Audiobooks narrated by Leighton Pugh

"The explosive sequel to the bestselling The Turing Protocol asks a chilling question: what happens when the power to rewrite the past becomes a weapon? Nautilus is no ordinary machine. Created by Alan Turing during World War II, it can send messages eight weeks back in time—a discovery so dangerous that Turing established strict protocols for its use. Only members of his bloodline can operate it, and only to prevent global catastrophe. For decades, the rules have held. Until now. Annabelle Turing has inherited custody of Nautilus, unaware that the man she trusts most—her husband, Edward—has secrets of his own. Edward sees the machine not as a safeguard for humanity, but as the key to unimaginable wealth, influence and control. But he isn’t the only one hunting Nautilus. Across the globe, shadowy factions are closing in, determined to exploit the machine’s power to manipulate markets, topple governments and reshape history itself. As rival forces converge, Annabelle is thrust into a deadly race against time to protect the one invention capable of saving the world—or destroying it forever. Because once the past can be controlled, no future is safe."

Nick Croydon (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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This Is Life: From the acclaimed author of the international bestseller The Universe in Your Hand

"'An entertaining, expert guide to the precarious, miraculous and wondrous journey to where we are now' - Dara Ó Briain 'What a fun book! Like having a chat with a friendly scientist over a coffee' - Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs What is life? How did it first appear? Where else in the universe might we find it? In This Is Life, acclaimed science communicator and Stephen Hawking's former Ph.D. student Christophe Galfard takes you on a wonder-filled journey to look for the origins - and the meaning - of life. From how we know life must have had a beginning, to the extreme evolutionary turns that saw Earth's species grow shields and weapons to fight wars that lasted millennia, This is Life tells the story of how the visionary discoveries of the past few decades have allowed us to understand what we, humans, and all other living organisms really are. Through brilliant storytelling and delightful humour, Galfard makes the secrets of the living world accessible to all. This Is Life will transform the way you see the world, and your place in it. 'A gorgeous, glorious romp through the sciences' - David Tong, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge"

Christophe Galfard (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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The August Coup: The Destruction of the Soviet Union and the Making of New Russia 1985-1991

"'A must-read for those fascinated by the decline and fall of the USSR and the emergence of a new Russia' - Mark Galeotti, author of Forged in War 'Finely argued, carefully researched, and beautifully written' - Norman M. Naimark, author of Stalin and the Fate of Europe From the acclaimed author of Kremlin Winter and Blood on the Snow, a dramatic and expertly researched account of an extraordinary moment in Russia's recent history: the August Coup. In the summer of 1991, a group of eight plotters came together to overthrow Mikhail Gorbachëv, then the president of the USSR. These ruthless conspirators, who occupied positions of high office, declared a state of emergency to restore stability through authoritarian rule. The reality turned out to be a shambolic failure which hastened the fall of the USSR and a pivotal shift from communism to capitalism. Beginning with a minute-by-minute re-enactment of Gorbachëv's capture in his holiday home in Crimea, Robert Service follows the plot from its inception to its humiliating collapse. The troubling side effects of Gorbachëv's well-meant reforms in the Soviet Union - business fraud, government corruption, organized crime and interethnic conflict - increased exponentially, and a New Russia was born. Fathered by Boris Yeltsin, it brought lamentably less benefit to the Russian economy or its people than he had promised. Linking the years from the coup itself to today's Russia under Vladimir Putin, The August Coup is a thoroughly compelling and original chronicle of a moment that changed Russian and global politics forever."

Robert Service (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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Coventry: Thursday, 14 November 1940

"Bloomsbury presents Coventry by Frederick Taylor, read by Leighton Pugh On 14 November 1940 the historic city of Coventry was subjected to the longest and most devastating air raid Britain had yet witnessed. After eleven hours of relentless bombardment by the German Luftwaffe, residents emerged from shelters to find their city obliterated and unrecognisable. Yet the impact of the attack amounted to far more than physical ruin and loss of life. The Coventry raid marked a crucial moment in the Second World War, providing America with the final incentive needed to join forces and Britain with a ‘blueprint for obliteration’ to be altered and turned against Germany. Seventy-six years on, acclaimed historian Frederick Taylor exposes the real impact of the Coventry bombings, drawing on extensive archive material and a mass of previously unreleased BBC eye witness recordings. He exposes the truth behind the conspiracy theories and lays out in chilling detail how this momentous night of destruction changed the face of modern aerial warfare. C 2015 Frederick Taylor"

