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Love and Freindship, and Other Early Works

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This book draws together some of Jane Austen’s earliest literary efforts. It includes “Love & Freindship” and “Lesley Castle” both told through the medium of letters written by the characters. It also contains her wonderful “History of England” and a “Collection of Letters” and lastly a chapter containing “Scraps”. In these offerings, we may see the beginnings of Miss Austen’s literary style. We may also discern traces of characters that we encounter in her later works. G. K. Chesterton in his preface, for example, says of a passage in Love and Freindship; “… is there not the foreshadowing of another and more famous father; and do we not hear for a moment, in the rustic cottage by the Uske, the unmistakable voice of Mr. Bennet?” These works are certainly worth exploring for their own sakes and not simply as historical relics. – Summary by Noel Badrian [chương_files]

My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard

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Epistolary Fiction, Family Life
Chapter: 15 | Listen: 2

“I hope that this book, based on letters shown me many years after they were written, will give a faint idea of the life of a Chinese lady. The story is told in two series of letters conceived to be written by Kwei-li, the wife of a very high Chinese official, [the first series were written] to her husband when he accompanied his master, Prince Chung, on his trip around the world.” The second series of letters were written 25 years later to Kwei-li’s mother-in-law as China faces revolution and political intrigue. “They are, therefore, the letters of the present-day Chinese woman of the old school, a woman who had by education and environment exceptional opportunities to learn of the modern world, but who, like every Eastern woman, clings with almost desperate tenacity to the traditions and customs of her race.” (Summary by MaryAnn with material from the Preface) [chương_files]

Clarissa Harlowe, or the History of a Young Lady – Volume 5

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Epistolary Fiction
Chapter: 36 | Listen: 3

Volume 5 continues the story in epistolary form of the despoliation of Clarissa, as all the forces of society and the personal nefariousness of the devilish rake Lovelace conspire to overcome her virtue. 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]

Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His Son

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Epistolary Fiction, Humorous Fiction
Chapter: 20 | Listen:

Being the Letters written by John Graham, Head of the House of Graham & Company, Pork-Packers in Chicago, familiarly known on ‘Change as “Old Gorgon Graham,” to his Son, Pierrepont, facetiously known to his intimates as “Piggy.” George Horace Lorimer was an American journalist and author. He is best known as the editor of The Saturday Evening Post. [chương_files]

Jane Austen’s Juvenilia

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Epistolary Fiction, General Fiction, Short Stories
Chapter: 18 | Listen: 2

Before becoming the author of such classics as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma, Jane Austen experimented with various writing styles as a teenager in the early 1790s. This is a collection of her juvenilia, including the epistolary novels Love and Freindship, Lesley Castle, and Lady Susan, as well as her comic History of England and some shorter pieces. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett) [chương_files]

Expedition of Humphry Clinker

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Epistolary Fiction, Satire
Chapter: 85 | Listen:

The Expedition of Humphry Clinker was the last of the picaresque novels of Tobias Smollett, and is considered by many to be his best and funniest work. Published in London on 17 June 1771, it is an epistolary novel, presented in the form of letters written by six different characters: Matthew Bramble, a Welsh Squire; his sister Tabitha; their niece and nephew, Jery and Lydia Melford; Tabitha’s maid Winifred Jenkins; and Lydia’s suitor, Wilson. Much of the comedy arises from differences in the descriptions of the same events by different participants. Attributions of motives and descriptions of behavior show wild variation and reveal much about the character of the teller. The setting, amidst the high-society spa towns and seaside resorts of the 18th century provides his characters with many opportunities for satirical observations on English life and manners. (Summary by Wikipedia) [chương_files]

When We Were Very Young (version 2)

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Poetry
Chapter: 45 | Listen: 6

This best-selling book of poetry by A. A. Milne was first published in 1924. The poems describe the adventures of Christopher Robin. In it we are introduced to Mr. Edward Bear later known as Winnie-the-Pooh. The poems are timeless and capture the joy and wonder of being a young child. – Summary by AnnaLisa Bodtker [chương_files]

Love Letter Collection 2008

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Epistolary Fiction, Letters, Romance
Chapter: 9 | Listen: 3

LibriVox readers have cast their nets wide to create this small collection of letters and poems, from fiction and from life, from heart to heart and from soul to soul. With love for St Valentine. (Summary by Peter Yearsley) [chương_files]

Lady Susan

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Epistolary Fiction, General Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Romance, Satire
Chapter: 6 | Listen: 1

Jane Austen demonstrated her mastery of the epistolary novel genre in Lady Susan, which she wrote in 1795 but never published. Although the primary focus of this short novel is the selfish behavior of Lady Susan as she engages in affairs and searches for suitable husbands for herself and her young daughter, the actual action shares its importance with Austen’s manipulation of her characters’ behavior by means of their reactions to the letters that they receive. The heroine adds additional interest by altering the tone of her own letters based on the recipient of the letter. Thus, the character of Lady Susan is developed through many branches as Austen suggests complications of identity and the way in which that identity is based on interaction rather than on solitary constructions of personality. Lady Susan’s character is also built by the descriptions of the other letter-writers; but even though their opinions of this heroine coincide with the image that develops from her own letters, Austen demonstrates the subjectivity of the opinions by presenting them – primarily – in the letters of one woman to another, thereby suggesting the established literary motifs of feminine gossip and jealousy. Readers recognize these subjective motifs and examine all of the idiosyncrasies of the characters in order to create their own opinion of Lady Susan – as they would of any real acquaintance. (Summary from Wikipedia) Cast: Lady Susan Vernon – Kristin Hughes Mrs. Vernon – rachelellen Mr. De Courcy – Patrick Beverley Mrs. Johnson – Kirsten […]

Dreams Collection 2 – Stories and Poems

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Poetry, Short Stories
Chapter: 20 | Listen: 3

This is a collection of 20 stories and/or poems, contributed by Librivox volunteers, pertaining to dreams. ( ~ Michele Fry) [chương_files]