Product Description
This is Stephen Fry's influential BBC Radio 4 comedy series starring Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson and Jim Broadbent - for the first time on CD. Dive into the complete first series of "Saturday Night Fry" - the fragrance-free show with no additives or artificial colours - with Stephen Fry and his regular team, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent and Emma Thompson. So, as the strain of Stephen's last movement gradually fades, get ready for wit, wordplay and some surreal sketches. Remember, regular listeners will have no need of a high bran diet...Now available on CD for the first time, "Saturday Night Fry" was the precursor to "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" and is said to have influenced Chris Morris' "On the Hour". Six splendid servings of the original 1988 BBC Radio 4 comedy series, includes the pilot episode plus special guests Alison Steadman, Phyllida Law, Barry Cryer, Robert Bathurst and Julia Hills. ... Read more

Product Description
A selection of sketches from the BBC2 comedy series starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Bit of Fry and Laurie
This is great!It is the "bits" from the "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" British comedy television show, season 1.It is like a script that you can read andperform the bits with your friends if you like.Fry and Laurie are comedy geniuses! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fry and Laurie 4
The fourth and final book containing the scripts from the hit British comedy show "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.So much fun! ... Read more

Product Description
A compilation of some of the best sketches from the second series of "A Bit of Fry and Laurie". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More Bits of Fry and Laurie
More comedy genius from the British comedy show "A Bit of Fry and Laurie".
These are the scripts from season 2. ... Read more

Product Description
Two CDs packed full of fun and adventure with Winnie-the-Pooh and all his friends in the Hundred Acre Forest. Each CD forms part of a wonderful dramatisation of Winnie-the-Pooh by David Benedictus with music composed, directed and played by John Gould. With a cast of carefully-chosen actors, this adaptation conveys all the magic of Milne's classic stories. The cast includes the following stars: Pooh - Stephen Fry Piglet - Jane Horrocks Eeyore - Geoffrey Palmer Kanga - Judi Dench Roo - Finty Williams Rabbit - Robert Daws Owl - Michael Williams Christopher Robin - Steven Webb ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Fabulous!
This is the best rendition of Winnie the Pooh my husband and I have ever heard.We got the cassettes when our kids were 2 and 4.They're now 7 and 9 and we still all listen to it in the car at times.In fact, the tapes melted a bit in the sun, so we've just ordered a new set of these CDs.

Great Rendition!Love that there are more multiple readers!
This is a terrific version of the Winnie the Pooh stories.I particularly like that there is a cast, rather than one reader doing all of the voices.Makes it easier for my little boy to follow, I think.The language is graceful and elegant and we are really enjoying it.

Beautifully done! Entertaining and Wonderful to Listen to.
My 4 year old son loves this double CD. The voices of the characters are wonderful. The stories are true to the books and very entertaining. When it is my son's turn to choose what we listen to in the car, we end up listening to these CDs. We have owned them for over a year and he continues to request them. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Published to mark the 25th anniversary of PG Wodehouse's death, this is the first major new selection of his work to be published for a generation. This anthology of stories, novel-extracts, working drafts, articles, letters and poems gives a fresh angle on the twentieth century's greatest humourist. In his introduction, Stephen Fry writes: "What a very, very lucky person you are. Spread out before you are the finest and funniest words from the finest and funniest writer the past century ever knew...Without Wodehouse I am not sure that I would be a tenth of what I am today...He taught me something about good nature. It IS enough to be benign, to be gentle, to be funny, to be kind." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well Titled
This really is a superb selection of the work of P G Wodehouse.Even a person like myself who has many complete works will appreciate having many of the best gems within two covers.And the introduction by Stephen Fry is a joy as well, actually an added bonus.It is a pity this book has gone out of print.I was fortunate enough to obtain an almost new used copy.Maybe the publishers will realize that there are more people out there who will buy this. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

You might need a dictionary handy...
First up I have to admit two things:
1 - I am a fan of Stephen Fry - particularly his comedy work.
2 - I haven't read the first part (yet)

As has been noted, and even mentioned by the author himself several times in the book, Fry likes words.He likes, and I suspect understands them so much, he uses words that I had to look up to understand (NB if you read it on an electronic reader that has dictionary support I would guess that it would a bit easier of a read).

Aside of his use of words, this is a fascinating read and if you have just seen him on some TV shows, you probably do not know the depth of his involvement outside shows such as Backadder.At times it seems as though he is dropping one name after another, and he has known a lot of well know persons, but his writing also gets across a level of discomfort about doing dropping names, that you (at times) feel as though are in a one on one conversation.

