Ronan Listening

Joining John and Andy this week are Natasha McEnroe, the Keeper of Medicine at the Science Museum in London, and novelist Lissa Evans, Backlisted's old friend and the show's Original Guest, both of whom are Betty MacDonald superfans. The Plague and I (1948) is the author's unflinching and hilarious memoir of the nine months she spent as a patient at a TB sanatorium in the Pacific North West of America. We discuss this book and the eventful life of its million-selling author (The Egg and I, Anybody Can Do Anything, Onions in the Stew), are exposed to a selection of TB-related public information films and music, and there is even a 'communicable disease in literature' quiz. Also in this episode Andy is grabbed by Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper (1943) by Donald Henderson, reputedly Raymond Chandler's favourite crime novel; while John has been enjoying Olivette Otele's recently published history African Europeans, which traces a long African European heritage via the lives of individuals both ordinary and extraordinary.

Timings: (may differ due to variable advert length)
08:16 - Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper by Donald Henderson
15:49 - African Europeans by Olivette Otele
20:37 - The Plague And I by Betty Macdonald

* To purchase any of the books mentioned in this episode please visit our bookshop at uk.bookshop.org/shop/backlisted where all profits help to sustain this podcast and UK independent bookshops.
* For information about everything mentioned in this episode visit www.backlisted.fm
*If you'd like to support the show, listen without adverts, receive the show early and with extra bonus fortnightly episodes, become a Patreon at www.patreon.com/backlisted

The Plague and I by Betty MacDonald

An old guitar idea I finally turned into a full song.  Vocals and lyrics by CP Roscoe Martin.  You can find him on Bandlab.  Song and all instrumentation by me.

What's in the Bag

Indespicable

Ambient track to sit back and dream with.  Trying to evoke that feeling of travelling, exploring and seeing the world.

Going Walkabout

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code is the third book in the unbelievably brilliant Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. Read by the actor Gerry O'Brien.

Artemis Fowl is attempting to go straight. But there's always time for one last job. 

Artemis Fowl has created the most powerful new supercomputer known to man - using stolen technology from an elite race of underground fairies. 

And when the computer falls into the hands of an IT billionaire with a shady past and an alleged mob connection, Artemis is in deep trouble. The consequences for humans and fairies alike are deadly. Only one person, well, fairy, can help him now.

If only Artemis Fowl wasn't the fairies' public enemy number one . . . 

'Grips like an electromagnet until the last word' - Independent
'Engagingly vivid, exciting and witty' - The Telegraph
'Fast, funny and very exciting' - Daily Mail 

***Artemis Fowl was winner of the WHSmith Children's Book of the Year Award and Children's Book of the Year at the Children's Book Awards. Shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year Award.***

****Enter Artemis's wicked world at www.artemisfowl.co.uk****

Eoin Colfer was born and raised in Wexford in the south-east of Ireland. He began writing plays at an early age and, as an adult, continued to write. ARTEMIS FOWL, his first book featuring the brilliant young anti-hero, was an immediate international bestseller and won several prestigious awards.

Eoin Colfer: Artemis Fowl and the Eternity code

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox, the sixth book in the criminally good Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. Read by the actor Gerry O'Brien.

Artemis Fowl is no stranger to trouble. In fact he's a magnet for it.

Man-eating trolls, armed and dangerous (not to mention high-tech) fairies, flame-throwing goblins - he's seen the lot. He had decided to forego criminal activity of the more magical kind. However . . .

Now his mother is gravely ill. He must travel back through time to steal the cure from the clutches of the devious mastermind . . . Artemis Fowl.

That's right. With fairy ally Captain Holly Short by his side, Artemis is going back in time to do battle with his deadliest enemy yet.

Himself.

'Grips like an electromagnet until the last word' - Independent
'Engagingly vivid, exciting and witty' - The Telegraph
'Fast, funny and very exciting' - Daily Mail

***Artemis Fowl was winner of the WHSmith Children's Book of the Year Award and Children's Book of the Year at the Children's Book Awards. Shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year Award.***

****Enter Artemis's wicked world at www.artemisfowl.co.uk****

Eoin Colfer was born and raised in Wexford in the south-east of Ireland. He began writing plays at an early age and, as an adult, continued to write. ARTEMIS FOWL, his first book featuring the brilliant young anti-hero, was an immediate international bestseller and won several prestigious awards.

Eoin Colfer: Artemis Fowl And The  Time Paradox (Audiobook Extract) read by Gerry O'Brien

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex, the seventh awesome book in the bestselling Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. Read by the actor Gerry O'Brien.

