Audiobooks narrated by Hugh Kermode

Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics: The bestselling guide to our universe

"This audiobook includes forewords read by the authors, Frank Verstraete and Céline Broeckaert. The International Bestseller 'A physics book unlike any other. The scope, depth and artistry are breathtaking' - John Preskill, theoretical physicist and Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics at Caltech 'Entertaining, unorthodox and highly readable' - Professor Ian Stewart FRS, bestselling co-author of The Science of Discworld Quantum physics is the cornerstone of our world. Yet, at the same time, it's one of the hardest subjects for ordinary mortals to grasp. In Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics, a husband-and-wife duo demystifies this essential branch of science. He, one of the world's leading physicists, peels back layers of the quantum world with unparalleled insights into the latest research. She, a writer, puts these scientific revelations into everyday language with wit and charm. Together, they unravel the reasons the universe behaves in the weird ways it does - and just why it's so important to understand them. Their book will reveal: - How symmetry governs the universe. - The untold stories of pioneering women in quantum science. - How quantum principles power our gadgets and lives. - The real essence behind quantum puzzles and discoveries. The result is a groundbreaking journey into quantum physics that transforms our understanding of the universe and its boundless possibilities with clarity, wonder and humour. Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics is a bridge between the complex world of quantum physics and the curious mind - simplifying without diluting and enlightening without overwhelming. 'A delightful book for all those who do not speak the language of mathematics but are curious about the most beautiful of theories and their impact on our lives' - Barbara Terhal, theoretical physicist"

Céline Broeckaert, Frank Verstraete (Author), Céline Broeckaert, Frank Verstraete, Hugh Kermode (Narrator)

Audiobook

1984

"'If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.' Often ranked as one of the greatest twentieth century novels of all time, Orwell's 1984 is a prime example of political dystopian fiction at its very best. Winston Smith works in the Ministry of Truth, rewriting newspapers and reports to distort history and adhere to the arbitrary dictates of Big Brother – the leading political force in Oceania. However, beneath his outward conformity, Winston has profound reservations about Big Brother's authoritarian regime. Before long, he begins the unthinkable and writes a diary to escape Big Brother's tyranny: an act punishable by death. Finding an ally in the brave and beautiful Julia, Winston's resolve to resist Big Brother is strengthened, and they seek to join forces with an opposing political party. But in Oceania, there is little room for solidarity, rebellion or love, and Big Brother, it seems, knows all. First published in 1949 at a time of great social and political unrest, 1984 is widely considered ahead of its time, remaining acutely relevant to this day. This edition is brilliantly narrated by Hugh Kermode. George Orwell is the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair (1903 – 1950). He was a British novelist, essayist, poet and critic, most famous for his novels Animal Farm and 1984. Often regarded of one of the fiercest social and political commentators of his day, his works remain studied and read through generations."

George Orwell (Author), Hugh Kermode (Narrator)

Audiobook

Myths & Legends

"Discover the world's greatest myths and legends - from Greek mythology to Norse mythology - in this comprehensive guide. What did Japanese mythology say about the beginning of the Universe? How did Oedipus become the classic tragic hero in Greek mythology? Who brought about the origin of death in Maori mythology? Combining vivid retellings of famous legends with over 1,000 illustrations of characters, famous artworks, and artefacts, Myths and Legends makes it easier than ever before to understand the stories that are central to every culture. Delve into the well-known tales of the ancient Greeks, which hold the key to such phrases as 'Achilles' heel', as well as the lesser-known but richly colourful myths of Africa and the Americas. Explore global ideas such as fate and fortune, and the Underworld, and find out about the key characters - heroes, tricksters, and gods - that make up each myth system. Filled with the cultural and religious meanings behind each legend, and the influence they have had both in their own time and in today's world, this book is a must-have for all mythology enthusiasts. © 2019 Philip Wilkinson © 2020 DK Audio"

Philip Wilkinson (Author), Hugh Kermode (Narrator)

Audiobook

Liberty Bound: A dystopian adventure at the end of civilisation

"Society has turned on its head. The ‘free’ hide behind fortifications and the ‘imprisoned’ roam the wild, barren land beyond. Finbarl-apcula guards the town of Athenia, an oasis in a parched, sparsely populated world. He keeps the citizens safe, ensures those who break the draconian laws lose their freedom, and protects what he prizes above all else: civilisation. When Finbarl is made to lie to help convict a mother he once rescued from a bully, it delivers the first crack in his unquestionable faith in the system. As further lies and corruption are exposed, Finbarl’s world crumbles, allowing him to finally see that ‘prison walls’ exist everywhere, within himself, throughout society and in the very landscape he calls home. No one is free and the civilisation he was willing to die for is at the root of the problem. Finbarl begins a thrilling adventure of twists, rebellion, danger, discovery and tragedy to break the bonds imprisoning a world, himself and the future. Will he find what he really treasures most: true freedom? In creating a dangerous but exciting ‘inverse’ world, where the true meaning of freedom is explored and challenged, Wrey invites the reader to consider how their own society, and the individuals within, are inhibited and restricted by ‘walls’ through fear and ignorance. Speculative fiction to inspire you to think again about the world of today. A book for our time. A 2021 Readers' Favorite International Book Award winner. Finalist in the 2020 Wishing Shelf Book Awards for adult fiction. Winner of the International Review of Books Gold Award, a Readers' Favorites 5 Star Review Award, a HugeOrange Editor's Pick Winner Award, a Literary Titan Silver Award."