The book roughly covers the period of time from when he finished school through to the filming of Blackadder, and while this is a relatively short period of time he managed to do so much, that it is a wonderful insight to his life at this time.His story ends (in this book) in such a way that you are bound to scream "What, I want to know what happens next!!!"I know I did, and I honestly felt a little disappointed in that.But it does mean I am sure to get the next instalment, as well as tracking down the first part.

Great read.

Stephen Fry - The Chronicles of a national treasure
4.5 stars

The written or the spoken word? When it comes to Stephen Fry one of the greatest and learned polymaths of our time it is a difficult choice not least of all following from his brilliant readings with that wonderful voice narrating the Harry Potter series and the added attractions of this book on all sorts of I Apps and gadgets. But written word it is and thank you for the prompt delivery from Amazon pre order system for this book takes up where "Moab is my washpot" left off as Fry troops off to University and takes us on a journey up to his initial appearances on television.

I would love to claim credit for the title of this review but it is happily stolen with immense pride from the Daily Telegraph as it speaks volumes about Fry's contribution to our culture (and in any case everything that I thought of seemed to involve a rather obvious Lord Melchett quote -but see below). Fry has built up a reputation since the publication of "Moab" which formally puts him in the category of "national treasure" with a Knighthood so obviously coming down the line that all bets are off, This status has been achieved despite the odd hiccup on the way not least the debacle of Simon Gray's play "The Cell Mates" where Fry essentially did a runner after suffering a nervous breakdown leaving a deeply puzzled and annoyed Rik Mayall and much explaining to do. Yet we can forgive him this not least for his verbal dexterity, his wit, his intellectual depth and breadth, his entering the term "baaaaaaaaaaaaaah" into the English lexicon and his ability to honestly face up to some very personal demons not least his battle with bi polar disorder and his love for Wagner despite being Jewish. And then for good measure add to this the fact that he has been the poster boy for celibacy, he championed New Labour then abandoned it, led the Twitter revolution and also is the ubiquitous voice of British TV advertising. Allegedly it is rumoured that he rests on the seventh day.

"The Fry chronicles" has been well trailed with readings by Fry at the Royal Festival hall and its serialisation in the Sunday Times. It is an excellent and often poignant read but most all its an unadulterated pleasure. At the heart of this book are a number of platonic love stories not least with Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson and especially Hugh Laurie. Fry's admiration of his "partner in crime" is huge and he simply states with genuine affection that "Hugh had music where I had none. He had an ability to be likeably daft and clownish. He moved, tumbled and leapt like an athlete. He had authority, presence and dignity". This warm tribute is encircled by the story of how the two men met in the rarefied atmosphere of Cambridge Footlights and with Thompson being the go between. Similarly he is warm in his tribute to Atkinson and especially his cruel but debonair role in Blackadder alongside the wonderful Queenie, Miranda Richardson. Fry chronicles how the show had struggled in its first series ("The only show that looked like a million dollars but cost a million pounds") to how it lifted off into the stars in its hilarious Elizabethan iteration.

Fry's problems are well exposed in the book. His addition to all kinds of sweets and confectionaries have dogged his dietary problems although the recent loss of six stone in weight led Jeremy Clarkson to ask Fry on Top Gear "where is the rest of you"? Like many great comedians Fry has a darker side and a level of relentless insecurity. He admits at one point in the book that "I spend much of my life imprisoned by a ruthless unreasoning conscience that tortures me and denies me happiness". Those of us lucky enough not to suffer from the depressive illness are sometimes puzzled by what this means particularly for celebrities who on the surface appear to have been blessed with immense talent. Fry's consistent and honest exhortations to make the effects of bi polar disorder more understood and expose its terrible burden is admirable. Granted the book has some faults. Its Stephen Fry for god sake so you must expect an above average level of "luuviedom" and passages glorifying "Actooors". Fry cant help his loquaciousness but in these times of strained vocabulary what's wrong with that? Indeed in the video to accompany the book he happily admits to being a "bit of an old whore, swinging my handbag and offering everyone a good time ducky" and don't we just admire him for it.

too luvvie for me.
On page 47 of this book, Stephen Fry delivers the most wonderful description of a spat between Harold Pinter and Simon Grey in one of London's swankier clubs. In a hilarious re-enactment of the scene, Fry uses language both to caress and to annihilate with equal skill.Fry may protest that he cannot bear it when others think badly of him,but lampooning the national institution that is Pinter is hardly a task for the coward.
Would that the rest of the book followed suit! Sadly, it degenerates into a series of tributes of the most extravagant kind towards too manyof his associates who - talented as they are -are surely in no need of further paeans to their talent. It is not half as interesting to be told again and again that everyone thought Emma was a genius ( I agree, I agree)as to know why Robbie Coltrane favors women with small hands, or what Alan Bennett was doing on the floor. These oblique glimpses of the famous and celebrated at work and at play, rendered matchless in Fry's precise and literate prose, make the rest of the book seem awfully - well, dull.
Mr. Fry is clearly a very, very dear person but deep inside there is a wonderful sprite, full of mischief. He needs to let it out more often.

