A satiric novel of manners written in Benson’s classic style of gently poking fun at class structures and the people who fill them. This time he includes New York, London, and the railways of the English countryside. – Summary by Beeswaxcandle [chương_files]
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, better known as The Pickwick Papers, is the first novel by Charles Dickens. Written for publication as a serial, The Pickwick Papers consists of a sequence of loosely-related adventures. Its main literary value and appeal is formed by its numerous unforgettable heroes. Each personage in The Pickwick Papers (just as in many other Dickens’ novels) is drawn comically, often with exaggerated features of character. (Wikipedia) [chương_files]
Deep in the fens of the British coast sits the gloomy mansion that goes by the name Nightmare Abbey. It is inhabited by persons of very low opinion of the human race, and in fact they pride themselves in the depths of their detestation. Others of its denizens believe the ultimate exercise and product of the human mind ought to be chaos. Now let the young master of the house get snared by the wiles of a beautiful young lady. And for good measure, toss in another beautiful young lady. Now Scythrop (named in honor of an ancestor who became bored with life and hanged himself) is about to find that two such make too much of a good thing! Peacock wrote Nightmare Abbey as a satire, and he has folded in allusions to or quotations from literally dozens of other works. He makes use of many long, impressive-sounding words (some of which he very possibly made up!). Ignore these and his occasional Latin phrase, treat the rest as a farce, and you’re on track for a fun listen!(Summary be Mark F. Smith) [chương_files]
Civilization, Immortality, the Death Penalty, these are just a few of the essays enclosed in this collection, A Cynic Looks At Life. Written by Ambrose Bierce, these essays continue to be thought provoking, offering a valid outlook on life. [chương_files]
Old Martin Chuzzlewit has heaps of money that has never brought him anything but misery. Estranged from his grandson and namesake, when word gets out that he is ill, he finds himself surrounded by a throng of relatives that he despises, all hoping to get a piece of the pie. He allows himself to be taken under the wing of his obsequious and hypocritical cousin, Seth Pecksniff, who is more than happy to shelter him and kowtow to him and to keep all other relatives away. Will this vulture be the one to inherit the old man’s fortune, or is there more going on than meets the eye? Treachery, mayhem, and possibly murder, along with some genuine love and compassion are skillfully intertwined in this book, along with Dickens’ classic wit and brilliantly created characters. His villains are odious, his good guys are delightful, and those that fall in between truly deserve to be called “Characters.” (summary by Debra Lynn) [chương_files]
Laurence Oliphant, author, international traveller, diplomatist and mystic, who spent a decade in later life under the influence of the spiritualist prophet Thomas Lake Harris, writes here under the amusing guise of Lord Frank Vanecourt, bringing us a veritable pot-pourri of events from everyday life in 1865 as he moves amongst the great, the good, and not so good who reside in the exclusive area of London’s Piccadilly W1 and its surroundings. (Introduction by Nigel Carrington) [chương_files]
Tom Thumb, small of stature, great of heart. This play was written as a parody of the tragic heroic biography of a great man, filled with biting satire as to people and events of the time. Note as warned by the title that this is not a happy-ending fairy tale. (Follow the etext link to see how the script is full of fictitious supposedly real researchy footnotes by “H. Scriblerus Secundus” providing fake references to the events and allusions of the play.) Supposedly Jane Austen put on a family performance of this play. – Summary by ToddHW Cast list: King Arthur, a passionate sort of king, husband to queen Dollallolla, of whom he stands a little in fear; father to Huncamunca, whom he is very fond of, and in love with Glumdalca: ToddHW Tom Thumb the Great, a little hero with a great soul, something violent in his temper, which is a little abated by his love for Huncamunca: Matthew Reece Ghost of Gaffer Thumb, a whimsical sort of ghost: Andrew Gaunce Lord Grizzle, extremely zealous for the liberty of the subject, very cholerick in his temper, and in love with Huncamunca: Alan Mapstone Merlin, a conjurer, and in some sort father to Tom Thumb: Wayne Cooke Noodle, courtier in place, and consequently of that party that is uppermost: Andrew James Doodle, courtier in place, and consequently of that party that is uppermost: Adrian Stephens Foodle, a courtier that is out of place, and consequently of that party that is […]
“Myszeis” (znany także jako “Myszeidos pieśni X”) to chronologicznie pierwszy z trzech poematów heroikomicznych Ignacego Krasickiego. Poeta wyśmiewa w nim niektóre współczesne sobie zjawiska za pomocą opowieści o wielkiej wojnie między myszami i szczurami po jednej stronie, a kotami i ludźmi po drugiej. Król Popiel, po krótkim okresie faworyzowania myszy, zmienia zdanie i czyni swoim faworytem kota. Wkrótce nastaje wielkie prześladowanie myszy i szczurów, a te postanawiają odpowiedzieć kontratakiem. Wybucha wojna… Wzorując poemat na “Iliadzie” poeta nadał uczestniczącym postaciom zwierzęcym imiona mające pasować swoją rangą do epickiego charakteru opowieści. Odbiorca znajdzie też tu sceny podniosłych przemów i wielkich bitew. (Summary by Piotr Nater) [chương_files]
Monachomachia, czyli Wojna mnichów to poemat heroikomiczny autorstwa Ignacego Krasickiego wydany po raz pierwszy anonimowo w 1778. Jego tematem jest walka pomiędzy mnichami, a przedstawienie sporu mnichów w utworze naznaczone jest groteskowym humorem. Jednocześnie Monachomachia jest ostrą satyrą, krytyką ukrytą pod kostiumem zabawnych postaci. (Źródło: Wikipedia) Monachomachia, the War of the monks (from Gr. Monachos – monk, Machia – the fight) is a mock-heroic poem by Ignatius Krasicki first published anonymously in 1778. [chương_files]
This is the story of the three Cleveland siblings: Fanny, the innocent yet very sympathetic sister; Louisa, the strong willed sister whose miserable marriage to Sir William is the center of the novel; and Sir George who tries to get over the loss of his lover by touring the world. Louisa is not an amoral woman, she is beautiful and very lively, values which 18th century society promotes, yet she suffers only affliction from her “respectable” college educated husband. In the main plot, and all the sub plots (of which there are many), the book tests many prominent values of the time and brings to light their negative implications. It raises questions such as: is marriage always right for women? If a woman is miserable in her marriage, when is enough? Is a great tour to find yourself always a good idea, or should you consider its implications on those around you? Does formal education matter or should inter personal communication skills be more important? Or, perhaps most importantly, is your family always there to protect you? This book is timeless in it’s discourses on right and wrong, friendship, and of course love. It has everything for everyone, even the favorite gothic story for those who look for it. It is a must read for every 18th century lover. A book that will make you think and think again. ( Stav Nisser.) [chương_files]
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