Publisher: Good Press
An early play By Ben Johnson, an English dramatist and contemporary of Shakespeare. There is some doubt as to whether Johnson wrote all of it, or whether he had a collaborator, but the play is considered important because it represents an early attempt by Johnson at comedy.
"Love and Friendship" is a novella by Jane Austen that explores the themes of love, friendship, and the societal expectations that govern relationships in the early 19th century. The narrative unfolds through the protagonist, Laura, who recounts her experiences and relationships in a series of letters. Austen's narrative is characterized by its wit and satire, as she keenly observes the manners and morals of the time. Through Laura's voice, the reader is taken on a journey that navigates the complexities of romantic entanglements and the consequences of societal pressures. The novella delves into the consequences of impulsive decisions and the societal expectations placed on women to secure advantageous marriages. Austen uses humor and irony to expose the absurdities of the social norms and conventions that govern the characters' lives. As Laura navigates the challenges of love and friendship, Austen skillfully weaves a narrative that explores the tension between individual desires and societal expectations. The characters' flaws are exposed, highlighting the limitations placed on personal freedom in a society where social standing and financial considerations often take precedence over matters of the heart. In "Love and Friendship," Austen's narrative mastery shines through as she crafts a tale that not only entertains but also offers a subtle commentary on the constraints of the society in which her characters live. The exploration of love and friendship serves as a lens through which Austen examines the intricacies of human relationships, making the novella a timeless and insightful exploration of the human condition.Show book
Jaroslav Hašek’s world-famous satirical farce The Good Soldier Švejk has been translated into over sixty languages, and is one of the best-known Czech works ever published. A soldier in World War I who never actually sees any combat, Josef Švejk is The Good Soldier’s awkward protagonist – and none of the other characters can quite decide whether his bumbling efforts to get to the front are genuine or not. Often portrayed as one of the first anti-war novels, Hašek’s classic satire is a tour-de-force of modernist writing, influencing later writers such as Hemingway, Faulkner, and Joseph Heller. ©2008 Naxos Audiobooks; (P)2008 Naxos AudiobooksShow book
War and Peace (1869) is a classic novel by Leo Tolstoy, which is regarded as a central work of world literature and one of Tolstoy's finest literary achievements. The novel chronicles the history of the French invasion of Russia and the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society through the stories of five Russian aristocratic families. Volume One begins in 1805 in Saint Petersburg, at a soirée. The plot moves to Moscow, contrasting its provincial, more Russian ways to the more European society of Petersburg. The story continues at a country estate, and then Tolstoy describes the impending Russian-French war preparations. The major event in the book is the Battle of Austerlitz, portrayed as an early test for Russia, which ended badly because the soldiers fought for irrelevant things like glory or renown rather than the higher virtues which would produce, according to Tolstoy, a victory at Borodino during the 1812 invasion.Show book
Verging on death, a starving, destitute writer navigates the cold and indifferent city of Kristiania in search of his next meal. Frenzied and fevered, he chews on stale bread, devours scraps of wood and bites his own finger, sleeping under the stars in old, pungent blankets, until one day he is able to sell an article and buy some food – only for the cycle then to repeat itself… Knut Hamsun’s first novel, Hunger won the author the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920 and went on to influence the likes of Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, Charles Bukowski and Henry Miller. This recording uses the 1996 translation by Sverre Lyngstad, which is considered to be the definitive version in English.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. ‘By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.’ Shakespeare’s darkest psychological thriller. Three witches tell the Scottish general Macbeth that he will be King of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth kills the king, becomes the new king, and kills more people out of paranoia. Civil war erupts to overthrow Macbeth, resulting in more death. 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: Toby Robertson; Roger Prior; Tony Church; John Barton; Gerald Mosbach; Gary Watson; Derek Jacobi; David Jones; Chris Renard; Terrence Hardiman; Donald Beves; Richard Marquand; John Tracy-Phillips; Michael Bates; Terrence Hardiman; George Rylands; John Arnott; Clive Swift; John Bird; John Kimber; Irene Worth; Freda Dowie; Mrs Shire; Willa Muir; Freda Dowie; Janette Richer. Macbeth, a short but powerful European classic, continues to be one of the best-performing plays in theatres worldwide. Its top-notch performances are a testament to the enduring genius of Shakespeare. For fans of Richard Parsons (GCSE English Shakespeare Text Guide), and Arthur Miller (Incident at Vichy).Show book
'The Treasure in the Forest' is the tale of two treasure hunters, Evans and Hooker, who have murdered a Chinese man to steal his map, which locates a buried stash of gold ingots. The Chinese man had boasted that he had ensured the safety of his secret hoard. But what can he have meant by this? When Evans and Hooker arrive at the location of the hoard, the first thing they find is a dead body of another Chinese man. But how did he die? And why did he fail to get away with the gold?Show book
