Audiobooks narrated by Samuel West

"'And O there are days in this life, worth life and worth death.' Famed for being Dickens's last completed novel, Our Mutual Friend is a sophisticated social analysis and damning satire of wealth, and the greed and corruption it can bring. First published between 1864 and 1865, Our Mutual Friend revolves around the inheritance of a large fortune left by John Harmon Sr., owner of a huge estate. Once John passes, his wealth is left to his son, but only under one condition: that he marries Miss Bella Wilfer, a shallow young woman preoccupied with money. However, Harmon's son doesn't appear to inherit his fortune – rather, a body is mysteriously found washed away in the Thames. What ensues is a ghastly battle for money and social standing, and a sobering illustration of the consequences of granting social status more power than personal morality in the pursuit of happiness. With complex plot lines and unforgettable characters, Our Mutual Friend easily establishes itself as a timeless classic. This audiobook edition is expertly narrated by Samuel West. Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the twentieth century, critics and scholars had recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are widely read, performed and adapted today."

Charles Dickens (Author), Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brighton Rock

"Brought to you by Penguin. Gripping, terrifying, an unputdownable read. Discover Graham Greene's most iconic novel. A gang war is raging through the dark underworld of Brighton. Seventeen-year-old Pinkie, malign and ruthless, has killed a man. Believing he can escape retribution, he is unprepared for the courageous, life-embracing Ida Arnold. Greene's gripping thriller exposes a world of loneliness and fear, of life lived on the 'dangerous edge of things.' In this gripping, terrifying, and unputdownable read, discover Greene's iconic tale of the razor-wielding Pinkie. 'Brighton Rock when I was about thirteen. One of the first lessons I took from it was that a serious novel could be an exciting novel - that the novel of adventure could also be the novel of ideas' Ian McEwan © Graham Greene 1938 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Graham Greene (Author), Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Precipice

"Brought to you by Penguin. FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR Summer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe. In London, 26-year-old Venetia Stanley – aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless – is having a love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state. As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer is assigned to investigate a leak of top secret documents – and suddenly what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that will alter the course of political history. Seamlessly weaving fact and fiction in a way that no writer does better, Precipice is the thrilling new novel from Robert Harris. ‘A riveting tale of politics, war and erotic obsession’ Sunday Times 'Harris writes with a skill and ingenuity that few other novelists can match' Financial Times ©2024 Robert Harris (P)2024 Penguin Audio"

Robert Harris (Author), Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Surreal and Supernatural Stories of Walter de la Mare: A BBC Radio Collection

"Full-cast dramatisations and readings of classic tales by Walter de la Mare – plus bonus material. An award-wining poet, short story writer and novelist, Walter de la Mare is probably best known for his works for children and his perennially popular poem ‘The Listeners’. His ghost stories were much admired by H. P. Lovecraft and inspired subsequent authors of supernatural horror such as Robert Aickman and Ramsey Campbell. In 1921, his novel Memoirs of a Midget won the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction, and this haunting, surrealistic tale is the opening tale in our anthology. It tells the extraordinary life story of the diminutive Miss M, who struggles to find her place in Victorian society. Torn between her obsessive suitor Mr Anon and the cruel, beautiful Fanny Bowater, she seeks freedom in the dangerous world of the circus… Emma Fielding stars as Miss M, with Robert Glenister, Sylvestra Le Touzel and Anna Massey. Based on de la Mare’s 1923 short story and starring Samuel West and Margaret Robertson, ‘Seaton’s Aunt’ sees Rupert Withers recalling the sinister relative of a boyhood friend – a woman he met just three times, but who left an indelible impression. Ghost Stories of Walter de la Mare contains four more uncanny tales – ‘All Hallows’ (read by Richard E. Grant), ‘Crewe’ (read by Kenneth Cranham), ‘A Recluse’ (read by Anthony Head) and ‘The Almond Tree’ (read by Julian Wadham). It is followed by a dramatisation of ‘The Trumpet’, starring Garard Green, in which a rector’s son meets his best friend in church one moonlit night for a dare that ends in disaster. Also included are two bonus programmes celebrating the poetry of Walter de la Mare. In Adventures in Poetry: The Listeners, Peggy Reynolds introduces a reading of the much-loved poem, and explores its background, effect and lasting appeal with guests Russell Hoban, Sean Street and de la Mare’s grandson Giles. And in Three Score and Ten, Ian Macmillan presents an archive recording from Christmas Day 1953 of Walter de la Mare reading his poems ‘England’ and ‘The Little Salamander’. Credits Written by Walter de la Mare First published 1921 (Memoirs of a Midget), 1923 (‘Seaton’s Aunt’, ‘The Almond Tree’), 1926 (‘All Hallows’), 1930 (‘Crewe’, ‘A Recluse’), 1936 (‘The Trumpet’) Memoirs of a Midget First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 March-2 April 1993 Please note that the language used reflects the era in which the original novel was written. ‘Seaton’s Aunt’ First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 December 1995 Ghost Stories of Walter de la Mare First broadcast BBC Radio 7, 24-28 December 2010 The Trumpet First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 April 1986 Adventures in Poetry: The Listeners First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 November 2008 Three Score and Ten First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 October 2016 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Walter De La Mare (Author), Andrew Wincott, Anthony Head, Emma Fielding, Full Cast, Garard Green, Jonathan Keeble, Julian Wadham, Kenneth Cranham, Margaret Robertson, Richard E. Grant, Samuel West, Walter De La Mare (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition

