Showing results by narrator "David Blair" in All Categories

Bloomsbury presents Alien by Roger Luckhurst, read by David Blair. A legendary fusion of science fiction and horror, Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) is one of the most enduring films of modern cinema – its famously visceral scenes acting like a traumatic wound we seem compelled to revisit. Tracing...

The all-conquering King Henry V is dead, and the throne is occupied by his infant son, Henry VI. The good Duke Humphrey of Gloucester has been appointed protector, but a struggle for power soon develops between the young king's Lancastrian relatives and the powerful house of York under Richard Plantagenet. Meanwhile the French, led by Joan of Arc, the maid of Orleans, threaten to win back the territories lost to Henry V.

Young King Henry VI has married the beautiful Margaret of Anjou but the new queen is ruthless and ambitious. Supported by the powerful Duke of Suffolk, Margaret plots the overthrow of her enemies, chief among them the Duke of Gloucester. But the Duke of York also aspires to the crown, and the common people, led by Jack Cade, are in rebellion. To the despair of the mild young king, England descends into civil war.

Cambridge, 1944. Bill Anderson is a restless young fighter pilot who finds himself grounded for a week. He can't wait to get back in the sky where he belongs. But fate has other plans. He strays into a stuffy college library and happens on Mary Rice, a spirited bluestocking who takes his breath away. Before long, the spark between them deepens into true love. But their time together can't last forever. All too soon, Bill is torn from Mary's side and sent back to the battlefield. Then the unthinkable happens.

Sophie isn't going to let a little thing like divorce stop her from flying to New York to see her family. Mike isn't going to let a little thing like losing his wife stop him from flying to New York for work. The one thing they both know for certain is that they're done with love: they're too old, too tired, too lonely for any of it. And when the luggage carousel at JFK airport decides to give them each the wrong suitcase, they agree that a friendly dinner in the big apple won't do any harm. After all, love stories come when you least expect them.

Frankie the sausage dog puppy can't wait to spend his first Christmas with his new family, even grumpy old cat Holly. But he can't believe it when Holly tells him that Santa doesn't bring presents to animals. Frankie decides to take things into his own paws. He'll be a Sausage Dog Santa and make...

Jack Plummer hasn't slept in months. Doctors can't help. Pills don't work. Nights stretch endlessly until exhaustion becomes a way of life. Then, at two in the morning, he finds something impossible: a fully stocked, 24-hour VHS rental store in San Francisco — a relic of the past that shouldn't exist anymore. The tapes work. Jack sleeps — deeply, completely — for the first time in years. But the sleep comes with side effects. Lost hours. Blackouts. Memories that don't come back the same way they left.

The biggest annual sports event in the world is the Tour de France. In the wake of its overwhelming popularity, it’s easy to forget that there is much more to cycling than whoever gets to wear the yellow jersey. Cycling is rich with legends and pioneers, and it is their stories which light up this compelling account of the sport. This is the story of British cycling as told through the lives of the people who built it. From the first recorded race in a Paris park in 1868 to the present day, Great British Cycling Legends profiles the true originals.

In the second book in Bella Swift's Sausage Dog series, Stanley the sausage dog is off on holiday to the seaside! But Stanley soon finds himself jealous of the cool surfer dogs at the beach. Can Stanley learn to surf and be the coolest dog around, or will he learn that the best dog to be...

In this compelling account, Ian Fitzgerald tells the complete story of oil, from its formation over millions of years to its first discovery and use by humankind to its role as a crucial energy source and the conflicts that have since revolved around it.

A wonderful collection of Christmas stories and poems celebrating all the warmth and joy of the holiday season. "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" is a kindly editor's reply to a young reader regarding the existence of Santa; "Silent Night" is the classic song read with meaning and reverence; "The Christmas Masquerade" is a charming tale of a magical Christmas Eve.

In the third book in Bella Swift's adorable Sausage Dog series, Stanley is about to experience his first Halloween. Stanley the sausage dog is so excited when he finds out his family are planning a big Halloween party! But Cleo the cat is terrified of all things spooky and doesn't want to...

Why are we so mesmerized by gold? Why is it so revered and so valued? From the earliest times to the present day, humans have been attracted by this sun-coloured metal, sometimes worshipping it, always prizing it. Gold: The Metal that Rules the World investigates the history of this versatile element, examining what it is, how it came to be found on Earth and why it has played such an important part in human history.

Parenting is a challenge. Between busy schedules and stress, it feels like the world is closing in on you; we’ve all been there. Do you know what could help? Meditation. You’re about to discover a world in which you can possess the mindfulness to get you through all of life’s troubles. With the recent COVID pandemic, life has been even more challenging. Through the isolation of quarantine, the trials of maintaining financial stability, and the hindrance to your children’s education, one thing can be said: It’s been a struggle.

This collection of classic Christmas tales is a delightful celebration of Christmas and the joyful spirit of giving. "What Christmas is as We Grow Older" is Charles Dicken's touching essay on the true meaning of charity; "Christmas Day" is a delightful story of a young boy's willingness to sacrifice skating with his friends to help an old woman; "The Little Match Girl" is the heart-wrenching classic about a poor little match girl, cold and alone on the streets on Christmas Eve; and "The Greatest of These" is an upbeat, inspiring story of a pair of farmers who bring Christmas to a poor neighbor's family.

Argentina, 1988. Human remains are found on a beach - a gruesome echo of when the tide brought home dozens of bodies thrown from planes during Argentina's Dirty War. Flights of death, their passengers known as the Disappeared. International Tribune reporter Jonny Murphy is in Buenos Aires interviewing families of the missing, desperate to keep their memory alive, when the corpse turns up. His investigations with his companion, freelance photographer Paloma, have barely started when Argentina's simmering financial crisis explodes around them.

They say the sea never forgets...When an injured John Maynard accepts the position of lighthouse keeper on the remote island of Craghorn, he finds himself in unfamiliar territory. With only his faithful dog and the last keeper for company, the dilapidated lighthouse station soon appears to be more occupied than on initial inspection. Now the lights have gone out and there’s a storm coming. A classic ghost story for lovers of mystery and isolation.

WINNER OF THE PRIX RENAUDOT 'This took my breath away, again and again. Lafon is magic ... A thrilling read in Stephanie Smee's masterful translation' Anna Funder, Sunday Times bestselling author of Wifedom 'A work of the purest literary quality: muscular and densely packed, yet graceful in all...