Frederick Taylor (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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The Fortune of the Rougons

"Émile Zola’s The Fortune of the Rougons (1871), the opening title in the series of twenty novels dealing with the Rougon-Macquart dynasty, explores the origins of the family against the backdrop of the 1851 coup d’état. Major themes across the series have their catalyst here: ambition, greed and psychological flaws are shown to pass from one generation to the next as a result of heredity and social environment. Zola contrasts the cynical opportunism of the Rougons with the romantic idealism of his younger characters. Class tensions are probed as the social-climbing Rougons manoeuvre between their peasant origins and their bourgeois aspirations. This joins the Naxos AudioBooks series of Zola novels read by ‘bright light’ Leighton Pugh, who is consistently praised for his meticulous, intelligent and empathetic approach to Zola’s writing."

Émile Zola (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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The Baltic Sea: A Geopolitical History

"The Baltic Sea is more than an inland sea – it is a historic geopolitical stage. From maritime travel in the Viking era toa NATO-dominated region, this brackish inland sea has been a lifeline for people and countries in northern Europe. The Baltic Sea has served as a hub for economic and political relations – with the dominance of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages, the Great Power Battles between Sweden, Poland-Lithuania and Russia, and the dramatic shifts in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars as well as two World Wars and the Cold War. But the Baltic Sea is also a place of cooperation. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the region has been characterized by integration and growth – a development that once again is being challenged by new geopolitical tensions. How will the future be affected by energy flows, climate change and military strategies? In this comprehensive anthology, leading scholars in history, political science, international relations and other subjects are brought together to examine the driving forces that have formed the Baltic Sea region from the 13th century until today."

Axel Boltenberg, Bogusław Dybaś, Brendan Simms, Christian Bueger, Henrik Meinander, Hugo Bromley, Izabela Surwillo, Johan Rönnby, Jonas Kjellén, Jurgita Verbickiené, Justyna Wubs Mrozewicz, Kjell Engelbrekt, Kristian Gerner, Kurt Villads Jensen, Magnus Petersson, Martin Hall, Mats Hallenberg, Morten Nordhagen Ottosen, Peter Haldén, Peter Krönvik, Peteris Vanags, Rasmus Glenthoj, Rolf Fabricius Warming, Tobias Boestad, Tuomas Forsberg, Veronika Slakaityte (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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Good and Evil: 12 Philosophers on How to Live

"*Introduced by Rory Stewart* What makes a person good? What does it mean to be evil? And what does it tell us about being human? Philosophers have been grappling with these questions for thousands of years, and they remain as vital as ever in our present moment. Here, in a selection of essays each written by a different world expert, we explore the ideas of twelve strikingly different philosophers. From Hannah Arendt’s 'banality of evil' to Nietzsche’s embrace of suffering, from John Stuart Mill’s ethics of happiness to the ruthless realism of Machiavelli, there is an approach for readers of all persuasions. This is the book for anyone trying to understand how humans can sometimes behave so badly, and how we can all be better."

TBD (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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Talleyrand

"In the tumultuous world of revolutionary France, the enigmatic diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord survived – and shaped – five regimes. Duff Cooper’s elegant biography reveals a man as brilliant as he was controversial; the ‘quick-witted little boy’ who enjoyed the anachronistic world of his great-grandmother’s château became the shrewd, silver-tongued servant of multiple kings and revolutionary leaders. From the salons of pre-revolutionary Paris to the negotiating tables of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna, the turncoat Talleyrand exercised his wit, pragmatism and moral ambiguity. Was he a self-serving survivor or a principled architect of peace? His story, told here with rich contextual detail and a light, entertaining touch, exemplifies the enduring art of diplomacy. Duff Cooper (1890–1954), politician, diplomat and political historian, was Ambassador to France during WWII."

