Literature Podcasts
Librivox: Spanish Poetry Collection 002 by VariousJoin Now to Follow
LibriVox’s Spanish Poetry Collection 002: a collection of 10 Spanish language public-domain poems.
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Librivox: Miscellaneous Essays of G. K. Chesterton by Chesterton, G. K.Join Now to Follow
These eleven files are miscellaneous short essays or stories from G.K. Chesterton. They were chosen for not only their brevity but also for being shining exemplars of Chesterton's wit and whimsy. A fun but powerful introduction into the mind of the man that is G.K. Chesterton. (Summary by GK Cleveland)
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Librivox: Seitsemän veljestä by Kivi, AleksisJoin Now to Follow
Seitsemän veljestä on tarina seitsemän nuoren suomalaisen miehen elämästä, unelmista, juopottelusta, tappeluista, ankarasta työnteosta, katumuksesta ja kasvamisesta vastuulliseen miehuuteen 1800-luvun yhteiskunnassa. --(summary from Wikipedia)
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Librivox: Stories from Pentamerone by Basile, GiambattistaJoin Now to Follow
This is one of the oldest written collections of fairy tales. Although the names are different, listeners should recognise many of the stories as the basis of modern fairy tales. Be warned however, that these stories are a lot more violent and gruesome then the Disney versions you may be familiar with. Parents should listen to the files to gauge their suitability before allowing children to listen to them. (written by Joy Chan)
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Librivox: Alarms and Discursions by Chesterton, G. K.Join Now to Follow
Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an influential English writer of the early 20th century. His prolific and diverse output included journalism, philosophy, poetry, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy, and detective fiction. Chesterton has been called the "prince of paradox." He wrote in an off-hand, whimsical prose studded with startling formulations. Chesterton wrote about 4000 essays on various subjects, and "Ararms and Discursions is one of his collections. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Karen Merline.)
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Librivox: Short Poetry Collection 060 by VariousJoin Now to Follow
LibriVox's Short Poetry Collection 060: a collection of 20 public-domain poems.
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Librivox: Music, when soft voices die by Shelley, Percy ByssheJoin Now to Follow
LibriVox volunteers bring you 17 different recordings of Music, when soft voices die by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of January 27th, 2008.
By LibriVox
Librivox: Charles Dickens by Chesterton, G. K.Join Now to Follow
G. K. Chesterton was a great admirer of Charles Dickens, and wrote a noted critique of Dickens' works expressing his opinion in his own inimitable style. (Summary by Karen Merline)
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Librivox: מסעות בנימין השלישי The Wanderings of Benjamin III by מנדלה מוכר ספרים Mendele Mocher SforimJoin Now to Follow
This reading is in Hebrew. Mendele Mocher Seforim (Literary name for Shalom Jacob Abramovitsch) (1835 - 1917, b. Kapulye, Belorussia), one of the first modern Jewish writers, wrote in both Hebrew and Yiddish throughout his career. In his work he described with sharp satirical criticism the traditional life in small Jewish towns, as well as tendencies for assimilation of learned Jews at the time. He was regarded as the "grandfather of Yiddish literature" but the Hebraic-Zionist atmosphere in Odessa influenced him, and in 1886 he turned to writing Hebrew fiction. The hero of "The Travels of Benjamin the III" is a fool in a town full of poor Jews who barely manage to keep themselves alive. Benjamin is struck suddenly by a desire to travel, and joined by Sendrel he sets out to find a Jewish kingdom mentioned in legends of the Ten Lost Tribes. They hardly make it around the block. Barely escaping from their own wives, the two travel only as far as nearby towns. As the novel progresses they fall into the hands of Jewish kidnappers, who take advantage of their naiveté to sell them into the czarist army. They are caught when they try to escape, and the army’s response to this treason is a delicious twist that leaves the reader wondering who exactly is insane – and where precisely the line is drawn between an absurdity and a worthwhile dream. (Summary by Omri Lernau)
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Librivox: Leviathan (Books I and II) by Hobbes, ThomasJoin Now to Follow
Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, commonly called Leviathan, is a book written in 1651 by Thomas Hobbes. It is titled after the biblical Leviathan. The book concerns the structure of society (as represented figuratively by the frontispiece, showing the state giant made up of individuals), as is evidenced by the full title. In the book, Thomas Hobbes argues for a social contract and rule by a sovereign. Influenced by the English Civil War, Hobbes wrote that chaos or civil war - situations identified with a state of nature and the famous motto Bellum omnium contra omnes ("the war of all against all") - could only be averted by strong central government. He thus denied any right of rebellion toward the social contract. However, Hobbes did discuss the possible dissolution of the State. Since the social contract was made to institute a state that would provide for the "peace and defense" of the people, the contract would become void as soon as the government no longer protected its citizens. By virtue of this fact, man would automatically return to the state of nature until a new contract is made. Summary from Wikipedia.
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