Showing results by narrator "Mark John" in All Categories

Edgar Wallace was a bestselling author, journalist, playwright and film director, and the creator of King Kong. A prolific writer and celebrity superstar, he was thought to be responsible for a quarter of all new books read in Britain by the late 1920s. Presented here are full-cast adaptations of four of his classic crime novels, readings of four short detective stories, and vintage recording of Wallace reading one of his own stories. Tying them all together is linking commentary from Edgar Wallace: The Man Who Wrote Too Much?, a documentary celebration of his life.

A master of the psychological crime genre, Patricia Highsmith is most famous for her quintet of best-selling Ripley novels, and her groundbreaking thriller Strangers on a Train (notably adapted as a classic film by Alfred Hitchcock). This extensive collection encompasses her best-known works, as well as selected short stories and three programmes about the author herself and her greatest creation, charismatic anti-hero Tom Ripley.

Brendan Behan is widely remembered as a hard-drinking, wise-cracking writer who turned up roaring drunk for interviews and cared little for authority. But he was more than just a hell-raising celebrity. His wit, expressive use of language and understanding of human nature made his writing famous around the world, and his masterpieces The Quare Fellow, Borstal Boy and The Hostage rank among the greatest works of 20th century Irish literature. Dramatisations of all three appear here, alongside a short interview with Behan himself and a fascinating biographical programme celebrating his genius.

At 10 o'clock on the evening of 4th February 1929, the small clifftop bungalow colony of Limeslade was awoken by a woman's screams. People came out onto their terraces in the bitter night and stood in silence to listen to the terror they heard in her voice...

Years ago, a weird mask of unknown origin and limitless power was buried in the cement of an apartment building's basement floor. Edge City and its residents have all but forgotten the mysterious green-faced killer known only as "Big Head." But now, decades later, the bizarre Tex Avery-style killings are happening all over again and are on a collision course with a bizarre political campaign where a homicidal maniac wants to "Make America Green Again"!  

Jason Slater is a very average twenty-first-century English teacher from Cheadle Hulme, but somehow wakes up after a few drinks in nineteenth-century Macclesfield. Apparently, he's now Tarquin, third son of Lord Belport, with a faithful valet, a suspicious brother, a spurned ex-girlfriend (who's now going out with his brother)—and no obvious way he'll ever get back home again. From toasted sandwich makers and the perfect beer, to root canals and royal visits, can Jason—Tarquin, that is—change the course of history and make 1834 his playground?

Eighteen year-old Jessica's life is turned upside down when her parents are in a fatal accident. Her late father's reckless lifestyle leave her finances in turmoil and threaten to leave her homeless...until a chance meeting with a 30-year-old stranger means that her life changes forever. Finding herself an unofficial ward of a mysterious, serious man, our American heroine and her enigmatic British 'Guardian' get used to living with each other...with all of the tensions, pitfalls and excitement that entails....

Famed for his effortless blend of satire and realism, Gogol is often considered the Godfather of Russian literature. At turns witty and whimsical, dark and ominous, his stories thrived on vibrant language, absurdist techniques as well as elements of the grotesque – the result of which is utterly unique. In this carefully curated collection, discover the unfortunate power of social status in 'The Overcoat', the doomed obsession with class in 'The Nose', the darkly comic opera, 'A May Night', and much more.

There’s something Constance Middleton’s friends are dying to tell her: her husband is having an affair – with her best friend! Despite their hints, Constance remains ever cool, and seemingly oblivious. Or is she? In this biting comedy of manners, marriages and mistresses, Constance – a not-so-desperate housewife - has some ideas of her own about extra-marital activity that surprise everyone in the end!

A BBC radio anthology of the very best short stories by Stacy Aumonier. Stacy Aumonier was an author, stage performer, 'society entertainer', World War One private and draughtsman, who gained an unrivalled reputation for his short fiction in the 1920s. John Galsworthy described him as ‘one of the best short-story writers of all time’, and several of his tales were adapted for television by Alfred Hitchcock.

New epic fantasy in the grand tradition—including a never-before-published Song of Ice and Fire story by George R. R. Martin! Fantasy fiction has produced some of the most unforgettable heroes ever conjured onto the page: Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian, Michael Moorcock’s Elric of...

Behind the stage lights and word-perfect soliloquies, sinister secrets are lurking in the wings. The mysteries in this collection reveal the dark side to theatre and performing arts: a world of backstage dealings, where unscrupulous actors risk everything to land a starring role, costumed figures lead to mistaken identities, and on-stage deaths begin to look a little too convincing. This expertly curated thespian anthology features 14 stories from giants of the classic crime genre.

Escape to worlds full of adventure and magic in the first-ever Terry Brooks short-story collection, featuring both new and fan-favorite stories from all three of his major literary worlds: Shannara, Magic Kingdom, and The Word and the Void. Here are heroes fighting new battles and struggling to...

From the dramatic Highlands to bustling cities, the unique landscapes and locales of Scotland have enthralled and shaped generations of mystery writers. This new collection presents 17 classic stories, spanning a period from the 1880s to the 1970s, by a host of Scottish authors alongside writers from south of the border inspired by the history and majesty of the storied country.

Winner of the Duff Cooper Prize One of The Economist's top history books of the year From one of our leading historians, the definitive history of the Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence was an unlikely cause, a disorganized collection of Greek patriots up against what...

The bestselling author of A Tale Dark and Grimm takes on medieval times in an exciting and hilarious new adventure about history, religion . . . and farting dragons. 1242. On a dark night, travelers from across France cross paths at an inn and begin to tell stories of three children: William, an...

The problem isn't so much that we tell lies but that we live them. You are at war against lies. . .but you can defeat them. The Live No Lies: Audio Bible Studies draws from biblical truth and the wisdom of past saints to help you see how each of our soul's enemies—the devil, the flesh, and the...

Five tales of time-travel, vampires, Snow White and Odysseus from the legendary Tanith Lee Tanith Lee was one of the 20th century’s most influential writers of fantasy, horror and science fiction. She wrote over 90 novels and 300 short stories, as well as children’s books, poems and several...

On the moon, Ronin Hayashi trains to protect the colonies from the inevitable invasion of the machines. While he prepares to stand his ground, Sergeant Tadhg Walsh is planning an escape mission to deliver a weapon to the resistance on Earth. At Neptune Station, Captain Akira Hayashi and Shadow Squad have returned from a deadly journey into enemy territory where they learn the machines are building an army at an astonishing rate. After continued attempts to contact the Lunar Defense Corps for help, Shadow Squad accepts the hard truth—the LDC isn’t coming.

A BBC World Play written by Matthew Solon and directed by John Dryden. On 15 September 2008, Lehman Brothers, one of the oldest and largest investment banks in the world, with its headquarters in New York, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It was the largest bankruptcy filed in US...