Audiobooks by Tony Benn

Tony Benn at the BBC: The Benn Tapes, Free at Last! and more

A collection of Tony Benn’s private audio diaries, documentaries and archive interviews Tony Benn was the patriarch of the Labour left, a radical statesman, orator and anti-war campaigner who spent over 50 years as an MP, serving in the Cabinet under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. A prolific diarist, his political memoirs have been compared to Pepys in their detail, scope and accuracy. Three volumes are included here, read by Benn himself, together with four fascinating programmes focussing on the man behind the diaries. Part I: Tony Benn’s Diaries The Benn Tapes 1 – For over 25 years, Tony Benn sat late into the night dictating his personal account of the daily happenings at the heart of government. In this unique series, he shares his remarkable recordings from history’s front line, recalling events such as Harold Wilson’s surprise 1976 resignation; the miners’ strike of 1984-1985 and the 1992 general election. The Benn Tapes 2 – This second series of behind-the-scenes revelations sees Benn recounting why he believes nuclear power is unsafe, disclosing what went on during Cabinet reshuffles and tracing the split in the party following its 1979 defeat, the emergence of the Social Democratic Party, and his challenge to deputy leader Denis Healy. Free at Last!: The Diaries 1991-2001 – Spanning Tony Benn’s final decade as an MP, this third volume covers the Gulf War, the rise of New Labour, the death of Diana Princess of Wales and peace in Northern Ireland. Mixing political observations with a moving account of family life, it is full of humour, insight, joy and sadness. Part 2: Tony Benn’s Life In the Psychiatrist’s Chair: Tony Benn – Dr Anthony Clare talks to the legendary parliamentarian about his life, his career and how his guiding principles were influenced by his parents’ social and political convictions. Sentimental Journey: Tony Benn – Arthur Smith accompanies Tony Benn on a trip back to the place where he was born, grew up, and spent most of his political life – the City of Westminster. With Great Pleasure: Tony Benn – The veteran politician presents a selection of the prose and poetry that has shaped his personal philosophy, including the words of Mahatma Gandhi, Dwight D Eisenhower, Oscar Wilde and John Bunyan. Night Waves: Tony Benn – In an event from the 2008 Free Thinking festival, Tony Benn talks about the value of experience and discusses his own life experience with presenter Susan Hitch and the audience. Cast and credits The Benn Tapes Read by Tony Benn Produced by Keith Jones First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21 Jul-8 Sep 1993 (Series 1), 17 Oct- 5 Dec 1994 (Series 2) Free at Last!: The Diaries 1991-2001 Read by Tony Benn Produced by Jane Ray First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13-17 Oct 2003 In the Psychiatrist’s Chair: Tony Benn Presented by Dr Anthony Clare A Michael Ember production First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 Aug 1995 Sentimental Journey: Tony Benn With Arthur Smith and Tony Benn Produced by Dilly Barlow First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 Jul 2006 With Great Pleasure: Tony Benn Presented by Tony Benn Readers: Saffron Burrows, Jim Findley and Carl Prekopp Produced by Christine Hall First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 Jul 2007 Night Waves: Tony Benn Presented by Susan Hitch With Tony Benn Produced by Allegra McIlroy First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 11 Dec 2008 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Tony Benn (Author), Tony Benn (Narrator)

Audiobook

An Audience with Tony Benn

After he announced his retirement to 'spend more time with politics', much loved parliamentarian Tony Benn brought his unmistakable presence to the stage in a sell-out 'Evening With' event. His only props: a flask of tea, some rubbed tobacco and his trademark pipe... An Audience with Tony Benn is a mix of politics, opinion and debate as the man himself explores issues of today spiced with memories of the past. He then fields questions from a live audience, answered with his usual mixture of insight, analysis and piercing wit. (P)2002 Hodder & Stoughton Audiobooks

Tony Benn (Author), Tony Benn (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine: The Last Diaries

In this final volume of diaries, Tony Benn reflects on the compensations and the disadvantages of old age. With the support of a small circle of friends and his extended family, he continues his activities on behalf of social justice, peace and accountability in public life, to a background of political change and the international economic crisis. Following an illness in 2009 the diaries, kept for over sixty years, cease. Published here alongside these last diaries are Tony Benn's highly personal insights into the challenges of old age and failing health, of widowhood,and of moving out of the family home after sixty years. Finally, we share in Tony Benn's hopes for the future based on his years of experience and his natural optimism.

