Audiobooks narrated by Michael Troughton

Selected works of Rudyard Kipling: 11 Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas

"Dramatisations of some of Kipling’s finest fiction for adults, including ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ and The Light That Failed Well-known for his poems and stories set in India during British Imperial rule, Rudyard Kipling was the first English author to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was also offered a knighthood and the Poet Laureateship, but turned down both. His books remain immensely popular today, and this collection showcases a selection of his best adult works. Set deep in the Hindu Kush mountains, the chilling cautionary tale ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ tells the story of two conmen with an insane and dangerous plan to conquer a remote region of Afghanistan. Blake Ritson, Richard Ridings and Samuel James star in this thrilling drama about friendship and the folly and glory of imperial ambition. First broadcast in 1994 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Rudyard Kipling, Kipling in Love comprises eight half-hour dramas based on his short stories – ‘His Wedded Wife’, ‘Lispeth’, ‘Venus Annodomini’, ‘The Courting of Dinah Shadd’, ‘In the Pride of His Youth’, ‘Love O’Women’, ‘Beyond the Pale’ and ‘On Greenhow Hill’. Among the star casts are Jack Klaff, Mamta Kaash, Alex Jennings, Steve Hodson, Frances Jeater, Terry John, Samuel West, Meera Syal, Michael Troughton and Nina Wadia. Adapted from Kipling’s debut novel, The Light That Failed revolves around war illustrator Dick Heldar, his struggles to become a successful artist and his unrequited love for his childhood sweetheart, Maisie. It stars Steve Hodson, Stuart Organ and Natasha Pyne. Wrapping up this collection is ‘They’, a haunting supernatural tale of a motorist’s mysterious encounters with a group of elusive children. Narrated by Tony Britton, this 1982 World Service production stars Annette Crosbie and Douglas Blackwell. First published 1888 (‘The Man Who Would Be King’, ‘His Wedded Wife’, ‘Lispeth’, ‘Venus Annodomini’, ‘In the Pride of His Youth’, ‘Beyond the Pale’), 1891 (‘The Courting of Dinah Shadd’, ‘On Greenhow Hill’, The Light That Failed), 1893 (‘Love-o’-Women’), 1904 (‘They’) NB: Some of these dramas contain language and attitudes that reflect the age in which they are set. Cast and credits Written by Rudyard Kipling - The Man Who Would Be King - Kipling in Love - His Wedded Wife - Lispeth - Venus Annodomini - The Courting of Dinah Shadd - In the Pride of His Youth - Love O’Women - Beyond the Pale - On Greenhow Hill - The Light That Failed - They Copyright © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Rudyard Kipling (Author), Alex Jennings, Blake Ritson, Frances Jeater, Full Cast, Mary Wimbush, Meera Syal, Michael Troughton, Peter Penry-Jones, Richard Ridings, Samuel West (Narrator)

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The Ardor of an Architect

"She kissed an architect. A witness says otherwise. The gossip is building faster than he can design a house. When a woman from his past unexpectedly kisses architect Daniel Sinclair in his office, he finds himself unwittingly thrust into the spotlight of Edinburgh’s gossip scene. The news spreads swiftly, thanks in large part to his secretary, who witnessed the intimate moment. As a result, Daniel is branded a rogue, a reputation he’d much rather shake off in favor of being recognized for his cutting-edge house designs. Meanwhile, seamstress Isabella Farnsworth is forced to leave her childhood home and seeks refuge in Edinburgh. She has friends in the city, including one whom she nostalgically recalls from their carefree days at his grandparents' estate in Derbyshire. However, she never intended for her presence to stir up rumors of impropriety that could lead to a proposal of marriage from him. Though she harbors a secret desire to marry Daniel, Isabella yearns for their union to be built on genuine affection. How can a woman truly discern if a man loves her?"

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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A Rogue in Rome

"He’s an amiable young man on his Grand Tour. She’s the spitfire he can’t soon forget. Will he have to become a rake to tame the shrew? When the always amiable and well-behaved David, Viscount Penton, departed England with his relatives for a Grand Tour, he didn’t expect to be the only bachelor when they reached their final stop—Rome. Now that everyone but him is married, he’s determined to break out on his own. First he has to attend the come-out ball for his brother’s niece-by-marriage, though. Perhaps this is where he can be a bit of a bad boy. Where he can act like a rogue. Good habits are hard to break, though. Especially when he pays witness to what he thinks is an assault on a young lady during a ball. When he discovers she has turned the tables on her assailant, he finds himself wishing she would join him in an alcove. The dark-haired beauty is a spitfire! Lady Vittoria has lived a rather sheltered life thanks to her overprotective father. She's also been raised to believe all men are rakes, so she's ready to defend herself against the likes of one known as Lord Diavalo. When he pulls her into an alcove during her come-out ball, she's halfway to dispatching him when a handsome English gentleman intervenes on her behalf. Doesn't he realize if they're caught, she will be forced to marry the Lothario? Has she been saved from a rake only to be ruined by a rogue? Surely the viscount will lose interest if she behaves like a spoiled aristocrat. After all, who wants a shrew for a wife?"

