Audiobooks narrated by Matt Bates

Blitz: When World War Two Came Home Audiobook

"**THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER** ‘[Nichol] has a marvellous eye for detail . . . this is history at its finest. Truly memorable' Daily Mirror The Second World War was not only fought in the skies above Europe or on distant beaches. Between 1939 and 1945, Hitler’s aerial onslaught crashed into lives across the UK night after night, killing more than 60,000 civilians and leaving millions homeless. For too long, ‘The Blitz’ – from the German ‘Blitzkrieg’ or lightning war – has been framed as a few desperate months between September 1940 and May 1941 that mainly affected London. In reality, the scope of the attack on the home front was far more widespread, and far more devastating. Now, John Nichol tells this supposedly familiar narrative – one of the most important events in British history – afresh. Beginning with a search to understand his mother’s experiences of the blitz on Tyneside – drawing on fragments of memory and the unanswered questions she left behind – Nichol ranges outward to reveal a truly national history. From Dover to Glasgow, Cardiff to Manchester, he uncovers astonishing accounts of catastrophe and resilience. Of ‘ordinary’ men, women and children catapulted into harm’s way. Of heroic firefighters battling infernos, the unflinching bravery required to defuse unexploded bombs, families wiped out in an instant, communities left bereft by a single blast. Using interviews with survivors, official records and eyewitness testimonies, Nichol gives voice to the unsung heroes who endured explosions, fire and fear, but found the courage to run towards danger. He brings the story up to date by speaking to people involved in similar situations: mass casualty events, the deadly blaze at Grenfell Tower, bomb disposal in modern warfare and individual acts of astonishing bravery. And as new military threats emerge, Nichol asks whether the country still has such resilience today. At once gripping and compassionate, BLITZ is the definitive account of a nationwide struggle that shaped the course of the war and the spirit of a generation. The book includes maps, colour endpapers, and two plate sections with 38 photos and archival images. ‘The story of a whole nation as only Nichol can write, BLITZ is a wonderful book perfectly anchored in the human experience’ Dr Robert Lyman MBE FRHistS, co-author of Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918–40 ‘An important book which takes the myth of the storybook Blitz Spirit and redefines it. Absolutely fantastic’ Professor Lucy Easthope, author of When the Dust Settles: Searching for Hope After Disaster John Nichol, Sunday Times bestseller, May 2026"

John Nichol (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Time Machine & Other Stories

"This collection brings together H. G. Wells' first novel with a selection of his most fantastic stories. Including classics such as 'The Country of the Blind' and 'The Door in the Wall', this unmissable assortment of one of Britain's most talented writers is sure to fascinate and entertain. It contains stories ranging from the optimism of magnificent discoveries in 'The Time Machine' to the pessimism of the dangers science presents in 'The Stolen Bacillus'. The stories are as powerful and meaningful today as when they were first published more than a century ago."

H.G. Wells (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

The H. G. Wells Collection

"This collection brings together the most celebrated works of H.G. Wells. H.G. Wells was a pioneer of the science fiction genre and a man of boundless imagination. Whether describing marvellous new technologies, the vagaries of space flight or the risks of scientific development, his writings have continually captivated readers across the globe. Contains: •The First Men in the Moon •The War of the Worlds •The Invisible Man •The Island of Doctor Moreau •When the Sleeper Wakes •The Time Machine & Other Stories Complete and unabridged, each of these stories marries exciting adventure with a poignant probing of scientific progress and its dangers - a signature combination of H.G. Wells which marks him as a true master of science-fiction."

H.G. Wells (Author), Christopher Naylor, Ian Dunnett Jr, Matt Bates, Mike Grady, Roger May, Tom Babbage (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Mayor of Casterbridge

"'Happiness was but the occasional episode in a general drama of pain.' Published in 1886 and widely considered Thomas Hardy's masterpiece, The Mayor of Casterbridge is a profound meditation on fate, guilt and redemption. After selling his wife and child at a country fair in a drunken rage, the proud yet regretful Michael Henchard swears to atone for his actions. Years in the future, now a new man in his sobriety, Henchard is a prosperous merchant and the respected mayor of the village of Casterbridge. But when his past demons begin to haunt him, and a professional rival enters the scene, Henchard's jealousy and pride threaten to unravel everything he has built. A powerful depiction of how one reckless act can shape a lifetime, The Mayor of Casterbridge is a poignant tragedy of love, remorse and lost hope – a story that stays with its readers long past the last word. Thomas Hardy (1840 – 1928) was an English poet and novelist. Heavily influenced by the Romantic and Victorian Realist movements, his writing is characterised by evocative language, rich imagery and innovative narrative structures. Hardy was socially conscious and highly critical of Victorian society, often using his writing to depict the lives of people living in deprived rural areas of England."

