Literature Podcasts
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.
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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: 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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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: 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: 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: Love Letter Collection 2008 by VariousJoin Now to Follow
LibriVox readers have cast their nets wide to create this small collection of letters and poems, from fiction and from life, from heart to heart and from soul to soul. With love for St Valentine. (Summary by Peter Yearsley)
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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: 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: American Notes by Kipling, RudyardJoin Now to Follow
In American Notes, Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author of the Jungle Book, visits the USA. As the travel-diary of an Anglo-Indian Imperialist visiting the USA, these American Notes offer an interesting view of America in the 1880s. Kipling affects a wide-eyed innocence, and expresses astonishment at features of American life that differ from his own, not least the freedom (and attraction) of American women. However, he scorns the political machines that made a mockery of American democracy, and while exhibiting the racist attitudes that made him controversial in the 20th century concludes “It is not good to be a negro in the land of the free and the home of the brave.” G. A. England of Harvard University (letter to The New York Times 10/11/1902) wrote: “To the American temperament, the gentleman who throws stones while himself living in a glass house cannot fail to be amusing; the more so if, as in Mr Kipling’s case, he appears to be in a state of maiden innocence regarding the structure of his own domicile.” (Summary by Tim Bulkeley with Quotations from the Gutenberg edition of American Notes and the online version of The New York Times of October 11th 1902.)
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