The award-winning narrator of Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass brings the beloved classic The Secret Garden to sparkling new life in this delightful, highly accessible production. When her parents die from cholera in India, orphan Mary Lennox is sent to live with her uncle in a cold, dark mansion in England. Then she discovers a secret garden that has been locked since her Aunt died ten years earlier… Frances Hodgson Burnett was a British born American playwright and author best known for her children's stories Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Little Princess and The Secret Garden. Alison Larkin is the award-winning narrator of over 200 audiobooks including The Complete Novels by Jane Austen and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. www.alisonlarkin presents.com.

The Secret Garden

Following her critically acclaimed narration of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with songs from Regency England, Emma, Persuasion & Poems and Northanger Abbey & The History of England, award-winning narrator Alison Larkin is back, bringing her light comedic touch to this delightful recording of Austen’s first published novel. Thanks to her manipulative daughter-in-law, Mrs Dashwood and her three daughters must leave their beloved family home in Sussex for a small cottage in Devon. While Marianne, impulsive and passionate to the core falls madly in love with an unsuitable man, her more conventional sister Elinor struggles to hide her true feelings for the man she must try to forget. Sense and Sensibility is followed by a short excerpt from Jane and Me: My Austen Heritage by Caroline Jane Knight, Jane Austen’s fifth great niece - the last of Austen’s descendants to grow up on the estate where Austen lived and wrote. Like the Dashwoods, Caroline and her family were forced to leave their family home for financial reasons. The parallels are fascinating. “Raised in England by adoptive parents, Alison Larkin was actually born in America. She herself is a comic writer and performer and she approaches Austen as a satirist. She has genuine theatrical skill, sustained comic creations. The voice reveals all.” — The New Yorker “There’s a vintage feel to Alison Larkin’s narration… the bell-like quality of her sweetly accented voice harkens back to another, quieter, time. However, her delivery offers a flexibility that is contemporary and easy to hear…A narrator to seek out...” AudioFile Magazine “Alison Larkin is hugely entertaining” The Times (London)

Sense and Sensibility

Grief… A Comedy, written and read by Alison Larkin, is a warm, funny, life-enhancing love story and the follow-up Larkin's hit one-woman show critics called “Outstandingly uplifting” Scottish Field ***** “A story that could truly change your life” Entertainment Now***** “Real, butterflies-in-stomach romance. Leaves you believing joy really can be found after loss” The Daily Mail **** What if your soulmate died…and then came back to help you find love again? Alison and Bhima found true, once-in-a-lifetime love for the first time in their 50’s. It was the kind of love that changes everything. Then he died. Six weeks later, Bhima appeared at Alison’s kitchen table, very much himself, with one clear purpose: to help her find love again. It's imaginary of course. Or is it? When Alison's friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu heard what happened, he wrote to Alison saying "your story needs the widest circulation possible because it will bring hope. You must do whatever you have to do to make sure this story is told to as many people as possible. And not just in an email to me!" So, Alison created a solo comedy show, Grief... A Comedy, with music by Emmy award winner Gary Schreiner, and wrote the funny, life-enhancing, completely uplifting story you are about to hear.

Grief... A Comedy

Award-winning narrator Alison Larkin's reading of Agatha Christie’s second novel, The Secret Adversary, set in London in 1919, received glowing reviews.. Publishers Weekly said "her performance captures that sense of carefree enthusiasm for life before the crash. Her reading is champagne bubbly and engaging throughout. A jaunty, jolly good listen." "Alison Larkin's crisp, clear narration helps to conjure up the feeling of a bygone era when the class system was at the core of British society. The result is an easy listen of a classic tale of detection." Audiofile Magazine. The Great War is over, and the roaring '20s are just on the horizon in London. Tommy and Tuppence are charming, broke and in desperate need of work. They decide to set up Young Adventurers Ltd. —”willing to do anything, go anywhere.” They are soon caught up in a dastardly plot to overthrow the government.

The Secret Adversary

Hailed by The Times as "Hugely entertaining, marvelously light-footed", in celebration of Jane Austen's 250th anniversary, writer/comedian Alison Larkin brings you an audiobook unlike any other.Larkin's award-winning narrations of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are followed by Songs from Regency England, Poems, Stories and Plays by a teenage Jane Austen. Other bonus material includes interviews with Jane Austen fans from all over the world, including Gill Hornby, the bestselling author of Miss Austen, Caroline Jane Knight, Jane Austen's fifth great niece and Susannah Harker (i.e. Jane Bennet in the iconic BBC production of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth.) After narrating the novels, Larkin brings the listeners with her to Regency Week, where she meets Janeites from Texas and ireland, visits Jane Austen's house and the church, buys a Regency gown and even attends a Regency Ball.Exclusively for this Audible edition, Larkin selects and narrates often hilarious Opinions on the novels from Jane Austen's family and friends.Introduction Pride and Prejudice, Sense and SensibilityMansfield ParkEmmaNorthanger AbbeyPersuasionSongs from Regency EnglandPoems The Teenage Wit and Writing of Jane Austen including "Lesley Castle", "Love and Freindship" (yes, that’s the correct spelling) "A Collection of Letters Scraps", including more letters, "Act One of a Play and A Tale", "The History of England."Regency Week with Alison Larkin including interviews with Gill Hornby, Susannah Harker, Caroline Jane Knight and many others.Opinions on the novels from Jane Austen's family and friends.

The Complete Novels of Jane Austen 250th Anniversary Edition with Bonus Material, Interviews and More

Award-winning narrator and comedienne Alison Larkin brings A A Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh to a new American audience. “As a child growing up in the part of England where A A Milne lived, I knew Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga and little Roo,” says Alison Larkin. “They were friends of mine. Narrating this audiobook allowed me to return to the Hundred Acre Wood, re-live our childhood adventures and bring these wonderful stories back to America with me. What a magical journey this has been." The beloved stories about a bear of very little brain and his friends are as enchanting today as when they were first written.

