Joss Ackland has narrated 8 audiobooks on Listento.it by 12 authors, with an average listener rating of 4.6★ across 242 ratings. The most-rated is The Screwtape Letters.
The Screwtape Letters
Summary
A masterpiece of satire, this classic has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below". At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C. S. Lewis gives us the correspondence of the worldly-wise old devil to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging and humorous account of temptation - and triumph over it - ever written.
©1942 C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Les Miserables
Summary
Joss Ackland, Roger Allam, and Leslie Phillips star in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel.
When poverty drives Jean Valjean to steal a loaf of bread from a baker’s window, it is an action that will haunt him for the rest of his life. A citizen of postrevolutionary France, he is sentenced to nineteen years’ hard labour. On his release his fortunes change, and he becomes a respectable businessman and member of society - and yet his past continues to dog him in the form of the sadistic Inspector Javert, who seems determined to pursue Valjean to the grave.
A student uprising is gaining momentum in Paris, and barricades are being built around the city. Valjean’s adopted daughter, Cosette, has fallen in love with the young revolutionary Marius, and the lives of all three are in peril unless they can flee to safety.
Some of the most significant moments in nineteenth century history form the backdrop for Victor Hugo’s powerful story, in which love and heroism march in the face of poverty and social injustice.
©2015 BBC Worldwide Ltd (P)2015 BBC Worldwide Ltd
Christmas Book at Bedtime: Complete Series
Summary
Everyone loves a bedtime story. And here are eight of the best from BBC Radio 4's Book at Bedtime, each with a Christmas theme, written by an array of literature's best-known names. They include Laurie Lee, Charles Dickens, and Hans Christian Andersen - just some of the storytellers included in this collection. Amongst those giving voice to these stories are Patricia Routledge, Joss Ackland, Miriam Margolyes, Dame Judi Dench, and Richard Briers. Intriguing, funny, poignant, and above all entertaining, these eight Christmas stories are the best of Book at Bedtime.
©2001 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)2010 AudioGO Ltd
Heroes and Villains (and True Love Conquers All) (Dramatised)
Summary
The world of Victorian melodrama, of wilting heroines, brave and handsome heroes, horrible foreign villains, and powerful action with a host of scenes from the best plays of the period; acted, amusingly explained, and related to the development of the English-speaking theatre.
©1975 Ronald Hayman (P)1975 Ivan & Inge Berg
The Sit Crom
Summary
Autumn, 1646. The English Civil War is raging, and there’s trouble ahead for Sir John and Lady Anne Firebasket. There’s a Roundhead platoon camping out in the barn, a perplexed priest hiding behind the panelling and, unbeknown to the Firebaskets, their scullery maid Mercy is actually a disguised aristocrat (and Royalist spy) named Melissa Fortescue-Bottomley. While Mercy steels herself to carry out a deadly mission, pious steward Tobias Thynne rails against the Devil’s vegetables and Father Francis takes to the rooftops in a borrowed nightgown for a rendition of ‘Ave Maria’. With the whole household suffering from severe domestic derangement, it’s a bad time for General Cromwell to show up - and then news arrives that the fugitive King Charles has also decided to pay a visit.... As confusion reigns, Sir John takes to drink, Lady Anne takes to her bed and the New Model Army take up their muskets. Will Firebasket Hall survive the hostilities? Scripted by Sue Limb (Gloomsbury, The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere), The Sit Crom features a wealth of comedy acting talent including Joss Ackland as Sir John Firebasket, Miriam Margolyes as Mercy and Alun Armstrong as Captain Arise Higgs. Produced by Jonathan James-Moore. Music by Colin Sell. Cast: Sir John Firebasket - Joss Ackland Lady Anne Firebasket - Denise Coffey Tobias Thynne - Clive Merrison Mercy, alias Melissa - Miriam Margoyles Father Francis/Old Thomas - Nickolas Grace Slow Ned/King Charles - Chris Emmett Gazebo Fogg - Jack Klaff Captain Arise Higgs - Alun Armstrong Posthumous - Nicky Henson Lettice - Jane Whittenshaw Counter Tenor - Peter Hayward General Cromwell - Bert Parnaby Colonel Thundery - Peter Howell The New Model Army - The cast First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 6th October-10th November 1990.
©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Alison and Maud: The Complete Series 1 and 2
Summary
Sisters Alison and Maud are joint landladies of the Abbeyfield Guest House, dispensing hospitality to a variety of demanding clients while also looking after their irascible, bedridden father downstairs in the granny flat. Dreamy ornithologist Alison has just moved back from Bloomsbury, while Maud ran a 3,000-acre farm in Africa - but neither sibling is really up to the task of managing a B&B, and chaos generally ensues. In these two series, Alison has the hots for their accountant, Bernard - and is the reluctant object of a courtship display from a fellow bird-fancier; Maud comes up trumps in the middle of the night (but what will the guests make of what's in the saucepan?) and handyman Mr Mullet and the bishop of Norwich get a little too close for comfort over tea. Meanwhile, the landladies' daddy complains about his new orthopaedic mattress, battles with hallucinogenic fungus and chips and prepares for his 85th birthday party - but what form will the celebrations take? Sue Limb's sitcom stars Denise Coffey as Alison and Miriam Margolyes as Maud, with Joss Ackland as Father and Geoffrey Whitehead as Bernard. Written by Sue Limb Produced by Jonathan James-Moore Starring Denise Coffey as Alison and Miriam Margolyes as Maud. Cast: Father - Joss Ackland Mr Mullett/Brian - Chris Emmett Bernard/Mr Ducket - Geoffrey Whitehead Marina - Phyllida Nash Leslie - Nickolas Grace Mrs Ducket - Judy Flynn The Bishop of Norwich - Nicholas Le Provost Jane - Jane Sellars First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 13th December 2002-17th January 2003 (Series 1), 15th March-19th April 2004 (Series 2)
©2020 Sue Limb (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Catherine de Medici, 1519-1589
Summary
Queen of France by her marriage to Henry II, Catherine dominated Europe's dying Renaissance, manipulating France by her goading of an hysterical and half-demented king. It was a colourful and blood-soaked time that is excitingly brought to life in this biography.
©1976 Kenneth Allen (P)1976 Ican and Inge Berg
Hello? Is Anybody There?
Summary
In the hours before his brother is born, eight year old Joe has an unusual visitor, Mika, who falls out of a spaceship and lands upside down in an apple tree in Joe's garden. Hens, dinosaurs, an astronaut and a white rabbit all play their part in this magical story in which the encounter between Earth-boy and alien opens up the wonders of the universe. Tender and enchanting as The Little Prince and with the same classic quality, Hello? Is Anybody There? confirms Jostein Gaarder as an exceptional writer for children.
©1997 Jostein Gaarder (P)1999 Orion Publishing Group