Audiobooks narrated by Bill Wallis

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these more modern times, three’s a crowd may be too many, except when it’s a ménage à trois. It seems good things usually come in threes.Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore themes and literary avenues that classic authors were so adept at creating.From their pens to your your ears. 01 - 3 Stories - Madness to Murder02 - A Pastoral Horror by Arthur Conan Doyle03 - The Lie by Leonid Andreyev04 - The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe, Leonid Andreyev, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author), Bill Wallis, Elliot Fitzpatrick (Narrator)

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3 Stories - Stream of Consciousness

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these more modern times, three’s a crowd may be too many, except when it’s a ménage à trois. It seems good things usually come in threes.Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore themes and literary avenues that classic authors were so adept at creating.From their pens to your your ears. 01 - 3 Stories - Stream of Consciousness02 - The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe03 - The Mark on the Wall by Virginia Woolf04 - An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce, Edgar Allan Poe, Virginia Woolf (Author), Bill Wallis, Christopher Ragland, Ghizela Rowe (Narrator)

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3 Stories About - Cruel Tyrants

Edgar Allan Poe, Gustav Meyrink, W C Morrow (Author), Bill Wallis, Christopher Ragland, David Shaw-Parker (Narrator)

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Stories Exploring the Fear of Death

That moment in time will come. It will be the end of this life and one of three things will happen. Nothing, Heaven or Hell. Somehow, for most people, the odds don’t look so good on laying back in Paradise for eternity. And we may be there alone or with people we never really liked or―or most probably, we don’t really have any coherent idea at all. Just the fear that the end is nigh.Our literary friends including Edgar Allan Poe, Leo Tolstoy, Mary Shelley and others probably mean well but their job here is to tackle fear head on and we may well end up not getting the answer we first thought of. 1 - Stories Exploring the Fear of Death - An Introduction2 - The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe3 - The Coffin Maker by Alexander Pushkin4 - The Cobweb by Saki5 - Diary of a Lunatic by Leo Tolstoy6 - Cool Air by H P Lovecraft7 - The Mortal Immortal by Mary Shelley8 - The Sphinx by Edgar Allan Poe9 - The Dream by O Henry10 - The Looking Glass by Anton Chekhov11 - The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe

Alexander Pushkin, Anton Chekhov, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Leo Tolstoy, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, O Henry, Saki (Author), Bill Wallis, Patrick Barlow, William Dufris (Narrator)

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Psychological Stories

What we have in front of us here in this volume is a simple premise but an author’s words may say one thing and mean another. With talents such as E T A Hoffman, Katherine Mansfield, Willa Cather, Mikhail Bulgakov and many others our minds are under almost permanent assault with words, characters and narratives that pursue us to the end. 1 - Psychological Stories - An Introduction2 - The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fyodor Dostovesky3 - Psychology by Katherine Mansfield4 - Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol5 - The Yellow Wall Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman6 - The Bet by Anton Chekhov7 - The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe8 - A Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka9 - A Respectable Woman by Kate Chopin10 - The Other Woman by Sherwood Anderson11 - Morphine by Mikhail Bulgakov12 - Paul's Case by Willa Cather13 - Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne14 - The Diary of a God by Barry Pain15 - Seeds by Sherwood Anderson16 - Was It An Illusion. A Parson's Story by Amelia Edwards17 - In The Dark by Edith Nesbit18 - The Cold Embrace by Mary Elizabeth Braddon19 - The Mines of Falun - Part 1 by E T A Hoffman20 - The Mines of Falun - Part 2 by E T A Hoffman21 - Shut Out by F Anstey22 - Hands by Sherwood Anderson23 - The Fly by Katherine Mansfield24 - Bobok by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Amelia B. Edwards, Anton Chekhov, Barry Pain, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, E T A Hoffman, Edgar Allan Poe, Edith Nesbit, F Anstey, Franz Kafka, Fyodor Dostovesky, Kate Chopin, Katherine Mansfield, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Mikhail Bulgakov, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Nikolai Gogol, Sherwood Anderson, Willa Cather (Author), Bill Wallis, Liza Ross, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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13 Unlucky Tales of Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Poe was born in Boston Massachusetts on 19th January 1809. His father abandoned his family the following year and within a year his mother had died leaving him an orphan. He was taken in by the Allan family but never formally adopted although he now referred to himself as Edgar Allan Poe. His father alternatively spoiled or chastised him and tension was frequent over gambling debts and monies for his education. His university years to study ancient and modern languages was cut short by lack of money and he enlisted as a private in the army claiming he was 22, it is more probable he was 18. After 2 years he obtained a discharge in order to take up an appointment at the military academy, West Point, where he failed to become an officer.Poe had released his 1st poetry volume in 1827 and after his 3rd turned to prose and placing short stories in several magazines and journals. At age 26 he obtained a licence to marry his cousin. She was a mere 13 but they stayed together until her death from tuberculosis 11 years after.In January 1845 ‘The Raven’ was published and became an instant classic. Thereafter followed the prose works for which he is now so rightly famed as a master of the mysterious and the macabre.Edgar Allan Poe died at the tragically early age of 40 on 7th October 1849 in Baltimore, Maryland. Newspapers at the time reported Poe's death as ‘congestion of the brain’ or ‘cerebral inflammation’, common euphemisms for death from disreputable causes such as alcoholism but the actual cause of death remains a mystery.1 - 13 Unlucky Tales of Edgar Allan Poe - An Introduction2 - The Fall of the House of Usher - Part 1 by Edgar Allan Poe3 - The Fall of the House of Usher - Part 2 by Edgar Allan Poe4 - The Facts In The Case of Monsieur Valdemar by Edgar Allan Poe5 - Elenora by Edgar Allan Poe6 - Ligeia by Edgar Allan Poe7 - The Cask of Amontillardo by Edgar Allan Poe8 - The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe9 - Hop Frog by Edgar Allan Poe10 - William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe11 - The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe12 - The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe13 - The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe14 - The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe15 - The Murders in the Rue Morgue - Part 1 by Edgar Allan Poe16 - The Murders in the Rue Morgue - Part 2 by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe (Author), Bill Wallis, Eric Meyers, William Dufris (Narrator)

