Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol—A Ghost Story of Christmas in Five Staves, when he was 31. The first edition was published on December 19, 1843, and had sold out just four days later! By the end of 1844, it was running to 13 editions. Now with numerous adaptations for film, television, radio, stage—and indeed in audio—it has, for many, become an essential part of Christmas.

Raconteurs Audio has created this collection to include Dickens’ two Christmas novellas, The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth, as well as some of his lesser-known short stories with a Christmas theme.

A Christmas Carol

Stave 1—Marley’s Ghost, read by Liam Gerrard

Stave 2—The First of Three Spirits, read by Tim Bruce

Stave 3—The Second of Three Spirits, read by James Gillies

Stave 4—The Last of the Spirits, read by Greg Wagland

Stave 5—The End of It, read by Malk Williams

Music

Stave 1—”God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”—English Traditional

Stave 2—”The Three Kings”—Peter Cornelius 1856

Stave 3—”Gabriel’s Message”—Basque Noel

Stave 4—”A Coventry Carol”—Original of 1591

Stave 5—”This Is the Truth”—English traditional

Finale—”In Dulci Jubilo”—Old German

Festive Tales

“The Haunted House” (1859) read by Greg Wagland

“A Christmas Tree” (1850) read by Nigel Patterson

“The Chimes” (1844) read by James Gillies

“The Christmas Goblins” (1836) read by Liam Gerrard

“The Cricket on the Hearth” (1845) read by Helen Lloyd

“Nobody’s Story” (1852) read by Malk Williams

“A Child’s Dream of a Star” (1871) read by Tim Bruce

“What Christmas Is as We Grow Older” (1851) read by James Gillies

Epilogue

The Epilogue, by Helen Roberts, includes a Public Domain Article by Catherine Water, originally published in ‘The Conversation’ in June 2020.

These stories, originally published between 1843 and 1871, are in the public domain. The traditional Christmas music is also within the public domain—with original arrangements by Kelvin Towse created for this audiobook production.

Amazon/Audible • iTunes

Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas in Five Staves when he was 31. The first edition was published on December 19, 1843 and had sold out just four days later! By the end of 1844, it was running to 13 editions. Now with numerous adaptations for film, television, radio, stage – and indeed in audio – it has become an essential part of Christmas for many.

Raconteurs Audio has created this collection to include Dickens’ two Christmas novellas, The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth, as well as some of his lesser known short stories with a Christmas theme.

A Christmas Carol

• Stave 1 – Marley’s Ghost, read by Liam Gerrard
• Stave 2 – The First of Three Spirits, read by Tim Bruce
• Stave 3 – The Second of Three Spirits, read by James Gillies
• Stave 4 – The Last of the Spirits, read by Greg Wagland
• Stave 5 – The End of It, read by Malk Williams

Music

• Stave 1 – “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” – English Traditional
• Stave 2 – “The Three Kings” – Peter Cornelius 1856
• Stave 3 – “Gabriel’s Message” – Basque Noel
• Stave 4 – “A Coventry Carol” – Original of 1591
• Stave 5 – “This Is the Truth” – English traditional
• Finale – “In Dulci Jubilo” – Old German

Festive Tales

• “The Haunted House” (1859) read by Greg Wagland
• “A Christmas Tree” (1850) read by Nigel Patterson
• “The Chimes” (1844) read by James Gillies
• “The Christmas Goblins” (1836) read by Liam Gerrard
• “The Cricket on the Hearth” (1845) read by Helen Lloyd
• “Nobody’s Story” (1852) read by Malk Williams
• “A Child’s Dream of a Star” (1871) read by Tim Bruce
• “What Christmas Is as We Grow Older” (1851) read by James Gillies

These stories, originally published between 1843 and 1871, are in the public domain. The traditional Christmas music is also within the public domain – with original arrangements by Kelvin Towse created for this audiobook production.

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H. G. Wells was known as the father of science fiction, but his creative genius encompassed far more than a single literary genre. He was also a visionary, a satirist, a sociologist, and a historian.

This third audio anthology of H. G. Wells’ Short Stories produced by Raconteurs Audio in collaboration with Spoken Realms, brings together some of his lesser-known short stories.