The Fry Chronicals


To read Stephen Fry's autobiography is to be taken on a wonderful, mind-blowing journey of discovery in the world of the English language. Stephen says it himself, "where other people use a few well chosen words to get across their point, I use far too many". At first you are overwhelmed by the plethora of words he uses, but that's the Stephen we all love and admire, so go with the flow and enjoy his remembrances, anecdotes, and observation. As you continue your exploration of Stephen's memories, you will find yourself crying and laughing with him during the journey. As you read each wonderful chapter, you begin to realize just how many of the British film, stage, and television stars who we all love are his university contemporaries and friends. It is not for nothing that the man is considered by many to be a `National Treasure' here in England, the land of his birth.
... Read more

Product Description
TIGER COMES TO THE FOREST and other stories
Story 1 In which a house is built at Pooh Corner for Eeyore

Story 2In which Tiger comes to the forest and has breakfast

Story 3In which Tiger is unbounced

Story 4In which Eeyore finds the Wolery and Owl moves into it

Story 5In which Christopher Robin and Pooh come to an enchanted place

POOH INVENTS A NEW GAME and other stories
Story 1In which Rabbit has a busy day

Story 2In which Pooh invents a new game

Story 3In which it is shown that Tiggers don’t climb trees

Story 4In which a search is organdized

Story 5In which Piglet does a very grand thing ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Thrilled this is out on CD
We had copies of this when my son was little it a fabulous audio book for Pooh lovers.My son listened to his copy until the tape wore out.The cast is wonderful and the reading is charming. ... Read more

Product Description
A compilation of the best sketches and moments from all three of the Fry and Laurie TV series. Sketches include "Gordon and Stuart Eat Greek", "Jeremiah Beadle", "Flushed Grollings", "Amputated Genitals", "The Ass Kicker's Song" and "The Red Hat of Patferrick", plus a lot of silly vox pop snippets. ... Read more

Product Description
Dickens's classic tale of kindness, truth and virtue is ruined by the involvement of a member of the Blackadder family. This Christmas episode of the "Blackadder" comedy series was first transmitted on BBC1 in 1988. ... Read more

Product Description
To tie-in with the 1997 film release, here is the true story of Oscar Wilde, the man who amused and shocked Edwardian London by becoming an icon of profound artistry, the vilest depravity, and the highest ideals of personal, social, and sexual freedom. With extraordinary depth, humor, and sensitivity, the book follows Wilde's career and personal life. Through it all, Wilde emerges as a man of charm and substance, a true philosopherperhaps simply born before his time.Amazon.com Review
Any dramatic rendition of Oscar Wilde's life is graced byhaving most of the witty lines written by Oscar himself. JulianMitchell's screenplay is a marvel of composition and compression,charting Wilde's fall from the dizzying heights of social success andartistic fame to the abyss of infamy and disgrace--a modern Greektragedy peppered with epigrammatic wit and a keen sense of sexualpolitics.

Mitchell begins Wilde's story as the writer's fame is nearing itsapex, and takes him through the wildly successful years as aplaywright, followed by the scandal, the trials and theimprisonment. Striking a perfect balance between his subject'spersonal life and public humiliations, and between wit and weariness,Mitchell captures a remarkable sense of the man without ever losingsight of the social and political context in which he lived,flourished, and suffered. The screenplay is accompanied withbeautifully reproduced stills from the film and complete cast andtechnical credits as well as an witty, informed introduction by thefilm's eponymous star, novelist/actor Stephen Fry. --MichaelBronski ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

High quality, beautifully arranged coffee-table book, but...
Yes, it is a book of highest print quality (printed in Italy), with some wonderful photos, and very true to the movie's original dialogue(I should know, I have seen it four times...). But, it is just that....Neither it isvery insighful nor is it the best example of Mr.Fry literary wit. Overall,it is a fine gift for someone, who loves Jude Law or the movie itself VERYVERY MUCH... As for the man in question himself, i.e. Oscar Wilde, thisbook is nothing special, becauseso was the movie.

