CostasNarrativeXP

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 New Year feature 
"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

In a genetically-engineered utopia where comfort is mandatory and individuality is extinct, the World State maintains total stability at the cost of the human soul.

Chapter 7-8
00:27 7 Bernard realizes John is the Director’s son; John introduces Linda, who explains her promiscuous life on the Reservation and the hostility it provoked among other women.
30:20 8 As outcast, John finds solace in literature. Bernard deceptively offers him escape to expose the Director, while John mistakenly expects a glorious paradise: “O brave new world!”

Characters
Director of D.H.C - The authoritative figure who leads the student tour and explains the technical "birth" process
Henry Foster - The Director's assistant and a high-caste Alpha who is obsessed with statistics and the efficiency of the hatchery
Lenina Crowne - A Beta-minus worker on the assembly line, specifically the "Embryo Store", who is described as uncommonly pretty
Mustapha Mond - Resident World Controller for Western Europe, sophisticated superior leader who enforces social stability through censorship while secretly possessing forbidden knowledge
Bernard Marx - An Alpha-Plus specialist in Hypnopaedia whose physical stuntedness causes him to feel like a social outcast
Fanny Crowne - A Beta technician in the Bottling Room who acts as a strictly orthodox representative of the World State’s social rules
Helmholtz Watson - Alpha-plus lecturer and writer, is admired and impressive but secretly frustrated by the emptiness of his work and the World State
Linda - John’s mother, originally from the World State, whose inability to adapt back exposes the cruelty and emptiness beneath its comforts
John (the Savage) - Born on the Reservation and raised outside the World State, shaped by isolation and Shakespeare, he embodies moral seriousness and conflict with "civilized” values

Costa's Wordbook
Moccasin n a soft leather slipper or shoe, strictly one without a separate heel, having the sole turned up on all sides and sewn to the upper in a simple gathered seam, in a style originating among some Indigenous peoples of North America; a venomous American pit viper (Moca sin)
Ophthalmia n inflammation of the eye, especially conjunctivitis (Of thoul mia)
Goitre n an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck, causing a visible swelling or lump (goi ter)
Incarnadine n a bright crimson or pinkish-red colour (in Carn ne dyne)
Squalor n the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect (Sqwal ler)
Mescal n an agave plant, especially one of a type used to make alcoholic drinks (Mes cal)
Peyotl (peyote) n a small soft blue-green spineless cactus, native to Mexico and the southern US; a hallucinogenic drug prepared from the peyote cactus, containing mescaline (pay Yoe tee)

Awonawilona - the supreme, genderless creator deity in the mythology of the Zuni people
Ahaiyuta, Marsailema - twin war gods in Zuni mythology, sons of the Sun God Awonawilona, who are powerful figures protecting humanity, often appearing as the Morning Star and Evening Star
Estsanatlehi - revered Navajo and Apache goddess known as the Changing Woman or Turquoise Woman, symbolizing creation, fertility, and the continuous cycle of life
Antelope Kiva - a sacred, underground ceremonial chamber used by the Hopi people, particularly for rituals like the Snake Dance
Lecherous adj having or showing excessive or offensive sexual desire (Lec cher rous)
Incestuous adj excessively close and resistant to outside influence (in Cest tuous)
Beauteous adj beautiful

Complete Features
Count of Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 New Year feature 
"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

In a genetically-engineered utopia where comfort is mandatory and individuality is extinct, the World State maintains total stability at the cost of the human soul.

Chapter 5-6
00:27 5 Lenina and Henry enjoy drug-fueled, mindless sex. Meanwhile, Bernard’s mandatory group orgy fails to cure his loneliness, leaving him more alienated from society than before.
27:14 6 Bernard’s rebellion collapses into conformity with Lenina; he faces exile after the Director’s slip, panics over punishment, and travels with Lenina to Savage Reservation, soma-induced.

