Arts Podcasts
Bacchae, The by EURIPIDESJoin Now to Follow
<p>The tragedy is based on the mythological story of King Pentheus of Thebes and his mother Agavë, and their punishment by the god Dionysus (who is Pentheus' cousin) for refusing to worship him. (Summary by Wikipedia)</p><strong>Cast:</strong><br><p>Dionysus: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/1492">mb</a><br>Cadmus: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/3699">Bruce Pirie</a><br>Pentheus: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/4705">Algy Pug</a><br>Agave: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/5622">Roseanne Schmidt</a><br>Teiresias: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/5635">Matthew Reece</a><br>Soldier: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/5719">John Fricker</a><br>Messenger: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/5659">Dale Burgess</a><br>Chorus/Narrator: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/1259">Elizabeth Klett</a><br><br><strong>Audio edited by:</strong> Elizabeth Klett<br></p>
By LibriVox
Librivox: Practice of the Presence of God, The by Lawrence, BrotherJoin Now to Follow
The Practice of the Presence of God is a collection of letters and transcriptions of conversations, compiled by a disciple of Brother Lawrence. Brother Lawrence was a Carmelite monk and head cook in his monastery's kitchens. He quickly gained an international reputation as a mystic and spiritual counselor. The Practice of the Presence records his last words of advice to his friends and disciples, as he suffered from an unnamed illness which would eventually take his life. (Description written by Kirsten Ferreri.)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Richard II by Shakespeare, WilliamJoin Now to Follow
Richard II by William Shakespeare is the first of eight plays that portray a historically-informed version of the War of the Roses - beginning in about 1365 and ending with Richard III's death in 1485. Edited by J. M. Smallheer and John Gonzalez. (Summary by Cori) Characters: Narration, Keeper, and Lord - read by Annie Coleman King Richard II and First Servant - read by Peter Yearsley Northumberland and Gaunt - read by Chip Bolingbroke - read by Kayvan Sylvan Aumerle - read by John Gonzalez Henry Percy - read by Michael Sirois York - read by Martin Clifton Mowbray - read by Mark F. Smith Surrey and Willoughby - read by Nikolle Doolin Salisbury - read by David Barnes Bushy and Carlisle - read by Cecelia Prior Bagot, Abbot, Scroop, and Exton - read by Linton Green - read by deadwhitemales Queen Isabel - read by Joy Chan Duchess of York - read by Kristen McQuillin Berkeley - read by Rainer Ross - read by Mr. Baby Man Fitzwater and Groom - read by Sean McKinley Marshal - read by Lenny Glionna Jr. Captain and First Herald - read by Hugh Mac Duchess of Gloucester - read by Gesine Lady - read by Maureen S. O'Brien Gardener, Second Herald, and Second Servant - read by Kara Shallenberg
By LibriVox
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)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 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.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, 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, 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
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