Thomas Hardy (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

Inside the Last Kingdom: Three new Uhtred stories

"The three Uhtred stories featured in this audio edition are also included in UHTRED’S FEAST, available to buy in hardback. Bernard Cornwell brings us three new stories of the iconic hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, showing us the man behind the shield – as a young boy, as Alfred's advisor, and as prince . It is a brand new chapter in the epic story of the Last Kingdom . . ."

Bernard Cornwell (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

Too Late To Stop Now: More Rock’n’Roll War Stories

"Bloomsbury presents Too Late To Stop Now by Allan Jones, read by Matt Bates. More than 40 stories from the glory days of rock’n’roll, featuring Lou Reed, Elton John, Sting and The Clash. Allan Jones brings stories – many previously unpublished – from the golden days of music reporting. Long nights of booze, drugs and unguarded conversations which include anecdotes, experiences and extravagant behaviour. - A band's aftershow party in San Francisco being gatecrashed by cocaine-hungry Hells Angels - Chrissie Hynde on how rock'n'roll killed The Pretenders - What happened when Nick Lowe and 20 of his mates flew off to Texas to join the Confederate Air Force - John Cale on his dark alliance with Lou Reed Allan Jones remembers a world that once was – one of dark excess and excitement, outrageous deeds and extraordinary talent, featuring legends at both the beginnings and ends of their careers. C 2023 Allan Jones P 2023 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"

Allan Jones (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning

"The Sunday Times Bestseller A new assessment of the West’s colonial record In the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet empire in 1989, many believed that we had arrived at the ‘End of History’ – that the global dominance of liberal democracy had been secured forever. Now however, with Russia rattling its sabre on the borders of Europe and China rising to challenge the post-1945 world order, the liberal West faces major threats. These threats are not only external. Especially in the Anglosphere, the ‘decolonisation’ movement corrodes the West’s self-confidence by retelling the history of European and American colonial dominance as a litany of racism, exploitation, and massively murderous violence. Nigel Biggar tests this indictment, addressing the crucial questions in eight chapters: Was the British Empire driven primarily by greed and the lust to dominate? Should we speak of ‘colonialism and slavery’ in the same breath, as if they were identical? Was the Empire essentially racist? How far was it based on the theft of land? Did it involve genocide? Was it driven fundamentally by the motive of economic exploitation? Was undemocratic colonial government necessarily illegitimate? and, Was the Empire essentially violent, and its violence pervasively racist and terroristic? Biggar makes clear that, like any other long-standing state, the British Empire involved elements of injustice, sometimes appalling. On occasions it was culpably incompetent and presided over moments of dreadful tragedy. Nevertheless, from the early 1800s the Empire was committed to abolishing the slave trade in the name of a Christian conviction of the basic equality of all human beings. It ended endemic inter-tribal warfare, opened local economies to the opportunities of global trade, moderated the impact of inescapable modernisation, established the rule of law and liberal institutions such as a free press, and spent itself in defeating the murderously racist Nazi and Japanese empires in the Second World War. As encyclopaedic in historical breadth as it is penetrating in analytical depth, Colonialism offers a moral inquest into the colonial past, forensically contesting damaging falsehoods and thereby helping to rejuvenate faith in the West’s future."

Nigel Biggar (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

Personality and Power: Builders and Destroyers of Modern Europe

"Brought to you by Penguin. The modern era saw the emergence of individuals who had command over a terrifying array of instruments of control, persuasion and death. Whole societies were re-shaped and wars fought, often with a merciless contempt for the most basic norms. At the summit of these societies were leaders whose personalities had somehow given them the ability to do whatever they wished. Ian Kershaw's new book is a compelling, lucid and challenging attempt to understand these rulers, whether those operating on the widest stage (Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini) or with a more national impact (Tito, Franco). What was it about these leaders and the times they lived in that allowed them such untrammelled and murderous power? And what brought that era to an end? In a contrasting group of profiles (Churchill, de Gaulle, Adenauer, Gorbachev, Thatcher, Kohl) Kershaw uses his exceptional skills to think through how other, strikingly different figures wielded power. © Ian Kershaw 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Ian Kershaw (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Wall: The pulse-pounding epic about the end times of an empire

