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.
Amongst the cast is Scottish actor Mark Bonnar, who lends his voice to the special anniversary recording. Bonnar is best known for his roles in acclaimed dramas including Line of Duty and Dept. Q, and recently represented Scotland in the first series of Celebrity Traitors.
Speaking about the project, Bonnar said: “I’m usually known for playing morally ambiguous characters, so it was a wonderful change to step into the world of Pride and Prejudice and offer my voice for an amazing service that has brought joy to people living with sight loss for so many years.
“The world that Austen created through her writing is infamous, and to step into this world for RNIB to mark their Talking Books anniversary has been fantastic.”
RNIB’s pioneering Talking Books Service has brought the joy of reading to blind and partially sighted people across the country since 1935 and was the world’s first audio library for people with sight loss.
Other well-known voices taking part include Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh, Ted Lasso actor Phil Dunster, The Night Manager’s Alistair Petrie, and Ghosts’ Charlotte Ritchie, Ben Willbond and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, with each of the twelve actors reading chapters of Austen’s timeless novel. Actress Lucy Scott, one of RNIB’s longest-standing narrators who played Charlotte Lucas in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, also returns to the story.
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.”
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, visit: RNIB celebrates 90 years of our beloved Talking Books service | RNIB.