Duff Cooper (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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The Nuclear Age: An Epic Race for Arms, Power and Survival

"Brought to you by Penguin. From the bestselling author of Chernobyl comes a sweeping history of the geopolitics behind the nuclear arms race, from the first atomic bomb to today On 16 July 1945, the Nuclear Age began with the explosion of the first atomic bomb and the words of J. Robert Oppenheimer: 'Now I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds.' While the threat of mutually assured destruction kept a lid on a simmering and tense geopolitical landscape, events like the Chernobyl disaster and near-misses like the Cuban Missile Crisis showed that total destruction was only ever one malfunction, mistake, or miscommunication away. Now, as governments re-arm their nuclear arsenals, treaties designed to limit the acquisition and use of nuclear weapons fall away, and nuclear weapons come increasingly within reach of non-state actors, we are on the brink of a renaissance of the nuclear industry. In The Nuclear Age, acclaimed historian Serhii Plokhy paints an intricate picture of a world governed by fear. From the first artificial splitting of the atom in 1917 and the race to create the first atomic bomb in World War II, through the fraught arms race of the Cold War, to the imperialism, neo-colonial motivation and wars being waged today, the threat posed by nuclear weapons is as pertinent as ever. As he examines the motivations of key players, Plokhy confronts the crucial question of our age: what can we learn from the first nuclear arms race that can help us to stop the new one? 'Few historians write with Serhii Plokhy’s authority, clarity or global vision... Essential reading, and a marvellous book' Peter Frankopan © Serhii Plokhy 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Serhii Plokhy (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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Wonder and Worry: Contemporary History in an Age of Uncertainty

"The current global order appears to be collapsing. Long forgotten challenges, such as the return of great power competition and the specter of nuclear war, demand fresh attention, while novel, complex, and menacing planetary crises ranging from climate and disease to emerging technology loom. Meanwhile, the United States—the most consequential nation in the international system, behaves erratically and seems willing to abandon its decades-long strategy of building strong alliances, countering authoritarianism and supporting openness. How should we understand these unsettling trends? Wonder and Worry offers Francis J. Gavin’s best insights on the pressing, fundamental questions we face. Gavin’s answers are nuanced, counterintuitive, and often surprisingly optimistic in this incisive and accessible contemporary history for our uncertain age. Francis J. Gavin is Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and Director of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D C."

Francis J. Gavin (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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Ferment: The Sunday Times bestseller from the author of Food For Life, as seen on Channel 4's What Not To Eat

"Brought to you by Penguin. **AS SEEN ON ITV THIS MORNING** From the world-leading gut scientist and no. 1 bestselling author of Food for Life, comes an introduction to the life-changing benefits of fermentation Of all the ways to prepare food, fermenting is surely the most mysterious, miraculous and misunderstood. As Tim Spector shows in this groundbreaking book, the science is now clear that adding fermented foods to our diets brings an astonishing range of benefits for our health. Drawing on his own cutting-edge research, and including practical tips for buying and making fermented foods, Tim demystifies the world of ferments, and introduces us to some of his favourites – from homemade kombucha and kefir, to sourdough, miso and coffee. He explores the extraordinary science of fermentation and the transformative role of microbes, in our kitchens and in our guts – and reveals why fermenting is the key to good food and good health. © Tim Spector 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Tim Spector (Author), Leighton Pugh, Tim Spector (Narrator)

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The Turing Protocol: Discover a past you never thought possible in this gripping, high-stakes historical thriller

"'An incredible debut' DON WINSLOW, New York Times bestselling author of The Cartel 'The Time Machine meets The Da Vinci Code' CHRIS HAMMER, internationally bestselling author of Scrublands Humanity's best kept secret may be its best hope for survival. In the midst of World War Two, Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing finds himself on the brink of a discovery that will change the world: a way to send a message back into the recent past. But when his invention successfully averts disaster on D-Day, the danger it poses in the wrong hands becomes terrifyingly clear. As Turing's enemies close in, only one decision is possible: Nautilus must be kept hidden from the world, safe in the care of the only person he can trust. Seventy-five years later, Annabelle McIntosh's life is upended when she learns she will become the latest custodian of the greatest secret of the modern age – Turing's Nautilus machine. Following in her family's footsteps, and bound by Turing's strict principles governing the use of his creation, Annabelle is soon faced with the same impossible choices. Nautilus has the power to prevent catastrophe, but the wrong decision could have devastating consequences. When the stakes are at their highest, will using the machine save the world – or destroy it? 'A ripping tale of past-careens-into-present fiction. Urgent morse code message to my past self: READ THE TURING PROTOCOL NOW' TRENT DALTON, internationally bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe "

Nick Croydon (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Leighton Pugh

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