PODCAST · arts
Willow Audiobooks
by Stephen Alexander
Willow Audiobooks is an independent publisher of free audiobooks, released in the form of a podcast. The source texts are all in the public domain, and they are narrated, produced and with original music by Stephen Alexander. Original cover illustrations are by Benjamin Callery. Willow Audiobooks began in March 2020, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the UK national lockdown. Stephen Alexander has been storytelling all his life, and recorded his first homemade audiobook on cassette at the age of six (Roald Dahl's Esio Trot)!
Episodes
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Jack and the Beanstalk | Fairy Tale Friday
Happy Friday! It's not just any Friday. It's Fairy Tale Friday. This month, it's Jack and the Beanstalk. Enjoy! Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and can be downloaded from: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/ Tracks: "Fairytale Waltz" "Magic Escape Room" "Circus of Freaks"
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Beauty and the Beast | Fairy Tale Friday
It's that time again - it's Fairy Tale Friday. This month I read Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's original version of Beauty and the Beast. It's quite a far cry from the Disney version we all know and love, but very interesting nonetheless! Just don't expect any singing candlesticks......
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The Little Mermaid | Fairy Tale Friday
It's another Fairy Tale Friday - this time, it's Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid", in honour of LGBT History Month (if you know, you know - if not, look it up!). Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and can be downloaded from: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/ Tracks: "Fairytale...
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Cinderella | Fairy Tale Friday
Happy New Year, and Happy #FairyTaleFriday! This month's fairy tale is Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper, as told by Charles Perrault and translated by Charles Welsh. Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and can be downloaded from: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/ Tracks: "Fairytale...
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Snow-White | Fairy Tale Friday
It's this month's #FairyTaleFriday! This time it's Snow-White, as told by the Brothers Grimm, and translated by Lucy Crane. Watch out for poisoned apples! Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and can be downloaded from: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/ Tracks: "Fairytale Waltz" "Some Amount…
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TRAILER: Animal Farm
Four legs good, two legs bad... Coming soon!
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Hansel and Gretel | Fairy Tale Friday
Introducing a new regular bonus episode... The first Friday of the month is #FairyTaleFriday! I'll be reading original versions of the fairy tales we all think we know... For this first one, I've chosen Hansel and Gretel, as told by the Brothers Grimm, and translated by Lucy Crane. I thought it…
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Peter Pan and Wendy | Part 4 (Ch 14-17) (SAMPLE)
FULL AUDIOBOOK NOW AVAILABLE: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willowaudiobooks The following is a sample from Episode 4 (the final part) of Peter Pan & Wendy. In order to gain access to the full episode, please visit the link above and make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital. You...
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Peter Pan and Wendy | Part 3 (Ch 9-13) (SAMPLE)
The following is a sample from Episode 3 of Peter Pan & Wendy. In order to gain access to the full episode, please visit the following link and make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willowaudiobooks You will then be emailed a download link and...
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Peter Pan and Wendy | Part 2 (Ch 5-8) (SAMPLE)
The following is a sample from Episode 2 of Peter Pan & Wendy. In order to gain access to the full episode, please visit the following link and make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willowaudiobooks You will then be emailed a download link and...
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Peter Pan and Wendy | Part 1 (Ch 1-4) (SAMPLE)
The following is a sample from Episode 1 of Peter Pan & Wendy. In order to gain access to the full episode, please visit the following link and make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willowaudiobooks You will then be emailed a download link and...
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TRAILER: Peter Pan & Wendy
🧚Coming soon!🧚 By arrangement with and in support of Great Ormond Street Children’s Charity, Willow Audiobooks presents J M Barrie’s PETER PAN AND WENDY. This immersive audiobook will be available to download in return for a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital, to whom J M Barrie left the...
