Showing results for "simon hester"

It may be that we are too sophisticated in this day and age for as simple a morality tale as Carlo Collodi’s “Pinocchio”. It is certainly true that the original tale is much darker in its tone than the later versions which smooth out some of sharper edges of the narrative.Pinocchio himself is at first a very unlikeable character; he feels only for himself, and his apparent remorse is only self-pity. His creator, Geppetto, is initially a reluctant father figure to the self-centred m...

E. Nesbit’s beautiful story of The Railway Children has faired well in many excellent and faithful adaptations on stage and screen. It is always refreshing however to return to the original book. The story has a charm and a depth which raises it, like all the best children’s literature, to something which can be appreciated by all ages.Bobbie, Phyllis and Peter, through their adventures on the railway begin to come of age as they face thrilling adventures and meet new frie...

Head Stories presents the 3rd volume of Selected Short Stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by Simon Hester. With original music.The Brown Hand - Upon his return from India, an eminent doctor is haunted by a patient in search of something that was taken from him.The King of the Foxes - In an effort to shake off a hangover a young man joins a fox hunt, only to experience much more than he expected!Lot 249

Head Stories Audio presents a selection of 16 short stories by the creator of Sherlock Holmes.Despite being over a century old, Conan Doyle's short stories continue to captivate readers and inspire other works of fiction. Many modern writers including Neil Gaiman, Michael Chabon, and Anthony Horowitz have paid homage to Conan Doyle and his world. These fascinating stories are sure to entertain, thrill, and intrigue you.Although none of the stories feature the famous detecti...

Edgar Allan Poe will always be associated with the macabre and mysterious. In this selection of 11 of his short stories Poe's unique voice can be heard in all its Gothic splendour."The Fall of the House of Usher" a death obsessed man, in his desperate attempt to save his sister from premature burial, seals his own fate."The Masque of the Red Death" A nobleman uses his wealth to protect himself from the Red Death only to find it stalks his palace of pleasure and privilege as...

The Princess and the Goblin, first published in 1872, is a timeless tale of courage, imagination, and the triumph of light over darkness. Written by George MacDonald, a pioneer of modern fantasy literature, who was to influence both C.S Lewis and Tolkien, this enchanting story has captured the hearts of readers young and old for over a century. It remains one of MacDonald's most celebrated works, embodying the deep moral and spiritual insights that define much of his writing....

When Max Carrados first appeared in the pages of Ernest Bramah in 1913, readers were invited to reconsider one of the most enduring assumptions in detective fiction: that seeing is knowing.Carrados is blind. Yet he is never portrayed as diminished. Instead, his lack of sight sharpens the faculties upon which most of us scarcely rely. A faint irregularity in a footstep, the texture of paper beneath the fingers, the almost imperceptible hesitation in...

In The Eyes of Max Carrados, the smallest detail may hold the greatest significance, and observation is elevated to a subtle and exacting art.Ernest Bramah’s celebrated detective moves with quiet confidence through a series of curious and often perplexing cases, guided by an intellect that is at once precise, patient, and quietly imaginative.These stories reward attentiveness. Clues are rarely announced, but lie instead in the overlooked and the seemingly trivial, ...

"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.

First published in 1858, Phantastes stands as one of the earliest and most influential works of modern fantasy. In this dreamlike tale, George MacDonald leads his readers through the mysterious “Fairy Land,” where the boundaries between reality and imagination dissolve. Beneath its enchanted forests and shifting shadows lies a profound spiritual allegory—a journey of the soul toward self-knowledge, purity, and love.Though often whimsical and strange, Phantastes sp...

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

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.