Winnie-The-Pooh

Considered one of the great English novels, George Eliot's Middlemarch, A Study of Provincial Life follows myriad characters and their lives in the eponymous town, Middlemarch, in the 1800s. Utilizing a realistic style, Eliot considers issues such as religion, education, and the status of women—to name just a few.

Middlemarch

"Alison Larkin herself is a comic writer and performer and she approaches Austen as a satirist. She has genuine theatrical skilll...sustained comic creations. The voice reveals all.” — The New Yorker Ever since Colin Firth’s Mr Darcy emerged from the lake in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, the novels of Jane Austen have become more popular than ever, delighting millions of fans all over the world. Now, Alison Larkin’s critically acclaimed narrations of Austen’s six completed novels are brought together in this very special 200th anniversary audio edition. “Alison Larkin’s narration will captivate listeners from the first sentence” raves AudioFile magazine about the Earphones Award-winning recording of Sense and Sensibility, which starts the collection. Hailed by The Times as “marvelously light footed… hugely entertaining”, Alison Larkin is the perfect vessel to bring the deft, satirical novels of Jane Austen to sparkling new life. Alison Larkin is the bestselling author of The English American, a comedienne and the award-winning narrator of over 150 audiobooks. In addition to Pride and Prejudice with Songs from Regency England, Persuasion and Poems, Emma, Northanger Abbey and the History of England and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, other classic narrations include Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Fairytales of the Fiercer Sex by the Brothers Grimm et al, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest (with James Warwick), the AudioFile Earphones award winning recording of Peter Pan and The Inconsiderate Waiter, and Agatha Christie’s The Secret Adversary. VOLUME ONE Sense and Sensibility Pride and Prejudice Mansfield Park “…narrating the novels of Jane Austen reminded me that no matter how much the world changes, human nature never does.” (Alison Larkin) Title and End music "The Lonely Ash Grove" sung by Alison Larkin

The Complete Novels of Jane Austen Volume 1

This specially selected collection of Peter Rabbit and Other Stories were written by Beatrix Potter over one hundred and twenty years ago and remain hugely popular today. This edition includes an exclusive interview with Peter Rabbit himself. Stories include: 1. Peter Rabbit 2. Jemima Puddleduck 3. Jeremy Fisher 4. The Tailor of Gloucester 5. Squirrel Nutkin 6. Benjamin Bunny 7. Two Bad Mice 8. Mrs Tiggywinkle 9. The Pie and the Patty-Pan 10. Tom Kitten 11. The Roly-poly Pudding 12. Flopsy Bunnies 13. Mrs Tittlemouse 14 Timmy Tiptoes 15. The tale of Mr Tod 16. The Tale of Pigling Bland 17 Ginger and Pickles 18. The Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit 19. The Story of Miss Moppet 20. Interview with Peter Rabbit

Peter Rabbit and Other Stories

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Signalman by Charles Dickens, Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Dracula by Bram Stoker Read by: Clive Hayward, Derek Perkins and Alison Larkin Over thirty hours of great classic horror is brought to haunting new life by three A-list narrators whose performances are nothing short of electrifying. “At once terrifying and heartbreaking” raves AudioFile Magazine about Clive Hayward’s Earphones award winning reading of Frankenstein that starts the collection. “Both narrators are outstanding” says AudioFile about Audie award-winner Derek Perkins and Earphones award-winner Alison Larkin’s narration of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and The Yellow Wallpaper. Frankenstein was born when Mary Shelley, Lord Byron and Percy Shelley, stranded on an island, competed to see who could write the best horror story. Read by Clive Hayward. The Signalman, a ghost story by Charles Dickens was influenced by a fatal train accident he survived, though he was haunted by the event. Read by Derek Perkins. Carmilla is Le Fanu’s tortured, powerful, female vampire who set the stage for so many vampires to come, including Dracula. Read by Alison Larkin. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde grew out of a horrifying nightmare Robert Louis Stevenson had one night in Bournemouth, England in 1886. Read by Derek Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper sprang from a catastrophic nervous breakdown Charlotte Perkins Gilman had following the birth of her daughter. Read by Alison Larkin. Dracula by Bram Stoker is the quintessential vampire horror story which set out many of the conventions modern fantasy writers still embrace. Read by Clive Hayward.

Great Classic Horror Stories

“Champagne bubbly and engaging throughout…a jaunty, jolly good listen” raves AudioFile Magazine about Larkin’s narration of The Secret Adversary. Now the award-winning narrator is back with another hugely popular Agatha Christie classic, The Man in the Brown Suit. Pretty, young Anne is present on the platform at Hyde Park Corner when a thin man, reeking of mothballs, loses his balance and is electrocuted on the rails.The Scotland Yard verdict is accidental death. But Anne is not satisfied. After all, who was the man in the brown suit?

The Man in the Brown Suit

A Groundbreaking Binaural Audio production This powerful new recording performed by just two actors uses cutting-edge binaural sound to create the illusion of a full cast. Nora seems to have it all – a loving husband, children and a comfortable life. But when a secret from her past threatens her carefully constructed world, she is forced to confront the stark realities of her marriage and the issue of gender in society. The recording is followed by a fascinating conversation in which the actors talk how powerful and relevant the play still is today and how this unique project came to be. Alison Larkin is the multi award-winning narrator of over 250 audiobooks, including The Complete Novels of Jane Austen. Andrew Wincott is also an A-list narrator and actor who recently won a BAFTA for his role as Rafael in the hit video game, Baldur’s Gate 3 and is perhaps most famous for his role of Adam in The Archers on BBC Radio. This production is best experienced using earphones.

