Showing titles in Literary History & Criticism

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of This Is Shakespeare, written and read by Emma Smith. A genius and prophet whose timeless works encapsulate the human condition like no others. A writer who surpassed his contemporaries in vision, originality and literary mastery. Who wrote like an angel...

Brought to you by Penguin. From global bestseller and creator of Jack Reacher, comes Lee Child’s first-ever autobiographical collection. On Monday September 5th, 1994, at home, at the dining room table, I sat down to write. An hour later, I gave the first chapter to my wife. I asked, “Should...

A Book of the Year in the Daily Telegraph and Economist LONGLISTED for the CWA ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction 2026 'This book reads like a spy novel' FINANICAL TIMES 'Entertaining and vivid' OBSERVER...

Sir Ian McKellen, fresh from his performance as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, is Prospero, and heads a strong cast in Shakespeare’s last great play. The wronged duke raises a tempest to shipwreck his old opponents on his island so that he can ensure justice is done. With Emilia Fox as Miranda, Scott Handy in the pivotal role of the sprite Ariel, and Ben Owukwe as Caliban.

New York Times bestselling author Alan Furst is internationally renowned as master of the European espionage thriller. Unfolding in September of 1939 as Hitler’s Wehrmacht ravages Warsaw, The Polish Officer discloses the clandestine existence of Polish Military Intelligence.

Penelope Lively has always been a keen gardener. This audiobook is partly a memoir of her own life in gardens: the large garden at home in Cairo where she spent most of her childhood, her grandmother's garden in a sloping Somerset field, then two successive Oxfordshire gardens of her own and the smaller urban garden in the North London home she lives in today. It's also a wise, engaging exploration of gardens in literature, from Paradise Lost to Alice in Wonderland.

In the modern information age, our brain’s coping mechanisms have been overloaded, and our irrationality turned up to eleven. Amanda Montell blends cultural criticism and personal narrative to explore our modern cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages and highlights of magical...

Elegant, provocative and hugely entertaining, Kingsley Amis's memoirs are filled with anecdotes, experiences and portraits of famous friends, family, acquaintances (and a few eminent foes). From his childhood days to Oxford and army life, his travels abroad and his years as a successful novelist, Memoirs offers extraordinary insights into a unique literary life.

Do you yearn to connect with wildness and natural beauty more often? Could your neighbourhood become a source of wonder and discovery and change the way you see the world? Have you ever felt the call of adventure, only to realise that sometimes the most remarkable journeys unfold close to home? After years of challenging expeditions all over the world, adventurer Alastair Humphreys spends a year exploring the small map around his own home. Can this unassuming landscape, marked by the glow of city lights and the hum of busy roads, hold any surprises for the world traveller or satisfy his ...

Step into the refined world of The Benefactress by Elizabeth von Arnim, a timeless Edwardian novel that blends romance, self-discovery, and social satire with remarkable elegance. This captivating audiobook follows Anna Estcourt, a wealthy English woman who leaves behind the constraints of high society to create a peaceful refuge in the German countryside for women seeking independence and a new beginning. Her generous vision soon collides with human nature, exposing the complexities of gratitude, friendship, ambition, and personal freedom. Through vivid characters, graceful humor, and ...

Initially published in 1775, A Journey to the Western Isles recounts a three-month trip to upper Scotland that Samuel Johnson undertook with James Boswell a couple of years previously. During their adventure, they discover a novel culture, stunning landscapes and welcoming locals – all described in Johnson's captivating prose.

Has the Percy Jackson series been slept on by society? Join Mike Schubert as he journeys through the Riordanverse for the first time with the help of longtime PJO fans to cover the plot, take stabs at what happens next, and nerd out over the Greek mythology throughout. Whether you're looking for an excuse to finally read these books, or want to re-read an old favorite with a digital book club, grab your blue chocolate chip cookies and listen along. New episodes release on Mondays wherever you get your podcasts!

'I loved Goddess with a Thousand Faces. Fascinating, fun and thoughtful and enlightening' JENNIFER SAINT 'A beautiful weave of history, myth and storytelling by one of our most exciting new classicists' DAN SNOW Steeped in ancient magic, dark divinity and wild ways, Goddess with a Thousand Faces...

In The Hardy Boys: The Secret of the Caves, Frank and Joe Hardy embark on another thrilling mystery. After saving a drowning woman, they uncover a deeper mystery involving her missing brother. Their search takes them to a series of eerie caves, where danger and deception lurk in the shadows. With puzzles to solve and criminals to catch, can the Hardy Boys crack the case before it’s too late? A classic installment in the beloved detective series!

Ever since the birth of his daughter, Nalla, Zsadist has been regressing further and further into the life he led before he met Bella, his beautiful shellan. He has been waking up in cold sweats due to nightmares from his past, hasn't made love to his wife, and won't hold his baby girl, for fear...

The definitive critical study of Tolkien’s greatest works by the respected and world renowned Tolkien scholar Professor T.A. Shippey. Following the unprecedented and universal acclaim for The Lord of the Rings, the respected academic and world-renowned Tolkien scholar, Professor Tom Shippey...

Highly Invested is a podcast centered around reading and re-reading Brandon Sanderson’s ever expanding Cosmere novels. Join Richie, James, and new reader Betsy on the journey of a lifetime as we worldhop from book to book discussing planets, magic systems, story arcs and unforgettable characters. Popular series include The Stormlight Archive, Mistborn, Warbreaker, Elantris, White Sand, and more. This podcast will be divided into spoiler sections and non-spoiler sections for listeners reading Cosmere novels for the first time.

What’s your story? Everyone has one — the ones we read and the ones we live. In The Good Books is a new weekly podcast that serves as a community for those who believe in the power of a good story. Each week, host Luke Bateman shares the books that have shaped his world, from timeless classics to buzzy bestsellers. He’ll also sit down with the most fascinating voices in the literary world — from bestselling authors to emerging new talent — as they reveal the inspirations behind their work. This is more than a book club; it's a space to explore how the stories we consume influence the...

Hello there!! Welcome to Alberts Bookshelf. Albert loves books and here is his book shelf full of his favourite books read by Alberts Dad. From The Gruffalo to The Wonkey Donkey, from reading to listening we sat down and recorded some of his favourite books as a birthday present to him. For the times when Mum and Dad are at work, having this page means we’re always in his earshot and he loves them. So much so, we decided to put them out there for other children and parents to enjoy listening and reading along to. There lots of books you can listen to, if not now, maybe another time. Thanks ...

Anne Carson's remarkable first book about the paradoxical nature of romantic love Since it was first published, Eros the Bittersweet, Anne Carson's lyrical meditation on love in ancient Greek literature and philosophy, has established itself as a favorite among an unusually broad audience...