Recollections of Imperial Russia

In this memoir, Meriel Buchanan (9-5-1886 to 2-6-1959) links the history of Russia to powerful, lingering memories of her years living there. She was the daughter of the man who turned out to be the last British ambassador to Imperial Russia. As a young adult, in her role as the ambassador’s daughter, she had regular access to the court of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, providing her with unusual experiences and impressions. She describes first hand the sights, sounds, and some of the activities she remembers from this elevated and sheltered vantage point. The family left Russia in 1918, and the author’s memories are filled with nostalgia and longing for the Russia she experienced. - Summary by Jan M.

15 episodes

Glimpses of Bengal

The book is a selection of letters written by Tagore, in various places in Bengal, India.

37 episodes

Memories of Old Montana

Con Price recalls the 1870s through the 1940s, growing up in Iowa and South Dakota before heading out on a cattle drive into Montana. Never dull, his life was full of experiences from cattle drives to Indian encounters to cattle wars to frontier romance. - Summary by Gary Clayton

20 episodes

Primer viaje en torno del globo

Obra escrita por Antonio Pigafetta, cronista cuyas notas y testimonio han servido para dar a conocer la que fue la primera circunnavegación del globo en la Historia de la Humanidad, al tiempo que constituyeron la principal evidencia de la época a favor de la teoría de que la tierra es redonda. En estás páginas se narra la hazaña lograda en el viaje comandado por Fernando de Magallanes y Juan Sebastián Elcano. Aventura que comenzaron 239 hombres en agosto de 1519 en su periplo hacia lo desconocido y concluyeron tan sólo 18 en septiembre de 1522 al dar la vuelta completa al mundo. Hay pocas palabras que puedan hacer justicia en un resumen del fascinante relato histórico, humano y de aventuras del que se cumplen ahora 500 años. En este proyecto además de los 4 libros originales en los que Pigafetta dividió su obra, se incluyen una breves notas biográficas sobre los protagonistas y un prefacio en el que se detalla brevemente en contexto histórico en el que tuvo lugar este viaje y su trascendencia . (Summary by Epachuko)

15 episodes

Como e porque sou romancista

Como e porque sou romancista é um texto incompleto, escrito por José de Alencar em 1873 e publicado em 1893, em que o autor conta a razão por ter escolhido o romance como veículo privilegiado de sua expressão. A obra faz um relato sobre a formação escolar e as leituras de José de Alencar, e conta como foram as primeiras publicações e seu trabalho em jornais. Esta obra é frequentemente usada em concursos e vestibulares no Brasil. - Summary by Leni

3 episodes

The Elephant Man and other reminiscences

In 1884, Professor Treves saw Joseph Merrick (known as the "Elephant Man") in a shop across the road from the London Hospital. Being also a teacher at the University, he brought Merrick to the London Hospital as a teaching case, and Merrick lived there until his death in April 1890. This book of "reminiscences" includes the story of the "Elephant Man" as well as other interesting cases from Sir Treves' practice as a doctor. (Summary by Beth Thomas)

12 episodes

In Italy with the 332nd Infantry

A brief, personal recounting of the 332nd Infantry in World War I, including training in America, a brief billet in France, activities in Italy, and the return to America. Summary by KevinS

13 episodes

A Surgeon In Arms

Robert James Manion (1881-1943) was a Canadian doctor who volunteered in the Canadian medical corps during World War I. This book is his memoir of the war. After the war he entered politics and served in several Canadian governments. The listener may note a lack of mention of the United States soldier; this is because the memoir was written before the entry of that country into the war. - Summary by David Wales

13 episodes

Summer on the Lakes, in 1843

Margaret Fuller, the American early proponent for Women's rights, writes of her visits to the Great Lakes in the summer of 1843. - Summary by KevinS

10 episodes

Reminiscences Of A Workhouse Medical Officer

Joseph Rogers (1821-1889) was an English physician, medical officer, and health care reformer in London. The system of poor-law dispensaries and separate sick wards, with proper staffs of medical attendants and nurses, was due to the efforts of Rogers and his colleagues. His memoir, published in 1889, contains an informative biography written by his brother. His career was not without conflict as his zeal sometimes offended governing boards. - Summary by David Wales

10 episodes

A Wheel Within A Wheel

Frances Willard was an influential campaigner and educator for social reforms, temperance and women's education, suffrage and empowerment, as shown in her motto "Do everything". She was a long-serving national president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU, also known as the "white ribbon" movement) and famous in many countries for her writings and speaking tours. This little book is a wryly humorous account of "How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle", something she achieved at the age of 53 and of which she was very proud! In it, she incorporates a strong encouragement to young girls and women to educate themselves in and pursue whatever role they feel an aptitude for, along with her firm Christian values and amusing anecdotes - Summary by Anne Fletcher

