Can Captain Jack Aubrey and his crew defy the odds, and outmanoeuvre the French, to take two small but vital islands in the Indian Ocean?Life ashore on half pay, despite the joys of family life, is unlikely to satisfy a man of action such as Jack Aubrey. The sea calls to him. And so, when his friend, ship’s surgeon and secret agent Stephen Maturin, arrives with secret orders, Aubrey soon finds himself in command of a frigate and setting sail for the Cape of Good Hope. But, in Nelson’s navy, there are as many enemies within as without. ‘A few books work their way . . . onto [bestseller] lists by genuine, lasting excellence – witness The Lord of the Rings, or Patrick O’Brian’s sea stories.’ URSULA K. LE GUIN ‘I devoured Patrick O’Brian’s twenty-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.’ CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS

Aubrey-Maturin

The Mauritius Command

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. This curated collection of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most beloved Sherlock Holmes tales is read by the incredible Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This collection includes 15 stories: The Adventure of the Dying DetectiveThe Adventure of Charles Augustus MilvertonThe Adventure of the Greek InterpreterThe Adventure of the Stockbroker’s ClerkThe Adventure of the Empty HouseThe Adventure of the Gloria ScottThe Adventure of the Final ProblemThe Adventure of the Three StudentsThe Adventure of the Three GarridebsThe Adventure of the Sussex VampireThe Adventure of the Retired ColourmanThe Adventure of the Musgrave RitualThe Adventure of the Lion’s ManeThe Adventure of the Yellow FaceThe Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place

Argo Classics

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

The adventure continues . . . At the time of his death, Patrick O'Brian had begun to write the twenty-first book in his famous and much-loved Aubrey–Maturin series. The chapters he left behind are presented here, both in printed version and a facsimile of his manuscript, which goes several pages beyond the end of the typescript and includes O’Brian’s own marginal notes. The story picks up from the end of Blue at the Mizzen when Jack Aubrey receives the news, in Chile, of his elevation to flag rank: Rear Admiral of the Blue Squadron, with orders to sail to the South Africa station. ‘This fragment is both delightful and tantalising, with hints of a plot that might have involved Jack and Stephen with St Helena or Napoleon himself.’ Literary Review

The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1606. This is a classic audiobook recording read by Sir Anthony Quayle, Robert Hardy and other cast members. Promised a golden future as ruler of Scotland by three sinister witches, Macbeth murders the king to ensure his ambitions come true. But he soon learns the meaning of terror – killing once, he must kill again and again, and the dead return to haunt him. A story of war, witchcraft and bloodshed, Macbeth also depicts the relationship between husbands and wives, and the risks they are prepared to take to achieve their desires.

Macbeth

On Desolation Island, with the known world out of reach, uneasy alliances are sometimes forged…Captain Bligh, of Bounty fame, is now governor of New South Wales and facing mutiny anew, having lost the support of local settlers. Jack Aubrey is commissioned to come to his rescue. With a beautiful but dangerous spy on board, along with an unwelcome hold full of convicts, and war with America brewing, can Captain Jack Aubrey reach Australia in one piece? Outmanned and outgunned in a thrilling chase through an Antarctic storm, the crew of HMS Leopard discover they have become the quarry not the hunter. ‘What is so gripping about O’Brian’s novels is the completeness with which he invents a world which is our own and not our own . . . O’Brian is a brilliant observer.’ A. S. BYATT, Evening Standard ‘I fell in love with his writing straightaway. It wasn’t primarily the Nelson and Napoleonic period, more the human relationships . . . It’s about friendship, camaraderie. Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin always remind me a bit of Mick and me.’ KEITH RICHARDS

Desolation Island

Whether close to home or far away, there are no safe harbours while Napoleon seeks to dominate the known world.Jack Aubrey, veteran of numerous battles, has been promoted to senior captain commanding a ship that has been sent out to reinforce the squadron blockading Toulon. Compared to the early days of the Napoleonic conflict, the action is slow, cold and dull. But a sudden turn of events takes Aubrey, and ship’s surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin, off on a hazardous mission to the Greek Islands, where the skill, daring and, indeed, luck of both men will be tested to the utmost. With so much at risk, will a Turkish alliance carry the day? ‘I envy those who have never read Patrick O’Brian: an enormous pleasure awaits you.’ Irish Times ‘Wonderfully spacious, generous, funny, intelligent books.’ JOHN LANCHESTER

The Ionian Mission

Loving someone, in a time of war and divided loyalties, can be the greatest risk of all.Ordered home by despatch vessel, Captain Jack Aubrey and ship’s surgeon Stephen Maturin have been tasked with bringing the news of the latest victory in the war with America back to the government in Britain. But Maturin is a marked man for the havoc he has wrought upon the French intelligence network in the New World, and the attentions of two privateers who pursue their ship soon become menacing. In this man's world of seamanship and war, will a dangerous but fascinating woman redress the balance? ‘I have no particular interest in the sailing or fighting of square‐rigged ships, but I’ve never been so attached to any fictional characters in my life.’ MAILE MELOY ‘A swelling tide of intrigue and adventure in the best tradition.’ Guardian