A Doll's House

200 years since Jane Austen completed her last novel, Alison Larkin, a witty and always original voice, brings Persuasion and a selection of lesser known poems by Jane Austen to a new audience. Seven years after Anne Elliot rejects the man she loves after a family friend persuades her that he isn't a good enough match for her, Frederick Wentworth returns to England looking for a wife. Austen did not take herself seriously as a poet but she did write delightful, mostly comic verses to entertain family and friends. Selected and introduced by award winning narrator Alison Larkin, the poems range from lines found on a piece of paper inside a tiny bag Austen gave to her niece in 1792, to her very last piece of writing - When Winchester Races - written three days before she died in July 1817. "Raised in England by adoptive parents, Alison Larkin was actually born in America. She herself is a comic writer and performer—and she approaches Austen as a satirist—she has genuine theatrical skill... sustained comic creations. The voice reveals all." — The New Yorker "There's a vintage feel to Alison Larkin's narration.. The bell-like quality of her sweetly accented voice harkens back to another, quieter, time. However, her delivery ... is contemporary and easy to hear..." - AudioFile Magazine "As narrator, Larkin's voice is both commanding and sweet as she portrays the characters in Austen's final completed novel, PERSUASION.... Larkin's voice echoes the author's artistry."--Audiofile Magazine

Persuasion and Poems

"Marvelously light-footed...hugely entertaining" The Times (London) “Drawn from Larkin’s own life, this debut novel, like Pippa herself, is smart, funny and utterly charming" Booklist “Both poignant and funny, the story rings true. Larkin has a winner on her hands” The Oregonian NEW audio edition! The AudioFile Earphones award winning recording of Alison Larkin’s bestselling autobiographical novel about an adopted English woman who finds her birth parents and her self in the US is followed by an exclusive interview with the Author and other bonus material! "Author and narrator Alison Larkin lights up the earphones with her portrayal of Pippa Dunn, an English young woman who discovers that her birth parents are Americans. Pippa decides to go to America to meet them and ends up finding herself—and true love. Larkin's heartfelt narration conveys Pippa's mixed up feelings of confusion and guilt—as well as the story's humor. Larkin moves delightfully between the various British and American accents. With gentle humor, she pokes fun at both American and British cultures while making it clear she loves them both. This audio experience is like watching a great romantic comedy. Have the tissues ready at the end—the romance is that good!” --AudioFile Magazine - Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award."

The English American

Following the runaway success of her stunning rendition of Pride and Prejudice, award-winning narrator Alison Larkin returns—breathing new life into Jane Austen’s Emma. Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the book, Larkin —a witty and always original voice— is the perfect vessel to bring this great classic to a new audience in a FUN and accessible way. "I understood what Larkin was doing. Raised in England by adoptive parents, Alison Larkin was actually born in America. She herself is a comic writer and performer - and she approaches Austen as a satirist - she has genuine theatrical skill, so her Mrs. Elton, swooping and dipping in flights of arrogant self-serving nonsensical observation, and her Miss Bates, anxious and desperately self-conscious even as she talks without end, are both sustained comic creations. The voice reveals all." David Denby, THE NEW YORKER

Emma—The 200th Anniversary Audio Edition

Following her recent adaptation of Great Expectations, bestselling novelist and award-winning audiobook narrator Alison Larkin changes the gender of Scrooge in this exciting new recording of A Christmas Carol. It's the same beloved Christmas story, only one thing has changed. In this version, Scrooge is a woman. Everything else, though, is pure Dickens. So, the characters around Scrooge behave as if it were quite normal for a woman to learn to read and write, fall in love with and reject a woman and have the kind of career only men could dream of in 1843. It's an irresistible question. If gender had been simply irrelevant in the 19th century where would we all be now?

Alison Larkin Presents: A Christmas Carol

In this delightful double bill, narrator Alison Larkin’s AudioFile Earphones award-winning recording of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice are followed by Songs from Regency England to give listeners a sense of what after dinner family entertainment might have sounded like in Jane Austen’s time. Recorded in a drawing room not unlike the Bennets’, a young lady who sounds suspiciously like Mary Bennet sings The Lonely Ash Grove, Ye Banks and Braes, and Down by the Salley Gardens. "Alison Larkin's narration will captivate listeners from the first sentence. Her delicate voice and perfect English accent sweep the listener back in time, right into the lives of the characters. Austen's nineteenth-century writing style flows off Larkin's tongue, making the dense passages easy to understand. She effortlessly conveys the many humorous scenes, capturing the pompous gentry and their ridiculous (even to them, apparently) social conventions…This version stands out as one of the best.” AudioFile Magazine

Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice with Songs from Regency England

"Alison Larkin's narration will captivate listeners from the first sentence...Austen’s nineteenth-century writing style flows off Larkin’s tongue, making the dense passages easy to understand"" raves AudioFile Magazine, presenting Larkin with an Earphones award. Ever since Colin Firth’s Mr Darcy emerged from the lake in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, the novels of Jane Austen have become more popular than ever, delighting millions of fans all over the world. Now, Alison Larkin’s critically acclaimed narrations of Austen’s six completed novels are brought together in this very special 200th anniversary audio edition. Hailed by The Times as “marvelously light footed… hugely entertaining”, Alison Larkin's narration of Emma also received a glowing review in The New Yorker. "She herself is a comic writer and performer and she approaches Austen as a satirist. She has genuine theatrical skilll – sustained comic creations. The voice reveals all." Alison Larkin is the bestselling author of The English American, a comedienne and the award-winning narrator of over 150 audiobooks. Other classic narrations include Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Fairytales of the Fiercer Sex by the Brothers Grimm et al, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest (with James Warwick), the AudioFile Earphones award-winning Peter Pan and The Inconsiderate Waiter, and Agatha Christie’s The Secret Adversary. VOLUME TWO Emma Northanger Abbey Persuasion Title and End music "Ye Banks and Braes" sung by Alison Larkin