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Down the Yellow Brick Pod | Ozma of Oz (Part 2 of 2)
This month I had the absolute pleasure of guesting on Down the Yellow Brick Pod with Tara Tagliaferro and Emily Kay Shrader as they jumped into the third Oz book, "Ozma of Oz". I did this as an audiobook last year and loved it, so revisiting it with two self-proclaimed Oz nerds was an absolute…
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Down the Yellow Brick Pod | Ozma of Oz (Part 1 of 2)
This month I had the absolute pleasure of guesting on Down the Yellow Brick Pod with Tara Tagliaferro and Emily Kay Shrader as they jumped into the third Oz book, "Ozma of Oz". I did this as an audiobook last year and loved it, so revisiting it with two self-proclaimed Oz nerds was an absolute…
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2nd Anniversary Trailer | Willow Audiobooks
Episode 100! I can't believe it. I apologise for being quiet for the last few months - I've had a lot of changes to get used to and my time has been eaten up with life commitments. Rest assured I am still working on Peter Pan & Wendy, coming to your feed as soon as possible! For now, to celebrate...
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The Hound of the Baskervilles | Part 4 (Ch 13-15)
Final part! Legend tells of the gigantic spectral hound that has haunted the Baskerville family for centuries. When Sir Henry, the last remaining heir, is due to move into the ancestral home on Dartmoor, Sherlock Holmes remains coolly sceptical that he could be in any supernatural danger....
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The Hound of the Baskervilles | Part 3 (Ch 10-12)
Apologies for the delay, with no episode last week! I unfortunately got ill so my recording plans got scuppered. I made the decision to split the intended third and final part of this book into two episodes, so here is the now penultimate part, with Part 4 coming next weekend to conclude the…
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Poems for Remembrance Day
Readings of three poems to mark Remembrance Day. "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae "Dulce et Decorum est" by Wilfred Owen "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon Recording of "The Last Post" sourced from Benboncan on Freesound.org and licensed under Creative Commons:...
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The Hound of the Baskervilles | Part 2 (Ch 6-9)
Legend tells of the gigantic spectral hound that has haunted the Baskerville family for centuries. When Sir Henry, the last remaining heir, is due to move into the ancestral home on Dartmoor, Sherlock Holmes remains coolly sceptical that he could be in any supernatural danger. Nevertheless, he...
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The Hound of the Baskervilles | Part 1 (Ch 1-5)
Something suitably chilling for the season! I'm thrilled to be bringing a full-length Sherlock Holmes novel to your ears, and this is widely regarded as the most popular! Content warning: Please be aware that this episode contains the use of outdated racial terms ("Negro" and "Eskimo"), as well…
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*Willow Branches* | Finding 'It' with Anna Soden
Anna Soden is an Actor-Musician and Theatre Maker, who in 2020 adapted E. Nesbit’s novel 'Five Children and It' into a one-person stage show. In this episode, we discuss what we think makes the novel so enduring and appealing, as well as Anna’s process in adapting it for the stage, especially in...
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A Little Princess | Part 6 (Ch 16-19)
A chance meeting brings Mr Carrisford's search to an end, and promises a brighter future for Sara - but will Miss Minchin let her go so easily? (Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains some outdated stereotypes and views. I have made some very minor cuts to try to keep...
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TRAILER: The Hound of the Baskervilles
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Starts 31 October. Sherlock Holmes returns, in a full-length novel and his most chilling adventure!
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A Little Princess | Part 5 (Ch 14-15)
Continuing to be mistreated by Miss Minchin and the senior servants, poor Sara becomes hungrier than ever. She is amazed to discover, however, that even when things seem at their worst, hope can always be found - and sometimes, something almost like Magic... (Please note that this text, as with...
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A Little Princess | Part 4 (Ch 11-13)
The mysterious gentleman who has moved in next door proves a point of fascination for Sara, and even more so once she has met his Indian manservant and his pet monkey. Later, Sara's generosity is put to the test. (Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains some outdated...