The Surgeon’s Mate

Malta, in 1813, is ostensibly a safe harbour, yet the island is a nest of French spies, and even those in authority are not to be trusted.As Captain Jack Aubrey cools his heels in a Maltese harbour, awaiting repairs to his ship, war rages on. Fearing that hostilities will end before he has any further opportunities for fame and fortune, Aubrey accepts several secret missions, but all is not as it seems. Will a double agent be the undoing of both Jack Aubrey and his friend, ship’s surgeon Stephen Maturin? ‘This is O’Brian at his brilliant entertaining best. When he is on this form the rest of us who write of the Napoleonic conflict might as well give up and try a new career.’ BERNARD CORNWELL ‘Captain Aubrey and his surgeon, Stephen Maturin, compose one of those complex and fascinating pairs of characters which have inspired thrilling stories of all kinds since the Iliad.’ IRIS MURDOCH & JOHN BAYLEY

Treason’s Harbour

With factions on board, and multiple enemies to contend with, only the most careful navigation will save them.As he sails away from Port Jackson, Captain Jack Aubrey feels nothing but relief at leaving the penal colony and its inhabitants far behind. But, unknown to him, hidden among his crew is one Clarissa Oakes. With Britain at war on two fronts, with both America and France, Aubrey’s orders are to make for the Sandwich Islands and intervene in the conflict there. How much trouble can one woman cause? ‘One moment you laugh out loud at comedy rooted in character, and the next, storming adventure or danger grips you by the throat . . . good writing allied to must-read-on storytelling.’ SHAUN USHER, Daily Mail ‘Thank God for Patrick O’Brian. His genius illuminates the literature of the English language, and lightens the lives of those who read him.’ KEVIN MYERS, Irish Times

Clarissa Oakes

On dry land, having been drawn into the half-worlds of London’s criminal underground and of government espionage, Jack Aubrey faces perhaps the greatest challenge of his life.With rumours of peace running rampant, Captain Jack Aubrey chances his luck on the stock exchange. However, when his plans go awry, Marshalsea prison awaits. Can Stephen Maturin rescue his friend from a politically motivated trial and the enormity of being stricken from the Navy Lists? When the world has turned its back against you, friendship is all. ‘The most brilliant historical novelist of modern times.’ MAX HASTINGS ‘[Patrick O’Brian has] the power of bringing near to the reader . . . savagery and tenderness, beauty and mystery and boldness and dignity.’ EUDORA WELTY

The Reverse of the Medal

There is a fine line between privateer and pirate, between friend and foe.With a beleaguered Britain already facing war on two fronts – against Napoleon’s armies in Europe but also against the young and vigorous United States – the objective of ship’s surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin is to light the touch paper of Peruvian revolutionary fervour, all while Captain Jack Aubrey engages with their many and varied enemies at sea. Will revolution in South America tip the balance Britain’s way? ‘The truth is that we aficionados scarcely feel them to be novels at all. They are a world of their own, a world full of excitement, mystery, charm and good manners of which we have ourselves become participating citizens.’ JAN MORRIS, Observer ‘[O’Brian] goes on that very small shelf reserved for authors who, disregarding aptitudes, spin a story out of the heart and soul of their experience and the joy of living.’ Times Literary Supplement

The Wine-Dark Sea

The higher one climbs, the further there is to fall.As war with Napoleon seemingly draws to a close, opportunities for advancement are limited and Jack Aubrey faces the ultimate indignity – the possibility of being ‘yellowed’, or retired, and set aside with no squadron of his own. But the blockade of Brest presents dangers to equal those of the furthest shores. Who poses the greater threat to a naval man through and through? A resurgent Bonaparte or the Admiralty itself? ‘On every page [O’Brian] reminds us with noble artistry of the most important of all historical lessons: that times change but people don’t, that the griefs and follies and victories of the men and women who were here before us are in fact the maps of our own lives.’ RICHARD SNOW, New York Times ‘These novels are a brilliant achievement. They display staggering erudition on almost all aspects of eighteenth-century life.’ Times Literary Supplement

The Yellow Admiral

To whom does one’s true allegiance lie?Jack Aubrey’s long service has at last been rewarded with promotion to the rank of commodore, and a squadron of ships to command. His new commission is twofold – first, inhibit the slave trade off the coast of West Africa, and then, on his return, intercept a French fleet loaded with weapons intended for the disaffected Irish. But will the conflict of loyalties be insurmountable for his friend, and Irishman, Stephen Maturin? ‘His novels are . . . as delicately perceptive about the human condition as the Jane Austen novels that O’Brian himself so much admired.’ CHRISTINA HARDYMENT, Independent ‘One of the most brilliantly sustained pieces of historical fictional writing this century.’ JAMES TEACHER, Spectator