Characters
Director of D.H.C - The authoritative figure who leads the student tour and explains the technical "birth" process
Henry Foster - The Director's assistant and a high-caste Alpha who is obsessed with statistics and the efficiency of the hatchery
Lenina Crowne - A Beta-minus worker on the assembly line, specifically the "Embryo Store", who is described as uncommonly pretty
Mustapha Mond - Resident World Controller for Western Europe, sophisticated superior leader who enforces social stability through censorship while secretly possessing forbidden knowledge
Bernard Marx - An Alpha-Plus specialist in Hypnopaedia whose physical stuntedness causes him to feel like a social outcast
Fanny Crowne - A Beta technician in the Bottling Room who acts as a strictly orthodox representative of the World State’s social rules
Helmholtz Watson - Alpha-plus lecturer and writer, is admired and impressive but secretly frustrated by the emptiness of his work and the World State.

Costa's Wordbook
Pullulation n the rapid, abundant breeding or growth of living things (Pul, like dull, lew laytion)
Switchback n a road, path, or railway with alternate sharp ascents and descents
the little death - (fr, la petite mort) idiom for sexual orgasm
Deturgescence n the state of being relatively dehydrated (det tur jazz sence)
Diminuendo n a decrease in loudness in a piece of music (dim Min u endo)
Plangently adv in a way that expresses sadness, especially through a deep, low sound (Plan gent ly)
Midriff n the region of the front of the body between the chest and the waist (Mid driff)
Quaff v drink (something, especially an alcoholic drink) heartily 
Plexus n a network of nerves or vessels in the body; an intricate network (Plex ses)
Supine adj lying on one's back with face upwards (face downwards is drone) (Sue pyne)

Tremolo n when singing or playing an instrument, a shaking sound that is achieved by repeating the same note extremely quickly or by playing two notes very quickly, one after the other (Trem moe loe)
Archness n the quality of being deliberately or affectedly playful and teasing
Infantile adj childish; of or occurring among babies or very young children
Brachycephalic adj having a relatively broad, short skull (Brack ke se phalic)
Decilitre n one tenth of a litre, a metric unit of capacity (Desil litre)
Athabascan n a family of languages spoken primarily by certain Indigenous peoples of western Canada, Alaska, and the U.S. Southwest
Pueblo n a settlement of Indigenous peoples in the south-western US, especially one consisting of multistorey, flat-roofed houses built of adobe or stone by the Pueblo people (Pu where blo)
Malpais n spa, ‘bad lands’, describe rugged, barren volcanic landscapes, most famously exemplified by El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico (Mal Pies)
Zuñi - The Zuni are Native American Pueblo peoples native to the Zuni River valley.
Octoroon n off. a person who is one-eighth black by descent (Octo roon)

Complete Features
Count of Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP celebrates 140th Anniversary
"The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson

A scientist’s chemical attempt to isolate his inner evil creates a monstrous separate identity that eventually consumes him.

00:27 Story of the Door
13:56 Search for Mr. Hyde
31:34 Dr. Jekyll Was Quite at Ease
36:14 The Carew Murder Case
46:02 Incident of the Letter
56:13 Incident of Dr. Lanyon
1:05:18 Incident at the Window
1:08:35 The Last Night
1:33:26 Dr. Lanyon’s Narrative
1:50:08 Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case

Characters
Dr. Henry Jekyll - The protagonist whose scientific ambition and desire to separate his dual nature trigger the entire tragedy.
Edward Hyde - Jekyll’s evil alter ego; he represents the pure, unrestrained depravity that eventually takes control.
Gabriel John Utterson - The lawyer and narrator figure. Most of the mystery is seen through his eyes as he investigates the link between Jekyll and Hyde.
Dr. Hastie Lanyon - Jekyll’s foil. As a "rational" scientist, his horror upon witnessing the transformation provides the definitive proof of Jekyll's success, and his downfall.

Complete Features
Count of Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 New Year feature 
"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

In a genetically-engineered utopia where comfort is mandatory and individuality is extinct, the World State maintains total stability at the cost of the human soul.

