Audiobooks narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Black and British: A Forgotten History Audiobook

"'[A] comprehensive and important history of black Britain . . . Written with a wonderful clarity of style and with great force and passion.' - Kwasi Kwarteng, Sunday Times In this vital re-examination of a shared history, historian and broadcaster David Olusoga tells the rich and revealing story of the long relationship between the British Isles and the people of Africa and the Caribbean. This edition, fully revised and updated, features a new chapter encompassing the Windrush scandal and the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, events which put black British history at the centre of urgent national debate. Black and British is vivid confirmation that black history can no longer be kept separate and marginalised. It is woven into the cultural and economic histories of the nation and it belongs to us all. Drawing on new genealogical research, original records, and expert testimony, Black and British reaches back to Roman Britain, the medieval imagination, Elizabethan 'blackamoors' and the global slave-trading empire. It shows that the great industrial boom of the nineteenth century was built on American slavery, and that black Britons fought at Trafalgar and in the trenches of both World Wars. Black British history is woven into the cultural and economic histories of the nation. It is not a singular history, but one that belongs to us all. Unflinching, confronting taboos, and revealing hitherto unknown scandals, Olusoga describes how the lives of black and white Britons have been entwined for centuries. Winner of the 2017 PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize. Winner of the Longman History Today Trustees' Award. A Waterstones History Book of the Year. Longlisted for the Orwell Prize. Shortlisted for the inaugural Jhalak Prize."

David Olusoga (Author), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brenton Brown

"The long-awaited follow up to Brixton Rock Juliet is consumed with guilt knowing that her half-brother, Brenton, grew up in children's homes while she received all her mother's love. She marries Clayton, a successful banker, to please her mother. But secretly Clayton has always suspected that there is something between Juliet and her half-brother. Meanwhile, Juliet and Brenton try to stay away from what they know is a forbidden love..."

Alex Wheatle (Author), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Girl, Balancing & Other Stories

"Random House presents the audiobook edition of Girl, Balancing & Other Stories, by Helen Dunmore, read by Emilia Fox, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Juliet Stevenson. Haunting, uplifting, beautiful: the final work from Helen Dunmore Helen Dunmore passed away in June 2017, leaving behind this remarkable collection of short stories. With her trademark imagination and gift for making history human, she explores the fragile ties between passion, love, family, friendship and grief, often through people facing turning points in their lives: A girl alone, stretching her meagre budget to feed herself, becomes aware that the young man who has come to see her may not be as friendly as he seems. Two women from very different backgrounds enjoy an unusual night out, finding solace in laughter and an unexpected friendship. A young man picks up his infant son and goes outside into a starlit night as he makes a decision that will inform the rest of his life. A woman imprisoned for her religion examines her faith in a seemingly literal and quietly original way. This brilliant collection of Helen Dunmore’s short fiction, replete with her penetrating insight into the human condition, is certain to delight and move all her listeners."

Helen Dunmore (Author), Emilia Fox, Juliet Stevenson, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ladybird Stories for Car Journeys

"Brought to you by Ladybird. A collection of original audio stories for little adventurers and bold travellers. These new stories are especially written for families to listen to in the car, at the airport, on the train or while they are on their way to their next adventure! This edition is filled with creative and engaging sound effects and is the perfect travel companion for little listeners everywhere. Narrated by award-winning voice actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Katie leung, best known for her portrayal of Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films. This audiobook is aimed at children aged 4+, for family listening and learning and development for young minds. Other audiobooks in the Ladybird Audio Original series include Ladybird Stories for Rainy Days, I'm Ready for Big School and the Ladybird Audio Adventures (P) Penguin Audio 2020"

Ladybird (Author), Katie Leung, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Malarkoi

"NATHAN TREEVES is dead, murdered by the Master of Mordew, his remains used to create the powerful occult weapon known as the Tinderbox. His companions, scattered, are making for Malarkoi - the city of the Mistress, the Master’s most powerful enemy. Hoping to find welcome there, or at least safety, they find neither... and instead become embroiled in a life and death struggle against assassins, demi-gods, and the cunning plans of the Mistress. Only Sirius, Nathan’s faithful dog, has not forgotten the boy. Bent on revenge, he returns to the shattered remains of Mordew, newly deformed into an impossible mountain, swarming with monsters. He senses something in the Manse at its pinnacle – the Master is there, grieving the loss of his manservant, Bellows – and in the ruins of the slums he finds a power capable of destroying his foe, if only he has the strength to use it."

