• My Name is Markham

  • The Chronicles of St Mary's
  • By: Jodi Taylor
  • Narrated by: Piers Wehner
  • Length: 1 hr and 32 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,510 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
My Name is Markham  By  cover art

My Name is Markham

By: Jodi Taylor
Narrated by: Piers Wehner
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $8.71

Buy for $8.71

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Jodi Taylor returns with a brand-new Chronicles of St Mary's short story.

Like a smaller and much scruffier Greta Garbo - finally - Markham speaks!

It's Christmas and time for the first (and almost certainly last) St Mary's Annual Children's Christmas Party - attendance compulsory, by order of Dr Bairstow. Discovered practising his illegal reindeer dance and poo-dropping routine, our hero, along with fellow disaster magnets Peterson and Maxwell, is dispatched to Anglo-Saxon England to discover the truth about Alfred and the cakes. In his own words, our hero reveals Major Guthrie's six-point guide to a successful assignment and the Security Section's true opinion of the History Department. And of historians in general. And of one historian in particular.

And, just to be clear, it is time travel, for God's sake. Forget all that pretentious 'investigating major historical events in contemporary time' rubbish. This is history without the capital H. Because this is the way the Security Section rolls!

©2016 Jodi Taylor (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Featured Article: The 25 Best Time Travel Listens to Take You on an Unforgettable Journey


Time travel is one of science fiction's most popular subgenres. Fans are drawn to its infinite possibilities, offering a glimpse into past cultures, societies, and pivotal events while exploring big what if? questions. What if you knew what would happen next in your life? What if you could go back and change history? What if you did change history? With this guide, you're sure to find an exciting audiobook to transport you to the perfect place in another time.

What listeners say about My Name is Markham

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,075
  • 4 Stars
    302
  • 3 Stars
    105
  • 2 Stars
    22
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,051
  • 4 Stars
    222
  • 3 Stars
    86
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    971
  • 4 Stars
    264
  • 3 Stars
    106
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Missing Zara Ramm

If you could sum up My Name is Markham in three words, what would they be?

Not. The. Best.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Markham, but really, he's the only character.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Not really - I am used to Markham being a bit more lively.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did, but it's so short, it would be difficult not to.

Any additional comments?

Since I have all the other St Mary's books in audible format, it was a given I was going to purchase this one too, but I have to admit to being a bit disappointed in it. Frankly, if this was my first "experience" of St Mary's, I wouldn't be looking another one.
It's not that the book or narration is bad, per se, it's just that the others are so very, very good. I can understand the selection of Piers Wehner to narrate, after all, Markham is a man and it appears the intention is Markham speaks! in his own voice!, and Mr Wehner certainly has a very nice voice ... but Zara Ramm has already given Markham a *very* distinctive voice - amusing, interesting and not the slightest bit boring. The accent she has chosen for Markham is understandable and unmistakable. Even without Max saying so, you always know when he enters the conversation.
Mr Wehner gives him little emotion, except at the end when Markham is whining, (and for goodness sake, what was *that* all about? Markham does. not. whine.) and it gets a bit droning on to be honest.
I have just now finished listening, and sadly, I can't really review the plot of this short story, because I don't remember it. It was raining, Arthur didn't burn the cakes and something about a dog in heat. (?) I think. I'm knitting a mindless project while listening, so I'm certainly not distracted, but I found myself drifting off into my own thoughts.The other books have had me laughing out loud at Markham's antics and quips, I would so love to hear what Ms Ramm would do with this. I have a feeling it could be very funny indeed.
I rated it four stars overall, so as to not "downgrade" it, but really, three stars is more in line with my opinion. It's average.
Buy the book, it's supporting a good cause, and it's not a bad book as such, just not as good as the previous ones.(And if Audible or whoever decides these things released a Zara Ramm version, I'd buy it in a heartbeat)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Oh my

A jaunt into the past by the St. Mary's crew; a really nice close encounter with a major historic figure; chaos and calamity with a happy ending – it must be Christmas! Well, it was when it was released, and it was in the story, at least.

By now, the crew of St. Mary's are dear old friends, and it's tremendous to get inside Markham's head for this go-round. (If Ms. Taylor ever gets bored, she could start from the beginning of the story and flip POV's – [book:Just One Damned Thing After Another] through Dr Bairstow's eyes, for example… Oo. That would be fun.

And this is fun. More fun than should be lawful. Chaotic, hilarious, moving, exciting – my lord, I love these books.

