Independent & Proudly Human Audiobooks

The Complete Mapp and Lucia Collection: Books 1-6

Queen Lucia, Miss Mapp, Lucia in London, Mapp and Lucia, Lucia's Progress, & Trouble for Lucia

Martin Chuzzlewit

Martin Chuzzlewit follows the ambitious and headstrong young Martin as he embarks on a journey that will test his character and shake his beliefs. Driven by greed, selfishness, and a desire for wealth, Martin clashes with his eccentric, self-serving relatives—none more so than his manipulative grandfather, old Martin Chuzzlewit. The novel's twisty narrative takes him across the Atlantic to America, where he is confronted with the greed of the New World, revealing his own flaws in the process.

Hard Times

Through the story of Thomas Gradgrind, a strict, no-nonsense man who values "facts" above all else, Dickens explores the consequences of an education system that prioritizes logic and reason over imagination, emotion, and humanity. Gradgrind's rigid philosophy deeply affects his children and the lives of many others, including the innocent and idealistic Sissy Jupe, whose life is shaped by her connection to the circus and its emotional, colorful world. As characters struggle under the weight of an increasingly mechanized and soulless society, Hard Times reveals the profound human cost of reducing life to mere calculations and statistics.

Dombey and Son

Dombey and Son is a poignant exploration of pride, family, and the pursuit of legacy in Victorian England. The novel follows the powerful and often cold-hearted Paul Dombey, a wealthy shipping magnate, who places all his hopes for the future on his son, young Paul. Obsessed with the idea of inheriting his business and name, Dombey’s disregard for the emotional needs of his children—especially his daughter Florence—leads to devastating consequences. As the story unfolds, Dombey’s single-minded pursuit of his goals ultimately challenges his understanding of love, family, and success.

Barnaby Rudge

Barnaby Rudge is a gripping historical novel set against the backdrop of the tumultuous period leading up to the infamous Gordon Riots of 1780.

A Tale of Two Cities

‘A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.’

The magnificent Miriam Margolyes reads one of the bestselling novels of all time, A Tale of Two Cities is Dickens’s deeply moving tale of love and war, set against the devastating backdrop of the French Revolution.

Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat, flees to England to escape the violence of his noble family’s past, only to be drawn back into the chaos of his homeland. Lucie Manette, the daughter of a former prisoner of the Bastille, becomes the emotional anchor for those around her, including the brilliant but disillusioned lawyer Sydney Carton.

The Stoicism Collection

Letters from a Stoic, Meditations, Seneca's 'On' Essays, The Enchiridion and Discourses, Life of Marcus Aurelius, & More

W. B. Yeats: Selected Poems

W.B. Yeats: Selected Poems offers some of the most loved and profound pieces from the Irish literary giant. This audiobook edition is beautifully brought to life by Adrian Kelly.

Known for his romantic and lyrical style of poetry, Yeats’s work was often inspired by Irish myths, spiritualism, love, longing and loss. His later work became more modernist in style, challenging poetic conventions and shifting to a political focus. In this definitive collection, you will find some of Yeats’s most noteworthy poems, written from the late nineteenth century right up until his death in 1939.

The Iliad

A timeless epic of war, wrath, and the will of the gods.

In the heat of the Trojan War, the Greek army’s greatest warrior, Achilles, withdraws from battle after a bitter dispute with King Agamemnon. As the war spirals into chaos, heroes rise and fall, divine forces meddle in mortal affairs, and honor is tested on every side. But when tragedy strikes, Achilles must confront his rage—and his destiny.

Queen Lucia

Mapp and Lucia, Book 1

Oliver Twist

In a world of darkness and hardship, young Oliver Twist is a beacon of innocence and hope. Orphaned and abandoned, Oliver is thrust into a life of brutal workhouses, crime, and betrayal. When he’s lured into a gang of pickpockets led by the sinister Fagin, Oliver finds himself caught in a dangerous world he doesn’t belong to—yet through it all, his quest for love, belonging, and justice drives him forward.

Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar

Arsène Lupin, Book 1

A Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland

In 1773, literary giant Samuel Johnson set off with his friend James Boswell on a tour of Scotland’s remote Highlands and Western Isles. What followed was a vivid travelogue capturing the landscapes, people, and customs of a region on the brink of change. With wit, insight, and curiosity, Johnson reflects on everything from ancient clan traditions to the decline of the Gaelic language—offering a rare glimpse into 18th-century Scotland through the eyes of one of England’s greatest minds.

