Leading sight loss charity, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is celebrating 90 years of its renowned Talking Books Service with a retelling of Jane Austen’s classic love story, Pride and Prejudice.
Twelve of the UK’s best-loved actors and seven of RNIB’s best loved narrators have come together to record this special edition, which will be available to all Talking Books users through RNIB’s Library, as well as the wider public, to mark the occasion.
RNIB’s pioneering Talking Books Service has brought the joy of reading to blind and partially sighted people across the country since 1935.
Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh, Ted Lasso’s Phil Dunster, The Night Manager’s Alistair Petrie, and Ghosts’ Charlotte Ritchie, Ben Willbond and Kiell Smith-Bynoe are some of the famous faces who have lent their voices to Pride and Prejudice, with each of the twelve actors involved reading a chapter of Austen’s timeless classic.
Actress Lucy Scott, who is one of RNIB’s longest standing Talking Book narrators, and played Charlotte Lucas in the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, also stepped back into the world of Austen’s characters for the recording.
The Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, RNIB’s Vice President and President of Talking Books provides a foreword and kindly reads one of the chapters.
RNIB’s Talking Books Service began in 1935 and was the world’s first audio library for blind and partially sighted people. The service has evolved over time with the improvements made in technology, with the first Talking Books being recorded on gramophone records. Today, listeners can enjoy over 50,000 titles for free through digital downloads, Alexa devices, USB Stick or DAISY CD.
James Bartlett, Reading Services Manager at RNIB, said: “Our Talking Books Service has grown from strength to strength over the past 90 years, with over 50,000 titles now available for blind and partially sighted people to enjoy.
“This special recording of Pride and Prejudice, which has a long history and legacy since it was first published in 1813, is a fitting tribute to Talking Books’ own legacy and it was the perfect choice for this momentous milestone.
“Technology has evolved significantly over the last nine decades, in turn changing how we access stories, but the importance of everyone being able to lose themselves in a good book has remained the same.”
Each actor read between two and four chapters each for the recording, bringing to life the books’ well-known characters, including Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bingley, Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins.
Actress Adjoa Andoh MBE, best known for her iconic role in Bridgerton, said of her experience with RNIB’s Talking Books Service: “I’ve been involved with supporting RNIB for many years. A beloved family member of mine had a tumour resulting in them losing their sight. They were an avid reader before this, and discovering Talking Books was initially a surprise, as well as a revelation, and ultimately a huge boost that allowed them to continue their love of reading.”
Actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe, who has made a name for himself through roles in Ghosts, Stath Let’s Flats and appearances on Task Master and The Great British Sewing Bee, said: “I know what a difference services like Talking Books can make to people living with sight loss. My grandad lost his sight at a young age, so it was a no brainer to get involved with RNIB’s recording of Pride and Prejudice to celebrate the ninetieth anniversary of their Talking Books service.”
Actress Lisa George, who starred in Coronation Street for 14 years and has sight condition NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy), said: “From my own experience of being told I’m losing my sight, I know the importance of services like Talking Books and how they can make such a difference to everyday life, I jumped at the chance to be involved in RNIB’s recording of Pride and Prejudice.
“Talking Books is an iconic service, and Pride and Prejudice is an iconic love story, so having the chance to offer my voice to this recording has been an honour.”
RNIB’s Talking Books Service is free for blind and partially sighted listeners to enjoy, and as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations, Pride and Prejudice will be available for everyone to listen to through RNIB’s website.
To listen to RNIB’s retelling of Pride and Prejudice, click the link here
For more information about RNIB’s Talking Books Service, click here
