Showing results by narrator "Mark Bowen" in All Categories

This is a story that provides you with a moral message, humor, sadness and a few other emotions, all packed in just a few pages by the great American writer Mark Twain. The irony of Twain is evident from the very start and refers to the name of the little bad boy from the title. His name is Jim, not like in the other tales with bad boys...

Aurelia's Unfortunate Young Man is a short story by Mark Twain, one of the most funny and beloved American authors of all time. Aurelia is engaged to marry a nice young man, but keeps having to postpone as tragedy after tragedy befalls him. Which should be sad, but the progression of events is so ridiculous that you can't help but laugh.

Our esteemed friend, Mr. John William Skae, of Virginia City, walked into the office where we are sub-editor at a late hour last night, with an expression of profound and heartfelt suffering upon his countenance, and, sighing heavily, laid the following item reverently upon the desk, and walked slowly out again. He paused a moment at the door, and seemed struggling to command his feelings sufficiently to enable him to speak, and then, nodding his head toward his manuscript, ejaculated in a broken voice, "Friend of mine – oh! how sad!" and burst into tears.

The steamer Ajax encountered a terrible storm on her down trip from San Francisco to the Sandwich Islands. It tore her light spars and rigging all to shreds and splinters, upset all furniture that could be upset, and spilled passengers around and knocked them hither and thither with a perfect looseness. For forty-eight hours no table could be set, and everybody had to eat as best they might under the circumstances. Most of the party went hungry, though, and attended to their praying.

The Land of the Gods: The Long-Hidden Story of Visiting the Masters of Wisdom in Shambhala by H. P. Blavatsky is a captivating exploration of the legendary kingdom of Shambhala and its connection to the Masters of Wisdom. This illuminating book delves into the mystical teachings and ancient wisdom associated with Shambhala, a hidden realm believed to exist beyond the physical plane. H. P. Blavatsky, a renowned spiritualist and founder of the Theosophical Society, presents a detailed account of her experiences and insights into the enigmatic land of Shambhala.

"In the Penal Colony" is a short story by Franz Kafka written in German in October 1914, revised in November 1918, and first published in October 1919. As in some of Kafka's other writings, the narrator in this story seems detached from, or perhaps numbed by, events that one would normally expect to be registered with horror. Internal clues and the setting on an island suggest Octave Mirbeau's The Torture Garden as an influence.

This collection presents the works of the three fathers of ancient Greek tragedies: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. The reader of this collection will be able to comprehend how the plots and conflicts populating classical tragedy developed. The principle theme of Aeschylus' tragedies is the idea of fate being omnipotent and the futility in struggling against it. The tragedies of Sophocles reflect the era of the Greeks' victorious war against the Persians, which opened up commercial prosperity through trade.

Anacreon (582 BCE–485 BCE) was a Greek lyric poet born in Teos, an Ionian city on the coast of Asia Minor. He likely moved to Thrace in 545 BCE with others from his city when it was attacked by Persians. He then moved to Samos, to Athens, and possibly again to Thessaly, seeking a safe place to write his poems as his patrons (including Polycrates, tyrant of Samos, and Hipparchus, brother of Athenian tyrant Hippias) kept being murdered. It is unknown where Anacreon died, though he lived to the unusually advanced age of 85.

After his wife died in a horrific car accident, Oscar Sermons' life went into a tailspin. He's managed to keep things together, but he can't get over his desperation to talk to her just one more time. A chance meeting led him to another, a Gypsy traveler named Marica. Marica, along with her aunt, gives him advice, warning him not to dabble with forces much stronger than himself. However, their warnings fall on deaf ears. He quickly realizes he should’ve listened, his life changing forever.

The Classic Collection of E.T.A. Hoffmann: presents two of the most enchanting and imaginative works by the renowned German author E.T.A. Hoffmann: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" and "The Golden Pot. In The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, readers are transported to a world of fantasy and wonder as they follow the adventures of Clara and her beloved Nutcracker. Hoffmann's captivating storytelling takes us on a magical journey filled with toy soldiers, a fierce battle with the Mouse King, and a visit to the Land of Sweets. This beloved tale has become a timeless classic and a holiday tradition, inspiring Tchaikovsky's famous ballet.

The final play of the Oresteia, called The Eumenides (Εὐμενίδες, Eumenídes), illustrates how the sequence of events in the trilogy ends up in the development of social order or a proper judicial system in Athenian society. In this play, Orestes is hunted down and tormented by the Furies, a trio of goddesses known to be the instruments of justice, who are also referred to as the "Gracious Ones" (Eumenides). They relentlessly pursue Orestes for the killing of his mother.

Imperialism: The Final Stage of Capitalism by Vladimir Lenin is a foundational Marxist text that explores the economic and political dynamics of imperialism in the early 20th century. Originally published in 1917, this work was a response to the global geopolitical landscape of the time and sought to analyze the nature of imperialism as the highest stage of capitalist development. Lenin argues that imperialism represents a new and advanced form of capitalism characterized by the domination of finance capital.

The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism (Russian: Три источника и три составных части марксизма) is an article written by the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin and published in 1913. The article was dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of Karl Marx's death.

"Louisa May Alcott: A Classic Christmas Treasury - Illustrated" is a literary gem that compiles the enchanting Christmas stories of the renowned American author, Louisa May Alcott. This collection presents a dozen heartwarming tales, including "A Country Christmas," "Rosa's Tale," "What the Bells Saw and Said," "A Merry Christmas," and many others. Louisa May Alcott, celebrated for her timeless work "Little Women," demonstrates her storytelling prowess in the realm of holiday fiction.

The Life and Teachings of Hermes Trismegistus by Manly P. Hall is an audiobook that explores the legendary figure of Hermes Trismegistus and the wisdom attributed to him. Hermes Trismegistus is a mythical and syncretic figure often associated with ancient Egypt and Greece, believed to be a master of various esoteric and philosophical disciplines, including alchemy, astrology, and spirituality. In this audiobook, Manly P. Hall delves into the life, philosophy, and teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. He discusses the Hermetic tradition and its influence on Western thought and spirituality.

1984 is George Orwell's terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime lead by The Party. Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party; they are drawn towards conspiracy.

The Christmas Stories by Washington Irving is a delightful collection that brings together the timeless holiday tales penned by the acclaimed American author Washington Irving. This anthology includes some of Irving's most cherished stories, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, The Christmas Dinner, and more. Washington Irving, known for his masterful storytelling, invites listeners into the heart of Christmas celebrations in 19th-century America. Through his vivid descriptions and memorable characters, Irving captures the warmth, joy, and festive spirit of the holiday season.

"The Lady with the Dog" is a short story by Anton Chekhov. First published in 1899, it describes an adulterous affair between an unhappily married Moscow banker and a young married woman that begins while both are vacationing alone in Yalta.

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Uncle Vanya is a play by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. It was first published in 1897. The play portrays the visit of an elderly professor and his glamorous, much younger second wife, Yelena, to the rural estate that supports their urban lifestyle. Two friends—Vanya, brother of the professor's late first wife, who has long managed the estate, and Astrov, the local doctor—both fall under Yelena's spell while bemoaning the ennui of their provincial existence. Sonya, the professor's daughter by his first wife, who has worked with Vanya to keep the estate going, suffers from her unrequited feelings for Astrov.