Chapter 3-4
00:27 3 Mustapha Mond, Lenina, and Bernard, contrasts the World State’s sexual freedom with past prudishness, presents soma, critiques conditioning, and foreshadows tension through Bernard’s discontent and the Savage Reservation.
41:42 4 Lenina agrees to spend a week with Bernard; he and Helmholtz, both dissatisfied Alpha-plus men, discuss their emptiness and frustration with the World State’s shallow society.

Characters
The Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, D.H.C - The authoritative figure who leads the student tour and explains the technical "birth" process
Henry Foster - The Director's assistant and a high-caste Alpha who is obsessed with statistics and the efficiency of the hatchery
Lenina Crowne - A Beta-minus worker on the assembly line, specifically the "Embryo Store", who is described as uncommonly pretty
Mustapha Mond - Resident World Controller for Western Europe, sophisticated superior leader who enforces social stability through censorship while secretly possessing forbidden knowledge
Bernard Marx - An Alpha-Plus specialist in Hypnopaedia whose physical stuntedness causes him to feel like a social outcast
Fanny Crowne - A Beta technician in the Bottling Room who acts as a strictly orthodox representative of the World State’s social rules
Helmholtz Watson - Alpha-plus lecturer and writer, is admired and impressive but secretly frustrated by the emptiness of his work and the World State.

Costa's Wordbook
Boscage n a mass of trees or shrubs (Boss gage as in cage)
Cuckoo n a long-tailed, medium-sized bird, typically with a grey or brown back and barred or pale underparts. Many cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of small songbirds
Maudlin adj self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental (Maw de lin)
Discarnate adj (of a person or being) not having a physical body (dis Garn net)
Harappa - a major archaeological site and ancient city in Pakistan, a key center of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500-1700 BC), known for advanced urban planning with grid systems, drainage, and fortified citadels, and also serves as the name for the broader Bronze Age culture it represents
Ur of the Chaldees - the biblical birthplace of Abraham, identified by archaeologists with the ancient Sumerian city of Ur (modern Tell el-Muqayyar) in southern Iraq, a wealthy metropolis known for its ziggurat and extensive trade in ancient Mesopotamia, from which Abraham left to journey to Canaan
Odysseus - a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in that same epic cycle
Gotama - ind, the Buddha
Alhambra - a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Spain. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world
Chypre n a sophisticated and complex family of perfumes named after the island of Cyprus (Sheeper)
Intravenal = intravenous adj existing or taking place within, or administered into, a vein or veins (Intra v nus)
Hibiscus n a plant of the mallow family, grown in warm climates for its large brightly coloured flowers or for products such as fibre or timber
Trobriand n the Trobriand Islanders, an indigenous Melanesian people from the Trobriand Islands (Kiriwina Archipelago) off Papua New Guinea (Troe brie end)
Axiomatic adj self-evident or unquestionable (axiom Matic)
Truculently adv in an angry or slightly aggressive way that may cause an argument (Truc cue lent ly)
Flivver n a cheap car or aircraft, especially one in bad condition (Fliv ver)
Pneumatic adj (of a woman) having large breasts
Ectogenesis n (chiefly in science fiction) the development of embryos in artificial conditions outside the uterus (ec toe Genesis)
Physico-chemically adv in a manner relating to both physics and chemistry, describing properties or processes that involve both physical (like solubility, density, state) and chemical (like reactivity, bonding, pH) characteristics of a substance, often studied in physical chemistry to understand behavior, interactions, and changes (physical Chemical)
Kurfürstendamm - ger, Berlin's famous 3.5 km long, elegant boulevard in West Berlin, known as the city's Champs-Élysées
The 8th Arrondissement -fr, a prestigious district famous for the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, and Place de la Concorde
Dichlorethyl sulphide - chemical name for mustard gas, a highly toxic, oily liquid used as a chemical warfare blister agent, causing severe skin burns, blisters (vesicant), eye damage, and respiratory issues like pulmonary edema
Corduroy n a thick cotton fabric with velvety ribs (Core du roy)
Malthusian theory - developed by Thomas Malthus, that population grows geometrically (exponentially) while food supply grows arithmetically (linearly), inevitably leading to resource scarcity, famine, war, disease (Malthusian catastrophes), and poverty that checks population growth. Malthus argued that "positive checks" (misery, war) and "preventive checks" (moral restraint, delayed marriage) keep populations in check, criticizing aid that encouraged larger families (Mal thew sian)
Pharmacologist n a research scientist studying how drugs affect the body, working in labs or pharma to discover and develop new drugs; pharmacists manage existing drugs for patients; pharmacologists research new ones
Hallucinant n something that causes hallucinations or a person who experiences them, often used for drugs or profound sensory experiences (hal Lew cin nent)
Soma n hindu, an intoxicating drink prepared from a plant and used in Vedic ritual, believed to be the drink of the gods (Sow mah)
Hoity-toity adj haughty or snobbish (Hoi ty Toi ty)
Gonadal adj anything related to the gonads (go Na del)