"The comprehensive collection of letters spanning the adult life of one of the world’s greatest storytellers, now revised and expanded to include more than 150 previously unseen letters, with revealing new insights into The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of the languages and history of Middle-earth as recorded in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, was one of the most prolific letter-writers of this century. Over the years he wrote a mass of letters – to his publishers, to members of his family, to friends, and to 'fans' of his books – which often reveal the inner workings of his mind, and which record the history of composition of his works and his reaction to subsequent events. A selection from Tolkien's correspondence, collected and edited by Tolkien's official biographer, Humphrey Carpenter, and assisted by Christopher Tolkien, was published in 1981. It presented, in Tolkien's own words, a highly detailed portrait of the man in his many aspects: storyteller, scholar, Catholic, parent, friend, and observer of the world around him. In this revised and expanded edition of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, it has been possible to go back to the editors’ original typescripts and notes, restoring more than 150 letters that were excised purely to achieve what was then deemed a ‘publishable length’, and present the book as originally intended. Enthusiasts for his writings will find much that is new, for the letters not only include fresh information about Middle-earth, such as Tolkien’s own plot summary of the entirety of The Lord of the Rings and a vision for publishing his ‘Tales of the Three Ages’, but also many insights into the man and his world. In addition, this new selection will entertain anyone who appreciates the art of letter-writing, of which J.R.R. Tolkien was a master."

J.R.R. Tolkien (Author), Chris Smith, Mike Grady, Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Book at Bedtime: A BBC Radio Collection: 10 Unmissable Classics

"A bumper collection of accessible classics from the perennially popular BBC Radio 4 series This diverse, wide-ranging anthology features readings of 10 of the greatest books in the English language, taken from the BBC's Book at Bedtime and performed by a stellar cast of narrators. Here are nearly 27 hours of sensational stories, from iconic romances and humorous travelogues to pioneering Modernist masterpieces and compelling explorations of the human heart. Comprising much-loved favourites as well as neglected classics, this genre-spanning selection has something for everyone. This collection includes abridged readings of: Persuasion by Jane Austen: Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth get a second chance at love following their broken engagement seven years earlier. Read by Juliet Stevenson. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: An orphaned young woman discovers romance when she meets the charming Mr Rochester. Read by Anne-Marie Duff. Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy: Independent Bathsheba Everdene must contend with three very different suitors all vying for her affections. Read by Douglas Hodge. Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes by Robert Louis Stevenson: Stephenson's travelogue from his 12-day hike, taken to distance himself from his love affair with a married woman. Read by Alan Cumming. The Aspern Papers by Henry James: A nameless narrator goes to Venice to persuade American poet Jeffrey Aspern's lover to let him read Aspern's letters. Read by Samuel West. Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. Jerome: The Three Men in a Boat return for a bicycle tour through the German Black Forest. Read by Hugh Laurie. Dubliners by James Joyce: Form-defining stories about life in Dublin at the start of the 20th century. Read by Stephen Rea. The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford: Two couples, two marriages; both seemingly perfect. But beneath the surface lies deception and betrayal. Read by Toby Stephens. The Rector's Daughter by F.M. Mayor: Mary has spent thirty-five years taking care of others, but with the arrival Robert Herbert her quiet, ordered existence is changed forever. Read by Juliet Stevenson. Orlando by Virginia Woolf: A playful mock biography of a chameleonic historical figure, immortal and ageless, who changes sex and identity on a whim. Read by Amanda Hale. First published 1817 (Persuasion), 1847 (Jane Eyre), 1874 (Far from the Madding Crowd), 1879 (Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes), 1888 (The Aspern Papers), 1900 (Three Men on the Bummel), 1914 (Dubliners), 1915 (The Good Soldier), 1924 (The Rector's Daughter), 1928 (Orlando) © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Charlotte Brontë, F.M. Mayor, Ford Madox Ford, Henry James, James Joyce, Jane Austen, Jerome K. Jerome, Robert Louis Stevenson, Thomas Hardy, Virginia Woolf (Author), Alan Cumming, Amanda Hale, Anne-Marie Duff, Douglas Hodge, Hugh Laurie, Juliet Stevenson, Samuel West, Stephen Rea, Toby Stephens (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Fall of Númenor: and Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth

