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  Oedipus at Colonus

  Sophocles

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  Dive into the mesmerizing conclusion of Sophocles' Theban Trilogy with 'Oedipus at Colonus,' a captivating audiobook that stands as a testament to the enduring power of Greek tragedy.In the final chapter of his tumultuous life, Oedipus, once a proud king brought low by fate and his own actions, seeks solace and redemption in the town of Colonus. Blinded and exiled, he embarks on a profound journey toward tranquility, only to find himself once more at the center of earthly and divine conflicts.This audiobook brings Sophocles' timeless text to life with skillful narration, immersing you in Oedipus' poignant quest for peace. Experience the deeply human themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the desire for rest after a life filled with hardship. Observe how Oedipus, in his final hours, grapples with the repercussions of his past, the nature of his present, and the uncertainty of his legacy.'Oedipus at Colonus' is more than a tragic tale—it is a profound exploration of human endurance in the face of suffering, and the possibility of redemption even in the bleakest of circumstances. Whether you're a student of classical literature, a lover of timeless dramas, or an audiobook enthusiast seeking a thought-provoking listen, this rendition of 'Oedipus at Colonus' offers a rich, immersive experience that will resonate long after the final words have been spoken.Step into the world of ancient Greek drama and explore the depths of human resilience and the quest for peace with 'Oedipus at Colonus.' Let this immortal story touch your heart, challenge your perceptions, and leave you with timeless insights into the human condition.

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  The Pickwick Papers

  Charles Dickens

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  The Pickwick Papers was Charles Dickens' first novel. Because of his success with Sketches by Boz published in 1836 Dickens was asked by the publisher Chapman & Hall to supply descriptions to explain a series of comic "cockney sporting plates" by illustrator Robert Seymour,[and to connect them into a novel. The book became Britain's first real publishing phenomenon, with bootleg copies, theatrical performances, Sam Weller joke books, and other merchandise. On its cultural impact, Nicholas Dames in The Atlantic writes, “Literature” is not a big enough category for Pickwick. It defined its own, a new one that we have learned to call “entertainment.” Published in 19 issues over 20 months, the success of The Pickwick Papers popularized serialised fiction and cliffhanger endings. 
   
  Seymour's widow claimed the idea for the novel was originally her husband's, but Dickens strenuously denied any specific input in his preface to the 1867 edition: "Mr. Seymour never originated or suggested an incident, a phrase, or a word, to be found in the book." 
   
  Charles Dickens was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the 20th century, critics and scholars had recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are widely read today.

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  The Judgement - A kafkaesque...

  Franz Kafka

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  Franz Kafka was born on 3rd July 1883 in Prague, then in Bohemia, the eldest of 6, into a middle-class Jewish family. 
   
  Life for the young Kafka and his passion for literature was often made an ordeal by his over-bearing and domineering entrepreneur of a father.   
   
  In 1889 Kafka was sent to the Deutsche Knabenschule, an elementary school in Prague. His father would only allow him to be educated in German-speaking schools and even went so far as to limit visits to the synagogue to four a year. 
   
  In 1901 he graduated from the classics-oriented Altstädter Gymnasium. Kafka did well there and across a large range of subjects.  He now enrolled at the Charles Ferdinand University, to study chemistry, but quickly switched to law for which he obtained his degree in June 1906 and then performed the mandatory year of unpaid service as clerk at the civil and criminal courts. 
   
  A job at an Italian insurance company left him little time to write and after a year he took another job with the Worker's Accident Insurance Institute for the Kingdom of Bohemia where he stayed until ill health led to his resignation in 1922. 
   
  Although he saw work as a means to pay the bills and to allow him time to write, he received several promotions and was noted as a good employee. 
   
  By 1917 Kafka was suffering from tuberculosis, which required frequent periods of convalescence. Interspersed with this, were several intense affairs before he settled in Berlin with Dora Diamant, a 25-year-old kindergarten teacher who herself having left the ghetto now influenced Kafka's interest in the book of Jewish law, the Talmud. 
   
