Audiobooks narrated by Samuel West

In a house haunted by memories, the past is everywhere... As darkness falls, a man caught in a snowstorm is forced to shelter at the strange, grim house Wuthering Heights. It is a place he will never forget. There he will come to learn the story of Cathy: how she was forced to choose between her well-meaning husband and the dangerous man she had loved since she was young. How her choice led to betrayal and terrible revenge - and continues to torment those in the present. How love can transgress convention, even death. And how desire can kill.

Emily Brontë (Author), Prunella Scales, Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Workers' Tales: Socialist Fairy Tales, Fables, and Allegories from Great Britain

A collection of political tales-first published in British workers' magazines-selected and introduced by acclaimed critic and author Michael Rosen In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, unique tales inspired by traditional literary forms appeared frequently in socialist-leaning British periodicals, such as the Clarion, Labour Leader, and Social Democrat. Based on familiar genres-the fairy tale, fable, allegory, parable, and moral tale-and penned by a range of lesser-known and celebrated authors, including Schalom Asch, Charles Allen Clarke, Frederick James Gould, and William Morris, these stories were meant to entertain readers of all ages-and some challenged the conventional values promoted in children's literature for the middle class. In Workers' Tales, acclaimed critic and author Michael Rosen brings together more than forty of the best and most enduring examples of these stories in one beautiful volume. Throughout, the tales in this collection exemplify themes and ideas related to work and the class system, sometimes in wish-fulfilling ways. In "Tom Hickathrift," a little, poor person gets the better of a gigantic, wealthy one. In "The Man Without a Heart," a man learns about the value of basic labor after testing out more privileged lives. And in "The Political Economist and the Flowers," two contrasting gardeners highlight the cold heart of Darwinian competition. Rosen's informative introduction describes how such tales advocated for contemporary progressive causes and countered the dominant celebration of Britain's imperial values. The book includes archival illustrations, biographical notes about the writers, and details about the periodicals where the tales first appeared. Provocative and enlightening, Workers' Tales presents voices of resistance that are more relevant than ever before.

Michael J. Rosen, Michael Rosen, Michael Rosen - Editor (Author), John Telfer, Lisa Coleman, Michael J. Rosen, Michael Rosen, Miriam Margolyes, Peter Kenny, Ric Jerrom, Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Unfinished Tales

JRR Tolkien's legacy of short stories which inhabit the realm of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, on audio for the first time. Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring, and provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories from the twentieth century's most acclaimed popular author. The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth and comprises such elements as Gandalf's lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End, the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand, and an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan. Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Numenor before its downfall, and all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards, the Palantiri and the legend of Amroth. The tales were collated and edited by JRR Tolkien's son and literary heir, Christopher Tolkien, who provides a short commentary on each story, helping the reader to fill in the gaps and put each story into the context of the rest of his father's writings.

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

Audiobook

Under The Net

Iris Murdoch's first novel is set in a part of London where struggling writers rub shoulders with successful bookies, and film starlets with frantic philosophers. Its hero, Jake Donaghue, is a drifting, clever, likeable young man who makes a living out of translation work and sponging on his friends. A meeting with Anna, an old flame, leads him into a series of fantastic adventures. Jake is captivated by a majestic philosopher, Hugo Belfounder, whose profound and inconclusive reflections give the book its title - under the net of language.

Iris Murdoch (Author), 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

Traveller's Gazette - At Home

The Travellers Gazette is a vivid portrait of British life through the centuries, as lived by the generations of men and women who took part. We follow in the footsteps of the intrepid British traveller as they explore the world both at home and abroad and eavesdrop on their personal recollections providing us with an entertaining collection of wry anecdotes and finely observed detail. In the At Home edition, we embark on a fascinating ramble through the towns and villages of the British Isles during the last 400 years in the company of Jane Austen, William Cobbett, Daniel Defoe, James Lees Milne, Sir Walter Scott, Virginia Woolf and many others as we travel by steam ship, mail coach and hot air balloon from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands. Narrated by Eileen Atkins; Cheryl Campbell; Nigel Davenport; Alex Jennings; Richard Johnson; Hugh Laurie; Michael Maloney; Geoffrey Palmer; Michael Pennington; Prunella Scales; Samuel West, and John Wood.

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

Audiobook

Traveller's Gazette - Abroad

The Travellers' Gazette Abroad follows in the footsteps of the intrepid British traveller as he explores the far flung shores of the world. Compiled from the writings of some of the finest Chroniclers, Diarists and Litter-writers, we join Charles Darwin, Kenneth Williams, Freya Stark, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Mungo Park, Wilfred Thesiger and many others as they witness the murder of Captain Cook in the Pacific Islands, travel the first commercial flight from Paris to London, join a Maharajah's birthday party and are shipwrecked in North America in this fascinating collection of traveller's tales, as part of the Gazette's vivid portrait of British life through the centuries.