• “The Argonauts of the Air” read by Tim Bruce
• “The Treasure in the Forest” read by Nigel Patterson
• “A Slip Under the Microscope” read by Liam Gerrard
• “The Temptation of Harringay” read by Malk Williams
• “The Reconciliation” read by Greg Wagland
• “The Catastrophe” read by Tim Bruce
• “The Truth About Pyecraft” read by James Gillies
• “Mr. Skelmersdale In Fairyland” read by Liam Gerrard
• “Mr. Brisher’s Treasure” read by Malk Williams
• “The New Accelerator” read by Nigel Patterson
• “In the Modern Vein – An Unsympathetic Love Story” read by Greg Wagland
• “Under the Knife” read by James Gillies

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Celebrating the ultimate triumph of good over evil, the Devi Mahatmyam by Sage Markandeya is an epic poem to the Mother of the Universe, a song of praise that echoes through the ages.

For millions worldwide, the Devi Mahatmyam is of central spiritual importance and of equal cultural significance within Indian Sanskrit literature to the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata, and the Ramayana. Also known as the Shri Durga Saptashati (700 verses to Goddess Durga), it forms a major part of the Markandeya Purana (dating from around 550 CE) and remains the prime focus of festivity and devotion to the Divine Mother during the nine nights of Navaratri.

Listening to this story nurtures a strong positive feeling of protection and well-being within the Heart chakra, stimulates the energy of the sternum bone that produces the antibodies that fight infection, and is of particular benefit to mankind today, as the world struggles to cope with the many physical and psychological challenges and the increasing pressures of modern life. This is a Devi Mahatmyam for our time.

Featuring:

• Devi Mahatmyam (read in English)
• The Kavach of the Devi (read in English)
• Shri Siddha Kunjika Stotram (sung in Sanskrit)

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Raconteurs Audio and Spoken Realms team up once again to bring this second collection of short stories by H. G. Wells to audio. Written between 1894 and 1902, this anthology of 13 stories delves into botany, flying machines, travel, distant lands and customs, virology, magic, taxidermy, journalism – and there’s even a ghost story.

The collection contains:

• “The Dream of Armageddon” – read by Greg Wagland
• “The Sea Raiders” – read by Nigel Patterson
• “In the Avu Observatory” – read by Malk Williams
• “The Plattner Story” – read by Liam Gerrard
• “The Stolen Bacillus” – read by Tim Bruce
• “Aepyornis Island” – read by James Gillies
• “The Purple Pileus” – read by Helen Lloyd
• “The Flowering of a Strange Orchid” – read by Greg Wagland
• “The Moth” – read by Nigel Patterson
• “The Crystal Egg” – read by Malk Williams
• “The Triumphs of a Taxidermist” – read by Liam Gerrard
• “The Obliterated Man” – read by Tim Bruce
• “The Story of the Inexperienced Ghost” – read by James Gillies

Warning: “Aepyornis Island” includes words that, though in common usage at the time, may now cause offense.

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Herbert George Wells was one of the most prolific and visionary British writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. H. G. Wells, as he is universally known, is now best remembered for his science fiction novels, although he wrote across many genres, including nonfiction. His fiction embraces history, science fiction, horror, satire, fantasy, and social commentary. Wells was also a futurist, foreseeing air travel, tanks (as in “The Land Ironclads” – part of this anthology) space travel, nuclear weapons, and even satellite television. Amongst his writings are dozens of short stories; some are very well known, others less so.

When planning this collection, Raconteurs sought stories that we enjoyed ourselves and which embody the range of H. G. Wells’s imagination and talent. This collection of 13 short stories includes gothic horror, fantasy, ghost stories, science fiction, satire, and stories of domestic and social commentary. It is a collection that we hope will intrigue and entertain you – and leave you wanting to hear more.

H. G. Wells’s Short Stories – Volume One is produced by Raconteurs in partnership with Spoken Realms and includes:

• “The Magic Shop” – read by James Gillies
• “The Remarkable Case of Davidson’s Eyes” – read by Nigel Patterson
• “The Door in the Wall” – read by Greg Wagland
• “The Man Who Could Work Miracles” – read by Malk Williams
• “The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham” – read by Tim Bruce
• “The Diamond Maker” – read by Liam Gerrard
• “Miss Winchelsea’s Heart” – read by Helen Lloyd
• “A Moonlight Fable” – read by James Gillies
• “The Red Room” – read by Nigel Patterson
• “The Star” – read by Greg Wagland
• “The Land Ironclads” – read by Malk Williams
• “The Jilting of Jane” – read by Tim Bruce
• “The Cone” – read by Liam Gerrard

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