To categorise Chesterton’s tale "The Man Who Was Thursday" is near impossible and ultimately fruitless. Nightmare? Dream? Allegory? It matters little; like all Chesterton’s writing it is packed with rich imagery, whimsical humour and universal wisdom.Like Gabriel Syme, at the conclusion of the story, we may not be quite sure whether we too, were dreaming or not.Narrated by Simon Hester. With original music.

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.

"Lord Peter Views the Body," first published in 1928, stands as a brilliant testament to Dorothy L. Sayers' mastery of the detective genre. This collection of short stories offers readers an intimate glimpse into the world of Lord Peter Wimsey, one of the most beloved detectives in literary history. With his characteristic charm, incisive wit, and an unerring sense of justice, Lord Peter navigates a series of perplexing cases, each showcasing Sayers' exceptional storytelling prowess.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel which shocks us still. The sensibilities of its original Victorian readership may have blanched at the exoticism and barely disguised eroticism which drip from Wilde’s prose, but for us today who barely look twice at such things, we find something much more horrific at the heart of the book.Narration and music performed by Simon Hester.

Head Stories Audio presents 16 selected short stories by one of the genre’s masters, H.G. Wells.Not unexpectedly some, such as “The Crystal Egg” and “The Remarkable Case of Davidson’s Eyes” are typical of Wells’ popular science fiction and explore the possibilities of time and space.Others like “The Moth” and “The Red Room” are classics of horror. Wells could equally be humorous and show no hint of his visionary tendencies, whether recounting the good luck of an inept burgl...

In a Study in Scarlet Conan Doyle first presented to the world his unique creation Mr Sherlock Holmes almost complete.Over successive stories we learn a little more about the man, but it is not for character development that we turn to the Chronicles of Dr John Watson M.DAn iconic figure such as Holmes is all the better for his predicatbility, and even in this, the first of his recorded cases we can be confident that our hero is all we would expect.Part of the Compl...

In Mr Mulliner, P.G Wodehouse (1881 -1975) has created a conduit for all manner of tall tales. The amiable gentleman happily regales the drinkers in the Angler’s Rest Pub with fascinating stories, usually about his own relatives, which range from the somewhat dubious, to the downright unbelievable.Welcome to this eccentric world inhabited by Curates and Bishops high on health tonic, and a lovesick chap who utilises beauty remedies to win his love. A world w...

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.

There is a particular magic in stories that begin with "Once on a time." These four simple words have an uncanny ability to unlock our imaginations, inviting us into worlds where anything is possible and where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. In the stories which follow, A.A. Milne, a masterful weaver of whimsy and wit, invites us to share in such magic.Known and beloved for his Winnie-the-Pooh tales, Milne demonstrates in Once Upon a Time that his storytelling...

John Buchan himself stated that he set out to write a book in the style of the ubiquitous American “Dime Novel”. What he actually succeeded in creating was a relatively unique and new genre for British literature, the Spy Novel. Those thrilling elements of the fleeing innocent man hunted through the wilds by sinister and undefined dark forces have been explored countless times in books and on screen ever since.

Perhaps it took an American to so skilfully write of Tudor history through the lens of US democracy. Mark Twain perfectly captures the flavour of 16th Century England as we wish it had been and at the same time explores the themes of power, poverty, privilege, identity and destiny.he then weaves these seamlessly into an adventure story which pleases young and old alike.Narrated by Simon Hester. With original music.

Perhaps the most famous and most accessible of Dickens' stories which can be enjoyed every year afresh at Christmas time, as we never tire of the inspirational story of Scrooge's redemption and transformation. Here performed with warmth and compelling narrative skill by Simon Hester