Arts Podcasts

New Books in Critical Theory show

New Books in Critical TheoryJoin Now to Follow

Discussions with critical theorists about their new books

By New Books Network

Metamorphoses by OVIDIUS NASO,  Publius (Ovid) show

Metamorphoses by OVIDIUS NASO, Publius (Ovid)Join Now to Follow

<p>The Metamorphoses of Ovid is probably one of the best known, certainly one of the most influential works of the Ancient world. It consists of a narrative poem in fifteen books that describes the creation and history of the world through mythological tales, starting with a cosmogony and finishing with the deification of Julius Caesar. Published around 8 AD, the Metamorphoses are a source, sometimes the only source, for many of the most famous ancient myths, such as the stories of Daedalus and Icarus, Arachne or Narcisus. <br><br> Ovid works his way through his subject matter often in an apparently arbitrary fashion; however, the connection between all the seemingly unconnected stories is that all of them talk about transformation. Change as the only permanent aspect of nature is the certainty that underlies the work of Ovid, who jumps from one transformation tale to another, sometimes retelling what had come to be seen as central events in the world of Greek myths and sometimes straying in odd directions. The poem is often called a mock-epic. It is written in dactylic hexameter, the form of the great heroic and nationalistic epic poems, both those of the ancient tradition (the Iliad and Odyssey) and of Ovid's own day (the Aeneid). It begins with the ritual "invocation of the muse," and makes use of traditional epithets and circumlocutions. But instead of following and extolling the deeds of a human hero, it leaps from story to story sometimes in very cunning ways, and, because of the clever ways in which it connects the stories, the Metamorphoses were once called the "Thousand and One Nights of the Ancient World". (Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Leni)</p>

By LibriVox

Librivox: Kidnapped by Stevenson, Robert Louis show

Librivox: Kidnapped by Stevenson, Robert LouisJoin Now to Follow

David Balfour, a lad of seventeen and newly orphaned, is directed to go and live with his rich uncle, the master of the estate of Shaws in the lowlands of Scotland near Edinburgh. His uncle, Ebenezer (as close a miser as Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge), is shocked to suddenly have his young relative descend on him and tries to rid himself of David with an arranged accident. Failing that, he pays the captain of a brig to kidnap David and sell him into slavery in Carolina. A collision in the fog brings onboard the brig a survivor, Alan Breck Stewart, who is carrying a dangerous amount of gold on his person. David warns him of a plan by the brig's captain and crew to overpower him and seize the money, and then finds himself fighting alongside Alan in a battle royale. By good fortune, Alan is handy with a sword and they have access to the firearms locker, and the pair so completely defeat the crew that barely enough hands remain to sail her. Limping to port, she is holed by rocks, and David finds himself a castaway. Being in Alan's presence continues to be a chancey business. David is talking to Colin Roy Campbell, the King's Factor who has been oppressing Alan's people, when the man is shot to death, and David is chased as an accomplice. The two "take to the heather" and barely survive near brushes with redcoats as they thread through the Trossachs and other highland ranges of Scotland. Only after an arduous weeks-long trek through territory where they are actively hunted do they emerge in the more settled districts around the river Forth, only to find guards upon the bridge. With no money remaining, they must somehow cross to Queensferry, find Ebenezer's lawyer, and lay claim to David's inheritance in order to send Alan safely on to France. (summary by Mark F. Smith)

By LibriVox

Librivox: Innocence of Father Brown, The by Chesterton, G. K. show

Librivox: Innocence of Father Brown, The by Chesterton, G. K.Join Now to Follow

The Innocence of Father Brown (1911) is the first of five collections of mystery stories by G. K. Chesterton starring an unimposing but surprisingly capable Roman Catholic priest. Father Brown's ability to uncover the truth behind the mystery continually surpasses that of the "experts" around him, who are fooled into underestimation by the priest's unimpressive outward appearance and, often, by their own prejudices about Christianity. Combining captivating stories and insightful commentary, The Innocence of Father Brown is a delightful read. (Summary by Brian Roberg)

By LibriVox

Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, The by MARLOWE, Christopher show

Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, The by MARLOWE, ChristopherJoin Now to Follow

