Classic Audiobook Collection

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Chancellorsville and Gettysburg by Abner Doubleday ~ Full Audiobook [history] Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

Chancellorsville and Gettysburg by Abner Doubleday audiobook.

Genre: history

Abner Doubleday began the Civil War as a Union officer and aimed the first cannon shot in response to the bombardment opened on Ft. Sumter in 1861. Two years later, after a series of battles (including Antietam, where he was wounded), Doubleday took over a division in the Army of the Potomac's 1st Corps.

These are his memoirs of service in two of the War's great campaigns. At Chancellorsville, a very promising start made by General Hooker against Lee's Confederate forces fell to a defeat when, in Doubleday's estimation, normal and prudent precautions against surprise in the heavily-wooded battlefield were not carried out; he also seemingly apologizes for Hooker's lack of leadership during the battle as a result of his having been stunned by a cannon ball hitting the post against which he was leaning.

After Chancellorsville, Hooker was replaced as Army Commander by General George Meade. Doubleday describes the curious circumstances that led the two opposing armies to meet at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. When Doubleday's superior, General John Reynolds, was killed by a sharpshooter on the first day's battle, he took over the 1st Corps and fought it well against converging Confederate divisions that badly outnumbered him. The Corps was forced by battle losses to retire, but its desperate fight bought the time needed for Union reinforcements to pour into Gettysburg and thus prevent a defeat in detail.

General Howard of the XIth Corps replaced Doubleday as the senior commander on the field, and mistakenly wrote to Meade that 1st Corps had routed after practically no fighting. Thus, when Meade arrived, he removed Doubleday from command of 1st Corps, replacing him with a more junior general from another Corps. The snub would embitter Doubleday against Meade. This book is in part Doubleday's revenge, as he picks apart Meade's indecision after the battle was essentially won, with the repulse of the famous Pickett's Charge. In his view, Meade could have won the war at that moment.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 00

(00:04:40) Chapter 01

(00:23:31) Chapter 02

(00:38:34) Chapter 03

(00:48:30) Chapter 04

(01:08:57) Chapter 05

(01:20:41) Chapter 06

(01:28:41) Chapter 07

(02:04:18) Chapter 08

(02:29:35) Chapter 09

(02:40:55) Chapter 10

(02:47:53) Chapter 11

(03:08:51) Chapter 12

(03:44:41) Chapter 13

(03:57:43) Chapter 14

(04:27:57) Chapter 15

(05:00:22) Chapter 16

(05:27:08) Chapter 17

(05:57:32) Chapter 18

(06:32:06) Chapter 19

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The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare ~ Full Audiobook [comedy] Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare audiobook.

Genre: comedy

The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies, and was inspired by classical Roman comedy and the Italian commedia dell'arte. Baptista Minola, a rich gentleman of Padua, has two daughters: Katherina, renowned for her sharp tongue, and Bianca, who is sought after by multiple suitors. Baptista decides that Bianca cannot marry until her elder sister finds a husband. Enter Petruchio, who has come to 'wive it wealthily in Padua,' and who is convinced by Bianca's suitors to woo Katherina. The play ultimately poses the question of who is the bigger shrew: Kate or Petruchio. The subplot involves the subterfuge employed by Lucentio to woo the lovely Bianca.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 0

(00:18:10) Chapter 1

(00:47:17) Chapter 2

(01:09:10) Chapter 3

(01:28:14) Chapter 4

(02:07:41) Chapter 5

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Othello by William Shakespeare ~ Full Audiobook [tragedy] Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

Othello by William Shakespeare audiobook.

Genre: tragedy

In the glittering, volatile world of Venetian power and military prestige, Othello, a celebrated Moorish general, has risen through skill and courage to command respect. But his private life becomes the talk of the city when he secretly marries Desdemona, the daughter of a prominent senator. Summoned to defend Venice against a looming threat, Othello sails to the outpost of Cyprus with his new bride, his loyal lieutenant Cassio, and his ensign Iago. Beneath Iago's outward obedience, however, lies a simmering grievance and a sharp intelligence devoted to manipulation. As the soldiers settle into island life, small misunderstandings are turned into weapons, reputations are threatened, and private doubts begin to eclipse public triumphs. Othello, accustomed to the clarity of the battlefield, finds himself facing a more intimate enemy: uncertainty about the people closest to him and the stories whispered behind his back. Driven by themes of jealousy, trust, race, honor, and the terrifying power of suggestion, this tragedy charts how love can be corroded when perception replaces truth.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 0

(00:02:18) Chapter 1

(00:40:58) Chapter 2

(01:19:55) Chapter 3

(02:00:44) Chapter 4

(02:35:24) Chapter 5

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The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins ~ Full Audiobook [mystery] Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins audiobook.

Genre: mystery

The story concerns a young woman called Rachel Verinder who inherits a large Indian diamond, the Moonstone, on her eighteenth birthday.

