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  Twenty-Six Men and a Girl - From...

  Maxim Gorky

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  Alexei Maximovich Peshkov was born on 28th March 1868, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. 
  Better known as Maxim Gorky he was orphaned at 11 and ran away from home at 12.  At 19 he had already attempted suicide and thereafter travelled, by foot, across the Russian Empire for 5 years. 
  His first book ‘Essays & Stories’ in 1898 was a sensation and so began a long career as an author of short stories, novels and plays.  Gorky saw writing as a moral and political act that would help to change the unjust world around him.  He was an ardent early advocate of the emerging Marxist movement and publicly opposed the Tsarist regime leading several times to his arrest.  
  In 1904 he began his own theatre but the censor banned every play and Gorky was forced to abandon the project. 
  But Gorky was a financially successful author, editor, and playwright and gave monies to political parties as well as for civil rights and social reform.  The brutal shooting of workers, which set in motion the Revolution of 1905, pushed Gorky more decisively toward radical solutions.  
  In 1906 he went to the United States to raise funds for the Bolsheviks. Those experiences including a scandal over travelling with his lover and not his wife deepened his contempt for the ‘bourgeois soul.’ 
  Gorky now moved to Capri in Italy, both for health reasons and to escape the increasingly repressive times in Russia.  
  An amnesty for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty saw him return to Russia in 1914. His politics remained close to the Bolshevik cause.  But soon, after the 1918 revolution, his essays referred to Lenin as a tyrant for his senseless arrests and repression.  He was soon appealing to the outside world for food aid after the catastrophic crop failure. 
  In October 1921 Gorky returned to Italy, now in Fascist hands, and settled in Sorrento until 1932.  His health worsened with the onset of tuberculosis. 
  He wrote several successful books there but now decided to find an understanding with the communist regime. Stalin invited him home and his return was hailed as a major propaganda victory.  He was decorated with the Order of Lenin, and a province, a park, and various streets re-named in his honour. 
  But he had his faults too.  In 1933, Gorky co-edited a book on the White Sea-Baltic Canal and denied even a single prisoner died during its construction, but thousands had. As well, knowing that some Nazis were homosexual, a phrase was attributed to him that said ‘exterminate all homosexuals and fascism will vanish’.  Although he was himself was quoting another he was decidedly homophobic. 
  With the increase of Stalinist repression in 1935 Gorky was placed under unannounced house arrest. 
  Maxim Gorky died on the 18th June 1936 from pneumonia.  He was 68. 
  Stalin and Molotov were among those who carried Gorky's urn of ashes at his funeral.

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  Going to Sea a Hundred Years Ago...

  R. J. Cleveland

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  In the ordinary course of a commercial education, in New England, boys are transferred from school to the merchant's desk at the age of fourteen or fifteen. When I had reached my fourteenth year it was my good fortune to be received into the counting-house of Elias Hasket Derby, Esq., of Salem; a merchant, who may justly be termed the father of the American commerce to India; one whose enterprise and commercial sagacity were unequalled in his day, and, perhaps, have not been surpassed by any of his successors. To him our country is indebted for opening the valuable trade to Calcutta; before whose fortress his was the first vessel to display the American flag; and, following up the business, he had reaped golden harvests before other merchants came in for a share of them.

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  Captains Courageous (Unabridged)

  Rudyard Kipling

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  A pampered millionaire's son tumbles overboard from a luxury liner and falls into good fortune, disguised in the form of a fishing boat. The gruff and hearty crew teach the young man to be worth his salt as they fish the waters off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Brimming with adventure and humor.

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  A Nervous Breakdown

  Anton Chekhov

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  In A Nervous Breakdown, Vasilyev feeling distressed after his visit to few brothels for the first time. Guilt, disgust and shame and of that little voices debating inside his mind that lead him to a symptom of a nervous breakdown. A quirky storytelling, quite distressing but entertaining.

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  The Cricket on the Hearth - A...

  Charles Dickens

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  Step into the cozy world of "The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home" by Charles Dickens. Follow the lives of John Peerybingle, his spirited wife Dot, and a cast of charming characters in a story where a cricket’s melodic chirp on the hearth brings hope and harmony. As secrets and misunderstandings threaten their domestic bliss, the cricket's magical presence inspires reconciliation and joy. A heartwarming Dickensian tale celebrating love, faith, and the essence of home.

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  Death at the Excelsior and Other...

  P. G. Wodehouse

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  Immerse yourself in mystery and wit with Death at the Excelsior, and Other Stories, a captivating collection by P.G. Wodehouse that showcases his knack for blending suspense with humor. In the title story, a mysterious death occurs at the Excelsior boarding house, and it’s up to a determined detective to unravel the truth. From strange alibis to hidden motives, this classic whodunit keeps listeners guessing with twists and surprises. 
  Beyond the intrigue of Death at the Excelsior, Wodehouse offers an array of stories filled with eccentric characters, clever plots, and his signature wit. Each story delivers a delightful mix of comedy, mystery, and the charm that only Wodehouse can bring, whether it’s through tales of love, adventure, or the quirks of high society. 
  Narrated with lively character voices, this audiobook offers a unique experience that’s perfect for fans of both mystery and comedy. 
  Start listening to Death at the Excelsior, and Other Stories today and enjoy Wodehouse’s masterful storytelling that effortlessly entertains from start to finish!

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