Publisher: Good Press
Poems on Slavery is a compilation of poems by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in support of the United States anti-slavery endeavors, taking a firm stance for human rights regardless of skin color.
Librivox volunteers bring you eight different readings of William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 23, a weekly poetry project.(Summary by Annie Coleman)Show book
This is a collection of 13 poems read by LibriVox volunteers for August 2014.Show book
Four plays from the author of The Weir, with a foreword by the author. The plays in this volume - three monologues and a three-hander - were all written while Conor McPherson was in his twenties. This Lime Tree Bower A poignant and gripping tale told through three interlinking monologues. Winner of a Thames TV Award, a Guinness/National Theatre Ingenuity Award and the Meyer Whitworth Award. St Nicholas An eccentric, teasing yarn involving a cynical and jaded drama critic falling for a beautiful young actress. Rum and Vodka A young Irishman with a drink problem tells of three momentous days in his life when his drab nine-to-five existence is obliterated in an escapist binge which threatens to engulf him. The Good Thief A 45-minute monologue following the misfortunes of a petty criminal whose conscience beats him up when he becomes involved in a bungled kidnap. Winner of the Stewart Parker Award. Revised edition with new Foreword by the author. 'the finest playwright of his generation' - New York TimesShow book
“What is life but a series of inspired follies? The difficulty is to find them to do. Never lose a chance: it doesn’t come every day.”Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw is the fascinating tale of Henry Higgins, a professor of speech and phonetics who takes on the task of teaching Eliza Doolittle, a lower-class flower seller, how to “act like a lady.” The street-smart Eliza knows how to fend for herself in many ways but wishes to become more ladylike, and Higgins claims that he can teach her to pass as a duchess simply by teaching her how to speak. The duo’s dynamic personalities clash, and the play follows their antics as Higgins imparts his book knowledge to a stubborn Eliza, who is happy to learn but reluctant to leave her old ways entirely behind. They teach one another about finding one’s place in society and embracing the colloquial as well as the formal. This play perfected the trope of two opposite personalities partnering to teach one another how their respective social circles work. This classic play is critically acclaimed and still entrances modern audiences, and served as the basis for the popular classic musical My Fair Lady. It remains Shaw’s most well-known play, and the humorous and fascinating relationship dynamics at play make it a timeless classic that will inspire generations to come.Show book
Anyone who has visited Sedona, in the high desert of Arizona, will know that it is one of the most beautiful townships in the world. I am fortunate to live there. My home is nestled midst spectacular scenery, with views of red rocks and ancient vortexes. It is the perfect environment to inspire a poet, and hence the title of this book, Desert of Inspiration. Many of these poems were written while I was out on my daily hikes. The poems are in the exact chronological order that they were written. I averaged writing more than one poem a week over a two year period. You can follow my path of inspiration and imagination during this time. I take you through the four seasons of each year. You will find deep, thoughtful poems; poems of fantasy, and humorous poems, as you explore my magical world. I am a professional magician, but also have a strong connection with the magic and miracles of nature. I was born in Northumberland, England, the son of an Anglican clergyman. As a child, I lived in vicarages with large gardens, and always enjoyed outside activities such as climbing trees, playing amongst wildflowers, and creating rock gardens. I felt my spirit was in tune with Mother Earth and the elementals. During these early years, I was also performing magic tricks and writing poetry. The last two poems were written in March 2020, when planet Earth was in a turbulent time with the pandemic known as COVID-19. How this was all going to play out was unclear when the book was published, but we were certainly going through times of great change. I am hopeful that many good lessons were learned by humanity from this experience. There are powerful, positive, and profound messages hidden within these chapters. By inviting my listeners to look inward, I hope to make them see their true light, where there often appears to be only darkness and shadows. Enjoy the journey! Roger BlakistonShow book
Rumi, claimed as the national poet of Iran, Turkey & Afghanistan had an early life dedicated to scholarly studies. He only started to write poetry after encountering a holy man called Shams whose subsequent death instilled a profound grief in Rumi and an outpouring of many thousands of verses in Persian. He also intrinsically linked with Sufism. This selection of his poems is read for you by Shyama Perera a gifted journalist, broadcaster and novelist.Show book