5 episodes

Our Village, Volume 1

This book is a compilation of short stories originally published in several series in The Lady's Magazine. Volume 1 covers a period of about 18 months, then later, Volume 2 chronicles the changes when Miss Mitford returns to the village some 2 years later. The book's subtitle is “sketches of rural character and scenery”... and this perfectly describes its contents. People and nature are minutely observed and the language reflects Miss Mitford's exquisite eye for detail and love of the changing seasons and the impact they have on the flora and fauna around her. The village characters are described mainly fondly, but not without the occasional wry reference to their faults! In her introduction to a later edition, Anne Thackeray Ritchie quotes from Miss Mitford's reply to William Elford when asked if her characters and descriptions are true......."Yes, as true as is well possible....you, as a great landscape painter know that in painting a favourite scene you do a little embellish and can't help it; you avail yourself of happy accidents of atmosphere; if anything be ugly you strike it out, or if anything be wanting, you put it in. But still the picture is a likeness.” But even if seen through rose-coloured lenses, these gentle little sketches conjure up a time and place long gone and transport us for a while to another, simpler world. ( Anne Fletcher)

32 episodes

With the Anzacs in Cairo

Guy Thornton recounts his experiences serving as a military chaplain with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) while stationed in Egypt during World War I. His writing is opinionated, emotionally vulnerable, and written in very colorful, vivid prose. He recounts both his successes and failures as a pastor. Of particular concern to Thornton, are his soldiers’ interactions with the Wasa'a- the red-light district of Cairo which was popular with the soldiers who often patronized prostitutes. Thornton also expresses his experiences exploring Cairo, his work as a chaplain, and the various social services catering to soldiers. - Summary by Adam Bielka

12 episodes

A Journey Round My Room

Sentenced to house arrest for forty-two days owing to his participation in a duel, Xavier de Maistre was inspired to write a travel memoir about the greatest journey a man can take. It is a journey which costs nothing, one which is equally well-suited to the "miserly or prodigal, rich or poor, young or old" -- even the idlest man will enjoy this "pleasure jaunt which will cost him neither time nor money." Come then: join Maistre in a journey round his room. - Summary by Steven Watson

14 episodes

On Being Negro in America

A penetrating, insightful, and thoroughly honest view of one's life in the United States as an African-American. - Summary by KevinS

17 episodes

The Life of a Fossil Hunter

Charles Sternberg was an American fossil collector and paleontologist. He was active in both fields from 1876 to 1928, and collected fossils for private collectors as well as for international museums. This book is part travelogue, part paleontology, and part historical narrative of life on the open prairie. In it, Sternberg tells of his early interest in fossil hunting as a boy, and scientific expeditions from his first in 1876 to one for the Munich Museum in 1901. - Summary by Ava

14 episodes

Joseph Conrad: A Personal Remembrance

Joseph Conrad (1857 – 1924) was a Polish-British writer regarded as one of the greatest novelists to write in the English language. Though he did not speak English fluently until his twenties, he was a master prose stylist who brought a non-English sensibility into English literature. Conrad wrote stories and novels, many with a nautical setting, that depict trials of the human spirit in the midst of what he saw as an impassive, inscrutable universe. Conrad collaborated in some works with Ford Madox Ford. Ford (1873 – 1939) was an English novelist, poet, critic and editor whose journals The English Review and The Transatlantic Review were instrumental in the development of early 20th-century English literature. Ford in this memoir quotes extensively from Conrad's works and in the audible version it is sometimes difficult to determine where the quotes begin and end.- Summary by David Wales

14 episodes

Down In Water Street

Written by the Superintendent of the Jerry McAuley Water Street Mission, "Down in Water Street" is intended to share some of the experiences the writer had during his sixteen years of service to the Mission. Hadley's intent was to show "how some success has been achieved, and also mention some of our defeats; for we found long years ago that we often learn more in defeat than in victory." - Summary by Kristin Hand with a quote from the Preface

21 episodes

A Winter of Content

A charming memoir recounting 10 months spent among the country people of Ontario at the outbreak of the Great War. Resplendent in its descriptions and heartwarming in its depictions of the 'simple' folk living along Many Islands Lake. - Summary by KevinS

20 episodes

Oscar Wilde and Myself

The first memoir by the poet Lord Alfred “Bosie” Douglas was written 14 years after the death of Oscar Wilde and in the aftermath of Douglas's failed prosecution of Arthur Ransome for libel. Ransome, in his "Oscar Wilde, a Critical Study," had quoted from the expurgated portions of Wilde's prison letter to Douglas, "De Profundis", which was highly critical of his former friend and lover. Having failed to convince a jury that he had been libelled, Douglas appealed instead to posterity by writing his memoir. In "Oscar Wilde and Myself" Douglas refutes Wilde's version of the events that led to his (Wilde's) imprisonment and takes swipes at Ransome, Wilde's friend Robert Ross, other biographers of Wilde, and Wilde's overzealous imitators. He also critiques Wilde's writing and character and concludes that the Irish playwright will soon be forgotten. (Rob Marland)

29 episodes