Jonathan Swift, Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, H.G. Wells, John Buchan, Tony Turner (Read by), Kenny Blyth (Read by), Michael Bertenshaw (Read by)

BBC Classics: Adventure Collection

Gulliver’s Travels, Kidnapped, The Sign of Four, The War of the Worlds & The Thirty-Nine Steps

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Summary

Unabridged readings of five gripping adventure stories

This thrilling anthology contains five action-packed tales of incredible journeys, a murderous treasure hunt, invaders from outer space and international espionage - all read in full by some of the very best voice actors. With over 33 hours of exciting listening, tracked by chapter, let yourself get carried away with these classic adventures.

Gulliver's Travels
Jonathan Swift's dark satire following Lemuel Gulliver's fantastical travels through strange and exotic lands. Read by Tony Turner.

Kidnapped
Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story of David Balfour's youthful adventures on the high seas and across the Scottish Highlands. Read by Kenny Blyth.

The Sign of the Four
Arthur Conan Doyle's intriguing locked-room mystery follows Holmes and Watson as they uncover a murky tale of theft, betrayal and greed. Read by Kenny Blyth.

The War of the Worlds
HG Wells' iconic sci-fi story about the battle to save Earth from a Martian invasion. Read by Michael Bertenshaw.

The Thirty-Nine Steps
John Buchan's stirring tale of derring-do, secrets and spies set in the shadows of war. Read by Kenny Blyth.

Credits:

Gulliver's Travels
Read by Tony Turner
Produced by Ross Burman
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 1 November 2019

Kidnapped
Read by Kenny Blyth
Produced by Ciaran Bermingham
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 24 August 2019

The Sign of the Four
Read by Kenny Blyth
Produced by Ciaran Bermingham
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 22 August 2019

The War of the Worlds
Read by Michael Bertenshaw
Produced by Martha Littlehailes
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 23 August 2019

The Thirty-Nine Steps
Read by Kenny Blyth
Produced by Karen Holden
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 1 November 2019

(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

About the authors

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh in 1850. The son of a prosperous civil engineer, he was expected to follow the family profession but was finally allowed to study law at Edinburgh University. Stevenson reacted forcibly against the Presbyterianism of both his city's professional classes and his devout parents, but the influence of Calvinism on his childhood informed the fascination with evil that is so powerfully explored in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Stevenson suffered from a severe respiratory disease from his twenties onwards, leading him to settle in the gentle climate of Samoa with his American wife, Fanny Osbourne.

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Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was born in Edinburgh where he qualified as a doctor, but it was his writing which brought him fame, with the creation of Sherlock Holmes, the first scientific detective. He was also a convert to spiritualism and a social reformer who used his investigative skills to prove the innocence of individuals.

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H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, in 1866. After an education repeatedly interrupted by his family’s financial problems, he eventually found work as a teacher at a succession of schools, where he began to write his first stories.
Wells became a prolific writer with a diverse output, of which the famous works are his science fiction novels. These are some of the earliest and most influential examples of the genre, and include classics such as The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds. Most of his books very well-received, and had a huge influence on many younger writers, including George Orwell and Isaac Asimov. Wells also wrote many popular non-fiction books, and used his writing to support the wide range of political and social causes in which he had an interest, although these became increasingly eccentric towards the end of his life.
Twice-married, Wells had many affairs, including a ten-year liaison with Rebecca West that produced a son. He died in London in 1946.

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BBC Classics: Adventure Collection

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Summary

About the authors

Jonathan Swift

Robert Louis Stevenson

Arthur Conan Doyle

H.G. Wells

John Buchan

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