This is the first book of a trilogy (A Child of the Jago, To London Town) set in the harsh world of London’s East End. Violence and poverty are everywhere, but the universal human emotions prevail despite the rawness of life. We come to love the characters and suffer with them in their misery, yet share in their joys and minor triumphs. – Summary by Lynne Thompson [chương_files]
Many novels, most notably Hannah Webster’s The Coquette, focused on how terrible it is for a woman to flirt before her marriage. “I did not speak 20 sentences before sir Robert proposed to me”, explained Lady Bidulph while teaching her daughter how to court properly in “Memoirs of Miss Sidney Bidulph”. A coquette must be a fool, wicked, and immoral. But Peggy is none of these. She sees things as they are, sometimes too much for her own good, and flirts with men she finds interesting. She decides to tell about them, from her point of view. The feelings, the reasons they did not keep in touch, and her “notions” about them. This is her way to examine late Victorian society including the lives of other oppressed minorities. This novel is considered semi autobiographical. – Summary by Stav Nisser. [chương_files]
This is a sequel to Kidnapped. Many thought Kidnapped ended quite abruptly. The reason is Stevenson planned on writing a sequel. Catriona takes up the story of David Balfour on the same day Kidnapped ends. He must now try to clear his name and the name of James Stewart of the Appin murder. This will not be easy because the Campbells want James Stewart to hang. “Catriona: Being Memoirs of the Further Adventures of David Balfour at Home and Abroad, in which are set forth his misfortunes anent the Appin Murder, his troubles with Lord Advocate Grant: captivity on the Bass Rock, Journey into Holland and France, and singular relations with James More Drummond or MacGregor, a son of the notorious Rob Roy, and his daughter Catriona: written by himself, and now set forth by Robert Louis Stevenson.” (Summary by Wayne Cooke and from the title page) [chương_files]
This is the twenty-fifth Coffee Break Collection, in which Librivox readers select English language public domain works of about 15 minutes or less in duration — perfect to listen to during commutes, workouts or coffee breaks. The topic for this collection is water, a subject that has attracted Archimedes, Shelley and Masefield, to name but a few. [chương_files]
Can starving children be grateful for the education they receive if, when they ask for food, rich people give them a stone? This is the question in the heart of this rich psychological novel. Lady Lashmore is a typical lady of her time, ruling every aspect of her household and constantly complaining that the poor people in the factory ten miles away bother her. Things change when her son, Lord Lashmore, falls in love with a poor woman. Only then does he understand what is the one thing they need most. Only then does he mature, develop empathy, and see what are the real important things in life. This is a coming of age story, a love story, but, most of all, a story about prejudice and small revolutions. For the world would never be the same and the young generation sees social classes differently. This novel is perfect for fans of Charlotte Bronte and Elizabeth Gaskell. Readers who love Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s other novels will not be disappointed. – Summary by Stav Nisser. [chương_files]
A collection of 8 short stories for children, written by Mary Mapes Dodge, author of “Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates”. This was her first book, and the stories were written to entertain her children. A Christmas story, tales of the Civil War, and an Indian tale are among the offerings. (Summary by Krista Zaleski) [chương_files]
Published anonymously in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (with an earlier draft also appearing as “Arrow-Tip” in The Aristidean), The Half-Breed: A Tale of the Western Frontier is one of the few known works of long-form fiction written by Walt Whitman during the earliest part of his career. It tells the story of Arrow-Tip, a Native American who falls victim to frontier prejudice after the presumed murder of local blacksmith Peter Brown. Despite his presumed innocence, he is soon sentenced to die by hanging — even though there exists evidence that could possibly exonerate him. This narrative is further complicated by the presence of Boddo, a hideously deformed hunchback who is ostracized by the white settlers due to his mixed-race heritage. Fueled by spite and anger, Boddo uses this opportunity to take vengeance upon those who once tormented and humiliated him. – Summary by ChuckW [chương_files]
Mrs. Nelson, Betty’s mother, through the death of a relative, has become the owner of a ranch. The most important thing about this ranch—in the estimation of the girls, at least—is the fact that it was situated right in the midst of a great gold-mining district. How the girls with Mr. and Mrs. Nelson went to the ranch, spending a glorious few weeks in the saddle, and how gold was finally found on the ranch is told of in detail in this volume. This is book number twelve in the “Outdoor Girls” series. (Summary from the next book) [chương_files]
Mowatt wrote The Fortune Hunter to be submitted to a contest held by the New World newspaper. (The novel won the $100 prize.) Contest rules dictated that the title of the work, that the setting had to be New York, and that the text had to be completed within six months. So, recycling a few characters from short stories written under the pen name “Helen Berkeley,” Mowatt quickly created a tale that started with two fashionable fellows in search of wealthy wives — Brainard and Ellery. They, in turn, are pursued by the inexorable debt collector, Mr. Badger. Then the reader is introduced to the objects of the bachelors’ chase, the Clinton sisters. The elder sister, Rachel, has become so disgusted with this cynical game of fortune hunting that she has decided to renounce her claim to her portion of her father’s fortune to escape the mendacity of suitors like Brainard and Ellery. Ester, the melodramatic, Byron-quoting, younger sister (who is now trying to go by the name Estelle) is perfectly happy to play the game, as long as it is by the rules she sets. Love is no game to Miss Arria Walton, the penniless orphan ward of the Clinton’s father and best friend of the sisters, who is desperately in love with young Dr. Edgar Chadwick. Rapid twists and turns of fate and sudden reversals of fortune characterize the plot of this comic melodrama that is part Jane Austen, part Charles Dickens, but establishes a delightful Victorian Americana […]
Join Mole and Water Rat for terrifically fun romps along a river and through burrows and forests . . . visiting with Otter and Mr. Badger, and witnessing crazy adventures by Mr. Toad as he evades the authorities and meets various interesting individuals. Kenneth Grahame’s classic was first published in 1908, but continues to delight young and old folks today. (Summary by Lynette Caulkins) Cast List: Narrator: Lynette Caulkins Badger: Scott Caulkins Mole: Shelly Toad: Patrick Smith Otter: Marissa Siobhan Wayfarer/Sea Rat: J. Schumacher Water Rat/Elderly Rabbit: Jim Hedrick Girl: Jasmin Salma Engineer: Rich Brown Barge Woman: Vonna Gentleman: Larry Wilson Gypsy: Wayne Cook Rabbit 2: Mira Williams Rabbit 3: Joanna Michal Hoyt Conscience: Sandra Hedgehog: Little Peanut Fieldmouse 1: Andrea Attwood Fieldmouse 2: Robin Lamb Fieldmouse 3: Starling Reader Chairman/Caroler: Mozart Jr. Clerk: Marie Christian Sergeant: Amanda Chandler Detective 1: David Purdy Detective 2/Caroler: Therese Lindholm Detective 3: Glehnmarc Hibburt Fox/Caroler: Jenn Broda Sparrow 1: Diane Alailima Sparrow 2/Caroler: Fiona Wilson Sparrow 3/Caroler: Meredith Wilson Sparrow 4: Medorakay Sparrow 5: Jonny117 Ferret: Scarbo Stoat/Motor Car: Jack Ball Caroler: Diane Caroler: Mira Williams [chương_files]
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