Arts Podcasts

Librivox: Shadows, The by MacDonald, George show

Librivox: Shadows, The by MacDonald, GeorgeJoin Now to Follow

"Old Ralph Rinkelmann made his living by comic sketches, and all but lost it again by tragic poems. So he was just the man to be chosen king of the fairies..." George MacDonald (December 10, 1824 – September 18, 1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. Though no longer well known, his works (particularly his fairy tales and fantasy novels) have inspired admiration in such notables as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L'Engle. The Shadows is one such fairy tale. The strange Shadows spend their existence casting themselves upon the walls and forming pictures of various sorts: mimicking evil actions of those who have done wrong in the hopes of causing their repentance, playing a comic dumb-show to inspire a playwright and dancing to inspire a musician, nudging a little girl to comfort her grandfather, and playing with a sick little boy as he waits for his mother to return home. The king privately pities the Shadows, for they cannot generally remember their deeds, acquaintances, or loves past a single night. (Summary by Wikipedia and Catharine Eastman)

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Librivox: Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, An by Hume, David show

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The Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding is a shortened and simplified version of Hume's masterpiece A Treatise of Human Nature. It sought to reach a wider audience, and to dispel some of the virulent criticism addressed toward the former book. In it, Hume explains his theory of epistemology, and argues against other current theories, including those of John Locke, George Berkeley, and Nicolas Malebranche. (Summary by Kirsten Ferreri)

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Librivox: Short Poetry Collection 053 by Various show

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LibriVox’s Short Poetry Collection 053: a collection of 20 public-domain poems.

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Librivox: Mike: A Public School Story by Wodehouse, P. G. show

Librivox: Mike: A Public School Story by Wodehouse, P. G.Join Now to Follow

This novel introduces the characters Mike Jackson and Psmith, who are featured in several of Wodehouse’s later works. It shows how the two characters first met each other as teenagers at boarding school. As Psmith doesn’t appear until about halfway through this book, it was later released as two separate books, Mike at Wrykyn and Mike and Psmith . There’s lots of cricket, but you don’t need to understand the game to enjoy the antics of these public school boys as they "rag" each other and the authorities. -Summary by Debra Lynn

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Librivox: Pride and Prejudice (version 3) by Austen, Jane show

Librivox: Pride and Prejudice (version 3) by Austen, JaneJoin Now to Follow

Pride and Prejudice is the most famous of Jane Austen’s novels, and its opening is one of the most famous lines in English literature - “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Its manuscript was first written between 1796 and 1797, and was initially called First Impressions, but was never published under that title. Following revisions it was published on 28 January 1813 by the same Mr. Egerton of the Military Library, Whitehall, who had brought out Sense and Sensibility. Like both its predecessor and Northanger Abbey, it was written at Steventon Rectory. (Summary from Wikipedia)

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Librivox: Astrophil and Stella by Sidney, Philip, Sir show

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Astrophil and Stella is a sonnet sequence written by Philip Sidney, an Elizabethan poet and courtier. It details the frustrated love of Astrophil (whose name means "star-lover") for his beloved Stella (whose name means "star"). It is likely that Sidney based his poems on his own unrequited passion for a married woman. The sequence inspired other sonnet writers of the period, such as Edmund Spenser, William Shakespeare, and Lady Mary Wroth.“(Summary written by Elizabeth Klett)

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Librivox: Apology of Socrates, The by Plato show

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Plato's account of Socrates' defense at his trial for "corrupting the youth" is a classic summation of his teacher's life and mission, centered in Socrates' most famous line, "The unexamined life is not worth living." - Written by FrZeile

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Librivox: Nephelidia by Swinburne, Algernon Charles show

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LibriVox volunteers bring you 10 readings of Nephelidia by Algernon Charles Swinburne.

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Librivox: Blue Envelope, The by Snell, Roy J. show

Librivox: Blue Envelope, The by Snell, Roy J.Join Now to Follow

A mystery and adventure story for girls set in Alaska.

By LibriVox