Audiobooks narrated by Terrence Hardiman

Shakespeare: The Masque Quartet: Henry VIII, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Temp

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. All 4 of Shakespeare’s plays that are considered to make up The Masque Quartet, performed by the celebrated Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. Comedy, tragedy, and folklore are played out in this quartet, all of which utilise the masque in unique and revelatory ways. Performed by an incredible array of the 20th century’s greatest actors, Marlowe alumni including Ian McKellen, Prunella Scales, Michael Hordern, and Patrick Wymark can be heard in these recordings. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. This collection includes all 4 plays considered to form Shakespeare’s Masque Quartet: • Henry VIII • A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream • Romeo and Juliet • The Tempest The full casts for each production in this collection can be found in the description of the individual play’s product page.

William Shakespeare (Author), Full Cast, Ian Mckellen, Michael Hordern, Patrick Wymark, Prunella Scales, Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

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Measure for Measure

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.’ Vienna is beset with brothels and loose morality, so it's up to the Duke to provide some divine intervention. The Duke leaves Angelo in charge of Vienna, where he quickly condemns Claudio to death for immoral behaviour. Angelo offers to pardon Claudio if his sister, Isabella, sleeps with him. Isabella agrees but has Angelo's fiance switch places with her. The Duke returns to spare Claudio, punish Angelo, and propose to Isabella. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Toby Robertson; George Rylands; John Bird; Richard Marquand; Anthony Jacobs; Derek Jacobi; Chris Renard; Terrence Hardiman; Roger Prior; David Brierley; Donald Beves; John Kimber; Clive Swift; Janette Richer; Dorothy Mulcahy; Penelope Balchin; Camille Prior; George Rylands.

William Shakespeare (Author), Derek Jacobi, Full Cast, George Rylands, Richard Marquand, Terrence Hardiman, Toby Robertson (Narrator)

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The Winter’s Tale

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Though I am not naturally honest, I am sometimes so by chance.’ Based on Robert Greene’s story Pandosto, The Winter’s Tale play tells the story of Leontes, king of Sicilia, and his childhood friend, Polixenes, king of Bohemia. In a jealous rage, Leontes mistakenly accuses Polixenes and his own his wife, Hermione, of adultery and her newborn daughter as illegitimate, casting her into the wilderness, causing their son to die of grief and Hermione to seemingly follow suit. With his family dead or believed dead, Leontes must face the tragic consequences of his actions. With unbridled honesty and the pain of love, the final act is one of Shakespeare’s most moving reconciliation scenes. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: William Squire; Denis McCarthy; Terrence Hardiman; Corin Redgrave; Toby Robertson; Anthony White; George Rylands; John Barton; Michael Bates; Margaretta Scott; Mary Conroy; Joan Hart; Jill Daltry; Janette Richer; Clive Swift; Ian McKellen; Richard Marquand; Donald Beves; Anthony Arlidge.

William Shakespeare (Author), Anthony White, Denis Mccarthy, Full Cast, Ian Mckellen, Terrence Hardiman, William Squire (Narrator)

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The Two Gentlemen Of Verona

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘At first I did adore a twinkling star But now I worship a celestial sun.’ The Two Gentlemen of Verona is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays and also one of the most rarely performed. It's about betrayal, love and disguise. Valentine sets off from Verona for Milan to see the world. Proteus stays at home because of his love for Julia. She is in love with him, but neither knows of the other's love until Lucetta shows Julia a love letter from Proteus. He is reading her reply when his father, Antonio, sends him to the Duke's court to join Valentine. The lovers take their leave and swear eternal constancy. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: John Barton; David Gibson; Richard Marquand; Terrence Hardiman; George Rylands; Toby Robertson; Roderick Cook; Donald Beves; Clive Swift; David Buck; John Tracy-Phillips; Chris Renard; Olive Gregg; Janette Richer; Penelope Balchin.

William Shakespeare (Author), David Gibson, Full Cast, George Rylands, John Barton, Richard Marquand, Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

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The Tempest

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘We are such stuff As dreams are made on; and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.’ Magical and dreamlike in its tone, Shakespeare’s The Tempest begins with a storm of epic proportions and a shipwreck. Banished from Italy, Prospero lives on a remote island with his daughter. Using his magic, he vows to seek revenge on the injustice dealt to him by his brother, but in doing so, Shakespeare questions the difficulty of distinguishing ‘men’ from ‘monsters’, and the realities of justice. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Terrence Hardiman; Ian Lang; Michael Hordern; Denis McCarthy; Ian Lang; Denys Robertson; Derek Jacobi; Patrick Wymark; Philip Strick; Clive Swift; Natasha Parry; Miles Malleson; Margaret Field-Hyde; Jill Daltry; Margaretta Scott; Ena Mitchell.

William Shakespeare (Author), Derek Jacobi, Full Cast, Ian Lang, Michael Hordern, Patrick Wymark, Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

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A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.’ Shakespeare's most popular comedy, set in an enchanted forest with fairies, sparring lovers and a group of amateur actors who are putting on a play. Four Athenians run away to the forest only to have Puck the fairy make both of the boys fall in love with the same girl. The four run through the forest pursuing each other while Puck helps his master play a trick on the fairy queen. In the end, Puck reverses the magic, and the two couples reconcile and marry. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Frank Duncan; Joan Hart; Julian Curry; John Tracy-Phillips; Ian McKellen; Terrence Hardiman; Jeannette Sterke; Prunella Scales; Miles Malleson; Peter Woodthorpe; John Sharp; John Wood; Trevor Nunn; Christopher Kelly; Anthony White; Jill Balcon; Richard Goolden; Elizabeth Proud; George Rylands; John Sharp; Richard Kay.

