William Collins Books and Decca Records present ARGO Classics, a historic audiobook collection featuring classic prose and verse read by esteemed voices. Originally released on vinyl, these expertly remastered performances are now available for download. Among the selections is Shakespeare’s King John, a rarely performed history chronicling the tumultuous reign of King John from 1199 to 1216. The play showcases John’s conflicts, including war with the French, strife with the church, and betrayal by his own nobles, culminating in his death from poison and the ascension of his son to the throne.

All performances in the ARGO Classics catalogue are delivered by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players, renowned for their commitment to effective verse delivery and the preservation of Shakespeare’s lesser-known works. Founded in 1907, the Marlowe has a long tradition of excellence, performing annually at the Cambridge Arts Theatre since 1936. The production is directed by Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University, and features a talented cast including Michael Hordern, Anthony Jacobs, David Jones, and many others.