Showing results by narrator "Paul Spera" in All Categories

Sir Winston Churchill was a British statesman, orator, and author who, as prime minister, rallied the British people during World War II and led Britain to an allied victory. Churchill's "bulldog" spirit seemed to summarise the mood of the British people even during the bad times, such as Dunkirk, and the inspirational victories, such as the Battle of Britain. His was a brilliant mind, full of wit and intelligence; his oratory brilliance and his admirable style led him to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953.

The myth of Icarus is an ageless story of failure at the hands of pride, similar to that of Phaeton. It is a fundamental part of Greek mythology and of modern culture. This short story is a retelling of the myth from 1914, a year in which it was easy to fear for a son who would soar in the sky with metal wings; the story of Icarus and Daedalus is told in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

"Animal Farm", a fairy story, is a short novel by George Orwell. It describes a farm where animals revolt, take over and drive out men. It is an apologue written in the form of an animal fable, but also a dystopia. In this novel, Orwell offers a satire of the Russian Revolution and a critique of the Soviet regime, particularly Stalinism, and beyond that, authoritarian regimes and totalitarianism. The book was named one of the 100 best English-language novels written from 1923 to 2005 by Time magazine.

"Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue", is an early work by the Marquis de Sade. It is a novella, written in two weeks while he was imprisoned in the famous Bastille. Unlike some of his other works, it is not just a catalogue of sadism. It is meant to bring new life to an old genre, which had the reader accustomed to see virtue eventually triumph after trials only meant to bring out its value. Sade would have none of that in Justine: in her quest for virtue, the main character keeps falling into terrible situations, which humiliate her and present her with sexual lessons hidden under the mask of virtue.

Herbert George Wells was an English writer. He was prolific in many genres, writing dozens of novels and short stories. He is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is often called a "father of science fiction". Discover HG Wells six best short stories: The Valley of Spiders, The Magic Shop, Mr. Ledbetter's Vacation, Miss Winchelsea's Heart, The New Accelerator, The Story of the Inexperienced Ghost. Those six stories are real fantastic, horror or science fiction classics.

Herbert George Wells was an English writer. He was prolific in many genres, writing dozens of novels, short stories. He is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is often called a "father of science fiction". Discover H. G. Wells best short stories and science fiction classics.

"Philosophy in the Bedroom" ("La philosophie dans le boudoir") was written in 1795 by the Marquis de Sade, while imprisoned in the Bastille. It is a work of erotism, laced with socio-political subversion. The main characters are libertines, who decided to give a young maiden their own brand of sex education. They explain to her that pleasure is the most important goal of all, and then proceed with affirming that she will not be able to feel "true pleasure" without pain.

Fifteen grippling short stories of Arsène Lupin: one of the most famous and intriguing figures of French detective literature. He was created by Maurice Leblanc, a brilliant journalist, writer and storyteller, and is the hero of a total of 24 books, novels and short stories alike. The fictional gentleman thief is a master of disguise, a criminal genius and a moral figure well-set in righting a few wrongs himself when Justice can't be bothered.

"The Nameless City." Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) is a novelist famous for his horror stories, fantasy and science fiction. Although he was not famous during his lifetime, his work is now considered a classic of literature. Lovecraft's work has influenced many authors, including Stephen King, who considers him "the greatest craftsman of the classic horror story of the 20th century."

H.P. Lovecraft - 15 essential Stories: The Temple, Dagon, The Music of Erich Zann, The Nameless City, Hypnos, The Outsider, The Colour out of Space, The Rats in the Walls, The History of Necronomicon, Azathoth, The Stolen Body, The Lurking Fear, The Whisperer in Darkness, Herbert West Reanimator, The Shadow over Innsmouth.

