Listen free for 30 days
-
A Breath of French Air
- The Larkin Novels, Volume 2
- Narrated by: Philip Franks
- Series: Pop Larkin, Book 2
- Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
People who bought this also bought...
-
The Darling Buds of May
- The Larkin Novels, Volume 1
- By: H. E. Bates
- Narrated by: Philip Franks
- Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Cedric Charlton, an unsuspecting tax inspector, arrives at the door of the Pop Larkin farm, he soon forgets the purpose of his visit: The fun-loving Ma and Pop Larkin distract him at every turn with strawberries, cream, alcohol, and their attractive young daughter, Mariette. Well known by the popular TV series starring David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones, The Darling Buds of May is the quintessential feel-good country romp.
-
-
Absolutely wonderful!
- By John1962 on 03-09-16
-
Lark Rise
- By: Flora Thompson
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lark Rise is Flora Thompson's childhood memories of a north Oxfordshire village, the people who lived and worked in it, and a way of life that has totally disappeared. The story is built around Laura and her brother Edmund, through whose eyes are seen 'old Sally', whose grandfather built the house she lived in before the enclosure of the heathland, children's games, the interaction of village and gentry, and the way in which the seasons governed life.
-
-
Lovely book about a past era
- By Tricia on 22-09-20
-
Constable on Trial
- By: Nicholas Rhea
- Narrated by: Nick McArdle
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whilst serving as an aide to the CID, Detective Constable Rhea is kept busy in the seaside resort of Strensford as he endeavours to trace a stolen garden spade, the thief of a makeshift hearse with a corpse onboard, and the phantom knicker pincher of Harbour Rise. Throughout his early days, Nick, like many other detectives, nurses an ambition to arrest a murderer, but no opportunities come his way - until a killer on the run seeks refuge in Strensford and an elderly lady is found dead at home.
-
-
Thoroughly enjoyable
- By Ffranses on 22-02-20
-
Village School
- By: Miss Read
- Narrated by: Phyllida Nash
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fairacre is a village of cottages, a church and the school - and, at the heart of the school, its head mistress Miss Read. Through her discerning eye, we meet the villagers of Fairacre and see their trials and tribulations, from the irascible school cleaner Mrs Pringle, to the young school children, with their scraped knees, hopeful faces and inevitable mischief.
-
-
Good Book, Wrong Narrator
- By Flint on 27-06-17
-
All Creatures Great and Small
- The Classic Memoirs of a Yorkshire Country Vet
- By: James Herriot
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The inspiration for the BBC series of the same name. Fresh out of Glasgow Veterinary College, to the young James Herriot 1930s Yorkshire seems to offer an idyllic pocket of rural life in a rapidly changing world. But from his erratic new colleagues, brothers Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, to incomprehensible farmers, herds of semiferal cattle, a pig called Nugent and an overweight Pekingese called Tricki Woo, James find he is on a learning curve as steep as the hills around him.
-
-
Great story and narrator - terrible sound quality
- By Culvers on 15-07-16
-
If Only They Could Talk
- By: James Herriot
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 2 hrs and 54 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the newly qualified vet, James Herriot, arrives in the small Yorkshire village of Darrowby, he has no idea of the new friends he will meet or adventures that lie ahead. From the author whose books inspired the BBC series All Creatures Great and Small, this first volume of unforgettable memoirs chronicles James Herriot's first years as a country vet, with the signature storytelling magic that has made him a favourite the world over.
-
-
Please be aware that this is the abridged version
- By James on 06-05-20
-
The Darling Buds of May
- The Larkin Novels, Volume 1
- By: H. E. Bates
- Narrated by: Philip Franks
- Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Cedric Charlton, an unsuspecting tax inspector, arrives at the door of the Pop Larkin farm, he soon forgets the purpose of his visit: The fun-loving Ma and Pop Larkin distract him at every turn with strawberries, cream, alcohol, and their attractive young daughter, Mariette. Well known by the popular TV series starring David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones, The Darling Buds of May is the quintessential feel-good country romp.
