Arts Podcasts
Librivox: Life In Mexico by Calderón de la Barca, FrancesJoin Now to Follow
FRANCES CALDERON DE LA BARCA, born in Edinburgh, 1804, the daughter of William Inglis. After her father's death she settled in America, where she married the Spanish diplomat, Don Angel Calderon de la Barca. She accompanied him on his various appointments to Mexico, Washington, and finally to Madrid, where she was created Marquesa de Calderon de la Barca by Alfonso XII and died in 1882. The present work is the result of observations made during a two years' residence in Mexico, by a lady, whose position there made her intimately acquainted with its society, and opened to her the best sources of information in regard to whatever could interest an enlightened foreigner. It consists of letters written to the members of her own family, and, really, not intended originally--however incredible the assertion—for publication. Taken from text itself and part of preface.
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Librivox: Perpetual Peace: A Philosophic Essay by Kant, ImmanuelJoin Now to Follow
This essay, written in 1795, puts forth a plan for a lasting peace between nations and peoples. Kant puts forth necessary means to any peace, and argues that nations can be brought into federation with one another without loss of sovereignty. In one translation, telling of the historical impact of this essay, this federation is called a “league of nations.” The supplements and appendices are of considerable interest on their own. The supplements contain an argument regarding the use which nature makes of war, and the way in which nature, in the end, impels us towards peace. The appendices return to the question of whether his theory is mere theory, or whether it bears translation into practice. In this, he distinguishes between the moral politician and the political moralist, pointing out ways in which practical considerations conceal and excuse behavior that leads us towards discord and war. This essay continues to be relevant, and of great importance today, much to our shame. We hope still to find the perpetual peace which Kant argued as a obligatory goal, and we still have need of fear that we will, as Kant warned, “find Perpetual Peace only in the wide grave which is to cover all the abomination of the deeds of violence and their authors.” (Summary by D.E. Wittkower)
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Librivox: Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, The by Defoe, DanielJoin Now to Follow
The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders is a 1722 novel by Daniel Defoe. - Defoe wrote this after his work as a journalist and pamphleteer. By 1722, Defoe had become recognized as a novelist, with the success of Robinson Crusoe in 1719. His political work was tapering off at this point, due to the fall of both Whig and Tory party leaders with whom he had been associated; Robert Walpole was beginning his rise, and Defoe was never fully at home with the Walpole group. - Defoe's Whig views are nevertheless evident in the story of Moll. The full title of the novel tells part of its story: "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, Etc. Who was born in Newgate, and during a life of continu'd Variety for Threescore Years, besides her Childhood, was Twelve Year a Whore, five times a Wife (whereof once to her own brother), Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Transported Felon in Virginia, at last grew Rich, liv'd Honest and died a Penitent. Written from her own Memorandums." (Summary from Wikipedia)
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Librivox: Rosary, The by Barclay, Florence LouisaJoin Now to Follow
"The Rosary" is a beautiful love story. Gareth Dalmain falls in love with the Honorable Jane Champion. She loves him back, but does not trust his love, as is known to be a great lover of beauty, and she - alas - is very plain. Just as she decides to trust him, she receives news that he has been blinded in a hunting accident. She wants to go visit him, but he will not receive her, as he wants only her love - not her pity. With the help of their mutual friend and doctor, she gets the position as his nurse under a presumed name, and thereby gets to know the 'new' Gareth. (Summary by Maria Elmvang)
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Librivox: Bible (LSG, 1910) NT 21-22: Épîtres de Pierre by Louis Segond BibleJoin Now to Follow
Ces soixantième et soixante et unième livres de la Bible, traduite par Louis Segond, au XIXe siècle et publiée au début du siècle suivant sont adressées par Pierre, apôtre de Jésus-Christ, « à ceux qui sont étrangers et dispersés » dans cinq régions de l'Asie mineure et « à ceux qui ont reçu en partage une foi du même prix que la nôtre » . Dans ces deux lettres, Pierre cherche « à éveiller par des avertissements votre saine intelligence, afin que vous vous souveniez des choses annoncées par les prophètes, et du commandement du Seigneur et Sauveur » . (Résumé par Ezwa)
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Librivox: Plague Ship by Norton, AndreJoin Now to Follow
Lured by its exotic gems, the space trader Solar Queen lands on the little-known planet of Sargol, only to find the ruthless Inter-Solar Company there ahead of them. Adapting quickly to the culture of Sargol’s feline inhabitants, the crew of the Queen beat out their rivals and successfully make a deal with the natives. But soon after takeoff, the Queen’s crew is stricken with a plague, and they are now banned from landing on any inhabited planet. Will the Queen’s crew save themselves, or be condemned to drift forever through space? (Summary by Mark Nelson)
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Librivox: Legend Land V 1 & 2 by VariousJoin Now to Follow
"Being a collection of some of the OLD TALES told in those Western Parts of Britain served by the GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY, now retold by LYONESSE"
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Librivox: Life in the Clearings Versus the Bush by Moodie, SusannaJoin Now to Follow
As a middle class Englishwoman Moodie did not particularly enjoy "the bush", as she called it. She and her husband moved to Belleville in 1840, which she referred to as "the clearings". Here she described urban life, including religion, art, and education, especially as compared to relative lack of these things in "the bush". She studied the Family Compact and became sympathetic to the moderate reformers led by Robert Baldwin, while remaining critical of radical reformers such as William Lyon Mackenzie. This caused problems for her husband, who shared her views, but, as sheriff of Belleville, had to work with members and supporters of the Family Compact. (Summary from Wikipedia)
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Librivox: Story of the Middle Ages, The by Harding, Samuel B.Join Now to Follow
Intended for a youthful audience, The Story of the Middle Ages , published in 1906, tells the history of the Middle Ages in simple and entertaining fashion, and helps to explain the influence of the Middle Ages on modern times. Topics covered include the rise of the Christian church, Feudalism, Charlemagne, the Crusades, the Hundred Years' War, and the daily life of peasant, noble, and clergy. (Summary by Kara)
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Librivox: Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome, Jerome K.Join Now to Follow
Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) , published in 1889, is a humorous account by Jerome K. Jerome of a boating holiday on the Thames between Kingston and Oxford. The book was intended initially to be a serious travel guide, with accounts of local history of places along the route, but the humorous elements eventually took over, to the point where the serious and somewhat sentimental passages now seem like an unnecessary distraction to the essentially comic novel. One of the most praised things about Three Men in a Boat is how undated it appears to modern readers. The jokes seem fresh and witty even today. The three men were based on Jerome himself and two real-life friends, George, and Harris. The dog, Montmorency, however, was entirely fictional, but, as Jerome had remarked, "had much of me in it." (Summary from Wikipedia)
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