Martin Jarvis
41) Just Jimmy
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Written by Richmal Crompton, 'Just Jimmy' is a collection of stories in which Jimmy could almost be younger brother to William Brown (of 'Just William' fame). Like William, Jimmy has a big heart and all of his efforts go towards trying to make his family and friends happy. Unfortunately, and again like William, his plans always take a turn for the worst, or don't turn out in the way that he intended. Fortunately for a listener, this makes for a myriad...
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The first volume of John Galsworthy's gripping family drama
Soames Forsyte's great desire to own things even extends to his captivating wife, Irene. Jealous of her friendships with others, he concocts a plan to move her away to the countryside, where he might come to own her completely. Resisting his bitter intentions, she falls for architect Philip Bossiney, who is unfortunately engaged to her best friend (and Soames' cousin), June Forsyte.
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Robert Graves' searing autobiography and an emotional firsthand account of life in the First World War trenches. A superb and graphic storyteller, Graves begins with the petty cruelties of his public school upbringing. Then, almost in 'fly-on-the wall' documentary style, he paints devastating portraits of war: of a young man's hell, of meaningless sacrifice, of everyday heroism, and of the idiocy of the military command. Even accomplishing some moments...
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In this collection of six full-length Christmas stories we encounter the irrepressible William Brown as an unlikely carol-singer, a pantomime-bear, Arab chief and conjurer. And between being mistaken for a Martian and becoming a burglar, William provides his family, friends (an many assorted aunts) with a Christmas they'll never forget. Neither will you... As William himself would say, 'Happy list'nin'!'
FULL LISTINGS:
1. William and the Carol...
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In this memoir, Frayn reveals the original exemplar of the extraordinary-ordinary life: his father, Tom Frayn. A clever lad, a roofing salesman with a winning smile and a racetrack vocabulary, Tom Frayn emerged undaunted from a childhood spent in two rooms with six other people, all of them deaf. And undaunted he stayed, even though the shockingly sudden tragedy that darkened his life. Tom Frayn left his son little more than three watches and two...
47) Trick of It, The
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The Trick of It is a comical look at an odd couple. Original and witty, Frayn tells a complete story through one-sided letters. Compact, light and entertaining, The Trick of It is a clever tale.
A nameless college professor writes letters to an esteemed friend living in Australia. The professor is a critic who has dedicated his life to teaching and explaining the writings of a profound female writer. He knows her books inside and out. He, perhaps,...
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Born in Dublin in 1854 Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was educated at Oxford where he achieved a double first. His reputation as a dramatist, poet, and novelist was established in only seven years; from his first short story The Happy Prince to The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895. He died in Paris in 1900 ruined by a notorious libel case and two years in Reading gaol. On 18th February 1895, the Marquess of Queensberry left a visiting card...
49) Dig Two Graves
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'Dig Two Graves' was inspired by the extraordinary courage of Lieutenant Terence Edward Waters, GC (posthumous), the West Yorkshire Regiment, during the Korean War. Badly injured and a PoW, Waters ordered his men to join the N Korean 'Peace Fighters' in return for decent treatment but, refusing to do so himself, died of malnutrition, hypothermia and gangrene.
The fictional story, relocated to the Vietnam war, opens many years after the Lieutenant's...
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Plain Tales from the Hills conjures up an intimate, evocative, often funny portrait of India. These unabridged observations of the British in India and Indian life were originally commissioned for The Civil and Military Gazette where Kipling worked as a journalist in the 1880s. Incredibly, Kipling wrote these famous and atmospheric pieces before he was twenty-two and they aptly illustrate his genius as a storyteller whose words and voice have stood...
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A classic novel based on Dickens' personal experiences, it delineates the sufferings and sentiments of orphans and abandoned children through the outstandingly portrayed character of David. The novel shows Dickens incredible knack of uniting humor with pathos. The story ponders on the themes of self-exploitation, hypocrisy, sexual degradation, and fraud. Wondrously realistic masterpiece! - From cover.
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Nickleby is a young man of nineteen, handsome and hot-headed, devoted to his sister Kate and his parents. Following the death of Nicholas's father, they find themselves penniless and travel to London to seek help from his uncle, Ralph Nickleby, a heartless, cunning rogue. He grudgingly finds employment for Nicholas in Dotheby Hall, a school in Yorkshire run by the brutal Mr. and Mrs. Wackford Squeers. Appalled at the condition and treatment of the...
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The usual suspects line up at Blandings castle for a typically hilarious Wodehouse caper which sees a cast of characters getting hot and bothered over a nude painting that everybody seems to want to get their hands on. This very British comedic pleasure will delight fans and newcomers alike.
56) Piccadilly Jim
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Jimmy Crocket, a.k.a. Piccadilly Jim is a lively young American ex-newspaper man who meets Ann Chester, the girl of his dreams, in London. Problem is Jim once wrote a bad review of her first book of poetry. They set sail for New York together with Ann still not knowing he's the dastardly critic! Add a brilliantly colourful Manhattan setting, an unlikely butler, odd spies, eccentric 'tecs, scientific secrets, plus an odious boy called Ogden, and the...
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The Collected Blandings Short Stories. Blandings Castle is the home of Lord Emsworth, who likes nothing better than to potter at home in his enormous castle garden. But his rural idyll is once again set to be disturbed in these nine hilarious fables. No peace is possible when his sister Constance is let loose, and she is constantly trying to reorganise the household and its inhabitants! Without great success . . . The nieces are unhappy, McAllister...
58) Right ho, Jeeves
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Jeeves and Wooster volume 7
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Bertie must deal with the Market Snodsbury Grammar School prize giving, the broken engagement of his cousin Angela, the wooing of Madeline Bassett by Gussie Fink-Nottle, and the resignation of Anatole, the genius chef. Will he prevail? Only with the aid of Jeeves!
59) Odyssey of Love
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Child prodigy Franz Liszt quickly rose to become one of the world's foremost pianists. Traveling the world over, Liszt's life was filled with passion and romance. Here, Lucy Parham's play celebrates Liszt's life and turbulent romance with Marie d'Agoult, the mother of his three children.