Audiobooks narrated by Juliet Stevenson

"'It is a pleasant world we live in, sir, a very pleasant world. There are bad people in it, but if there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.' One of Dickens's most beloved novels, and even revered by Queen Victoria, The Old Curiosity Shop was so popular that its arrival to New York when first published prompted readers to storm the wharf where the ship was due to dock. Serialised from 1840, The Old Curiosity Shop follows the tale of kind and innocent Little Nell, and her grandfather – both residents to a shop selling eccentric gifts and antiques. Determined to provide a secure future for Nell, her grandfather takes up gambling, and soon becomes indebted to the evil-hearted Daniel Quilp, a malicious moneylender. Their shop is seized by Quilp, and Nell and her grandfather are forced to flee London, facing hardship and poverty in the countryside. A deeply heartbreaking narrative and a classic Dickensian story, The Old Curiosity Shop movingly explores the naivety of innocence and corruption of greed. This audiobook edition is beautifully narrated by Juliet Stevenson. Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the twentieth century, critics and scholars had recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are widely read, performed and adapted today."

Charles Dickens (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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Capital Christie: Twelve London Mysteries

"Murder, mystery and majesty combine in this new Special Edition hardback of the Queen of Crime's very best short stories set in London. Agatha Christie is recognized throughout the world as the writer of remarkable country house mysteries and ingenious murders set in faraway countries. Yet many of her books and stories were set in the city she new best and for many years called home: London. From Poirot's flat in Whitehaven Mansions to Scotland Yard, the Old Bailey to Harley Street, Lyons Tea Rooms to the Savoy, Paddington Station to the London Underground, Agatha Christie knew and loved London, and mined it for its rich seam of storytelling opportunities. 100 years after the first publication of 'Traitor Hands', the short story that became 'Witness for the Prosecution', this collection includes this original thriller, along with eleven other London mysteries featuring all the Christie faithfuls: Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Tommy and Tuppence, Harley Quin, Parker Pyne and Ariadne Oliver. Join Christie’s iconic characters on their adventures around London: The Affair at the Victory Ball The Tuesday Night Club The Case of the Discontented Soldier The Adventure of the Clapham Cook Traitor Hands A Fairy in the Flat The Kidnapped Prime Minister The Listerdale Mystery The Case of the Caretaker The Lonely God The Sign in the Sky The Adventure of the Cheap Flat"

Agatha Christie (Author), Christopher Lee, Ciaran Saward, David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Judith Boyd, Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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75 Men, A Shipwreck and Me

"Seventy-Five Men, A Shipwreck and Me is the true story of a daring race to recover a treasure trove of silver from a torpedoed wreck lying one-and-a-half miles beneath the Indian Ocean. The quest unites seventy-five seasoned seafarers, each skilled in navigating the ocean’s mysteries. However, they face an unexpected challenge: adapting to Catherine, an English woman aboard their converted drill ship. “Catherine Bailey’s true story of a salvage expedition to the Indian Ocean is a vivid account of her own experience aboard a salvage vessel, the only woman in a large crew of hard men hungry to locate a vast fortune of sunken treasure. Told with energy, wit and unflappable composure, Bailey’s account of the voyage is by turns exhilarating, comic and fraught with tension. A marvellous account of an extraordinary adventure.” – Patrick McGrath, author of Asylum and Martha Peake."

Catherine Bailey (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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Jenny Quinn’s Rise to Fame

