Audiobooks narrated by Raj Ghatak

Waves Across the South: A New History of Revolution and Empire

‘Helps re-centre how we look at the world and opens up new perspectives on how we can look at regions, peoples and places that have been left to one side of traditional histories for far too long’ PETER FRANKOPAN Starting from the ocean and from the forgotten histories of ocean-facing communities, this is a new history of the making of our world. After revolutions in America and France, a wave of tumult coursed the globe from 1790 to 1850. It was a moment of unprecedented change and violence especially for indigenous peoples. By 1850 vibrant public debate between colonised communities had exploded in port cities. Yet in the midst of all of this, Britain struck out by sea and established its supremacy over the Indian and Pacific Oceans, overtaking the French and Dutch as well as other rivals. Cambridge historian Sujit Sivasundaram brings together his work in far-flung archives across the world and the best new academic research in this remarkably creative book. Too often, history is told from the northern hemisphere, with modernity, knowledge, selfhood and politics moving from Europe to influence the rest of the world. This book traces the origins of our times from the perspective of indigenous and non-European people in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. From Aboriginal Australians to Parsis and from Mauritians to Malays, people asserted their place and their future as the British empire drove unexpected change. The tragedy of colonisation was that it reversed the immense possibilities for liberty, humanity and equality in this period. Waves Across the South insists on the significance of the environment; the waves of the Bay of Bengal or the Tasman Sea were the context for this story. Sivasundaram tells how revolution, empire and counter-revolt crashed in the global South. Naval war, imperial rivalry and oceanic trade had their parts to play, but so did hope, false promise, rebellion, knowledge and the pursuit of being modern. This is a compulsive story full of cultural depth and range, a world history that speaks to urgent concerns today. The book weaves a bracingly fresh account of the origins of the British empire. Only when looking from the water can we understand where we are now.

Sujit Sivasundaram (Author), Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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Thought Economics

Since 2007, entrepreneur and philanthropist Vikas Shah MBE has been on a mission to interview the people shaping our century. Including conversations with world leaders, Nobel prizewinners, business leaders, artists and Olympians, he quizzes the minds that matter on the big questions that concern us all. We often talk of war and conflict, the economy, culture, technology and revolutions as if they are something other than us. But all these things are a product of us - people like you, who have ideas that matter. We live in fast-moving and extraordinary times, and the changes we're experiencing now, in these first decades of the twenty-first century, feel particularly poignant as decisions are made that will inform our existence for decades to come. Vikas Shah is not a journalist. But he is curious and persistent - two things that have driven his business success, but have also been instrumental in getting him access to some of the most extraordinary people on the planet. In Thought Economics, Vikas presents some of his most emotive and insightful interviews to date.

Vikas Shah (Author), Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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The Noise

Brought to you by Penguin. Terror has a new sound . . . and it comes from the darkest corners of James Patterson's imagination. A gigantic explosion rips through a town in the shadow of Oregon's Mt Hood. The community is almost annihilated. The only survivors are young sisters Sophie and Tennant Riggin. How they lived is a mystery. But it's a mystery that a team of elite government investigators is bent on solving. Sent to research the fallout and the girls - why did only they survive? - they secretly hold conflicting objectives. For Dr Martha Chan, a psychologist who analyses large-scale medical emergencies: study them. For Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Fraser, a career military leader with an inherent mistrust of civilians: contain them. But as the phenomenon threatens to ripple across the Pacific Northwest, it also threatens to topple the chain of command. Dr Chan and Lieutenant Colonel Fraser are caught between the perpetrators of the threat - and those who have the power to survive it. © James Patterson 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

James Patterson (Author), Becca Stewart, Bruce Lester Johnson, Jeff Harding, Kristin Atherton, Nicholas Khan, Patricia Rodriguez, Raj Ghatak, Shin-Fei Chen, Skye Bennett, Thomas Judd, Vaughn Joseph (Narrator)

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The Monster Doctor

Are you . . . A dragon with indigestion? A blob with a cold? A yeti with a sore foot? Then book an appointment with the MONSTER DOCTOR. No THING too small, no creature too big! Ozzy is just an ordinary human boy – until he gets a job at the monster doctor's surgery! He's now spending his summer helping the doctor cure her strange and wonderful monster-patients, and he has to find a way to help her save the surgery . . . The first in a howlingly hilarious series of monster adventures written and illustrated by John Kelly that will have you laughing your head off . . . literally. Don't miss Ozzy's next adventure in The Monster Doctor: Revolting Rescue!