William Shakespeare (Author), Frank Duncan, Full Cast, Ian Mckellen, Julian Curry, Prunella Scales, Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

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Henry VI, Pt.1

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘No, no, I am but shadow of myself: You are deceived, my substance is not here.’ Henry VI Part I is part of Shakespeare’s trilogy centred on the Wars of the Roses. After Henry V's death and while Henry VI is young, nobles rule England and fight the French, including Joan of Arc. As Henry VI becomes King, the noble houses begin to divide and take sides between York and Lancaster. The war with France winds down, and the nobles try to find Henry a wife and disagree about who Henry chooses. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Richard Marquand; David King; Carleton Hobbs; Terrence Hardiman; Denis McCarthy; Roger Croucher; Peter Orr; Frank Duncan; John Tydeman; Gary Watson; William Devlin; Gordon Gardner; Cyril Luckham; John Nettleton; John Shrapnel; Raymond Clark; Brian Batchelor; David Rowe-Beddoe; Anthony Arlidge; Bob Jones; Patrick Garland; Clinton Baddele; John Hopkins; John Tracy-Phillips; David Buck; John Bartom; Ronald Grey; Mary Morris; Yvonne Bonnamy; Freda Dowie.

William Shakespeare (Author), Carleton Hobbs, David King, Full Cast, Peter Orr, Richard Marquand, Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

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The Merry Wives of Windsor

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Why, then the world ’s mine oyster, Which I with sword will open.’ Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. But the ‘Merry Wives’ quickly cotton on to his tricks and decide to have a bit of fun of their own at Falstaff’s expense. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Patrick Wymark; Peter Orr; Terrence Hardiman; Gordon Gardner; Frank Duncan; Anthony Arlidge; Dudley Jones; Roy Dotrice; David Buck; Anthony Handy; Tony Church; Philip Strick; Freda Dowie; Norman Mitchell; Raymond Clarke; Geraldine McEwan; Angela Baddeley; Susan Maryott; Beatrix Lehmann.

William Shakespeare (Author), Full Cast, Gordon Gardner, Patrick Wymark, Peter Orr, Roy Dotrice, Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

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Cymbeline

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.’ Cymbeline is believed to be one of Shakespeare's final plays and is about deceit, pursuit and seduction. King Cymbeline of Britain banishes his daughter Innogen's husband, who then makes a bet on Innogen's fidelity. Innogen is accused of being unfaithful, runs away, and becomes a page for the Roman army as it invades Britain. In the end, Innogen clears her name, discovers her long-lost brothers and reunites with her husband while Cymbeline makes peace with Rome. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Denis McCarthy; David Rowe-Beddoe; Ian Lang; Terrence Hardiman; Andrew Parkes; John Sharpe; Roger Hammond; Tony White; Peter Orr; David Coombes; Philip Strick; Tom Bussman; John Tracy-Phillips; Trevor Nunn; Tom Bussman; Michael Burrell; Gillian Webb; Margaret Drabble; Micheline Samuels.

William Shakespeare (Author), David Rowe-Beddoe, Denis Mccarthy, Full Cast, Ian Lang, Margaret Drabble, Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

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Romeo And Juliet

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.’ Arguably the greatest love story ever told, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet continues to touch modern audiences with its passionate depiction of the tragic romance between two young lovers. With a bitter feud between their respective families, Romeo and Juliet’s love is troubled from the start, and through their relationship, Shakespeare shows the fine line between love, hatred, comedy and tragedy. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Terrence Hardiman; Corin Redgrave; Toby Robertson; Richard Marquand; Anthony White; John Barton; David Jones; Tony Church; George Rylands; Anthony Arlidge; Clive Swift; Donald Beves; Julian Curry; Tony Church; George Rylands; Margaretta Scott; Janette Richer; Vivienne Chatterton; Denis McCarthy.

William Shakespeare (Author), Corin Redgrave, Full Cast, Julian Curry, Richard Marquand, Terrence Hardiman, Tony Robertson (Narrator)

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A Christmas Homecoming

Anne Perry’s latest Christmas novella follows Charlotte Pitt’s mother, Caroline, as she travels up the Yorkshire coast with her husband, Joshua Fielding, and his troupe of actors. Their destination is Whitby, the famed landing site of Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s tale; the brooding, windswept fishing village is home to theatrical “Angel” Charles Netheridge. Cleverly playing upon the idea of evil as something one has to invite in, Anne Perry delivers another thrilling, ultimately heart-warming tale just in time for Christmas. “Background on staging a play, plenty of vampire lore, and the personal story of Caroline’s attempt to fit in with her much-younger husband’s colleagues add to the appeal of this engaging locked-room mystery.”--Booklist

Anne Perry (Author), Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

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A Christmas Odyssey

Henry Rathbone is called by an old friend whose son has gone missing just before the Christmas holiday. Now in his early twenties, Lucien has known trouble for some time and has often fallen victim to the vices of drugs, alcohol, and women. His father now fears the worst. Their old friend, Squeaky Robinson, volunteers to help as well. Henry agrees and, joined by Crow, a young doctor at the clinic, the pair trawls the pubs, brothels, and opium dens of the West End in search of clues. “Anne Perry is definitely visiting Dickensian territory here, as there was no other writer better at depicting the dark side of London life coupled with the plight of human redemption than Charles Dickens. A Christmas Odyssey is a dark tale that will guide readers to the light via the strength of human spirit that each of Perry’s characters possesses.”--BookReporter.com

Anne Perry (Author), Terrence Hardiman (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Terrence Hardiman