The Complete Novels of Jane Austen Volume 2

"Larkin approaches Austen as a satirist...Sustained comic creations." The New Yorker. Award-winning Austen audiobook narrator Alison Larkin is back with this 'hugely entertaining' recording of Mansfield Park - followed by fascinating bonus material! “Alison Larkin's narration will captivate listeners from the first sentence. Her delicate voice and perfect English accent sweep the listener back in time, right into the lives of the characters. Austen's nineteenth-century writing style flows off Larkin's tongue, making the dense passages easy to understand.” AudioFile Magazine Eleven-year-old Fanny Price is ‘adopted’ by wealthy relatives and leaves her life of poverty in Portsmouth for a much better life at Mansfield Park. Dependent, vulnerable and often ignored, her only true friend in her new family is her cousin Edmund. When the reckless, flirtatious Crawfords arrive at Mansfield Park, Fanny must stand up for her principles in order to protect her heart. Mansfield Park is followed by opinions on the novel by Austen’s family and friends, never before heard on audio. Like most writers, Jane Austen was very interested in what her family and friends thought of her books. She wrote down their opinions of Mansfield Park, recording both the bad and the good. These opinions dating from 1814 and 1815 will give solace to any writer whose work has been criticized and amuse and delight Austen fans worldwide. Other acclaimed Austen narrations by Alison Larkin include Pride and Prejudice with Songs from Regency England, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey and The History of England, Persuasion and Poems and The Complete Novels.

Mansfield Park with opinions on the novel from Austen's family and friends

Who better to interpret the version of the Bible read in Shakespeare day than four Shakespearean actors?! The familiar chronicles of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John sparkle with new light.    Timely and important the four acclaimed narrators boldly showcase the historic text making the powerful King James Version of the Gospels truly accessible to the modern ear.  Read by award-winning narrator Alison Larkin, James Warwick (star of the Partners in Crime TV series on Masterpiece Theater), plus the critically-acclaimed Shakespearean duo Tina Packer and Nigel Gore called “Marvelous!” by The New York Times.

The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Soothe your soul at bedtime as you listen to some of the world's most beautifully written classic stories, exquisitely read by Alison Larkin and Virginia McKenna. Alison's AudioFile Earphones award winning reading of Peter Pan is followed by Through the Looking Glass and The Snow Queen. How the Elephant Got Its Trunk is read by Virginia McKenna, OBE, the beloved English actress best known for the films Born Free, A Town Like Alice and Ring of Bright Water. AudioFile Magazine raves about both narrators : "The well-known characters in the much-loved story of PETER PAN are enlivened with humor and excitement in this gem. Narrator Alison Larkin breathes a unique personality and voice into each character." "Virginia McKenna is wonderfully expressive. Her narration feels like she is reading a book to a group of children - a treat for children and adults alike." Music credit to Gary Schriener and Curt Sobel

Classic Bedtime Stories Volume 2

Edith Wharton’s inside knowledge of New York’s upper class is put to superb use in this exciting collection of her short stories set in and around New York. The collection is brilliantly and authentically narrated by multi award-winning narrator Carrington MacDuffie, an eight time Audie-award finalist. LIST OF STORIES IN ORDER A Cup of Cold Water A Journey The Reckoning Expiation The Portrait Full Circle Autres-Temps The Long Run

Edith Wharton's New York Stories Vol. 1

Are you ready for a deep, peaceful night's sleep? Then curl up, get comfortable and listen to Alison's soothing voice as she makes up slowwwwwwwly told stories that will lull you into a deep, calm, sleep. So you can let everything go and ressssst. Alison improvises similar bedtime stories for her loved ones and family when they need to feel safe and filled with love before falling asleep, and now in this very special audiobook, she shares them with you. Are you ready? Sssssssh. Breathe. Let's begin... The sleep stories are repeated three times.

Falling Asleep

Award-winning narrator and internationally acclaimed writer/comedienne, Alison Larkin brings her signature wit to this dazzling audio production of Jane Austen's first novel, Northanger Abbey, followed by The History of England, a short, delightfully satirical piece that Austen wrote when she was just fifteen years old. In Northanger Abbey, Catherine Morland, a clergyman's daughter, longs for the kind of romantic adventures she has read about in her favorite Gothic novels. After spending a season mingling with fashionable high society in Bath, she is invited to stay at Northanger Abbey where nothing is what it seems. In The History of England, the teenage Jane Austen pokes fun at the historians of the day who pretended to be objective when they clearly were not, and wrote about the kings and queens of England with less respect (and more wit) than a British newspaper. "Larkin approaches Austen as a satirist. She has genuine theatrical skill...sustained comic creations. The voice reveals all."—The New Yorker "There's a vintage feel to Alison Larkin's narration. The bell-like quality of her sweetly accented voice harkens back to another, quieter, time. However, her delivery offers a flexibility that is contemporary and easy to hear..."—AudioFile magazine "Ms. Larkin's voice is perfectly suited to Jane Austen's work... her range is phenomenal..."—Rakes and Rascals

Northanger Abbey and The History of England by Jane Austen

In this timely and important new recording, The Gospel according to Matthew sparkles with new light in the hands of award-winning narrator Alison Larkin. Matthew is the first of the four gospels in the New Testament. Held in high esteem by the church; no other text was so frequently quoted in the noncanonical literature of earliest Christianity. “Alison Larkin is a narrator to seek out” AudioFile Magazine

Alison Larkin Presents: The Gospel According to Matthew

‘A Mole Like No Other’ by Julia B. Grantham is a fresh, delightful story about a toy mole who is looking for love, friendship and his place in the world. The tale of Moley and his friends is set in a cosy English country house with a traditional garden. While it is especially popular amongst 5 - 10 year olds, children of all ages will love Moley’s adventure, subtle literary references and tongue-in-cheek humor. This charming new tale is brought to sparkling life by Alison Larkin, internationally acclaimed comedienne and the award-winning narrator of The Complete Novels of Jane Austen, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and The Secret Garden. Larkin has been hailed by The Times as 'marvelously light-footed and hugely entertaining' and she brings all those skills into play here. ‘I liked all the characters but my favourite one was Moley. Moley is cute, brave, friendly and always wants to help. I would like to have a friend like Moley!’ Leon, Age 8

A Mole Like No Other

This fresh and hugely entertaining narration joined with Lewis Carroll’s surreal genius results in pure, boundless FUN.  Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass brilliantly capture a young girl's feelings about growing up in a nonsensical world. Sylvie and Bruno was Lewis Carroll's final novel and is followed by Carroll's delightful nonsense poem The Hunting of the Snark.

