Other books that might interest you

• 

  Peter Rabbit and Friends

  Beatrix Potter

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Enter the magical world of four little rabbits: Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter. Join their mischief and adventures in the vegetable garden of old Mr. McGregor. Get to know Peter's friends: Twinkleberry, Squirrel Nutkin, Tom Kitten, Benjamin Bunny, and many other wonderful woodland creatures.
  
  Discover how Jeremy Fisher nearly got eaten by the fish he tried to catch and the story of Jemima Puddle-duck, who was annoyed because the farmer's wife would not let her hatch her own eggs.An Interactive Media audio production.

  Show book

• 

  Night Walks (Unabridged)

  Charles Dickens

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Charles Dickens was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.NIGHT WALKS: Some years ago, a temporary inability to sleep, referable to a distressing impression, caused me to walk about the streets all night, for a series of several nights.

  Show book

• 

  The 930 Up Train

  Sabine Baring-Gould

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) was a British writer, clergyman and member of the landed gentry, having inherited an estate of 3,000 acres. While a young curate, he met and fell in love with a beautiful 16-year-old mill worker. He paid for her education and married her, and they subsequently had 15 children. Their relationship formed the inspiration for George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, which was turned into the musical My Fair Lady. 
  Baring-Gould's strangest and most enduring works are those which are based on fantastical medieval myths and folklore. "The 9.30 Up Train" is a peculiar ghost story about a strange ghost which haunts both the road near the railway station and also a particular carriage of the train itself.

  Show book

• 

  The Murders in the Rue Morgue &...

  Edgar Allan Poe

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Edgar Poe was born in Boston Massachusetts on 19th January 1809. His father abandoned his family the following year and within a year his mother had died leaving him an orphan.   
   
  He was taken in by the Allan family but never formally adopted although he now referred to himself as Edgar Allan Poe.  His father alternatively spoiled or chastised him and tension was frequent over gambling debts and monies for his education.  His university years to study ancient and modern languages was cut short by lack of money and he enlisted as a private in the army claiming he was 22, it is more probable he was 18. After 2 years he obtained a discharge in order to take up an appointment at the military academy, West Point, where he failed to become an officer. 
   
  Poe had released his 1st poetry volume in 1827 and after his 3rd turned to prose and placing short stories in several magazines and journals.  At age 26 he obtained a licence to marry his cousin.  She was a mere 13 but they stayed together until her death from tuberculosis 11 years after. 
   
  In January 1845 ‘The Raven’ was published and became an instant classic.  Thereafter followed the prose works for which he is now so rightly famed as a master of the mysterious and the macabre. 
   
  Edgar Allan Poe died at the tragically early age of 40 on 7th October 1849 in Baltimore, Maryland. Newspapers at the time reported Poe's death as ‘congestion of the brain’ or ‘cerebral inflammation’, common euphemisms for death from disreputable causes such as alcoholism but the actual cause of death remains a mystery. 
   
  Many authors have been cited as inventing the detective genre.  Perhaps the strongest claimant is the American Edgar Allan Poe.  His creation of the Parisian sleuth C. Auguste Dupin with his quite astounding analysis and deductive powers allied to Poe’s great imagination and wit create a literary tour de force. 
   
  Poe’s opening story ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’ met with phenomenal success and indeed is a still a favourite to this day.  From this came the sequel ‘The Mystery of Marie Rogêt’.  Together they create a strong and vibrant Parisian duo, a credit to Poe, Paris and, of course Dupin and a cast of unforgettable characters.

  Show book

• 

  The Cask of Amontillado

  Edgar Allan Poe

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A sinister tale of grotesque vengeance. At carnival, the tipsy wine buff Fortunato is lured into a deadly snare by the man he considers to be his friend. The listener is at the same time horrified and yet fascinated. The audio equivalent of watching a train wreck.

  Show book

• 

  American Notes - Full Cast Drama

  Charles Dickens

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In "American Notes," Charles Dickens embarks on a captivating journey across the Atlantic in the 19th century to offer his keen observations and critiques of the young United States. Published in 1842, this travelogue chronicles Dickens' experiences during his tour of the United States and Canada, showcasing his unique ability to blend sharp social commentary with vivid narrative storytelling. 
   
  The narrative begins with Dickens setting sail from Liverpool to Boston, and from the moment he arrives on American soil, he is met with great enthusiasm and anticipation. Yet, his initial enthusiasm gradually gives way to a critical exploration of American society, culture, and institutions. Dickens paints a picture of a nation marked by stark contrasts – the raw, untamed beauty of the American landscape juxtaposed with the bustling cities, and the democratic ideals of freedom and equality set against the glaring issues of slavery and inequality. 
   
  Throughout the journey, Dickens encounters a wide array of characters and situations that highlight the complexities of American life. He offers poignant insights into the horrors of slavery, the shortcomings of the prison system, and the social divisions that permeate American society. His narrative serves as a powerful indictment of these injustices and an impassioned call for reform. 
   
  However, "American Notes" is not solely a critique of the United States. Dickens also portrays the genuine hospitality and kindness of many Americans he meets along the way, and he highlights their eagerness to embrace and engage with the ideas and literature of the Old World. The travelogue ultimately reflects Dickens' conviction that positive change is possible through the exchange of ideas and the continuous dialogue between nations.

  Show book