The Day Of The Triffids

John Wyndham

Jul 2006 · BBC Digital Audio · Narrated by Barbara Shelley, Full Cast, Gary Watson, Marjorie Westbury, and Peter Sallis

About this audiobook

Bill Masen wakes in his hospital bed, eyes bandaged. Something is wrong: it’s unusually quiet and no one has come to his room. When he removes his bandages he finds a world that has changed utterly. Most of the population are completely blind – only those who didn’t watch the night sky can still see. And, as law and order break down, a new menace appears – Triffids, walking carnivorous plants that can kill a human with their lethal sting. For Bill and the other survivors, it’s now a battle to stay alive. Gary Watson stars as Bill, with Barbara Shelley as Josella in these six stirring episodes. Also amongst the cast are Peter Sallis, Marjorie Westbury and some names familiar to Doctor Who aficionados: Peter Pratt, Christopher Bidmead and David Brierley. First published in 1951, John Wyndham’s novel became his best-known work and a classic of 20th Century fiction.

About the author

John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Benyon Harris was born in 1903. He had a variety of careers before becoming an author, but decided to take up writing professionally in 1925. Under several pseudonyms, he wrote numerous short stories for American science fiction magazines. During World War II, he worked in the Ministry of Information before serving in the army, and took part in the Normandy landings. He returned to writing in 1946, using the pen name John Wyndham, and The Day of the Triffids was published in 1951. It was a huge success, and was followed by seven further novels. He died in 1969.