Olivia Colman will narrate the audiobook version of Philip Pullman’s upcoming book, Serpentine.

The book was originally written in 2004, and tells the story of Lyra as a teenager.

It was never meant to be read by the public, except for the two winners of the charity auction it was written for. But now the author has announced the never-before-seen tale will finally be published.

“Why are we publishing this story now?” asked Pullman. “Because with the development of The Book of Dust, especially after the events described in The Secret Commonwealth, we can see a change in the way Lyra understands herself, and her relationship with Pantalaimon, which is prefigured in this little Arctic episode.

“When I wrote Serpentine, I had no idea that I was going on to write another trilogy, showing Lyra as an adult, but she and her world wouldn’t leave me alone. When it comes to human affairs, a billion invisible filaments connect us to our own pasts, as well as to the most remote things we can imagine; and I hope that, above all, these books are about being alive and being human.”

Colman has signed on to narrate the audio version which will be released alongside the actual book on 15th October.