Showing results by narrator "David McCallion" in All Categories

This series of poems covers the story of the legendary hero, King Arthur, beginning with his first encounter with Guinevere, the woman who would become his queen on his search for the Holy Grail, to the betrayal of Guinevere and Sir Lancelot, and finally ending with Arthur's last battle. First published between 1859 and 1885 as a series of twelve poems, Idylls of the King retells the story of King Arthur with a unique and Victorian flavor beloved by many.

At its heart, De Profundis is a love letter and is better known as the De Profundis papers. Written in 1897, while Oscar Wilde was imprisoned in Reading Gaol, De Profundis would become one of his best-known works. The papers include Wilde's account of living a lavish lifestyle and his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, both of which he credited for his eventual downfall and imprisonment. The second half of the papers is Wilde's account of prison life and his spiritual awakening.

Victory is the story of a loner who believes that the best way to avoid life's pain and pitfalls is to distance himself from others. In spite of his misgivings, Axel Heyst agrees to manage a coal company on a remote island. When the company eventually fails, he again turns his back on people and society, more convinced than ever that his original philosophy was right.

The concept of justice and what constitutes "just" behavior has been a topic of philosophical conversation for centuries. Indeed, famed Greek philosopher Plato made it the very focus of his 10-book epic The Republic, in which he endeavored not only to give a working definition of the word "justice", but also to provide examples of justice in society, in the city-states, and in humankind. The Republic is written as a Socratic dialogue. In it, Socrates and other prominent figures have conversations regarding these topics.

This science fiction masterpiece by H. G. Wells tells the spine-tingling story of top-notch scientist Griffin, who is on the forefront of scientific discoveries when he successfully creates a serum that can render him invisible. However, it comes with horrific side effects that he hadn’t counted on. As Griffin descends into madness and revenge and becomes intent on murder, the tension in this science fiction thriller continues to build, until its chilling conclusion.

In June 1867, Mark Twain set sail for Europe and the Holy Land. Twain recorded this adventurous trip and later turned it into The Innocents Abroad. This book became so popular overseas that it would propel him into an international star. The Innocents Abroad is Twain’s account of his thoughts of the Old World, including Paris, Venice, Pompeii, Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem, as well as many other noteworthy cities. His disbelief and wonder are told with humor that endeared Twain to American audiences.

The Deerslayer gives listeners a glimpse into another time and another culture. Raised by Indians, the young white man Natty Bumppo takes pride in doing everything just as well as his peers. Natty is courageous and one of the best hunters in his group which earns him the name Deerslayer, but his true test will come in the form of warfare. The Deerslayer’s story is one of violence and the reality of warfare. After killing his first enemy, Natty is captured and tortured. He believes this is the worst of mankind but nothing can prepare him for the cruelty of the civilized man.

Carefree, party loving Amory Blaine leaves his home in Minnesota for Princeton University, with his sight set on a high-energy career in New York City. At Princeton, the ambitious and self-centered Amory longs to be included with the popular crowd, and become one of those he views as entitled, but along the way, he indulges in a string of romances with beautiful, young women. While chasing his golden dream, Amory's youth is slipping away, along with the past. Will young Amory understand how fleeting life is before it is too late?

Lord Jim is considered by many to be one of the greatest novels published in the 20th century. At its core, Lord Jim is a story of conscience and what can happen if one forgets one's honor and turns one's back on one's fellow man.

The Jewel of the Seven Stars is the frightening tale of an archeologist determined to bring the ancient Egyptian Queen Tera back from the dead. Abel Trelawny sets out to fulfill his dark agenda, but he needs the help of the young lawyer Malcolm Ross. Convinced that Malcolm's interest in his daughter will help persuade him to go along with the evil plot, Trelawny sets his plan in motion. None of them could anticipate the horrifying consequences of his diabolic actions. Will Malcolm go along with Trelawny's evil plan?

When Adam Salton travels to a remote village in England to visit his great uncle, he soon finds himself in the middle of some strange happenings, where someone or something is killing people. Within the dark walls of the Caswell estate, there resides a new heir named Adam, and he has a sinister agenda. Lady Arabella has her sights set on becoming Mrs. Caswell, but there may be more to her than meets the eye. When snakes start coming out of nowhere, Adam buys a mongoose to help rid the property of them. That's when things really take a turn for the worse.

Published in 1651, Leviathan is considered to be one of the most important works of political philosophy and a major contribution to the modern idea of central government. In the mid-17th century, England was going through a turbulent time of change and unrest, which likely shaped Hobbes' ideas on strong government. Thomas Hobbes established the social contract theory. He believed that self-government did not create the ideal state due to the human tendency to be self-serving, something he believed would eventually lead to chaos.

Considered to be the first autobiography of its kind, The Confessions is two distinct books published seven years apart and covers the first 53 years of the author's life. The autobiographies of the time delved primarily into the individual's religious life, but Jean-Jacques Rousseau wanted to do something different. Instead of focusing on faith, he wrote about his thoughts and misadventures.

The Secret Agent is a Victorian terrorist tale that has found a new audience with today's audiences. Set in 1866 London, this book tells the story of Adolf Verloc, a shopkeeper turned anarchist.

When Kim O'Hara's Irish parents die, he is left to raise himself on the streets of Lahore where he scrapes a living. After being recognized by an acquaintance of his father, Kim is sent to an English school to learn espionage, and his education is paid for by an old Tibetan priest. After graduating the two are reunited and two roam India in search of the River of the Arrow, which will wash away all sin. Kim must find a way of reconciling his status as both a sahib (white European) and a chela (disciple).

Honoré de Balzac uses his classic style of detail to describe a most controversial setting in his novel Le Pere Goriot. The story takes place in Paris just after the fall of Napoleon in 1819. The story focuses on three characters, Rastignac, a student who wants to try and make it big in the capital, Vautrin, an interesting and funny character who is also quite mysterious, and the main character, Goriot, that carries a heavy burden that only a loving parent would endure.

Set in 18th century Philadelphia, the book follows Frank as he amasses a large fortune through stock speculation and purchases of shares in the growing street railway industry. He marries an older woman and has two children and uses his new found wealth to become socially prominent. Things however take a turn for the worst when he has an affair with Aileen Butler, the daughter of a politically prominent Irish industrialist.

Black Beauty is an autobiographical memoir detailing the journey of a horse, from his whimsical days as a young colt on a farm in 19th Century England, before moving on towards tough times hauling cabs in London and finally ending with a peaceful rest in the country.

The Talisman revolves around the Third Crusader's camp in the Holy Land whereby there exists a truce between the Christians and the Muslims. The camp, which is led by King Richard I of England (the Lion-heart) who is grievously ill, is being torn apart by tensions between rival leaders.

The young Danish Prince, Hamlet, is vexed by a trip home to Denmark from school in Germany, to attend his father, the king's funeral. Upon arriving at home, Hamlet has discovered that his mother has already become married to the former King's brother, Hamlet's uncle. What's more, the man has declared himself to be King of Denmark even though Hamlet was the true and rightful heir. Hamlet is enraged by this deception, and immediately suspects foul play in his father's murder.