John Kelly (Author), Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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The Mission House

From the prize-winning author of West, a collision between old and new, east and west, in a former British hill station in contemporary South India. Fleeing the dark undercurrents of contemporary life in Britain, Hilary Byrd takes refuge in Ooty, a hill station in South India. There he finds solace in life's simple pleasures, travelling by rickshaw around the small town with his driver Jamshed and staying in a mission house beside the local presbytery where the Padre and his adoptive daughter Priscilla have taken Hilary under their wing. The Padre is concerned for Priscilla's future, and as Hilary's friendship with the young woman grows, he begins to wonder whether his purpose lies in this new relationship. But religious tensions are brewing and the mission house may not be the safe haven it seems. The Mission House boldly and imaginatively explores post-colonial ideas in a world fractured between faith and non-belief, young and old, imperial past and nationalistic present. Tenderly subversive and meticulously crafted, it is is a deeply human fable of the wonders and terrors of connection in a modern world.

Carys Davies (Author), Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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The Lives of Others

***Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2014*** ***Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award 2014*** ***WINNER of the Encore Award 2014*** 'Ma, I feel exhausted with consuming, with taking and grabbing and using. I am so bloated that I feel I cannot breathe any more. I am leaving to find some air, some place where I shall be able to purge myself, push back against the life given me and make my own. I feel I live in a borrowed house. It's time to find my own... Forgive me...' Calcutta, 1967. Unnoticed by his family, Supratik has become dangerously involved in extremist political activism. Compelled by an idealistic desire to change his life and the world around him, all he leaves behind before disappearing is this note ... The ageing patriarch and matriarch of his family, the Ghoshes, preside over their large household, unaware that beneath the barely ruffled surface of their lives the sands are shifting. More than poisonous rivalries among sisters-in-law, destructive secrets, and the implosion of the family business, this is a family unravelling as the society around it fractures. For this is a moment of turbulence, of inevitable and unstoppable change: the chasm between the generations, and between those who have and those who have not, has never been wider. Ambitious, rich and compassionate The Lives of Others anatomises the soul of a nation as it unfolds a family history. A novel about many things, including the limits of empathy and the nature of political action, it asks: how do we imagine our place amongst others in the world? Can that be reimagined? And at what cost? This is a novel of unflinching power and emotional force.

Neel Mukherjee (Author), Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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The House of Whispers

‘Haunting, dark and wonderfully atmospheric' B A Paris, bestselling author of The Therapist Once you let her in, she’ll never leave… Abi Allerton is happily married. She lives in a beautiful Victorian semi that she and her husband Rohan have lovingly renovated. Her past is firmly behind her. When her old university friend Grace gets back in touch, Abi is hesitant. Their friendship was intense and all-consuming. But with Rohan away for work, Abi could use some company, so she agrees to let Grace stay. Before Abi realises her mistake, it’s too late. Grace is back to her old ways and Abi is losing grip on her calm, well-ordered life. Because Grace knows Abi’s secret – and she’ll never let her forget it. ‘A nail-biting read that absolutely gripped me’ Susan Lewis ‘A brilliant tale about a toxic friendship’ The Sun 'Utterly compelling’ Lesley Kara ************************* Readers LOVE The House of Whispers 'I raced through this so make sure once you start you don’t have any other commitments!’ 'I loved it. It’s one of those that is going to stay with me' 'This book is a masterpiece!' 'This is a novel which will not only grip you and keep you on the edge of your seat . . . it will give you spine tingling chills and shivers' 'Creepy and intoxicating' 'I LOVED reading The House of Whispers, it’s so well written, I wasn’t expecting the shock twist at the end but it was brilliant! I was hooked from start to finish'

Anna Kent (Author), Raj Ghatak, Rose Robinson (Narrator)

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The Glamour Boys: The Secret Story of the Rebels who Fought for Britain to Defeat Hitler

We like to think we know the story of how Britain went to war with Germany in 1939, but there is one part of the story that has never been told. It features a group of MPs who repeatedly spoke out against their party and their government's policy of appeasing Hitler and Mussolini. Remarkably, nearly all of them were gay or bisexual. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain hated them. He had them followed, harassed, spied upon and derided in the press, and called them 'the glamour boys' in reference to their sexuality. They suffered abuse, innuendo and threats of de-selection, yet they spoke out repeatedly against Hitler's territorial ambitions and his treatment of political prisoners and the Jews. In doing so they risked everything, swimming against the overwhelming tide of public opinion at a time when even the suggestion of homosexuality could land you in prison. Forced by the laws of the day to hide their true nature, they ran the danger of exposure on a daily basis. Some of them used their capacity for lying as spies. Others saw brutality in Hitler's camps first hand. Five of them died in action. Without them, this country would never have faced down the Nazis. This is their story.

