Literature Podcasts
Librivox: Modest Proposal, A by Swift, JonathanJoin Now to Follow
Jonathan Swift almost defines satire in this biting and brutal pamphlet in which he suggests that poor (Catholic) Irish families should fatten up their children and sell them to the rich (Protestant) land owners, thus solving the twin problems of starving children and poverty in one blow. When the “Proposal” was published in 1729, Swift was quickly attacked, and even accused of barbarity – the exact state the “Proposal” was written to expose. (Summary by Hugh)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Little Princess, A by Burnett, Frances HodgsonJoin Now to Follow
The novel tells of the troubles of a wealthy young girl, Sara Crewe, who is sent to an oppressive London boarding school during her father’s campaign in India. Thanks to Capt. Crewe’s money, Sara is treated as a little princess until, one day, word comes of her father’s tragic death. Miss Minchin, the school’s greedy headmistress, wastes no time in putting the now-penniless Sara to work for her room and board. It is only through the friendship of two other girls, her own resolute nature, and some astonishing luck that Sara eventually finds her way back to happiness. (Summary from wikipedia.org)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Noiseless Patient Spider, A by Whitman, WaltJoin Now to Follow
Librivox volunteers bring you eight different readings of Walt Whitman’s A Noiseless Patient Spider, a weekly poetry project. (Summary by Annie Coleman)
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Librivox: Christmas Carol, A by Dickens, CharlesJoin Now to Follow
A classic tale of what comes to those whose hearts are hard. In a series of ghostly visits, Scrooge visits his happy past, sees the difficulties of the present, views a bleak future, and in the end amends his mean ways. (Summary written by Kristen McQuillin)
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Librivox: Five Children and It by Nesbit, E. (Edith)Join Now to Follow
This delightful novel begins when a family of five children moves from London to the English countryside. While playing in a gravel pit soon after the move, they discover an ancient and rather grumpy sand-fairy known as the Psammead, who agrees to grant one wish of theirs per day. The children’s wishes send them on adventure after adventure, but rarely turn out as expected. (Summary by Kara)
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Librivox: Treasure Island by Stevenson, Robert LouisJoin Now to Follow
Treasure Island is an adventure novel, a thrilling tale of "buccaneers and buried gold." Traditionally considered a coming of age story, it is an adventure tale of superb atmosphere, character and action, and also a wry commentary on the ambiguity of morality—as seen in Long John Silver—unusual for children's literature then and now. (Summary from wikipedia.org)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Open Library, The by Kahle, BrewsterJoin Now to Follow
Text of the speech given by Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive , at the launch of the Open Library in October 2005. LibriVox was invited to the launch, and produced audio recordings for "An International Episode," and "Old Christmas," two of the first books scanned into the Open Library collection. (Summary by Hugh)
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Librivox: Communist Manifesto, The by Marx, KarlJoin Now to Follow
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote their Manifesto in December 1847, as a guide to the fundamental principles and practices of Communists. The Manifesto also predicted the ultimate downfall of the capitalist system. (Summary written by Gesine)
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Librivox: Road, The by Sassoon, SiegfriedJoin Now to Follow
Librivox volunteers bring you eight different readings of Siegfried Sassoon's The Road , a weekly poetry project. (Summary by Annie Coleman)
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Librivox: Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei by Marx, KarlJoin Now to Follow
Karl Marx und Friedrich Engels schrieben ihr Manifest im Dezember 1847, als Leitfaden fuer die grundsaetzlichen Prinzipien und Praktiken des Kommunismus. Das Manifest sagte ausserdem den Untergang des Kapitalistismus’ voraus. (Zusammenfassung von Gesine)
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