September
2006
(Please note that the prices shown are recommended
retail prices only)
For a month-by-month guide to titles
published since June 2002, take a look
at our previous releases page
Click on title links for more information and to buy.
Available
from 4 September 2006 |
| This
Sceptred Isle: Empire Box Set
This boxed set contains the collected volumes of this series that
explores the history of the British Empire. At one time a quarter
of the global land mass was British. Over a third of the world
was insured at Lloyds. At his coronation, more than 400 million
people saluted George V. Truly, the sun never set on this historical
phenomenon. whatever the day, whatever the hour, somewhere on
the globe, the empire worked and played the Bristish game - often
absurdly so. The story of the British Empire is one of enormous
personalities, adventure, scientific and maritime development
and the building of one of the most complex international administrations
the world has ever seen. The series begins with the history of
exploration from the 16th century through to the mid-18th century
and the period shortly before the First World War.
??? CDs, ??hr ??mins, ISBN 1846 071867 £75.00
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| Agatha Christie
The Adventure
of the Christmas Pudding
John Moffat stars as Hercule Poirot in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast
dramatisation, with Donald Sinden and Sian Phillips as Colonel
and Mrs Lacey. In this delightful tale, an Eastern Prince arrives
in England with some family jewels which he is having reset as
a gift for his fiancée. However, the Prince also has a
mistress; she asks to wear one particularly enchanting piece that
features a huge ruby, and then promptly disappears with it. Poirot
discovers a connection with a house party at the home of Colonel
and Mrs Lacey, and in order to pursue his investigation an invitation
is procured for him to the Laceys’, ostensibly to enjoy
an old-fashioned Christmas. With deft skill and the workings of
his ‘little grey cells’, Poirot brings this case to
a satisfying end.
1 CD, 45mins, ISBN 0563 51051x £8.99
1 cassette,
45mins, ISBN 0563 510463 £7.99
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| Alan Bennett
Single
Spies
A double-bill of two BBC Radio 4 adaptations of Alan Bennett plays
originally performed at the National Theatre and later adapted
for TV: An Englishman Abroad and A Question of Attribution.
Starring a cast of well-known names including Simon Callow, Prunella
Scales, Brigit Forsyth and Edward Petherbridge.
In An Englishman Abroad, double-agent Guy Burgess is
confined to a squalid flat in 1950s Moscow. When actress Coral
Browne arrives, Guy is eager to know about English society gossip,
and cajoles her into taking home measurements for a new pinstripe
from his London tailor. A Question of Attribution sees
Professor Anthony Blunt - pillar of the Establishment and Knight
of the Realm - working as Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures. He
is perfectly at home in the corridors of Buckingham Palace and
has a special fondness for a particular Titian. But there's one
small problem: the painting, like Blunt himself, is a fake.
2 CDs, 1hr 30mins, ISBN 1846 071658 £12.99
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| Alan Bennett
Untold
Stories Part Three: Written on the Body
Alan Bennett reads five more extracts from Untold Stories,
his major collection of new writings. Following on from previous
Untold Stories, 'Written on the Body' is both a reflection
on Alan Bennett’s childhood and schooldays and a meditation
on writing. 'Seeing Stars' is a nostalgic view of the movies of
the Forties, seen by Bennett and his family in the numerous cinemas
of Leeds. And, 'Staring Out of the Window' lets us into Bennett’s
creative process, which apparently consists of a good deal of
... well... staring out the window.
2 CDs, 2hrs 30mins, ISBN 1846 071623 £12.99
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| Alan Bennett
Untold
Stories Part Four: A Common Assault
Alan Bennett reads three further chapters from Untold Stories,
his major collection of new writings. Part Four contains reminiscences
from Bennett’s life and an essay on the class system. 'A
Common Assault' describes an incident in Italy when he was mugged
and found himself trying to give a statement to the police in
bad Italian. 'The History Boys' harks back once more to Bennett’s
time at school and shows how the raw material of experience was
eventually transformed into the highly-acclaimed stage play The
History Boys. 'Arise, Sir...', finishes on a light-hearted
note, in which Bennett muses on the Honours List in typically
iconoclastic mode.