The Commodore

On foreign shores, and far from home, a friend can become a foe in a heartbeat.Shipwrecked on an uninhabited island in the Dutch East Indies as the Napoleonic Wars rage on, circumstances look far from promising for Captain Jack Aubrey and his crew. And yet, having overcome the odds and contrived their escape, still further peril awaits in the fiercely tidal waters of the Salibu Passage and the penal settlements of New South Wales. What fresh dangers lie over the horizon and will Jack Aubrey prevail? ‘In a highly competitive field it goes straight to the top. A real first-rater.’ MARY RENAULT ‘I’ve read [Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey‐Maturin nautical novel‐cycle] three times now, not least for its beautiful portrayal of a long‐term male friendship.’ ROBERT MACFARLANE

The Nutmeg of Consolation

Thrown out of the navy for a crime he did not commit, Jack Aubrey has lost everything he held most dear.In command of his beloved Surprise, but in a civilian capacity, Jack Aubrey must navigate a world apart from anything he has previously known, his friend Stephen Maturin at his side. Together they embark on a voyage which, if successful, might just restore Aubrey to the rank, and the raison d'etre, whose loss he so much regrets. Fate is fickle and few people can ever truly be trusted, but has Jack Aubrey’s luck run out? ‘Patrick O’Brian is unquestionably the Homer of the Napoleonic wars.’ JAMES HAMILTON‐PATERSON ‘My hero is Patrick O’Brian. It’s basically impossible to write that well.’ DAVID MAMET

The Letter of Marque

For a man of war, peacetime is the ultimate challenge.Leaving behind them a Europe still taking stock after the definitive battle of Waterloo, Jack Aubrey and his friend Stephen Maturin set sail for Chile. But even with the newly minted peace, life at sea remains beset with danger and imminent disaster, and the political turmoil of the South American continent is equal to any threat they have yet faced. Out of loss – of purpose, of love – can the two friends rescue what they most desire? ‘Beyond his superbly elegant writing, wit and originality, [O’Brian] showed an understanding of the nature of a floating world at the mercy of the wind and sea which has never been surpassed.’ MAX HASTINGS, Evening Standard ‘From the opening page I was addicted to what I judge to be one of the greatest cycles of storytelling in the English language.’ WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE, Daily Telegraph

Blue at the Mizzen

Napoleon has escaped from Elba – the Hundred Days have begun.The war is over, the armies dispersed, and the former Emperor of the French has been consigned to a Mediterranean island, yet now he is marching again on Paris with an ever-growing army. Commodore Jack Aubrey and his convoy are tasked with destroying enemy shipyards along the Adriatic coast and cutting off the financial support from that quarter, in a fast and furious race to stop the Corsican from regaining all he’s lost. All is to play for and everything is at stake. ‘Patrick O’Brian is far and away the best of the Napoleonic story tellers, and The Hundred Days is one of the best in the series; a classic naval adventure, crammed with incident, superbly plotted and utterly gripping.’ BERNARD CORNWELL ‘Patrick O’Brian is a joy to read.’ Irish Independent

The Hundred Days

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. Is the world’s most famous detective on his deathbed? When Dr Watson finds Sherlock Holmes wasting away from a rare tropical disease, he must act fast if he is to save the life of his best friend. Sherlock Holmes, of course, may well have one more trick up his sleeve… Full of twists and turns, Arthur Conan Doyle’s atmospheric and gripping short story is brought vividly to life by Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. A horse trainer fears his master, Sir Robert Nortberton, has gone mad, and comes to Sherlock Holmes for help. Holmes and Watson swiftly discover that a horrible secret lurks in the shadows of Shoscombe. The last of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes short stories is brought vividly to life by Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The Adventure Of Shoscombe Old Place

Britain and America are newly at war, and Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin are caught in the very thick of the action.En route to England and his next command, Captain Jack Aubrey, and his friend, ship’s surgeon and secret agent Stephen Maturin, find themselves swept up in the War of 1812. As Aubrey convalesces from his wounds in a Boston hospital, awaiting the next prisoner exchange, Maturin’s past activities as a spy return to haunt him and precipitate both men into new and unexpected dangers. Love and betrayal vie for supremacy as the two friends face peril around every corner. ‘The Fortune of War is a marvellously full-flavoured, engrossing book, which towers over its current rivals in the genre like a three-decker over a ship’s longboat.’ T. J. BINYON, Times Literary Supplement ‘There is nothing in this century that rivals Patrick O’Brian’s achievement.’ AMANDA FOREMAN