The Diary of a Nobody

Mr Pooter is a man of modest ambitions, content with his ordinary life. Yet he always seems to be troubled by disagreeable tradesmen, impertinent young office clerks and wayward friends, not to mention his devil-may-care son Lupin with his unsuitable choice of bride. In the bumbling, absurd, yet endearing figure of Pooter, the Grossmiths created an immortal comic character and a superb satire on the snobberies of middle-class suburbia - one which also sends up late Victorian crazes for spiritualism and bicycling, as well as the fashion for publishing diaries by anybody and everybody.

Ulysses

A day in the life of Leopold Bloom, an ordinary man living in Dublin, unfolds into an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and exploration. Through a stream-of-consciousness narrative, Joyce weaves together the lives of Bloom, Stephen Dedalus, and Molly Bloom as they navigate the complexities of identity, love, and the human experience.

Ulysses blends myth, memory, and reality into a rich tapestry of thought and emotion. A challenging yet rewarding listen, this groundbreaking novel is a landmark of 20th-century literature.

Thoughts for the Times on War and Death

In this insightful essay Sigmund Freud delves into the psychological roots of war, the nature of human aggression, and the profound impact of death on society. Written during the tumultuous years of World War I, Freud explores how conflict shapes the psyche and why humanity is drawn to violence despite the consequences.

The Pickwick Papers

‘It is the fate of most men who mingle with the world, and attain even the prime of life, to make many real friends, and lose them in the course of nature.’

Dickens’s first novel, The Pickwick Papers was a huge success at the time of publication, and helped launch Dickens as the literary giant he is today.

Originally serialised between 1836 and 1837, this comic and episodic tale follows the adventures of Samuel Pickwick and his companions. Together, they form the Pickwick Club, which aimed to gather scientific knowledge, investigating the curious customs of others and making general observations of their travels. As the club journeys across England, they are subject to eccentric characters, comical mishaps, romantic entanglements and more. Through what would become Dickens’s trademark wit and social satire, the novel is a clever commentary on the legal system of the time, social class divides and the foolishness of humankind. This audiobook edition is brilliantly narrated by Matt Addis.

Our Mutual Friend

‘And O there are days in this life, worth life and worth death.’

Famed for being Dickens’s last completed novel, Our Mutual Friend is a sophisticated social analysis and damning satire of wealth, and the greed and corruption it can bring.

First published between 1864 and 1865, Our Mutual Friend revolves around the inheritance of a large fortune left by John Harmon Sr., owner of a huge estate. Once John passes, his wealth is left to his son, but only under one condition: that he marries Miss Bella Wilfer, a shallow young woman preoccupied with money. However, Harmon’s son doesn’t appear to inherit his fortune – rather, a body is mysteriously found washed away in the Thames. What ensues is a ghastly battle for money and social standing, and a sobering illustration of the consequences of granting social status more power than personal morality in the pursuit of happiness. With complex plot lines and unforgettable characters, Our Mutual Friend easily establishes itself as a timeless classic. This audiobook edition is expertly narrated by Samuel West.

Nicholas Nickleby

‘The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.’

Originally published in monthly instalments from 1838 to 1839, Nicholas Nickleby is one of Dickens’s earlier novels, renowned for its comic flair and cutting commentary on social injustice.

Nicholas Nickleby, a young man with a comfortable lifestyle in Devonshire, suddenly finds his life upturned when his father passes away after losing all his money in a poor investment. In the wake of his death, Nicholas, his mother and younger sister are forced to travel to London to seek refuge from their only living relative, but to no avail: Uncle Ralph despises Nicholas at first sight, and has no wish to help his family. What ensues is Nicholas’s desperate attempts to support his family, no matter what the cost. Episodic in style and as devastating as it is dramatic, this novel demonstrates Dickens at his finest. This audio edition is compellingly brought to life by the talented narrator David Rintoul.

Eugene Onegin

In this timeless Russian classic, the charismatic but aloof Eugene Onegin rejects love, friendship, and opportunity in favor of cynicism and self-isolation. When he returns to his rural estate, he crosses paths with the idealistic Tatyana, who falls deeply in love with him. But Onegin’s cold dismissal of her leads to a tragic sequence of events that changes all their lives.

With sharp wit and vivid characters, Eugene Onegin is a rich exploration of love, regret, and the consequences of neglecting what truly matters.