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Joseph Conrad: The Secret Agent, Heart of Darkness & More: A BBC Radio 4 drama collection

Dramatisations of six of Conrad's finest novels, plus bonus material Polish-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 chronological order, plus one fascinating bonus programmes exploring his life and art. Heart of Darkness - Ordered to sail up the Congo River in search of enigmatic ivory trader Mr Kurtz, Marlowe's journey takes him deep into an unknown continent... David Calder, Bill Wallis and Kris Marshall star in this radio production of Conrad's controversial masterpiece. Lord Jim - Faced with disaster, young first mate Jim abandons the sinking SS Patna. Wracked with guilt, he tries to start a new life - but can he ever escape his past? Starring Simon Treves and David March. The Secret Agent - A terrorist bomb explodes in London, killing the bomber and threatening the authorities and anarchists alike... Ron Cook and Robert Glenister star in a 2-part dramatisation of Conrad's prescient black comedy. Il Conde - An elderly aristocrat is traumatised by a terrifying encounter in Naples in this adaptation of Conrad's haunting short story, starring John Moffatt and John Woodvine. The Secret Sharer - An inexperienced skipper gives sanctuary to a fugitive murderer who seems like his doppelganger: and faces his own subconscious fears. Michael Feast, Christopher Scott and Stephen Tompkinson, star in this dramatisation of one of Joseph Conrad's most popular short tales. Victory - Set in the Far East, this 1915 novel tells of one man's struggle towards self-realisation and redemption in a hostile world. Starring David March and Patrick Barr. Meridian: Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness - Onyekachi Wambu explores Conrad's most famous novel, inspired by the brutal imperialist exploitation of the Congo during the 1880s. First published 1899 (Heart of Darkness), 1900 (Lord Jim), 1907 (The Secret Agent), 1908 ('Il Conde'), 1910 ('The Secret Sharer'), 1915 (Victory) Cast and credits Written by Joseph Conrad With thanks to Keith Wickham and the British Library Heart of Darkness Adapted by Jeremy Howe. Produced by Jeremy Howe and Iain Hunter. Music by David Lord First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 13 July 2003 Lord Jim Dramatised by Keith Darvill. Directed by Martin Jenkins and Graham Gauld First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 July-1 September 1985 The Secret Agent Dramatised by David Napthine. Directed by Jessica Dromgoole First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1-8 October 2006 Il Conde Dramatised by Alun Owen. Directed by Enyd Williams First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 March 1994 The Secret Sharer Dramatised by Robert Forrest. Directed by Patrick Rayner First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7 June 1989 Victory Other parts played by members of the BBC Drama Repertory Company Adapted by Helena Wood. Produced by Joe Burroughs First broadcast BBC Home Service Basic, 22 November 1965 Meridian: Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness Presented by Onyekachi Wambu With Adam Hochschild, Professor Allan H. Simmons, Michela Wrong First broadcast BBC World Service, 20 February 2002 ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Joseph Conrad (Author), Bill Wallis, David Calder, Kris Marshall, Robert Glenister, Ron Cook, Stephen Tompkinson (Narrator)