Tony Benn (Author), Michael Jayston (Narrator)

Audiobook

Letters To My Grandchildren

As a diarist I have chronicled the time through which I have lived in meticulous detail - but all that is history. What matters now is the future for those who will live through it. 'The past is the past but there may be lessons to be learned which could help the next generation to avoid mistakes their parents and grandparents made. 'Certainly at my age I have learned an enormous amount from the study of history - not so much from the political leaders of the time but from those who struggled for justice and explained the world in a way that shows the continuity of history and has inspired me to do my work. 'Normality for any individual is what the world is like on the day they are born. The normality of the young is wholly different from the normality of their grandparents. It is the disentangling of the real questions from the day to day business of politics that may make sense for those who take up the task as they will do. 'Every generation has to fight the same battles as their ancestors had to fight, again and again, for there is no final victory and no final defeat. Two flames have burned from the beginning of time - the flame of anger against injustice and the flame of hope. If this book serves its purpose it will fan both flames. ' --Tony Benn

Tony Benn (Author), Tony Benn (Narrator)

Audiobook

More Time for Politics: Diaries 2001-2007

Brought to you by Penguin. When Tony Benn left Parliament after 51 years he quoted his wife Caroline's remark that now he would have 'more time for politics'. And so this has proved: in the first seven years of this century he has helped reinvigorate national debate through public meetings, mass campaigns and appearances in the media, passionately bringing moral and political issues to wide audiences. And throughout, as ever, he has been keeping his diaries. Commenting on the demise of the New Labour project from the re-election of Tony Blair in 2001 to the ultimate foreign policy disasters of Afghanistan and Iraq, he gives other prescient accounts of the government's by-passing of Cabinet, parliament and the party, of the 'war on terror', the debate about Islam, globalisation and the changes in British society. Although he is no longer in power or in parliament, Tony Benn remains a figure of enormous respect whose direct views, honestly expressed, have often awakened the national conscience. His latest Diaries, human and challenging in turn, are an enthralling read. © Tony Benn 2007 (P) Penguin Audio 2007

Tony Benn (Author), Tony Benn (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Benn Tapes - Vol 1

This is the first series of Labour MP Tony Benn's behind-the-scenes revelations from the highly acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series. 'The Observer' called it 'Irresistible fly-on-the-wall history as it actually happens.' Late each night for over twenty-five years the Labour MP and former Secretary of State Tony Benn sat alone and dictated onto tape his account of the daily events at the heart of government. The immediacy, passion and mood is striking as he unburdens himself of the pressure and stress, trials and tribulations of government and opposition with accounts veering from anecdotal to almost confessional. Events recalled in the first of these unique and remarkable recordings - heard by the public for the very first time on Radio 4 - include Harold Wilson's surprise resignation in 1976; the potentially catastrophic 1977 strike at Windscale; the year-long miners' strike in 1984 and the general election in 1992.

Tony Benn (Author), Full Cast, Tony Benn (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Benn Tapes 2

This is the second volume of behind-the-scenes revelations from Tony Benn's highly acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series. 'The Observer' called it 'Irresistible fly-on-the-wall history as it actually happens.' Late each night for over twenty-five years the Labour MP and former Secretary of State Tony Benn sat alone and dictated onto tape his account of the daily events at the heart of government. Here, in the second highly acclaimed Radio 4 series, he reveals what he discovered from his scrutiny of the nuclear industry and why he now believes nuclear power is unsafe. He recalls what really happened during Cabinet reshuffles by Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan and he traces the split in the party following its 1979 defeat, the emergence of the Social Democratic Party and his challenge to the deputy leader, Denis Healy.

Tony Benn (Author), Tony Benn (Narrator)

Audiobook

Free At Last!

Tony Benn's diaries began in 1940, and have been compared to those of Pepys in their detail, scope, and accuracy. This volume brings them right up to date, covering the Gulf War, the rise of New Labour, international repercussions of American foreign policy, and reactions against it.Read by the author himself, here is Tony Benn's record of the recent history of British politics, comprising three wars, three general elections, six party leaders, and two Prime Ministers. Political observations are entwined with a moving account of family life. Chronicling his final decades as a Member of Parliament, the diaries encompass political events, gossip, and entertaining observations. The focus is on the years leading up to his retirement, his anxiety about whether or not to stand again, and his great sorrow when his wife Caroline is diagnosed with cancer. Throughout, his honesty and integrity shine through.

Tony Benn (Author), Tony Benn (Narrator)

Audiobook