I was a little sad going into this because it wasn't narrated by Ms. Taylor's usual St. Mary's narrator, Zara Ramm – but she's Max, so that would be silly, so they got Piers Wehner. And … Someone, please, I'm begging you, find him many, many more books to read to me. I was going to say "books like this", but nobody does it like Jodi Taylor, and Jodi Taylor mostly uses Max's point of view, so he won't have much work there – but this man needs more books that let him be funny. More books, period. He's terrific. He was thoroughly in character, giving a little laugh here and there, putting in exactly the right pauses and inflections. Whoever is doing the casting for Jodi Taylor's audiobooks must absolutely love her, because every single book has been nearly perfect at worst. Although I've got every one of Jodi Taylor's books, I've never read a word she's written, just because of this. And I've loved every word.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Unrecognizable as Markham, IMHO

As someone who has listened to and loved all the books, this was a real disappointment. If the proceeds weren't going to a good cause, I would have returned it for a refund. The most significant issue was the narrator, who was unrecognizable as Markham. As other reviews have noted, Zara Ramm has already strongly established the energy and charm of Markham's character, as well as an unmistakable accent. This was A Big Mistake on the part of whoever made the casting decision.

Second is the issue of pricing for the short stories in this series (and for all Audible's shorts, actually). We pay the same one-credit price for a single story that runs about 90 minutes as we do for a full-length book that, in the case of the St Mary's series, runs about 9 hours. The cash price is also disproportionate.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

It is not 8.5, more like 5.5

What did you like about this audiobook?

It was fun to hear the St Mary's story from another point of view.

Do you have any additional comments?

I like the St. Mary's short stories. Even the long stories sometimes feel like a series of short stories strung together with minimal tie-ins. But this short story is labeled 8.5 so I assumed it would at least reference the events in And The Rest Is History. It doesn't. In fact, it could not have happened after ATRIS. It is amusing and very Markhamish, it is an interesting glimpse of Alfred the Great's life and times, but I hope someone will assign it in the correct order of the St. Mary's Chronicles.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved his point of view!

I am a HUGE FAN of the Chronicles of Saint Mary's...binge listening to each one repeatedly. I loved hearing an adventure from Markum's point of view! Jodi never fails to disappoint. I did miss Zara Ramm but a gentleman's voice for this particular story was a perfect choice. enjoy!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

overpriced

The story was ok, not great like the rest of the series. It was just so short, I felt this should have been a $1 story, or even a promotional freebie.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Chuckle, Chortle and Laugh so hard I think I pee'd

Would you consider the audio edition of My Name is Markham to be better than the print version?

Yes! This narration was EXCELLENT

What did you like best about this story?

The revelation that Markham himself does not always know "Where that came from."

What does Piers Wehner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The voices that he uses for the other characters reveals how Markham hears them. It's a good perspective to have on hand.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Goodness yes! I laughed out loud sitting alone in my office. If they didn't already know that I'm mad today would have confirmed ot.

Any additional comments?

I just love this series. The Christmas specials are like a gift from Jodi Taylor to all of us and we do appreciate them. This years support for the wounded warriors(or similar I believe?) just made it even better.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not Zara Ramm ? - you must be kidding !

You shouldn't be allowed to replace a Zara Ramm version with one read by someone else.
This should be a capital offence.
Off with your heads !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

ZARA!!

What did you love best about My Name is Markham?

getting to know markham even better!

What other book might you compare My Name is Markham to and why?

the whole series...jodi is brilliant!!

What three words best describe Piers Wehner’s voice?

1. he's
2. not
3. Zara
I am sure that Piers is AWESOME!, but....

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

LOVE the book, miss Zara! ...

Any additional comments?

I will pay for this book again if you could have Zara read it!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mixed feelings about this one

This is the last of the Christmas books I will be reviewing this year.

I have sort of mixed feelings about it as a Christmas book. The story was in two parts. One part had to do with the first (and in Mr. Markham’s opinion almost certain to be last) annual Children’s Christmas party. Although the party is not serious, it is certainly hilarious in the tradition of most of St. Mary’s activities, and it is certainly Christmas-themed (sort of).

The other part was one of the time travel episodes the historians of St. Mary’s engage in as their primary purpose. Although this one seemed to have been assigned by Dr. Bairstow primarily as a punishment for some pre-party antics involving fake reindeer poo.

For this trip, Peterson and Maxwell, with Markham along as their security section protector, pay a visit to Anglo-Saxon England to discover the truth about King Alfred and the cakes. This appears to be some sort of widely believed, or at least widely told tale that involves King Alfred burning a batch of cakes while he and his followers are camped out in the countryside waiting out a siege by somebody – was it the Danes this time? Anyway, whatever it is, this is the first time I have ever heard of it. It must be something you learn about in school in the U.K. I get the impression it is somewhat analogous to the fable about George Washington and the cherry tree.

Anyway, when the St. Mary’s team goes to investigate, chaos breaks out, and it looks as if whatever happened wasn’t Alfred’s fault.

This one is narrated by Piers Wehner instead of Zara Ramm, who usually narrates the St. Mary’s books (which are usually told by Maxwell). He is a good narrator, but Zara Ramm has come to personify the St. Mary’s experience for me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!