friends help each other see the world a little differently.

Susan R. Barry (Author), Jonathan Keeble, Rengin Altay (Narrator)

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Dark Brilliance

Between the end of the Renaissance and the start of the Enlightenment, Europe lived through an era known as the Age of Reason. This was a period which saw advances in areas such as art, science, philosophy, political theory and economics. However, all this was achieved against a background of extreme turbulence in the form of internal conflicts and international wars. While the 'land of liberty' was beginning to import slaves from Africa. Focusing on key characters from the seventeenth to the eighteenth centuries, including Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Newton, Descartes, Spinoza, Louis XIV and Charles I, Dark Brilliance is a fascinating and wide-ranging history that explores the human costs of imposing progress and modernity.

Paul Strathern (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

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Dear Oliver: An unexpected friendship with Oliver Sacks

'Dear Dr. Sacks . . . You asked me if I could imagine what the world would look like when viewed with two eyes. I told you that I thought I could . . . But, I was wrong.' When Susan Barry first wrote to Oliver Sacks, she never expected a response, let alone the deep friendship that blossomed over ten years of letters. Sue, herself a neuroscientist, wrote to share an extraordinary development in her own medical history. Born with problems with her vision, Sue had been told she would never acquire the ability to see in 3D - and yet she did, a development at odds with decades of research. Within days, Oliver replied, 'Your letter fills me with amazement and admiration.' Sharing an interest in visual perception and a deep love of science, Sue and Oliver began writing back and forth, delving deeper into the mysteries of sight and marvelling at the adaptive capacity of the human body. But in a painful twist of fate, as Sue's vision improved, Oliver's declined, and his characteristic typed letters shifted to handwritten ones. Sue later recognised this to be an early sign of the cancer that ultimately ended his extraordinary life. A funny, fascinating, and intimate glimpse of the great Oliver Sacks, Dear Oliver is also a love letter to scientific inquiry, and a testimony to the power of friendship at any time in life.

Susan R. Barry (Author), Jonathan Keeble, Rengin Altay (Narrator)

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Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary

David Hume (1711-1776) remains a major figure in British philosophy, particularly for two or three works, including A Treatise on Human Nature and An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. But he was also a prolific essayist and historian. During his lifetime Essays Moral, Political and Literary went through a number of editions and collections, far outselling his philosophy. Now, the situation is reversed. But reading the essays today it is difficult to see why. Even after 250 years they continue to be intellectually stimulating, witty, engrossing, and, in many cases, retain a relevance to our times. The variety of topics alone is appealing. Presented here in the main collection are 47 essays, divided into two parts, though not organised in any specific thematic way. Among the political essays are: Of the First Principles of Government; Whether the British Government inclines more to Absolute Monarchy or to a Republic; Of the Liberty of the Press; Idea of a Perfect Commonwealth. Economic concerns are addressed: Of Money; Of Interest; Of Public Credit; Of Taxes. Hume opens the collection with Of the Delicacy of Taste and Passion, and also considered Of the Rise and Progress of the Arts and Sciences before turning his attention to The Epicurean; The Stoic; The Platonist and The Sceptic. Not all the essays here were published in Hume's lifetime. Among eight in this category, some were withdrawn, some suppressed, and some simply didn't make print. These include Of Love and Marriage; Of Avarice; Of the Middle Station of Life; and even one which turned the mirror on his own activity: Of Essay-Writing. Though the essay form is not as popular as it once was, it can still sparkle, as can be seen here in the hands of a master.

David Hume (Author), Jonathan Keeble, TBD (Narrator)

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Lawrence of Arabia: An in-depth glance at the life of a 20th Century legend

Brought to you by Penguin. The authoritative, illuminating biography of T. E. Lawrence - the man who inspired the iconic film Lawrence of Arabia - from 'The World's Greatest Living Explorer' Ranulph Fiennes. Thomas Edward Lawrence first set foot on the hot sands of Arabia in 1909. By 1918 there was a £20,000 price on his head. His journey to this point has long been legend. From his first postings as archaeologist, liaison and map officer, to fighting alongside guerrilla forces during the Arab Revolt, journeying more than 300 miles through blistering heat to capture Aqaba, to his involvement in peace conferences that decided the future of the Middle East, Lawrence gave over his life fully to this land and its people. An unhappy outsider in childhood, in Arabia, Lawrence found a home. But as he grew in notoriety and proved his worth to his Arab comrades, his Turkish enemies set their sights on his capture . . . A legend in his own lifetime, Lawrence's epic story has always been ripe for the retelling - but Ranulph Fiennes is no ordinary biographer. Leading Arab troops into battle on the Arabian peninsula in a war fought fifty years later, Fiennes too discovered the wonders of these far-flung lands and the people who live there, and is one of very few who can claim a true insight into the kind of life that Lawrence lived - bold and adventurous to the end. With detailed access to records and an in-depth knowledge of the exploration routes and mindset of those who venture into the unknown, in Lawrence of Arabia, Fiennes brings us at last to a true and full account of this mysterious adventurer who captivated the world. ©2023 Ranulph Fiennes (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Ranulph Fiennes (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