-
-
Absolutely wonderful!
- By John1962 on 03-09-16
-
Lark Rise
- By: Flora Thompson
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lark Rise is Flora Thompson's childhood memories of a north Oxfordshire village, the people who lived and worked in it, and a way of life that has totally disappeared. The story is built around Laura and her brother Edmund, through whose eyes are seen 'old Sally', whose grandfather built the house she lived in before the enclosure of the heathland, children's games, the interaction of village and gentry, and the way in which the seasons governed life.
-
-
Lovely book about a past era
- By Tricia on 22-09-20
-
Constable on Trial
- By: Nicholas Rhea
- Narrated by: Nick McArdle
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whilst serving as an aide to the CID, Detective Constable Rhea is kept busy in the seaside resort of Strensford as he endeavours to trace a stolen garden spade, the thief of a makeshift hearse with a corpse onboard, and the phantom knicker pincher of Harbour Rise. Throughout his early days, Nick, like many other detectives, nurses an ambition to arrest a murderer, but no opportunities come his way - until a killer on the run seeks refuge in Strensford and an elderly lady is found dead at home.
-
-
Thoroughly enjoyable
- By Ffranses on 22-02-20
-
Village School
- By: Miss Read
- Narrated by: Phyllida Nash
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fairacre is a village of cottages, a church and the school - and, at the heart of the school, its head mistress Miss Read. Through her discerning eye, we meet the villagers of Fairacre and see their trials and tribulations, from the irascible school cleaner Mrs Pringle, to the young school children, with their scraped knees, hopeful faces and inevitable mischief.
-
-
Good Book, Wrong Narrator
- By Flint on 27-06-17
-
All Creatures Great and Small
- The Classic Memoirs of a Yorkshire Country Vet
- By: James Herriot
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The inspiration for the BBC series of the same name. Fresh out of Glasgow Veterinary College, to the young James Herriot 1930s Yorkshire seems to offer an idyllic pocket of rural life in a rapidly changing world. But from his erratic new colleagues, brothers Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, to incomprehensible farmers, herds of semiferal cattle, a pig called Nugent and an overweight Pekingese called Tricki Woo, James find he is on a learning curve as steep as the hills around him.
-
-
Great story and narrator - terrible sound quality
- By Culvers on 15-07-16
-
If Only They Could Talk
- By: James Herriot
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 2 hrs and 54 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the newly qualified vet, James Herriot, arrives in the small Yorkshire village of Darrowby, he has no idea of the new friends he will meet or adventures that lie ahead. From the author whose books inspired the BBC series All Creatures Great and Small, this first volume of unforgettable memoirs chronicles James Herriot's first years as a country vet, with the signature storytelling magic that has made him a favourite the world over.
-
-
Please be aware that this is the abridged version
- By James on 06-05-20
-
Let Sleeping Vets Lie
- By: James Herriot
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With two years experience behind him, James Herriot still feels privileged working on the beautiful Yorkshire moors as assistant vet at the Darrowby practice. Time to meet yet more unwilling patients and a rich cast of supporting owners. Full of hilarious tales of his unpredictable boss Siegfreid Farnon, his charming student brother Tristan, the joys of spring lambing, a vicious cat called Boris and James' jinxed courtship of the lovely Helen, this third volume of memoirs is sure to delight hardened fans.
-
-
Warm 🐶.
- By #earlylearning🤓📚 on 26-02-21
-
Parsley Sidings
- The Complete Series 1 and 2
- By: Jim Eldridge
- Narrated by: Arthur Lowe, full cast, Ian Lavender, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Parsley Sidings ran for two highly successful series from 1971-1973 and was the only radio sitcom (other than Dad’s Army) to star the much-loved Arthur Lowe. As Horace Hepplewhite, station master of a sleepy railway station, he spends his time dealing with small crises and supervising his errant staff - including his son, ticket clerk Bert; blonde bombshell Gloria the station announcer; crafty Cockney porter Percy; and ancient signalman Bradshaw - not to mention his nemesis, Phineas Perkins, who manages the station one stop down the line.