Audiobook

Travel At Home Gazette: A ramble through the history of the British Traveller at Home. A full-cast a

Join us on a fascinating ramble through the towns and villages of the British Isles during the last four hundred years in the company of some of its most illustrious chroniclers, including Jane Austen, William Cobbett, Daniel Defoe, Sir Walter Scott, Virginia Woolf, Francis Kilvert, Celia Fiennes, Chips Channon, Fanny Burney and many others. 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 “Time travel as well as the geographical kind is offered in this anthology, which takes extracts from books, journals, letters and newspapers to form a collage of impressions and details of the British Isles over the past 400 years, with a cast of big-name readers.” Sunday Times © & ℗ 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

Travel Abroad Gazette: A journey into the history of the British Traveller Abroad. A full-cast audio

We follow in the footsteps of the intrepid British traveller as they explore the far-flung shores of the world. In the company of some of the world’s finest Chroniclers, we join Charles Darwin, Kenneth Williams, James Boswell, Freya Stark, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Fanny Trollope, Mungo Park, Nancy Mitford, Wilfred Thesiger, Horace Walpole, Evelyn Waugh and many others, in this entertaining collection of travellers’ tales. 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, 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 “Time travel as well as the geographical kind is offered in this anthology, which takes extracts from books, journals, letters and newspapers to form a collage of impressions and details of the British Isles over the past 400 years, with a cast of big-name readers.” Sunday Times © & ℗ 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

To Play the King

Newly elected Prime Minister Francis Urquhart takes on the new King, in the controversial No 1 bestselling second volume in the Francis Urquhart trilogy - now reissued in audio. After scheming his way to power in 'House of Cards', Francis Urquhart made a triumphant return in 'To Play the King' - a Sunday Times No 1 bestseller that became a BBC TV series, with Ian Richardson resuming his award-winning role as Francis Urquhart and a hugely successful Netflix series. Its highly controversial and uncannily topical storyline - in which the role of the monarchy in modern Britain comes under scrutiny as Prime Minister Francis Urquhart threatens to expose Royal secrets when his plans are blocked by the idealistic new King - coincided with a huge increase in public interest in the future of the Royal Family following a series of Royal scandals.

Michael Dobbs (Author), Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy: What Animals on Earth Reveal about Aliens - and Ourselves

Brought to you by Penguin. We are unprepared for the greatest discovery of modern science. Scientists are confident that there is alien life across the universe yet we have not moved beyond our perception of 'aliens' as Hollywood stereotypes. The time has come to abandon our fixation on alien monsters and place our expectations on solid scientific footing. Using his own expert understanding of life on Earth and Darwin's theory of evolution - which applies throughout the universe - Cambridge zoologist Dr Arik Kershenbaum explains what alien life must be like. Observing fishes whose electrical pulses indicate social status, we can see that conditions on other planets might allow for communication by electricity. As there was evolutionary pressure to wriggle along a sea floor, Earthling animals tend to have left/right symmetry; on planets where creatures evolved mid-air or in soupy tar - to be ready to move in any or multiple directions - they might be lacking any symmetry at all. Dr Kershenbaum uses cutting-edge science to paint an entertaining and compelling picture of extra-terrestrial life. Moreover, as The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy is the story of communication, intelligence, cooperation and technology, on Earth and in space, we see how life really works - and what it means to be human. © Arik Kershenbaum (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Arik Kershenbaum (Author), Sam West, Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Wench is Dead

The Wench is Dead is the eighth novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series. That night he dreamed in Technicolor. He saw the ochre-skinned, scantily clad siren in her black, arrowed stockings. And in Morse's muddled computer of a mind, that siren took the name of one Joanna Franks . . . The body of Joanna Franks was found at Duke's Cut on the Oxford Canal at about 5.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 22nd June 1859. At around 10.15 a.m. on a Saturday morning in 1989 the body of Chief Inspector Morse - though very much alive - was removed to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. Treatment for a perforated ulcer was later pronounced successful. As Morse begins his recovery he comes across an account of the investigation and the trial that followed Joanna Franks' death . . . and becomes convinced that the two men hanged for her murder were innocent . . . The Wench is Dead is followed by the ninth Inspector Morse book, The Jewel That Was Ours.

Colin Dexter (Author), Samuel West (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Samuel West