"J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings on the Second Age of Middle-earth, collected for the first time in one volume. J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a ‘dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told’. And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron. It was not until Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion after his father’s death that a fuller story could be told. Although much of the book’s content concerned the First Age of Middle-earth, there were at its close two key works that revealed the tumultuous events concerning the rise and fall of the island of Númenor. Raised out of the Great Sea and gifted to the Men of Middle-earth as a reward for aiding the angelic Valar and the Elves in the defeat and capture of the Dark Lord Morgoth, the kingdom became a seat of influence and wealth; but as the Númenóreans’ power increased, the seed of their downfall would inevitably be sown, culminating in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Even greater insight into the Second Age would be revealed in subsequent publications, first in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, then expanded upon in Christopher Tolkien’s magisterial twelve-volume The History of Middle-earth, in which he presented and discussed a wealth of further tales written by his father, many in draft form. Now, adhering to the timeline of ‘The Tale of Years’ in the appendices to The Lord of the Rings, editor Brian Sibley has assembled into one comprehensive volume a new chronicle of the Second Age of Middle-earth, told substantially in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien from the various published texts."

J.R.R. Tolkien (Author), Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ben Hur: A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation

"A thrilling adaptation of Lew Wallace's epic biblical tale of betrayal, destiny and redemption. Judea, 26 AD. Two men's lives run almost in parallel. One is a prince of Jerusalem. The other is known as 'He that is born King of the Jews'... When Judah Ben Hur visits his childhood playmate Messala, now a Roman tribune, he hopes to rekindle an old friendship. But their meeting has devastating consequences. Betrayed and falsely accused of attempted murder, Judah's property is confiscated and his family arrested - and he himself is sent to the galleys. En route to the sea, he meets a carpenter's son, who gives him water - and looking into the man's eyes, he almost loses his desire for vengeance. Freed from slavery years later, Judah travels to Antioch, where he hears of a King who will lead the Jewish people, and vows to go and fight for him. He also encounters his former friend Messala once more, and seizes the opportunity to crush him in a high-stakes chariot race. Emerging victorious, he journeys back to Jerusalem to find his lost mother and sister, and raise a resistance force against Rome. But as his life intersects with that of the King he champions, he comes to realise that Jesus of Nazareth is not a warrior, but a saviour - and that the path to his kingdom lies through forgiveness. First published in 1880, Ben Hur was famously adapted as a 1959 blockbuster starring Charlton Heston, which won a record 11 Oscars. This spectacular, cinematic dramatisation boasts a stirring score by award-winning composer Wilfredo Acosta, and is brought to life by a stunning cast including Julian Glover, Samuel West and Michael Gambon. Production credits Written by Lew Wallace Dramatised by Catherine Czerkawska Directed by Glyn Dearman Music and sound design by Wilfredo Acosta Iras' song sung by Elizabeth Mansfield Cast Judah Ben Hur - Jamie Glover Messala - Samuel West Angel/Esther - Deborah Berlin Amrah - Phyllis Calvert Mother - Margaret John Arrius/Man 2 - Derek Waring Tirzah/Maid - Natasha Pyne Chief of Rowers/Man 1 - Don McCorkindale Man 1/Servant/Roman 1/Man at Inn - Joshua Towb Thord/Man 2/Passenger/Servant - Michael Tudor Barnes Man in Boat/Malluch - Gavin Muir Simonides - Bernard Hepton Sheik Ilderim - Freddie Jones Balthasar - Michael Hordern Drusus - Ian Masters Iras - Becky Hindley Jesus/Man 3 - Peter Yapp Pilate/Guide/John the Baptist - Neville Jason Assassin - Oliver Senton Man 4 - Peter Whitman Michael Gambon reads from the Bible First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 March - 9 April 1995 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Lew Wallace (Author), Full Cast, Jamie Glover, Michael Gambon, Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tweet of the Day: A Year of Bird Lovers

