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Liaisons dangereuses

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Epistolary Fiction
Chapter: 19 | Listen: 3

D’amants qu’ils étaient, le Vicomte de Valmont et la Marquise de Merteuil sont restés complices dans leurs projets de liaisons et confidents dans leur correspondance, chacun préservant sa réputation aux yeux du monde : d’homme irrésistible pour l’un, de femme respectable pour l’autre. Ils ont, cette fois-ci, jeté leur dévolu sur la Présidente de Tourvel, jeune femme vertueuse et dévote dont l’époux demeure au loin et Cécile Volanges, adolescente à peine sortie du couvent, promise au Comte de Gercourt, dont s’éprend le Chevalier Danceny. Si, à force de manipulations, leurs projets aboutissent, la première fera la gloire de son vainqueur, la seconde, le déshonneur de son mari lorsque la chose sera rendue publique. Suivons donc le courrier de ces protagonistes, de leurs parents, de leurs amis. Pourrons-nous « ne pas frémir en songeant au malheur que peut causer une seule liaison dangereuse » ? [chương_files]

Republic of the Future

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or Socialism a Reality In the year 2050, Wolfgang travels to the socialist city of New York. He writes enthusiastically to his friend Hannevig describing the wonders of the journey (via pneumatic tube under the ocean) and vastness of the city. He then turns his eye and pen to the effects of true equality of the sexes and freedom from work. Unfortunately for the New Yorkers, they do not create the desired utopia but just the opposite. (Jennifer Fournier) [chương_files]

Mirror Of Kong Ho

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Epistolary Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Published 1900 onward
Chapter: 15 | Listen: 3

This 1905 tongue-in-cheek book is ostensibly the letters of a dutiful son to his Chinese father describing his encounter with and experience of Western civilization in late nineteenth century London. The author is delightfully humorous. – Summary by david wales [chương_files]

Lettres persanes – Tome premier

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Epistolary Fiction, Erotica
Chapter: 90 | Listen: 3

Les Lettres persanes est un roman épistolaire de Montesquieu, rassemblant la correspondance fictive échangée entre deux voyageurs persans, Usbek et Rica, et leurs amis respectifs restés en Perse. Leur séjour dure huit ans. Au XVIIIe siècle, l’Orient et le goût des voyages sont à la mode. Cependant, le roman fut publié au printemps 1721 à Amsterdam, et Montesquieu, par prudence, n’avoua pas qu’il en était l’auteur. Selon lui, le recueil était anonyme, et il se présentait comme simple traducteur. Mais personne ne s’y trompe. Montesquieu y dépeint admirablement, sur un ton humoristique et satirique, la société française à travers le regard de visiteurs perses. Cette œuvre connaît un succès considérable : le côté exotique, parfois érotique, la veine satirique mais sur un ton spirituel et amusé sur lesquels joue Montesquieu, plaisent. (tiré de Wikipedia) [chương_files]

History Of Lady Barton

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Epistolary Fiction, Satire
Chapter: 60 | Listen: 2

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]

Lost Diaries

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Epistolary Fiction, Fictional Biographies & Memoirs, Literary Fiction, Published 1900 onward
Chapter: 20 | Listen: 2

Within these pages find passages from the “lost diaries” of a wide range of people: royal, regular, famous, infamous, historical, and fictional. – Summary by A. Gramour [chương_files]

Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady – Volume 9

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Epistolary Fiction
Chapter: 65 | Listen: 4

In Volume 9 Clarissa hastens to her fate and the various culprits reap the consequences of their crimes of indifference, cruelty and neglect. One of the earliest and certainly the longest novel in the English language, with a wide-ranging influence not only on the English novel, but also on nineteenth century European literature at large, it is gripping, twisted and a magnificent dramatic soap opera. – Summary by Nicole Lee [chương_files]

Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady – Volume 8

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Epistolary Fiction
Chapter: 71 | Listen: 2

In Volume 8 Clarissa continues to decline towards her pitiful end, while Lovelace remains defiant, even as his nemesis Colonel Morden finally arrives his town. One of the earliest and certainly the longest novel in the English language, with a wide-ranging influence not only on the English novel, but also on nineteenth century European literature at large, it is gripping, twisted and a magnificent dramatic soap opera. – Summary by Nicole Lee [chương_files]

Secresy, or, the Ruin on the Rock

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Epistolary Fiction, Romance
Chapter: 82 | Listen:

This is the story of Caroline and Sibella, two female friends. Strong and smart women who try to make it in a man’s world while keeping their values and loyalties intact. The only way to do that is to hide a few secrets. Yet secrets cannot remain hidden for ever, and everything has a price. This is both a social novel and a gothic novel. A true page turner with all the elements of a good 18th century novel: a woman locked in an estate, a hidden pregnancy, some politics of marriage, villains, sentimentality and thought provoking philosophy. Summary by Stav Nisser. [chương_files]

Letters of a Portuguese Nun

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Epistolary Fiction
Chapter: 11 | Listen: 5

The Letters of a Portuguese Nun (Les Lettres Portugaises) were first published anonymously in Paris in 1669. The five passionate letters in book form were a publishing sensation since their appearance, with five editions in the first year, followed by more than forty editions throughout the 17th century. A Cologne edition of 1669 stated that the Marquis de Chamilly was their addressee, but, aside from the fact that she was female, the author’s name and identity remained unknown. The letters were translated in several languages, and set a precedent for sentimentalism in European culture at large, and for the literary genres of the sentimental novel and the epistolary novel into the 18th century. The interest in the Letters was so strong that the word “portugaise” became synonymous with “a passionate love-letter” in the 17th century. The authorship of the work was assigned to Mariana Alcoforado, a Portuguese nun, as early as the 18th century. During the 20th century, however, many scholars have supported the idea that they are a work of epistolary fiction written by Gabriel-Joseph de La Vergne, comte de Guilleragues, a French politician, who had been secretary of the King’s Chamber and also director of the Gazette de France. Nevertheless, any doubts about the authorship do not detract from the beauty and power of the letters themselves, presented here in a prose translation followed by a versified one. – Summary by Leni [chương_files]