Audiobooks narrated by Kenneth Branagh

All the Sonnets of Shakespeare Audiobook

How can we look afresh at Shakespeare as a writer of sonnets? What new light might they shed on his career, personality, and sexuality? Shakespeare wrote sonnets for at least thirty years, not only for himself, for professional reasons, and for those he loved, but also in his plays, as prologues, as epilogues, and as part of their poetic texture. This ground-breaking book assembles all of Shakespeare's sonnets in their probable order of composition. An inspiring introduction debunks long-established biographical myths about Shakespeare's sonnets and proposes new insights about how and why he wrote them. This volume will be treasured by students, scholars, and every Shakespeare enthusiast.

Paul Edmondson, Stanley Wells, William Shakespeare (Author), Kenneth Branagh, Lolita Chakrabarti (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stalingrad: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

A two-part radio dramatisation of Vasily Grossman's dark, honest account of the battle of Stalingrad; a prequel to Life and Fate – plus Stalingrad: Destiny of a Novel Epic BBC serial Life and Fate stunned radio audiences in 2011, garnering rave reviews for its powerful depiction of a family torn apart by war in Soviet Russia. Now, with this astonishing prequel published in its first ever English translation by Richard and Elizabeth Chandler, we are transported back to the very beginning of Vasily Grossman’s panoramic tale, as the ‘harsh whirlwind’ of war approaches the city of Stalingrad. As Stalingrad opens, we are introduced to the many lives of the Shaposhnikov family and their partners. Atomic scientist Viktor Shtrum struggles with his work for the State and with his own conscience, while his family live, love and work (despite swirling rumours) to run the city’s power stations, factories and hospitals. Meanwhile, at the Front, we meet old-school Bolshevik Commissar Nikolai Krymov in the thick of the Russian army’s pell-mell retreat before Operation Barbarossa, and follow the 'unknown' soldiers giving their lives to hold the line at the Volga. This vivid, gripping drama features many of the same acclaimed cast as Life and Fate, including Kenneth Branagh as Viktor Shtrum and Greta Scacchi as Lyuda Shaposhnikova. Accompanying this stellar dramatisation is Stalingrad: Destiny Of A Novel; featuring extracts from Grossman's private journal, translated here for the first time, and chronicling Stalingrad’s tortuous gestation and long, tormented passage to print. Written and presented by author and historian Catherine Merridale, with readings by Anton Lesser, this five-part series reveals the dramatic backstory behind the classic novel and explores the beginnings of Grossman’s own journey towards Soviet heresy. Written by Vasily Grossman Translated by Robert and Elizabeth Chandler Dramatised by Mike Walker (Part One) and Jonathan Myerson (Part Two) Part One produced and directed by Jonquil Panting Part Two produced by James Robinson and directed by Jonathan Myerson Series Producer: Alison Hindell Original music composed by John Hardy, with Rob Whitehead, and performed by Oliver Wilson-Dixon, Tom Jackson, Stacey Blythe and Max Pownall First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 November-1 December 2019

Vasily Grossman (Author), Ann Mitchell, Greta Scacchi, Kenneth Branagh, Kenneth Cranham, Mark Bonnar (Narrator)

Audiobook

Death on the Nile

An all new digital audio edition of DEATH ON THE NILE narrated by Kenneth Branagh, director and star of 20th Century Studios’ upcoming Death on the Nile feature film, in cinemas this October. In this famous Agatha Christie mystery, Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian adventure aboard a glamorous river steamer descends into a terrifying search for a murderer, with enough twists and turns to keep you unsettled and guessing until the final, shocking discovery. Kenneth Branagh reprises both his directorial role and that of the iconic detective in the upcoming film adaptation of Death on the Nile. Listen to the book now, and see the thrilling mystery come to life on the big screen this fall!

Agatha Christie (Author), Kenneth Branagh (Narrator)

Audiobook

Murder on the Orient Express [Movie Tie-in]: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

A new recording of the most widely read mystery of all time, performed by Kenneth Branagh. Now a major motion picture from Twentieth Century Fox, releasing November 10, 2017 and directed by Kenneth Branagh. "The murderer is with us - on the train now..." Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. One of his fellow passengers must be the murderer. "What more . . . can a mystery addict desire?"-New York Times

Agatha Christie (Author), Kenneth Branagh (Narrator)

Audiobook

Murder on the Orient Express

Agatha Christie’s most famous murder mystery, read by director and star of the hugely anticipated 2017 film adaptation, Kenneth Branagh. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.

