Literature audiobooks page 40

Wilhelm Tell ist das letzte fertiggestellte Drama Friedrich von Schillers. Er schloss es 1804 ab. Das Drama nimmt den Stoff des Schweizer Nationalmythos um Wilhelm Tell und den Rütlischwur auf.

The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print. The author says in the preface " I have endeavored as far as possible to avoid hard and technical expressions, and I cannot but think that the mere fact of the brevity of the words must be a great attraction to beginners of all ages.

Bulfinch (July 15, 1796 - May 27, 1867) explains the his work is "an attempt tell the stories of mythology in such a manner as to make them a source of amusement. We have endeavored to tell them correctly, according to the ancient authorities, so that when the reader finds them referred to he may not be at a loss to recognize the reference. Thus we hope to teach mythology not as a study, but as a relaxation from study; to give our work the charm of a story-book, yet by means of it to impart a knowledge of an important branch of education."

The Bulfinch version of myth presents the myths in their literary versions, without unnecessary violence, sex, psychology or ethnographic inform...

A Relíquia é um romance do escritor português Eça de Queirós, publicado em 1887. Uma de suas obras mais irreverentes e mais fantasiosas, "A Relíquia"pode ser lida como uma sátira ao catolicismo em Portugal, ou, mais amplamente, ao conservadorismo, através das memórias do narrador Teodorico Raposo, que, para herdar a fortuna da tia velha e solteirona, vive uma vida dupla: extremamente católico e devoto para a família, mas um ébrio galanteador junto aos amigos. Como prova cabal de sua devoção, Teodorico empreende a longa viagem de Portugal à Terra Santa como representante da tia, num esforço de manutenção das aparências que resulta, segundo o narrador, em aventuras que viriam a modificá-lo ...

"I am very glad that "The Story of the Seven Who Were Hanged" will be read in English. The misfortune of us all is that we know so little, even nothing, about one another—neither about the soul, nor the life, the sufferings, the habits, the inclinations, the aspirations of one another. Literature, which I have the honor to serve, is dear to me just because the noblest task it sets before itself is that of wiping out boundaries and distances."
-- Leonid Andreyev, in a letter to Herman Bernstein

One of Balzac's most popular works, set around 1815 during the re-ascendancy of the Bourbon kings following the defeat of Napoleon. Said to have been an inspiration to Charles Dickens and Henry James as well as others, the novel seeks to portray the realism of scenes and people. It is also a commentary upon the changing social strata and mores of the day.

Krates (een gebochelde) is een wees, met een groot muzikaal gevoel, een grote erfenis en prachtige mooie bruine ogen die hem geliefd bij de meisjes maakt. Een echte 'Charles Dickens' maar dan korter en uit Nederland. Het is ook een boek over het lied Ich Grolle nicht (Ik zoek geen wraak) van Heinrich Heine op muziek van Robert Schumann. Samenvatting door Marcel Coenders

A collection of short stories by famed humorist and Punch magazine staff member, F. Anstey, pseudonym for Thomas Anstey Guthrie. They range from humorous and whimsical to haunting and thought-provoking.

Candide vivait paisible et innocent chez le baron de Thunder-ten-tronckh, en Westphalie. Dans son château, le précepteur Pangloss (« qui discourt de tout » en grec), représentation de Gottfried Leibniz, professait un optimisme béat. Candide partageait cette plénitude d’autant plus qu’il était amoureux de Cunégonde, fille du baron. Un jour, ce même baron surprend leurs amours et chasse Candide à coups de pied « dans le derrière ».
(Résumé par Wikipédia)

This novella tells the tale of a young man, Candide (meaning “ingenuous”), who has been indoctrinated with Leibnizian optimism but becomes disillusioned after witnessing and experiencing many great hardships.

Een hollandsche jonge man, Bertie, een liederlijke vagabond, die te Londen door eenen vriend in huis genomen een wereldsche fat wordt van de oneerlijkste soort, die in 't geheim alles doet om zijnen vriend (Frank) het leven te bederven, welke bij diens geliefde zijne eerlijkheid en goede trouw met alle intriganten-manieien ondermijnt, hem zijn geld aftrochelt, om hem te verraden, en dan de verantwoordelijkheid voor die daden van zich afschuift, op het Schicksal, op het Fatum, dat is de hoofdpersoon.

Daar tegenover staat de vriend Frank, een recht onnoozele bloed, die het hart van een eerlijk meisje wegens zijne eerlijkheid heeft veroverd, doch weldra mistrouwd wordt, ten gevolg...