W. F. Howes Ltd

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

by Mark Twain narrated by Norman Dietz

Revered by all of the town's children, and dreaded by all of its mothers, Huckleberry Finn is indisputably the most appealing child-hero in American literature.

Unlike the tall-tale, idyllic world of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is firmly grounded in early reality. From the abusive drunkard who serves as Huckleberry's father, to Huck's first tentative grappling with issues of personal liberty and the unknown, Huck Finn endeavors to delve quite a bit deeper into the complexities - both joyful and tragic - of life.

King of the Wind

by Marguerite Henry narrated by Davina Porter

Generations of young readers continue to fall in love with Marguerite Henry's "horse stories." In one of her most famous, King of the Wind, the author traces the ancestry of the great Kentucky Derby winner, Man o' War, whose mysterious pedigree is linked to the noble line leading from the Godolphin Arabian.

Born in the Sultan of Morocco's stone stables, under the watchful eyes of the mute stable boy, Agba, the golden-coated foal seems both a blessing and a curse. On its chest it bears a cross-hatching of hair believed to be a sign of ill luck. But on its hind heel is a small white spot, the emblem of swiftness.

After its mother's death, the foal is nursed by the affectionate Agba who names him Sham, for the sun. Two years later, Agba is called to the Sultan's court and ordered to accompany Sham, and five other horses and their stable boys to France, where the six steeds are to be made a present to the King.

Agba and the other boys are given one command: "Each boy will care for the horse in his charge as long as that horse shall live." With this promise to strengthen him, Agba makes the arduous journey across the Sahara to France and the court of Louis XV. Little could he know what heartache and glory his loyalty to the noble Sham would bring.

Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott narrated by Barbara Caruso

Little Women is an American classic, adored for its charming portrayal of the March sisters: spunky Jo, beautiful Meg, shy Beth, and romantic Amy. Millions have shared in the joys, hardships and adventures of their lives in Civil War New England.

Separated by the war from their beloved mother and father, these "little women" struggle to find their place in a war-torn world. Jo searches for her writer's voice and finds unexpected love... Beth reaches out to the poor, with heartbreaking results... Meg prepares for marriage and a family... and Amy travels to France with old Aunt March to become a painter.

Based on Louisa May Alcott's own childhood, Little Women is a priceless treasure - a glowing depiction of New England life, and a lasting tribute to feminine strength and independence. With its enduring values of spirit, loyalty, and love, it is one of the best-loved books in American literature.

Moby Dick

by Herman Melville narrated by Frank Muller

Its famous opening line, "Call me Ishmael," dramatic in its stark simplicity, begins an epic that is widely regarded as the greatest novel ever written by an American. Labeled variously a realistic story of whaling, a romance of unusual adventure and eccentric characters, a symbolic allegory, and a drama of heroic conflict, Moby Dick is first and foremost a great story. It has both the humor and poignancy of a simple sea ballad, as well as the depth and universality of a grand odyssey.

When Melville's father died in 1832, the young man's financial security went too. For a while he turned to school-mastering and clerking, but failed to make a sustainable income. In 1840 he signed up on the whaler, Acushnet, out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was just 21. A whaler's life turned out to be both arduous and dangerous, and in 1842, Melville deserted ship. Out of this experience and a wealth of printed sources, Melville crafted his masterpiece.

Mrs Dalloway

by Virginia Woolf narrated by Virginia Leishman

One of the major literary figures of the 20th-century, Virginia Woolf, transformed the art of the novel with Mrs Dalloway, which has been heralded as her greatest work of fiction.

Preoccupied with last minute details of party preparation, Clarissa Dalloway's mind is flooded with blissful memories of her youth and of her past loves. With thoughts turning to the present, she reexamines the solid reasons behind her practical marriage... then on to the future, with hesitant thoughts of growing old.