A well-crafted piece of writing about schadenfreude - sheer pleasure, in this case, at seeing someone 'get his comeuppance' - with an element of slapstick. Lieutenant Golightly is a young officer in the British Army in India who prides himself on "looking like 'an Officer and a Gentleman'" and it is clear he puts a little too much emphasis on his a...

A rollicking adventure in the vast catalogue of mischievous japes that chronicles the life of irrepressible and ageless schoolboy William Brown. The scruffy, mud-stained and mischievous boy is a loveable rogue whose heart is usually(!) in the right place and whose pranks usually end in disaster. An ill-advised joke is the basis for this funny tale...

Inspired by Charles Dickens' story A Christmas Carol, where miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is transformed overnight by ghosts, Jimmy embarks on his own mission to 'Cure a mizzen for Christmas'. Walking along, he sees his victim, the Vicar, who is counting a large sum of cash. Jimmy convinces his friend Bobby to help him on his mission but their plan does...

William Brown's Christmas day is typically filled with a burst of mouth organ at 6am in the morning, buying people presents that he expects to be given straight back and generally making an albeit good-intentioned nuisance of himself to all and sundry. Chock-full of William's famous observations on life and ruminations on the human condition, Chris...

This story concerns an obnoxious child called Anthony Martin, a character based upon Christopher Robin, made famous by A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh books. Despite Anthony being spoiled and famous, the unchanging and ever-indifferent William has reliably never heard of him! Richmal Crompton's loveable rogue of an anti-hero is always a delight on aud...

Dickens' most autobiographical novel. It paints a powerful picture of social conditions in Victorian England. One of six Dickens' titles read by the great Martin Jarvis. His interpretation of Uriah Heep for BBC Television is a classic.

Angela tells the story of a 'poor paralysed fellow' who becomes infatuated with a girl who visits him. A melancholy and emotive tale of longing, desire and loss, Angela is a well-crafted short story by the great W.S. Gilbert (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame).

A story of marital discomfort, bribery and 'just desserts', this story follows an unpleasant man's efforts to divorce his wife. Described by some critics as 'overdoing' the retribution dished out to the story's villain, this tale is a gritty and satisfying listen which outlines the perils of dishonesty and is a fable of sorts.

A refreshingly unusual story which examines the human condition and the idea of words from the past haunting the present. A jockey in a big race is set to win and is a 'sure bet' but with haunting voices from the past ringing in his ears, can he overcome his psychological torture to succeed on the track? A well-crafted story which lends itself to a...

This thrilling and mysterious story was first published in the Civil and Military Gazette on March 4th 1887 and collected in Plain Tales from the Hills in 1888, and in subsequent editions of this collection. The Bisara of Pooree is a tiny eyeless fish, carved from a nut, inside a little jewelled silver box. If stolen, it is a powerful love charm. I...

As a listener learns at the beginning of this fable-like old-fashioned story: "This is the story of a man who wilfully stepped beyond the safe limits of decent everyday society, and paid for it heavily. He knew too much in the first instance; and he saw too much in the second. He took too deep an interest in native life; but he will never do so aga...

An intriguing India-based tale from Rudyard Kipling that concerns money, stealth and deception. Reggie Burke is seemingly the perfect bank manager, but "As he said himself, and as many men found out rather to their surprise, there were two Burkes, both very much at your service." This becomes very clear as the story progresses and a listener is dra...

Twelve stories, selected and read by Martin Jarvis, following the adventures of that irrepressible and ageless schoolboy William Brown. Includes 'William Goes Shopping', 'Violet Elizabeth Runs Away', 'William and the Real Laurence', 'The Outlaws and the Hidden Treasure', 'William and the Fairy Daffodil', 'The Best Laid Plans', 'Mrs Bott's hat', 'Wi...

The third selection of stories about 10 year old William Brown and his trusty band of friends. Includes 'William Holds the Stage', 'William and the School Report', 'All the News', 'Aunt Arabelle in Charge', 'William's Goodbye Present', 'William the Salvage Collector', 'William's Day Off', 'Entertainment Provided', 'William and the Brains Trust' and...

The second selection of stories about 10 year old William Brown and his trusty band of friends. Includes 'The Sweet Little Girl in White', 'A Birthday Treat', 'The Outlaws and Triplets', 'A Bit of Blackmail', 'William Makes a Night of It', 'William and the Lost Tourist', 'The Leopard Hunter', 'The New Neighbour', 'William the Philanthropist' and '...

The second part of John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga, chronicling the downfall of an upper middle class family in the turbulent period of social change at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries. This book tells of the struggle between Soames and his beautiful wife Irene, who leaves him but cannot persuade him to grant a divorce. While Soa...

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...

A story of magic, Empire and deception in Raj India, our narrator tells of Suddhoo, a 'very, very old man' who lets out rooms in his house. All-accepting, Suddhoo gives a roof to grocers, prostitutes and other equally polar opposite professions, including a man who describes himself as a 'seal-cutter' but who actually seems to practice a career rat...

A big drinker in India tries to reform for a woman whom he believes is worth making the transformation for. As the first woman reveals herself to be less than holy herself, the man is blind to her faults, and exalts her virtues as his savior, even after he has married a good woman. An anthropological and sociological study of Raj India and human fo...

This is a story about a Worm who turned. Though the name of this story's exceedingly pretty protagonist is Henry Augustus Ramsey Fusan, the narrative refers to him as 'The Worm'. The Worm is found unhappy in this classic India-set tale, as he finds himself at odds with the shakaris regiment, a group to whom one must be able to prove himself by abil...

This story of a love triangle in British India sees a young lady choosing between a young and handsome and an old and ugly suitor. Her Mother makes her choosing clear, but when the situation boils down to an archery competition, the result is not as might have been expected. A typically Kiplingesque study and quasi-acceptance of the strange and int...