Audiobooks narrated by Tony Britton

The Plays of J. B. Priestley: A BBC Radio Collection of 13 Full-Cast Productions

13 plays and dramatisations of the works of the influential playwright, novelist and essayist J. B. Priestley - plus bonus programmes J. B. Priestley was one of Britain's most significant writers. His output was prodigious: in his lifetime, he penned 26 novels, 39 plays and hundreds of essays. He enjoyed great success on stage, notably with Dangerous Corner, Time and the Conways and An Inspector Calls, which experimented with narrative structure and unorthodox theories of time. Included here are some of his most esteemed works, adapted for radio and brought together in one statement collection. We begin with Priestley's most famous play, An Inspector Calls, which sees Inspector Goole arriving unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home. Their celebratory dinner is shattered by his startling revelations about the death of a young woman. Next is Time and The Conways, telling the story of one family in several scenes set over 19 years, and When We Are Married, in which three couples receive a rude shock during their joint silver wedding party. In I Have Been Here Before, a group of strangers who meet at a remote Yorkshire inn discover that they are all interdependent - have they met before? A happy gathering of friends discover that their relationships aren't what they seem in Dangerous Corner and, in Eden End, an elderly Yorkshire GP finds himself coming to the end of an era. The Linden Tree is set in England 1947, where rationing and austerity have fostered opportunism, escapism - and confrontation - within the Linden family. The Good Companions, J. B. Priestley's classic story of a 1929 concert party tour, is followed by The Demon King, in which a Boxing Day panto is set to be a flop - until the Demon King comes on. In Lost Empires, Richard Hemcastle leaves his dead-end job to join his Uncle Nick in the glamour of the music halls, while in Bright Day, a chance encounter prompts a disillusioned scriptwriter to rediscover his past. Extraordinary and magical things happen on one elusive day in The Thirty-First of June, and in The Grey Ones, a patient fears evil is at work in the shape of a sinister conspiracy. Will his psychiatrist be able to help? Among the array of stars in these stunning dramas are Toby Jones, Frances Barber, Harriet Walter, Alan Bennett, Brenda Blethyn, Lesley Nicol, Morvern Christie, Alun Armstrong, Roy Hudd, Tom Baker, Jack Shepherd, Geoffrey Palmer, Amaka Okafor, Martin Jarvis and Joan Plowright. Also included are two fascinating documentaries: Postscripts: J. B. Priestley, a five-part series of wartime observations originally broadcast in 1940 and read by Patrick Stewart, and Great Lives: J. B. Priestley, which sees Barry Cryer discussing his friend and fellow Yorkshireman with Martin Wainwright and Matthew Parris. First published 1929 (The Good Companions), 1932 (Dangerous Corner), 1934 (Eden End), 1937 (Time and the Conways, I Have Been Here Before), 1938 (When We Are Married), 1945 (An Inspector Calls), 1946 (Bright Day), 1947 (The Linden Tree), 1953 (The Grey Ones), 1961 (The Thirty-First of June), 1962 (The Demon King), 1965 (Lost Empires) Production credits Written by J. B. Priestley Contents List An Inspector Calls Time and The Conways When We Are Married I Have Been Here Before Dangerous Corner Eden End The Linden Tree The Good Companions The Demon King Lost Empires Bright Day The Thirty First of June The Grey Ones Postscripts: J. B. Priestley Great Lives: J. B. Priestley © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

J. B. Priestley (Author), Alan Bennett, Brenda Blethyn, Full Cast, Harriet Walters, Henry Goodman, Jack May, Lesley Nicol, Martin Jarvis, Toby Jones, Tony Britton (Narrator)

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Chronicle I

The Chronicle is an epic anthology of the most interesting and revealing diaries and journals written during the last 500 years, providing a fascinating and intriguing record of life as witnessed by some history's most colourful characters. From Samuel Pepys to Alan Bennett, Dorothy Wordsworth to Barbara Castle and Oliver Cromwell to Evelyn Waugh. The Chronicleis one of the most ambitious productions ever commissioned as an audiobook. It contains 120,000 words from over 150 diarists and letter writers, and is performed by an outstanding cast of 30 actors in a dramatised setting with music and soundtrack, with a combined total running time of just under 12 hours. Available in four parts. Arranged in the form of a calendar, it is a daily record of British life from 1st January to 31st December, and provides a vivid and entertaining portrait of the life and times in which the writers lived. Narrated by Joss Ackland; Jenny Agutter; James Bolam; Tony Britton; Charles Dance; Eleanor Bron; Maureen Lipman; John Sessions; Robert Powell; Donald Sinden; Imogen Stubbs; David Suchet; Harriet Walter; Timothy West; plus full supporting cast.

