Radio History

The history of India's struggle for freedom is usually told from the perspective of the non-violent movement. Yet, the story of armed resistance to colonial occupation is just as important. Names such as Vinayak Savarkar, Aurobindo Ghosh, Rashbehari Bose, Bagha Jatin, Sachindra Nath Sanyal...

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss 25 pivotal concepts, theorists and developments that have advanced the science of mathematics 'Might be the best radio programme ever' Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian In Our Time is a Radio 4 phenomenon, a knowledge juggernaut that has informed and entertained over...

Christopher Andrew and guests ask what would have happened if major historical moments had taken a different course In these 34 intriguing episodes, leading historian Christopher Andrew rewrites history, considering what might have transpired if pivotal events had turned out differently. By...

This collection of William L. Shirer’s radio broadcasts tells the vivid story of WWII and brings the suspense of the times to life for today’s audience. As the first journalist hired by CBS to cover the war in Europe, Shirer compiled two and a half years’ worth of wartime broadcasts including Hitler’s invasion of Austria, the armistice between France and Nazi forces in June of 1940, daily roundups of news from Paris, Vienna, Berlin, London and Rome, documenting the conditions of these countries under invasion.

Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the history of physics through its most important ideas and hypotheses 'In Our Time is in a class of its own' New York Times Eclectic, erudite and entertaining, In Our Time is one of Radio 4's most successful programmes, regularly attracting an audience of over 2...

This is an abridged edition of Sanjeev Sanyal's Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom, shortened and illustrated for younger readers. You may have read the history of India's freedom struggle from the perspective of the non-violent movement. Yet, the story of armed...

Bloomsbury presents Partition Voices written and read by Kavita Puri. UPDATED FOR THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF PARTITION ‘Puri does profound and elegant work bringing forgotten narratives back to life. It’s hard to convey just how important this book is’ Sathnam Sanghera ‘The most humane...

Brought to you by Penguin. A sweeping story of three generations of women who cross continents and decades to find truth, forgiveness and compassion. Incheon, 1985. A nameless baby is born in a minbak in South Korea and vanishes nine days later. London, 2008. When tragedy strikes, Hana faces...

Four modern masterpieces that dared to push boundaries and disrupt the status quo Deviant. Depraved. Dangerous. Denounced for their transgressive themes and inflammatory ideas, these 20th-century classics have all been considered so seditious that they had to be suppressed. Find out what made...

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of All Our Wrong Todays, written and read by Elan Mastai. Tom lives in a perfect world: no war, no poverty, no under-ripe avocados. . . oh, and time travel. When he loses the love of his life, going back to fix it seems like the...

'Endlessly insightful and full of surprises - exactly what you would expect from Tim Harford' BILL BRYSON 'Entertaining . . . A lively introduction to some of the most ingenious, yet often overlooked inventions that have changed the way we live' The Times 'Every Tim Harford book is cause for...

Witness how invisible electromagnetic waves sparked a communications revolution that permanently altered global history. Perfect for an engaging morning commute, this dramatic deep dive traces the thrilling leap from early telegraphs to the golden age of broadcasting. Feel the nostalgic wonder...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER PENDERYN MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR The revelatory account of the pre-fame Beatles—the first volume in a groundbreaking trilogy about the band that revolutionized music “An epic unprecedented in rock ’n’ roll biography . . . And it’s a great read...

Bloomsbury presents The Musical Human by Michael Spitzer, read by Daniel Levitin. A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK 'Full of delightful nuggets' Guardian online 'Entertaining, informative and philosphical ... An essential read' All About History 'Extraordinary range ... All the world and more is here'...

An immersive collection of radio plays from the ‘Godmother of black British playwrights’ Multiple award-winning playwright Winsome Pinnock was the first Black woman to have a play performed at the National Theatre in 1994 (Leave Taking), where she later became a writer in residence. This...

Bloomsbury presents The Musical Human by Michael Spitzer, read by Daniel Levitin. "Michael Spitzer has pulled off the impossible: a Guns, Germs and Steel for music." —Daniel Levitin A colossal history spanning cultures, time, and space to explore the vibrant relationship between music and the...

Melvyn Bragg and guests chart 500 years of Western philosophy through its most influential ideas and theorists 'Listen to this and you'll never regret it' The Independent First aired in 1998, In Our Time has become one of Radio 4's most beloved and enduring shows, regularly attracting an...

Brought to you by Penguin. SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021 A dramatic and ambitious new journey for our greatest travel writer The Amur River is almost unknown. Yet it is the tenth longest river in the world, rising in the Mongolian mountains and flowing through Siberia to...

An unparalleled collection of Full-Cast BBC Drama adaptations of Sean O’Casey’s powerful, poignant works One of Ireland’s foremost playwrights, Sean O’Casey is renowned for his groundbreaking plays depicting the lives of poor, working-class Dubliners struggling with social and political...

“It was so obvious she had something. You know, she was 13, and she had that sparkle. So much sparkle dust around her.” —Renee Bell, head of A&R at RCA Records Meet Taylor, 2003. She's a teen who came to Nashville with blisters on her fingers from learning to play a 12-string guitar. In...