-
-
Comedy at its best
- By keith on 03-11-19
-
Vet in a Spin
- By: James Herriot
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
James Herriot, strapped into the cockpit of a Tiger Moth trainer, feels rather out of place, but he hasn't found a new profession and it surely won't be long before the RAF come round to his point of view. James Herriot's sixth volume of unforgettable memoirs sees him dreaming of the day when he can rejoin his wife Helen, little son Jimmy, veterinary partner Siegfried, the eternal student Tristan - and all the old Darrowby crows, both two-legged and four.
-
-
Short
- By Steve Sanderson on 13-06-18
-
To the Manor Born
- The BBC Radio Comedy
- By: Peter Spence
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith, full cast, Angela Thorne, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Penelope Keith stars in the much-loved sitcom about an aristocrat forced to part with her family home. When her husband's death leaves her financially strapped, Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton has no choice but to sell her beloved Grantleigh Estate. With butler Brabinger in tow, she decamps to the tiny Old Lodge cottage, where she keeps a close - and disapproving - eye on the new squire: the nouveau riche Richard DeVere, a wholesale food magnate of Czech descent.
-
-
Meh
- By pumbaesque on 29-12-20
-
Vet in Harness
- By: James Herriot
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Yorkshire dales have never seemed more beautiful for James - now he has a lovely wife by his side, a partner's plate on the gate and the usual menagerie of farm animals, pets and owners demanding his constant attention and teaching him a few lessons along the way.
-
-
Amazing book
- By M L Knight on 22-03-19
-
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet
- By: James Herriot
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 2 hrs and 54 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How on earth did James Herriot come to be sitting on a high Yorkshire moor, smelling vaguely of cows? James isn't sure, but he knows that he loves it. This second hilarious volume of memoirs contains more tales of James' unpredictable boss Siegfried Farnon; his charming student, brother Tristan; animal mayhem galore; and his first encounters with a beautiful girl named Helen.
-
-
A great read
- By maria on 09-08-19
-
Winter in Thrush Green
- By: Miss Read
- Narrated by: June Barrie
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A new excitement comes to the village of Thrush Green when Harold Shoosmith, a distinguished bachelor who has chosen the village for his retirement, takes the corner house on the green. Harold is soon enmeshed in village politics and becomes involved in the private lives of his neighbours as well. His presence has a dramatic effect on Dimity Dean and Ella Bembridge and is the cause of a serious misunderstanding between the two friends.
-
-
Very enjoyable
- By J. M. Wiggett on 29-11-18
-
P.G. Wodehouse Volume 1
- The Jeeves Collection
- By: P.G. Wodehouse
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 40 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“I have the honour to offer up to you, thanks to the good people of Audible, a selection of some of my very favourite Wodehouse. If these stories are new to you I hope it will be the beginning of a lifelong pleasure, if some or all are familiar I hope you will welcome them like old friends.” (Stephen Fry). Audible Studios presents this brand new performance by Stephen Fry of some of his favourite Jeeves stories from P.G. Wodehouse, with an exclusive introduction.
-
-
Wrong voice...
- By TC on 19-12-20
-
Dinnerladies: A BBC Collection
- 8 Classic TV Soundtracks
- By: Victoria Wood
- Narrated by: full cast, Victoria Wood
- Length: 3 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dinnerladies is a classic BBC sitcom based around the lives of the staff of the canteen at Manchester factory HWD Components. Written by and starring Victoria Wood a Brenda, these eight classic TV episodes are brilliantly funny, where the jokes fly as thick and as fast as granary torpedoes. Along with the day to day feeding the faces of folk, the canteen staff Bren, Twink, Jean (and all the others!) have to contend with the arrival of a royal onsite, a Japanese-themed party complete with costumes and the controversial delivery of new uniforms.
