Arts Podcasts

Librivox: Otto of the Silver Hand by Pyle, Howard show

Librivox: Otto of the Silver Hand by Pyle, HowardJoin Now to Follow

The story of little Otto, a gentle, peace-loving child born into the heart of turmoil and strife in the castle of a feuding robber baron in medieval Germany. (Summary by Arctura)

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Librivox: Pollyanna by Porter, Eleanor H. show

Librivox: Pollyanna by Porter, Eleanor H.Join Now to Follow

Pollyanna tells the story of Pollyanna Whittier, a young girl who goes to live with her wealthy Aunt Polly after her father's death. Pollyanna's philosophy of life centers around what she calls "The Glad Game": she always tries to find something to be glad about in every situation, and to always do without delay whatever she thinks is right. With this philosophy, and her own sunny personality, she brings so much gladness to her aunt's dispirited New England town that she transforms it into a pleasant, healthy place to live. Eventually, however, even Pollyanna's robust optimism is put to the test when she loses the use of her legs in an accident. (written by Mary Anderson)

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Librivox: Sense and Sensibility by Austen, Jane show

Librivox: Sense and Sensibility by Austen, JaneJoin Now to Follow

The two eldest Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, one of whom (Elinor) embraces practicality and restraint while the other (Marianne) gives her whole heart to every endeavor. When the Dashwoods - mother Mrs. Dashwood, Elinor, Marianne, and youngest sister Margaret - are sent, almost impoverished, to a small cottage in Devonshire after the death of their father and the machinations of their brother's wife, they accept their new circumstances with as much cheer as they can muster even though their brother and his wife have taken over the family estate and fortune. Marianne finds herself falling in love with the dashing Willoughby, who ends up being not all that he appears. Elinor, the more sensible of the two, falls for Edward Ferrars, a match that seems much more suitable. All of these pleasant connections are, however, soon disrupted. Willoughby leaves and ignores Marianne. Elinor finds out an unexpected secret about Ferrars that puts her on her caution in pursuing their relationship. As these complications develop, Marianne soon finds herself distraught despite having attracted another suitor, the reliable, but older, Colonel Brandon. Elinor steps into the breach to try to help her sister regain her equilibrium. Both learn what a broken heart can feel like and adjust in their own separate ways. Since this is an Austen novel and a romance, be assured that all comes right in the end. (Summary by Michelle Crandall)

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Librivox: Backwoods of Canada, The by Traill, Catharine Parr show

Librivox: Backwoods of Canada, The by Traill, Catharine ParrJoin Now to Follow

The writer is as earnest in recommending ladies who belong to the higher class of settlers to cultivate all the mental resources of a superior education, as she is to induce them to discard all irrational and artificial wants and mere useless pursuits. She would willingly direct their attention to the natural history and botany of this new country, in which they will find a never-failing source of amusement and instruction, at once enlightening and elevating the mind, and serving to fill up the void left by the absence of those lighter feminine accomplishments, the practice of which are necessarily superseded by imperative domestic duties. To the person who is capable of looking abroad into the beauties of nature, and adoring the Creator through his glorious works, are opened stores of unmixed pleasure, which will not permit her to be dull or unhappy in the loneliest part of our Western Wilderness. The writer of these pages speaks from experience, and would be pleased to find that the simple sources from which she has herself drawn pleasure, have cheered the solitude of future female sojourners in the backwoods of Canada. Summary from book introduction

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Librivox: Counterpane Fairy, The by Pyle, Katherine show

Librivox: Counterpane Fairy, The by Pyle, KatherineJoin Now to Follow

A little boy, recuperating from a lengthy illness, is entertained by visits from the Counterpane Fairy, who treats him to stories associated with each of the squares in the counterpane (quilt) on his sickbed. She has him concentrate on one of the squares until it turns into something like a doorway into the story. Once inside the story, he becomes its lead character until it fades out as if he's awakening from a dream. (Summary by Lee)

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Librivox: Chronicles of Canada Volume 05 - Seigneurs of Old Canada : A Chronicle of New World Feudalism, The by Munro, William Bennett show

Librivox: Chronicles of Canada Volume 05 - Seigneurs of Old Canada : A Chronicle of New World Feudalism, The by Munro, William BennettJoin Now to Follow

It was during one of her proud and prosperous eras that France began her task of creating an empire beyond the Atlantic. At no time, indeed, was she better equipped for the work. No power of Western Europe since the days of Roman glory had possessed such facilities for conquering and governing new lands. If ever there was a land able and ready to take up the white man's burden it was the France of the seventeenth century.

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Librivox: Essays on Some Unsettled Questions of Political Economy by Mill, John Stuart show

Librivox: Essays on Some Unsettled Questions of Political Economy by Mill, John StuartJoin Now to Follow

This is Mill’s first work on economics. It foreshadows his _Political Economy_ which was the standard Anglo-American Economics textbook of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mill’s economic theory moved from free market capitalism, to government intervention within the precepts of Utilitarianism, and finally to Socialism. [Summary written by the reader]

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Librivox: How to Live on Twenty-Four Hours a Day by Bennett, Arnold show

Librivox: How to Live on Twenty-Four Hours a Day by Bennett, ArnoldJoin Now to Follow

"Which of us lives on twenty-four hours a day? And when I say 'lives,' I do not mean exists, nor 'muddles through.'" -- Arnold Bennett knew a "rat race" when he saw one. Every day, his fellow white-collar Londoners followed the same old routine. And they routinely decried the sameness in their lives.-- So Bennett set out to explain how to inject new enthusiasm into living. In this delightful little work, he taught his fellow sufferers how to set time apart for improving their lives. Yes, he assured them, it could be done. Yes, if you want to feel connected with the world, instead of endlessly pacing the treadmill (or, "exceeding your programme", as he called it), you must do so.-- For time, as he gleefully notes, is the ultimate democracy. Each of us starts our day with 24 hours to spend. Even a saint gets not a minute more; even the most inveterate time-waster is docked not a second for his wastrel ways. And he can choose today to turn over a new leaf! -- Bennett believed that learning to discern cause and effect in the world would give his readers an endless source of enjoyment and satisfaction. Instead of only being able to discuss what they had heard, they could graduate to what they thought... and lift themselves completely from the deadening influence of a day at the office. (Summary by Mark F Smith)

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Librivox: Fisher's Boy, The by Thoreau, Henry David show

Librivox: Fisher's Boy, The by Thoreau, Henry DavidJoin Now to Follow

LibriVox volunteers bring you 11 different recordings of the Fisher’s Boy by Henry David Thoreau. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of May 13th, 2007.

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Librivox: Tale of Timothy Turtle, The by Bailey, Arthur Scott show

Librivox: Tale of Timothy Turtle, The by Bailey, Arthur ScottJoin Now to Follow

One of Bailey's "Sleepy-Time Tales," this is the story of Timothy Turtle, a grumpy old turtle trying to live his life alongside Black Creek. Timothy's adventures lead him to encounters with other Black Creek creatures, Fatty Coon, Mr. Crow, Brownie Beaver, Peter Mink, Ferdinand Frog, and even the local boy, Johnnie Green. (Summary by Robin Cotter)

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