The Fortune of War

Entrusted with a secret mission, the perils of the South China Sea await.In the fight against the French, a treaty with the Sultan of Pulo Prabang, a piratical Malay state, may prove decisive. Captain Jack Aubrey and ship’s surgeon Stephen Maturin, along with a hand-picked crew, must survive the dangers of the high forties and convey a diplomatic envoy to ensure this key alliance, but dangers, both natural and man-made, will dog their every move. When echoes of the past return, no one is safe. ‘If Jane Austen had written rousing sea yarns, she would have produced something very close to the prose of Patrick O'Brian.' Time ‘Written with the most engaging enthusiasm that can’t fail to give pleasure to anybody who enjoys historical adventure flavoured with more than a dash of realism.’ Sunday Times

The Thirteen-Gun Salute

An enemy frigate is outward bound to play havoc with the vital British whaling trade, and must be stopped at all costs.Racing against time, Captain Jack Aubrey and his crew must chase the USS Norfolk as she rounds Cape Horn, pursuing her into the Great South Sea and beyond. Following the equator, ahead of them lies not only the natural wonders of the Galapagos but also a succession of disasters – men overboard, castaways, typhoons, shipwrecks, to say nothing of murder and criminal insanity. In a deadly game of cat and mouse with their American foes, will Jack Aubrey and his crew triumph, despite the odds? ‘If O’Brian’s novels have become a cult, this is because they are truly addictive. . . They are, quite magnificently, adventure yarns whose superb authenticity never distracts from the sheer thrill of the action.’ CAROLINE MOORE, Sunday Telegraph ‘I love these books . . . They will sweep you away and return you delighted, increased and stunned’ NICOLA GRIFFITH, NPR

The Far Side of the World

How far will a man go in the name of revenge, honour, love or simple survival?Far from familiar seas, Captain Jack Aubrey and his crew must test themselves to the very limits of human endurance. Following a daring rescue, Jack Aubrey accepts a new command and a new commission to a far-flung destination. Ahead of him and his crew are the new sights and smells of the Indian subcontinent, and the terrifying hazards of an archipelago of islands in the East Indies, where their French enemies have near overwhelming superiority. ‘Combines adventure and the art of the novel with an astonishing finesse.’ FRANCIS SPUFFORD ‘Few, very few, books have made my heart thump with excitement. HMS Surprise managed it.’ HELEN LUCY BURKE, Irish Times

HMS Surprise

Whether on land or at sea, can Jack Aubrey stay one step ahead of his enemies?With the Treaty of Amiens, England is at peace. At least for now. . . Accompanied by his friend, ship’s surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin, Captain Jack Aubrey has returned home to England and the life of a country gentleman. But their comfortable experience is cut short when Jack is made a pauper overnight. He flees to the continent, narrowly escaping debtor’s prison, only to find himself a hunted fugitive from Napoleon’s regime as, yet again, war looms. ‘Outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance.’ KATIE FFORDE ‘The Aubrey–Maturin novels, by Patrick O’Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.’ LOUISE ERDRICH

Post Captain

In this, the first of Patrick O’Brian’s much lauded Aubrey–Maturin novels, discover a vibrant world conjured by a master storyteller, rich with detail and character.1800. Napoleon Bonaparte is the biggest threat to peace yet seen. Newly promoted to command of his first ship, Captain Jack Aubrey, along with his crew, and new friend and ship’s surgeon Stephen Maturin, must patrol a Mediterranean fraught with peril but rich with rewards. A glimpse of white sails on the horizon could mean a prize to be taken – or a fight for survival. ‘In Aubrey and Maturin, Patrick O’Brian has created two of the most enjoyable characters in twentieth-century fiction. One of the greatest authors to sail with.’ MICHAEL PALIN ‘There are two types of people in the world: Patrick O'Brian fans, and people who haven't read him yet.’ LUCY EYRE, Guardian

Master and Commander

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. The basis of modern science fiction and fantasy dinosaur adventures, The Lost World is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's journey into the lost prehistoric world. Listen as the formidable Daniel Massey reignites this inceptive story; of the journey of Edward Malone and Professor Challenger into a world where prehistoric creatures still roam free.

The Lost World

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. When the elderly Nathaniel Garridebs asks for the assistance of Holmes and Watson in tracking down a man with the same unusual surname in order to secure a great inheritance, what looks to be a simple case quickly descends into a web of mystery and deceit. Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is the expert reader bringing this thrilling story to vivid life.

The Adventure of the Three Garridebs

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are once more called upon for help, this time by Professor Soames, a university lecturer in Greek. A paper for an important exam due to take place the next day goes missing from Soames’ study and suspicion falls on three students living nearby. Holmes and Watson must unmask the cheat in time for the exam. This lively short is brought vividly to life by Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The Adventure of the Three Students

The Adventure of the Retired Colourman

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. Sherlock Holmes meets his most impressive adversary yet: criminal mastermind Professor James Moriarty. Holmes has been tracking Moriarty for months, determined to bring him to justice. Yet Moriarty is as determined to bring about the downfall of Holmes. Their battle to defeat each other ends up in Switzerland – and on the brink of a cliff overlooking a perilously high and powerful waterfall… Acclaimed actor Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is the captivating reader.