Various Artists, Various Artists (Author), Charles Dance, David Suchet, Donald Sinden, Eleanor Bron, Harriet Walter, Imogen Stubbs, James Bolam, James Bolam, Jenny Agutter, John L. Sessions, John Sessions, Joss Ackland, Maureen Lipman, Robert Powell, Timothy West, Tony Britton (Narrator)

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Defoe's masterpiece is part adventure and part do-it-yourself book. It describes the experiences of the resourceful sailor and castaway Robinson Crusoe. After escaping shipwreck and being swept on to an island with nothing but his wits, Crusoe survives ? and even prospers ? through his ingenuity and perseverance. He builds his own dwelling and makes furniture and clothes. He lives alone until the arrival of cannibals brings him an unexpected companion and the chance landing of mutineers gives him the opportunity to return home. 1. Castaway - Shipwrecked - Hope in the morning. Robinson Crusoe tells of the youthful restlessness which drove him to run away to sea as a young man. After eight years, he is to be found on a slaving ship bound from Brazil to Africa when a violent storm blows up. The ship hits a sandbank and the crew abandons her before she breaks up. But a huge wave capsizes their boat and Crusoe alone is carried ashore by the raging sea and left half-drowned on the beach. He realizes that he is the sole survivor and is cast into despair. Crusoe is without food or any means of survival and has on him only a knife, a pipe and some tobacco. He climbs a tree to spend the night, falls into an exhausted sleep and wakes to see that the ship has been driven close inshore. Filled with new hope, he swims out to it, intent on taking away any provisions and implements that will help him to keep body and soul together. 2. Survival Tactics - Stores from the ship - Building a home. Crusoe finds the ship undamaged but with all boats missing. He builds a raft from spars and piles it with food, clothing and firearms. Using broken oars, he propels his clumsy vessel ashore. Over the next 13 days, he visits the ship 11 times, taking anything of use, including axes, cables and canvas. By the time a storm sinks the ship, he is well equipped. On a plain by a cliff, he pitches a tent inside a barrier of stakes. Crusoe brings all his goods into this compound. Then he draws up a list of the pros and cons of his life, determining to be satisfied. He makes furniture and grows barley from seed. 3. Exploration - The island's greener side. Crusoe finds abundant fruits, keeping some grapes to dry as raisins. On the west of the island he enters a delightful woody vale where citrus trees and melons grow wild. He considers moving his base to this lush spot but instead builds himself a second 'country' home, not wanting to live too far away from the coast and out of sight of passing ships. On the first anniversary of his deliverance from shipwreck Crusoe has a solemn day of thanksgiving. 4. An Ominous Sign - A useless boat - Footprint in the sand. Crusoe spends two years building a canoe by hollowing out a tree. However, when he tries to circumnavigate the island in it, he is almost swept away by the tides. Back ashore, he abandons ideas of sailing away, being resigned to his fate. One day, after living alone on the island for 15 years, he is appalled to see footprint in the sand. Terrified, he flees to h camp and hides. He redoubles his defences after seeing the remains of a cannibal feast. 5. Timely Rescue - Terror renewed - A victim saved. Alarmed by the evidence of visiting savages, Crusoe spends more time inside his stockade. However, while out exploring he spies a fire and his terror increases. After 24 years on the island, Crusoe sees another cannibal party dragging two victims ashore. While the first is being killed, the second runs away and outstrips his pursuers. Crusoe saves the fugitive, then beckons to the trembling man to come near. The man swears to be his devoted servant. 6. Man Friday - Burning the remains - Scripture lessons. Calling his new companion Friday, after the day on which he saved the man's life, Crusoe takes him home and gives him food. Next day, they visit the site of the cannibal feast and burn the remains, Friday being less upset than Crusoe by the grisly task. Crusoe decides to educate Friday and teaches him English and Christianity. Friday excels at both, especially religious studies and asks Crusoe searching theological questions that he cannot answer. Ruefully, Crusoe admits Friday is a better Christian than himself. 7. A Rum Lot - Mutineers and officers - Crusoe to the rescue. Twenty-eight years after Crusoe's shipwreck, Friday rouses him with news of a ship approaching. Crusoe realizes that it is English, but the crew which comes ashore surprises him ? three of the 11 men are clearly prisoners and begging for mercy. Arming themselves, Crusoe and Friday approach the captives, who are the captain, his mate and a passenger, in the process of being marooned by mutineers. As the rogues sleep, Crusoe gives the prisoners muskets and together they overwhelm the dissenters, killing two of them. The rest of the mutineers beg their captain's forgiveness. 8. Victory and Escape - Outwitting mutiny - Happy return. Crusoe orders the rowing-boat to be holed and sends the more suspect sailors to a distant cave, as prisoners. The rest join Crusoe and the captain's party. The ship sends another crew to find out why the first group has not returned. Thinking their comrades murdered, they speedily go back to their vessel. However, they return to the island and leave three men to guard their boat while the others explore. Crusoe sends Friday and the mate off as a decoy, while he captures the men guarding the boat. When the mutineers return bewildered, they are captured. The captain and Crusoe launch a midnight attack on the ship and regain it. The captain gratefully offers Crusoe his vessel and all sail happily back to England.