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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A Lover in Luxor

"A spare heir on his Grand Tour. The daughter of a naturalist. When their reunion on the Nile seems to suffer a mummy's curse, she's determined to learn why. When Tom Forster embarked on a Grand Tour with his brother and cousins, he expected to tour temples and monuments, be humbled in the presence of pyramids and monoliths, and be amazed by the sites beyond the cerulean blue waters of the Mediterranean—including beautiful women. Despite being haunted by a kiss he shared with a young lady, he knows not to engage with any women. He has already paid witness to his oldest cousin and his brother losing their hearts—and bachelor status—to women they claim are the loves of their lives. That is, until he sees her—again—this time with a baby. The daughter of a renowned naturalist, Lady Helen has spent most of her life surrounded by the living things her father brought back from his numerous expeditions—including her mother. After three Seasons out, she has no desire to go through another Season in London. When she learns the young man she met and kissed at a ball will be in Egypt for part of his Grand Tour, she talks her father into an expedition to Egypt. While he searches for exotic plants, she can be on the lookout for Tom. When the families end up sharing accommodations, Helen is confused by Tom's stand-offish behavior toward her. She thought they parted on good terms. Promising terms. Despite confrontations with a crocodile, a frightful mummy, and a clue found in hieroglyphics, he’s obviously avoiding her. If she wasn't in the company of a baby, she would hit him over the head with a sphinx to knock some sense into him. Doesn’t he realize how perfect they would be together?"

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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An Affaire in Athens

"An heir to an earldom on his Grand Tour. An archaeologist's daughter intent on spinsterhood. Uncovering secrets from the past may force them into a future neither wants. Accompanied by several family members, Lord Randolph Foster is continuing his Grand Tour with a stop in Athens, Greece. He hadn't anticipated running into former classmates and second cousins—particularly not the woman clad in breeches, exuding an air of disdain, who he encounters in a temple on the Acropolis. Intrigued by her enigmatic research, he's determined to discover her motivations and, if possible, soften her frosty attitude in the process. Miss Diana Henley has always accompanied her father on his numerous archaeological expeditions. Viscount Henley's interest in Ancient Greek mosaics has landed them in Athens, where she's determined to search for clues in a mystery she's been trying to unravel on her own. The unexpected arrival of Lord Forster, with his upbeat demeanor and eagerness to help, only serves to annoy her. Can't he see that all she wants is to be left alone? When these two are found together—her with no chaperone—the prospect of a forced marriage might push her over the edge of the Acropolis while he has a compromise that just might dig them out of the hole they find themselves in—and reveal some secrets from the past. "

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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The Love of a Rake

"Everyone has plans … until something—or someone—comes along to change them. At the age of thirty-five, Randall, Marquess of Reading, decides it's time to trade in his life as the ‘Rake of Reading' for the life of a married man. Trouble is, his reputation precedes him, and he's not particularly attracted to the milk water misses who make up the eligible ladies of the ton. His counterpart, Charles, Earl of Wakefield, is only twenty-five and enjoys his life as a rake far too much to consider marriage. Will a visiting prostitute change his mind on the matter, though, if only because he wants to do the right thing? ' When the Earl of Norwick's skittish cousin, Constance, meets Randall in the park, she's intrigued by the gentleman she thinks is merely a well-to-do cit with a fascination for horse racing, but she's only in London to find out what's become of her inheritance. She's determined to return to her home and horses in Sussex to live the life of an independent woman. Her counterpart, Eleanor Merriweather, is in London for her come-out with a dream to marry her perfect knight, but having been duped by a brothel's madame upon her arrival, she suddenly finds herself completely and thoroughly ruined. When the lives of these four are suddenly upended by their chance meetings, the events of two nights and two days will prove that it takes a bit of horse sense to get on the right track in “The Love of a Rake”."

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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The Caress of a Commander

"Funny how romance can complicate even the simplest plans… Now that his time with the British Navy is done, Will Slater has only one mission. He will find Lady Barbara. They only had one night together before he left London, but his heart will always belong to her. So, he’ll discover why she disappeared from Society—and from his life—if it’s the last thing he ever does… Barbara needs help, not love. Banished and destitute, her prospects are bleak. The last person she expects to come to her rescue is Will. She lost faith in him long ago. How could she possibly forgive the man who ruined and abandoned her? Meanwhile, Will’s lookalike bastard brother has issues of his own. Stephen had been more than happy to charm the ton in his brother’s name while Will chased Barbara. But then he meets the lovely Victoria and everything changes... As Will fights for a second chance with Barbara, and Stephen wonders if Victoria will want him when she discovers who he really is, only one thing is certain. The path to happily ever after will not be an easy one."