  Kafka’s on-going health was littered with problems. Apart from TB there were several other ailments, including migraines, insomnia, boils, depression, all usually brought on by excessive stresses and strains. He attempted to counteract all of this by naturopathic treatments, a vegetarian diet and consuming large quantities of unpasteurized milk. 
   
  His tuberculosis still worsened. He returned to Prague, where he died on 3rd June 1924. He was 40. 
   
  His literary works are few in number but towering in influence.  His masterpieces include ‘The Trial’, ‘The Metamorphosis’ as well as a number of short stories which reveal facets of humankind that truthfully could only be born from Kafka’s brain and pen.

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  Mumu - Turgenev brilliantly...

  Ivan Turgenev

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  Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev was born on 9th November 1818 in Oryol, Russia to parents from the nobility.  He and his two brothers were raised by their mother on the family estate.  Surrounded by foreign governesses he became fluent in French, German, and English.  Their father spent little time with them and this undoubtedly had an effect on him and his brothers.  When he was nine the family moved to Moscow to give their children a better education. 
   
  Turgenev studied for a year at the University of Moscow and then at the University of St Petersburg to study Classics, Russian literature, and philology.  During that time his father died from kidney stone disease.  In 1838 Turgenev studied philosophy and history at the University of Berlin for 3 years before returning to St Petersburg for his master's. 
   
  He started his career with the Russian Civil Service and it was only in 1852, after several earlier publications, that he made his name with his short story collection, ‘A Sportsman's Sketches’, based on his observations of peasant life and nature. 
    
  That same year he wrote an obituary for Nikolai Gogol: "Gogol is dead!... What Russian heart is not shaken by those three words?... He is gone, that man whom we now have the right (the bitter right, given to us by death) to call great."  The St Petersburg censor banned publication but the Moscow censor allowed it.  He was dismissed but Turgenev was held responsible and imprisoned for a month, and then exiled to his country estate.  
   
  Along with many other intellectuals Turgenev left Russia and settled in Paris in 1854.  During this period he wrote his finest stories and four novels.  
   
  Alexander II ascended the Russian throne in 1855, and the political climate relaxed.  Turgenev returned home.  
   
  ‘Fathers and Sons’, Turgenev's most famous and enduring novel, appeared in 1862. Its leading character is considered the first ‘Bolshevik’ in Russian literature. But the hostile reaction prompted Turgenev's decision to again leave Russia.  
   
  His health declined during his later years.  In January 1883, an aggressive malignant tumor was removed but by then it had metastasized in his upper spinal cord, causing him intense pain in his final few months of life.  
   
  Ivan Turgenev died on 3rd September 1883 of a spinal abscess, a complication of the metastatic liposarcoma, in his house near Paris.  He was buried in St Petersburg.  
   
  In Mumu, Turgenev hauntingly tells the story of a Gerasim, a six foot five deaf mute with the menial job of yard-porter who is ostracized by all those around him.  A dog, Mumu, becomes his only true and faithful friend.  One day he is given a dreadful and agonizing choice.

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  Demos

  George Gissing

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  Demos by George Gissing is a provocative exploration of class struggle, socialism, and the transformative power of wealth in Victorian England. The novel centers on two families: the working-class Mutimer family and the aristocratic Walthams. When Alfred Mutimer inherits a fortune from his late employer, he seeks to uplift his community through industrial enterprise while pursuing political influence as a socialist. However, his idealism clashes with personal ambition, leading to moral compromises and strained relationships. Meanwhile, the refined Hubert Waltham becomes entangled with Mutimer’s world, exposing the stark contrasts between privilege and poverty. Gissing critiques the complexities of social reform, examining how money and ideology shape human behavior. Through vivid characters and incisive commentary, Demos delves into themes of inequality, materialism, and the challenges of bridging societal divides. A compelling blend of romance and social critique, it remains a timeless reflection on class and change.

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  The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s...

  Charles Dickens

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  Professor Redlaw, haunted by sorrowful memories, encounters a spectral double offering to erase his pain. Accepting the ghost’s bargain unravels hidden consequences, affecting those around him. Through spectral encounters and moral revelations, Dickens' tale explores the enduring power of memory, forgiveness, and the human spirit's resilience.

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