"Brought to you by Penguin. Mrs Quinn is the unlikely star of Britain's favourite baking show, but could her newfound stardom cause her biggest secret to unravel? Jennifer Quinn has a secret. Her love of baking has just won her a spot as a contestant on a primetime TV show. It's only the second time in fifty-nine years that she's kept something from her beloved husband Bernard. She's about to be whisked into an unfamiliar world of cameras, timed challenges and celebrity judges. She could be in with a chance of being crowned the best baker in Britain. But, as Mrs Quinn's quiet ambitions turn into unexpected stardom, the other secret she's been keeping is in danger of resurfacing. It was supposed to stay hidden forever. Will Mrs Quinn rise to the challenge? Or, will her success become a recipe for disaster? 'As delicious and comforting as a freshly baked sponge. A most, heartwarming story and delightful debut' Ruth Jones, bestselling author of Love Untold ‘Calling all Great British Baking Show fans: this charming novel will fill the cake-shaped hole in your heart with the kind of feel-good suspense we love from the likes of Paul Hollywood’ Good Housekeeping 'A gorgeous, gorgeous book. Funny and sad in equal measure, the humour in Mrs Quinn's Rise to Fame is razor sharp and the sadness incredibly poignant . . . a fabulous, ultimately joyful read' Jennie Godfrey Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things 'Bake Off fans, don’t miss this! Delectable food writing and a quietly loveable heroine' Daily Mail 'An absolute delight. A lovely novel full of warmth, courage and heart, Jenny Quinn is a heroine you’ll cheer for every step of the way' A J Pearce, Sunday Times bestselling author of Dear Mrs Pearce © Olivia Ford 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Olivia Ford (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress and Dr Crippen

"Brought to you by Penguin. BY THE AUTHOR OF MULTI-AWARD-WINNING #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: THE FIVE, THE WOMEN KILLED BY JACK THE RIPPER An epic examination of the historical true-crime story of infamous wife-murderer Dr Crippen in Edwardian England, brought to justice by an extraordinary group of strong women No murderer should ever be the keeper of their victim's story … On 1 February, 1910, vivacious musichall performer, Belle Elmore, suddenly vanished from her north London home, causing alarm among her circle of female friends, the entertainers of the Music Hall Ladies’ Guild who demanded an immediate investigation. They could not have known what they would provoke: the unearthing of a gruesome secret, followed by a fevered manhunt for the prime suspect: Belle’s husband, medical fraudster, Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen. Hiding in the shadows of this evergreen tale is Crippen’s typist and lover, Ethel Le Neve – was she really just ‘an innocent young girl’ in thrall to a powerful older man as so many people have since reported? In this epic examination of one of the most infamous murders of the twentieth century, prizewinning social historian Hallie Rubenhold gives voice to those who have never properly been heard – the women. Featuring a carnival cast of eccentric entertainers, glamorous lawyers, zealous detectives, medics and liars, STORY OF A MURDER is meticulously researched and multi-layered, offering the reader an electrifying snapshot of Britain and America at the dawn of the modern era. 'A unique combination of sleuthing, storytelling and compassion' Lucy Worsley 'Under her pen, history comes alive' Professor Dame Sue Black 'An exceptional achievement. I was gripped from the very first page' The Secret Barrister 'Reads like a great thriller. I inhaled it' Bella Mackie 'Fascinating. It's about time Belle became the hero of her own story' Val McDermid 'As compelling as any crime drama' S J Parris ‘I couldn't put it down' Bonnie Garmus 'I had my hand over my wide-open mouth' Rachel Joyce 'Takes us beyond the world of Dr Crippen into the lives impacted by him and the society in which he moved. Terrific' Ian Rankin 'Compelling to the very last page' Denise Mina © Hallie Rubenhold 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Hallie Rubenhold (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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Freedom: Memoirs 1954 - 2021

"'A great accomplishment . . . A wonderful reflection of an extraordinary sweep of history' Barack Obama Timely, intimate and important, the long-awaited memoirs from one of the most influential leaders of our times For 16 years, Angela Merkel was Chancellor of Germany. She led the country through numerous crises, shaping both Germany and international politics with her actions and attitudes. In her memoirs, co-written with her long-time political advisor Beate Baumann, she reflects on her life in two German states - 35 years in the German Democratic Republic, 35 years in reunited Germany. More intimately than ever before, she talks about her childhood, youth, and studies in the GDR and the dramatic year of 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell and her political life began. She also shares recollections and insights from her meetings and conversations with the world's most powerful people. Discussing significant national, European, and international turning points, she shows how the decisions were made that shaped our times. Her book offers a unique insight into the inner workings of power - and is a compelling plea for freedom."