The Complete Novels: Lewis Carroll

Bestselling novelist and award-winning audiobook narrator Alison Larkin changes the gender of two of Dickens’ most famous characters in these critically acclaimed recordings of Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol. These are the same beloved stories – only one thing has changed. In these versions, Pip and Scrooge are women. It’s an irresistible question. If gender had been simply irrelevant in the 19th century where would we all be now? “Superb!” AudioFile Magazine. “A brilliant re-imagining of two great classics. Perfectly narrated.” The Standard

Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol

Upon the death of her father, Mary Bennet’s life is thrown into turmoil. With no fortune or marriage prospects, she must rely on the kindness of her relatives. When a mysterious late-night visit by an unknown relative—a Lady Trafford from Castle Durrington—leads to an extended stay and the chance for an education, Mary gratefully accepts the opportunity. But even as she arrives at the castle, she’s faced with one mystery after another. Who is Lady Trafford really, and what is she hiding? Do her secrets and manipulations place the small seaside community at risk of an invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte? Always curious, Mary sets out to discover the answers. But when she finds the dead body of a would-be thief she outed prior to her father’s funeral, she jeopardizes her position at the castle and her family’s good name in her quest for the truth.

The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet

Jane Austen's most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice is brought to sparkling new life in this “wonderful, unforgettable” recording from AudioFile Earphones award-winning narrator Alison Larkin. A witty and always original voice Alison Larkin follows her "hugely entertaining" narration of Pride and Prejudice with Songs from Regency England, to give the listener a sense of what after dinner family entertainment might have sounded like in Jane Austen's time. Recorded in a drawing room not unlike the Bennets', a young lady who sounds suspiciously like Mary Bennet sings The Lonely Ash Grove, Ye Banks and Braes & and Down by the Salley Gardens, making up in vocal enthusiasm what she lacks in polish. “Raised in England by adoptive parents, Alison Larkin was actually born in America. She herself is a comic writer and performer – and she approaches Austen as a satirist – she has genuine theatrical skill - sustained comic creations. The voice reveals all.” The New Yorker “There’s a vintage feel to Alison Larkin’s narration, The bell-like quality of her sweetly accented voice harkens back to another, quieter, time. However, her delivery... offers a flexibility that is contemporary and easy to hear." AudioFile Magazine "Wonderful...unforgettable....the best possible way to listen to Pride and Prejudice" Audiobook Jungle

Pride and Prejudice with Songs from Regency England

After a busy day what could be better than getting into bed and listening to some of the world's most beloved classic bedtime stories exquisitely read by Alison Larkin and iconic British actress Virginia McKenna, OBE? Larkin’s hugely popular reading of Alice in Wonderland is followed by Beauty and the Beast and The Princess and the Goblin . Virginia McKenna, best known for the films Born Free and Ring of Bright Water then brings all her talents to her lovely reading of Rikki Tikki Tavi. AudioFile Magazine raves about both narrators "Alison Larkin is unparalleled…a narrator to seek out.” “Virginia McKenna is wonderfully expressive – a treat for children and adults alike.” Music by Gary Schriener and Curt Sobel

Classic Bedtime Stories Volume 1

Award winning audiobook narrator, bestselling author and comedienne Alison Larkin selects and introduces fairytales of strong, independent, brave, at times irreverent girls and women who take charge of their lives, go on their own adventures, rescue themselves and sometimes even save the men they love. These are not stories of helpless females shut up in high towers waiting around for a handsome man to rescue them while they sleep for years or from brushing their golden hair a lot. These heroines have far more to distinguish them than the fact that they (sometimes) end up married to a prince. The fairy stories included in this collection are The Snow Queen, Molly Whuppie and the Double-faced Giant, A Pottle of Brains, Cap O’ Rushes,, Hansel and Gretel, Mr. Fox, Clever Grethel, Kari Woodengown, The Twelve Dancing Princesses., Felicia and the Pot of Pinks, The Iron Stove,, The Hedley Kow, The Six Sillies, Baba Yaga a Russian folk tale re-told, The Old Woman in the Woods, The Idle Spinner, The Twelve Brothers, Frederick and Catherine, Little Red Cap and Beauty and The Beast.

Fairy Tales of the Fiercer Sex

Based on the theme ‘The Wonder of Words’, the fourth year of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation short story writing competition attracted a wonderful range of original stories that were a delight to read. Three finalist stories were chosen by the special Jane Austen Literacy Foundation judging panel including Susannah Harker (Jane Bennet, BBC Television Pride & Prejudice 1995) and Natalie Jenner (International bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society) and published online for a public vote to choose the winner. The winning story, Small Print by Faith Cobaine, is a wonderfully unique story of a purchase from a second-hand store, with a deliciously dark twist. Ms Patton’s List of (More) Appropriate Words by Maggie Iribarne and This is Danny by Julie Bissell were equally loved and complete this set of three very different but enjoyable stories. Beautifully read by award winning narrator and Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Ambassador, Alison Larkin, all of the proceeds from the sale of this e-book will be donated to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation. Run by volunteers, the Foundation was started by Jane Austen’s family in 2014 to connect through literacy and support literacy in developing communities.

Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Winning Stories 2023

Peter Pan by J M Barrie, The Princess and the Goblin by George Macdonald, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll, and The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson are brought together in this top notch 20 hour recording read by an A-list narrator at the top of her game. Hailed by The Times as "marvelously light footed...hugely entertaining," Alison Larkin is the perfect vessel to bring these delightful children's classics to sparkling new life “The well-known characters in the much-loved story of Peter Pan are enlivened with humor and excitement in this gem” raves AudioFile Magazine about the Earphones award-winning production of Peter Pan which starts the collection The Princess and The Goblin, the very first fantasy novel that famously influenced Lewis Caroll, C S Lewis and J R R Tolkein tells the story of eight-year-old Princess Irene who lives in a remote region with no one but her nursemaid for company. Meanwhile deep in the heart of the earth lurk grotesque and hideous creatures plotting vengeance against human kind… Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass read by Alison Larkin have become hugely popular international bestsellers and continue to receive rave reviews worldwide. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson enchants children of all ages to this day.

Great Classic Children's Stories: Vol. 1

Lewis Carroll's sequel to Alice in Wonderland brilliantly captures a young girl's feelings about growing up in a nonsensical world. Hailed by The Times (London) as "hugely entertaining", award-winning narrator Alison Larkin uses her wide range of voices to bring this famous story to a brand new audience.. Through the Looking Glass is followed by Phantasmagoria—a humorous poem about a little ghost who finds himself haunting the wrong building.

Through the Looking-Glass and Phantasmagoria

Hailed by The Times (London) as "hugely entertaining - marvelously light-footed":, award winning narrator Alison Larkin brings her signature wit and charm to this Audiofile Earphones Award winning recording. “The well-known characters in the much-loved story of PETER PAN are enlivened with humor and excitement in this gem. Narrator Alison Larkin breathes a unique personality and voice into each character. Peter's cockiness, Tink's spunk, Hook's rants, and all the other distinctive voices combine for an enjoyable listening experience. The icing on the cake is the less-well-known-short story THE INCONSIDERATE WAITER, a humorous look at the British class system of 1898." Audiofile Magazine Peter Pan 'All children, except one, grow up.' When Peter flies into the Darling home looking for his shadow he teaches Wendy, John and Michael how to fly with him back to the island of Neverland. There they embark on an 'awfully big adventure.' The Inconsiderate Waiter In the world of the Victorian Club, it does not do for a gentleman to be seen to take an interest in any member of the working class. How dreadfully inconvenient then, when the narrator's waiter begins to display alarming tendencies towards having a personality, and feelings of his own. The last thing any respectable gentleman should do is permit himself to be drawn into this dubious world...let alone entertain emotions such as interest or empathy for a member of the lower class. Additional Content: Alison Larkin on Peter Pan and life 'betwixt and between' England and America. Title and end music by Emmy Award-winning composer, Gary Schriener.

Peter Pan and The Inconsiderate Waiter

“Narrating the story of Jane Eyre showed me that the bravery it takes for an unwanted orphan to forge her own path in life was as great in 1847 as it is today.” (Alison Larkin) The epic love story of the plain, unloved orphan with an indomitable spirit who becomes a great romantic heroine despite all odds still resonates with millions of fans all over the world. In this brilliant, highly accessible recording, award-winning narrator Alison Larkin draws on her own adoption experience to bring Charlotte Bronte’s story to authentic new life. After being subjected to cruelty in her foster home and at boarding school, Jane becomes a governess in the home of the mysterious, sarcastic and deadly attractive Mr. Rochester who harbors a terrible secret… Alison Larkin is the best-selling author of The English American, an autobiographical novel about an adopted English woman who finds her birth parents in the US and the award-winning narrator of over 200 audiobooks including The Complete Novels by Jane Austen. Other classic narrations include Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass; Fairytales of the Fiercer Sex by the Brothers Grimm, et al; The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett; Peter Pan & the Inconsiderate Waiter; Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary and Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, freely adapted by Alison Larkin. “Narrator Alison Larkin's mellifluous voice and expressive tone are the perfect accompaniment to this acclaimed bildungsroman about "poor, plain and little" orphaned Jane Eyre and her eternally captivating romance with Edward Rochester.” Earphones Award Winner--AudioFile Magazine

Jane Eyre

When Miss Mary Bennet is assigned to London for the Season, extravagant balls and eligible men are the least of her worries. A government messenger has been murdered and suspicion falls on the Radicals, who may be destabilizing the government in order to compel England down the bloody path of the French Revolution. Working with her fellow spies, Mr. William Stanley and Miss Fanny Cramer, Mary must investigate without raising the suspicions of her family, rescue her friend Miss Georgiana Darcy from a suitor scandal, and solve the mystery before anyone else is harmed—all without being discovered, lest she be exiled back to the countryside. This is the perfect job for a woman who exists in the background. Can Mary prove herself, or will this assignment be her last?

The Secret Life of Mary Bennet

The True Confessions of a London Spy

Life changes once again for British spy Miss Mary Bennet when Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from the Isle of Elba. Mary quickly departs England for Brussels, the city where the Allied forces prepare for war against the French. But shortly after her arrival, one of the Duke of Wellington’s best officers is murdered, an event that threatens to break the delicate alliance between the Allies. Investigating the murder forces Mary into precarious levels of espionage, role-playing, and deception with her new partner, Mr. Withrow—the nephew and heir of her prominent sponsor and the spy with whom she’s often at odds. Together, they court danger and discovery as they play dual roles in gathering intelligence for the British. But soon Mary realizes that her growing feelings toward Mr. Withrow put her heart in as much danger as her life. And then there’s another murder. Mary will need to unmask the murderer before more people are killed, but can she do so and remain hidden in the background?