Set in 12th-century England, with colourful descriptions of medieval life and adventures, "Ivanhoe" is a realistic and vibrant story set in a kingdom torn asunder by the hatred between Saxons and Normans. Richard the Lionheart is headed home from the Third Crusade to reclaim his throne. Amid the heat of a tournament, King Richard comes to the aid of another crusader who has returned in disguise. Wilfred of Ivanhoe also seeks to recover a lost heritage - and the hand of Lady Rowena, "a rose of loveliness, and a jewel of wealth; the fairest among a thousand."

Améliorez votre anglais en écoutant de la littérature !C'est notre promesse, notre engagement. Retrouvez 5 aventures du plus célèbre des voyous au grand cœur, le célèbre Arsène Lupin. Chaque histoire est interprétée d'abord en version française, puis elle est suivie à chaque fois de la même histoire interprétée en anglais : L'arrestation d'Arsène Lupin/The arrest of Arsène Lupin ; Arsène Lupin en prison/Arsène Lupin in prison ; L'Évasion d'Arsène Lupin/The escape of Arsène Lupin ; Le Mystérieux voyageur/The mysterious traveller.

"The Temple." Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) is a novelist famous for his horror stories, fantasy and science fiction. Although he was not famous during his lifetime, his work is now considered a classic of literature. Lovecraft's work has influenced many authors, including Stephen King, who considers him "the greatest craftsman of the classic horror story of the 20th century."

Ten mythological heroes and stories from Greek mythology, for a delightful overview of the fundamentals of our culture. This is a selection of the most touching and inspiring stories from Ancient Greece; they have all inspired countless works of art through the centuries, often come from even more ancient myths, and are here retold in a detailed and lively manner.

First published in 1752, "Micromegas" is one of Voltaire’s best-known works. It is a tale of mordant irony, and actually the original science-fiction short story. Arriving on Earth from the star Sirius, the gigantic explorer Micromegas discovers the people of Earth, so small compared to him that he first believes that no creature this size can hope to achieve any degree of intelligence; he will soon discover the ways and thoughts of these diminutive people, who clearly have an over-inflated idea of their own importance in the universe. Voltaire's extrapolations of sun-powered interstellar flight, alien civilizations, and the two moons of Mars, are designed to make us see ourselves in a new light and laugh at what we find.

"The Last of the Mohicans" is a historical novel set during the Seven Years' War, when France and Great Britain battled for control of North America. It is striking, suspenseful and fast-paced, and has been widely considered the first Great American Novel. James Fenimore Cooper's classic follows an intrepid group of frontiersmen and Native Americans as they navigate the rugged terrain of both the landscape and their racial differences, striving together to deliver Colonel Munro's two daughters to safety.

In this audiobook, read by Paul Spera, each historical event is replaced into context and presented in clear and easy-to-read snippets, so that younger and older readers can deepen their understanding of how modern France came to be and broaden their culture.

Alongside Baudelaire, Mallarmé, and Rimbaud, with whom he had a stormy relationship, Paul Verlaine is one of the most influential poets of the "fin de siècle". He was one of the greatest representatives of the Decadent movement that began in the 1870s, and a leader of the "Symbolists". His stylistic innovations brought a new musicality to French poetry; it was he who paved the way for modern poetry with its experiments in free verse and new techniques.

The fictional gentleman thief is a master of disguise, a criminal genius and a moral figure well-set in righting a few wrongs himself when Justice can't be bothered. It is learned that famous thief Arsène Lupin has made it aboard a ship bound for America. The ship's guests, led by Bernard d'Andrèzy, try to weed out the thief with the information they have on him. Anyone among the elegant crew could be the criminal, and a woman's necklace just went missing from her own neck.

The spoiled son of a Spanish nobleman, Don Juan Belvidero cannot wait for the moment to claim the family wealth and title for himself. His father calls to his death-bed to inform him that he is in possession of a magic, death-defying potion. If the son will only rub the liquid on his dead body, the father will come back to life. Don Juan assures his father that he will resurrect him, but will he keep his promise or betray the old man?