Nathaniel M Wrey (Author), Hugh Kermode (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Pit-Prop Syndicate

"From the Collins Crime Club archive, the third standalone novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, dubbed ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’. Seymour Merriman’s holiday in France comes to an abrupt halt when his motorcycle starts leaking petrol. Following a lorry to find fuel, he discovers that it belongs to an English company making timber pit-props for coal mines back home. His suspicions of illegal activity are aroused when he sees the exact same lorry with a different number plate – and confirmed later with the shocking discovery of a body. What began as amateur detective work ends up as a job for Inspector Willis of Scotland Yard, a job requiring tenacity, ingenuity and guile . . . Freeman Wills Crofts’ transition from civil engineer on the Irish railways to world-renowned master of the detective mystery began with The Cask when he was fully 40 years old; but it was his third novel, the baffling The Pit-Prop Syndicate, that was singled out by his editors in 1930 as the first for inclusion in Collins’ prestigious new series of reprints ‘for crime connoisseurs’. This Detective Club classic is introduced by John Curran, author of The Hooded Gunman, and includes the bonus of an exclusive short story by Crofts, ‘Danger in Shroude Valley’."

Freeman Wills Crofts (Author), Hugh Kermode (Narrator)

Audiobook

Death In Shanghai

"Shanghai, 1928. The body of a blonde is washed up on the Beach of Dead Babies, in the heart of the smog-filled city. Seemingly a suicide, a closer inspection reveals a darker motive: the corpse has been weighed down, it’s lower half mutilated…and the Chinese character for ‘justice’ carved into the chest. The moment Inspector Danilov lays eyes on the dismembered body, he realises that he has an exceptional case on his hands. And when the first body is followed by another, and another, each displaying a new, bloody message, he has no option but face the truth. He is dealing with the worst kind of criminal; someone determined, twisted…and vengeful. Someone who must be caught….whatever the cost. Death in Shanghai is the first novel in M J Lee’s Inspector Danilov series, perfect for fans of Philip Kerr."

M. J. Lee (Author), Hugh Kermode (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Terror

"The sensational novel which launched Collins’ Detective Story Club in 1929 was by Edgar Wallace, who wrote more crime stories in the 1920s, and more films, than any other author. This new edition of The Terror, with its original jacket artwork, also includes another classic Wallace text, White Face. A dangerous gang of criminals is imprisoned after a daring robbery, although the ringleader who masterminded the crime disappears with the loot. Finally released after ten years behind bars, they are out for vengeance on the man who betrayed them, and the trail leads to a lonely house haunted by organ music and the spectre of a hooded figure who prowls its dark corridors. The Terror began life as a stage play, then a film, and finally the book that began Collins’ Detective Story Club in July 1929. This new edition also includes White Face, the other crime novel Wallace adapted from one of his own plays. A doctor finds a man murdered in a seedy part of London. The police suspect a notorious master of disguise known as ‘White Face’, and the doctor enlists a reporter to help him track down and unmask the elusive killer."

Edgar Wallace (Author), Hugh Kermode (Narrator)

Audiobook

Our Land at War

"A rich account of the impact of the Second World War on the lives of people living in the farms and villages of Britain. On the outbreak of war, the countryside was invaded by service personnel and evacuee children by the thousand; land was taken arbitrarily for airfields, training grounds and firing ranges, and whole communities were evicted. Prisoner-of-war camps brought captured enemy soldiers to close quarters, and as horses gave way to tractors and combines farmers were burdened with aggressive new restrictions on what they could and could not grow. Land Girls and Lumber Jills worked in fields and forests. Food – or the lack of it – was a major preoccupation and rationing strictly enforced. And although rabbits were poached, apples scrumped and mushrooms gathered, there was still not enough to eat. Drawing from diaries, letters, books, official records and interviews, Duff Hart Davis revisits rural Britain to describe how ordinary people survived the war years. He tells of houses turned over to military use such as Bletchley and RAF Medmenham as well as those that became schools, notably Chatsworth in Derbyshire. Combining both hardship and farce, the book examines the profound changes war brought to Britain’s countryside: from the Home Guard, struggling with the provision of ludicrous equipment, to the role of the XII Corps Observation Unit. whose task was to enlarge rabbit warrens and badger setts into bunkers for harassing the enemy in the event of a German invasion; to the unexpected tenderness shown by many to German and Italian prisoners-of-war at work on the land. Fascinating, sad and at times hilarious, this warm-hearted book tells great stories – and casts new light on Britain during the war."

Duff Hart-Davis (Author), Hugh Kermode (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Hugh Kermode