Audio Books
”In Re a Gentleman, One”
Paterson lived and worked in Sydney for most of his adult life, but his poems mostly presented a highly romantic view of the bush and the iconic figure of the bushman. Influenced by the work of another Australian poet John Farrell, his representation of the bushman as a tough, independent and heroic underdog became the ideal qualities underpinning the national character. His work is often compared to the prose of Henry Lawson, particularly the seminal work, "The Drover's Wife", which presented a considerably less romantic view of the harshness of rural existence of the late 19th century. (In regard to this poem. When an attorney is called before the Full Court to answer for any alleged misconduct it is not usual to publish his name until he is found guilty; until then the matter appears in the papers as "In re a Gentleman, One of the Attorneys of the Supreme Court," or, more shortly, "In re a Gent., One.") - Summary by Wikipedia
”Mr Rowl”
Raoul des Sabli?res, a French parole prisoner in England during the Napoleonic Wars, becomes enmeshed in a complicated tangle where his honour conflicts with his parole, and is sent to prison. Juliana Forrest, for whose sake he broke his parole, does her utmost to save him, and in his adventures and misfortunes, Raoul eventually also finds help from an unlikely source. This is a fun adventure story and romance, written in a style similar to Georgette Heyer. (Summary by Elin) - Summary by Elin
”Tell It All”: The Story of a Life’s Experience in Mormonism
Fanny relates the experiences of a 19th century missionary as she and her young husband proselytize throughout Europe in search of converts to the new Mormon faith. Her religious zeal is sorely tested upon receipt of news from America revealing that their religion has adopted the practice of polygamy as the means to exaltation. The couple is summoned to Utah only to find themselves firmly ensconced in Brigham Young's inner circle and called upon to practice plural marriage or risk a fall from family, friends, and faith. - Summary by Spiffycat
‘Co. Aytch,’ Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment or, A Side Show of the Big Show
Samuel ?Sam? Rush Watkins (June 26, 1839 ? July 20, 1901) was a noted Confederate soldier during the American Civil War. He is known today for his memoir Company Aytch: Or, a Side Show of the Big Show, often heralded as one of the best primary sources about the common soldier's Civil War experience....Sam?s writing style is quite engaging and skillfully captures the pride, misery, glory, and horror experienced by the common foot soldier. Watkins is often featured and quoted in Ken Burns? 1990 documentary titled The Civil War. (Introduction from Wikipedia)
‘Farewell, Nikola’
Farewell Nikola is the fifth and last novel of the Dr Nikola series. We are reacquainted with Richard "Dick" Hatteras, former South Seas adventurer and Roustabout who clashed with Dr Nicola in ?A Bid for Fortune". He is now Sir Richard Hatteras and firmly married. He is taking a long sojourn with his wife and companions in Venice, where quite by chance (or is it ?) he bumps into Dr Nikola, who despite their stormy past, is the height of affability. He is still suave, cosmopolitan, cultivated and just as unscrupulous as he ever was. We discover that Nikola lives alone in Venice in a dilapidated palace with a macabre history. Hatteras is drawn once more into a tangled web spun by Dr Nikola who reveals something of his own past and presents a side of himself that we have never seen. He still regards himself above all laws, and follows his own strange code of conduct. If you thought that words like empathy, compassion, contrition would never have featured in the lexicon of Dr Nicola then be prepared for a surprise. - Summary by Peter Keeble
‘Tilda Jane
When spunky 'Tilda Jane isn't allowed to keep her beloved dog with her at the orphanage, she decides to set out on her own in search of a home where the inseparable pair will be accepted. Throughout her weary travels she encounters many people, both rich and poor, kind and cantankerous -- but will she ever find family? Set in the Canadian wilderness and coast of Maine, 'Tilda Jane is a story of true grit, forgiveness, and unlikely friendship. (Summary by Twinkle)
‘Tilda Jane’s Orphans