Will the real Artemis Fowl please stand up?

Criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl has summoned an elite group of high-tech fairies to Iceland. He wants to present his invention to save the world from global warming. But something terrible has happened to him.

Artemis Fowl has become nice.

The fairies diagnose Atlantis Complex (aka multiple-personality disorder) - dabbling in magic has damaged Artemis's mind. And now the subterranean city of Atlantis is under attack from vicious robots and nice Artemis is no use to anyone.

Can fairy ally Captain Holly Short get devious Artemis back before they strike?

'Hugely satisfying - not to be missed' - Irish Independent
'Engagingly vivid, exciting and witty' - The Telegraph
'Fast, funny and very exciting' - Daily Mail

***Artemis Fowl was winner of the WHSmith Children's Book of the Year Award and Children's Book of the Year at the Children's Book Awards. Shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year Award.***

****Enter Artemis's wicked world at www.artemisfowl.co.uk****

Eoin Colfer was born and raised in Wexford in the south-east of Ireland. He began writing plays at an early age and, as an adult, continued to write. ARTEMIS FOWL, his first book featuring the brilliant young anti-hero, was an immediate international bestseller and won several prestigious awards.

Eoin Colfer: Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex

I wrote this for a local Videographer quite a few years ago.  A nice, gentle waltz with a cello solo.

Hopeful Nostalgia

I created this in 2019 for a friends art presentation.  It's a little ambient, a little classical and (to quote Eric B and Rakim) a journey into sound.

The Story - 2019

A song about power and privilege.

Written, performed, produced by Kar Stanton
Mixed by Joe Rodwell
Mastered by Nick Lewis
Bass, trumpet and guitar solo at the end played by Joe Rodwell

Lyrics:
If you play with fire
You're gonna get burnt

You make it so easy
how can you blame me?
For taking what's laid out right here before me
I just give them what they want
I just give them what they want
If you're coming after me
you better watch out

I am taking action
I'm the captain
And I will do whatever it takes to defend the nation
I am taking action
I'm the statesman
And I will do whatever it takes to make it right
To save our way of life

If you play with fire
You're gonna get burnt
If you play with power
You're gonna get hurt

I was born to this
I was born to this
I was born to this
I accept nothing less

Born To This

TheSkyIsEverywhere - Demo

Leeland Chocolates - Commercial Voice Over

WHERE HOPE PREVAILS - Demo

Aloysius “Spider” Webb fixes time machines for a living. He hates his job; he hates his life, and hates time travel even more. He simply wants to get on with his life. He’s a hard working Australian bloke — a good man in a bad situation who is willing to do almost anything to regain his self-respect and the affection of his nearly ex- wife, Molly; a mad sculptress on her way to international fame and fortune.

Paradox Resolution (sample) A Spider Webb Novel

An extract from the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident, read by the actor Gerry O'Brien.

Someone has been supplying Class A illegal human power sources to the goblins. Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit is sure that her arch-enemy, thirteen-year-old Artemis Fowl, is responsible. But is he? Artemis has his own problems to deal with: his father is being held to ransom and only a miracle will save him. Maybe this time a brilliant plan just won't be enough. Maybe this time Artemis needs help...

This audiobook will be available to download from iTunes UK and Audible.co.uk from 11th April.

Artemis Fowl and The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer: (Audiobook Extract) read by Gerry O'Brien

An extract from the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception read by the actor Gerry O'Brien.

Evil pixie, Opal Koboi, is back and she's more dangerous than ever. This time she doesn't just want power over the fairy People - this time she wants the humans too. Captain Holly Short is the only fairy with a hope of stopping her, but as Holly knows, it takes one genius criminal mastermind to fight another. But the 14-year-old genius that Holly is thinking of doesn't even remember that fairies exist. How is she going to convince Artemis Fowl to help her stop Opal? Gold usually does the trick, and this time is should be no different. Or is Artemis changing?

This audiobook is available to download from eMusic.co.uk

Artemis Fowl and The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer: (Audiobook Extract) read by Gerry O'Brien

Post Hypnotic Press is an audiobook publishing company located in Burnaby, BC, Canada. We offer an eclectic mix of audiobooks made-up of classic to current fiction and non-fiction for all ages. All audiobook clips offered here are copyrighted to Post Hypnotic Press. Check out our web site: www.posthypnoticpress.com. Like us on Facebook and /orTwitter. 

Make sure to follow us on Twitter so we can PM you with your coupon. Or drop us a line through the contact box on our web site.

Paradox Resolution (sample) A Spider Webb Novel

Post Hypnotic Press Inc.

Related tracks