This is the twenty-fourth 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 Ghosts, Ghouls and Spooky Things in honor of Halloween. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, prose, essays… all chill and perplex. [chương_files]
Twenty short nonfiction works in the public domain. “The Regulation of Time” and “Uniform Standard Time” are two of several readings which touch on social regulation, societal norms, and individual expression. Others examine dancing mania (“Choreomania”); gender conformity (“A Mormon Strategy”); race laws (“Black Code of Illinois”); etiquette and social class (“Housekeeping at the White House (1903)”; “Opportunity” (a view by Ambrose Bierce); organized religion (“The Church in Liverpool in the Early 1800s”); oratory and persuasion (“Pliny to Cerealis” and “The Martians”); legal protection for original ideas (“Copyright for a banana costume”); and an exhortation to judge men by their deeds, not their names (“First Apology of Justin Martyr”). Music and books are celebrated in “Fidelio;” “The Function of a National Library;” “Books in the Wilderness;” and Oscar Wilde’s “To Read or Not to Read.” Natural science is represented by “Coral and Coral Reefs” and “Making a Rock Garden.” Finally, a fateful communique is examined in the “Zimmermann Telegram.” Summary by Sue Anderson Pliny to Cerealis: Letter XXIV was translated by William Melmoth [chương_files]
Elephant and Larry arrive at Sunrise Lake, looking for the Bird boys, Frank and Andy, who are trying out a new biplane. Many adventures await these young men in their airplane! [chương_files]
“It seemed as if a total dissolution of nature was taking place” is the way 15-year old Alexander Hamilton described living through a hurricane (“The West Indian Hurricane of 1772”). Other natural and man-made disasters chronicled in vol. 069 are “The Eruption of Mt. Asama of 1783,” “The Great Chicago Fire,” and “The Siege of Nicaea (1096-1097).” Society and social reform are treated from a variety of viewpoints: “Tatlings: Epigrams (1922),” “Wooed a ‘Marjorie Daw’ for 14 Years,” Petty Management” (Florence Nightingale), “The Public Schools of Today,” “What a Colored Man Should Do to Vote,” “Patriotism and Government” (Tolstoy), the “Prison Journal of Stephen F. Austin,” and Fichte’s “My Will is Mine.” Books and reading are given their due in “Women Writers of the 17th and 18th Centuries,” “The Art of Reading,” and Benchley’s humorous “The Most Popular Book of the Month.” The tenets of Calvinism are explained in a short essay. Oliver Goldsmith presents his novel theory about the origin of marine fossils found on dry land. Listeners are introduced to the exploits of San Francisco resident Joshua Norton, who proclaimed himself “Norton I, Emperor of the United States.” And, finally, an essay on “The Art of Packing” dating from the era of steamer trunks should bring a smile to today’s backpack and roller bag travelers. Summary by Sue Anderson [chương_files]
A collection of essays regarding the pros and cons of prohibition of alcoholic beverages, principally in the United States. – Summary by KevinS [chương_files]
The girls have even more unusual experiences and adventures and are brought into closer contact with the real life of the West. It isn’t possible to tell exactly what the Ranch Girls will do in this second book, but it is safe to promise that it will be something even more original and full of delightful opportunity, than running a ranch. [chương_files]
Twenty short nonfiction works chosen by the readers. Two U.S. Presidents are remembered in “A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison” and Washington’s “Address to Congress on Resigning His Commission (1783).” Other topics in history and political theory include two of George W. Ball’s memos about the Vietnam War from 1965, “Irish Marriage Rites,” “Celts and Celtophiles,” Kropotkin on “Anarchism in Socialistic Evolution,” a tragedy at sea (“The Titanic”), and a look back at “The Passing of the Sailing Ship.” Religion and philosophy are represented with two selections from Kierkegaard’s “Preparation for a Christian Life” and a sermon by Spurgeon (“Glorious Predestination”). Biographies pay homage to the mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan. How-to and guidance readings include farming advice from George Washington Carver (“Help for Hard Times”), “Teaching Mathematics with Paper Folding,” “Sexual Neuroses,” and “Elementary Lessons in Cookery.” “The Common Milkweed” celebrates one of summer’s roadside flowers. Finally Richard de Bury pens a tribute to books in a selection from the Philobiblon, written in 1345. Summary by Sue Anderson Selections from Kierkegaard were translated by Lee M. Hollander That the Treasure of Wisdom is Chiefly Contained in Books was translated by E.C. Thomas [chương_files]
The Red Cross Girls are back one last time! In this final book of the series, some of our girls prepare to join the American soldiers in France during World War I. But, one other girl does make a surprise return to Europe, to join in the vocation they love so much. [chương_files]
When Portia Blake and her family came back to Gone-Away Lake, it was to move into an old house locked up tightly for nearly half a century. Next to discovering Gone-Away the summer before, nothing so exciting had ever happened to Portia and her cousin Julian. Then began an enchanted summer of exploration and discovery, as the old house slowly revealed its surprises and its treasures. This is the sequel to the book, Gone-Away Lake, by Elizabeth Enright. (Summary from an original jacket) [chương_files]
The Librivox Coffee Break Collections are themed anthologies, selected and read by Librivox readers. Each short piece is fifteen minutes long, or less — perfect for coffee breaks, commutes and work outs. Essays, prose, fiction, non-fiction, poetry — who knows what gems will be uncovered? In this collection, we explore old age — grandparents, retirement, wisdom, decline. It is an opportunity to reflect on mortality and depth of experience. – Summary by Lynne Thompson [chương_files]
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