Alex Pheby (Author), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mordew

"Welcome to Mordew – the first in a fantastic new trilogy from the Wellcome Book Prize-shortlisted writer, Alex Pheby. God lies defeated, his corpse hidden in the catacombs beneath Mordew. On the surface, the streets of this the sea-battered city are slick with the Living Mud and the half-formed, short-lived creatures it spawns - creatures that die and are swept down from the Merchant Quarter by the brooms of the workers and relentless rains, where they rot in the slums. There, a young boy called Nathan Treeves lives with his parents, eking out a meagre existence by picking treasures from the Living Mud - until one day his mother, desperate and starving, sells him to the mysterious Master of Mordew. The Master derives his power from feeding on the corpse of God. But Nathan, despite his fear and lowly station, has his own strength – and it is greater than the Master has ever known. Great enough to destroy everything the Master has built. If only Nathan can discover how to use it. So it is that the Master begins to scheme against him - and Nathan has to fight his way through the betrayals, secrets, and vendettas of the city where God was murdered, and darkness reigns… Experience this critically acclaimed masterpiece, perfect for fans of Philip Pullman and Ben Aaronovitch. 'Brilliant... Extraordinary... An extravagant and unnerving marvel.' The Guardian 'Beautifully rendered... Immersive, tense, full of action.' The Irish Times 'A treat... The world of Alex Pheby's fourth novel is dizzying... a beguiling splicing of Dickensian social satire and rackety steampunk fantasy. Written with combustible verve.' The Spectator 'Weird and wonderful, bleak and beautiful... [Mordew] is an extraordinarily vivid piece of world-building.' The Sunday Express 'A blend of Great Expectations and Gormenghast, with a cliffhanger ending that hints at a dynamic sequel.' Literary Review 'There are books that, the moment you enter their world, you know you are dealing with something special. ... Mordew reminded me of what it was that drew me to the Fantasy genre in the first place, that feeling of reading Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast novels, M. John Harrison's Viriconium stories, China Mieville's Bas Lag series. Here is Fantasy with a profound sense of the uncanny, Fantasy unafraid to embrace the grotesque and the strange, Fantasy that pushes at the edges of its metafictional relationship to the reader.' -- The Fantasy Hive 'Shades of Gormenghast... but with a wild magic all of its own.' -- The i, Summer fiction picks 'The corruption of power, and the consequences of inequality, are sharply played out in [this] nightmarish world... Beautifully rendered... Immersive, tense, full of action... [Mordew] may well prove to be a significant addition to the genre.' Sean Hewitt, The Irish Times 'Pheby infuses the pages with a crackling, animating magic. Charismatic... delicious... There are even hints of dragons. A serious book, for serious people.' Big Issue"

Alex Pheby (Author), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

"Born into slavery in Maryland, Frederick Douglass escaped bondage to become an abolitionist leader, orator and politician, and one of the most famous African-Americans of the 19th century. His autobiographical Narrative – an immediate bestseller in 1845 – was soon acknowledged as a pivotal text in the struggle against slavery. In this moving and beautifully written account, he lays bare a system that brutalised everyone it touched. Douglass tells of his childhood and youth under a succession of slaveholders, his secret efforts to gain an education, his dawning political consciousness and his determination to escape."

Frederick Douglass (Author), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