<p>The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, normally known simply as Doctor Faustus, is a play by Christopher Marlowe, based on the Faust story, in which a man sells his soul to the devil for power and knowledge. Doctor Faustus was first published in 1604, eleven years after Marlowe's death and at least twelve years after the first performance of the play. (Summary by Wikipedia)</p> <strong>Cast:</strong><br><p>Chorus: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/3595">Martin Geeson</a><br>Good Angel: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/4174">Availle</a><br>Evil Angel/Cardinal/Third Scholar: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/26">Denny Sayers</a><br>Doctor Faustus/Vintner/First Friar/Covetousness/Gluttony: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/4705">Algy Pug</a><br>Mephistophilis/Knight/First Scholar/Envy/Narrator: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/1259">Elizabeth Klett</a><br>Lucifer: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/2733">CalmDragon</a><br>Wagner: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/3536">Arielle Lipshaw</a><br>Valdes/Clown/Third Friar: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/3698">Nadine Eckert-Boulet</a><br>Cornelius: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/252">Rainer</a><br>The Pope: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/4547">John Steigerwald</a><br>Emperor: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/5485">Sean Randall</a><br>Horse-courser: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/5506">Frank Booker</a><br>Robin: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/3470">Jason Mills</a><br>Ralph/Second Scholar/Wrath: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/5077">Sandra G</a><br>Second Friar/Old Man: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/2911">David Lawrence</a><br>Fourth Friar/Duke of Vanholt: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/2234">Lars Rolander</a><br>Duchess of Vanholt: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/5269">Musicalheart1</a><br>Pride: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/5340">Mary-Beth Blackburn</a><br>Sloth: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/4009">Diana Majlinger</a><br>Lechery: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/3615">Lucy Perry</a><br><br><strong>Audio edited by:</strong> Elizabeth Klett<br><br></p>

By LibriVox

Voyage Towards the South Pole and Round the World, A by COOK, James show

Voyage Towards the South Pole and Round the World, A by COOK, JamesJoin Now to Follow

<p>Having, on his first voyage, discovered Australia, Cook still had to contend with those who maintained that the Terra Australians Incognita (the unknown Southern Continent) was a reality. To finally settle the issue, the British Admiralty sent Cook out again into the vast Southern Ocean with two sailing ships totalling only about 800 tons. Listen as Cook, equipped with one of the first chronometers, pushes his small vessel not merely into the Roaring Forties or the Furious Fifties but becomes the first explorer to penetrate the Antarctic Circle, reaching an incredible Latitude 71 degrees South, just failing to discover Antarctica. (Introduction by Shipley)</p>

By LibriVox

Librivox: Golden Bough, The by Frazer, James show

Librivox: Golden Bough, The by Frazer, JamesJoin Now to Follow

The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion is a wide-ranging comparative study of mythology and religion, written by Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer (1854–1941). It offered a modernist approach, discussing religion dispassionately as a cultural phenomenon, rather than from a theological perspective. Its thesis is that old religions were fertility cults that centered around the worship of, and periodic sacrifice of, a sacred king. This king was the incarnation of a dying and reviving god, a solar deity who underwent a mystic marriage to a goddess of the earth, who died at the harvest, and was reincarnated in the spring. Frazer claims that this legend is central to almost all of the world's mythologies. The germ for Frazer's thesis was the pre-Roman priest-king at the fane of Nemi, who was ritually murdered by his successor. While most of Frazer's theories (such as those on the nature of magic) have subsequently been exploded, his influence on contemporaneus European literature was immense. (From Wikipedia)

By LibriVox

Richard III (Makers of History series) by ABBOTT, Jacob show

Richard III (Makers of History series) by ABBOTT, JacobJoin Now to Follow

Jacob Abbott chronicles the unspeakably treacherous rise of Richard III to the throne of England in the midst of the war between the Yorks and the Lancasters and his ultimate fall on the Field of Bosworth. (Introduction by Cathy Barratt)

By LibriVox

CPA Exam - FAR show

CPA Exam - FARJoin Now to Follow

I am studying for the CPA exam and need to listen to certain content while I drive or workout. I don't mind sharing this content with others studying for the exam.

By Neizvest

2007 National Poetry Month Selections show

2007 National Poetry Month SelectionsJoin Now to Follow

A selection of poems selected and read by TeacherVision and Infoplease for your enjoyment this poetry month.