-
-
Cracking
- By Boxtl on 12-05-19
-
The Little Village School
- By: Gervase Phinn
- Narrated by: Gervase Phinn
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
She was wearing red shoes! With silver heels! Elisabeth Devine causes quite a stir on her arrival in the village. No one can understand why the head of a big inner city school would want to come to sleepy little Barton-in-the-Dale, to a primary with more problems than school dinners. And that's not even counting the challenges the mysterious Elisabeth herself will face: a bitter former head teacher, a grumpy caretaker and a duplicitous chair of governors, to name but a few. Then there's the gossip.
-
-
Gentle and enjoyable, but not riveting
- By Ann Watson on 01-12-13
-
The Good Life: The Complete Collection
- By: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey
- Narrated by: Felicity Kendal, full cast, Paul Eddington, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meet Surbiton’s most famous residents: Tom, Barbara, Margo and Jerry. It is Tom Good's 40th birthday, and he feels thoroughly unfulfilled. If only he can discover what 'It' is, and if he can, will his wife Barbara agree to do 'It' with him? The subsequent and sudden transformation of the Goods’ home into a smallholding causes consternation for Margo and Jerry next door, and they decide it’s their duty to interfere. So begins The Good Life, the much loved classic sitcom starring Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith.
-
-
Loved it!!
- By Rachel Downton on 05-06-19
-
The Yorkshire Vet
- In the Footsteps of Herriot
- By: Peter Wright
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the life story of vet Peter Wright, charting his working relationship with the famous 'James Herriot', from work experience with him as a lad, to taking over his practice in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Packed full of laugh-out loud moments, heartbreaking stories and transporting tales of his love for working with the animals and people of this breathtaking part of the country. Covering his bucolic childhood growing up on a farm right through to the heady days of his successful Channel 5 TV series, Peter's warm nature and professional attitude shine through.
-
-
a wonderful book.
- By catherine lewis on 30-06-19
Summary
In the second novel in the Pop Larkin series, the Larkin family descends upon Brittany in France. Like fish out of water, they find that things don't quite turn out their way: The weather is less than ideal, the food is awful, and the hotel is in a bad state of repair. But things slowly improve as Pop manages to sweet-talk Mlle Dupont, Angela Snow, and her sister, Iris; and Charley and Mariette celebrate their first wedding anniversary. A Breath of French Air is a delightful book full of nostalgia, fun, and frivolity.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
More from the same
What listeners say about A Breath of French Air
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ben
- 22-07-20
A fun sequel
If, like me, you enjoyed the Darling Buds of May then this a really enjoyable sequel with the further adventures of Pop, Ma and the rest of the Larkin brood.
The most enjoyable part is Philip Franks easy, fluent recital of the story which really draws you in.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ursula Mary Taylor
- 20-05-18
Perrfick
Again an excellent rendition of the book. Philip Franks brings all the charectures to life .😀
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mrs Archdeacon
- 06-05-17
A Great Listen
Loved the books, loved the TV series. Now - loved listening to the books excellently read by Philip Franks.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sharron
- 10-08-16
fantastic
a wonderful and positive story that feels the soul with joy. Definitely one to buy.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Bianca
- 01-01-19
Trite in every respect.
This book may be alright for reading while crossing the Atlantic. The story line is never challenging.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- mz
- 15-05-20
Not as good as TV adaptation
This is one of those few books where the TV adaptation is better, less dirty, less sexual, less sexist, more interesting added side stories, and less focused on a perverted man in that each character has their own stories that are more fleshed out and real. The TV show brings this series to life. I don't think I would enjoy the book much if I hadn't seen the TV series. It's disgusting what the main male character in this series and the author's Uncle Silas do, the latter being way worse. Seems a man's fantasy of very tolerable wives.
Narration is excellent, by the actor of Charlie in the TV series! Wonderful.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Andrew Thompson
- 27-06-19
best of british drama
amazing to think these are 60 year old novels. great characters and wonderful plots. like a stroll along the canal in kent.