Showing results by narrator "Rafe Beckley" in All Categories

Macbeth is a general for Scotland who has been prophesied to be the future King of Scotland. Rather than wait for this prophecy to take hold of its own accord, and after taking the advice of his power-hungry wife, he murders the current king and takes his place. But it doesn’t take long for tremendous guilt and fear to take hold of him, and turn his reign into one of tyranny and brutality as he and Lady Macbeth commit more and more crimes to avoid the consequences coming for them.

Following straight on from the climactic events of Peas, Carrots and a Red Feather Boa, Eric Sibley faces a completely new landscape. As he struggles to come to terms with his new situation, he finds support and help in some of the most unlikely places. With the family dynamics constantly shifting and dramatically altered, Eric must try and rebuild a life for all of them. In the face of overwhelming odds, he is determined to turn chaos into order.

Two concurrent relationship entanglements result in chaos and hilarity, as the truths are slowly revealed to both sets of couples. Much Ado About Nothing demonstrates that the power of true love can withstand anything that deceptive and meddling friends can throw at it.

Following on from Peas, Carrots and an Aston Martin, once again, Eric Sibley and his family navigate their way through the trials and tribulations of everyday life. With the edition of some wonderful new faces, get ready to be swept up in a whirlwind of uninspiring leeks, troublesome chickens, inappropriate plumbers, and various sinister interlopers, and they are all hell-bent on turning Eric’s life upside down.

The relationship between the US and China, the world's two superpowers, is peculiarly volatile. It rests on a seismic fault of cultural misunderstanding, historical grievance and ideological incompatibility. No other nations are so quick to offend and be offended. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has studied, lived in and worked with China for more than 40 years, is one of the very few people who can offer real insight into the mindsets of the leadership whose judgement will determine if a war will be fought.

As soon as Eric met Suzy, he knew he wanted to marry her. However, telling her turned out to be much harder than he thought. Take a nostalgic stroll down memory lane this Christmas as we revisit Eric and Suzy's early days in this wonderfully romantic short story from the Peas and Carrots universe. Laugh and commiserate with Eric as, once again, he lurches from one crisis to another as he desperately tries to execute the perfect proposal.

After the bliss of their honeymoon, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are thrown into chaos when Elizabeth's family arrives at Pemberley uninvited and refuses to leave. As Elizabeth struggles to maintain her duties as a hostess, tensions rise and threaten to tear apart the deep love she and Mr. Darcy share.

A mysterious suitor. Dashing Mr Darcy. A secret stalker poised to snatch Elizabeth Bennet from both. Torn between her secret correspondent and Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth must decide if courtship and marriage are even in her future. She does not have time to wait, for Mr Bennet is gravely ill, and it is up to her to save the family from poverty - even if it means accepting a position as a governess. A position that brings an unexpected cloud of danger. But Mr. Darcy has a secret of his own.

What does it mean that our most popular modern myth is a radical left story about fighting corporate authoritarianism? From its roots in the 1960s new left, Star Wars still speaks to millions of people today. By design, the saga mirrors our own time and politics. A real empire of corporate domination has arisen within weakened and corrupted republics. Now, it threatens our existence on a planetary scale.

Everyone knows their role in the kingdom of Haulstatt, from the lowest chamber maid to the queen herself. Even the mages magic in approved ways. But twelve-year-old Portia steals for a living, taking from society rather than living within its rules.

Laughter, happiness, romance, and just a bit of deception and intrigue - these are what make up Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Though Shakespeare is probably most well-known for the dramatic tragedies that have defined the genre for centuries, his comedies are just as well beloved and performed in theaters across the globe. Shakespearean comedies are defined by their humorous writing, their satire, the often-tangled romances, disguises and deceptions, and a thoughtful “fool” who is often the bearer of the smartest lines in the plays.

After two centuries stuck in the Interim, a post-death limbo where souls must stay until they’ve been entirely forgotten by the living, Walter Augustus is finally about to move on to whatever comes next. But when Letty Ferguson uncovers the last remaining copy of Walter’s book of poetry, he finds himself in a race against time. Can Walter, aided by his former employer, Pemberton, and the mysterious and eccentric Hector, destroy the book before Letty fixes him into her memory, condemning him to eternity in the Interim?

Miss Elizabeth Bennet's secret beau is in London when the epidemic strikes, a rare and deadly form of smallpox. Now, due to a new law, all unmarried men and women of age must wed by the end of the year. Elizabeth, in secret mourning, now must find a husband, but can any gentleman find a place in her broken heart?

For the last year Eric's life has been going pretty smoothly. The family are settled. His new job is going well, apart from the fact that Abi refuses to acknowledge his existence now she is at the same school. He is even trying his hand at dating again. Best of all he is finally finding the time to get back to his roots and do a little digging in the allotment. That is until the greed of a faceless property developer looms over his little slice of tranquility.

Life has finally settled down for Eric Sibley and his family; Abi and Mabel are happy, his mother-in-law is on hand for support, and life has begun to have a sense of normalcy and routine to it. But, with cash flows running low, Eric has to acknowledge it is time to re-enter the world of employment. Unfortunately, jobs suited to former high-flying recruitment executives are of short supply in the sleepy town of Burlam.

When Abi secretly enters Eric and Daisy into a magazine competition, she never expected them to win. Now with the clock ticking and long kept secrets emerging from the past, the pressure is on. Learning to juggle a new relationship and an all or nothing deadline, sees Eric back to his old eccentric ways. But if he doesn’t strike the right balance he could lose more than the competition prize, he could lose his shot at happily ever after…

Elizabeth Bennet is touring the Peak District with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. Little do they know that as they make their way to Pemberley, fate has other plans for them. When Elizabeth arrives, she finds herself admiring the lake when a wet Mr. Darcy, having been knocked in the water by a sheep, stumbles across her. But the chaos isn't over yet, as Elizabeth is holding in her laughter, a sheep knocks her into the lake. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner arrive just in time to see Elizabeth being fished from the lake by Mr. Darcy, leaving them both embarrassed and forcing them to marry.

Eric attempts to find a new vocation in life and a second chance at love, if he isn't too afraid to take it. Yvette's life takes on an interesting development with the return of a familiar face. And Abi undergoes her own trials as she grows into a wonderful young lady. Plus a whole host of other adventures along the way with lots of familiar faces and a few new ones to spice up the mix.

Desperate for a distraction from his feelings for Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy embarks on a trip to Brighton with his cousin, Col. Fitzwilliam. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and the Gardiners accompany Lydia to Brighton in the hopes of preventing any misbehaviour. When Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth unexpectedly cross paths, they are given a second chance to explore the feelings they have for each other. But as they grow closer, their differences in class and the antics of Elizabeth's family threaten to keep them apart.

As newlyweds Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy settle into married life at Pemberley, they expect an uneventful and blissful existence. But when unexpected visitors arrive and bring with them scandalous secrets and obnoxious in-laws, the couple's honeymoon is filled with nonstop drama. To top it all off, Mr. Darcy can't resist teasing Elizabeth about a certain farm animal. Just when they think things can't get any worse, a shocking death rocks their world.