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A Little Princess | Part 3 (Ch 8-10)
Sara must adjust to her new life of poverty and grief, and finds herself relying on her vivid imagination more than ever. (Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains some outdated stereotypes and views. I have made some very minor cuts to try to keep this to to a minimum…
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A Little Princess | Part 2 (Ch 5-7)
In Part 2, Sara continues to make friends, including with the nervous little scullery maid, Becky. On her 11th birthday, however, Sara receives some shocking news which is about to bring her life as she knows it to an abrupt end. (Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains...
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A Little Princess | Part 1 (Ch 1-4)
We return to the mind of Frances Hodgson Burnett (of "The Secret Garden"), with the tale of Sara Crewe in "A Little Princess." In this first part, Sara is relocated from India by her doting father, and taken to London where she is to enrol at Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies.…
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TRAILER: A Little Princess
Coming soon... a tale of riches to rags! A Little Princess By Frances Hodgson Burnett Little Sara Crewe is treated like a princess by her rich father, but she is far from spoilt. In fact, when she starts at Miss Minchin's boarding school she soon captivates all the pupils with her charm and…
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A quick word!
Hello! Very excited to start releasing the next audiobook soon, "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. In the meantime, this is just a very quick word about my approach to these classic texts when it comes to problematic views such as racism, sexism and so on. I try to deal with…
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BONUS: The Dancing Men | The Return of Sherlock Holmes
When Hilton Cubitt married Elsie Patrick, she made him promise never to ask about her past. But when strange drawings of dancing stick men begin to appear around their house, filling Elsie with horror, Hilton is determined to enlist Sherlock Holmes to get to the bottom of the mystery. The Return…
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BONUS: The Red-Headed League | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
A client visits Holmes and Watson with a frankly bizarre tale which sounds like an elaborate hoax, but Holmes nevertheless sets off on the path to uncovering the mystery. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read...
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BONUS: The Empty House | The Return of Sherlock Holmes
When we last heard of Sherlock Holmes, all evidence pointed to his apparent demise along with Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. Meanwhile Dr Watson continues to live in London, sorely missing his dear friend but retaining a strong interest in crime - and he is about to discover that…
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*Willow Branches* | Wonderlands with Franziska Kohlt & Charlie Lovett
Happy Alice's Day! On the 4th July 1862, Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) set off an a boat trip that would change the landscape of children's literature... For this Willow Branches episode, I was privileged to speak to Franziska Kohlt and Charlie Lovett, two Lewis Carroll experts and…
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The Time Machine | Part 3 (Ch 8-12 & Epilogue)
A Victorian scientist claims to have constructed a machine enabling him to travel into the future or the past. He then recounts for his dinner guests the impossible tale of his adventure to the year 802,701 AD, and of the creatures he encountered there, who, he theorises, must be the descendants…
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The Time Machine | Part 2 (Ch 5-7)
A Victorian scientist claims to have constructed a machine enabling him to travel into the future or the past. He then recounts for his dinner guests the impossible tale of his adventure to the year 802,701 AD, and of the creatures he encountered there, who, he theorises, must be the descendants…
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The Time Machine | Part 1 (Ch 1-4)
A Victorian scientist claims to have constructed a machine enabling him to travel into the future or the past. He then recounts for his dinner guests the impossible tale of his adventure to the year 802,701 AD, and of the creatures he encountered there, who, he theorises, must be the descendants…
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Ozma of Oz | Part 5 (Ch 17-21)
Everyone is restored to their proper forms, to the Nome King's fury, but will leaving the underground dominion be as simple as they had hoped? Ozma of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin…
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Ozma of Oz | Part 4 (Ch 13-16)
The rescue party gradually dwindles, as one-by-one they are turned into ornaments for the Nome King's palace. With no clues to guide them in their guesses, it really does seem as though all is lost... Ozma of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by...
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TRAILER: The Time Machine
⏳COMING SOON⌛️THE TIME MACHINEBy H G WellsHave you ever wondered what it’s like to be a wanderer in the fourth dimension? I’ll be bringing H G Wells’ groundbreaking science fiction novella to your ears very soon!
