This is the 26th Coffee Break Collection, in which Librivox readers select and read poems, fiction and non-fiction pieces of fifteen minutes’ duration or less. The subject for this collection is “It’s a Small World”. Readers have interpreted this in their own way, so we have selections such as Asteroids, Small Country Houses of Today and stories for “small people”, such as Jack and the Beanstalk. [chương_files]
A school adventure set in Australia, with secret societies, bullies, mystery, a new student who calls everyone comrade, and sport, at least one handgun, and more. I only wish I could add an Australian accent! (Summary by KevinS) [chương_files]
Published in 1766, ‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ was Oliver Goldsmith’s only novel. It was thought to have been sold to the publisher for £60 on Oliver Goldsmith’s behalf by Dr Johnson to enable Goldsmith to pay off outstanding rent and to release himself from his landlady’s arrest. It is the story of the family of Dr Primrose, a benevolent vicar, and follows them through their fall from fortune and their ultimate rise again. The story provides insight into family life and circumstances in the mid 18th century and the plot has many aspects of a pantomime like quality: Impersonation, deception, an aristocratic villain and the abduction of a beautiful heroine. Goldsmith himself dissipated his savings on gambling whilst a student at Trinity College Dublin and subsequently travelled in Europe sustaining himself by playing the flute and disputing doctrinal matters in monasteries and universities. Later he worked as an apothecary’s assistant, a doctor and a school usher (experiences shared in this story by Dr Primrose’s son). (Summary by Martin Clifton) [chương_files]
The published dictionary was a huge book: with pages nearly 1½ feet tall and 20 inches wide, it contained 42,773 words; it also sold for the huge price of £4/10s. ($400?). It would be years before “Johnson’s Dictionary”, as it came to be known, would ever turn a profit; authors’ royalties being unknown at that time, Johnson, once his contract to deliver the book was fulfilled, received no further monies connected to the book. Johnson, once again a freelance writer, albeit now a famous one, faced a grim hand-to-mouth existence; however, in July 1762 the twenty-four year old King George III granted Johnson an annual pension of £300. While not making Johnson rich, it allowed him a modest yet comfortable independence for the remaining thirty years of his life. (Summary from Wikipedia). [chương_files]
The Cloak or the Overcoat as in some translations, is a story by Ukrainian-born Russian author Nikolai Gogol, published in 1842. The story and its author have had great influence on Russian literature, as expressed in a quote attributed to Fyodor Dostoyevsky: “We all come out from Gogol’s ‘Overcoat’.” It is pointed to as the start of the realistic style of writing. Summary by phil c [chương_files]
Considered an early masterpiece, “Madame de Mauves” is the first of Henry James’s ‘international contrasts’. It recounts the story of an American girl, Euphemia Cleve, through the eyes of her fellow countryman Longmore. Euphemia marries an impoverished French aristocrat, the Baron de Mauves, in the belief that he is the ideal of all her girlhood fancies. Longmore is the admiring spectator of her disillusionment. Is she really so unhappy as he imagines? What is, if any, the essential difference between an American idealist and a French man of the world? – Summary by Gemma L Myers [chương_files]
EXCERPT: In all things that he did, Flora’s well-being was the doctor’s paramount consideration. He brought pleasant people to his house; men of professional standing, and their wives. He sought to win friends for her, and the gentle charm of her manner endeared her to the people he brought about her, almost in spite of herself. To know her was to love her. To Cuthbert Ollivant’s small circle of intimates Flora was known only as his ward. [chương_files]
A fun-loving and sometimes mischievous young brother (Ted) and sister (Jan), (known as the Curlytops because of the headful of curls they have) are about to have some fun, and quite an amazing adventure camping out with Grandpa. (Summary by Laurie Banza) [chương_files]
A medieval romance in which Erec goes through many trials until he is sure of Enide’s loyalty and true love (Summary by M. J. Boyle) [chương_files]
Kit Orchardson, an apprentice produce grower in Sunbury, England describes for us a time in his youth in which he fell in love with Kitty, a young lady of higher status, endeavored to secure her love and ventured to solve her mysterious disappearance shortly after they were joined in marriage. Through Kit’s perspective, we get a wonderful view of life in 1860 England where people’s attitudes were maneuvering between their societal status and their character. [chương_files]
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