Audiobooks by Andrew Norman

Thomas Hardy: Christmas Carollings Audiobook

A tradition at Christmas was for the choir of local musicians and singers to assemble at the Hardys’ cottage, prior to setting out into the snow to do the rounds of local farms, homesteads, and manor house, in order to entertain their occupants. Hardy recreated this magical scene in Under the Greenwood Tree, published in 1872. In the days when labouring classes worked long hours, and for the majority, material comforts were small, Christmas was a time (aside from the formalities of necessary religious observance,) for the exchanging of news, folklore, legend and jokes. For those fortunate enough to be invited to the Hardys’ cottage on Christmas Eve, there was the added bonus of food and drink to feed the body, and music – home-made of course – to lift the spirits and nourish the soul. Hardy’s descriptions of such Christmases, as were celebrated by himself and his family, together with his colourful portrayals of characters – in particular the members of the ‘Mellstock Quire’ (Choir,) whom he described as his favourites - have delighted generations of his readers, and continue to do so. This then, is the story of Thomas Hardy and of Christmas; of what that greatest of all Christian festivals meant to him, and of how his beliefs changed as the years progressed.

Andrew Norman (Author), John Applemore (Narrator)

Audiobook

Françoise Hardy: A Musical Tale of Love and Loss

Today, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Francoise can be resurrected, at any moment of her singing career, simply with a flick of a switch on the television's remote control. And there she is, the epitome of French elegance and style! With Francoise, unlike with many of the popular musicians of the time, there was no blaring music or wild gesticulations. She had no need of devices such as these. Her songs are captivating in their own right, particularly those which tell of love, loneliness, and loss. In fact, she has been described as 'the patron saint of the dispossessed and heartbroken'. By why this focus on personal sadness? Could it be that this French icon, beloved by millions throughout the world and who apparently had the world at her feet, was permanently troubled? And if there was something troubling Francoise, could it be love, or to be more precise, unrequited love?

Andrew Norman (Author), John Applemore (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Purbeck Romance: Set in Thomas Hardy's Glorious Wessex

About Andrew from Poole and Rachel from Swanage, who meet, fall in love, and discover a mutual interest in Thomas Hardy (and especially the novel The Hand of Ethelberta, which he wrote mainly in Swanage). The conversation now took a more serious tone. ‘Of all the characters in Hardy’s novels’, I said, ‘which is your favourite?’ ‘Ethelberta, without a doubt’, Rachel replied. ‘From his eponymous novel, The Hand of Ethelberta?’ ‘In fact, by coincidence’, she said, ‘that is the novel I am currently reading’. ‘It’s some time since I read it’, I said. ‘So please remind me of the story.’ In fact, this was the only one of Hardy’s novels that I did not possess a copy of. ‘Over there to our right. See the Old Harry Rocks, at the end of Handfast Point? Ethelberta rode her donkey from Swanage along the top of Ballard Down towards the Old Harry Rocks, and then doubled back towards Nine Barrow Down and Corfe Castle.’ ‘Where she met Lord Mountclere’, I said. ‘Yes, it’s all coming back to me now.’ ‘To me, one of joys of the novel is that it’s all set right here, in Purbeck’, Rachel continued. ‘In fact, Hardy came to Swanage in order to complete the work.’

Andrew Norman (Author), John Applemore (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Real Peter Sellers

Throughout the world, people regard Peter Sellers purely as a comedic genius: surely, one of the greatest ever to have lived. But, the astute observer will notice that he always appeared to be acting, even when being interviewed. So, who was Peter Sellers? Sellers once said, 'I could never be myself you see. There is no 'Me'. I do not exist. There used to be me, but I had it surgically removed.' Clearly, this was not intended to be taken literally. Instead, the inference is that somehow, he had lost his sense of identity. To discover the real Peter Sellers is no easy task, and when we do, what we encounter is a totally different persona from the comedic characters that he portrayed on the screen. Sellers had celebrity status: a succession of beautiful wives; immense wealth; magnificent motor cars; expensive yachts; a house in Mayfair, and various palatial residences. But far from being happy, he was plagued by self-doubt; ambitious, but never satisfied. And so, he resorted to superstition, clairvoyance, and drugs to get himself through the day. For all Sellers’ worldwide fame as ‘Inspector Clouseau’, many regard the film Being There, in which he played the character ‘Chance’, a gardener, as his masterpiece. In fact, the film was a damning indictment of the false god of materialism. Sellers’ obsession with the character of ‘Chance’, makes it seem likely that this was the kind of person he aspired to be, and wished that he had been.

Andrew Normal, Andrew Norman (Author), John Applemore (Narrator)

Audiobook