When the story of 'Tilda Jane appeared serially in The Youth's Companion in 1901, the original manuscript was very much condensed. When the time for book publication arrived nearly all the omitted matter was restored. However, some incidents were still left out, and they have formed the beginning of a new story written to please the many boys and girls who have expressed a wish to know something more of the fortunes of the orphan and her dogs. That the orphan's old friends will follow with interest, her often groping and stumbling, yet never-wearying steps along the path of uplift for human beings and dumb creatures, is the earnest hope of the author. (Marshall Saunders - from the Prefatory Note)
‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore
One of the most shocking plays produced in England during the reign of Charles I, 'Tis Pity She's A Whore chronicles the disastrous results of an incestuous affair between fatalistic Italian siblings, Giovanni and Annabella. As suitors vie for Annabella's hand, various webs of deception and revenge intertwine, culminating in a bloody finale. (Summary by Elizabeth Barr) CAST LIST Bonaventura, a Friar/ Bergetto, Nephew to Donado: alanmapstone A Cardinal, Nuncio to the Pope AND Banditti: Algy Pug Soranzo, a Nobleman: tovarisch Florio, Citizen of Parma: Bob Neufeld Donado, Citizen of Parma: Arnie Horton Grimaldi, a Roman Gentleman: Ric F Giovanni, Son to Florio: Chuck Williamson Richardetto, a supposed Physician: Denny Sayers Vasques, Servant to Soranzo: Chris Marcellus Poggio, Servant to Bergetto: laurenburwell Annabella, Daughter to Florio: Elizabeth Barr Hippolita, Wife to Richardetto: Elizabeth Klett Philotis, his Niece: Charlotte Duckett Putana, Tutoress to Annabella: Amanda Friday Officer(s): Libby Gohn Servant: CaprishaPage Narrator: Kristingj
‘Twixt Earth and Stars
This is a volume of poetry by Radclyffe Hall. The poet and novelist led a highly scandalous lifestyle for the norms of her contemporary society, living openly lesbian in Germany and England. Some of the poems in this volume are also love poems to other women, a fact which was not generally known at the time the book was published. - Summary by Carolin
“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”: the illuminating diary of a professional lady
In this comic novel written by American author Anita Loos, we follow the adventures of the fictional character Lorelei Lee who is a young blonde flapper. This story takes place in the hedonistic Jazz Age and is written in the form of a diary from Lorelei's viewpoint as she shares stories of the men she entertains in New York City and Europe. ?Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? was an instant bestseller and has been declared as ?the great American novel? by Edith Wharton. - Summary by Jenn Broda
100%: The Story of a Patriot
"100%: The Story of a Patriot" dramatically recounts the adventures of a poor uneducated young man who lives by his wits and guile, as he becomes politicized during his involvement in the sometimes violent struggle between American ?patriots? and ?Reds?. The author wrote in the Appendix, which is not included in this recording: "Everything that has social significance is truth.... Practically all the characters in "100%" are real persons." This exciting, polemical novel was published in 1920. Sinclair (1878-1968) wrote nearly 100 novels, many based on industrial abuse. One of his best known, "The Jungle", was influential in initiating the regulation of food safety in the United States. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1943. (Lee Smalley)
1000 Things Worth Knowing
Part almanac, part encyclopedia, part dictionary, Nathaniel C. Fowler, Jr. gives us his idea of important, but sometimes obscure, facts that he thinks should be in our bank of general knowledge. He includes a large section on medical emergency and health. Items are arranged in alphabetical order, so there is no logical presentation, but reference is made easy. Or, it is just interesting browsing, and a glimpse into the world of the early twentieth century. - Summary by Larry Wilson
12 Creepy Tales
This is a collection of 12 creepy stories by that master of creepiness, Poe. The Black Cat; The Fall of the House of Usher, The Raven; The Tell Tale Heart, The Masque of the Red Death, the Premature Burial and six others that are a shuddering delight to read and listen to. Turn off the lights, settle down and hear these stories read to you as only LibriVox readers can perform them. (Summary by Phil Chenevert)