Cockchafer n a large brown European beetle which flies at dusk and is a destructive plant pest, both as an adult and a larva (Cock chay fer)
Aphid n a small bug which feeds by sucking sap from plants (A fid)
Hullabaloo n a loud, continued noise or mixture of noises, a commotion (Hul la ba loo)

Complete Features
Count of Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 New Year feature 
"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

In a genetically-engineered utopia where comfort is mandatory and individuality is extinct, the World State maintains total stability at the cost of the human soul.

Chapter 1-2
00:27 1 The Hatchery mass-produces citizens via an assembly line, biologically predestining Alphas and Betas for intellect and leadership, while conditioning the rest for manual labor.
30:33 2 The state uses hypnopaedia and shocks to condition citizens to hate nature but crave expensive sports, ensuring constant consumption and social stability via manufactured "morals."

Characters
The Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, D.H.C - The authoritative figure who leads the student tour and explains the technical "birth" process
Henry Foster - The Director's assistant and a high-caste Alpha who is obsessed with statistics and the efficiency of the hatchery
Lenina Crowne - A Beta-minus worker on the assembly line, specifically the "Embryo Store", who is described as uncommonly pretty.

Costa's Wordbook
Gooseflesh n a state of the skin caused by cold, fear, or excitement, in which small bumps appear on the surface as the hairs become erect
Abjectly adv humbly; a complete lack of pride, dignity, hope, or spirit
Straight from the horse's mouth - idiom from the person who has direct personal knowledge
Fretsawyer n a person who saws timber for a living
Floridly adv in a way that has too much decoration
Gamete n a mature haploid male or female germ cell which is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote (Gahm meet)
Thermogene n heat-producing, referring to substances or processes that generate heat, often by boosting metabolism (Thermo gin)
Excised adj having been cut out surgically (Ex cysed)
Viscosity n the state of being thick, sticky, and semi-fluid in consistency, due to internal friction (Vis gos city)
Spermatozoa pl n the mature motile male sex cell of an animal, by which the ovum is fertilized, typically having a compact head and one or more long flagella for swimming (spermatoe Zoe ah)
Burgeon v begin to grow or increase rapidly, flourish, bud (Bur gen)
Piddling adj pathetically trivial, trifling (Pid dle ling)
Viviparous adj (of an animal) bringing forth live young which have developed inside the body of the parent (vi Vip par rous)
Largesse n generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others (lar Jess)
Pituitary n the major endocrine gland, a pea-sized body attached to the base of the brain that is important in controlling growth and development and the functioning of the other endocrine glands (pit Chui tery)
Peritoneum n the serous membrane lining the cavity of the abdomen and covering the abdominal organs (peri tone Neeum)
Morula n a solid ball of cells resulting from division of a fertilized ovum, and from which a blastula is formed (More ryu la)
Saline adj containing or impregnated with salt (Say line)
Thyroxine n the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland, acting to increase metabolic rate and so regulating growth and development (thy Rox seen)
corpus luteum - lat, a hormone-secreting structure that develops in an ovary after an ovum has been discharged but degenerates after a few days unless pregnancy has begun
Freemartin n a hermaphrodite or imperfect sterile female calf which is the twin of a male calf whose hormones affected its development
Endocrine adj relating to or denoting glands which secrete hormones or other products directly into the blood. (Endo cryne)
Lupus n a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues and organs, causing widespread inflammation affecting joints, skin, kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs, with symptoms like fatigue, rashes
Immunize v make (a person or animal) resistant to a particular infectious disease or pathogen, typically by vaccination (Im mune nise)

