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The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde - Book 2 Title: The Importance of Being Earnest Overview: The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at the St James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae to escape burdensome social obligations. Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play's major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage and the resulting satire of Victorian ways. Some contemporary reviews praised the play's humor and the culmination of Wilde's artistic career, while others were cautious about its lack of social messages. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde's most enduringly popular play. The successful opening night marked the climax of Wilde's career but also heralded his downfall. The Marquess of Queensberry, whose son Lord Alfred Douglas was Wilde's lover, planned to present the writer with a bouquet of rotten vegetables and disrupt the show. Wilde was tipped off and Queensberry was refused admission. Their feud came to a climax in court when Wilde sued for libel. The proceedings provided enough evidence for his arrest, trial, and conviction on charges of gross indecency. Wilde's homosexuality was revealed to the Victorian public and he was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor. Despite the play's early success, Wilde's notoriety caused the play to be closed after 86 performances. After his release from prison, he published the play from exile in Paris, but he wrote no more comic or dramatic works. The Importance of Being Earnest has been revived many times since its premiere. It has been adapted for the cinema on three occasions. In The Importance of Being Earnest (1952), Dame Edith Evans reprised her celebrated interpretation of Lady Bracknell; The Importance of Being Earnest (1992) by Kurt Baker used an all-black cast, and Oliver Parker's The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) incorporated some of Wilde's original material cut during the preparation of the first stage production. Published: 1895 List: 100 Best Novels Of All Time, 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Oscar Wilde Genre: Comedy, Farce, Satire Episode: The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde - Book 2 Part: 1 of 1 Length Part: 2:38:37 Book: 1 Length Book: 2:38:37 Episodes: 1 - 3 of 3 Narrator: Phil Chenevert Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: light, romance, scintillating, obstacles, effervescent, abandonment, deceptively, comedy, flippant, satire, farce, oscarwilde Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #light #romance #scintillating #obstacles #effervescent #abandonment #deceptively #comedy #flippant #satire #farce #OscarWilde Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - Book 1, Part 2 Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray Overview: The Picture of Dorian Gray is a philosophical novel by Oscar Wilde. A shorter novella-length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. A revised and extended edition was published in April 1891. Revisions include changes in character dialogue as well as the addition of the preface, more scenes and chapters, and Sibyl Vane’s brother, James Vane. The story revolves around a portrait of Dorian Gray painted by Basil Hallward, a friend of Dorian's and an artist infatuated with Dorian's beauty. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton and is soon enthralled by the aristocrat's hedonistic worldview: that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Newly understanding that his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses the desire to sell his soul, to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. The wish is granted, and Dorian pursues a libertine life of varied amoral experiences while staying young and beautiful; all the while, his portrait ages and visually records every one of Dorian's sins. Wilde's only novel was subject to much controversy and criticism in its time but has come to be recognized as a classic of gothic literature. Published: 1891 List: 100 Best Novels Of All Time, 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Oscar Wilde Genre: Fantastic Fiction, General Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Decadent Literature Episode: The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - Book 1, Part 2 Part: 2 of 2 Length Part: 4:05:56 Book: 1 Length Book: 9:30:14 Episodes: 11 - 20 of 20 Narrator: Bob Neufeld Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: painting, soul, aging, death, redemption, hedonist, youth, drama, time, mysticism, fatalism, jealousy, gothic, morality, innocence, scandal, immortality, pride, oscarwilde Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #painting #soul #aging #death #redemption #hedonist #youth #drama #time #mysticism #fatalism #jealousy #gothic #morality #innocence #scandal #immortality #pride #OscarWilde Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - Book 1, Part 1 Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray Overview: The Picture of Dorian Gray is a philosophical novel by Oscar Wilde. A shorter novella-length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. A revised and extended edition was published in April 1891. Revisions include changes in character dialogue as well as the addition of the preface, more scenes and chapters, and Sibyl Vane’s brother, James Vane. The story revolves around a portrait of Dorian Gray painted by Basil Hallward, a friend of Dorian's and an artist infatuated with Dorian's beauty. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton and is soon enthralled by the aristocrat's hedonistic worldview: that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Newly understanding that his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses the desire to sell his soul, to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. The wish is granted, and Dorian pursues a libertine life of varied amoral experiences while staying young and beautiful; all the while, his portrait ages and visually records every one of Dorian's sins. Wilde's only novel was subject to much controversy and criticism in its time but has come to be recognized as a classic of gothic literature. Published: 1891 List: 100 Best Novels Of All Time, 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Oscar Wilde Genre: Fantastic Fiction, General Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Decadent Literature Episode: The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - Book 1, Part 1 Part: 1 of 2 Length Part: 5:24:28 Book: 1 Length Book: 9:30:14 Episodes: 0 - 10 of 20 Narrator: Bob Neufeld Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: painting, soul, aging, death, redemption, hedonist, youth, drama, time, mysticism, fatalism, jealousy, gothic, morality, innocence, scandal, immortality, pride, oscarwilde Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #painting #soul #aging #death #redemption #hedonist #youth #drama #time #mysticism #fatalism #jealousy #gothic #morality #innocence #scandal #immortality #pride #OscarWilde Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

All the Mowgli Stories - Rudyard Kipling - Book 3 Title: All the Mowgli Stories Overview: All the Mowgli Stories is a collection of short stories by Rudyard Kipling. As the title suggests, the book is a chronological compilation of the stories about Mowgli from The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book, together with "In the Rukh" (the first Mowgli story written, although the last in chronological order). The book also includes the epigrammatic poems added to the stories for their original book publication. All of the stories and poems had originally been published between 1893 and 1895. The book was first published under this title in 1933 by Macmillan and Co., containing color plates and pen illustrations by Stuart Tresilian. Its contents are virtually identical to The Works of Rudyard Kipling Volume VII: The Jungle Book, part of a multi-volume set that had appeared in 1907. (A companion volume, The Works of Rudyard Kipling Volume VIII: The Jungle Book collects all of the non-Mowgli stories from the two Jungle Books.) Published: 1895 Series: The Jungle Books, Collections #13, Jungle Book Series #3 List: 100 Popular Storybook Collection Author: Rudyard Kipling Genre: Children's Book, Action & Adventure Episode: All the Mowgli Stories - Rudyard Kipling - Book 3 Part: 1 of 1 Length Part: 7:28:04 Book: 3 Length Book: 7:28:04 Episodes: 1 - 10 of 10 Predecessor: The Second Jungle Book Narrator: Phil Chenevert Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: jungle, india, feral child, kidnapping, talking animal, singing animal, friend, elephant, ruins, python, human-animal friendship, friends, bear, orphan, orangutan, children, friendship, buddies, Rudyard Kipling Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #jungle #india #feralchild #kidnapping #talkinganimal #singinganimal #friend #elephant #ruins #python #humananimalfriendship #friends #bear #orphan #orangutan #children #friendship #buddies #RudyardKipling Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

The Second Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling - Book 2 Title: The Second Jungle Book Overview: The Second Jungle Book is a sequel to The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. First published in 1895, it features five stories about Mowgli and three unrelated stories, all but one set in India, most of which Kipling wrote while living in Vermont. All of the stories were previously published in magazines in 1894–5, often under different titles. The 1994 film The Jungle Book used it as a source. Published: 1895 Series: The Jungle Books, Collections #12, Jungle Book Series #2 List: 100 Popular Storybook Collection Author: Rudyard Kipling Genre: Children's Book, Action & Adventure Episode: The Second Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling - Book 2 Part: 1 of 1 Length Part: 7:11:24 Book: 2 Length Book: 7:11:24 Episodes: 1 - 26 of 26 Predecessor: The Jungle Book Successor: All the Mowgli Stories Narrator: Collaborative Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: jungle, india, feral child, kidnapping, talking animal, singing animal, friend, elephant, ruins, python, human-animal friendship, friends, bear, orphan, orangutan, children, friendship, buddies, Rudyard Kipling Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #jungle #india #feralchild #kidnapping #talkinganimal #singinganimal #friend #elephant #ruins #python #humananimalfriendship #friends #bear #orphan #orangutan #children #friendship #buddies #RudyardKipling Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling - Book 1 Title: The Jungle Book Overview: The Jungle Book (1894) is a collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who is raised in the jungle by wolves. The stories are set in a forest in India; one place mentioned repeatedly is "Seonee" (Seoni), in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. A major theme in the book is abandonment followed by fostering, as in the life of Mowgli, echoing Kipling's own childhood. The theme is echoed in the triumph of protagonists including Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and The White Seal over their enemies, as well as Mowgli's. Another important theme is of law and freedom; the stories are not about animal behavior, still less about the Darwinian struggle for survival, but about human archetypes in animal form. They teach respect for authority, obedience, and knowing one's place in society with "the law of the jungle", but the stories also illustrate the freedom to move between different worlds, such as when Mowgli moves between the jungle and the village. Critics have also noted the essential wildness and lawless energies in the stories, reflecting the irresponsible side of human nature. The Jungle Book has remained popular, partly through its many adaptations for film and other media. Critics such as Swati Singh have noted that even critics wary of Kipling for his