The Canterbury Tales are widely read and studied. The Middle English in which they were first written differs sufficiently from modern English, in vocabulary and usage, that most of us require a contemporary translation. On this recording the ‘General Prologue’ and ‘The Physician’s Tale’ are read in Middle English by Richard Bebb, under the direction of a leading Chaucerian scholar, Professor Derek Brewer. It is an authoritative performance that brilliantly evokes the fourteenth-century wo...

Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, a collection of narratives written between 1387 and 1400, tells of a group of thirty people from all layers of society who pass the time along their pilgrimage to Canterbury by telling stories to one another, their interaction mediated (at times) by the affable host Chaucer himself. Naxos AudioBooks’ third volume presents the tales of six people, here in an unabridged modern verse translation (by Frank Ernest Hill, (1935)). This is an ideal way to appreciate...

Set during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, where every story promises a 'Thousand Thrills!', with ingenious plots, full of twists and surprises, driven along with exciting action and tongue in cheek humour.Max Carrados, the celebrated blind detective is lured to Stratford upon Avon following an explosion by a band of determined suffragettes. Faced with the ingenious mind of Mr Rigby Lacksome, Max and his trusty servant Parkinson must solve the riddle of the missing bo...

A collection of three thrilling mysteries, set during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, where every story promises a 'Thousand Thrills!', with ingenious plots, full of twists and surprises, driven along with exciting action and tongue in cheek humour.“Murder mysteries always work well as spoken word and Mr Punch’s Thriller Playhouse is particularly good... Atmospheric and Great Fun ” Daily Express*“*Good News...

“Murder mysteries always work well… and Mr Punch’s Thriller Playhouse is particularly good… Atmospheric and Great Fun” Daily Express“To all concerned “Jolly good show, chaps.” The TimesBen Sees it ThroughA hat lost in the English Channel, a dagger buried in a toff’s back and an incriminating letter from an MP entice Ben into the world of arms dealers and smugglers as he battles to save Europe from ...

Three dramas by Barry Hines and an abridged reading of his classic Kes (A Kestrel for a Knave)Yorkshire-born author Barry Hines is renowned for his 1968 novel *A Kestrel for a Knave (*later turned into Ken Loach’s award-winning film Kes) and for scripting the BAFTA-winning BBC TV film Threads. The titles in this collection explore his signature theme – working-class life in Northern England – and include a trio of radio dramas al...

From climbing and abseiling to canoeing and a Crazy Bucket Race, the adventure holiday promises to be full of action. There's just one problem as far as Tim is concerned: he is hopeless at sports of any kind. Can Tim survive the horrors of a week absolutely packed with activity? Can his team – the Tigers – be the overall champions? There are some surprises in store for everyone!

Dramatisations of six of Conrad's finest novels, plus bonus materialPolish-born author and mariner Joseph Conrad is widely regarded as one of the greatest English novelists. His 16 years in the merchant navy profoundly shaped his fiction, giving him transformative experiences of adventure and exotic places, and a unique insight into the human psyche. Included here are adaptations of six of his best works, brought together for the first time and collected in chronol...

An all-star dark comedy set in the mysterious world of Dr CaligariIn a seedy backstreet, in a rotting theatre, the sinister Dr Caligari runs a cabaret with his demonic assistants, Snuff and Anthrax. A riot of a listen, this surreal and macabre comedy follows the smooth-talking Dr Caligari as he encourages unwilling guests to tell their story in his London nightclub. Written by Alan Gilbey, strange encounters and dark mysteries are recounted by guest acts on London’...

A trilogy of contemporary plays inspired by tales from The Arabian NightsThe Casper Logue Affair by Sebastian Baczkiewicz*:* An absurd black comedy thriller, set in Baghdad. Junior diplomat Bob Goldacre is in trouble: the American businessman he was looking after has vanished from a Baghdad street. As the suspects pile up, Goldacre is going to have his work cut out if he wants to save his career and make sure that justice is done.The P...

The award-winning 1990s sitcom, written by and starring Nick RevellNick Revell plays a slightly stranger version of himself in this surreal comedy – a struggling writer in his mid-thirties who shares his untidy flat with Vince and Alan, a pair of talking geraniums. They, meanwhile, watch on and take stock of his many mishaps and misadventures.For the beleaguered Nick, even simple tasks like alphabetising his vinyl collection, buying brie and getting rid of ...

A hilarious BBC Radio sitcom of big dreams, small towns, and rock'n'roll!When Kenny (Stephen Tompkinson) gives up his life in the geography classroom to join a struggling a capella group with a beautician, a dentist and a boxer, he doesn't realise he'll soon be in the best band on the wedding circuit - and fronting the potential future of rock 'n' roll...Between trying to manage the band's failing love lives and their battling ambitions, Kenny find...