The Adventure of the Final Problem

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. This story is perhaps best known as the first time we meet Mycroft, Inspector Holmes’ older brother. Mycroft’s neighbour, Mr Meles, has sought his help, after being asked to act as interpreter for a sinister series of events. It is up to Sherlock to solve the case for Mycroft and the mysterious Mr Meles. Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is the expert reader bringing this thrilling story to vivid life.

The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter

The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. It has been three years since Inspector Holmes was seen falling to his death, but Watson is still reluctant to believe it. He has been closely following crimes reported in the newspapers and begins to investigate the murder of Ronald Adair, a case that would have interested his friend greatly… Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is the expert reader to bring perhaps the most anticipated Sherlock Holmes story of all time to life.

The Adventure of the Empty House

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. An army colonel is found dead in a pool of blood, his wife out cold beside him. The room is locked: the key missing. It’s another classic case for Sherlock Holmes to crack, with secrets to untangle and dark pasts to unearth. Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is the expert reader bringing this thrilling story to vivid life.

The Adventure of the Crooked Man

The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. Chronologically, the earliest of the beloved Sherlock Holmes stories – and the first time he uses those now-famous powers of deduction. Sherlock Holmes visits his friend Victor out in the Norfolk countryside. There, he meets his friend’s wealthy father, Mr Trevor – and soon finds out that the old man has plenty to hide…Murder, embezzlement and violence at sea come together into a classic tale of double-crossing and subterfuge. Acclaimed actor Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is the reader who brings it all to vivid, thrilling life.

The Adventure of the Gloria Scott

The Adventure of the Yellow Face

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. A clerk named Hall Pycroft approaches Holmes and Watson to voice his suspicions over a company that have offered him a strangely well-paid job. The pair must leave their normal London surroundings and travel North to investigate the strange hardware company in Birmingham. Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, brings to life one of Sherlock Holmes’ most popular adventures.

The Adventure of the Stockbroker’s Clerk

3 previously unpublished short stories by the great Patrick O’Brian – Noughts and Crosses, Two’s Company and No Pirates Nowadays. Noughts and Crosses: When Sullivan and Ross decide to go shark fishing among the atolls of the Great Barrier Reef little do they know what awaits them. With their schooner beached for cleaning they take a small whaler out to sea, but when the very devil of a storm turns the whole of the sea white, it drives them to the nearest atoll for shelter. It is only when they set out once again that they discover the seas are now filled with sharks, driven to a bloodlust by the smell of their butchered fellows that clings to the whaler. Becalmed and surrounded by the world's most fearsome predators, Sullivan and Ross discover that the hunters have become the hunted. Two’s Company: The lighthouse was one of the most lonely in the world, guarding a dangerous reef in the cold northern seas. It therefore seemed a good idea to Sullivan and Ross that they both be its keepers; after all, two's company. But long months of isolation and boredom can test even the stoutest of friendships. So when a great storm deposits the carcass of a huge whale on the rocks, attracting to it flocks of hungry seabirds and packs of deadly sharks, and later the arrival of two unexpected guests, it provides the two friends with a welcome distraction from their tedium. Yet as the months drag on, they find that there is only so long that man can live in peace with his fellow. No Pirates Nowadays: As their schooner inches through the dense yellow fog of the northern Pacific, Ross is beginning to regret agreeing to Sullivan's latest plan. Their search for the island of Sakhalien, to hunt for precious sea-otters, is leading them nowhere. The appearance of a fellow ship should be cause to lift their mood, yet the captain and swarthy Malay crew of the Santa Maria leave Ross feeling all the more uneasy. But when their paths cross once again it is Sullivan's nephew, Derrick, who has good cause to doubt that there are no pirates nowadays.

No Pirates Nowadays and Other Stories

Beasts Royal is the second book written by Patrick O’Brian – made available, at last, for the first time since the 1930s and beautifully repackaged. Published when Patrick O’Brian was just nineteen, this is the enchanting, often bloodthirsty collection of twelve tales of animal adventure that would be published in 1934 as the author’s second book. His first, Caesar, had been published in 1930 and was an instant success, seeing O’Brian hailed as the ‘boy-Thoreau’. As with Caesar, Beasts Royal sheds fascinating light on the formation of the literary genius behind the Aubrey-Maturin series of historical adventure tales. With the dry wit and unsentimental precision O’Brian would come to be loved for, we see the tragedies of …