1601: Conversation, as it was by the Social Fireside, in the Time of the Tudors
Please note: this recording contains strong language. "1601," wrote Mark Twain, "is a supposititious conversation which takes place in Queen Elizabeth's closet in that year, between the Queen, Ben Jonson, Beaumont, Sir Walter Raleigh, the Duchess of Bilgewater, and one or two others ... If there is a decent word findable in it, it is because I overlooked it." 1601 depicts a highfalutin and earthy discussion between the Queen and her court about farting and a variety of sexual peccadillos, narrated disapprovingly and sanctimoniously by the Queen's Cup-Bearer, an eyewitness at "the Social Fireside." [Summary by Denny Sayers] Cast: Introduction ? Denny Sayers Narrator ? Jonathan Horniblow The Queen ? miette Beaumonte ? David Lawrence Lady Margery Boothy ? Kristin Hughes Lady Alice Dilberry, Ben Jonson, Lord Bacon ? Ruth Golding Lady Helen ? Philippa Sir Walter Ralegh ? Mark F. Smith Shaxpur ? Andy Minter
1900 or The Last President
The year is 1896. The United States is rocked by the election of an unlikely president. On election night, riots broke out in the streets of New York. The city was paralyzed with dread. Mobs organized under the lead of Anarchists and Socialists. Farther South, people celebrated. This was a President elected by the working class and he was a President who followed through with his commitment to fight for the rights of the people. This president would fight to end the enslavement of the people by money lenders, big bankers, corporations and government overtax. But can he be successful in a society that is rapidly absorbing socialist ideologies? - Summary by CJ Plogue
1912: Short Works Collection
This is a collection of public domain works either published in 1912, or written in 1912 and published before 1923. The accent is on non-fiction but I will include short stories, poems, one-act plays, as well. (Summary by Bellona Times) Read and compiled by Bellona Times. Proof-listeners were Betsie Bush and Tricia G.
1914, and Other Poems
This is a volume of poems by Rupert Brooke, named after the famous poems "1914", written during and about World War I. Brooke himself died while taking part in a naval expedition to the Dardanelles, and was buried in Greece. The poems he wrote during the war were published posthumously and are the poems for which he is best-known today. This volume also contains poems written during a journey around the Pacific, and a number of miscellaneous poems. - Summary by Carolin
2 B R 0 2 B (Dramatic Reading)
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a prolific and genre-bending American novelist known for works blending satire, black comedy, and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat's Cradle, and Breakfast of Champions. 2 B R 0 2 B is a satiric short story that imagines life (and death) in a future world where aging has been "cured" and population control is mandated and administered by the government. (Summary by Wikipedia and Laurie Anne Walden) This recording is done as a dramatic reading. Characters: Narrator: Denny Sayers Hospital Orderly: Mark F. Smith Painter: Alan Davis-Drake Leora Duncan: Laurie Anne Walden Dr. Hitz: Michael Yard Wehling: Julian Jamison Federal Bureau of Termination hostess: Kara Shallenberg
2 B R 0 2 B (version 2) & The Big Trip Up Yonder (version 5)
These two stories by Kurt Vonnegut were written over a decade apart but they are definitely connected. The Big Trip Up Yonder, published in Galaxy Science Fiction January 1954 is a comical yet scary description of what over population was going to do to society after aging was conquered and a simple daily dose of "anti-gerosone" would keep you forever the same age. Would Gramps EVER take 'That Big Trip Up Yonder', or would his hordes of descendants be stuck with him forever in a tiny apartment!? 2 B R 0 2 B, published in Worlds of If, January 1962 takes this basic situation many years into the future and a solution has been found. The population of the US has dropped from 80 billion to 40 million. Not what everyone would call a pretty solution, or the best solution, but nevertheless a solution to the population problem. I believe this is the type of story it is best to listen to, not describe, so enjoy. (Summary by Phil Chenevert)
