Great Explorers of the World

* Marco Polo * Ibn Battuta * Christopher Columbus * Bartolomeu Diaz Vasco da Gama * Ferdinand Magellan * Captain Cook Lewis and Clark * Livingstone and Stanley * The Apollo Mission Here are the stories of nine great adventures and the lives of the men who took part in them. They pushed back the frontiers of man's knowledge of the world by their vision, courage and sheer doggedness. They were very different people-- from bold adventurers facing the unknown with enjoyment to careful, more scientific individuals. Their journeys are placed within their historical context, but also contain the words of the men themselves. Sam Dastor studied English at Cambridge and trained at RADA. His early theatrical experience included a spell at the National Theatre under Sir Laurence Olivier. For the RSC he has been seen in Timon of Athens, Tales from Ovid and a world tour of A Servant To Two Masters. His many television appearances include I, Claudius; Yes, Minister; Mountbatten; Julius Caesar and Fortunes of War. He has also appeared in the films Made, Jinnah and Such A Long Journey, recorded over 1000 broadcasts for the BBC and read numerous audiobooks including Kim and A Passage To India. Frances Jeater's theatre work has included Gertrude in Hamlet; an American tour of Much Ado About Nothing; Middle and Far-East tours of Harvey; and Prisoner of Second Avenue, Haymarket Theatre, London. Frances has always enjoyed working for BBC Radio Drama and recording audiobooks. She also read Chaucer's The Wife of Bath and read the part of Mrs. Eynsford Hill in Pygmalion for Naxos AudioBooks. Kerry Shale has performed his acclaimed one-man shows around the world. His other theatre work includes Aunt Dan and Lemon, The Normal Heart, True West and The Odd Couple. His TV credits include Cracker, Sharpe's Rifles and Sherlock Holmes. His films include Yentl, Little Shop of Horrors, 102 Dalmations and Max. He has won three Sony Awards for radio acting and writing. He has also recorded Poe's Dupin stories and Conquest of Mexico for Naxos AudioBooks.