Angela Merkel (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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Every Valley: The Story of Handel’s Messiah

"Brought to you by Penguin. Every Valley is a glittering narrative history of intertwined lives that tells the story behind one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, Handel's Messiah. London - Dublin, 1741-42. An actress mired in scandal plans her escape from an abusive husband. A penniless sea captain sets out to rescue the city’s abandoned infants. An African Muslim and former captive in the colonies becomes a celebrity. A grieving political dissident seeks release from his torment. And a great composer to kings – George Frideric Handel – now ill and straining to keep an audience’s attention, faces a decision that will secure his place in history. Evoking a pivotal moment at the birth of modernity, a time of fear, conspiracy and uprising, and featuring some of the most unusual and brilliant personalities of the eighteenth century, Every Valley is a cinematic and moving account of hope in the darkness and the entangled lives that shaped a masterpiece. ‘A delicious history of music, power, love, genius, royalty and adventure. Unforgettable.’ SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE ‘A mesmerizing journey through one of the most fascinating and creative moments in human history’ AMANDA FOREMAN ‘A book of power and glory, brimming with emotion and dazzling in its reach’ STACY SCHIFF 'An absolute delight' PETER FRANKOPAN © Charles King 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024"

Charles King (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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Persian Pictures

"In 1892, Gertrude Bell visited Persia (now Iran) shortly after the appointment of her uncle, Sir Frank Lascelles, as British minister in Tehran. Three years later came Persian Pictures, Gertrude Bell’s first written work, which presents a series of vivid sketches of Persian culture and society at the time. Bell explores various cities and landscapes, and encounters local characters along the way, providing a unique perspective on Persian life and customs. While much of what is depicted in Persian Pictures has long since changed, Bell’s writing is a valuable account of the anachronisms and inconsistencies of the dying dynasty of medieval Persia. Her depiction of Muharram – the month of mourning for Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed – and Ramadan, display a mind finely attuned to the differences and similarities between Islam and Christianity, and East and West. Persian Pictures is both travelogue and meditation – an elegiac and beautifully observed account of a spellbinding land."

Gertrude Bell (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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The Beauty of Falling: A Life in Pursuit of Gravity

"This audiobook narrated by Juliet Stevenson shares the story of a world-renowned physicist who seeks gravity's true nature and finds wisdom in embracing its force in her life Claudia de Rham has been playing with gravity her entire life. As a diver, experimenting with her body's buoyancy in the Indian Ocean. As a pilot, soaring over Canadian waterfalls on dark mornings before beginning her daily scientific research. As an astronaut candidate, dreaming of the experience of flying free from Earth's pull. And as a physicist, discovering new sides to gravity's irresistible personality by exploring the limits of Einstein's general theory of relativity. In The Beauty of Falling, de Rham shares captivating stories about her quest to gain intimacy with gravity, to understand both its feeling and fundamental nature. Her life's pursuit led her from a twist of fate that snatched away her dream of becoming an astronaut to an exhilarating breakthrough at the very frontiers of gravitational physics. While many of us presume to know gravity quite well, the brightest scientists in history have yet to fully answer the simple question: what exactly is gravity? de Rham reveals how great minds—from Newton and Einstein to Stephen Hawking, Andrea Ghez, and Roger Penrose—led her to the edge of knowledge about this fundamental force. She found hints of a hidden side to gravity at the particle level where Einstein's theory breaks down, leading her to develop a new theory of 'massive gravity.' de Rham shares how her life's path turned from a precipitous fall to an exquisite flight toward the discovery of something entirely new about our surprising, gravity-driven universe."