supposed imperialism have admired the power of his storytelling. The book has been influential in the scout movement, whose founder, Robert Baden-Powell, was a friend of Kipling's. Percy Grainger composed his Jungle Book Cycle around quotations from the book. Published: 1894 Series: The Jungle Books, Collections #11, Jungle Book Series #1 List: 100 Popular Storybook Collection Author: Rudyard Kipling Genre: Children's Book, Action & Adventure Episode: The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling - Book 1 Part: 1 of 1 Length Part: 5:24:48 Book: 1 Length Book: 5:24:48 Episodes: 1 - 11 of 11 Predecessor: "In the Rukh"  Successor: The Second Jungle Book  Narrator: Phil Chenevert Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: jungle, india, feral child, kidnapping, talking animal, singing animal, friend, elephant, ruins, python, human-animal friendship, friends, bear, orphan, orangutan, children, friendship, buddies, Rudyard Kipling Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #jungle #india #feralchild #kidnapping #talkinganimal #singinganimal #friend #elephant #ruins #python #humananimalfriendship #friends #bear #orphan #orangutan #children #friendship #buddies #RudyardKipling Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Poems - Jonathan Swift - Volume 2 - Book 5, Part 2 Title: The Poems of Jonathan Swift - Volume 2 Overview: He lived simply, loved his walks, and craved the company of fellow poetical wits as they craved his company in return. With his pal Dr. Sheridan, for one, Jonathan Swift delighted in the 18th century equivalent of a rap off – going back and forth in dueling verse repartee. This second volume is a cornucopia of biting, iconoclastic humor, and earnest criticism of injustice. Poems herein concerning Wood’s Halfpence are the companion to his famous Drapier’s Letters and trumpet his achievement in stirring up sufficient outcry to spare Ireland from damaging monetary debasement. He knew what real money was: “For in all the leases that ever we hold We must pay our rent in good silver and gold, And not in brass tokens of such a base mould.” And he didn’t think much of monetary debasement’s evil twin, fractional reserve banking, either: “We want our money on the nail The Banker’s ruin’d if he pays”. There’s a healthy smattering here of bums and urination references too – just so you know these are genuine Swift poems -- and all manner of other topics too. In Death and Daphne, written for a favorite grisette, we learn of Death’s sagging libido due to the skinniness of his human bride. And the last poem excoriating Sheridan for comparing base women to noble clouds is a heavenly coup de grâce for any challenger who would dare to top his politically incorrect and thunderous wit: Some critic may object, perhaps, That clouds are blamed for giving claps; But what, alas! are claps ethereal, Compared for mischief to venereal? Published: 1910 Author: Jonathan Swift Genre: Satire, Poetry, Single Author Episode: Poems - Jonathan Swift - Volume 2 - Book 5, Part 2 Part: 2 of 2 Length Part: 4:39:02 Book: 5 Length Book: 9:53:33 Episodes: 69 - 136 of 136 Predecessor: The Poems of Jonathan Swift - Volume 1 Narrator: Arthur Krolman Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: satire, parody, irreligion, morality, christianity, religion, literature, politics, biblical, uncensored, hypocrisy, poems, poetry, jonathanswift Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #satire #parody #irreligion #morality #christianity #religion #literature #politics #biblical #uncensored #hypocrisy #poems #poetry #JonathanSwift Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream. Arthur Krolman.

Poems - Jonathan Swift - Volume 2 - Book 5, Part 1 Title: The Poems of Jonathan Swift - Volume 2 Overview: He lived simply, loved his walks, and craved the company of fellow poetical wits as they craved his company in return. With his pal Dr. Sheridan, for one, Jonathan Swift delighted in the 18th century equivalent of a rap off – going back and forth in dueling verse repartee. This second volume is a cornucopia of biting, iconoclastic humor, and earnest criticism of injustice. Poems herein concerning Wood’s Halfpence are the companion to his famous Drapier’s Letters and trumpet his achievement in stirring up sufficient outcry to spare Ireland from damaging monetary debasement. He knew what real money was: “For in all the leases that ever we hold We must pay our rent in good silver and gold, And not in brass tokens of such a base mould.” And he didn’t think much of monetary debasement’s evil twin, fractional reserve banking, either: “We want our money on the nail The Banker’s ruin’d if he pays”. There’s a healthy smattering here of bums and urination references too – just so you know these are genuine Swift poems -- and all manner of other topics too. In Death and Daphne, written for a favorite grisette, we learn of Death’s sagging libido due to the skinniness of his human bride. And the last poem excoriating Sheridan for comparing base women to noble clouds is a heavenly coup de grâce for any challenger who would dare to top his politically incorrect and thunderous wit: Some critic may object, perhaps, That clouds are blamed for giving claps; But what, alas! are claps ethereal, Compared for mischief to venereal? Published: 1910 Author: Jonathan Swift Genre: Satire, Poetry, Single Author Episode: Poems - Jonathan Swift - Volume 2 - Book 5, Part 1 Part: 1 of 2 Length Part: 5:14:41 Book: 5 Length Book: 9:53:33 Episodes: 1 - 68 of 136 Predecessor: The Poems of Jonathan Swift - Volume 1 Narrator: Arthur Krolman Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: satire, parody, irreligion, morality, christianity, religion, literature, politics, biblical, uncensored, hypocrisy, poems, poetry, jonathanswift Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #satire #parody #irreligion #morality #christianity #religion #literature #politics #biblical #uncensored #hypocrisy #poems #poetry #JonathanSwift Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream. Arthur Krolman.

