Season 2 Episode 10

"The Vagabond King" is a novel by J. Leslie Mitchell, originally published in 1930. The story is set in 17th-century France and follows the life of François Villon, a real-life poet and rogue. The novel weaves historical events with fictional elements, presenting a captivating tale of love, adventure, and political intrigue.

The plot revolves around François Villon, a charismatic and rebellious poet who becomes the leader of a band of outlaws known as the Vagabonds. Amidst a backdrop of political turmoil and the threat of war, Villon finds himself entangled in a romantic relationship with the beautiful Katherine de Vaucelles, the mistress of King Louis XI. As Villon's reputation as a poet and his influence among the Vagabonds grow, he must navigate treacherous plots, rivalries, and the demands of loyalty.

"The Vagabond King" is a tale of honor, passion, and the struggle for freedom in a time of political upheaval. It explores themes of love, identity, and the clash between personal desires and societal expectations. Mitchell's vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling transport readers to the vibrant streets of medieval Paris, capturing the essence of the time period and the complex character of François Villon.

"The Vagabond King" is presented through the "Lux Radio Theater," this popular radio program aired from 1934 to 1955 and presented adaptations of various stage plays and novels. The Lux Radio Theater was known for its high-quality productions and talented actors, bringing classic stories to life through the medium of radio.

Books in Sound is a free podcast series that presents a collection of hundreds of the world’s greatest books through the magic of the performing arts.

Different from audiobooks: Instead of having a single narrator read an audiobook, these performances have a full cast of actors, suitable background music, and special effects that help define the drama.

Most presentations are from old time radio theater broadcasts that have been remastered to remove most of the hissing, clicking and volume fluctuations. Many of the presentations are from the 1930's and 1940's, so a significant amount of work went into the remastering process.

Most presentations are about one hour, some are multiple hours, and some are abbreviated presentation that last about half an hour, making this series wonderful for bedtime stories, self-improvement by learning about literature, or simply as a very imaginative form of entertainment.

The episodes are not sequential, but we do recommend listening to the complete collection starting with the first episode so that you can grow and benefit from the wide assortment of styles and content.

For more information visit https://www.booksinsound.com