Claudia De Rham (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Nick Payne: Constellations, Elegy & More: Five BBC Radio Full-Cast Productions

"BBC Radio adaptations of Nick Payne's finest works, brought together on audio for the first time - plus bonus features Nick Payne is a world-renowned playwright and screenwriter. He won the George Devine Award for his first major play If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet, and Constellations won the Evening Standard Award for Best Play. Both were performed on Broadway with Jake Gyllenhaal. This collection contains Constellations and Elegy, his two acclaimed plays exploring science, time and love, with new introductions by Nick Payne himself. Also included are three dramas specially written for BBC Radio. Constellations - Marianne and Roland meet at a party, hit it off, and go for a drink. Or do they? Does their love story unfold, or is it tragically cut short? In a quantum multiverse, even the smallest change can significantly alter the course we take - so there are infinite possibilities for heartbreak or for hope... Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and George MacKay. Elegy - Lorna and Carrie met in later life and got married. But now they are facing the possibility of their relationship disintegrating in the most painful way, and Carrie must make a devastating choice between love and survival. Starring Juliet Stevenson, Deborah Findlay and Marilyn Nnadebe. The Day We Caught the Train - David is coming for the day, and Sally has planned everything meticulously. But the weather, a problematic car, a problematic cat and Harold conspire to thwart her plans... Academy Award-winner Olivia Colman stars in this quietly intense play about a woman beset by one problem after another. Being Alone Doesn't Have to Mean Being Lonely - Trying to pinpoint the exact moment he fell in love, David uses 'the machine' to revisit his old memories. But when it malfunctions, it catapults us into the story of a couple attempting to make sense of their relationship. Starring Stuart McLoughlin and Alex Tregear. Happiness - Married couple Karen and Richard attempt to alleviate their respective unhappiness with a variety of far-flung undertakings. But can they find a solution closer to home? Clare Corbett stars as Karen, with Bryan Dick as Richard. Text copyright © Nick Payne 2011 (The Day We Caught the Train, Being Alone Doesn't Have to Mean Being Lonely), 2012 (Constellations), 2014 (Happiness), 2016 (Elegy) Cast and credits Written by Nick Payne Constellations Marianne - Gugu Mbatha-Raw Roland - George MacKay Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 28 March 2021 Elegy Lorna - Juliet Stevenson Carrie - Deborah Findlay Miriam - Marilyn Nnadebe Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 28 March 2021 The Day We Caught the Train Sally - Olivia Colman David - Ralph Ineson Anna - Nishi Malde Harold - John Rowe Helen - Jane Whittenshaw Waiter - Simon Bubb Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko Studio Managers: Caleb Knightley and Keith Graham Edited by: Anne Bunting Production Co-Ordinators: Nicole Fitzpatrick and Matthew Mills First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 July 2011 Being Alone Doesn't Have to Mean Being Lonely Jim - Stuart McLoughlin Sarah - Alex Tregear Directed by James Robinson First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 April 2011 Happiness Karen - Clare Corbett Richard - Bryan Dick With Susan Brown, Karl Johnson, Roslyn Hill and Monty d'Inverno Directed and produced by Sasha Yevtushenko First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 21 December 2014 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Nick Payne (Author), Alex Tregear, Bryan Dick, Clare Corbett, Deborah Findlay, Full Cast, George Mackay, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, John Rowe, Juliet Stevenson, Marilyn Nnadebe, Olivia Colman, Ralph Ineson, Simon Bubb (Narrator)

Audiobook

Orlando

"Published in 1928, Orlando is a fictional biography that spans several centuries and follows the protagonist, Orlando, an Elizabethan nobleman who undergoes a mysterious gender transformation. The novel explores themes of gender identity, fluidity and the constraints imposed by societal norms. It challenges traditional notions of gender roles and raises questions about the nature of identity and the passage of time. Orlando is widely regarded as one of Virginia Woolf's most innovative and influential works. It is known for its lyrical prose and experimental narrative style, blending historical fiction, fantasy and satire. The book is often celebrated for its contribution to feminist literature."