"Bird lovers including Will Young, Samuel West, Dermot O'Leary, Greta Scacchi and Sue Perkins introduce us to their favourite birds - plus, Alison Steadman presents The Twelve Tweets of Christmas Since 2013, Tweet of the Day has been a daily delight for early risers, with its 90 seconds of beautiful birdsong and fascinating ornithological stories. But what of the people who tune in to this avian chorus? In this collection, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of an array of wildlife enthusiasts, all eager to recount their encounters with birds - among them 'Birdgirl' Mya-Rose Craig, writers Joe Harkness, Amy Liptrot, Melissa Harrison and Mark Cocker, Springwatch host Lindsey Chapman and the staff at Slimbridge Wetland Centre, the RSPB, BirdLife International and the British Trust for Ornithology. Together, they guide us through the year, from May to March, and introduce us to the birds that have inspired them. We also hear from some unexpected celebrity sources, who share stories of the birds that catch their eyes - and their ears. Will Young tells us about seeing a Woodland Kingfisher as a child in South Africa; Sue Perkins recalls coming face to face with a Great Horned Owl and Greta Scacchi reveals her fondness for the magnificent Goldfinch. Other famous names include Samuel West, who counts the turkey-like Capercaillie and the dapper, white-bibbed Dipper among his ten picks; and Dermot O'Leary, whose five choices include 'the Alsatian of the skies', the Greater Black-Backed Gull. Jimi Goodwin, the lead singer in Doves, swerves his band's titular bird in favour of the Cuckoo and the Mallard; while musician Fyfe Dangerfield celebrates the two birds that gave his bands their names - Guillemots and Gannets - along with eight others, and uses his own birdsong recordings to experiment in music. Also featured is The Twelve Tweets of Christmas, in which Alison Steadman provides a selection of festive editions inspired by the well-known carol 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'. Production credits Produced by Maggie Ayre, Miles Warde, Tom Bonnett, Eliza Lomas, Mark Ward, Karen Gregor, Tim Dee, Sarah Blunt and Andrew Dawes © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd."

Chris Packham, Dermot O’leary, Michael Morpurgo, Monty Don, Sue Perkins, Will Young (Author), Alison Steadman, Chris Packham, Dermot O’leary, Greta Scacchi, Michael Morpurgo, Monty Don, Samuel West, Sue Perkins, Various, Will Young (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Gazette BOX SET: A portrait of British life through the centuries in six volumes. A full-cast Au

"The Gazette Box Set is a vivid portrait of British life through the centuries, told entirely in the words of those who were there. Performed by an outstanding company of award-winning actors including Dame Eileen Atkins, Cheryl Campbell, Nigel Davenport, Alex Jennings, Richard Johnson OBE, Hugh Laurie CBE, Michael Maloney, Geoffrey Palmer OBE, Michael Pennington, Prunella Scales CBE, Samuel West & John Wood CBE & full supporting cast. Presented in SIX volumes: NAVY Gazette: A voyage into the colourful events of the British Navy at Sea. ARMY Gazette: A captivating foray into the turbulent events of the British Army at war. SPORTS Gazette: A rousing gallop through the British sporting calendar. SPORTING PASTIMES Gazette: A hop, skip and a jump alongside the British at play. TRAVEL AT HOME Gazette: A 400 year ramble through the towns and villages of the British Isles. TRAVEL ABROAD Gazette: We follow in the footsteps of the intrepid British Traveller as they explore abroad. “It is a highly enjoyable collection. Some pieces are just dazzling.” Independent on Sunday “An extraordinary series... deserves a medal. The readers are all excellent and many of them distinguished.” The Spectator “From the same stable that produced The Chronicle, my favourite audio this year, I've just listened equally spellbound to a compilation of travellers' tales at home.” The Guardian © & ℗ 2022 Mr Punch Audiobooks Ltd"

