Literature audiobooks page 86

The Real Thing is, on one level, a somewhat ironic tale of an artist and two rather particular models. Yet it also raises questions about the relationship between the notion of reality in our humdrum world, and the means that an artist must use in trying to achieve, or reflect, that reality. Though the protagonist is an artist and illustrator of books, not a writer, it's not hard to imagine that James has himself, and other writers, in mind.

Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge ist ein 1910 veröffentlichter Roman in Tagebuchform von Rainer Maria Rilke - sein einziger Roman. Das Werk besteht aus 72 Aufzeichnungen, die oftmals Prosagedichten ähneln und meist unverbunden aufeinander folgen. Rilke selbst nannte das Werk stets „Prosabuch“ und niemals Roman. Die Aufzeichnungen haben einen bewusst fragmentarischen und (besonders zu Beginn) tagebuchähnlichen Charakter, und sie besitzen auch keinen durchgehenden Handlungsstrang. Dennoch sind sie durch die inneren Konflikte Maltes verbunden. Der Roman beginnt im Paris der Wende des neunzehnten auf das zwanzigste Jahrhundert. Die Aufzeichnungen umfassen Maltes Pariser Erlebnisse,...

Published in 1901, The Sacred Fount delves into the interior observations and obsessions of one Englishman during a weekend gathering in the country. Regarding himself as a master of human psychology, the narrator watches the goings-on of the other guests and weaves theories about the interpersonal implications of what he witnesses, leaving the not infrequently perplexed reader the task of sorting out whether his conclusions are facts or fancies. (Introduction by S. Kovalchik)

Auf dem Weg zur Brigittenauer Kirchweihe fällt dem Erzähler ein alter Geigenspieler auf. Durch ein kurzes Gespräch neugierig geworden, besucht er ihn einige Tage später in seiner Wohnung. Dort erzählt ihm der Spielmann seine tragische Lebensgeschichte.

Franz Grillparzer zählt zu den wichtigsten österreichischen Dramatikern. Er wird auch gerne als der österreichische Nationaldichter bezeichnet. Der arme Spielmann, erschienen 1848, ist eine von nur zwei Novellen Grillparzers. (Zusammenfassung von Availle.)

“Levity” is not a word often applied to Henry James, but this story has about it an attractively lighthearted quality. It tells of Peter Baron, a poor, young struggling writer of adequate, if not transcendent, talent, who lives in a dreary London boarding house inhabited also by a mysteriously clairvoyant and beautiful young widow, with her small boy. When Baron buys himself a second-hand writing desk to stimulate the creative juices, he finds carefully hidden within it a cache of letters that appear to compromise a recently deceased statesman. The discovery and his struggle to handle the questions they pose ultimately change his life. Along the way he also discovers, as a fringe benef...

Set during WWI in England, The Red Planet is a rich tale about the life in a little English town from the point of view of Major Duncan Meredyth, a disabled veteran of the Boer Wars. As he struggles to keep his life and the lives of those he cares for in harmony, he must also shelter a dark secret regarding one of the village's favorite sons.

The Red Planet was the third bestselling novel in the United States for 1917.

Die junge Ernestine Rehbein, genannt Stine, lebt in einfachen kleinbürgerlichen Verhältnissen bei ihrer verwitweten Schwester Pauline, die zwei Kinder von zwei verschiedenen Männern hat. Bei einer kleinen Abendgesellschaft lernt Stine den kränklichen jungen Grafen Waldemar Haldern kennen. Dieser verliebt sich in Stine und fängt an, um sie zu werben. Pauline rät Stine zur Vorsicht, um nicht ins Gerede zu kommen. Graf Haldern möchte Stine heiraten, doch sein Onkel rät ihm davon ab, da es die Ächtung seiner Familie nach sich ziehen würde. (Zusammenfassung von Hokuspokus)

A classic style western written by one of the first female western writers. Caroline Lockhart was a rancher, writer and possibly the first woman to go over Glacier National Parks Swiftcurrent Pass.

Boule de Suif (1880) is a short story by the late-19th century French writer Guy de Maupassant. It is arguably his most famous short story, and is the title story for his collection on the Franco-Prussian War, entitled "Boule de Suif et Autres Contes de la Guerre" ("Boule de Suif and Other Stories of the War"). John Ford said that his film Stagecoach was in many ways a western rewrite of Boule de Suif.

Anderson’s uniquely structured piece focuses on the lives of Winesburg’s most intriguing residents, as each shares a personal recount of their lives and experiences in the small town. The stories essentially intertwine to illustrate the development of George Willard, as he transforms from a heedless young man, to a man well aware of life’s trials and the extent of human misery. Exploring various themes including isolation, communication, limitation, and suffering, Winesburg, Ohio offers a glimpse into its characters heartfelt confessions.

Set in the late nineteenth century in the fictional town of Winesburg, Anderson begins his piece with his story “The Book of the ...