The high aesthetic line
If you loved the glorious film that is Wilde, this is the perfect companion, reproducing the entire script, showing behind-the-scenes photos, and featuring an interesting introduction by the great actor Stephen Fry. Large photos from the movie are reproduced in full color, showing theintricately detailed attention to historical authenticity.Even if youdidn't like the movie, buy it for the photos of Jude Law as"Bosie."He is absolutely beautiful! ... Read more

Product Description
"Some of the saltiest and most satisfying picture books created during the last generation." - Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are "Tim has the sort of adventures that every child needs, unshakably rooted in the real world, but unhampered by interference from anxious adults. His stirring but comforting maritime experiences are those a child might dream of - full of storms, shipwrecks and fascinating knots. He deals doggedly with dangers, never stints on chores below deck and always gets home after the voyage." - 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up "This is pure escapism and it is refreshing to find a book of such quality surviving and succeeding through generations of readers but still being published today amongst the buzz and fizz of novelty books." www.writeaway.org.uk "The combination of exciting action, vivid characters and fabulously detailed illustrations still make the Little Tim series enthralling." - The Ultimate First Book Guide ... Read more

Product Description
First published in 1988 and now known as a classic. In this book Stephen Fry presents, in considerable practical detail, a wealth of information on methods for the preparation and analysis of plant cell walls and their constituents. The topics include: the isolation and purification of structural constituents, enzymes and metabolites; radiolabelling; an introduction to tissue culture techniques; the chemical characterization of polymers and biosynthetic intermediates. There are 11 chapters dealing with the wall components, their chemistry and biosynthesis, their constituents enzymes and the basis of growth through wall loosening. ... Read more

Product Description
P. G. Wodehouse, with his subtle yet distinctive humor, has remained steadfastly popular, even in the face of a host of commonly held misconceptions. Whether it is the simple error that Jeeves was Bertie Wooster's butler or the way in which the nature of Jeeves and Bertie's relationship is so often misconstrued, these misinterpretations often result in the loss of much of the stories' rich comedic complexity. This careful examination of the work and private life of Wodehouse offers a fuller understanding of the man and novelist. ... Read more

Product Description
read by David Benedictus Four cassettes Running time: 4 hours ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The most definitive Pooh audio books ever!
This is THE audio book collection to have to fully appreciate the English A.A. Milne stories in all its gentle ironies, witty humour, characterisations etc. There is so much wealth in the original stories and the performance by the excellent well-directed cast truly brings the stories to life and does the stories justice.The most important thing is: they are so entertaining that parents will never tire of listening to the stories while the kids are totally absorbed and tickled.The CDs are full of songs with clever tunes that are often sung by the kids (and parents) with great enjoyment.This is most suitable for you especially if the limited Disney portrayal leaves you cold.

Perfect Pooh--wish I could give it 10 stars!
I really cannot imagine how anyone could ever dramatize Pooh any better. Do not believe any negative reviews out there--this is the greatest. I have it because my sister and her kids love it and gave it to us. They have bought a second copy in case anything happens to the first as it is the FAVORITE on all car rides or even around the house.

You will love this audiobook as much as your kids do(unlike alot of kids stuff out there!) as it perfectly captures the gentle, playful, whimsical, loving tone of these stories. It also captures the funny English-isms which preschoolers LOVE (kids really get a kick out of wordplay and are fascinated by new words at this age)Put it on at 5:00 pm or on a long car ride when the kids are going banannas and you won't be disappointed.

best Pooh recording out there
Terrific casting - top-drawer firepower! - on all voices except Tigger, who alas is over the top and irritating, but one ignores it in favor of the wonderful rest.Clever use of the actors as both narrators and characters.Stephen Fry as Pooh is perfect and Geoffrey Palmer as Eeyore is revelatory - after nearly 50 years, I finally "get" Eeyore!

IGNORE THE AUDIOFILE REVIEW!
These are WONDERFUL tapes, as is the first (Pooh Goes Visiting), especially for anyone who loves the real Pooh and is disgusted by the Disney version (talk about repellently cutesy!). Now, Tigger's voice here--that does hit the wrong note. But we (post-grad educated) grownups and our four (2 to 8 year old) children think Piglet's and Eeyore's voices are priceless, and Owl's and Rabbit's and Christopher Robin's and others' are just right,too. Over the last few years these tapes have been the most requested of the car-ride playlist, for which we parents are grateful because they're as much fun for us as for the kids. By far the best Pooh tapes I've heard.

The most wonderful Pooh ensemble performance!
These four tapes will find a permanent place in your collection. They represent an amazing dramatization of the two Pooh books (including all the stories in their original order) by this talented group of British performers. My favorite is probably Piglet -- Jane Horrocks's amazing Piglet is really understated. Every endearing "Oo-ooh-oh" makes me laugh and want to listen again. I also adore the quiet, loving rendition of Pooh by Stephen Fry and the wonderful curmudgeonly Eeyore of Geoffrey Palmer. But I love everybody involved here (except Tigger in his entrance, which is a little strong) and am delighted to have discovered them. If for some reason you only want one or two of these tapes, the same recordings are available on four separate tapes, starting with "Pooh Goes Visiting." If you are a fan of Pooh, by all means try these wonderful tapes! ... Read more