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Ian Fleming: The Complete Man

Brought to you by Penguin. A fresh portrait of the man behind James Bond, and his enduring impact, by an award-winning biographer with unprecedented access to the Fleming Archive. Ian Fleming's greatest creation, James Bond, has had an enormous impact on our culture. What Bond represents about ideas of masculinity, the British national psyche, and global politics has shifted over time, as has the interpretation of the life of his author. But Fleming himself was more mysterious and subtle than anything he wrote. His childhood with his gifted brother Peter and his extraordinary mother set the pattern for Fleming's ambition to be 'the complete man' and he would search for the means to achieve this 'completeness' all his life. Only a writer for his last twelve years, his dramatic personal life and impressive career before this put him at the heart of critical moments in world history, while also providing rich material for his fiction. A pivotal figure in the Second World War, Fleming's work on covert naval operations was hugely significant. He also acted as a vital bridge between Britain and America, pursuing this relationship into the Cold War in his later work as a journalist. Widely travelled and incredibly well-connected, from Communist Russia to his beloved Jamaica, Fleming had access to the most powerful political figures at a time of extraordinary change. Nicholas Shakespeare is one of the most gifted biographers working today. His talent for uncovering material that casts new light on his subjects is fully evident in this masterful, definitive biography. His unprecedented access to the Fleming archives and his nose for a story make this a fresh and eye-opening picture of a man who lived his life in the shadow of his famous creation. ©2023 Nicholas Shakespeare (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Nicholas Shakespeare (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

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The Hitler Bloodline: Uncovering the Fuhrer’s Secret Family

The astounding story of the quest to find the living descendants of the most monstrous tyrant in history - Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler was one of six children born to his mother, and one of eight born to his father from two of his three marriages. Alois Hitler, né Schicklgruber, was an official of the Austrian customs service, and the combination of an imperial uniform and a severe drinking habit seems to have ensured that Hitler's father was a drunken bully given to beating his children if they were not instantly obedient. Alois had two children, Alois junior and Angela, by his second wife, and six by his third, Hitler's mother Clara, of whom four, all boys, died at birth or in infancy. Young Adolf was therefore left with a half-brother, Alois, and half-sister, Angela, and a full sister, Paula, who died in 1960. When Hitler killed himself in April 1945, all his siblings were still living and some had children of their own. So, what happened to them? The answer is that no one was really certain until David Gardner published this book in 2001, having patiently and steadfastly tracked down Hitler's living relations to the USA, and made contact with some of them. Now revised and updated, this is a fascinating study of a little-known side of Hitler's history, as well as a riveting account of how the author traced and contacted the survivors of a bloodline that most of the world probably hoped had become extinct.

David Gardner (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

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Four Dissertations: A Natural History of Religion, Of the Passions, Of Tragedy, Of the Standard of T