Beasts Royal

The Adventure of the Dying Detective

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction 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. Dark secrets, blackmail and murder: it’s another classic case for the world’s most famous detective. When a young woman must be rescued from a ruthless blackmailer, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson find themselves pulled dangerously close to being on the wrong side of the law… Based on real events, this lively short is brought vividly to life by Robert Hardy, known to many for playing Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The Adventure Of Charles Augustus Milverton

Four of Thornton Wilder's most acclaimed works, adapted for BBC Radio - plus bonus material exploring his life and career Thornton Wilder is one of America's most important literary figures. He won the Pulitzer Prize three times - for his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey and the plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth - and is the only person to be awarded the Pulitzer for both fiction and drama. Included here are four of his key works, set in different times and places, but sharing the same fundamental motifs - the universality of human experience and our search for life's meaning. Our Town, his timeless tale of love, marriage, birth and death in a small American community, stars Ed Bishop, William Roberts and Liza Ross. It is preceded by a 10-minute introductory extract from Free Thinking, in which presenter Anne McElvoy and actor/director David Cromer discuss the play's themes and techniques. Wilder's masterpiece, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, tells the story of the five victims of a bridge collapse, and the eyewitness who sets out to understand why they were fated to die. A poignant philosophical fable, it features a stellar cast including Annette Badland, Robert Glenister, Tom Goodman-Hill and Helen McCrory. Adapted from the play by Jerome Kilty, The Ides of March is based on Wilder's epistolary novel centred around the last days of the Roman republic, and stars Robert Hardy as Julius Caesar. Next, Ed Bishop reads from Heaven's My Destination, the comic tale of an amateur philosopher who leaves a trail of chaos wherever he goes. Finally, in a fascinating episode of Front Row, Mark Lawson, theatre director David Lan and New York Times theatre critic Mel Gussow discuss how Wilder became a literary icon, and launched a quiet revolution in American theatre. Cast and credits Written by Thornton Wilder Copyright © by The Wilder Family LLC 1927 (The Bridge of San Luis Rey), 1935 (Heaven's My Destination), 1938 (Our Town), 1948 (The Ides of March) Free Thinking Presented by Anne McElvoy With David Cromer Produced by Zahid Warley First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 16 October 2014 Our Town Stage Manager - Ed Bishop Dr Gibbs - William Roberts Mrs Gibbs - Liza Ross George Gibbs - Ben Fairman Rebecca Gibbs - Teresa Gallagher Mr Webb - Garrick Hagon Mrs Webb/Dead Woman - Shelley Thompson Emily Webb - Barbara Barnes Joe Crowell/Si Crowell - Tom Bevan With Vincent Marzello, Peter Whitman, John Evitts and Frances Jeater Directed by David Hitchinson First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 July 1995 The Bridge of San Luis Rey Madre Maria del Pilar - Annette Badland Uncle Pio - Michael Feast Jaime/Boy - Frederick Forge Brother Juniper/Captain Alvarado - Robert Glenister Esteban/Manuel - Tom Goodman-Hill Pepita/Dona Clara - Jasmine Hyde Camila, la Perichole - Helen McCrory Marquesa de Montemayor - Sian Phillips Dramatised by Judith Adams Directed by Gaynor MacFarlane First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 May 2002 The Ides of March Narrator - Patrick Tull Caesar - Robert Hardy Brutus - Sean Barrett Clodia - Margaret Robertson Cleopatra - Elizabeth Proud Pompeia, Caesar's wife - Patricia Gallimore Julia, Caesar's aunt - Betty Hardy Clodius - Nigel Lambert Catullus - David Spenser Adapted for radio by Nesta Pain from the play by Jerome Kilty Produced by Nesta Pain First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 August 1970 Heaven's My Destination Read by Ed Bishop First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17 April 1997 Front Row Presented by Mark Lawson With David Lan and Mel Gussow Produced by Nicki Paxman First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 March 2004 Copyright © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Thornton Wilder: Our Town, The Bridge of San Luis Rey & More

