On film Branagh cast him as Bardolph in Henry V (1989), as Stephen Fry's father in the comedy Peter's Friends (1992), Don Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing (1993), the blind grandfather - playing opposite Robert De Niro's Creature - in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994).

BBC: Richard Briers, The Good Life star, dies aged 79

In 1987, hankering for more serious roles, he joined Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance Theatre Company where he took on a number of stage roles and appeared in Branagh's films of Henry V and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

BBC: Obituary: Richard Briers

If horror's your genre, download classics such as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

CNN: Top 10 free e-books