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Ozma of Oz | Part 3 (Ch 9-12)
Learning of the imprisonment of the Royal Family of Ev, Dorothy and her friends join the rescue party and travel underground to the dominions of the Nome King, where they hope to reason with him and negotiate the release of the prisoners. But will it be that easy? Ozma of Oz by L Frank Baum is in...
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Ozma of Oz | Part 2 (Ch 5-8)
Dorothy, Billina and Tik-Tok pay a visit to the mysterious Princess Langwidere, but are soon held captive unless Dorothy agrees to pay a terrible price. Help may be on the way, however, in the form of some familiar friends... Ozma of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a...
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Ozma of Oz | Part 1 (Ch 1-4)
(Audiobook begins at 01:20!) Welcome back to another audiobook - the third in the Oz series by L Frank Baum. In Part 1, we catch up with Dorothy and her Uncle Henry who are aboard a ship en route to Australia to visit some relatives. Dorothy soon finds herself blown overboard by a violent storm,...
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TRAILER: Ozma of Oz
Caught in a violent storm at sea, Dorothy Gale once again finds herself swept off to a fairytale land. She makes new friends, including Billina the talking hen, and Tik-Tok the machine man; she is reunited with old ones, like the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion; and she is…
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BONUS: The Final Problem | The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
Originally intended by Doyle to be the final story featuring Sherlock Holmes, this is the epic showdown between the Great Detective and his arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read...
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BONUS: A Scandal in Bohemia | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
"To Sherlock Holmes, she is always *the* woman."The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander.Music used is all by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/):"Mystery Bazaar""Sneaky...
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BONUS: The Speckled Band | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
One of the most popular Sherlock Holmes stories, and a personal favourite of mine!The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander.Music used is all by Kevin MacLeod...
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*Willow Branches* | Garden Secrets with Keri Wilt
In this Willow Branches episode, I had the honour to speak with Keri Wilt, who is the great-great-granddaughter of Frances Hogdson Burnett. Burnett's book, The Secret Garden, is one of my most popular audiobooks that I've released, and it's easy to see why - it's a truly beautiful story. Keri…
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Five Children & It | Part 8 (Ch 11)
Please note: I have made the decision not to include Chapter 10 ("Scalps") in this audiobook, due to what I consider a racially insensitive storyline and portrayal of Native American indigenous people. You are welcome to read the text of the chapter here...
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Five Children & It | Part 7 (Ch 9)
The children's baby brother, the Lamb, is a sweet little thing most of the time - but he can also be a nuisance. When Cyril wishes that the Lamb would grow up, they find that a grown-up brother can be even more of a nuisance! Five Children & It by E. Nesbit is in the public domain worldwide. This...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Willow Audiobooks is an independent publisher of free audiobooks, released in the form of a podcast. The source texts are all in the public domain, and they are narrated, produced and with original music by Stephen Alexander. Original cover illustrations are by Benjamin Callery. Willow Audiobooks began in March 2020, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the UK national lockdown. Stephen Alexander has been storytelling all his life, and recorded his first homemade audiobook on cassette at the age of six (Roald Dahl's Esio Trot)!
HOSTED BY
Stephen Alexander
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Willow Audiobooks have?
Willow Audiobooks currently has 114 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Willow Audiobooks about?
Willow Audiobooks is an independent publisher of free audiobooks, released in the form of a podcast. The source texts are all in the public domain, and they are narrated, produced and with original music by Stephen Alexander. Original cover illustrations are by Benjamin Callery. Willow Audiobooks...
How often does Willow Audiobooks release new episodes?
Willow Audiobooks publishes regularly with 114 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Willow Audiobooks?
You can listen to Willow Audiobooks on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Willow Audiobooks?
Willow Audiobooks is created and hosted by Stephen Alexander.
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