Translator Sutherland Edwards
Publisher: Merkaba Press
The Queen of Spades has long been acknowledged as one of the world's greatest short stories. In this classic literary representation of gambling, Alexander Pushkin explores the nature of obsession...
A wise man once said ‘The safest place for a child is in the arms of his mother’s voice’. This is a perfect place to start our anthology of female short stories. Some of our earliest memories are of our mothers telling us bedtime stories. This is not to demote the value of fathers but more to promote the often-overshadowed talents of the gentler sex. Perhaps ‘gentler’ is a word that we should re-evaluate. In the course of literary history it is men who dominated by opportunity and with their stranglehold on the resources, both financial and technological, who brought their words to a wider audience. Men often placed women on a pedestal from where their talented words would not threaten their own. In these stories we begin with the original disrupter and renegade author Aphra Behn. A peek at her c.v. shows an astounding capacity and leaves us wondering at just how she did all that. In those less modern days to be a woman, even ennobled, was to be seen as second class. You literally were chattel and had almost no rights in marriage. As Charlotte Smith famously said your role as wife was little more than ‘legal prostitute’. From such a despicable place these authors have used their talents and ideas and helped redress that situation. Slowly at first. Privately printed, often anonymously or under the cloak of a male pseudonym their words spread. Their stories admired and, usually, their role still obscured from rightful acknowledgement. Aided by more advanced technology, the 1700’s began to see a steady stream of female writers until by the 1900’s mass market publishing saw short stories by female authors from all the strata of society being avidly read by everyone. Their names are a rollcall of talent and ‘can do’ spirit and society is richer for their works. In literature at least women are now acknowledged as equals, true behind the scenes little has changed but if (and to mis-quote Jane Austen) there is one universal truth, it is that ideas change society. These women’s most certainly did and will continue to do so as they easily write across genres, from horror and ghost stories to tender tales of love and making your way in society’s often grueling rut. They will not be silenced, their ideas and passion move emotions, thoughts and perhaps more importantly our ingrained view of what every individual human being is capable of. It is because of their desire to speak out, their desire to add their talents to the bias around them that we perhaps live in more enlightened, almost equal, times. Within these stories you will also find very occasional examples of historical prejudice. A few words here and there which in today’s world some may find inappropriate or even offensive. It is not our intention to make anyone uncomfortable but to show that the world in order to change must reconcile itself to the actual truth rather than put it out of sight. Context is everything, both to understand and to illuminate the path forward. The author’s words are set, our reaction to them encourages our change. 01 - The Female Short Story. A Chronological History - An Introduction - Volume 5 02 - The Death Mask by H D Everett writing as Theo Parker 03 - The Story of 'The Spaniards', Hammersmith by Kate and Hesketh Pritchard 04 - A New England Nun by Mary E Wilkins Freeman 05 - A Dream of Wild Bees by Olive Schreiner 06 - The Hired Baby, A Romance of the London Streets by Mary Mackay writing as Marie Corelli 07 - The Runaway by Marion Hepworth-Dixon 08 - Amour Dure by Violet Paget writing as Vernon Lee 09 - My Flirtations by Ella Hepworth Dixon writing as Margaret Wynham 10 - Irremediable by Ella D'Arcy 11 - When the Devil Was Well by Gertrude AtherShow book
Shortly after he inherits the powerful position of Lord of Eaton, 10-year-old Richard Ludel disappears from Shrewsbury Abbey, where he had been a student. Did he run away or was he kidnapped? Brother Cadfael suspects the hermit of Eyton Forest, a mysterious man rumored to have holy powers, knows the answer.Show book
Infamously known as the cursed Scottish play, Macbeth is perhaps Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy. When General Macbeth is foretold by three witches that he will one day be King of Scotland, Lady Macbeth convinces him to get rid of anyone who could stand in his way – including committing regicide. As Macbeth ascends to the throne through bloody murder, he becomes a tyrant consumed by fear and paranoia. Recorded at The Invisible Studios in May 2011. Adapted and directed for radio by Martin Jarvis Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg An L.A. Theatre Works Full-Cast Performance Featuring: Josh Cooke as Banquo and others JD Cullum as Macduff and Second Murderer Dan Donohue as Ross Jeannie Elias as Second Witch and others Chuma Gault as Lennox and Servant James Marsters as Macbeth Jon Matthews as Malcolm Alan Shearman as Angus and others André Sogliuzzo as Donalbain, Third Witch and others Kate Steele as Lady Macduff, First Witch and Apparition Kris Tabori as Duncan and others Joanne Whalley as Lady Macbeth Associate Producers: Anna Lyse Erikson, Myke Weiskopf Recording Engineer/Sound Designer/Editor: Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood Sound Effects Artist: Tony PalermoShow book
Experience the world’s most enchanting and timeless love story in audio. Discover how Belle meets the Beast, befriends the enchanted objects, and finds her true love.Beauty and the Beast is the original fairy tale that has inspired countless adaptions since its publication.An Author's Republic audio production.Show book
“Bluefish,” writes the author, are “animated chopping machines. They will eat anything alive. They have stripped the toes from surfers in Florida. They can’t not eat.” Hersey weaves fact and legend around his subject, engaging the reader with juicy details of ocean life, philosophy, natural history, and the crises into which man has let his environment slide.Show book
William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. ‘Let me twine Mine arms about that body, where against My grained ash an hundred times hath broke And scarr'd the moon with splinters.’ Coriolanus is a tragedy based on the life of legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Roman general Coriolanus makes his name defeating an enemy army and defending Rome. The Senate nominates him as consul but he cannot win the people's vote, so he is banished from Rome and allies with his old enemy. He comes to attack Rome, his mother persuades him not to, and his new-found ally kills him for the betrayal. All of the Shakespeare plays within the ARGO Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations. Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production. The full cast includes: Anthony White; John Arnott; Donald Beves; Tony Church; Anthony Jacobs; John Wilders; John Barton; Peter Woodthorpe; Irene Worth; Dorothy Mulcahy; Christine Baker.Show book