On The Edge and other stories: 11 BBC Radio Thrillers

"11 gripping thrillers from some of BBC Radio's best contemporary writers, including BAFTA- winner Neil McKay Inventive, intriguing and atmospheric, this eclectic selection of crime, mystery and psychological dramas immerses us in a series of diverse worlds where nothing is what it appears to be, and nobody is quite what they seem. Wide in scope and disparate in style, the stories range from a police procedural and a dark, dystopian eco-thriller to a shocking tale of modern-day slavery, based on real-life events. Created by a host of writers, including BAFTA Award-winning playwright Neil McKay, they are by turn chilling, surreal, haunting and darkly comic. Meet Maynard, desperate to turn his life around and escape a life of crime; teenagers Saurabh and Yusuf, who make a sinister discovery on Alderly Edge; Kit, struggling to regain her identity after an accident; and Tiger Girl Michelle, addicted to gambling in London's casinos. All will experience the unexpected, and find their lives changed beyond recognition... Among the casts are Suranne Jones, Lemn Sissay, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Fiona Shaw, Erin Doherty, Maggie Steed, Pauline McLynn, Ralph Ineson and Gary Lewis. Cast and credits All productions are Sparklab Productions for BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3 Produced by Melanie Harris and Executive Produced by Polly Thomas, Jeremy Mortimer & Jo Meek On the Edge Cast: Darren Kuppan, Renny Krupinski, Conor Alexander, Matt Andrews, Fiona Clarke, Jeffrey Longmore, Rachel Caffrey Written by Neil McKay. Directed by Melanie Harris. Ballad of the Burning Boy Cast: Suranne Jones, Lemn Sissay, Chris Finnegan, Phil Korbel Written by Lavinia Murray. Directed by Melanie Harris. Maynard Cast: Fraser Ayres, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Ellen Thomas, Chizzy Akudolu, Kellie Shirley, Martina Laird Written by Fraser Ayres. Directed by Kathy Burke. Noise Cast: Effie Woods, Jonas Khan, Sarah Waddell, Richard Teverson Written by Alex Bulmer. Produced and Directed by Polly Thomas The Disappearance of Mr Chan Cast: Jennifer Leong, Jeremy Ang Jones, Jamie Zubairi, Liz Sutherland-Lim, Michelle Yim Written by Simon Wu. Directed by David Tse. The Music Lesson Cast: Fiona Shaw, Erin Doherty Written by Hannah Silva. Directed by Susannah Tresilian. Ninety Minutes with Stanislavski Cast: Colin Stinton, Norah Lopez Holden, Maggie Steed, Matthew Marsh, Nicholas Woodeson, Bruce Alexander Written by Marcy Kahan. Directed by Melanie Harris The Crossing Cast: Pauline McLynn, Owen O'Neill, Laurence Dobiesz, Michael Colgan Written by Tara Hegarty. Directed by JP McKeown Tiger Girls Cast: Crystal Yu, Pik-Sen Lim, Adam J Bernard, Liz Sutherland-Lim, Lobo Chan Written by Amy Ng. Directed by Shan Ng The Saudi Prince and the Pauper Cast: Ralph Ineson, Yousef Kerkour, Lloyd Thomas, Mary Doherty Written by Neil McKay. Directed by Melanie Harris The Last of England Cast: Anthony O'Donnell, Gary Lewis, Dan Gordon, George Bukhari, Faye McKeever Written by Neil McKay. Directed by Melanie Harris © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alex Bulmer, Amy Ng, Fraser Ayres, Hannah Silva, Lavinia Murray, Marcy Kahan, Neil Mckay, Simon Wu, Tara Hegarty (Author), Chizzy Akudolu, Erin Doherty, Fiona Shaw, Fraser Ayres, Full Cast, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Lemn Sissay, Maggie Steed, Suranne Jones (Narrator)

Audiobook

Rex Obano: Five BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramas: Lover’s Rock, The Moors of England and more

"A selection of contemporary dramas from leading Black playwright Rex Obano - plus bonus programme Rex Obano has written for the stage, television, radio and film. His plays have twice been shortlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award and he received the Roland Rees Bursary in 2018. He is part of the writing team for the BBC Radio series Faith, Hope and Glory and his TV credits include Shakespeare & Hathaway. Included here are five of his acclaimed dramas, as well as a fascinating discussion programme, Black Tudors. Lover's Rock - 1981. Politicised by the legacy of the New Cross Fire, in which 13 people died, young Black pacifist Ben turns to activism. Alongside Monroe, an aspiring producer of 'Lover's Rock' reggae, he finds himself at the sharp end of the Brixton Riots... Kobna Holdbrook-Smith stars as Ben, with Tobi Bakare as Monroe. City College - When a university professor of Black history makes a controversial statement suggesting slavery never happened, a maelstrom ensues. Threatened with reprisals, he is forced to confront his hidden past. Rex Obano's compelling drama about free speech stars Cyril Nri and Pippa Nixon. As Innocent As You Can Get - Nathaniel and Tunde depend on each other - one guilty outside prison the other innocent within, one a prison psychologist, the other a prisoner convicted under 'joint enterprise'. Freddie Fox and Paapa Essiedu star in this powerful urban drama, told in iambic pentameter rhyming couplets. Burned to Nothing - Matthew has returned to his birthplace in Nigeria, to find his missing teenage son. But the police are also searching for Keith, who has become caught up in the politics of a turbulent land - a land he has fallen in love with. This gripping thriller stars Lucian Msamati, Jude Akuwudike, Lorraine Burroughs and David Ajala. The Moors of England - It is the 16th Century, and Sir Robert Cecil is writing a proclamation to expel 'blackamoors' from England. So Cecil's servant Fortunatus, a Black Muslim refugee, takes drastic action to change the course of history... Ray Fearon and John Heffernan star in this captivating drama about ambition and anarchy, introduced by historian and author Miranda Kaufmann. Black Tudors - Rex Obano and Miranda Kaufmann discuss the history behind The Moors of England, exploring the genesis of the play and the real-life experiences of Black migrants in Elizabethan England. Cast and credits Written by Rex Obano Lover's Rock Directed by David Hunter. First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 11 November 2012 City College Directed by Femi Elufowoju, jr. Rex Obano would like to dedicate City College to the actor Seun Shote, who died in 2021. First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 10 October 2021 As Innocent As You Can Get Directed by David Hunter. First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 7 February 2016 Burned to Nothing Directed by Femi Elufowoju, jr. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 January 2011 The Moors of England Directed by David Hunter. First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 4 November 2018 Black Tudors With Rex Obano and Dr Miranda Kaufmann First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 4 November 2018 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Rex Obano (Author), Cyril Nri, Freddie Fox, Full Cast, John Heffernan, Jude Akuwudike, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Lucian Msamati, Paapa Essiedu, Pippa Nixon, Ray Fearon, Tobi Bakare (Narrator)