Mr Punch (Author), Alex Jennings, Eileen Atkins, Geoffrey Palmer, Hugh Laurie, Michael Maloney, Michael Pennington, Nigel Davenport, Prunella Scales, Richard Johnson, Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Military Gazette BOX SET: A fascinating foray into British Military history in two volumes. A fu

"A fascinating foray into British military history in TWO volumes, told entirely in the words of those who were there. NAVY Gazette: Experience the reality of life in the British Navy as we sail from the Viking invasion of Anglo Saxon England to a young sailor’s grief at the death of Lord Nelson, from the Spanish Armada to the Battle of Jutland and from organised press gangs to murderous mutinies. ARMY Gazette: From the Roman invasion of Britain to the retreat from Dunkirk, from the horrors of Culloden to the courage of Rourke’s Drift, we hear first-hand the stories behind the triumphs and tragedies that make up the history of the British Army. Performed by an outstanding company of award-winning actors including Dame Eileen Atkins, Cheryl Campbell, Nigel Davenport, Alex Jennings, Richard Johnson OBE, Hugh Laurie CBE, Michael Maloney, Geoffrey Palmer OBE, Michael Pennington, Prunella Scales CBE, Samuel West, John Wood CBE & full supporting cast. Also available as part of The Gazettes Box Set, a six-volume edition (Military, Sport & Travel) creating a vivid portrait of British life through the centuries. “It is a highly enjoyable collection. Some pieces are just dazzling.” Independent on Sunday “An extraordinary series... deserves a medal. The readers are all excellent and many of them distinguished.” The Spectator “From the same stable that produced The Chronicle, my favourite audio this year, I've just listened equally spellbound to a compilation of travellers' tales at home.” The Guardian © & ℗ 2022 Mr Punch Audiobooks Ltd"

Mr Punch (Author), Alex Jennings, Eileen Atkins, Geoffrey Palmer, Hugh Laurie, Michael Maloney, Michael Pennington, Nigel Davenport, Prunella Scales, Richard Johnson, Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Sporting Gazette BOX SET: A rousing gallop through the British sporting calendar of the last nin

"A rousing gallop through the British sporting calendar of the last nine hundred years, as we eavesdrop on some of the most memorable events in the history of British sport, told entirely in the words of those who were there, in TWO volumes. Performed by an outstanding company of award-winning actors including Dame Eileen Atkins, Cheryl Campbell, Nigel Davenport, Alex Jennings, Richard Johnson OBE, Hugh Laurie CBE, Michael Maloney, Geoffrey Palmer OBE, Michael Pennington, Prunella Scales CBE, Samuel West & John Wood CBE & full supporting cast. SPORTS Gazette: From sword fights to boxing, jousting to motor racing, football to cricket, we journey in the company of such diverse characters as A.A. Milne, Dick Francis, Queen Victoria, Kenneth Wolstenholme, Tony Jacklin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and many more. Sporting PASTIMES Gazette: Discover the colourful story of the British at play, eavesdrop on Pitt the younger playing a game of marbles, join Lord Mountbatten at a cock fight in India, take a dip in the channel with Captain Webb, or simply enjoy the very British sport of… hopping. Also available as part of The Gazettes Box Set, a six-volume edition (Military, Sport & Travel) creating a vivid portrait of British life through the centuries. “It is a highly enjoyable collection. Some pieces are just dazzling.” Independent on Sunday “An extraordinary series... deserves a medal. The readers are all excellent and many of them distinguished.” The Spectator “From the same stable that produced The Chronicle, my favourite audio this year, I've just listened equally spellbound to a compilation of travellers' tales at home.” The Guardian © & ℗ 2022 Mr Punch Audiobooks Ltd"

Mr Punch (Author), Alex Jennings, Eileen Atkins, Geoffrey Palmer, Hugh Laurie, Michael Maloney, Michael Pennington, Nigel Davenport, Prunella Scales, Richard Johnson, Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Samuel West