W.F. Howes, a leading RBmedia international publishing brand, has cast leading screen and stage actor Ben Miles to narrate the audio edition of Essex Dogs, the historical fiction debut from globally bestselling historian Dan Jones.
 
The first book in this action-packed new trilogy from the renowned historian, broadcaster, and award-winning journalist takes us back in time to the Hundred Years’ War, where a tight-knit group of soldiers from Essex battle for survival as King Edward and his lords march through France.
 
Having achieved extraordinary success as a non-fiction writer of million+ copy bestselling history books, such as The Plantagenets, Magna Carta, The Templars, and The Colour of Time, Jones’ fiction debut has already been well-received, with historical fiction writer Jane Johnson stating, “a new champion has entered the front line of historical fiction”.
 
Ben Miles is a well-respected and versatile actor with a wide-ranging repertoire across TV, cinema, theatre, and radio. He recently narrated Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize winner, Wolf Hall, and has lent his voice to audiobooks by writers such as Ben Elton, Nick Hornby, and Michael Morpurgo. His most prominent roles include Patrick Maitland in the BBC sitcom Coupling, Peter Townsend in Netflix blockbuster The Crown, and Thomas Cromwell in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Mantel stage adaptations.
 
Dan Jones said: ‘I’ve had the voices of the Essex Dogs rattling around inside my head for years. I’m cock-a-hoop that Ben Miles has brought them to life for the audio edition of the book. He’s an extraordinary actor and it’s an honour to be collaborating with him on my historical fiction debut.’
 
 
Habiba Sacranie, Acquisitions Editor at W.F. Howes, added: “Having witnessed Ben’s stunning narration skills being unleashed on the Wolf Hall trilogy, we were very keen to get him back in the studio again. Narrating historical fiction requires a special skillset and Ben’s historical knowledge, character development, conveyance of emotion, and sharp delivery make him the perfect match for Essex Dogs. A firm audio fan favourite, we’re excited to see how listeners respond to his narration of this fantastic Dan Jones debut.”