Audiobooks narrated by Philip Madoc

The Algernon Blackwood BBC Radio Collection: 17 Dramas and Supernatural Ghost Stories

A collection of strange and fantastical tales from Algernon Blackwood, plus bonus documentaries Described by H P Lovecraft as 'the one absolute and unquestioned master of weird atmosphere', Algernon Blackwood (CBE) was the acclaimed and prolific author of numerous ghost stories and horror tales. Throughout his lifetime, he wrote 14 novels, several children's books, a number of plays, and over 200 short stories. This anthology opens with a selection of stories featuring his most influential character, occult detective Dr John Silence. The inspiration for the famous horror movie Cat People, 'Ancient Sorceries' (read by Philip Madoc), sees a timid tourist becoming enchanted by a sleepy French town whose residents have an oddly feline manner. It is followed by four chilling dramatisations starring Malcolm Hayes as Silence. In The Nemesis of Fire, the psychic doctor investigates eldritch events at an English manor house; while Secret Worship is a chilling tale of haunting and evil in a Bavarian forest. A wilderness trip turns terrifying in The Camp of the Dog, and in The Empty Sleeve, a virtuoso violinist's desire for a rare instrument has dire consequences. Next up are three gripping standalone dramas: The Decoy (starring George Baker and Susan Jameson); Keeping His Promise (starring Eric Deacon and Christopher Neame) and The Human Chord (starring Philip Skale). Also included is Violet Pearn's captivating fantasy play The Starlight Express, adapted from Blackwood's imaginative children's novel A Prisoner in Fairyland and starring Denis Dowling, Patrick Barr and Cecile Chavreau. This is followed by The Willows, read by Roger Allam: a claustrophobic tale of suspense and terror, as two companions camp on a remote island and become convinced they see a body in the water. Three eerie supernatural stories are narrated by Blackwood himself in long-lost gems from the BBC Archive. They centre around mysterious encounters with a depressed Englishwoman ('The Occupant of the Room'), a man who was frightened to death ('The Woman's Ghost Story'), and the spectral presence of a town ('The Destruction of Smith'), and are followed by a quartet of strange stories ('Algernon Blackwood Tells a Strange Story'). To conclude, two bonus documentary programmes, presented by Blackwood, delve into his life and career. The Genesis of Ideas sees him revealing the sources of his material, while the reflective On Being Eighty finds him looking back on his many years of experience and experiment. Written by Algernon Blackwood. First published 1906 ('Keeping His Promise'), 1907 ('The Willows', 'The Woman's Ghost Story'), 1908 ('Ancient Sorceries', 'The Nemesis of Fire', 'Secret Worship', 'The Camp of the Dog'), 1910 ('The Human Chord'), 1911 ('The Empty Sleeve'), 1912 ('The Destruction of Smith'), 1916 ('The Starlight Express'), 1917 ('The Occupant of the Room'), 1921 ('The Decoy'), 1948 ('A Japanese Literary Cocktail') Special thanks to Keith Wickham for sourcing audio files. Contents List Ancient Sorceries The Nemesis of Fire Secret Worship The Camp of the Dog The Empty Sleeve The Decoy Keeping His Promise The Human Chord The Starlight Express The Willows The Occupant of the Room The Woman's Ghost Story The Destruction of Smith Algernon Blackwood Tells a Strange Story The Genesis of Ideas On Being Eighty Content Note: Contains some dated references that reflect the language and attitudes of the time. © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Algernon Blackwood (Author), Algernon Blackwood, Christopher Neame, Eric Deacon, Fraser Kerr, Full Cast, Malcolm Hayes, Philip Madoc, Philip Skale, Roger Allam (Narrator)

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Brother Cadfael: A BBC Radio Collection of three full-cast dramatisations