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The L-Shaped Room, Backward Shadow & other stories: A BBC Radio 4 drama collection

A full-cast adaptation of Lynne Reid Banks' bestselling novel, plus sequel The Backward Shadow and more Award-winning author Lynne Reid Banks is perhaps best known for her classic children's book The Indian in the Cupboard. But it was her groundbreaking debut novel for adults, The L-Shaped Room, that made her name. First published in 1960, it was an instant success, and has been in print ever since. This collection contains both The L-Shaped Room and sequel The Backward Shadow, as well as two stories specially written for BBC radio and a bonus edition of Bookclub. The L-Shaped Room - Jane is young, middle-class, single - and pregnant. Thrown out by her parents, she rents a squalid bedsit, where she struggles to overcome both her own prejudices and those of 1950s society. Starring Lynne Seymour as Jane, with John McAndrew as Toby. The Backward Shadow - Living with her baby in a cottage inherited from her aunt, Jane's quiet life is shaken up by the arrival of her friend Dottie and the reappearance of Toby, the love of her life ... Lynne Seymour stars as Jane, with Rachel Atkins as Dottie. Who Shall I Run To? - Sally recalls how she and ex-husband Jeremy celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with a romantic trip to Paris. Read by Siân Phillips. Lame Duck - Anne and her artist husband Lionel have three boys, and little time for going out - so they decide to take in a lodger who might be prepared to babysit occasionally. Sadly, things do not work out as planned... Starring Anne Rosenfeld as Anne and Manning Wilson as Lionel. Bookclub: Lynne Reid Banks - Readers talk to the celebrated author about The L-Shaped Room, describing what it means to them and how it has changed their lives. Chaired by James Naughtie. Text copyright © Lynne Reid Banks 1960 (The L-Shaped Room), 1970 (The Backward Shadow), 1978 (Lame Duck), 2005 (Who Shall I Run To?) Cast and credits Written by Lynne Reid Banks The L-Shaped Room Jane - Lynne Seymour Toby - John McAndrew John - Trevor Laird Father - Bill Wallis Doris - Nickie Rainsford Mavis - Marie Gordon Price James - Simon Armstrong Dr Maxwell - John Rowe Jane 2/Dottie - Rachel Atkins Boss - Dave Bond Dr Graham - Richard Mitchley Terry - Robert Bowman Addy - Shirley Dixon Dramatised by Juliet Ace Prioduced and directed by Alison Hindell First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 February-5 March 2004 The Backward Shadow Jane - Lynne Seymour Dottie - Rachel Atkins Toby - John McAndrew Henry - Simon Ludders Father/Ted - Don McCorkindale Billy Lee - Lesley Rooney Alan - Keiron Self Mrs Stephens - Manon Edwards Dora - Siriol Jenkins John - Trevor Laird Joanna - Nickie Rainsford Dramatised by Juliet Ace Prioduced and directed by Alison Hindell First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16-27 May 2005 Who Shall I Run To? Read by Siân Phillips Produced by Emma Harding First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 August 2005 Lame Duck Cliff - Christopher Guard Anne - Anne Rosenfeld Lionel - Manning Wilson Jamie - Judy Bennett Terry - Delia Morgan Dan - Elizabeth Lindsay Jacky - Karen Archer Mr Brent, a publican - Bruce Beeby Mrs Brent - Jane Knowles Directed by David B Godfrey First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 January 1978 Bookclub: Lynne Reid Banks Presented by James Naughtie With Lynne Reid Banks and a live studio audience Produced by Dymphna Flynn First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 June 2010 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Lynne Reid Banks (Author), Anne Rosenfeld, Bill Wallis, John Mcandrew, Lynne Seymour, Manning Wilson, Rachel Atkins, Sian Philips, Various (Narrator)

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Winston: Series 1-5: A BBC Comedy Drama