Agatha Christie (Author), Kenneth Branagh (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Man with the Golden Gun

If you try to assassinate your boss—even though brainwashed at the time—you must pay the price. To redeem himself James Bond is sent to kill one of the most lethal hit men in the world … Paco “Pistols” Scaramanga. In the sultry heat of Jamaica, 007 infiltrates his target’s criminal cooperative—only to find that Scaramanga’s bullets are laced with snake venom. When the end comes, every shot will count. This audiobook includes an exclusive bonus interview with Kenneth Branagh. “Exciting sequences, especially the railroad scene, capture all the thrills one has come to expect.”—Raymond Benson, author of High Time to Kill Published By Blackstone Audio, Inc. James Bond and 007 are registered trademarks of Danjaq LLC, used under license by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.

Ian Fleming (Author), Kenneth Branagh (Narrator)

Audiobook

Antony and Cleopatra: Drama

Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston star in Shakespeare's tragedy of love and power.As part of BBC Radio 3's celebration of the 450th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston star in this brand new production.Lovers, politicians, superstars. Antony & Cleopatra is Shakespeare's late and epic tragedy of mature love, and the catastrophic fall from grace and power that it brings about. Irresistibly drawn together, the couple are surrounded by friends, enemies, admirers and critics, none of who remain unscathed by the folly and heartbreak of this magnificent pair. As empires clash around them, their destiny seems inevitable: to love each other til death and even beyond. Produced by BBC Cymru Wales for BBC Radio 3, this radio production also features Geoffrey Streatfeild, Nigel Anthony, Don Gilet and Peter Polycarpou amongst its cast.

William Shakespeare (Author), , Alex Kingston, Full Cast, Kenneth Branagh (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Magician's Nephew

The first in the series of the classic fantasy tales - The Chronicles of Narnia.Written after The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but designed by C.S.Lewis to be read first, this enchanting prequel - with its story of time travel, sorcery and magic rings - is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn the backstory to the biggest movie release of the year. Hurled back in time to the birth of a new world, two young friends get caught in the epic struggle between Aslan and his nemesis the White Witch.On 9 December 2005, Andrew (Shrek) Adamson's live-action film adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will be released by Disney, and it is already being hailed as the biggest film franchise of all time, guaranteed to appeal to adults and children across the globe. The second film is already in development.

C. S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis (Author), Kenneth Branagh (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Magician's Nephew

C. S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis (Author), Kenneth Branagh (Narrator)

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In the Ravine and Other Short Stories

Here are twelve short stories by Anton Chekhov, one of the finest masters of what is acknowledged to be a difficult genre. There is the richly comic Oh! The Public, about a hassled ticket inspector, a wry look at morals and manners in The Chorus Girl, and the melancholic tale of a cab driver in Misery. Perhaps the finest of all is the novella In The Ravine, a minutely observed look at life in a village through the eyes of one family. All the characters come to life with their foibles, their strengths and their hopes. Kenneth Branagh uses his natural talent for characterisation to bring this village to life.

Anton Chekhov (Author), Kenneth Branagh, Nicolas Soames (Narrator)

Audiobook

King Richard III

William Shakespeare (Author), Geraldine McEwan, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Maloney, Nicholas Farrell, Stella Gonet (Narrator)

Audiobook

Frankenstein

Kenneth Branagh, director and star of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, provides one of the most spectacular spoken audio performances ever recorded in this electrifying audio adaptation of Mary Shelley's masterpiece. One of the greatest horror stories ever written, Frankenstein comes to spellbinding life once again this tour-de-force performance by the acclaimed director and star of Henry V, Dead Again, and Much Ado About Nothing. The definitive recording of one of the most haunting tales of all time, Kenneth Branagh's performance of Frankenstein is a true audio classic.

Mary Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (Author), Kenneth Branagh (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Kenneth Branagh