Pavlovian adj known as Classical Conditioning, explains how learning occurs through association, where a neutral stimulus (like a bell) becomes linked with an unconditioned stimulus (like food) to trigger a learned (conditioned) response (like salivating), fundamentally shaping behaviorism by demonstrating involuntary responses can be trained (pav Loaf vian)
Viscose n a viscous orange-brown solution obtained by treating cellulose with sodium hydroxide and carbon disulphide, used as the basis of manufacturing rayon fibre and transparent cellulose film (Vis cose like nose)
Aryan adj (in Nazi ideology) of or denoting white non-Jewish people, especially those of northern European origin or descent typically having blonde hair and blue eyes and regarded as a supposedly superior racial group (Air ree yen)
Quarto n a size of book page resulting from folding each printed sheet into four leaves (eight pages) (Quart toe)
Posthumous adj occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator (Pos chu mous)
Hypnopaedia n learning by hearing while asleep or under hypnosis (hypno Peedia)
George Bernard Shaw - an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist; his expressed views were often contentious; he promoted eugenics and alphabet reform, and opposed vaccination and organised religion
Asafoetida n a fetid resinous gum obtained from the roots of a herbaceous plant, used in herbal medicine and South Asian cooking (asa Fee tid da)
Inculcate v instil (an idea, attitude, or habit) by persistent instruction (In cul kate)

Complete Features
Count of Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP end of the year feature 
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet

A sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.

Volume V Chapter 96-117 Finale
00:30 96 At Danglars’s contract signing Monte Cristo reveals a newly found waistcoat letter tying Andrea to Caderousse. Police arrive to arrest Andrea as an escaped convict for murder, but he has already fled elsewhere.
24:30 97 Eugénie and Louise immediately enact their escape plan, disguise Eugénie as Louise’s brother, use the passport and theater letters Monte Cristo provided, pack their trunk, and leave for Italy through Brussels.
38:33 98 Andrea steals the wedding jewels, flees by cab and horse, hides in an inn chimney, drops into Eugénie and Louise’s room, is caught by police, and the exposed women depart for Brussels amid attention.
1:05:37 99 Madame Danglars seeks help from Debray, then Villefort. She asks Villefort to let Andrea escape to avoid scandal, but he refuses. He has bigger worries at home, and Andrea has already been caught.
100 Recovering, Valentine sees Monte Cristo, who reveals watching her for nights, substituting poison for healthy drinks. He gives her red liquid, telling her to feign sleep when the killer soon to be revealed arrives after midnight.
101 Pretending sleep, Valentine saw her stepmother poison her drink. Monte Cristo returned, promising a safety plan. He gave her a drug, emptied some poison to fake consumption, and left through a secret door.
102 Madame de Villefort confirms Valentine's death and disposes of the poison. Monte Cristo secretly replaced it, which Dr. d'Avrigny identified, causing the killer to collapse as servants fled.
2:10:41 103 Noirtier warns Maximilien, who finds Valentine dead. He carries Noirtier to her side. Maximilien, d'Avrigny, and Noirtier compel Villefort to swear vengeance, giving him three days.
104 While Valentine is prepared for burial, Villefort obsesses over Benedetto. Monte Cristo takes five million francs from Danglars, forcing the banker to gather cash, burn papers, and flee his creditors.
105 Monte Cristo follows a suicidal Maximilien, revealing he is Edmond Dantès. The Count stops him by promising happiness and requires him to live with him for one month.
3:23:51 106 Debray finalizes Madame Danglars's secret wealth, contrasting her greed with the poverty of Mercédès and Albert. Albert enlists and sends his mother to Marseille.
107 Andrea, imprisoned in La Force, hopes Monte Cristo will save him. When Bertuccio visits, Andrea suggests Monte Cristo is his father. Bertuccio promises to return tomorrow with the real name.
4:16:39 108 Villefort prepares for Benedetto's trial while Noirtier finds peace. Villefort confronts his wife, Mme de Villefort, about the four deaths she caused and demands she use her saved poison on herself before he returns.
109 Andrea's sensational trial draws a crowd. Socialites Beauchamp, Château-Renaud, and Debray exchange rumors, with Debray suggesting young Edward is the poisoner in the Villefort deaths.
110 Andrea, calm, admits being a criminal but refuses his name. When he declares Villefort is his father, the chaos ends with Villefort acknowledging the truth and staggering out, forcing a trial postponement.
5:10:03 111 Regretting his demand, Villefort finds his wife and son, Edouard, dead by poison. Monte Cristo reveals his identity (Edmond Dantès), but is horrified that his vengeance resulted in the boy's death.
112 Maximilien and Monte Cristo discuss the fallen before leaving Paris. In Marseille, Count visits Mercédès, revealing his vengeful methods. She expresses regret over marrying Fernand and wishes only for Albert's happiness.
6:04:38 113 Revisiting Château d’If, the Count relives his suffering, finds Faria’s manuscript as divine approval of his vengeance, then urges despairing Maximilien to wait until October 5 on Monte Cristo island for happiness.
114 Danglars withdraws five million, is shadowed by Peppino, kidnapped by Vampa’s bandits, and locked in the catacombs, still believing his remaining fortune will easily buy his freedom.
6:59:07 115 Starving Danglars waits for ransom demands; Peppino offers meals at extortionate prices. A chicken costs heavy. Outraged, Danglars bargains in vain and finally agrees, paying a fortune for every bite while imprisoned.
116 Danglars pays a fortune for every meal until only a fraction remain. Starving, he repents. Monte Cristo reveals himself as Edmond Dantès, forgives him, orders food, and frees him with the last 50,000 francs.
117 On Monte Cristo island, Maximilien swallows the green elixir, “dies,” awakens to find Valentine alive. Monte Cristo gifts them his fortune, sails away with Haydée, leaving the famous last words: “wait and hope!”

Main Characters of Volume V
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.
Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.
Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.
Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.
Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.
Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.
Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.
Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.

Costa's Wordbook
Fricassee - fr, a dish of stewed or fried pieces of meat served in a thick white sauce (Fric ca see)
Che cosa? - ita, What?

Harpagon - a miser, a greedy and stingy person, due to the character from Molière's play L'Avare (The Miser)
Piecemeal adv adj characterized by unsystematic partial measures taken over a period of time
Usury n the action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interes (U sher ry)

Calypso…Telemachus - reference is to Homer’s Odyssey: When Odysseus is shipwrecked and washed up naked and half-dead on the island of the nymph Calypso, she takes him in. Telemachus is Odysseus’ son in Homer’s Odyssey
Caryatids - sculpted female figures used as architectural supports in place of columns.
The most famous examples stand on the porch of the Erechtheion temple on the Acropolis in Athens
Unctuous adj (of a mineral) having a greasy or soapy feel
Felucca n a small boat propelled by oars or lateen sails or both, used on the Nile and formerly more widely in the Mediterranean region

Complete Features
Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP end of the year feature 
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet

A sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.