The Secret Life of Mary Bennet Book

The Lady's Guide to Death and Deception

Bestselling novelist and award-winning audiobook narrator Alison Larkin changes the gender of Dicken’s most famous character in this dazzling new recording of Great Expectations. It's the same thrilling story of youthful innocence, unexpected escape from cruel poverty, an old woman jilted at the altar, and a mysterious financial gift that transforms the life of a young person. But one thing has changed. In this version, Pip is a woman. In this world it is completely normal for a girl to learn to read and kiss another girl and be able to walk into a tavern without being molested or start a promising career thanks to a mysterious financial donation. It's an irresistible question. If gender had been simply irrelevant in the 19th century where would we all be now? “A novel rich in imagination, detail, and surprises requires a narrator who can embrace every element of the story — Alison Larkin is that narrator..” — AUDIOFILE MAGAZINE “Alison Larkin is hugely entertaining.” THE TIMES

Great Expectations

#1 Globe and Mail Bestseller USA Today Bestseller A daring young woman will risk her life to find her destiny in this atmospheric, beautifully drawn historical debut novel—a tale of love, hope, and danger set during the First World War. Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford wants to travel the world, pursue a career, and marry for love. But in 1914, the stifling restrictions of aristocratic British society and her mother’s rigid expectations forbid Lilly from following her heart. When war breaks out, the spirited young woman seizes her chance for independence. Defying her parents, she moves to London and eventually becomes an ambulance driver in the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps—an exciting and treacherous job that takes her close to the Western Front. Assigned to a field hospital in France, Lilly is reunited with Robert Fraser, her dear brother Edward’s best friend. The handsome Scottish surgeon has always encouraged Lilly’s dreams. She doesn’t care that Robbie grew up in poverty—she yearns for their friendly affection to become something more. Lily is the most beautiful—and forbidden—woman Robbie has ever known. Fearful for her life, he’s determined to keep her safe, even if it means breaking her heart. In a world divided by class, filled with uncertainty and death, can their hope for love survive. . . or will it become another casualty of this tragic war?

Somewhere in France

After becoming trapped in present-day Bath due to a mishap with her time-traveling charm, Jane Austen is safe and sound back in the 1800s thanks to Rose Wallace’s help. Now, Rose is ready to focus on her fledgling romance with dreamy Dr. Aiden Trevellyan. But when Jane reappears in the present, it looks like Rose and Aiden have no choice but to follow her back to 1813… Staying in the Austen household, Rose and Aiden are introduced to a number of interesting figures from the past, including Jane’s eccentric—and surprisingly modern—neighbour. Suddenly Rose’s life is in need of a re-write as she discovers some unexpected ties to Jane Austen's world and her past.

Austen Adventures

The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen

A brand-new anthology of stories inspired by the Arthur Conan Doyle canon In this follow-up to the acclaimed In the Company of Sherlock Holmes, expert Sherlockians Laurie King and Leslie Klinger put forth the question: What happens when great writers/creators who are not known as Sherlock Holmes devotees admit to being inspired by Conan Doyle stories? While some are highly regarded mystery writers, others are best known for their work in the fields of fantasy or science fiction. All of these talented authors, however, share a great admiration for Arthur Conan Doyle and his greatest creations, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. To the editors’ great delight, these stories go in many directions. Some explore the spirit of Holmes himself; others tell of detectives inspired by Holmes’ adventures or methods. A young boy becomes a detective; a young woman sharpens her investigative skills; an aging actress and a housemaid each find that they have unexpected talents. Other characters from the Holmes stories are explored, and even non-Holmesian tales by Conan Doyle are echoed. The variations are endless! Although not a formal collection of new Sherlock Holmes stories, some entries do fit that mold while others were inspired by the Conan Doyle canon. The results are breathtaking, for fans of Holmes and Watson as well as listeners new to Doyle’s writing.

The Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon Series

Echoes of Sherlock Holmes

Caroline Jane Knight is the last of the Austen Knight family to grow up at Chawton House, the sixteenth-century English manor house on the ancestral estate where Jane Austen lived and wrote. Caroline ate at the same dining table, read in the same library, explored the same country lanes and shared the same dreams of independence as Jane Austen did. But when she was seventeen, Caroline and her family were forced to leave the home her family had lived in for centuries. Heartbroken and determined to leave all things Austen behind her, this is the story of Caroline’s journey from an idyllic childhood in which she baked cakes with her Granny for Jane Austen tourists, through personal crisis and success to her eventual embrace of her Austen heritage and the creation of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation. A contemporary and dramatic story, it is also a major contribution to the library of works about Jane Austen, including information thrillingly new to Jane Austen’s readers and scholars. Read by award-winning narrator Alison Larkin whose critically acclaimed recordings of the novels of Jane Austen include Pride and Prejudice and Songs from Regency England, Persuasion and Poems, Northanger Abbey and the History of England and Emma - the 200th anniversary audio edition. Fifteen per cent of the profits from the sale of this book will be donated to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation.

Jane and Me

Jessica Mayhew is a sharp, successful therapist with a thriving practice and loving family. But the arrival of a new client, actor Gwydion Morgan, coincides with a turbulent moment in her life: her husband has just confessed to a one-night stand with a younger woman. The son of a famous stage director, Gwydion is good-looking and talented but mentally fragile, tormented by an intriguing phobia. When Jessica receives a frantic call warning that he is suicidal, she decides to make a house call. The Morgans live in a grand clifftop mansion overlooking the rocky Welsh coast. It seems to be a remote paradise, but there's something sinister about it too: Jessica learns that the family's former au pair drowned in the bay under mysterious circumstances. In her quest to help Gwydion, to whom she's grown increasingly attached, Jessica becomes ensnared in the Morgan family mystery, which soon becomes an explosive public scandal—one that puts her directly in harm's way. Meanwhile, Jessica is doing her best to keep her marriage and family together, but her growing attraction to Gwydion is impossible to ignore. Smart, stylish, and suspenseful, The House on the Cliff announces the arrival of a winning female protagonist in Jessica Mayhew and an exciting new crime writer in Charlotte Williams.