Adaptations of Kingley Amis’s great novels and acclaimed short stories Novelist, poet and critic Kingsley Amis was one of Britain’s greatest post-war writers. A master of comic fiction, he came to fame in 1954, and won the 1986 Booker Prize for The Old Devils. Included in this collection are dramatisations of seven of his short stories and two novels, all imbued with his characteristic wit and social satire. We begin with ‘To See the Sun’, a tantalising tale of vampires, a mad Scots librarian, a handsome Englishman and a Countess, set in 1920s Dacia. In ‘Moral Fibre’, a Welsh librarian tangles with a social worker determined to save a young girl from sin, while in ‘All the Blood Within Me’, Alec attends the funeral of the only woman he has ever loved: and faces some uncomfortable truths. Tensions run high in ‘I Spy Strangers’ as a group of soldiers in 1945 hold a mock parliament; poet A E Potter questions the value of his art in ‘Dear Illusions’ and in ‘Affairs of Death’, the confessions of the Scottish King Macbeth trouble the conscience of Pope Leo X. Set in the late ’60s, I Want It Now centres around ambitious TV personality Ronnie Appleyard, who pursues wealthy Simona Quick for her money, only to fall in love. And recently recovered in the BBC’s Treasure Hunt, ‘Something Strange’ features four inhabitants of a space capsule, who have unusual experiences to report. Based on Amis’s classic novel Girl, 20 and written by Tony Bilbow, All Free Now is a hilarious observation of the Sixties’ permissive society. Please note: I Want It Now is an archive dramatisation from 1977, and the language used reflects some of the attitudes of that time. Due to the archive nature of some of the pieces, the sound quality may vary. Cast and credits Written by Kingsley Amis All Free Now written by Tony Bilbow, based on Kingsley Amis’s novel Girl, 20 To See the Sun Cast: Christopher Cazenove, Gayle Hunnicutt, Graham Crowden, Alan Dudley, Jennifer Piercey, Zelah Clarke Dramatised by John Scotney Directed by Jane Morgan Moral Fibre Cast: Sion Tudor Owen, Julie Berry, Thelma Whiteley, Victoria Carling, Steve Hodson, Jennifer Piercey, Simon Cuff, Susan Sheridan Dramatised by John Scotney Directed by Jane Morgan All the Blood Within Me Cast: Tom Watson, David Sinclair, Mia Soteriou, Jonathan Tafler, Caroline Gruber, Jill Lidstone, Alan Dudley, Brian Hewlitt, Kim Hughes Dramatised by John Scotney Directed by Jane Morgan Piano: Mary Nash I Spy Strangers Cast: Iain Cuthbertson, Steve Hodson, Anthony Jackson, Philip Fox, Kim Wall, Michael Deacon, Paul Sirr, John Samson Dramatised by John Scotney Directed by Jane Morgan Dear Illusion Cast: Freddie Jones, Carolyn Pickles, Shaun Prendergast, Brian Hewitt, Alan Dudley, Michael Deacon Dramatised by John Scotney Directed by Jane Morgan Affairs of Death Cast: Peter Jeffrey, Ken Stott, Olivier Pierre, Kim Wall Dramatised by John Scotney Directed by Jane Morgan I Want It Now Cast: Nigel Anthony, David March, Irene Sutcliffe, Bruce Beeby, Anna Calder-Marshall, Margaret Robertson, William Fox, Alaric Cotter, Jonathan Scott, Penelope Reynolds, William Eedle, Heather Bell, Harry Towb, Harold Kasket, Rod Beacham, Michael Harbour Adapted by Frederick Bradnum Directed by Betty Davies Something Strange Cast: Noel Johnson, Garard Green, Nerys Hughes, Olive Gregg, Charlotte Mitchell, Frank Duncan, David Garth, Tom Watson, Brian Wilde and members of the BBC Drama Repertory Company Produced by Christopher Holme All Free Now Cast: Robert Stephens, Christopher Timothy, Eva Stuart, Geoffrey Whitehead, Kim Thomson, Anna Mazzotti, Okon Jones, Michael Graham Cox, Adrian Egan, Richard Pearce, Joan Walker, Michael Dean Produced by Matthew Walters Text copyright © The Estate of Kingsley Amis 1958 (‘Moral Fibre’), 1960 (‘Something Strange’), 1962 (‘All the Blood Within Me’, ‘I Spy Strangers’), 1968 (I Want It Now),1972 (‘Dear Illusion’), 1980 (‘To See the Sun’), 1982 (‘Affairs of Death’) All Free Now copyright © Tony Bilbow 1989 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Kingsley Amis: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Robert Hardy stars in this political satire from the writer of Absolute Power and In the Red Media mogul Lord Malan is the billionaire owner of The Blue Touch Paper, an old-fashioned, hard-right weekly magazine with traditional Conservative values. But the paper is so true blue, it’s losing its touch. Sales are falling and circulation is down – mainly because its core readers are either on the brink of death or foam-flecked with rage. It’s time for a new editor, and political commentator Anna is sure she’s a shoo-in for the position. Much to her disappointment, however, Malan picks a different candidate: Keith, the Guardian’s token Tory, who champions compassionate Conservatism. Nicknamed ‘Toynbee’, he’s tasked with turning the paper around. If he doesn’t succeed, he’ll be out of a job – and Anna and her friends on the Tory back bench are determined to make sure he fails… With the help of the rest of his team – PA Katrina and posh gossip columnist Giles, a.k.a. ‘Louche’ – can Keith set The Blue Touch Paper alight, or will his career fizzle out like a damp squib? Created and written by Mark Tavener in collaboration with Steve Punt, this sparkling sitcom was his final radio series before his death in 2007. It stars Robert Hardy as Lord Malan, Tony Gardner as Keith, Amelia Bullmore as Anna, Michael Maloney as Giles and Rachel Atkins as Katrina. Written by Mark Tavener and Steve Punt Produced by Dawn Ellis Cast Lord Malan – Robert Hardy Keith – Tony Gardner Anna – Amelia Bullmore Giles – Michael Maloney Katrina – Rachel Atkins Beverly – Saskia Wickham With Beth Chalmers, Simon Treves, Eve Webster and Stephen Critchlow First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4-25 July 2007 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

