Derek Jacobi
41) Anonymous
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Was Shakespeare a fraud? Who really wrote about cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power of the throne? Set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I, and the Essex Rebellion against her, intrigue and suspense advance the theory that it was really Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, who penned Shakespeare's plays.
42) The Iliad
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When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017--revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)--critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an equally revelatory translation of Homer's other...
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"These rediscovered tales were written by Terry Pratchett under a pseudonym for British newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. The stories have never been attributed to him until now, and might never have been found-were it not for the efforts of a few dedicated fans. As Neil Gaiman writes in his introduction, "through all of these stories we watch Terry Pratchett becoming Terry Pratchett." Though none of the short works are set in the Discworld,...
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In the mid-1930's the great politician and orator Winston Churchill was out of favor with the English people and struggling to make his voice heard. Wrestling with his personal demons, a lonely but defiant Churchill attempts to warn the world of the impending gloom surrounding Hitlers' Germany.
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Braveheart: Scotsman William Wallace leads his fellow countrymen to fight for liberation from England.
Gladiator: A Roman general refuses to transfer his loyalty to the new Emperor, Commodus. He becomes a slave and then a gladiator, fighting in the Roman Colosseum in defiance of the Emperor.
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First published in 1485, Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur" or "The Death of Arthur" collects together many of the known legends of King Arthur into one creative text. Beginning with his birth, "Le Morte d'Arthur" relates Arthur's rise to become the King of England and leader of the Knights of the Round Table. Drawing upon numerous historical accounts of King Arthur, Malory's work details the exploits of King Arthur against Lucius of Rome, of Sir...
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A full-cast audio edition of a perennial favorite—The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which has sold over one million copies. Special content in this edition includes the story behind The Graveyard Book, written and performed by Neil Gaiman.
The Graveyard Book is the winner of the Newbery Medal and the Carnegie Medal (the only novel to ever win both awards), the Hugo Award for Best Novel, the Locus Award for Young
...48) I, Claudius
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Once a rather bookish young man with a limp and a stammer, a man who spent most of his time trying to stay away from the danger and risk of the line of ascension, Claudius seemed an unlikely candidate for Emperor. Yet, on the death of Caligula, Claudius finds himself next in line for the throne, and must stay alive as well as keep control. Drawing on the histories of Plutarch, Suetonius, and Tacitus, noted historian and classicist Robert Graves tells...
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Great poetry can indeed outlast stone and the glory of princes, and the English poetic tradition is perhaps the richest in the world. This ebook tells the story of that tradition through its towering figures — Spenser and Shakespeare, Milton and Dryden, Wordsworth and Tennyson, Whitman, Dickinson and Eliot — and through scores of other poets. Clear and accessible, blending criticism with imagination and illustrated with scores of quotations, this...
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A collection of DVDs featuring five royal-themed films into one "binge box" for a spectacular movie night.
The King's speech: This is the story of King George VI of Britian, his impromptu ascension to the throne, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.
Victoria & Abdul: Queen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.
Mary Queen of Scots: Queen of France at sixteen,...
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"Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply? For more than twenty years, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien received letters from the North Pole -- from Father Christmas himself! They told wonderful stories of mischief and disaster, adventures and battles: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place, how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas's...
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This collection of recordings about Brother Cadfael - a Benedictine monk and amateur sleuth in the 12th century - are performed here by the ideal actor. Sir Derek Jacobi, who portrayed Cadfael in several television adaptations, captivates listeners with his renderings of Monk's Hood, Saint Peter's Fair, The Heretic's Apprentice, The Potter's Field, The Summer of the Danes, and Brother Cadfael's Penance.
54) Claudius the God
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Read in the style of a secret diary, this famous sequel to I, Claudius gives a wry and human view of the Roman world, bringing to life some of the most scandalous and violent times in history.
Claudius has survived the murderous intrigues of his predecessors to become, reluctantly, Emperor of Rome. He recounts his surprisingly successful rule; how he cultivates the loyalty of the army to repair the damage caused by his nephew Caligula; his friendship...
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Based on the Dalai Lama's talks in London this ebook addresses the current difficulties facing humanity including: racial hatred, gender and environmental protection. Modern life is so full of confusion and suffering that people need the courage to face their anger and hatred, in order to transform their lives and relationships. This ebook describes in a clear and simple style how to live and die well and how to bring wisdom and compassion into our...
57) Eleven minutes
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Embittered by her first experiences of love, a young Brazilian girl travels to Geneva in search of fame and fortune and finds her beliefs about sex and romance challenged by her relationship with a young painter.
59) Henry V
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A young and uncertain monarch, King Henry defeats the French, but sadly learns that victory takes it toll in bloodshed.