The House on the Cliff

Bestselling novelist Cora Harrison's light historical romance in the form of a secret diary was inspired by real life events in the Austen family and will delight Jane Austen fans everywhere. When fifteen-year-old Jane Austen’s shy cousin Jenny comes to stay, their evenings are a blur of beautiful dresses, balls, gossip and romance; their days are spend writing about them – Jenny in her diary, Jane in her witty first attempts at fiction. When Jenny falls utterly in love with a handsome naval officer who better to help her than Jane herself, already an expert in love and relationships? This delightful, meticulously researched novel is followed by an afterward about the actual people and events on which the novel is based, including Jane Austen’s disabled brother, George and the whirlwind courtship of Jane (Jenny) Cooper. “A delicious combination of historical fact and fabulously crafted fiction. I fell in love. A rare gem in historical fiction.” San Francisco Book Review Alison Larkin is an actress, comedienne, bestselling novelist, and the award-winning narrator of over 200 audiobooks. Her autobiographical novel The English American won an AudioFile Earphones Award and joined President Obama and E.B. White on Audible’s top ten list of Best Author-narrated audiobooks of all time. Her acclaimed 81-hour recording of The Complete Novels of Jane Austen begins with her Earphones Award-winning recording of Sense and Sensibility. She has also narrated many New York Times bestsellers.

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend

“Both a hymn to the joys of “being different” and an earnest exploration of the serious traumas suffered by teenagers who are lucky enough, and unlucky enough, to be unconventional.” - The Guardian Sitting by himself on a bench during recess, fashion-loving Francis is joined by Jessica. He’s surprised when he learns that she’s a ghost and that Francis is the first person who has been able to see her since she died. When they become friends, then meet two more outsiders who can also see Jessica the questions arise: Why are they the only ones who can see Jessica? And how did she die? “Narrating this humorous, beautifully written story taught me that when someone is depressed, instead of trying to fix things, it can be more helpful to just shut up and listen.” -Alison Larkin Releasing on September 10th - National Suicide Prevention Day The audiobook is followed by a candid discussion with three American teenagers about depression, anxiety, bullying, suicide, social media and the healing power of friendship.

Jessica's Ghost

Rose Wallace’s world revolves around all things Jane Austen, and with the annual festival in Bath—and the arrival of dishy archaeologist Dr. Aiden Trevellyan—just around the corner, all is well with the world.But then a mysterious woman who bears more than a passing resemblance to the great author moves in upstairs, and things take a disastrous turn. Rose’s new neighbour is none other than Jane Austen herself, now trapped in the twenty-first century after her time-travel adventure was sabotaged by a mischievous dog.Rose’s life is instantly changed—new home, new job, new friends—but she’s the only one who seems to have noticed! To right the world around her, she’ll have to do whatever it takes to help Jane get back home to write Rose’s beloved novels. Because a world without Mr. Darcy? It's not worth living in!

The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen

When her old friend Hannah doesn’t show up at her house in the south of France, everyone assumes that Claudia, who has known Hannah since their shared years at boarding school, will know where she is and what has happened. But as Claudia travels from the United States to France to help her friend’s husband and children conduct their search, she is forced to deal with her old jealousy of Hannah, as well as her own relationship in the present with her French lover, Alexandre. As events unfold, Claudia begins to wonder if Hannah and Alexandre may have had an affair and if that has something to do with Hannah’s mysterious disappearance.

Without Her

At the heart of each of these award winning audio recordings is an orphan with an indomitable spirit who becomes the heroine (or hero) of her own life, despite all odds. Peter Pan J.M. Barrie's classic tale of Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up. (AudioFile Earphones award) Great Expectations It's the same thrilling story of mysterious beginnings, poverty, an old woman jilted at the altar, a beautiful, haughty young woman and a mysterious financial gift that transforms the life of a young person. Only in Larkin’s critically acclaimed adaptation, Pip is a woman. (Best audiobook of the Year award) The Secret Garden When her parents die from cholera in India, orphan Mary Lennox is sent to live with her uncle in a cold, dark mansion in England. Then she discovers a secret garden that has been locked since her Aunt died 10 years earlier....(AudioFile Earphones award) Jane Eyre After being subjected to cruelty in her foster home and at boarding school, Jane becomes a governess in the home of the mysterious, sarcastic and deadly attractive Mr. Rochester who harbors a terrible secret....(AudioFile Earphones award.)

Great Classic Adoptee Stories

relevance|desc

publishdate|desc

publishdate|asc

rating|desc

title|asc

author_lastname|asc

BookBeat gives you access to thousands of audiobooks right on your mobile. Find your next favourite by browsing through our top lists and categories.

Do you like to read books? Discover thousands of e-books at BookBeat. Pick and choose from different genres, such as best-sellers, crime, romance, non-fiction and much more!

Get access to thousands of e-books on your phone. Browse and find your next favorite read today!

On our Bookshelf - Audiobooks

BookBeat lets you enjoy over 1 million audiobooks and e-books on your mobile or tablet. Try for free!

BookBeat - Audiobooks and e-books directly in the mobile. Try for free!

Unless you're out on an adventure, it's better to sign up at the website of {country}.

You can browse and find the most popular authors and books in the BookBeat app here. We’ve got a great selection of various authors and genres, this list will definitely inspire you to a great reading experience in the app!

{AuthorName} books - BookBeat

{NarratorName} as narrator - BookBeat

Are you on the hunt for your new favourite narrator, or do you have a favourite that you want to listen to even more? We've got you covered! We've gathered all of the most popular narrators and the books they’ve narrated here.

Search - BookBeat

Title

Person doing dishes and listening to BookBeat

Narrator

Alison Larkin

Get started with BookBeat today

About us

Follow us

Help and contact

Information

BookBeat

Download BookBeat