David Hume (1711-1776) remains one of the most stimulating and entertaining writers in the English essay tradition. Though primarily known for long-form writings, he was adept at taking one subject and looking at it in a more concise but accessible manner. Hume devoted his life to study – across a wide range of his personal interests, reflecting his background in philosophy, history, economics, and many other subjects. This can be clearly seen in Four Dissertations (1757) and the topics he chose to consider. Of these, The Natural History of Religion is the most well-known and widely quoted. Hume's views, shaped by empiricism and scepticism, enables him to offer a perspective unusual for his age, though naturally it is embedded in the prevailing view ‘The whole frame of nature bespeaks an intelligent author'. Nevertheless, this does not restrict his thinking as he examines the psychological and sociological factors that shape religious sentiment. The other three Dissertations are no less fascinating. Fittingly, in Of The Passions, Hume delves into the complex realm of human emotions. Investigating the nature of desire, love, fear, and more, he presents a wide-ranging study of how passions influence our actions and shape our experiences. Of Tragedy, explores the aesthetics of dramatic art. Hume looks into the power of tragedy to elicit a passionate response and provoke contemplation. He examines the mechanisms by which tragedies captivate audiences and evoke a range of sentiments, shedding light on the profound impact of art on human consciousness. In Of the Standard of Taste, Hume takes the viewpoint of the beholder, rather than the object. Declaring ‘We are apt to call barbarous whatever departs widely from our own taste and apprehension,' he proposes that two elements, sentiment and critical faculty form a major part in decisions on taste. For “Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.” But such a subjective view cannot deny a certain consensus on beauty, which leads Hume to examine the matter of aesthetics in the light of judgements of established critics. This recording concludes with Hume's two short autobiographies, written at different times in his life and with differing characteristics. The first, A Kind of Life (1734) is a letter written to a doctor and the second, My Own Life (1776) was written shortly before his death.

David Hume (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

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Chilling Shorts: Twisted Tales Of Madness, Disturbia And The Supernatural, For Enjoyment Before Bedt

17 twisted short stories and poems from the author of the Victorian Gothic series of novels. From first dates to shipwrecked sailors, encompassing modern horror to gothic tropes, this anthology has something for everyone with one thing in common: they want something to think about when they go to bed.

D. R. Miller (Author), Jonathan Keeble, Julie Teal, Malk Williams (Narrator)

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Ragged Edge: The brutal true story of the Isle of Man TT - the world's most dangerous race

The unvarnished, raw truth behind the world's most dangerous sporting event - in the words of those who ride it. One week in June. One small island. 40,000 annual visitors. Raw speed. Numerous annual deaths. The Isle of Man TT motorcycle road race. Five minutes to go. The claxon sounds, harsh as an air raid siren. Television crews attempt last-minute interviews with riders. The thousand yard-stares give it away: they're really not listening now. Four minutes to go. The grandstand is packed. Some racers tell their mechanics, 'I'll see you later for a pint' - just to make themselves believe they will. Three minutes to go. For the first man on the road, hidden dangers exist. He will have no-one to follow. And he is the hare that the greyhounds will be chasing. Two minutes to go. By the end of the first lap, riders will be howling past faster than a bullet from the barrel of a gun. A full 160pmh. And that's not even the fastest part of the course. One minute to go. The atmosphere is palpably tense. It's like no other sporting event on earth. Formula 1 drivers can crash spectacularly and just walk away. Everyone knows that's not the case here. Five seconds. The starter raises the chequered flag, ready to snap down. No more time for nerves, for doubts. The race has started. How it will end, no-one knows. The TT has begun. In Ragged Edge, Stuart Barker will write the definitive story of this unique event, from the tarmac up. The history, the atmosphere, the heroes, tragedies and legends. And most importantly: our fascination with this seductive yet perilous test of skill and daring. This is the unvarnished, raw truth behind the world's most dangerous sporting event - in the words of those who ride it.

Stuart Barker (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

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Military Intelligence Blunders

A frightening study of intelligence failings in warfare from the Second World War to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and their impact on events. Here is the insider's view from a former professional intelligence officer . This audiobook is a professional military-intelligence officer's - and controversial insider's - view of some of the greatest intelligence blunders of recent history. It includes the serious developments in government misuse of intelligence in the US-led coalition's 2003 war with Iraq, as well as failures of intelligence in Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022. Colonel John Hughes-Wilson analyses not just the events that conspire to cause disaster, but why crucial intelligence is so often ignored, misunderstood or spun by politicians and seasoned generals alike. This book analyses: how Hitler's intelligence staff misled him in a bid to outfox their Nazi Party rivals; the bureaucratic bungling behind Pearl Harbor; how in-fighting within American intelligence ensured they were taken off guard by the Viet Cong's 1968 Tet Offensive; how overconfidence, political interference and deception facilitated Egypt and Syria's 1973 surprise attack on Israel; why a handful of marines and a London taxicab were all Britain had to defend the Falklands; the mistaken intelligence that allowed Saddam Hussein to remain in power until the second Iraq War of 2003; the truth behind the US failure to run a terrorist warning system before the 9/11 WTC bombing; and how governments are increasingly pressurising intelligence agencies to 'spin' a party-political line.

John Hughes-Wilson (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Jonathan Keeble