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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The Epiphany of an Explorer

"A man only gets one chance to find his Aphrodite … but what if she finds him first? When archeologist Alexander, Duke of Westhaven, goes missing while searching for an important Greek artifact, explorer Harold, Earl of Everly, is pressed into service by fellow members of the Royal Society to find him. On his last visit to the island of Delos, Harry was blessed with a visit from a young woman—his very own version of Aphrodite rising from the Aegean Sea to regard him with an arched eyebrow and a simple question that left him so discombobulated, he could barely speak. Born of a Mykonian mother and a British duke, Estelle Jones isn’t particularly comfortable in either world. With her father’s recent disappearance and no prospects for marriage, she may end up stranded on Mykonos, spending her days assisting her uncle in his hunt for Greek treasures he can sell to Europeans. At night, she remembers the bespectacled earl who nearly broke her foot during a waltz back in London. When Harry arrives on Mykonos to begin his hunt for the duke and to begin his own research, he’ll have to learn far more about mythology, antiquities, and Greek goddesses than he cares to know. The search may be worth it, especially if he can find his very own Aphrodite in The Epiphany of an Explorer."

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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The Tale of Two Barons

"What will she discover when she reads between the lines? Jeffrey Althorpe is in need of more income for the struggling Sommers barony. As a peer of the realm, he’s not allowed to work, but if he’s able to earn money from a book he’s written anonymously, no one will be the wiser. While her brother is away on one of his expeditions, Lady Evangeline is left in London to spend her days creating exquisite embroideries and reading books. She's about to buy The Story of a Baron at The Temple of Muses when Lord Sommers appears intending to buy the very same book. Trouble is, there's only the one copy. Desperate to discover what changes his publisher might have made to his novel—without letting on he’s the author—Jeffrey suggests they read it together. Evangeline's sterling reputation could use a bit of scandal, she decides, and so she agrees to Lord Sommer's proposal. As the two read The Story a Baron, Evangeline realizes some of the characters and settings are rather familiar. And a bit too close to home. Was she the inspiration for the baron’s secret love, a bold, brash woman whose reputation is in tatters? With her own reputation suddenly in question, Evangeline finds her life imitating art. How can the book have a happy ending when she wishes she’d never purchased The Story of a Baron?"

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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The Passion of a Marquess

"They say you learn from mistakes ... but what if they're not your own? After four Seasons and no prospects, Lady Samantha is resigned to spinsterhood. Her aunt, Viscountess Chamberlain, insists they sail to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to find a marriage-minded European aristocrat. His mines having suffered a multitude of disasters, Ethan Range, Marquess of Plymouth, needs to secure an Italian invention to help alleviate fires. He’s none too happy to find Lady Chamberlain traveling on the same ship. He knows her secret and is incensed she’s able to hide Samantha’s true past from the ton. When the marquess confronts her with his claims, Samantha slaps the man before a wave washes them both overboard. Forced to save each other, they end up as castaways on a deserted island. Although they face perils a plenty, they may have more to fear from one another than from hunger, weather, and pirates. Can they realize the mistakes of the past are not their own? Or will their week on the island lead to more turbulence? The heart may be the best life preserver in The Passion of a Marquess."

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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The Desire of a Lady

"A sensual tale of four suitors’ pursuits of a former maid—as told by a lady Being a maid was much simpler than being the illegitimate sister of an earl. Lily Harkins has learned that lesson the hard way. Now, she has not one, but four aristocratic suitors. Her brother will expect her to choose one. Trouble is, she doesn’t want any of them. The handsome clerk she recently met, however, is another story entirely. She’ll just have to convince her brother that marrying a commoner wouldn’t be a huge mistake. And she knows just how she’s going to do it… William Overby is perfectly happy with the middle-class lifestyle his job affords him. He was, at least. Until he met her. The lovely Lily is everything he could ever want in a wife. It’s just his unfortunate luck that she’s also completely out of reach for someone of his station. He knows he should stay away. And yet…he doesn’t. He can’t… Can Lily and William find a way to bridge their opposite worlds and take a shot at happily ever after? Or will the dictates of an unforgiving society overtake the lure of forbidden love and The Desire of a Lady? "

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

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A Courtship in Catania

"The bastard son of an earl. An Italian conte’s daughter. It's almost love at first sight for these two when they meet during his Grand Tour of Sicily. But why does her father encourage a courtship if he has already promised her to another? Donald Slater has been on his Grand Tour for nearly a year, keeping copious notes with the intention of writing a book for others to use as a guide when they take their tours. He's visiting the last island on his itinerary—Sicily—when he comes face to face with his future. She's young, she's beautiful, and she's a flirt, at least according to her aunt. Nicoletta D'Avalos is surprised when her father encourages a courtship between her and the Englishman they met in the Prince of Biscari's gardens in the heart of Catania. She expected to be married off to an Italian aristocrat, one who could refill her father's dwindling coffers. She's more than happy to spend time with Donald, though, especially after she realizes she has feelings for him. In fact, she's quite sure she's in love with him. When these two learn what the conte has arranged, though, their fledgling courtship must end. For now. When it comes to Grand Tours, Donald knows there is always an opportunity to act as a guide for younger siblings and cousins. When it comes to Nicoletta, he also knows there is more at stake than simply an interrupted courtship. And when the time is right, he will claim what it his. They made a pact, and he's determined to keep it."

Linda Rae Sande (Author), Michael Troughton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Michael Troughton

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