Daniel Defoe (Author), Tony Britton (Narrator)

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Jamaica Inn

"A fine romantic tale...rich in suspense and surprise." --New York Times Book Review On a bitter November evening, young Mary Yellan journeys across the rainswept moors to Jamaica Inn in honor of her mother's dying request. When she arrives, the warning of the coachman begins to echo in her memory, for her aunt Patience cowers before hulking Uncle Joss Merlyn. Terrified of the inn's brooding power, Mary gradually finds herself ensnared in the dark schemes being enacted behind its crumbling walls -- and tempted to love a man she dares not trust.

Daphne du Maurier (Author), Tony Britton (Narrator)

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The Gospel of John: The New Testament, Revised English Edition

'The Gospel of John': Tony Britton reads St John's account of the life and teachings of Jesus. Specially composed music is included. The readings were part of BBC Radio 4's series of 341 daily episodes of the Bible, broadcast in 1991 and 1992. Abridged by Penny Leicester. 'The New Testament': These abridged readings of the New Testament are taken from the 1989 Revised English Bible, which was translated directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek into modern English to produce a Bible that was at once accessible and authoritative.

Various (Author), Tony Britton (Narrator)

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Hay Fever (Classic Radio Theatre)

Judith Bliss is a famous actress who, after a string of successful roles, has retired to her country retreat. Missing the adulation of her public, she has has invited a fan over for a weekend of uninterrupted adoration - unaware that the rest of her family has company arriving too. Hoping for a delightful weekend, the four unwitting visitors are subjected to the full force of the Bliss's theatrical lifestyle... Noël Coward's sparkling comedy features a stellar cast including Millicent Martin, Maurice Denham and Julia Foster. This recording was first issued on cassette in 1988.

Noël Coward (Author), Full Cast, Peggy Ashcroft, Tony Britton (Narrator)

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Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Crusoe is a sailor who becomes stranded on a desert island for over 20 years when a storm destroys the ship he is travelling on. The ultimate tale of isolation and survival against the odds, Crusoe has a series of adventures which are both exciting and saddening, as a listener silently joins a man who is desperate for company, yet always adapting better to island life.

Daniel Defoe (Author), Tony Britton (Narrator)

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The Hound of the Baskervilles

Read by Tony Britton, The Hound of the Baskervilles is the most celebrated tale of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's canon.A fiendish evil lurks amid the mist and loneliness of Devon's fabled Dartmoor. In the form of a hellish hound, it feeds upon the trembling flesh of the heirs of Baskerville Hall.But before this savage beast can sink its teeth into the newest lord of the manor, it must pit its vicious fangs against the searing intellect of the most powerful foe it has ever encountered - the incomparable Sherlock Holmes.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author), Tony Britton (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Tony Britton