Virginia Woolf (Author), Juliet Stevenson (Narrator)

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Craig Brown: A BBC Radio Collection: This is Craig Brown, 1966 & All That, As Told to Craig Brown an

"'The wittiest writer in Britain today' Stephen Fry Columnist, critic and award-winning author Craig Brown is well known for his Private Eye parodies lampooning politicians and celebrities. He has written for numerous newspapers, both under his own name and as his alter egos Wallace Arnold and Bel Littlejohn. Collected here are Brown's four fantastic radio series, plus two bonus programmes in which he discusses his life and work. Mixing satire, social observation and nonsense, This Is Craig Brown is a hilarious selection of work taken from his vast back catalogue of diaries, parodies and general silliness. A combination of monologues, dramatisations, verse and music, these five episodes see him examining The Arts, Celebrity, Travel, Communications and Hallucinations, aided by a stellar cast including Rory Bremner, Harry Enfield, Edward Fox and John Humphrys. 1966 and All That is Craig Brown's four-part satirical history of Britain, ranging from the 1920s and 30s to the 1980s and 90s. It sees him investigating how DH Lawrence of Arabia wrote Lady Chatterbox's Llama, exploring the era of 'Flour Power' and looking back on the age when Neil Knock-Knock and John Minor made the political headlines. Narrated by stars including Eleanor Bron, Joss Ackland, Ewan Bailey and Margaret Cabourn-Smith, it won a Sony Gold Award for Best Comedy in 2007. In As Told To Craig Brown, the satirist offers up more inspired parody, mockery and pastiche, as he romps through anything that's newsworthy and a good many things that aren't. Narrated by Juliet Stevenson and Steve Wright, these six episodes feature a host of top comedians and impressionists including Ronni Ancona, Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod and Sally Grace. In the crosshairs of satire are Tuscan holidays, CCTV, the Jane Austen industry and busty starlets. Craig Brown's Lost Diaries finds Brown dipping into the private lives of public figures from the 1960s to the present day. Over the course of six episodes, he covers a whole year of satire, from the musings of great thinkers like Barack Obama and Barbara Cartland in January and February, to the journals of Germaine Greer and Nigella Lawson in November and December. Voicing these, and many other, celebrities are Jan Ravens, Alistair McGowan, Lewis McLeod, Ewan Bailey, Margaret Cabourn-Smith and Dolly Wells. And in Work in Progress and Desert Island Discs, we hear from Brown himself as he describes writing the Private Eye diary and his 'Way of the World' column for The Daily Telegraph, and shares the soundtrack of his life with Kirsty Young. Credits Part 1: This Is Craig Brown Produced by Simon Nicholls First broadcast BBC Radio 4: The Arts 3 Mar 2004 Celebrity 10 Mar 2004 Travel 17 Mar 2004 Communications 24 Mar 2004 Hallucinations 31 Mar 2004 Part 2: 1966 and All That Produced by Victoria Lloyd First broadcast BBC Radio 4: The 1920s & 30s 8 Sept 2006 The 1940s 15 Sept 2006 The 1960s 22 Sept 2006 The 1980s & 90s 29 Sept 2006 Part 3: As Told To Craig Brown Producer: Victoria Lloyd First broadcast BBC Radio 4: Episode 1 21 Apr 2008 Episode 2 28 Apr 2008 Episode 3 5 May 2008 Episode 4 12 May 2008 Episode 5 19 May 2008 Episode 6 26 May 2008 Part 4: Craig Brown's Lost Diaries Producer: Victoria Lloyd First broadcast BBC Radio 4: January & February 4 Oct 2010 March & April 11 Oct 2010 May & June 18 Oct 2010 July & August 25 Oct 2010 September & October 1 Nov 2010 November & October 8 Nov 2010 Part 5: Behind the Scenes with Craig Brown Work in Progress Producer: Fiona McLean First broadcast BBC Radio 3: 21-25 May 2001 Desert Island Discs Presenter: Kirsty Young Producer: Leanne Buckle First broadcast BBC Radio 4: 12 Aug 2012 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd."

Craig Brown (Author), Alistair Mcgowan, Barry Norman, Craig Brown, Dolly Wells, Ewan Bailey, Harry Enfield, Jan Ravens, John Humphrys, Juliet Stevenson, Lewis Mcleod, Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Rory Bremner, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Juliet Stevenson