Showing results for "simon hester"

John Bunyan's classic allegory of the Christian journey of pilgrimage has never lost its power to teach the important truths of Faith. We may prefer our allegories to be a little more sophisticated these days, and feel that characters such as Mr Worldy Wise, Mr Talkative, Giant Despair , Mercy and Great Heart are far from subtle.Yet Bunyan never wanted us in any doubt as to the thrust of his story, and if we can lay aside our 21st Century tendency to equate plain speaking with naiv...

Charles Dickens wrote The Cricket on the Hearth in 1845, at a time when the warmth of hearth and home was a cherished ideal, providing comfort amidst the rapid changes of Victorian England. Unlike Dickens’ earlier social critiques, this novella is a quieter, more introspective work—a celebration of domestic life, love, and the enduring power of hope. Through the tale of the Peerybingle family and their trials, Dickens invites readers into a cozy household where even the smallest, ...

H.G. Wells is widely regarded as one of the most imaginative and visionary writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Best known for his groundbreaking science fiction novels like The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine, Wells was also a prolific short story writer, producing a diverse body of work that explored many of the same themes as his longer novels: the wonders and perils of scientific progress, the mysteries of the human mind, and the complex relations...

An author who kills off his hero in so dramatic a fashion relatively early in that hero’s literary career, (and then of course returns him to life in an equally dramatic manner) has, perhaps, little else to offer us in the final stories of his famous character.Yet in this final series of short stories Conan Doyle does not cease from developing his famous detective, giving us a fascinating selection of tales.Narrated by Simon Hester. With original music by Simon Hester, perf...

The Father Brown stories sit in relation to other detective literature much as the diminutive and seemingly unworldly Priest himself often sits; quietly, thoughtfully and often to be overlooked. However, when he at lasts speaks it is with such understanding of human knowledge that the self-styled sophisticates that surround him are dumbfounded.C.K Chesterton is not concerned with the procedural minutiae of the detective’s work, nor with leaving a trail of red herrings with which...

The Vicar of Wakefield, a novel by Oliver Goldsmith, first published in 1766, has long been regarded as a literary treasure of 18th-century English fiction. Though often simple in plot and unassuming in its narrative style, the novel reveals the depth of Goldsmith's genius and the charm of his storytelling, which has captivated readers across generations.The novel recounts the trials and tribulations of Dr. Charles Primrose, the vicar of the title, and his family. A man of...

The World has always yearned for creation stories. We cannot hope to know where we are going if we do not know from where we came.Rudyard Kipling’s whimsical tales of the origins of, amongst others, the tides, the Elephant’s trunk, the Leopard’s spots and the Cat’s stubborn independance still give as much satisfaction as when he first told them to his young daughter Josephine, using the childish pronunciations and words that she insisted upon being “just so”.Narrated by Sim...

First published in 1895, Lilith stands as one of George MacDonald’s most enigmatic and haunting works, a blend of fantasy, theology, and metaphysical speculation. Revered by literary giants such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, MacDonald’s fiction does not merely tell stories—it beckons readers into a deeper reality where moral and spiritual truths are woven into the very fabric of narrative.Lilith is not a conventional fantasy. Instead, it is a dreamlike descent...

The famous and thrilling stories of William Shakespeare's plays are lovingly retold in equally poetic language by Charles and Mary Lamb. First published in 1807 and intended as an introduction to the plays for children, these retellings have a beauty of their own which still captivate today.Music and narration by Simon Hester.

Although accepted to be a classic of children's literature, Kenneth Grahame's tale of Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad is layered with the universal themes of nature, longing, belonging, awe and friendship; all woven around the exciting adventures of the incorrigible Mr Toad and his faithful companion's attempts to tame his wayward spirit.

First published in 1895 this classic tale of three friends taking a boating holdiay on the Thames is as fresh as ever and creates a unique blend of humorous travelogue and historical information; even pausing at times, amidst the comedic mishaps, to reflect eloquently upon life and its sufferings.

Andrew Lang (1844–1912) in collaboration with his wife Leonora Blanche Alleyne (1851-1933) published The Blue Fairy Book in 1889 and it was to become the first of a series of twenty five collections of fantastical tales from around the world, ending with “The Strange Story Book” published in 1923.In this first collection we find many of the traditional favourites from the “Fairy Tale” world, including amongst others “Goldilocks”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”,...