Arts Podcasts
Librivox: Prinzessin Brambilla by Hoffmann, E.T.A.Join Now to Follow
»Eine allegorische-phantastische Märchenerzählung aus der Zeit der Romantik. Schauplatz ist ein zeitloser Römischer Karneval, wie Jacques Callot ihn in der Graphik-Serie "Balli di Sfessania" dargestellt hat. Die Kräfte der Liebe, der Phantasie, des Humors – gebündelt und gesteigert in der Kunst, und im Römischen Karneval - gewähren es einem liebenden Paar, sich über alle Alltagskleinlichkeit erhaben zu fühlen. Nachdem jedes der beiden sich anfangs immer wieder mit seinem Möchtegern-Ich verwechselt, öffnet die dann gewonnene Selbsterkenntnis und damit verbundene realistische Bescheidenheit das Tor zu dauerhaftem Glück.« (Summary by Rolf Kaiser) »Filet ist ein franz. Wort und bedeutet eigentlich so viel als Fädchen, Garn, Netz. Gewöhnlich versteht man darunter ein aus roher Seide netzartig gewebtes Zeuch, zu Shawls, Busentüchern u.s.w. Eine Lieblingsbeschäftigung der Damen ist es, allerlei Filetputzsachen aus Zwirn, Wolle oder Seide zu stricken; sie bedienen sich dazu einer Nadel, der Filetnadel, und eines Stäbchens, auf welches sie die Maschen aufreihen, und von dessen Stärke die größere und geringere Dichtigkeit des Gestrickes abhängt.« (Brockhaus Bilder-Conversations-Lexikon, Band 2. Leipzig 1838., S. 38-39.)
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Librivox: Baby by MacDonald, GeorgeJoin Now to Follow
LibriVox volunteers bring you 12 recordings of Baby by George MacDonald. This was the fortnightly poetry project for February 22nd, 2009.
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Librivox: Thaw by Thomas, EdwardJoin Now to Follow
LibriVox volunteers bring you 11 recordings of Thaw by Edward Thomas. This was the weekly poetry project for March 1st, 2009.
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Librivox: It's Like This, Cat by Neville, EmilyJoin Now to Follow
1964 Newbery Medal winner, It's Like This, Cat is the story of a young man, Dave Mitchell, and how he grew to maturity, helped along indirectly by a stray cat that he brought home from Crazy Kate, the neighborhood Cat Lady. Dave lives in New York City with his lawyer father and his mother, who has bouts of asthma brought on by family strife. The cat, named "Cat" lives a wild life that brings Dave in contact with a future friend and girl friend. Dave's adventures take him throughout areas of New York City, and the reader is treated to descriptions of famous city landmarks. With Dave's new cat-related experiences comes an increased appreciation for his parents and deepening care for his new friends. (Summary by Brenda Price)
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Librivox: Germania by Tacitus, Publius CorneliusJoin Now to Follow
The Germania (Latin: De Origine et situ Germanorum, literally The Origin and Situation of the Germans[1]), written by Gaius Cornelius Tacitus around 98, is an ethnographic work on the Germanic tribes outside the Roman Empire. Germania fits squarely within the tradition established by authors from Herodotus to Julius Caesar. Tacitus himself had already written a similar essay on the lands and tribes of Britannia in his Agricola. The Germania begins with a description of the lands, laws, and customs of the Germanic people; it then segues into descriptions of individual tribes, beginning with those dwelling closest to Roman lands and ending on the uttermost shores of the Baltic, among the amber-gathering Aesti, the primitive and savage Fenni, and the unknown tribes beyond them. Tacitus' descriptions of the Germanic character are at times favorable in contrast to the opinions of the Romans of his day. He holds the strict monogamy and chastity of Germanic marriage customs worthy of the highest praise, in contrast to what he saw as the vice and immorality rampant in Roman society of his day, and he admires their open hospitality, their simplicity, and their bravery in battle. One should not, however, think that Tacitus' portrayal of Germanic customs is entirely favorable; he notes a tendency in the Germanic people for what he saw as their habitual drunkenness, laziness, and barbarism, among other traits. Tacitus says that physically, the Germans appeared to be a distinct race, not an admixture of their neighbors. In Chapter 4, he mentions that they have common characteristics of blue eyes, blond or reddish hair and large size. In Chapter 7, Tacitus describes their government and leadership as somewhat merit-based and egalitarian, with leadership by example rather than authority and that punishments are carried out by the priests. He mentions that the opinions of women are given respect. In Chapter 9, Tacitus describes a form of folk assembly rather similar to the public Things recorded in later Germanic sources: in these public deliberations, the final decision rests with the men of the tribe as a whole. Tacitus further discusses the role of women in Chapters 7 and 8, mentioning that they often accompany the men to battle and offer encouragement. He says that the men are often motivated to fight for the women because of an extreme fear of their being taken captive. Tacitus says that the Germans are mainly content with one wife, except for a few political marriages, and specifically and explicitly compares this practice favorably to other barbarian cultures, perhaps since monogamy was a shared value between Roman and Germanic cultures. He also records that adultery is very rare, and that an adulterous woman is shunned afterward by the community regardless of her beauty. This translation by Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb, was first published in 1877. (Summary from Wikipedia.)
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Librivox: Herodotus' Histories Vol 2 by Herodotus of HalicarnassusJoin Now to Follow
The [i]Histories[/i] of Herodotus of Halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in Western literature. Written about 440 BC, the Histories tell the story of the war between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states in the 5th century BC. Herodotus traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book. The rise of the Persian Empire is chronicled, and the causes for the conflict with Greece. Herodotus treats the conflict as an ideological one, frequently contrasting the absolute power of the Persian king with the democratic government of the Greeks. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia.)
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Librivox: Petit Nord, Le by Grenfell, Anne MacLanahanJoin Now to Follow
A collection of letters from Anne (MacLanahan) Grenfell, future wife of Sir Wilfred Grenfell, regarding her year of missionary service at the orphanage in St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Summary by Sean Michael Hogan)
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Librivox: Agricola by Tacitus, Publius CorneliusJoin Now to Follow
The Agricola (Latin: De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae, lit. On the life and character of Julius Agricola) is a book by the Roman historian Tacitus, written c 98, which recounts the life of his father-in-law Gnaeus Julius Agricola, an eminent Roman general. It also covers, briefly, the geography and ethnography of ancient Britain. As in the Germania, Tacitus favorably contrasts the liberty of the native Britons to the corruption and tyranny of the Empire; the book also contains eloquent and vicious polemics against the rapacity and greed of Rome. This translation by Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb, was first published in 1877. (Summary from Wikipedia.)
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Librivox: Zuleika Dobson by Beerbohm, MaxJoin Now to Follow
'A wickedly funny 1911 satire on undergraduate life in Edwardian Oxford' in which the entire student body of Oxford university including the young, handsome aristocrat the Duke of Dorset falls hopelessly in love with Zuleika who is visiting her grandfather, the warden of Judas college, and ultimately commit mass suicide at the end of 'Eights Week' (Summary by Andy Minter)
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Librivox: Bible (KJV) 29: Joel by King James VersionJoin Now to Follow
The Prophet Joel, the Second Minor Prophet of the Old Testament, entire book is read. (Summary by Susan S.)
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