Arts Podcasts
Librivox: Leaves of Grass by Whitman, WaltJoin Now to Follow
American poet Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, is a collection of poems notable for its frank delight in and praise of the senses, during a time when such candid displays were considered immoral. Where much previous poetry, especially English, relied on symbolism, allegory, and meditation on the religious and spiritual, Leaves of Grass exalted the body and the material world. Whitman was inspired to begin Leaves of Grass after reading an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson which expressed a need for a uniquely American poet. When the book was first published, Whitman sent a copy to Emerson, whose praiseful letter of response helped launch the book to success. Whitman’s hero, Abraham Lincoln, read and enjoyed an early version of Leaves of Grass. Despite such high recommendations, Whitman faced charges of obscenity and immorality for his work, but this only led to increased popularity of the book. Whitman continually revised and republished Leaves of Grass throughout his lifetime, notably adding the “Drum-Taps” section after Lincoln’s assassination. The book grew from 12 poems in its first publication, which Whitman paid for and typeset himself, to nearly 400 poems in its final, “Death Bed Edition.” This recording is of the final edition. (Summary adapted from wikipedia.org by Annie Coleman)
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Librivox: Aesop's Fables, Volume 07 (Fables 151-175) by AesopJoin Now to Follow
Dating back to the 6th century BC, Aesop's Fables tell universal truths through the use of simple allegories that are easily understood. Though almost nothing is known of Aesop himself, and some scholars question whether he existed at all, these stories stand as timeless classics known in almost every culture in the world. This is volume 7 of 12. (Summary by Chip)
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Librivox: Short Poetry Collection 005 by VariousJoin Now to Follow
Librivox’s Short Poetry Collection 005: a collection of 20 public-domain poems.
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Librivox: Sonnet 130 by Shakespeare, WilliamJoin Now to Follow
LibriVox volunteers bring you seventeen different readings of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130. This sonnet offers a look into the Elizabethan ideal of womanly beauty, then turns it on its head with wry realism. Then as now, real beauty is inside. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of March 5, 2006. (Summary by Fox in the Stars)
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Librivox: Märchen 1 by Grimm, Jacob & WilhelmJoin Now to Follow
Anfang des 19. Jahrhunderts begannen die Brüder Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, traditionelle, bisher vor allem mündlich weitergegebene Erzählungen zusammenzutragen. Diese Sammlung ist als die Märchen der Gebrüder Grimm weltbekannt geworden und umfaßt so berühmte Geschichten wie Rapunzel, Hänsel und Gretel, Rumpelstilzchen, Rotkäppchen und viele andere. Diese Märchen wurden später stark editiert und 'beschönt'. Die hier vorliegenden Versionen entsprechen aber stärker den originalen, teils drastischen Fassungen. (Zusammenfassung von Rainer)
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Librivox: Pride and Prejudice 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: White Fang by London, JackJoin Now to Follow
White Fang (1906) was written as a companion to Jack London’s successful Call of the Wild (1903). It is the tale of a wild dog born in the wild and eventually brought to civilization. The story is viewed primarily through the eyes of its canine protagonist and deals with themes of morality and redemption. (Summary by Gord Mackenzie.)
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Librivox: Kleider machen Leute by Keller, GottfriedJoin Now to Follow
Die Erzählung “Kleider machen Leute” erschien 1874 im zweiten Band des Novellenzyklus “Die Leute von Seldwyla”. Ein arbeitsloser Schneidergeselle darf unterwegs in einer vornehmen Kutsche Platz nehmen. Der im kleinen Orte Goldach dem herrschaftlichen Wagen entsteigende Schneider wird vom Kutscher als Herr aristokratischer Herkunft ausgegeben. Der Schneider, der durch sein melancholisches Aussehen, vor allem aber durch seinen kostbar wirkenden Mantel und seine Pelzmütze Aufsehen erregt, gilt bald als ein polnischer Graf, den die Goldacher Bürgerschaft bewirtet und feiert. Er fördert das Mißverständnis nicht von sich aus, findet aber auch nicht den Mut, es aufzuklären. Umsoweniger, als sich die Tochter des Amtsrates in ihn verliebt… (Zusammenfassung von Stefan Schmelz)
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Librivox: Aesop's Fables, Volume 06 (Fables 126-150) by AesopJoin Now to Follow
Dating back to the 6th century BC, Aesop's Fables tell universal truths through the use of simple allegories that are easily understood. Though almost nothing is known of Aesop himself, and some scholars question whether he existed at all, these stories stand as timeless classics known in almost every culture in the world. This is volume 6 of 12. (Summary by Chip)
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Librivox: Congo, The by Lindsay, VachelJoin Now to Follow
The Congo is one of the best-known poems by American poet Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931). It was revolutionary in its use of sounds and rhythms — as sounds and rhythms — and includes elaborate annotations to guide its spoken performance. Lindsay categorized The Congo as “higher Vaudeville” and was famous for his exuberant performances of it. The poem’s imagery is racist, but Lindsay was a product of his time — born 14 years after the end of the American Civil War in Abraham Lincoln’s hometown, he revered Lincoln and viewed himself as a friend and supporter of African-American culture. (Summary by Kathy Thile)
By LibriVox
