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Wing of Azrael, Volume 1

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Published 1800 - 1900
Chapter: 15 | Listen:

Mona Caird, a British writer and feminist, criticized in numerous non-fiction writings the state of marriage as it existed in her time. Her novel The Wing of Azrael reflects her criticisms. This is the first volume of three. In volume 1, Viola Sedley has attracted the admiration of both Philip Dendraith, a young nobleman, and Harry Lancaster, who, like Viola, comes from a more modest background. Viola’s parents are facing imminent financial hardship, and her marriage to Philip would be advantageous to them. Viola, however, has a distaste for Philip that turns into a marked aversion after she witnesses his cruelty towards animals. Moreover, Harry, who knows Philip’s character, has given her vigorous warnings against marrying him. Torn between her feelings of antipathy towards Philip and her sense of obedience and obligation to her family, Viola must make a difficult choice. (Summary by Scarbo) [chương_files]

Illustrations of Political Economy, Volume 1

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Published 1800 - 1900
Chapter: 34 | Listen:

Hugely popular at their time of publication, Harriet Martineau’s Illustrations of Political Economy sought to turn the abstract principles of political economy into engaging, entertaining, and fundamentally humane works of social fiction. Through these dramatizations of dense economic theories, Martineau tried to educate and empower her readers, making even the most arcane concepts digestible and comprehendible to the widest possible audience (many of whom, such as women and the working class, were often excluded from engaging with these ideas via more conventional means). Each volume contains a different series of short, didactic novellas that “illustrate” a different set of economic principles, offering audiences tales that are equal parts riveting and edifying. Their publication caused a minor sensation in Victorian England. This is the first of nine volumes and contains the following short novellas: Life in the Wilds (a tale about self-sufficiency, cooperation, and colonialism that dramatizes an attack against English settlers in South Africa), The Hill and the Valley (a story of industrial strife set in a Welsh iron works that touches on topics of industry, commerce, and Luddism), and Brooke and Brooke Farm (a tale about the enclosure of public land set in the English countryside). (Summary by ChuckW) [chương_files]

Villette (version 3)

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Published 1800 - 1900
Chapter: 74 | Listen: 3

A quiet, self-reliant, intelligent, 23-year-old woman, Lucy has, as Miss Ginevra Fanshawe asserts, “no attractive accomplishments – no beauty.” She seems to have no living relatives. Though usually reserved and emotionally self-controlled, Lucy has strong feelings and affections for those whom she really values. She even sincerely cares for the giddy Ginevra, albeit in a blunt, curmudgeonly fashion. She is a firm Protestant and denounces Roman Catholicism as false (“God is not with Rome”). The novel is initially set in the English countryside, and later follows Lucy Snowe to the fictional Belgian town of Villette, a Gothic town where the majority of the action takes place. Villette is modelled upon the city of Brussels and is set in the fictional kingdom of Labassecour (modelled on Belgium). “Labassecour” is the French word for farmyard.. – Summary by Wikipedia [chương_files]

Ran Away to Sea

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Action & Adventure
Chapter: 68 | Listen: 3

“I was just sixteen when I ran away to sea.” So begins the story of Will, a young man attracted to the romance of the sea. But that romance soon gives way to the reality of the sea on board the Pandora, once her crew meets up with a slaver ship. NOTE: There are issues of race in the telling of “Ran Away to Sea”, particularly anti-Black stereotypes and derogatory language. It is LibriVox’s policy to record texts as written. [chương_files]

Simon the Jester

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Published 1900 onward
Chapter: 24 | Listen: 5

Simon de Gex, a wealthy and successful MP, is diagnosed with a terminal illness and decides to use his last few months using his wealth and influence to do good. In particular, he determines to guide his protégé and friend, Dale, away from an unfortunate relationship with Lola Brandt, a lady with an unsuitably colourful background. The book follows what happens to Simon in his quest – and also what further happens when an operation unexpectedly restores his health. (Summary by Simon Evers) [chương_files]

Essays Irish and American

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Essays & Short Works, Literary Criticism
Chapter: 7 | Listen: 2

From the noted artist and father of the celebrated Irish poet William Butler Yeats comes this short collection of essays on the literary life of their age. Included are two short biographical remembrances of the author. – Summary by Larry Wilson [chương_files]

Monica – Complete

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Published 1800 - 1900, Romance
Chapter: 32 | Listen: 7

Monica was happy at Trevlyn, with her father and step-brother. But what would happen to them when the estate passed to a distant cousin, entailed as it was to the male line? Could she bear to see her invalid brother torn from his home? Should she marry this distant cousin, and thus ensure her and her brother the right to remain at Trevyln? Could she love him? And what about his dislike of her old childhood friend? Was there more to the situation than she knew? (Summary by Krista Zaleski) [chương_files]

Camp Fire Girls Across the Seas

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Action & Adventure
Chapter: 21 | Listen: 3

In this next volume of the Camp Fire Girls’ Series, several years have intervened between it and the previous book and the girls are introduced under very different influences and circumstances. Just how many of them have crossed the seas and for what purposes, and how the old Camp Fire influence still follows them, it is the plan of this story to reveal. [chương_files]

Dogs and Puppies

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Action & Adventure
Chapter: 6 | Listen:

From the author of the popular “Billie Whiskers” books, comes this short collection of stories about — well, dogs and puppies. Let’s meet Gypsy, Pretty, Punch, Buster, Patsy, and Beans. – Summary by Larry Wilson [chương_files]

Gadsby

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Published 1900 onward
Chapter: 44 | Listen: 1

Fifty-year-old John Gadsby is alarmed by the decline of his hometown, Branton Hills, and rallies the city’s young people to form an “Organization of Youth” to build civic spirit and improve living standards. Gadsby and his youthful army, despite some opposition, transform Branton Hills from a stagnant municipality into a bustling, thriving city. The story begins around 1906 and continues through World War I, Prohibition, and President Warren G. Harding’s administration. “Gadsby” is a lipogram – a whole novel of some 50.000 words without a single instance of the letter E. When it first appeared in 1939 it was hardly noticed by the general public, but a modern reviewer called it “probably the most ambitious work ever attempted in this genre”. Hardcopies of the book are extremely rare and sell for thousands of dollars. (Summary by Availle and Wikipedia) [chương_files]