Audiobook

That Reminds Me: Winner of the Desmond Elliott Prize 2020

"Brought to you by Penguin. WINNER OF THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE 2020 'A dreamy, impressionistic offering of reassembled fragments of memories emerging through the misty beauty of a deliciously individualistic poetic sensibility . . . remind[s] us of what has been missing from British poetry. I can't tell you how impressed I was and how much I enjoyed reading this stunning book.' Bernadine Evaristo, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other 'Heartbreaking, important and original.' Christie Watson, author of THE LANGUAGE OF KINDNESS 'Derek Owusu's writing is honest, moving, delicate, but tough. Once you lock on to his words, it is hard to break eye contact. A beautiful meditation on childhood, coming of age, the now, and the media. This work is heartfelt.' Benjamin Zephaniah 'When writing is this honest, it soars. What an incredible use of language and truth.' Yrsa Daley-Ward Anansi, your four gifts raised to nyame granted you no power over the stories I tell... This is the story of K. K is sent into care before a year marks his birth. He grows up in fields and woods, and he is happy, he thinks. When K is eleven, the city reclaims him. He returns to an unknown mother and a part-time father, trading the fields for flats and a community that is alien to him. Slowly, he finds friends. Eventually, he finds love. He learns how to navigate the city. But as he grows, he begins to realise that he needs more than the city can provide. He is a man made of pieces. Pieces that are slowly breaking apart That Reminds Me is the story of one young man, from birth to adulthood, told in fragments of memory. It explores questions of identity, belonging, addiction, sexuality, violence, family and religion. It is a deeply moving and completely original work of literature from one of the brightest British writers of today. 'A singular achievement.' Michael Donkor, Guardian 'This story is brave and moving.' Kate Kellaway, Observer 'Honest and beautiful.' Guy Gunaratne, author of IN OUR MAD AND FURIOUS CITY"

Derek Owusu (Author), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Complete Earthsea Series & The Left Hand of Darkness: 3 BBC Radio full cast dramatisations

