Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (née Pierrepont) was an English aristocrat and woman of letters. In 1716, she accompanied her husband to Vienna, and thence to Adrianople (Edirne) and Constantinople, where he took up his post as the new British ambassador. The couple remained there until 1718. Lady Mary told the story of their voyage in a series of private letters full of vivid descriptions and unconventional commentary. Their posthumous publication in 1763 presented to the public the first secular work written by a European woman about the Muslim Orient. They were praised by Voltaire, and the Scottish author Tobias Smollett opined that they were "never equaled by any letter-writer of any sex, age or nation". This selection contains sixteen of Lady Mary's Turkish Embassy Letters, as they came to be known, addressed her sister, Lady Mar (letters 1-5, 8, 9, 13, and 16), to Lady Rich (letters 6, 12 and 14), and to Abate Conti (letters 7, 10, 11 and 15). (Summary by Kazbek & Wikipedia)

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (née Pierrepont) was an English aristocrat and woman of letters. In 1716, she accompanied her husband to Vienna, and thence to Adrianople (Edirne) and Constantinople, where he took up his post as the new British ambassador. The couple remained there until 1718. Lady Mary told the story of their voyage in a series of private letters full of vivid descriptions and unconventional commentary. Their posthumous publication in 1763 presented to the public the first secular work written by a European woman about the Muslim Orient. They were praised by Voltaire, and the Scottish author Tobias Smollett opined that they were "never equaled by any letter-writer of any sex, age or nation". This selection contains sixteen of Lady Mary's Turkish Embassy Letters, as they came to be known, addressed her sister, Lady Mar (letters 1-5, 8, 9, 13, and 16), to Lady Rich (letters 6, 12 and 14), and to Abate Conti (letters 7, 10, 11 and 15). (Summary by Kazbek & Wikipedia)

"Astrophel and Stella" by Sir Philip Sidney is a seminal work of Elizabethan poetry that explores the themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human emotion. Through a series of sonnets, Sidney articulates the struggles of the heart, capturing the essence of unrequited love and the pain that often accompanies it. This collection remains relevant today as it delves into the timeless nature of romantic longing and the quest for connection, resonating with anyone who has experienced the highs and lows of love. Its lyrical beauty and profound insights into the human condition make it a compelling listen for contemporary audiences, inviting reflection on the enduring power of love and poetry.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (née Pierrepont) was an English aristocrat and woman of letters. In 1716, she accompanied her husband to Vienna, and thence to Adrianople (Edirne) and Constantinople, where he took up his post as the new British ambassador. The couple remained there until 1718. Lady Mary told the story of their voyage in a series of private letters full of vivid descriptions and unconventional commentary. Their posthumous publication in 1763 presented to the public the first secular work written by a European woman about the Muslim Orient. They were praised by Voltaire, and the Scottish author Tobias Smollett opined that they were "never equaled by any letter-writer of any sex, age or nation". This selection contains sixteen of Lady Mary's Turkish Embassy Letters, as they came to be known, addressed her sister, Lady Mar (letters 1-5, 8, 9, 13, and 16), to Lady Rich (letters 6, 12 and 14), and to Abate Conti (letters 7, 10, 11 and 15). (Summary by Kazbek & Wikipedia)