Audiobooks by Paul Alexander

Bitter Crop: The Heartache and Triumph of Billie Holiday's Last Year

A revelatory look at the tumultuous life of a jazz legend and American cultural icon In the first biography of Billie Holiday in more than two decades, Paul Alexander-author of heralded lives of Sylvia Plath and J. D. Salinger-gives us an unconventional portrait of arguably America's most eminent jazz singer. He shrewdly focuses on the last year of her life-with relevant flashbacks to provide context-to evoke and examine the persistent magnificence of Holiday's artistry when it was supposed to have declined, in the wake of her drug abuse, relationships with violent men, and run-ins with the law. During her lifetime and after her death, Billie Holiday was often depicted as a down-on-her-luck junkie severely lacking in self-esteem. Relying on interviews with people who knew her, and new material unearthed in private collections and institutional archives, Bitter Crop-a reference to the last two words of Strange Fruit, her moving song about lynching-limns Holiday as a powerful, ambitious woman who overcame her flaws to triumph as a vital figure of American popular music.

Paul Alexander (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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How to Build a Healthy Church: A Practical Guide for Deliberate Leadership

D. A. Carson, Mark Dever, Paul Alexander (Author), Marcus Jackman (Narrator)

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The Castle: The Complete BBC Radio 4 Sitcom

Hie ye to The Castle, a rollicking sitcom set way back then, starring James Fleet (The Vicar Of Dibley), Neil Dudgeon (Life Of Riley, Midsomer Murders), Martha Howe-Douglas (Horrible Histories) & Ingrid Oliver (Doctor Who). Thrill! - as brave knight Sir William De Warenne’s dungeon renovation falls foul of the Health & Safety inspectors Swoon! - as young Lady Anne tries to lose her cut-glass accent in an attempt to get on “The Only Way Is Wessex” Sympathize! - as Lord of the castle Sir John hires the latest top-of-the-range horse, but can’t work out what to do with the built-in “ashtrays” …and Get Out Your Laughing-Spats! as Bates the new valet arrives hotfoot from Downton Abbey... This is medieval England seen from a 21st century comedy perspective complete wit the now-legendary lute jingles. If you’ve ever wanted to hear the medieval versions of Jumping Jack Flash, Mama Mia, I Shot The Sheriff or even Agadoo, this is the series to buy! Sir John Woodstock (James Fleet) is the Lord of the Castle and basically in charge of keeping order in the ramshackle medieval village. Although he hates all that torturing and usually lets the peasants off with a bit of community service. He lives in his huge but slightly falling down castle (but then it was built by the French so what can one expect) with his daughter Anne (Martha Howe-Douglas) and very teenage son Henry (Steven Kynman). Anne’s best friend Charlotte (Ingrid Oliver) nearly always joins Anne on her constant quest to find fit men in the village. And Anne certainly isn’t interested in Sir William De Warenne ('Knight errant, scourge of the Levant') (Neil Dudgeon) who lives across the way. Unfortunately he can’t take a hint and is besotted with Lady Anne and Sir John thinks it a good match. Ah! what is a Lady to do! Cardinal Duncan (Jonathan Kydd) (a man of the cloth – in particular crushed silk which he loves), has to endure De Warenne’s incessant plans to woo Lady Anne and has little time to peruse sweethearts of his own. Which oddly enough, he doesn’t seem to mind... Written by......................................................... Kim Fuller with additional material by Nick Doody& Matt Kirshen Music by Guy Jackson Produced and directed by............................ David Tyler

Kim Fuller, Matt Kirshen, Nick Doody, Paul Alexander, Paul Dornan (Author), Ingrid Oliver, James Fleet, Neil Dudgeon (Narrator)

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The Castle: Complete Series 2

Hie ye to 'The Castle', a rollicking sitcom set way back when, starring James Fleet ('The Vicar Of Dibley', 'Four Weddings & A Funeral') and Neil Dudgeon ('Life Of Riley'). In the first episode, De Warenne is in trouble as an official enquiry into the Crusades gets mixed up with a Talent Competition and a Dragon of Mass Destruction. Plus embroidery gets a right dissing. Next, Sir John grapples with both an adulterous affair and a tin of pilchards. Meanwhile, Thomas explores the secrets of the Universe and Anne falls in love with King Russell de Brand. After that, there's romance in the air for Charlotte as a vicious gang war breaks out in the Castle. Meanwhile, De Warenne discovers the fondue and declares martial law. In part 4, an Englishman's home is his castle and an Englishman's moat is his tax write-off. Until Sir John is investigated and has to hire some Frenchmen and a bucket of eels. In part 5, when some Mafiosi from De Warenne's past pay a little visit, Henry becomes a made man and Charlotte becomes an unmade woman. Plus a clever Sting and a souped-up getaway sheep. And in the last part, somewhere, over the rainbow... there are a bunch of idiots from Woodstock and a mysterious man known only as 'Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber'. Estate Agents, mail-order lingerie and the invention of central heating; this is medieval England seen from a 21st century comedy perspective. This is the complete third series of the roistering sitcom from the pen of Kim Fuller, whose CV is as long as a really long arm, and includes 'Spitting Image', 'Red Dwarf', 'Rory Bremner', 'Lenny Henry' - and 'Spiceworld The Movie'. Thrill! - as brave knight Sir William De Warenne's dungeon renovation falls foul of the Health & Safety inspectors. Swoon! - as young Lady Anne falls in love with the new handyman and wayward wizard, Merlin. Sympathize! - as Lord of the castle Sir John hires the latest top-of-the-range horse, but can't work out what to do with the built-in 'ashtrays'. and Get Out Your Dictionary! As Sir Bruce Forsooth has some trouble hosting the annual Strictly Come Gavotting competition... That's all at 'The Castle' - coming to a wireless in your fiefdom now! 'The Castle' is produced by David Tyler for Pozzitive.

Kim Fuller, Matt Kirshen, Others, Paul Alexander (Author), James Fleet, Neil Dudgeon (Narrator)

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The Castle: Complete Series 2

Series 2 of the rollickingly funny sitcom set way back when... Estate Agents, mail-order lingerie and the invention of central heating: this is medieval England seen from a 21st century comedy perspective. A roisteringly funny sitcom from the pen of Kim Fuller, who's CV is as long as a really long arm, and includes Spitting Image, Red Dwarf, Badly Dubbed Porn, Rory Bremner, Lenny Henry - and Spiceworld The Movie, originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Thrill! - as brave knight Sir William De Warrenne comes back from the Crusades and tries to buy a castle with a combined dungeon/gym. Swoon! - as young Lady Anne watches handyman Sam Tree grease a rusty hinge. Sympathize! - as Lord of the castle Sir John hires the latest top-of-the-range horse, but can't work out what to do with the built-in ashtrays, and Get Out Your Dictionary! As the medieval equivalent of Gordon Ramsey tries to prepare a banquet with a mandolin and some very old swear words. This is all six episodes of Series 2 and stars James Fleet ('Vicar Of Dibley'), and Neil Dudgeon ('Life Of Riley') with special guest Katy Brand ('Katy Brand's Big Ass Show').

Kim Fuller, Matt Kirshen, Others, Paul Alexander (Author), James Fleet, Neil Dudgeon (Narrator)

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