2 CDs, 2hrs 20mins, ISBN 1846 071638 £12.99
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| Doctor
Who at the BBC: The Plays
Over the years, Doctor Who has provided the inspiration for a
number of original radio plays and this collection contains three
in their entirety. Regenerations by Daragh Carville is
a powerful and moving play about a group of six friends who reunite
for their annual Doctor Who convention. Set against a
backdrop of the Belfast troubles, the play deals with themes of
sexuality and love, and features appearances by Tom Baker and
Sophie Aldred.
Blue Veils and Golden Sands by Martyn Wade tells the
story of Delia Derbyshire, the delightful and unusual woman who
created the unique sound of the original Doctor Who theme tune.
Finally Dalek, I Love You by Colin Sharpe is a recent
BBC7 production. It tells how one young lad's obsession with Doctor
Who causes him to meet the girl of his dreams - named Romana.
Features some adult themes and language.
2 CDs, 2hrs 5mins, ISBN 1846 070440 £13.99
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Hancock's
Half Hour
The Very Best Episodes:
Ray Galton and Alan Simpson’s third selection of their favourite
radio episodes. This time round the episodes are: The Last
of the McHancocks (24 February 1957), The East Cheam
Drama Festival (8 April 1958), Visiting Day (15
December 1959) and The Threatening Letters (27 May 1958).
Once again Hancock is supported by a star cast including Sid James,
Bill Kerr, Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques, and four sparkling
scripts by the masters of mirth, Galton and Simpson.
2 CDs, 2hrs, ISBN 0563 504139 £12.99
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| I'm
Sorry I Haven't A Clue Live
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to attend a
live recording of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue,
the antidote to panel games, this is your chance. These two extended
editions of the programme, from 1995 and 1996, offer an exclusive
glimpse behind the scenes, in the company of players Graeme Garden,
Barry Cryer, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Willie Rushton and Jeremy Hardy.
Catch the jokes intended only for the theatre audiences (including
the naughty bits!), listen to Barry and Graeme as ‘Alec
& Denzil’ - early ancestors of their much-loved Hamish
& Dougal creations, and thrill to Jeremy Hardy’s first
ever attempt at singing on the programme. Clue producer Jon Naismith
introduces each programme, with additional material provided by
Mrs Trellis of North Wales.
2 CDs, 2hrs 20mins, ISBN 1846 070532 £12.99
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Richmal Crompton
Just
William's Greatest Hits
This collection contains 17 favourite stories about the irrepressible
William Brown, specially selected and read by Martin Jarvis. This
release brings together more than four hours of listening fun
with the very best stories including two stories performed to
a live audience. Jarvis also reveals his personal reflections
of recording Just William, giving the listener a true
behind-the-scenes insight into how he brings all the marvellous
characters to life (the Outlaws, Hubert Lane, and of course, Violet
Elizabeth Bott). A perfect gift for all Just William
fans.
4 CDs, 4hrs 30mins, ISBN 1846 071898 £17.99
4 cassettes,
4hrs 30mins, ISBN 1846 071881 £15.99
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| Bill Bryson
Life
and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
Bill Bryson’s hilarious memoir of growing up in middle America
in the fifties as heard on BBC Radio 4. This 8 CD set offers the
complete, unabridged account of every single amusing anecdote
and amazing fact. Nothing is left out, so you can enjoy the whole
book in its entirety, read by the man himself.
8 CDs, 7hrs 30mins, ISBN 1846 071072 £25.00
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| The
Navy Lark
Volume 18: Back from the Antarctic
Four more episodes of nautical mayhem starring Jon Pertwee, Leslie
Phillips, Ronnie Barker and Tenniel Evans. Jump on deck and join
the crew once more in these classic capers, as they return towing
a flotilla, the Fleet abandons Troutbridge, Pertwee borrows the
ship's silver tea service, and Leslie reminisces about his youth.
The episodes are: Back from the Antarctic (2 July 1967);
The Naval Review (30 July 1967); Troutbridge's Silver
Jubilee (10 September 1967); and Sub Lt. Phillips at
Dartmouth (29 October 1967).
2 CDs, 2hrs, ISBN 1846 071461 £12.99
2 cassettes,
2hrs, ISBN 1846 071454 £10.99
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