Audiobooks narrated by Rosina Aichner

The Matchbox Girl: Winner of the 2026 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction

"Bloomsbury presents The Matchbox Girl by Alice Jolly, read by Rosina Aichner **WINNER OF THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION 2026** From the multi-award-winning author – a beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel telling the story of a young girl’s battle for survival and search for the truth in occupied Vienna ‘A shimmering masterwork’ Alice Austen ‘An extraordinary novel about resilience’ Amanda Craig ‘A mesmerising tapestry woven across history’ Gina Rippon ‘Gripping and profound. A masterful work of rare complexity that lingers and haunts’ Christine Leunens Adelheid Brunner does not speak. She writes and draws instead and her ambition is to own one thousand matchboxes. Her grandmother cannot make sense of this, but Adelheid will stop at nothing to achieve her dream. She makes herself invisible, hiding in cupboards with her pet rat, Franz Joseph, listening in on conversations she can’t fully comprehend. Then she meets Dr Asperger, a man who lets children play all day and who recognises the importance of matchboxes. He invites Adelheid to come and live at the Vienna paediatric clinic, where she and other children like herself will live under observation. But the date is 1938 and the place is Vienna – a city of political instability, a place of increasing fear and violence. When the Nazis march into the city, a new world is created and difficult choices must be made. Why are the clinic's children disappearing, and where do they go? Adelheid starts to suspect that some of Dr Asperger’s games are played for the highest stakes. In order to survive, she must play a game whose rules she cannot yet understand. Triumphant and tragic, soulful and spirited, The Matchbox Girl is a burningly brilliant book – that brings the stories of a generation of lost children into the light. ‘A vividly imagined story told with real drive and heart’ Rachel Seiffert ‘Unique and profoundly human’ Emma Darwin ‘One of the most charismatic and companionable narrators I’ve ever come across’ Toby Litt ‘The sheer brilliance of Alice Jolly’s writing stopped me in my tracks, stole my breath’ Angela Findlay ‘An important, powerful book, so real I couldn’t put it down’ Kathleen Jones P 2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC C 2025 Alice Jolly"

Alice Jolly (Author), Rosina Aichner (Narrator)

Audiobook

The People’s War: Unheard Voices: Life on the Battlefront and at Home in World War II

"Brought to you by Penguin. Read by the author, with Christine Kavanagh, Rosina Aichner, Laurence Dobeisz, Joe Jameson, Conor Macleod, Jamie Zubairi, Ayesha Antoine, Naruto Komatsu, Alfie Thompson, Chris Thompson, Nile Faure-Bryan, Sam Heaton, Michael Pender, Brónagh Grace and Ru Merritt. There was a German bomber flying right towards us – a Dornier, one of their biggest. It was so low we could see the pilot flying it and the gunner in the nose of the bomber pointing his machine gun at us… Schoolboy in Kent, during the Battle of Britain My legs pressed harder around my father's waist; my arms nearly choked him. The humming of Japanese aircraft was loud enough for everyone to hear now, and panic spread like ink on a blotter. Child saying goodbye to her parents, Singapore 1942 In the early 2000s, the BBC set up one of its biggest oral history archives, recording the lives and experiences of the ordinary people who lived through World War Two. It amounted to 47,000 testimonies and over 400 diaries and letters, all of which have remained hidden in the archives for twenty years – until now. In The People's War, John Willis unearths untold stories of everyday bravery, moments of terror, and tales of life-affirming community, that guide us through the years of the Second World War. From soldiers in North Africa and prisoners of war in East Asia, to evacuees in the British countryside and women in the factories, The People's War is a truly ambitious and comprehensive journey through a devastating and pivotal period of our history, as you've never read before. Follow the remarkable stories of ordinary individuals who lived, fought, grieved, loved, and survived through World War Two. © John Willis 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

John Willis (Author), Alfie Thompson, Ayesha Antoine, Christine Kavanagh, Conor MacLeod, Jamie Zubairi, Joe Jameson, John Willis, Laurence Dobiesz, Naruto Komatsu, Rosina Aichner (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Silence In Between: Heartbreak, hope and unbreakable love – the must-read sweeping historical novel about mothers, family and survival

"Brought to you by Penguin. SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2024 The Silence in Between is a historical novel based in Berlin in 1961 and during the Second World War. Lisette lives in East Berlin but brings her new-born baby to a hospital in West Berlin. Under doctor's orders, she goes home to rest, leaving the baby in the care of the hospital. But overnight the border between East and West closes, slicing the city - and the world - in two. With a city in chaos and armed guards ordered to shoot anyone who tries to cross, her situation is desperate. Lisette's teenage daughter, Elly, has always struggled to understand the distance between herself and her mother. Both live for music but while Elly hears notes surrounding every person she meets, for her mother - once a talented pianist - the world has gone silent. Perhaps Elly can do something to bridge the gap between them. What begins as the flicker of an idea turns into a daring plan to escape East Berlin, find her baby brother, and bring him home.... Featuring music composed by Carl-Michael Bonde. ©2024 Josie Ferguson (P)2024 Penguin Audio"

Josie Ferguson (Author), Josie Ferguson, Rosina Aichner (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Story Collector: Unravel the sweeping, spellbinding tale of family drama, love and betrayal

"Brought to you by Penguin. THREE LOST SOULS. A LONG-BURIED SECRET. THE TRUTH THAT COULD SET THEM FREE... London, 1915: Tarot reader Katerina is trying to hold her life together amid the wartime chaos. When she opens a bakery that offers divination alongside sweet treats, she is hailed as a beacon of hope. But Katerina is hiding a dark truth that could cost her everything. Germany, 1918: A mute British soldier is taken to a prisoner of war camp where he meets Miriam, a researcher. She is drawn to his gentle manner and secretly vows to help him. But soon she will have to make an impossible choice: will she save the one she loves, or herself? Cornwall, Present Day: Recently widowed Edie is astonished to discover a mysterious box hidden in the wall of her newly renovated cottage. As Edie starts to investigate, she uncovers a secret that has lain hidden for over a century... The Story Collector tells the story of three people, divided by time and circumstance yet bound by a long-held secret. PRAISE FOR IRIS COSTELLO 'A rich and tender story of fortitude, family and friendship' Ruth Hogan, The Keeper of Lost Things 'The perfect winter read' Amanda Prowse, To Love and Be Loved 'Simply spellbinding, very addictive, and so beautifully written' Sophie Irwin, A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting 'Richly atmospheric, evocative and moving - a triumph of storytelling' Abbie Greaves, The Ends of the Earth 'Full of intrigue and loss, this beautifully written gothic tale makes for a spellbinding read' Rhiannon Ward, The Shadowing 'An intriguing story which skilfully entwines the past and present' Heidi Swain, A Christmas Celebration 'Absorbing, moving and multi-layered... A book to curl up with' Emma Curtis, Invite Me In 'Beautifully written with a story that draws you in' Jane Corry, We All Have Our Secrets ©2023 Iris Costello (P)2023 Penguin Audio"

Iris Costello (Author), Jane Slavin, Kristin Atherton, Rosina Aichner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Rosina Aichner

Join Our Community