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Moby Dick - Herman Melville - Book 1, Part 1 Title: Moby Dick Overview: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is an 1851 novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book is the sailor Ishmael's narrative of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for revenge on Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that on the ship's previous voyage bit off Ahab's leg at the knee. A contribution to the literature of the American Renaissance, Moby-Dick was published to mixed reviews, was a commercial failure, and was out of print at the time of the author's death in 1891. Its reputation as a "Great American Novel" was established only in the 20th century, after the centennial of its author's birth. William Faulkner said he wished he had written the book himself, and D. H. Lawrence called it "one of the strangest and most wonderful books in the world" and "the greatest book of the sea ever written". Its opening sentence, "Call me Ishmael", is among world literature's most famous. Melville began writing Moby-Dick in February 1850, and finished 18 months later, a year longer than he had anticipated. Melville drew on his experience as a common sailor from 1841 to 1844, including several years on whalers, and on wide reading in whaling literature. The white whale is modeled on the notoriously hard-to-catch albino whale Mocha Dick, and the book's ending is based on the sinking of the whaleship Essex in 1820. His literary influences include Shakespeare and the Bible. The detailed and realistic descriptions of whale hunting and of extracting whale oil, as well as life aboard ship among a culturally diverse crew, are mixed with exploration of class and social status, good and evil, and the existence of God. In addition to narrative prose, Melville uses styles and literary devices ranging from songs, poetry, and catalogs to Shakespearean stage directions, soliloquies, and asides. In August 1850, with the manuscript perhaps half-finished, he met Nathaniel Hawthorne and was deeply moved by his Mosses from an Old Manse, which he compared to Shakespeare in its cosmic ambitions. This encounter may have inspired him to revise and expand Moby-Dick, which is dedicated to Hawthorne, "in token of my admiration for his genius". The book was first published (in three volumes) as The Whale in London in October 1851, and under its definitive title in a single-volume edition in New York in November. The London publisher, Richard Bentley, censored or changed sensitive passages; Melville made revisions as well, including a last-minute change to the title for the New York edition. The whale, however, appears in the text of both editions as "Moby Dick", without the hyphen. Reviewers in Britain were largely favorable, though some objected that the tale seemed to be told by a narrator who perished with the ship, as the British edition lacked the Epilogue recounting Ishmael's survival. American reviewers were more hostile. Published: 1851 List: 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Herman Melville Genre: Novel, Adventure Fiction, Epic, Sea Story, Encyclopedic Novel Episode: Moby Dick - Herman Melville - Book 1, Part 1 Part: 1 of 5 Length Part: 4:25:36 Book: 1 Length Book: 24:38:10 Episodes: 1 - 9 of 44 Narrator: Stewart Wills Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: determination, persistence, man versus nature, whale, battle, morality play, perception, discovery Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Lady Susan - Jane Austen - Book 7 Title: Lady Susan Overview: Lady Susan is a short epistolary novel by Jane Austen, possibly written in 1794 but not published until 1871. This early complete work, which the author never submitted for publication, describes the schemes of the title character. Published: 1818 Author: Jane Austen Genre: Romance Novel, Fiction Novel, Novel of Manners, Coming-of-Age Novel, Epistolary Novel Episode: Lady Susan - Jane Austen - Book 7 Part: 1 of 1 Length Part: 2:27:22 Book: 7 Length Book: 2:27:22 Episodes: 1 - 6 of 6 Narrator: Elizabeth Klett Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: romance, emma, jane austen, love Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Persuasion - Jane Austen - Book 6, Part 2 Title: Persuasion Overview: Persuasion is the last novel completed by Jane Austen. It was published along with Northanger Abbey at the end of 1817, six months after her death. The novel was published on December 20, 1817, although the title page is dated 1818. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a young Englishwoman of twenty-seven years, whose family moves to lower their expenses and reduce their debt by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife. The wife's brother, Navy Captain Frederick Wentworth, was engaged to Anne in 1806, but the engagement was broken when Anne was "persuaded" by her friends and family to end their relationship. Anne and Captain Wentworth, both single and unattached, meet again after a seven-year separation, setting the scene for many humorous encounters as well as a second, well-considered chance at love and marriage for Anne in her second "bloom". The novel was well-received in the early 19th century, but its greater fame came later in the century and continued into the 20th and 21st centuries. Much scholarly debate on Austen's work has since been published. Anne Elliot is noteworthy among Austen's heroines for her relative maturity. As Persuasion was Austen's last completed work, it is accepted as her most maturely written novel, showing a refinement of literary conception indicative of a woman approaching forty years of age. Her use of free indirect discourse in the narrative was in full evidence by 1816. Persuasion has been the subject of several adaptations, including four made-for-television adaptations, theatre productions, radio broadcasts, and other literary works. Published: 1818 List: 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Jane Austen Genre: Romance Novel, Fiction Novel, Novel of Manners, Coming-of-Age Novel, Epistolary Novel Episode: Persuasion - Jane Austen - Book 6, Part 2 Part: 2 of 2 Length Part: 3:44:00 Book: 6 Length Book: 7:15:44 Episodes: 15 - 28 of 28 Narrator: Elizabeth Klett Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: romance, emma, jane austen, love Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Persuasion - Jane Austen - Book 6, Part 1 Title: Persuasion Overview: Persuasion is the last novel completed by Jane Austen. It was published along with Northanger Abbey at the end of 1817, six months after her death. The novel was published on December 20, 1817, although the title page is dated 1818. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a young Englishwoman of twenty-seven years, whose family moves to lower their expenses and reduce their debt by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife. The wife's brother, Navy Captain Frederick Wentworth, was engaged to Anne in 1806, but the engagement was broken when Anne was "persuaded" by her friends and family to end their relationship. Anne and Captain Wentworth, both single and unattached, meet again after a seven-year separation, setting the scene for many humorous encounters as well as a second, well-considered chance at love and marriage for Anne in her second "bloom". The novel was well-received in the early 19th century, but its greater fame came later in the century and continued into the 20th and 21st centuries. Much scholarly debate on Austen's work has since been published. Anne Elliot is noteworthy among Austen's heroines for her relative maturity. As Persuasion was Austen's last completed work, it is accepted as her most maturely written novel, showing a refinement of literary conception indicative of a woman approaching forty years of age. Her use of free indirect discourse in the narrative was in full evidence by 1816. Persuasion has been the subject of several adaptations, including four made-for-television adaptations, theatre productions, radio broadcasts, and other literary works. Published: 1818 List: 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Jane Austen Genre: Romance Novel, Fiction Novel, Novel of Manners, Coming-of-Age Novel, Epistolary Novel Episode: Persuasion - Jane Austen - Book 6, Part 1 Part: 1 of 2 Length Part: 3:31:43 Book: 6 Length Book: 7:15:44 Episodes: 1 - 14 of 28 Narrator: Elizabeth Klett Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: romance, emma, jane austen, love Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen - Book 5, Part 2 Title: Northanger Abbey Overview: Northanger Abbey is a coming-of-age novel and a satire of Gothic novels written by Jane Austen. Austen was also influenced by Charlotte Lennox's The Female Quixote (1752). Northanger Abbey was completed in 1803, the first of Austen's novels completed in full, but was published posthumously in 1817 with Persuasion. The story concerns Catherine Morland, the naïve young protagonist, and her journey to a better understanding of herself and of the world around her. How Catherine views the world has been distorted by her fondness for Gothic novels and an active imagination. Published: 1818 Author: Jane Austen Genre: Romance Novel, Fiction Novel, Novel of Manners, Coming-of-Age Novel, Epistolary Novel Episode: Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen - Book 5, Part 2 Part: 2 of 2 Length Part: 3:57:12 Book: 5 Length Book: 7:28:58 Episodes: 17 - 32 of 32 Narrator: Elizabeth Klett Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: romance, emma, jane austen, love Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen - Book 5, Part 1 Title: Northanger Abbey Overview: Northanger Abbey is a coming-of-age novel and a satire of Gothic novels written by Jane Austen. Austen was also influenced by Charlotte Lennox's The Female Quixote (1752). Northanger Abbey was completed in 1803, the first of Austen's novels completed in full, but was published posthumously in 1817 with Persuasion. The story concerns Catherine Morland, the naïve young protagonist, and her journey to a better understanding of herself and of the world around her. How Catherine views the world has been distorted by her fondness for Gothic novels and an active imagination. Published: 1818 Author: Jane Austen Genre: Romance Novel, Fiction Novel, Novel of Manners, Coming-of-Age Novel, Epistolary Novel Episode: Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen - Book 5, Part 1 Part: 1 of 2 Length Part: 3:31:46 Book: 5 Length Book: 7:28:58 Episodes: 1 - 16 of 32 Narrator: Elizabeth Klett Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: romance, emma, jane austen, love Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Emma - Jane Austen - Book 4, Part 4 Title: Emma Overview: Emma, by Jane Austen, is a novel about youthful hubris and romantic misunderstandings. It is set in the fictional country village of Highbury and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls, and Donwell Abbey, and involves the relationships among people from a small number of families. The novel was first published in December 1815, with its title page listing a publication date of 1816. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian–Regency England. Emma is a comedy of manners and depicts issues of marriage, sex, age, and social status. Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." In the first sentence, she introduces the title character as "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition... had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her." Emma is spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives, and her imagination and perceptions often lead her astray. Emma, written after Austen's move to Chawton, was her last novel to be published during her lifetime, while Persuasion, the last complete novel Austen wrote, was published posthumously. The novel has been adapted for a number of films, television programs, and stage plays. Published: 1815 List: 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Jane Austen Genre: Romance Novel, Fiction Novel, Novel of Manners, Coming-of-Age Novel, Epistolary Novel Episode: Emma - Jane Austen - Book 4, Part 4 Part: 4 of 4 Length Part: 4:12:21 Book: 4 Length Book: 16:25:55 Episodes: 43 - 55 of 55 Narrator: Elizabeth Klett Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: romance, emma, jane austen, love Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Emma - Jane Austen - Book 4, Part 3 Title: Emma Overview: Emma, by Jane Austen, is a novel about youthful hubris and romantic misunderstandings. It is set in the fictional country village of Highbury and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls, and Donwell Abbey, and involves the relationships among people from a small number of families. The novel was first published in December 1815, with its title page listing a publication date of 1816. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian–Regency England. Emma is a comedy of manners and depicts issues of marriage, sex, age, and social status. Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." In the first sentence, she introduces the title character as "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition... had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her." Emma is spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives, and her imagination and perceptions often lead her astray. Emma, written after Austen's move to Chawton, was her last novel to be published during her lifetime, while Persuasion, the last complete novel Austen wrote, was published posthumously. The novel has been adapted for a number of films, television programs, and stage plays. Published: 1815 List: 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Jane Austen Genre: Romance Novel, Fiction Novel, Novel of Manners, Coming-of-Age Novel, Epistolary Novel Episode: Emma - Jane Austen - Book 4, Part 3 Part: 3 of 4 Length Part: 4:08:28 Book: 4 Length Book: 16:25:55 Episodes: 29 - 42 of 55 Narrator: Elizabeth Klett Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: romance, emma, jane austen, love Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Emma - Jane Austen - Book 4, Part 2 Title: Emma Overview: Emma, by Jane Austen, is a novel about youthful hubris and romantic misunderstandings. It is set in the fictional country village of Highbury and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls, and Donwell Abbey, and involves the relationships among people from a small number of families. The novel was first published in December 1815, with its title page listing a publication date of 1816. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian–Regency England. Emma is a comedy of manners and depicts issues of marriage, sex, age, and social status. Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." In the first sentence, she introduces the title character as "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition... had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her." Emma is spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives, and her imagination and perceptions often lead her astray. Emma, written after Austen's move to Chawton, was her last novel to be published during her lifetime, while Persuasion, the last complete novel Austen wrote, was published posthumously. The novel has been adapted for a number of films, television programs, and stage plays. Published: 1815 List: 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Jane Austen Genre: Romance Novel, Fiction Novel, Novel of Manners, Coming-of-Age Novel, Epistolary Novel Episode: Emma - Jane Austen - Book 4, Part 2 Part: 2 of 4 Length Part: 4:03:46 Book: 4 Length Book: 16:25:55 Episodes: 15 - 28 of 55 Narrator: Elizabeth Klett Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: romance, emma, jane austen, love Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.

Emma - Jane Austen - Book 4, Part 1 Title: Emma Overview: Emma, by Jane Austen, is a novel about youthful hubris and romantic misunderstandings. It is set in the fictional country village of Highbury and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls, and Donwell Abbey, and involves the relationships among people from a small number of families. The novel was first published in December 1815, with its title page listing a publication date of 1816. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian–Regency England. Emma is a comedy of manners and depicts issues of marriage, sex, age, and social status. Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." In the first sentence, she introduces the title character as "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition... had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her." Emma is spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives, and her imagination and perceptions often lead her astray. Emma, written after Austen's move to Chawton, was her last novel to be published during her lifetime, while Persuasion, the last complete novel Austen wrote, was published posthumously. The novel has been adapted for a number of films, television programs, and stage plays. Published: 1815 List: 100 Classic Book Collection Author: Jane Austen Genre: Romance Novel, Fiction Novel, Novel of Manners, Coming-of-Age Novel, Epistolary Novel Episode: Emma - Jane Austen - Book 4, Part 1 Part: 1 of 4 Length Part: 4:01:19 Book: 4 Length Book: 16:25:55 Episodes: 1 - 14 of 55 Narrator: Elizabeth Klett Language: English Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: romance, emma, jane austen, love Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream.