Audiobooks narrated by Elliot Cowan

The Guy de Maupassant BBC Radio Drama Collection: Full-cast dramatisations of Un Vie, Bel Ami & more

BBC Radio adaptations of selected novels and short stories by the great 19th century French writer - plus bonus programmes Guy de Maupassant is renowned as one of the fathers of the modern short story. A protégé of Flaubert, he was celebrated for his naturalistic fiction, and wrote over 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books and one volume of verse in his short but highly productive lifetime. He died in an asylum aged just 43. This collection brings together dramatisations of some of his finest works. Adapted by Sony Award-winning dramatist Frances Byrnes, Bel Ami chronicles the corrupt rise of charming, ruthless journalist Georges Duroy (Jonathan Slinger). It is followed by Maupassant's most famous short story, 'The Dumpling', a satirical tale of a group of coach travellers fleeing occupied Rouen during the Franco-Prussian war. Dramatised for the first time on radio, it stars Miriam Margolyes. Set in Le Havre, Pierre et Jean centres around the jealousy that springs up between two brothers when a family secret is uncovered. Benedict Sandiford stars as Pierre, with Tim Treloar as Jean. Maupassant's tragicomic debut novel, Une Vie, starring Aimee Ffion Edwards, tells the story of Jeanne, a naive convent-educated aristocrat who dreams of romance, but finds marriage and adulthood treacherous and rotten. The haunting wintry tale 'The Inn' is next, in which young mountain guide Ulrich (Robin Laing) finds himself in sole charge of a remote Alpine hotel. A hidden past is also at the heart of 'Mademoiselle Pearl', a poignant love story starring Claire Neilson and Frank Middlemass. Alongside it is 'The Hand', the macabre supernatural tale of an English aristocrat, his gruesome trophy and his vengeful nemesis. Denis Quilley stars as Sir John Rowell. Also featured are two bonus dramas and a documentary about the great author. Confessions of a Hedonist is a phantasmagorical journey through five of Maupassant's most personal stories: 'A Strange Night Out', 'Mouche', 'Laid To Rest', 'Cockcrow' and 'Le Horla'. Adapted and translated by Simon Scardifield, it stars Elliot Cowan and Holli Dempsey. How an Umbrella Changed Everything, written by Shirley Cooklin and based on an idea by Maupassant, tells of a childless couple whose obsessive frugality has fateful repercussions. Nigel Lambert and Sheila Grant star as Charles and Clothilde Oreille. Finally, Meridian: Guy de Maupassant - Master of the Short Story explores Maupassant's life, work and lasting legacy. First published 1880 ('The Dumpling'), 1883 (Une Vie, 'The Hand'), 1885 (Bel-Ami), 1886 ('The Inn', 'Mademoiselle Pearl'), 1887 (Pierre et Jean, 'Le Horla'), c1890 ('Mouche', 'A Queer Night in Paris', 'Laid to Rest', 'Cockcrow') Production credits Written by Guy de Maupassant Contents: Bel Ami The Dumpling Pierre and Jean Une Vie The Inn Mademoiselle Pearl The Hand Maupassant's Confessions of a Hedonist How an Umbrella Changed Everything Meridian: Guy de Maupassant - Master of the Short Story © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Guy De Maupassant (Author), Adam Nagaitis, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Denis Quilley, Elliot Cowan, Frank Middlemass, Full Cast, Holli Dempsey, Miriam Margolyes, Robin Laing (Narrator)

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Unmade Movies: Arthur Miller's The Hook: A BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the unproduced screenplay