Three BBC radio dramatisations of Ellis Peters' much-loved medieval murder mysteries featuring monk-cum-sleuth Brother Cadfael A onetime Crusader turned Benedictine monk, Brother Cadfael is a most unusual detective. Living a quiet life as a monastery herbalist, he spends his days ministering to his brothers using the medical skills he acquired in the Holy Lands - but his worldly knowledge and wide experience of human nature are frequently called upon when there is a murder to solve... Monk's Hood Brother Cadfael is asked to supply a healing potion for a sick monk - but monk's hood oil can kill as well as cure... The Virgin in the Ice In the winter of 1139, Cadfael sets out through snowbound Shropshire to find a missing boy and his sister. Dead Man's Ransom 1141. Beyond the walls of the abbey, civil war rages. When news arrives that Sheriff Gilbert Prestcote has been taken prisoner, a hostage exchange is arranged - but love and murder intervene... Starring Philip Madoc as Cadfael, with supporting casts including Michael Hordern, Michael Kitchen and Susannah York, these thrilling tales of murder, mystery and intrigue bring the turbulent world of 12th Century Shrewsbury superbly to life. Monk's Hood Brother Cadfael - Philip Madoc Narrator - Michael Hordern Brother Mark - Ian Targett Fr Heribert - Timothy Bateson Prior Robert - Geoffrey Whitehead Meurig - Kenneth Price Richildis Bonel - Pat Heywood Brother Rhys/Judge - Norman Jones Aelfric - Mark Straker Brother Edmund - Timothy Carlton Brother Petrus - Fraser Kerr Brother Jerome - Andrew Wincott Sergeant - Ian Hogg Aldith - Jane Whittenshaw Sibil Bellecote - Petra Markham Edwy Bellecote - Stephen Garlick Edwin Gurney - Richard Pearce Hugh Beringar - Alan Barker Ifor ap Morgan - Michael Turner Brother Barnabas - Terence Edmond Groom - Nigel Carrington Dramatised by Bert Coules Produced by Lissa Evans First broadcast in 1991. The Virgin in the Ice Brother Cadfael - Philip Madoc Narrator - Michael Hordern Hugh Beringar - Douglas Hodge Olivier - Raad Rawi Ermina - Moira Buffini Ives - Dean Magri Abbot Radulfus - John Church Leonard - Leonard Fenton Elyas - Crispin Letts Boterel - Andrew Wincott Button - Eric Allan Porter - Steve Hodson Le Gaucher - Peter Laird Axeman/Sergeant - Peter Gunn Outlaw - Jonathan Adams Sergeant - Jonathan Tafler With David Holt, Ann Windsor, Julian Rhind-Tutt, John Fleming and Kate Binchy Dramatised by Bert Coules Produced by Phil Clarke Music by Peter Salem First broadcast in 1992. Dead Man's Ransom Brother Cadfael - Philip Madoc Sister Magdalen - Susannah York Hugh Beringar - Jonathan Tafler Elis - Jason Hughes Radulfus - Trevor Peacock Herbard/Edmund/Ithel - Shaun Prendergast Aline - Lorien Haynes Lad/Villager - David Holt Narrator - Michael Kitchen Melicent - Katy Odey Prince Owain - Sion Probert Cristina - Siobhan Flynn Eliud - Mark Lewis Jones Maurice/Rhys/Griffri - Douglas Blackwell Anion - Matthew Morgan Dramatised by Bert Coules Produced by Neil Cargill Music by Peter Salem First broadcast in 1995.

Ellis Peters (Author), Douglas Hodge, Michael Hordern, Michael Kitchen, Philip Madoc, Susannah York (Narrator)

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The Virgin In The Ice: A Brother Cadfael Mystery

Shrewsbury, 1139. The bloody civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud has swept through the country towards the rural security of Brother Cadfael's monastery. The citizens of Worcester have fled, among them two orphaned children of noble stock, together with their tutor, a young nun. A Benedictine monk in whose care Lady Ermina and her brother Ives were left, comes to the Abbey to ask if the children have been seen. Although it would be hard to miss Ermina, a young girl of striking beauty, no one has seen the missing pair or their companion. Cadfael sets off to lead the search for the missing trio, through the rugged wastes of snowbound Shropshire, following an elusive trail across a lawless land - until the discovery of the body of a young woman, frozen beneath the ice, adds a chilling new dimension to their journey. Starring Philip Madoc, Sir Michael Hordern and Douglas Hodge and dramatised by Bert Coules.

Ellis Peters (Author), Philip Madoc (Narrator)

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Monk's Hood: A Brother Cadfael Mystery

After the violence of spring, when the civil war between Stephen and Maud swept through the town, Shrewsbury has enjoyed a quiet summer. Now, at the beginning of autumn, all is peaceful - the harvest was good and the store cupboards are full. But, as Cadfael reflects ruefully, such harmony cannot be expected to last. He is right. The trouble begins when Gervase Bonel, rich lord of the manor, proposes to sign over all his property to the Abbey in return for food and lodging for the rest of his life. Though the Abbot is pleased to accept such a gift, it comes at the expense of Bonel’s stepson’s inheritance - and when Bonel is found poisoned, it seems certain that his actions have caused him an enemy or two. But Cadfael is not convinced that the obvious suspect is the right one... Are the monk’s powers of detection strong enough to lead him through the maze of clues to the truth?

Ellis Peters (Author), Philip Madoc (Narrator)

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Family Christmas

The tree, the fireside, the candles, the presents and the festive food may be the main features of the traditional Christmas, but so were the stories, the poems, and the traditional tales. Here, is a delightful confection of Christmas texts: the story of The Nutcracker told with Tchaikovsky's immortal music, Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales, as well as nineteenth and twentieth century poems and the always affecting tale of The Little Match Girl. An enchanting collection for those family Christmas evenings.