"The dazzling BBC Radio adaptations of Ursula K. Le Guin's famous fantasy saga and her ground-breaking science fiction masterpiece - plus bonus material Ursula K. Le Guin was one of the most revered and influential writers of the 20th Century. Her 'Earthsea' books have sold millions of copies and been translated into numerous languages, while her trailblazing novel The Left Hand of Darkness was a landmark in feminist science fiction and ranks among the greatest SF novels of all time. This BBC collection brings together the magical radio retellings of both these seminal classics. Set on an immense archipelago where magic is a part of life, Earthsea tells the stories of Ged, a young, reckless wizard, and Tenar, taken from her home as a child to become Arha, guardian priestess of the ominous Tombs of Atuan. Meeting for the first time deep within the tombs, their destinies become intertwined, and they unite to bring peace to their troubled world. Years later, their paths have diverged - but when Ged returns to Tenar's island on a dragon's back, they are caught up in an epic battle for the future of Earthsea itself. Starring James McArdle, Shaun Dooley and Robert Glenister as Ged, and Aysha Kala, Vineeta Rishi and Nina Wadia as Tenar with Toby Jones and Noma Dumezweni. The Left Hand of Darkness takes place on an alien world in the grip of an Ice Age. Genly Ai has been sent from Earth on a mission to persuade Gethen to join a planetary union, the Ekumen. But his task is fraught with difficulty. For this is a world whose people have no fixed gender, and Genly's encounters with the natives are marked by mutual incomprehension and mistrust. In coming to terms with their otherness and their sameness Genly must let go of his fixed ideas about identity, and embark on a dangerous journey across the snow plains with his only ally, First Minister Estraven. The stakes are high to save a world from war. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith stars as Genly, with Lesley Sharp as Estraven. Also included Ursula Le Guin at 85, in which novelist Naomi Alderman interviews Le Guin, with contributions from Neil Gaiman, David Mitchell and Karen Joy Fowler. Production credits Written by Ursula K.Le Guin Adapted by Judith Adams Earthsea Ged - James McArdle/Shaun Dooley/Robert Glenister Tenar - Aysha Kala/Vineeta Rishi/Nina Wadia Young Ged - Kasper Hilton-Hille Young Tenar - Nishi Malde Ogion - Paul Hilton/Michael Bertenshaw Manan - Zubin Varla Cob - Toby Jones Nilgu - Noma Dumezweni Other Cast: Souad Faress, David Hounslow, Adam Thomas-Wright, Mark Edel-Hunt, Jessica Turner, Lucy Hutchinson, Stephen Critchlow, Sam Dale, Ayesha Antoine, Richard Linnell, Jack Kane, David Acton, Chris Pavlo, Will Featherstone, Jude Akudwudike, Laura Elphinstone, Rosie Boore, Elizabeth Counsell, John Lightbody, Ryan Early, Stephen Hogan, Sean Murray, Emma Handy, Lauren Cornelius, Kerry Gooderson, Ryan Whittle, Steven Robertson, Joseph Ayre, Narinder Samra, Tom Vanson, Sabrina Sandhu Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko Original music by Jon Nicholls. Sound design by Caleb Knightley. First broadcast BBC Radio 4 Extra, 27 April-5 May 2015 (Series 1), 15-22 October 2018 (Series 2) The Left Hand of Darkness Genly Ai - Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Estraven - Lesley Sharp Argaven - Toby Jones Other Cast: Louise Brealey, Noma Dumezweni, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh, Stephen Critchlow, David Acton, David Hounslow, Rhiannon Neads, Sam Dale, Ayesha Antoine Directed by Allegra McIlroy. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12-19 April 2015 Ursula Le Guin at 85 Presented by Naomi Alderman With Ursula K. Le Guin, David Mitchell, Neil Gaiman and Karen Joy Fowler Reader: Ayesha Antoine Produced by Allegra McIlroy. First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 April 2015 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ursula.K.Le Guin (Author), Adjoa Andoh, Full Cast, James Mcardle, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Lesley Sharp, Noma Dumezweni, Robert Glenister, Sam Dale, Toby Jones (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Greatest Raid: St Nazaire, 1942: The Heroic Story of Operation Chariot

"Brought to you by Penguin. FROM THE AUTHOR OF BRIDGE OF SPIES: A dramatic and colourful new account of the most daring British commando raid of World War Two In the darkest months of the Second World War, Churchill approved what seemed to many like a suicide mission. Under orders to attack the St Nazaire U-boat base on the Atlantic seaboard, British commandos undertook 'the greatest raid of all', turning an old destroyer into a live bomb and using it to ram the gates of a Nazi stronghold. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded -- more than in any similar operation. Drawing on official documents, interviews, unknown accounts and the astonished reactions of French civilians and German forces, The Greatest Raid recreates in cinematic detail the hours in which the 'Charioteers' fought and died, from Lt Gerard Brett, the curator at the V & A, to 'Bertie' Burtinshaw, who went into battle humming There'll Always be an England, and from Lt Stuart Chant, who set the fuses with 90 seconds to escape, to the epic solo reconnaissance of the legendary Times journalist Capt Micky Burn. Unearthing the untold human stories of Operation Chariot, Bridge of Spies author Giles Whittell reveals it to be a fundamentally misconceived raid whose impact and legacy was secured by astonishing bravery. © Giles Whittell 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Giles Whittell (Author), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith