Librivox Audiobooks

Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
Translated by Jessie Lemont (1862 - 1947)

A concise collection of poems translated from the great German poet Rilke into formal English verse. Although the translation may be freer than some modern texts, this selection, which spans early and later writings and includes a preface refreshingly focused on the poet's artistic development, provides a nice entrée into Rilke's world. (Summary by Eva Davis)

Genre(s): Single author

Language: English

Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870)

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, better known as The Pickwick Papers, is the first novel by Charles Dickens. Written for publication as a serial, The Pickwick Papers consists of a sequence of loosely-related adventures. Its main literary value and appeal is formed by its numerous unforgettable heroes. Each personage in The Pickwick Papers (just as in many other Dickens' novels) is drawn comically, often with exaggerated features of character. (Wikipedia)

Genre(s): Satire

Language: English

Aristotle (384 BCE - 322 BCE)
Translated by Thomas Taylor (1758 - 1835)

Physics (Greek: Φυσικὴ ἀκρόασις; Latin: Physica, or Physicae Auscultationes) discusses concepts including: substance, accident, the infinite, causation, motion, time and the Prime Mover. (Summary by Geoffrey Edwards)

Genre(s): Classics (Greek & Latin Antiquity), *Non-fiction, Nature

Language: English

Shantideva (8th Cent. - 8th Cent.)
Translated by Lionel David Barnett (1871 - 1960)

Shantideva is particularly renowned as the author of the Bodhicaryavatara (sometimes also called the Bodhisattvacaryavatara). An English translation of the Sanskrit version of the Bodhicaryavatara is available online, as well as in print in a variety of translations, sometimes glossed as "A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way Of Life" or "Entering the Path of Enlightenment." It is a long poem describing the process of enlightenment from the first thought to full buddhahood and is still studied by Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhists today.
It has ten chapters dedicated to the development of bodhicitta (the mind of enlightenment) through the practice of the six perfections (Skt. Pāramitās). The text begins with a chapter describing the benefits of the wish to reach enlightenment. The sixth chapter on the Pāramitā of patience (Skt. Kṣānti, kshanti) is considered by many Buddhists to be the pinnacle of writing on this subject and is the source of numerous quotations attributed to Śāntideva. Tibetan scholars consider the ninth "Wisdom" chapter to be one of the most succinct expositions of the Madhyamaka view. The tenth chapter is used as one of the most popular Mahāyāna prayers. ( Wikipedia)

Genre(s): Other religions, Asian Antiquity

Language: English

Lawrence J. Burpee (1873 - 1946)

This is volume 19 of The Chronicles of Canada series. This is the account of La Verendryes' quest for an overland route to the Pacific Ocean. (Summary by Esther)

Genre(s): Early Modern, Exploration

Language: English

Group: Chronicles of Canada Series

Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870)

Dickens' last complete novel was published serially 1864-5. It begins with an intriguing fortune offered to John Harmon by his late father, a rich dust contractor, in his will.
To receive the money, John must marry a certain Bella Wilfer who he does not know from Eve. He is returning from the exile enforced by his father and confides in a ship's mate who attempts to murder him. The mate gets killed instead, leaving one inconvenient corpse. Because John is considered dead (the body is found with his papers), the money passes to Mr Boffin, old Harmon's foreman. Harmon adopts Bella and John comes into his employ disguised as John Rokesmith. Bella does not fall for John but through kindly Boffin's contrivances learns to hate money and fall for her suitor under his false name. Eventually she learns of his true identity as the Boffins had previously, and the villainous one-legged Silas Wegg's plot to blackmail Mr Boffin is brought to light.
There is also a story running behind the main plot about a certain Eugene Wrayburn and his love for Lizzie Hexam, and his rival's attempt to murder him. The two plots are only really connected through the waterside murders but it allows Dickens to indulge in an extremely socially diverse cast of characters. (Summary written by Alan Chant).

Genre(s): General Fiction

Language: English

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Carl von Clausewitz (1780 - 1831)
Translated by J. J. Graham (1808 - 1883)

A classic work on military strategy by a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars. The author's style is dialectical: he makes two strong but opposing statements and then draws them together to describe many facets of war. Free of technical jargon, and suitable for modern readers. This audiobook is based on a 1909 English translation.
In section 2, the reader Timothy Ferguson was assisted by Linda Ferguson.

Genre(s): Political Science, Early Modern

Language: English

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Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 - 43 BCE)
Translated by Harris Rackham (1868 - 1944)

On the Ends of Good and Evil (Latin: DE FINIBUS BONORUM ET MALORUM) discusses Skeptic, Epicurean, Stoic, Peripatetic and Academic views on the good life. Written by Marcus Tullius Cicero. Translated by Harris Rackham. (Summary by Geoffrey Edwards)

Genre(s): Classics (Greek & Latin Antiquity), Ancient

Language: English

Sophocles (497 BCE - 406 BCE)
Translated by Francis Storr (1839 - 1919)

Oedipus the King (often known by the Latin title Oedipus Rex) is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed c. 429 BC. It was the second of Sophocles's three Theban plays to be produced, but it comes first in the internal chronology, followed by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Over the centuries, it has come to be regarded by many as the Greek tragedy par excellence. 

Cast:
Oedipus: Andy Minter
Priest of Zeus: Hannah Dowell
Creon: Fr. Richard Zeile
Teiresias: BrianaTheBard
Jocasta: Leni
Messenger: Carolyn Francis
Second Messenger: pipsoul
Herd of Laius: hefyd
Chorus: Musicalheart1
Narrator: Elizabeth Klett
Audio edited by: Elizabeth Klett

Genre(s): Classics (Greek & Latin Antiquity), Plays, Poetry

Language: English