All five series of Peter Tinniswood's bawdy comedy about roguish poacher/philosopher Winston Hayballs - plus special seasonal episode Winston at Christmas 'Earthy, resilient, witty and bloody-minded ... nobody can write like Peter Tinniswood' The Times When the middle-class Empsons move from London to picturesque Winterleaf Gunner, they find themselves totally unprepared for country life - and utterly reliant on Winston. Handyman, village poacher, scholar, gentleman romantic and out-and-out rogue, Winston transforms their lives, fixing up their dilapidated house, introducing them to the works of Kingsley Amis - and giving Nancy a lesson in love. So when his wife throws him out because of his infidelities, he invites himself to stay with the family. Spoiling them with his cordon bleu cuisine, he lulls them into a false sense of security - but he's got an ulterior motive: Nancy... Series 1 sees him plotting to get rid of the other Empsons so he can have her all to himself... but his plans hit an unexpected snag. In Winston Comes to Town, Father's illness forces the family to return to London - only for Winston to stow away in a removal van and follow them. Winston in Love finds Nancy with a new boyfriend (Roland from the Ministry of Whatsisname), Winston hooking up with the woman from the fish shop, and Father announcing his engagement. In Winston at Christmas, Nancy wants the family to enjoy a festive celebration together, but Winston has other ideas. Winston in Europe follows the Empsons to France, where Winston's talk of Baudelaire leaves Nancy feeling baffled, and Father sings the praises of Crewe toilets. And in Winston Back Home, the clan return to Winterleaf Gunner, where Winston is set to wed Nancy at last. But exactly how will they tie the knot? Scripted by award-winning author Peter Tinniswood (Uncle Mort's North and South Country), this fantastic family sitcom brims with brilliantly funny dialogue and wonderful larger-than-life comic characters. Bill Wallis stars as Winston, alongside Maurice Denham, Shirley Dixon, Liz Goulding and Christian Rodska. Production credits Written by Peter Tinniswood Directed by Shaun MacLoughlin First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 April-31 May 1989 (Winston), 1 January-5 February 1990 (Winston Comes to Town), 31 December 1990-4 February 1991 (Winston in Love), 25 December 1991 (Winston at Christmas), 12 March-16 April 1992 (Winston in Europe), 31 March-5 May 1994 (Winston Back Home) Cast Winston - Bill Wallis Father - Maurice Denham Nancy - Shirley Dixon Rosie - Liz Goulding William - Christian Rodska

Peter Tinniswood (Author), Bill Wallis, Christian Rodska, Liz Goulding, Maurice Denham, Shirley Dixon (Narrator)

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BBC Radio Shakespeare: A Collection of Six Tragedies

Six full-cast BBC Radio productions of Shakespeare's classic tragedies Treachery, betrayal and fatal power struggles are among the themes of these six iconic productions of Shakespeare's timeless tragedies. Featuring all-star casts, they are introduced by Sir Richard Eyre. Hamlet Shakespeare's powerfully poetic tragedy of murder, madness and revenge stars Michael Sheen as the Prince of Denmark, with Kenneth Cranham as Claudius and Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude. Macbeth In this notorious 'Scottish play', a lust for power and the prophecy of three witches transform a brave nobleman into a traitor and murderous tyrant. Ken Stott stars as Macbeth and Phyllis Logan as Lady Macbeth. King Lear The tragic consequences of evil triumphing over truth, and of the vanity of old age, are set in motion when Lear banishes his favourite daughter, Cordelia, from court. Starring Corin Redgrave as King Lear, with David Troughton, Geraldine James and Robert Glenister. Othello Evil cunning perverts a once noble mind, as heroic general Othello is destroyed by both his own jealousy and the machinations of the devious Iago. Ray Fearon stars as Othello, with James Frain as Iago. Romeo and Juliet An updated version of Shakespeare's tragedy of feuding families and doomed love, set in modern Verona and starring Douglas Henshall as Romeo and Sophie Dahl as Juliet. Cymbeline When Cymbeline discovers his daughter Imogen's secret marriage to Posthumus, he banishes her husband. But Posthumus's boasts of his wife's chastity provoke lachimo to attempt her seduction. Bill Wallis stars as Cymbeline.

William Shakespeare (Author), Bill Wallis, Corin Redgrave, Full Cast, Geraldine James, Juliet Stevenson, Ken Stott, Kenneth Cranham, Michael Sheen, Siân Phillips, Sophie Dahl (Narrator)

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The Blue Cross

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was born in Campden Hill, Kensington on May 29th 1874. Originally after attending St Pauls School he went to Slade to learn the art of illustration. In 1896 he joined a small London publisher and began his journalistic career as a freelance art and literary critic and going on to writing weekly columns in the Daily News and the Illustrated London News. In 1901 he married Frances Blogg, to whom he remained married for the rest of his life. For many he is known as a very fine novelist and the creator of the Father Brown Detective stories which were much influenced by his own beliefs. A large man – 6’ 4” and 21st in weight he was apt to be forgetful in that delightful way that the British sometimes are – a telegram home to his wife saying he was in one place but where should he actually be…….? He was prolific in many other areas; he wrote plays, short stories, essays, loved to debate and wrote hundreds of poems. G K Chesterton died of congestive heart failure on 14th June, 1936 and is buried in Beaconsfield just outside of London.

G K Chesterton (Author), Bill Wallis, Ghizela Rowe (Narrator)

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The Resurrection of Father Brown

G K Chesterton (Author), Bill Wallis, Ghizela Rowe (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Bill Wallis