British Library Science

The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, or any of the other giants - rather than the BFG - she would have soon become breakfast. When Sophie hears that the giants are flush-bunking off to England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!

A total of 175 species are heard on this download, ranging from the familiar tawny owl to the very rare call of the bittern. The authoritative guide to all British birds likely to be encountered by the average birdwatcher and the ideal gift for anyone wishing to learn the sounds of the great variety of birds that can be seen and heard throughout the seasons. A perennial best seller.

From the vaults of the British Library comes a new anthology celebrating the best works of forgotten, never-since-republished supernatural fiction from the early 20th century. Waiting within are malevolent spirits eager to possess the living and mysterious spectral guardians - a diverse host of phantoms exhumed from the rare pages of literary magazines and newspaper serials to thrill once more.

During her lifetime Violet Paget, who wrote as Vernon Lee, was referred to as 'the greatest of modern exponents of the supernatural in fiction', and yet today she remains on the periphery of the genre. This collection of her uniquely weird short stories and dark fantasies proves why she was once considered among the best of the genre, and why she deserves to return to those ranks today.

This download showcases some of the most exquisite sounds that can be heard in the natural world, from the rich, melodious songs of the Blackbird, Pied Butcherbird and Nightingale that are full of complexity, ingenuity and perfectly arranged phrases, to the breathtaking compositions of the Skylark, Albert's Lyrebird and White-rumped Shama, and the rhythmical variations on a theme from the Chiming Wedgebill and White-browed Robin-chat.

The British countryside is renowned for its natural beauty and diverse wildlife and any walk, whether it be in woodland, wetland or open country, is always accompanied by the varied songs and calls of our birdlife.

Eerie screams, quiet snuffling and snippets of song are just some of the wildlife sounds that can be heard after dark. While some animals turn in for the night, others are getting ready to begin their 'day' and for some species, such as the Red Fox, Badger, Tawny Owl, and Nightjar, the period from dusk to dawn signifies the peak of their activity. This publication features a selection on the best time to hear them. Use it to identify those mysterious sounds that can often be heard resonating through the night air.

The blackbird is one of the most familiar of all British birds and its song is a great favourite. Enjoy the beautiful melodies created by this much-loved songbird in the British Library's new collection of recordings, which reveal the extraordinary virtuosity, splendour, and magic of its song. From the poet Edward Thomas to the Beatles, the blackbird has been an inspiration to writers, composers, and the wider public for many centuries.

A very popular audio guide which helps to identify the birds that come to our gardens. This download features top-quality recordings of the typical songs and calls of the fifty-two species most commonly found in British gardens. The perfect introduction to learning and identifying bird sounds in your garden.

The Sargasso Sea was a popular theme for writers in the early 20th century, and ‘Sargasso’ attempts to solve the mystery of a tramp steamer that mysteriously disappeared on its voyage between Cardiff and Trinidad. The steamer is discovered four years later, riding calmly on the waves with no apparent signs of damage, but what happened to her crew? Perhaps the diary of a journalist which is found on board will shed some light on this fateful vessel.

This hour-long ambient recording captures the magical awakening of bird-life at daybreak in the British countryside. No announcements interrupt the sequence, selected and compiled from the collections of the Sound Archive at the British Library. This is the perfect chance to immerse yourself in the uplifting sounds of a perfect country morning from the comfort of your own home.

Victoria-Margaret is the crown princess of the empire, a direct descendent of Victoria I, the queen who changed the course of history. The imperial tradition of genetically arranged matchmaking will soon guide Margaret into a politically advantageous marriage. But before she does her duty, she'll have one summer of freedom and privacy in a far corner of empire.

In this world, sixteen-year-old Charlotte and her fellow refugees have scraped out an existence on the edge of Britain’s industrial empire. Though they live by the skin of their teeth, they have their health (at least when they can find enough food and avoid the Imperial Labor Gatherers) and each other. When a new exile with no memory of his escape or even his own name seeks shelter in their camp he brings new dangers with him and secrets about the terrible future that awaits all those who have struggled has to live free of the bonds of the empire’s Machineworks.

Quando calano le tenebre, una donna si aggira per i corridoi di un antico palazzo. Ha gli occhi chiusi, dorme, eppure le sue azioni la tradiscono. Forse è posseduta. Forse è un'assassina. In un museo, un quadro maledetto ossessiona un giovane visitatore, che vede il suo riflesso nel volto dell'uomo dipinto, straziato dalle ferite. Un'illusione o il passato che riaffiora? Solo l'oscurità conosce la risposta. Un arazzo di storie notturne per immergersi nel cuore delle tenebre.

Experience the great wealth of wildlife on our planet through a journey in sound. In partnership with the Wildlife Sound Recording Society, the British Library is proud to present this download of recordings from across the globe. The 22 recordings, all made by WSRS members, come from locations as diverse as Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Cyprus, Sweden, Australia, Borneo, Malawi, Madagascar, Canada and Venezuela.

When a Londoner retreats to the Cornish Coast for a break, he encounters a veiled woman. Could it be the ghost of intrepid explorer Miss Alice Trellings, who disappeared whilst staying at the hotel?

More than eight million people live in the sprawling metropolis that is London. This vast area is also home to a wide variety of wild animals, from birds and mammals to amphibians and insects. From renowned spectacles such as the Red Deer rut in Richmond Park to more everyday sights and sounds, such as Red Foxes patrolling our streets after dark, London offers a diverse range of potential wildlife encounters.

.Embark upon an underwater adventure with this new download of wildlife recordings from the British Library Sound Archive. Experience the haunting song of the Humpback Whale as it travels through winter breeding grounds in search of a mate, and marvel at the humming courtship calls of the male Haddock. Encounter Dusky Dolphins in the Pacific, Harp Seals in the Arctic and a host of other species including the lovable Bottlenose Dolphin and the mighty Blue Whale.

Set along the Great Barrier Reef, ‘The Black Bell Buoy’ recalls the story of two members of the Marine Board who were sent to secure a giant buoy near a dangerous piece of coral. Only one man makes it home though as rumours of a hideous octopus abound.

Hear a day in the life of the Amazonian rainforest, a continuous sequence of beautiful and exotic sounds. From dawn to dusk the magic of the forest unfolds, with rare birds, monkeys, insects, frogs and toads. There is an afternoon equatorial rainstorm and the evening chorus of birds once the storm has passed. The recordings have no spoken announcements, so the download can be used for relaxation and background sounds at home.