Chris Bryant (Author), Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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The Case For Nature: A Pioneering Path for a Planet in Crisis

We are on the brink of environmental catastrophe. Cutting emissions is essential but won't be enough. We also need to harness the power of nature, recognising that the natural world is not only priceless, but has measurable economic value. Restoring biodiversity aided by technological and financial innovation will unlock environmental protections and economic benefits. The Case for Nature sets out with powerful clarity how protecting nature is both the right thing to do, and in our economic interests; how, taking a cue from a range of indigenous worldviews, nature must be woven into our modern societies, not set apart. Siddarth Shrikanth introduces the pioneers of the nature-positive revolution, and gives us the tools to understand how we can work with, not against, our living planet. “Siddarth Shrikanth provides clear and tangible examples of how doing so will not only safeguard humanity's future, but fuel economic growth and prosperity.” - Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States, Chairman of Generation “Eloquent, informed and inspiring: a must-read for all those who care about the planet and want to know how to save the environment that all species – including our own – depend on.” - Isabella Tree, bestselling author of Wilding “The Case for Nature is a triumph and a vital resource as we move towards a world in which the intrinsic value of healthy, vibrant nature is recognised in all the decisions we take.” - Ben Goldsmith, environmentalist and financier

Siddarth Shrikanth (Author), Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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The Book of Queer Prophets: 24 Writers on Sexuality and Religion

‘A fascinating and thoughtful exploration of faith in the modern world. If you’re wondering why it matters and how to make sense of it, read on.’ – Clare Balding Is it possible to believe in God and be gay? How does it feel to be excluded from a religious community because of your sexuality? Why do some people still believe being LGBT is a sin? The Book of Queer Prophets contains modern-day epistles from some of our most important thinkers, writers and activists: Jeanette Winterson tackles religious dogma, Amrou Al-Kadhi writes about trying to make it as a Muslim drag queen in London, John Bell writes about his decision to come out later in life, Tamsin Omond remembers getting married in the middle of a protest and Kate Bottley explains her journey to becoming an LGBT ally. Essays from: Jeanette Winterson, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Amrou Al-Kadhi, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Garrard Conley, Juno Dawson, Rev. Winnie Varghese, Keith Jarrett, Jay Hulme, Lucy Knight, Tamsin Omond, Erin Clark, Michael Segalov, Jarel Robinson-Brown, John L. Bell, Mpho Tutu van Furth, Karl Rutlidge, Garry Rutter, Rev Rachel Mann, Jack Guiness, Dustin Lance Black, Ric Stott. Afterword: Kate Bottley

Ruth Hunt (Author), Amrou Al-Kadhi, Garry Rutter, Jarel Robinson-Brown, Jay Hulme, Kristin Atherton, Michael Segalov, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Pádraig ó Tuama, Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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Private India: (Private 8)

When Santosh Wagh isn't struggling out of a bottle of whisky he's head of Private India, the Mumbai branch of the world's finest PI agency. In a city of over thirteen million he has his work cut out at the best of times. But now someone is killing women - seemingly unconnected women murdered in a chilling ritual, with strange objects placed carefully at their death scenes. As Santosh and his team race to find the killer, an even greater danger faces Private India - a danger that could threaten the lives of thousands of innocent Mumbai citizens...

Ashwin Sanghi, James Patterson (Author), Amerjit Deu, Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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Night Theatre

A surgeon working in a dilapidated clinic in the hinterland is visited in the dead of night by a family - a man, his pregnant wife and their eight-year-old son. Victims of a senseless attack, they reveal to the surgeon wounds that they could not possibly have survived. The surgeon is then issued a preposterous task: to mend the wounds of the dead before sunrise so that the family can return to life. But this is not the only challenge laid before him, and it is only as the night unfolds and morning dawns that the surgeon realises just how intricately his future is tied to that of the dead. Night Theatre is a story that will remain with you long after the audiobook ends.

Vikram Paralkar (Author), Raj Ghatak (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Raj Ghatak