Various Authors (Author), Benjamin Zephaniah, Jenny Agutter, Philip Madoc (Narrator)

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The Moon of Gomrath

Alan Garner (Author), Philip Madoc (Narrator)

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The Weirdstone of Brisingamen

'The heart of the magic was sealed with Firefrost, the Weirdstone of Brisingamen … should Nastrond destroy the stone, then the magic will die away.' When Colin and Susan are pursued by eerie creatures across Alderley Edge, the Wizard - Cadellin Silverbrow - takes them to safety deep in the caves of Fundindelve. Here he watches over the enchanted sleep of one hundred and forty knights, awaiting the fated hour when they must rise and fight. But the Weirdstone of Brisingamen is lost and the forces of evil are closing in. The children realise that they are the key to its return, but how can they defeat the powerful magic of the Morrigan and her deadly brood? First published in 1960, four decades before Harry Potter, Alan Garner's novel of magic and wizards has endured and become a modern classic of children's literature.

Alan Garner (Author), Philip Madoc (Narrator)

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The Tempest

BBC Radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard. In the acclaimed BBC Radio Shakespeare series, each play is introduced by Richard Eyre, former Director of the Royal National Theatre. Revitalised, original and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the new millennium

William Shakespeare (Author), Catrin Rhys, Full Cast, Jasmine Hyde, Nina Wadia, Philip Madoc (Narrator)

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His Dark Materials Part 3: The Amber Spyglass

The award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy is a breathtaking epic adventure spanning a multitude of worlds. In The Amber Spyglass, the third and final instalment, the war between good and evil reaches a shattering conclusion. Lyra and Will are helped by friends old and new as they continue their perilous journey. The great armoured bear Iorek Byrnison reappears, as does Dr Mary Malone, creator of the amber spyglass. Then there are the tiny, dragonfly-riding Gallivespians, and the wheel-borne Mulefa with their ability to see the mysterious substance Dust. As childhood slips away from them, Lyra and Will face new dangers – including the daemon-destroying Spectres and a journey into the world of the dead. The pair must play their part in the climax of a war for the future of all worlds. Winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year, The Amber Spyglass is an exciting full-cast drama starring Terence Stamp, Ray Fearon, Emma Fielding and Philip Madoc.

Philip Pullman (Author), Emma Fielding, Philip Madoc, Ray Fearon, Terence Stamp (Narrator)

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Poems of the Orient

The Rubá'iyát of Omar Khayyam, in the famous translation by Edward FitzGerald, remains one of the most popular poems. It expressed the fascination of Victorian England with the Orient. Here, it forms the main work in the first half, along with other shorter poems by other leading Persian and Indian figures, including Rumi, Sa'di and Rabindranath Tagore. The second half is devoted to works written by Western poets on the theme of the East with The Veiled Prophet of Khorassan, an excerpt from Thomas Moore's Lalla Rookh - one of the best-sellers of the early nineteenth century.

Hafiz, Khayyam, Rumi (Author), Daniel Philpott, David Timson, Madhav Sharma, Philip Madoc, Polly Hayes (Narrator)

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The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Part 2

Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire occupies an immortal place in the pantheon of historical masterpieces. This six-disc recording covers the final three volumes of Gibbon's work, tracing ten centuries in the life of the eastern half of the empire, whose capital city was Constantinople. Among the many figures who stride across Gibbon's stage here are the emperor Justinian I, a noble statesman and successful warrior, brought low by his lascivious wife, the former prostitute Theodora; the murdering Basil I, a peasant who nonetheless proved himself a worthy figure upon which to drape the purple; and the final emperor of all, Constantine XI, who died on the battlements of Constantinople in 1453, valiantly fighting a losing battle to prevent the Turks from gaining a city they had craved for centuries. It is still the work that sets the standard for all histories of the period.

Edward Gibbon (Author), Neville Jason, Philip Madoc (Narrator)

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The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Part I

Gibbon's The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is one of the greatest texts in the English language. In magisterial prose, Gibbon charts the gradual collapse of the Roman rule from Augustus (23 B.C. - A.D. 14) to the first of the Barbarian kings, Odoacer (A.D. 476 - A.D. 490). It is a remarkable account, with the extravagant corruption and depravity of emperors such as Commodus, Caracalla and Elagabalus contrasted by the towering work of Constantine, Julian and other remarkable men. It remains the standard work of scholarship on the subject two hundred years after it was written; yet equally important, in its sheer accessibility, it is an unforgettable story.

Edward Gibbon (Author), Neville Jason, Philip Madoc (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Philip Madoc