Volume V Chapter 113-114
00:30 113 Revisiting Château d’If, the Count relives his suffering, finds Faria’s manuscript as divine approval of his vengeance, then urges despairing Maximilien to wait until October 5 on Monte Cristo island for happiness.
29:49 114 Danglars withdraws five million, is shadowed by Peppino, kidnapped by Vampa’s bandits, and locked in the catacombs, still believing his remaining fortune will easily buy his freedom.

Main Characters of Volume V
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.
Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.
Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.
Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.
Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.
Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.
Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.
Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.

Costa's Wordbook
Autumnal adj of, characteristic of, or occurring in autumn (aw Tum nal)
Mirabeau - Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau (1749–1791), a famed French orator, writer, and central figure of the early French Revolution; died suddenly in 1791 at the height of his influence. Because he was a deeply controversial political figure, admired as the "Tribune of the People" but distrusted for secretly consulting with the King, his sudden death at age 42 led many to believe he had been poisoned by his political rivals, rather than dying from natural causes
Vacillating adj wavering between different opinions or actions, irresolute (Va cil lating)
Eurus - a figure in Greek mythology who personifies the East Wind, often associated with bad omens, storms, and bringing warm, dry air and rain (or sometimes blight). Unlike the cold North Wind (Boreas) or gentle West Wind (Zephyrus), Eurus is often depicted as unsettling and violent

Allegro! Moderato! - ita, Fast!, Slow!
Marius and Gracch - ita, Gaius Marius, the great Roman general and seven-time consul who rose from plebeian origins and championed the common people; Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, two famous 2nd-century BCE tribunes who fought for land reform for the poor and were both assassinated by the Senate; they are ultimate symbols of ancient Rome’s populist heroes, the champions of the little guy against the aristocracy
Morra - ita, traditional Italian hand game: Two players simultaneously throw out fingers while shouting a guess at the total number of fingers shown. Fast, loud, and usually played for small bets — very common among working-class Italians in the 19th century
Facchini - ita, porters / baggage carriers / general labourers
Orvieto - ita, famous white wine from the town of Orvieto in Umbria, central Italy. In 1840s Rome it was the classic cheap, everyday table wine that ordinary Romans, porters, coachmen, and bandits drank by the bottle or flask. Slightly sweet, low-alcohol, straw-coloured, sold in wicker-covered fiasco bottles.
Non capisco - ita, i do not understand
mio caro? - ita, my dear?
Dentro la testa! - ita, inside the head! (put your head inside)
Scendi! - ita, come down!
Di quà - ita, over here
Avanti! - ita, go ahead!
Plutarch - (c. 46 – after 119 AD) was a Greek-Roman philosopher, biographer, and essayist; famous for one single work that has never stopped being read for 2,000 years: Parallel Lives
Ecco! - ita, Here! (here you are)

Complete Features
Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting

Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP end of the year feature 
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet

A sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.

Volume V Chapter 111,112
00:30 111 Regretting his demand, Villefort finds his wife and son, Edouard, dead by poison. Monte Cristo reveals his identity (Edmond Dantès), but is horrified that his vengeance resulted in the boy's death.
21:00 112 Maximilien and Monte Cristo discuss the fallen before leaving Paris. In Marseille, The latter visits Mercédès, revealing his vengeful methods. She expresses regret over marrying Fernand and wishes only for Albert's happiness.

Main Characters of Volume V
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.
Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.
Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.
Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.
Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.
Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.
Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.
Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.

Costa's Wordbook
Garb of Nessus - a poisoned garment from Greek mythology that led to the death of the hero Heracles
Ajax the Great - a major figure in Homer's Iliad, known for his immense strength, courage, and size, second only to Achilles among the Greek heroes

Perrault - Charles Perrault, a 17th-century French author famous for establishing the literary genre of the fairy tale
Puget - Pierre Paul Puget (~1620 -1694) was a French Baroque painter, sculptor, architect and engineer. His sculpture expressed emotion, pathos and drama, setting it apart from the more classical and academic sculpture of the Style Louis XIV
Supine adj failing to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or indolence (Sew pyne)

Complete Features
Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting

Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP end of the year feature 
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet

A sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.

Volume V Chapter 108-110
00:30 108 Villefort prepares for Benedetto's trial while Noirtier finds peace. Villefort confronts his wife, Mme de Villefort, about the four deaths she caused and demands she use her saved poison on herself before he returns.
23:32 109 Andrea's sensational trial draws a crowd. Socialites Beauchamp, Château-Renaud, and Debray exchange rumors, with Debray suggesting young Edward is the poisoner in the Villefort deaths.
36:55 110 Andrea, calm, admits being a criminal but refuses his name. When he declares Villefort is his father, the chaos ends with Villefort acknowledging the truth and staggering out, forcing a trial postponement.

Main Characters of Volume V
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.
Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.
Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.
Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.
Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.
Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.
Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.
Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.

Costa's Wordbook
Tarquin - lat, Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud), the legendary last king of Rome. Tarquin's son, Sextus, sent a messenger to his father asking what he should do to gain control of the city of Gabii. Tarquin gave the messenger no verbal reply. Instead, he went into his garden and used his cane to lop off the heads of the tallest poppies he could find.
Vociferate v shout, complain, or argue loudly or vehemently (voh Sif fer rate)

Deuce n inf. used as a euphemism for ‘devil’ in expressions of annoyance, impatience, surprise
Dante…Divina Commedia - ita, the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri, his most famous work, the Divine Comed
Phlegmatically adv to do something in a calm, unemotional, or stolid way that is not easily excited or upset
Phrenological adj dated. the study of the size and shape of the skull in order to find out about a person's character or abilities (fren no Logical)
Saint-Simon - fr, Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon (1675–1755), a famous French nobleman, soldier, and courtier. He is renowned for his extensive and detailed Mémoires, which offer a sharp, insider's view of the court of King Louis XIV at Versailles

Blaspheme v speak irreverently about God or sacred things (blas Pheem)

Complete Features
Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting

Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP end of the year feature 
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet

A sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.

Volume V Chapter 106-107
00:30 106 Debray finalizes Madame Danglars's secret wealth, contrasting her greed with the poverty of Mercédès and Albert. Albert enlists and sends his mother to Marseille.
35:30 107 Andrea, imprisoned in La Force, hopes Monte Cristo will save him. When Bertuccio visits, Andrea suggests Monte Cristo is his father. Bertuccio promises to return tomorrow with the real name.

Main Characters of Volume V
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.
Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.
Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.
Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.
Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.
Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.
Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.
Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.

Costa's Wordbook
Asmodeus, Le Sage - Alain-René Le Sage (1668–1747), a French novelist and playwright, created Asmodeus in the novel Le Diable boiteux (The Lame Devil), a demon or devil, often associated with luxury, lust, gambling, and deceit
Pallet n a straw mattress; makeshift bed
Lamoricière, Changarnier, Bedeau - famous French generals and military figures who were highly prominent in 1830-40s

La Force - fr, a large, notorious prison located in central Paris, operating from the late 18th to mid-19th c.
Big bug n A prominent or significant person
La savate - fr, worn shoe; though in prison talk, to beat one with an old heavy shoe, a violent act
Anguille - fr, eel; prison talk, long, flexible, and whipping motion of the makeshift weapon used as a flail
Pincette - fr, pincers; French parlor game, one person hides an object, the others search. The searchers are guided by clues using the metaphor of heat to indicate proximity
Racine - fr, Jean Racine (1639–1699) was one of the most celebrated and significant playwrights of the 17th-century French classical period; 
Monsieur Pixérécourt - fr, René-Charles Guilbert de Pixérécourt (1773–1844) was a highly popular and prolific playwright who specialized in melodrama during the late 18th and early 19th centuries
Pygmy n derog. a person who is insignificant or lacks ability in a particular respect

Complete Features
Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Powered by Firstory Hosting