"Brought to you by Penguin. AD 400. Rome and its Empire are failing . . . Veteran cavalry commander Marcus Flavius Victor sets out with his regiment to make what may be his final tour of the forts along Hadrian's Wall. Through a combination of military prowess, brutality and bribery, Marcus has spent twenty years keeping the savage Picts at bay. Feared by his enemies and hated by his superiors, his strength of will is the only thing that has held the disgruntled, poorly paid garrisons of the Wall in place as the failing Roman Empire's grip on Britannia weakened. Yet as this tour of the wall progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that this is more than a routine inspection. Why is Marcus stripping the defences of cavalry to strengthen his own force? Is he negotiating with the Picts - or conspiring with them? And who is the mysterious figure who follows Marcus' every move and yet hides in the shadows? Segeduno, Cilurno, Brocolitia, Vindolanda: each fort holds memories and friendships, hides rivals, or conceals enemies. But what exactly is Marcus Flavius Victor's ultimate objective? It would appear he is willing to risk bloody civil war in a bid to seize Britannia for himself? Or is he raising an army to save the province from the darkness that waits on the other side of the Wall? Hailed as one of our very best historical novelists, Douglas Jackson returns to the world of ancient Rome with this epic novel of a failing empire and a world on the brink... © Douglas Jackson 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Douglas Jackson (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

Knowledge in a Nutshell: Sigmund Freud: The complete guide to the great psychologist

"This accessible and entertaining guide introduces Sigmund Freud's life and ideas, from dream analysis to the superego. Sigmund Freud's theories on the unconscious revolutionised the way we approach human behaviour. This essential introduction explores his theories and the implications they had for understanding an array of psychological issues, including trauma, repressed memory, childhood development and more. It also explores Freud's life as a scientist - the conflicts and controversies he faced when proposing his new ideas to his contemporaries - and the ways in which his theories have influenced psychology today. Sections include: - Freud's early life - Psychoanalysis - Free association - The unconscious - Interpreting dreams - The Oedipus complex - Case histories - Modern evaluations of Freud Perfect for students on anyone wanting to get to grip with Freud's ideas, this book is the perfect introduction to the great psychoanalyst and his ground-breaking concepts. ABOUT THE SERIES: The critically-acclaimed Knowledge in a Nutshell series provides accessible and engaging introductions to wide-ranging topics, written by experts in their fields."

Alan Porter (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lean Fall Stand

"A WHITE REVIEW BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘It leaves the reader moved and subtly changed, as if she had become part of the story’ Hilary Mantel The highly anticipated new novel from the Costa-award winning, three-times Booker-longlisted author of Reservoir 13. When an Antarctic research expedition goes wrong, the consequences are far-reaching – for the men involved and for their families back home. Robert 'Doc' Wright, a veteran of Antarctic field work, holds the clues to what happened, but he is no longer able to communicate them. While Anna, his wife, navigates the sharp contours of her new life as a carer, Robert is forced to learn a whole new way to be in the world. Award-winning novelist Jon McGregor returns with a stunning novel that mesmerizingly and tenderly unpicks the notion of heroism and explores the indomitable human impulse to tell our stories – even when words fail us. A meditation on the line between sacrifice and selfishness this is a story of the undervalued, unrecognised courage it can take just to get through the day. ’So moving and delicate and terrifying and haunting’ Maggie O’Farrell"

Jon McGregor (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

War Lord

"The No.1 Sunday Times bestseller IN THE FINAL RECKONING, CHOOSE YOUR SIDE CAREFULLY… The epic conclusion to the globally bestselling historical series. After years fighting to reclaim his rightful home, Uhtred of Bebbanburg has returned to Northumbria. With his loyal band of warriors and a new woman by his side, his household is secure – yet Uhtred is far from safe. Beyond the walls of his impregnable fortress, a battle for power rages. To the south, King Æthelstan has unified the three kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia and East Anglia – and now eyes a bigger prize. To the north, King Constantine and other Scottish and Irish leaders seek to extend their borders and expand their dominion. Caught in the eye of the storm is Uhtred. Threatened and bribed by all sides, he faces an impossible choice: stay out of the struggle, risking his freedom, or throw himself into the cauldron of war and the most terrible battle Britain has ever experienced. Only fate can decide the outcome. The epic story of how England was made concludes in WAR LORD, the magnificent finale to the Last Kingdom series."

Bernard Cornwell (Author), Matt Bates (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Matt Bates

Join Our Community