D'autres livres qui pourraient vous intéresser

• 

  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.

  Voir livre

• 

  Nostromo

  Joseph Conrad

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Nostromo by Joseph Conrad: Set in the fictional South American country of Costaguana, "Nostromo" is a gripping tale of political intrigue, revolution, and human greed. The novel follows the life of the enigmatic protagonist, Nostromo, a respected and trusted figure in the port town of Sulaco. As the political landscape shifts and a silver mine becomes the focal point of power struggles, Nostromo finds himself Qembroiled in a web of deceit and betrayal. Joseph Conrad's masterful prose and deep exploration of human nature create a timeless work that delves into themes of corruption, the allure of wealth, and the consequences of ambition. 
   
  Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad was a renowned English novelist and one of the most significant literary figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A master storyteller, Conrad's works often explored the human psyche and the complexities of human nature. His experiences as a sailor heavily influenced his writing, and many of his novels, such as "Heart of Darkness," "Lord Jim," and "Nostromo," showcased his deep understanding of the sea and the human condition. Conrad's profound insights into the darkness and moral ambiguity within individuals have made his literature enduring and relevant, leaving a lasting impact on the world of literature and beyond.

  Voir livre

• 

  Brave New World

  Aldous Huxley

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  This classic novel of a perfectly engineered society is “one of the most prophetic dystopian works of the twentieth century” (The Wall Street Journal).   Half a millennium from now, in the World State, the watchword is that every one belongs to every one else. No matter what class of human you are bred to be—from the intellectual Alphas to the Epsilons who provide the manual labor—you are a part of the efficient, well-oiled whole. You are nourished, secure, and blissfully serene thanks to the freely distributed drug called soma. And while sex is strongly encouraged, the old way of procreation is forbidden, eliminating even the pains of childbirth. But when a man and woman journey beyond these confines to where the “savages” reside, and bring back two outsiders, the cracks begin to show.   Named as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the twentieth century by the Modern Library, Brave New World is one of the first truly dystopian novels. Influenced by the historic events of Huxley’s era yet as relevant today as ever, it is a remarkable depiction of the conflict between progress and the human spirit.   “Chilling. . . . That he gave us the dark side of genetic engineering in 1932 is amazing.” —Providence Journal-Bulletin   “It is a frightening experience, indeed, to discover how much of his satirical prediction of a distant future became reality in so short a time.” —The New York Times Book Review

  Voir livre

• 

  Gospel of Service The (Unabridged)

  Booker T. Washington

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856 - November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African American community and of the contemporary black elite. Washington was from the last generation of black American leaders born into slavery and became the leading voice of the former slaves and their descendants. They were newly oppressed in the South by disenfranchisement and the Jim Crow discriminatory laws enacted in the post-Reconstruction Southern states in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.THE GOSPEL OF SERVICE: The subject on which I am going to speak to you for a few minutes to-night, "The Gospel of Service," may not, when you first hear it, strike a very responsive chord in your hearts and minds, but I assure you I have nothing but the very highest and best interest of the race at heart when I select this subject to talk about.

  Voir livre

• 

  Sappho: A New Rendering

  Ovid

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Sappho lived in the Greek-speaking Aeolian islands off the coast of Turkey. She is one of the very few female poets from antiquity. Although her work was very popular in ancient Greece and Rome, only small fragments survive today. This book includes translations of these fragments, as well as a poem from Ovid's Heroides, "Sappho to Phaon," a fictional letter from Sappho to her assumed lover. (Summary by Libby Gohn)

  Voir livre

• 

  Beowulf

  Unknown

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Beowulf is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars; the only certain dating is for the manuscript, which was produced between 975 and 1025. Scholars call the anonymous author the "Beowulf poet". The story is set in pagan Scandinavia in the 6th century. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by the monster Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland and becomes king of the Geats. Fifty years later, Beowulf defeats a dragon but is mortally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory. Scholars have debated whether Beowulf was transmitted orally, affecting its interpretation: if it was composed early, in pagan times, then the paganism is central and the Christian elements were added later, whereas if it was composed later, in writing, by a Christian. Beowulf is written mostly in the West Saxon dialect of Old English, but many other dialectal forms are present, suggesting that the poem may have had a long and complex transmission throughout the dialect areas of England.No definite sources or analogs of the poem can be proven, but many suggestions have been made, including the Icelandic Grettis saga, the Norse story of Hrolf Kraki and his bear-shapeshifting servant Bodvar Bjarki, the international folktale the Bear's Son Tale, and the Irish folktale of the Hand and the Child. Persistent attempts have been made to link Beowulf to tales from Homer's Odyssey or Virgil's Aeneid. More definite are Biblical parallels, with clear allusions to the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Daniel.

  Voir livre