Poems - Jonathan Swift - Volume 1 - Book 4, Part 2 Title: The Poems of Jonathan Swift - Volume 1 Overview: Sit back and listen to these light-hearted witty rhymes and see the world Jonathan Swift saw -- and maybe recognize your own. Think there is such a thing as corrupt rich guys who pretend they're God's gift to the world? So did Swift. Think some of these types strut around as if calls of nature don't apply to them? So did Swift. In one hilarious poem, he even describes gold diggers fighting over the loaded gentleman's gaseous offerings! His poem On Poetry, A Rhapsody, censored for treasonous mocking of the royal family, is in its rare uncensored form here. As free as he himself is with his sharp tongue against the blackened rich and corrupt, he knows others might have to kiss up to eat. So he includes many verses of advice on how to go about lying for a living, for example, "Your interest lies to learn the knack Of whitening what before was black." Despite the decay and hypocrisy, he sees all around him he stays upbeat throughout -- even making fun out of his own tragic onset of deafness. You already know this giant of English literature for the great feast of prose he left us. Think of these delicious poems here as your sinful dessert. Published: 1910 Author: Jonathan Swift Genre: Satire, Poetry, Single Author Episode: Poems - Jonathan Swift - Volume 1 - Book 4, Part 2 Part: 2 of 2 Length Part: 4:38:55 Book: 4 Length Book: 9:21:31 Episodes: 62 - 121 of 121 Successor: The Poems of Jonathan Swift - Volume 2 Narrator: Arthur Krolman Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: satire, parody, irreligion, morality, christianity, religion, literature, politics, biblical, uncensored, hypocrisy, poems, poetry, jonathanswift Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #satire #parody #irreligion #morality #christianity #religion #literature #politics #biblical #uncensored #hypocrisy #poems #poetry #JonathanSwift Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream. Arthur Krolman.

Poems - Jonathan Swift - Volume 1 - Book 4, Part 1 Title: The Poems of Jonathan Swift - Volume 1 Overview: Sit back and listen to these light-hearted witty rhymes and see the world Jonathan Swift saw -- and maybe recognize your own. Think there is such a thing as corrupt rich guys who pretend they're God's gift to the world? So did Swift. Think some of these types strut around as if calls of nature don't apply to them? So did Swift. In one hilarious poem, he even describes gold diggers fighting over the loaded gentleman's gaseous offerings! His poem On Poetry, A Rhapsody, censored for treasonous mocking of the royal family, is in its rare uncensored form here. As free as he himself is with his sharp tongue against the blackened rich and corrupt, he knows others might have to kiss up to eat. So he includes many verses of advice on how to go about lying for a living, for example, "Your interest lies to learn the knack Of whitening what before was black." Despite the decay and hypocrisy, he sees all around him he stays upbeat throughout -- even making fun out of his own tragic onset of deafness. You already know this giant of English literature for the great feast of prose he left us. Think of these delicious poems here as your sinful dessert. Published: 1910 Author: Jonathan Swift Genre: Satire, Poetry, Single Author Episode: Poems - Jonathan Swift - Volume 1 - Book 4, Part 1 Part: 1 of 2 Length Part: 4:42:43 Book: 4 Length Book: 9:21:31 Episodes: 1 -61 of 121 Successor: The Poems of Jonathan Swift - Volume 2 Narrator: Arthur Krolman Language: English Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: satire, parody, irreligion, morality, christianity, religion, literature, politics, biblical, uncensored, hypocrisy, poems, poetry, jonathanswift Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #satire #parody #irreligion #morality #christianity #religion #literature #politics #biblical #uncensored #hypocrisy #poems #poetry #JonathanSwift Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream. Arthur Krolman.