His Master’s Voice

Penguin Classics presents William Makepeace Thackeray adapted for audio and available as a digital download as part of the Penguin English Library series. Read by Robert Hardy. 'Vanitas Vanitatum! Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? or, having it, is satisfied?' No one is better equipped in the struggle for wealth and worldly success than the alluring and ruthless Becky Sharp, who defies her impoverished background to clamber up the class ladder. Her sentimental companion Amelia, however, longs only for caddish soldier George. As the two heroines make their way through the tawdry glamour of Regency society, battles - military and domestic - are fought, fortunes made and lost. The one steadfast and honourable figure in this corrupt world is Dobbin with his devotion to Amelia, bringing pathos and depth to Thackeray's gloriously satirical epic of love and social adventure. Part of a series of vintage recordings taken from the Penguin Archives. Affordable, collectable, quality productions - perfect for on-the-go listening.

The Penguin English Library

Vanity Fair

Under the Greenwood Tree is Hardy’s most charming novel using, as it does, the four seasons of the Wessex year as a backdrop for the delightful romance of the young Dick Dewy and Fancy Day, the local school mistress. The story of the ups and downs of their courtship is set alongside the story of the rustics who form the Mellstock church choir and their struggle against the introduction of a church organ which threatens their very existence.

Under the Greenwood Tree

Writer Colette’s classic works brought to life in a unique audio collection Listen for the first time to this stunning collection of five of Colette’s most celebrated works, compiled and created by BBC Radio. French author and woman of letters, Colette is best known for her 1944 novella Gigi, which became the stage musical launching the career of Audrey Hepburn. Known for her frank, direct and honest way of writing about women and female friendships, Colette’s stories champion the female perspective and all feature strong women protagonists. Considered immoral and shocking at the time, her works are now cherished as a fresh insight into the female experience of the era and she is celebrated for the sheer quality of her writing. This exclusive collection includes, Gigi, Cheri, Claudine at School, The Vagabond and Sido and features performances from Lindsay Duncan (Sherlock, Starter for 10, Doctor Who), Paul Ritter (Friday Night Dinner), Frances Barber, Brigit Forsyth and Dame Peggy Ashcroft. Also included is a bonus edition of In Our Time, hosted by Melvyn Bragg as he and guests discuss Colette, her life, her works and her significant cultural impact. In the classic Gigi, we follow the story of a young woman in Paris, who is being groomed by her grandmother for the life of a courtesan. Cheri is a semi-autobiographical story following an enduring love affair between a courtesan and a man half her age. Claudine at School is heavy with erotic over tones, and this full cast dramatisation explores the life of the enchanting Claudine as she navigates her journey to womanhood. The Vagabond tells the story of a divorcée dancer in a Paris music hall, she is pursued by a wealthy admirer. Will she allow herself to fall in love a second time? Finally, Dame Peggy Ashcroft narrates Sido, based on Colette’s memories of her own mother. Text copyright © Colette 1900 (Claudine at School), 1910 (Vagabond), 1920 (Cheri), 1929 (Sido), 1944 (Gigi) Gigi Translated from the French and adapted by Barbara Bray Produced by Raymond Raikes Cast: Margaret Robertson, Margaret Rawlings, Carol Marsh, Robert Hardy, Hilda Kriseman, Ian Thompson, Isabel Jeans Cheri Directed by Pauline Harris Cast: Lindsay Duncan, Joseph Millson, Frances Barber, Brigit Forsyth, Laura Harding, Conrad Nelson, Judith Davis Claudine at School Adapted by Yvonne Mitchell Produced and directed by Liane Aukin Cast: Fidelis Morgan, Rosalind Adams, Anne Rosenfeld, Jean Rogers, Nigel Lambert, Diana Bishop, Joan Matheson, Carole Hayman, Haydn Jones, Pamela Moiseiwitsch, Shane Briant, Michael Harbour, Peter Howell, Timothy Bateson, Edward Kelsey The Vagabond Dramatised by Charlotte Cory Directed by Mary Peate Cast: Clare Higgins, Paul Ritter, Allan Corduner, David Thorpe, Jasmine Hyde Sido Abridged by B. J. Salmon Read by Dame Peggy Ashcroft In our Time – Colette Presented by Melvyn Bragg. Text copyright © Colette 1900 (Claudine at School), 1910 (Vagabond), 1920 (Cheri), 1929 (Sido), 1944 (Gigi) ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Colette: Gigi, Cheri and more

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