Arthur Miller's unproduced screenplay about a 1950s Brooklyn dock worker who takes a stand against corruption, directed by Adrian Noble The annals of movie history are full of lost treasures - spectacular scripts from world-renowned writers that could have been classics, had they only been made. Now, for the first time, some of these forgotten gems have been brought to life, fully realised as vivid, cinematic radio productions. Scripted by major 20th Century writers, including Harold Pinter, Arthur Miller, Alfred Hitchcock and Dennis Potter, they star a host of A-list actors and feature richly evocative, atmospheric soundtracks. The Hook, one of seven 'unmade movies' available on audio, is set in New York's docks in 1951, where hundreds of longshoremen queue up at dawn hoping to be given a counter and a place in the day's gang. It's hard, dangerous work, but in a world ruled by corrupt union bosses on the take, they have no choice but to accept it. Then a tragedy occurs, and one man, Marty Ferrara, decides to fight back... Arthur Miller was America's leading post-war playwright, but his credits also include several successful movie scripts, among them the 1961 classic The Misfits. Developed with Elia Kazan, The Hook was shelved when Miller refused to comply with Columbia Pictures' demands that he make the corrupt union bosses Communists. However, it went on to inspire both Kazan's On the Waterfront and Miller's A View from the Bridge. This dazzling production marks director Adrian Noble's radio debut, and stars Elliot Cowan (Lost in Austen) as Marty, with Tim Pigott-Smith (The Jewel in the Crown) as Farragut. It is narrated by David Suchet, who flawlessly reads Miller's directions, describing the action we can't see. Gritty, powerful and resonant, this rediscovered masterpiece will have you hooked from beginning to end. Production credits Written by Arthur Miller Adapted for radio by Laurence Bowen Directed by Adrian Noble Produced by Laurence Bowen Sound Design: Wilfredo Acosta A Feelgood Fiction production for BBC Radio 4 Cast Narrator - David Suchet Marty - Elliot Cowan Louis - Nigel Lindsay Rocky - Michael Feast Farragut - Tim Pigott-Smith Piggy - Nathan Wiley Enzo - Jonathan Guy Lewis Sleeper - Kerry Shale Therese - Joanne Pearce Old Dominic - Vincent Riotta Mama - Lorelei King Irene - Hollie Burgess Pete - Leo Heller First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 October 2015 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Arthur Miller (Author), David Suchet, Elliot Cowan, Full Cast, Tim Pigott-Smith (Narrator)

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Walking on Sunshine: The Sunday Times bestseller perfect to cosy up with this winter

Brought to you by Penguin. Escape this winter with the heart-warming and uplifting new novel from the No 1 bestselling author, Giovanna Fletcher In the darkness, we all need a little light . . . After Mike loses Pia, his partner of seventeen years, their best friends Vicky and Zaza try to help pick up the pieces. But though Pia's gone, she left a plan. A list of loving instructions to help Mike and her friends come to terms with their loss. And they're each going to need it . . . Just-engaged Zaza fears committing any further. Exhausted mother and wife Vicky has lost sight of herself. While Mike just feels all the colour has gone from his life. When the list sends them trekking to Peru, where high mountains and sweltering rainforests push them to the brink, all they have to guide them is their faith in Pia and in themselves. But will they learn that anything is possible when you're walking on sunshine? 'Heartfelt, uplifitng. Her best yet' SUN Praise for Giovanna Fletcher: 'Tons of charm and genuine warmth' Star 'A heartbreakingly beautiful story about friendship and unrequited love. I was totally and utterly captivated' Paige Toon 'A gorgeous, gloriously romantic read with buckets of charm - I absolutely loved it!' Jill Mansell 'Warm and romantic, this charming read will certainly brighten up your day' Closer 'A gorgeously tender, funny and big-hearted novel with wonderful characters you'll fall in love with' Miranda Dickinson 'Wonderfully warm and cosy. The perfect comfort read to curl-up with and enjoy' Ali McNamara © Giovanna Fletcher 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Giovanna Fletcher (Author), Elliot Cowan, Giovanna Fletcher, Pippa Bennett-Warner (Narrator)

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Coming Up for Air

Brought to you by Penguin. Three extraordinary lives intertwine across oceans and time. On the banks of the River Seine in 1899, a young woman takes her final breath before plunging into the icy water. Although she does not know it, her decision will set in motion an astonishing chain of events. It will lead to 1950s Norway, where a grieving toy-maker is on the cusp of a transformative invention, all the way to present-day Canada where a journalist, battling a terrible disease, risks everything for one last chance to live. Taking inspiration from a remarkable true story, Coming Up for Air is a bold, richly imagined novel about the transcendent power of storytelling and the immeasurable impact of every human life. © Sarah Leipciger 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Sarah Leipciger (Author), Claudia Jessie, Deborah Mcbride, Elliot Cowan (Narrator)

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Speeches of Note: A celebration of the old, new and unspoken

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Speeches of Note by Shaun Usher, compèred by Richard Cordery, and with speeches read by a variety of narrators. SPEECHES OF NOTE: seventy-five extraordinary ways to step into someone else's shoes. From Shaun Usher, the author of the international bestseller LETTERS OF NOTE, comes an obsessively curated, richly illustrated and sumptuously produced collection of speeches from throughout the ages. Discover speeches that altered the course of history, like NELSON MANDELA's on the day he became South Africa's first black President, and outpourings of much-needed change, such as the impassioned, impromptu appeal for women's rights from SOJOURNER TRUTH, an African-American woman born into slavery. Expect the gloriously unexpected, as KERMIT THE FROG takes to the podium, and celebrate lives well-lived, including TILDA SWINTON's tribute to 'every alien's favourite cousin', DAVID BOWIE. While some speeches are heard by millions, some remain unspoken: the secret draft prepared for QUEEN ELIZABETH II during a military exercise for World War III, and PRESIDENT NIXON's chilling public announcement should NEIL ARMSTRONG and BUZZ ALDRIN become stranded on the Moon. Surprising, inspiring and shocking; moving, comforting and enlightening. Read by Laura Aikman, Shenoa Allen, Kristin Atherton, Taj Atwal, Kirsty Besterman, Kieran Bew, Mhari Black, Panti Bliss, Louise Brealey, Leo Burnett, Nick Cave, Richard Cordery, Elliot Cowan, Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Ryan Ford Iosco, Fiona Hampton, Richard Hughes, Matthew Jacobs Morgan, Geraldine James, Paul Keating, Robert F Kennedy, Angus King, Liz Kingsman, Mitch Landrieu, Ursula le Guin, Donovan Livingstone, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Roy McMillan, Carla Mendonca, Ako Mitchell, Edward Murrow, Shirin Neshat, Amaka Okafor, Daniel O'Meara, Yeonmi Park, Jackie Robinson, Nicholas Rowe, Dan Russell, Clifford Samuel, Natalie Simpson, Adora Svitak, Justin Trudeau, Elie Wiesel, Maurice Williamson, Laura Aikman, Shenoa Allen, Kristin Atherton, Taj Atwal, Kirsty Besterman, Kieran Bew, Mhari Black, Panti Bliss, Louise Brealey, Leo Burnett, Nick Cave, Richard Cordery, Elliot Cowan, Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Ryan Ford Iosco, Fiona Hampton, Richard Hughes, Matthew Jacobs Morgan, Geraldine James, Paul Keating, Robert F Kennedy, Angus King, Liz Kingsman, Mitch Landrieu, Ursula le Guin, Donovan Livingstone, Nelson Mandela, Roy McMillan, Carla Mendonca, Ako Mitchell, EdwardMurrow, Shirin Neshat, Amaka Okafor, Daniel O'Meara, Yeonmi Park Source: Take Care of Your Artists, World Economic Forum, Switzerland, 2014

Shaun Usher (Author), Adora Svitak, Ako Mitchell, Amaka Okafor, Angus King, Carla Mendonca, Clifford Samuel, Dan Russell, Daniel O'Meara, Daniel O'meara, Donovan Livingstone, Edward Murrow, Elie Wiesel, Elliot Cowan, Fiona Hampton, Geraldine James, Jackie Robinson, Justin Trudeau, Kieran Bew, Kirsty Besterman, Kristin Atherton, Laura Aikman, Leo Burnett, Liz Kingsman, Louise Brealey, Matthew Jacobs Morgan, Maurice Williamson, Mhari Black, Mitch Landrieu, Natalie Simpson, Nelson Mandela, Nicholas Rowe, Nick Cave, Panti Bliss, Paul Keating, Richard Cordery, Richard Hughes, Robert F Kennedy, Roy McMillan, Roy Mcmillan, Ryan Ford Iosco, Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Shenoa Allen, Shirin Neshat, Taj Atwal, Ursula K. Le Guin, Ursula Le Guin, Ursula le Guin, Yeonmi Park (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Elliot Cowan