The book is widely regarded as the precursor of the modern mystery and suspense novels. T. S. Eliot called it 'the first, the longest, and the best of modern English detective novels'. It contains a number of ideas which became common tropes of the genre: a large number of suspects, red herrings, a crime being investigated by talented amateurs who happen to be present when it is committed, and two police officers who exemplify respectively the 'local bungler' and the skilled, professional, Scotland Yard detective.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 00

(00:14:27) Chapter 01

(00:20:53) Chapter 02

(00:32:01) Chapter 03

(00:48:41) Chapter 04

(01:09:41) Chapter 05

(01:28:02) Chapter 06

(01:53:20) Chapter 07

(02:03:17) Chapter 08

(02:31:06) Chapter 09

(02:46:38) Chapter 10

(03:13:46) Chapter 11

(04:07:22) Chapter 12

(04:36:03) Chapter 13

(04:52:59) Chapter 14

(05:11:28) Chapter 15

(05:40:59) Chapter 16

(06:00:00) Chapter 17

(06:14:13) Chapter 18

(06:28:40) Chapter 19

(06:39:06) Chapter 20

(06:47:55) Chapter 21

(07:15:42) Chapter 22

(07:38:32) Chapter 23

(08:08:42) Chapter 24

(08:41:05) Chapter 25

(09:08:55) Chapter 26

(09:35:21) Chapter 27

(09:57:23) Chapter 28

(10:19:30) Chapter 29

(10:49:57) Chapter 30

(11:24:56) Chapter 31

(11:51:10) Chapter 32

(12:25:41) Chapter 33

(12:53:57) Chapter 34

(13:14:29) Chapter 35

(13:49:19) Chapter 36

(14:11:05) Chapter 37

(14:33:25) Chapter 38

(15:05:53) Chapter 39

(15:37:33) Chapter 40

(16:14:05) Chapter 41

(16:49:15) Chapter 42

(17:20:24) Chapter 43

(17:56:45) Chapter 44

(18:35:16) Chapter 45

(19:18:03) Chapter 46

(19:45:36) Chapter 47

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Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman ~ Full Audiobook [poetry] Aug 28, 2022

Show notes

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman audiobook.

Genre: poetry

American poet Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, is a collection of poems notable for its frank delight in and praise of the senses, during a time when such candid displays were considered immoral. Where much previous poetry, especially English, relied on symbolism, allegory, and meditation on the religious and spiritual, Leaves of Grass exalted the body and the material world.

Whitman was inspired to begin Leaves of Grass after reading an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson which expressed a need for a uniquely American poet. When the book was first published, Whitman sent a copy to Emerson, whose praiseful letter of response helped launch the book to success. Whitman’s hero, Abraham Lincoln, read and enjoyed an early version of Leaves of Grass. Despite such high recommendations, Whitman faced charges of obscenity and immorality for his work, but this only led to increased popularity of the book.

Whitman continually revised and republished Leaves of Grass throughout his lifetime, notably adding the “Drum-Taps” section after Lincoln’s assassination. The book grew from 12 poems in its first publication, which Whitman paid for and typeset himself, to nearly 400 poems in its final, “Death Bed Edition.” This recording is of the final edition.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 01

(00:29:58) Chapter 02

(01:03:52) Chapter 1

(01:33:52) Chapter 2

(02:17:30) Chapter 3

(03:04:15) Chapter 4

(03:42:05) Chapter 04

(04:09:18) Chapter 05

(04:55:41) Chapter 5

(05:46:35) Chapter 6

(06:27:52) Chapter 7

(07:13:22) Chapter 13

(07:34:14) Chapter 14

(07:44:48) Chapter 15

(08:09:26) Chapter 16

(08:24:45) Chapter 17

(08:56:04) Chapter 18

(09:06:03) Chapter 19

(09:54:27) Chapter 20

(10:18:16) Chapter 8

(10:59:49) Chapter 9

(11:46:45) Chapter 22

(12:02:08) Chapter 23

(12:37:40) Chapter 10

(13:26:21) Chapter 11

(14:10:47) Chapter 25

(14:23:54) Chapter 26

(14:44:08) Chapter 12

(15:12:11) Chapter 13

(15:52:33) Chapter 31

(16:07:24) Chapter 32

(16:58:15) Chapter 33

(17:36:41) Chapter 34

(18:25:48) Chapter 35

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The Adventures of Maya the Bee by Waldemar Bonsels ~ Full Audiobook [adventure] Aug 28, 2022

Show notes

The Adventures of Maya the Bee by Waldemar Bonsels audiobook.

Genre: adventure

In The Adventures of Maya the Bee, Waldemar Bonsels invites listeners into a bright and bustling world where every flower hides a secret and every flight beyond the hive brings a new lesson. Maya is a curious young honeybee who cannot resist exploring what lies past the familiar order of her home. Restless and independent, she leaves the safety of the hive to discover the meadow, the forest, and the wide community of insects that live by their own rules. Along the way she meets a cast of memorable creatures, from helpful guides to sly opportunists, and she must learn how to tell friendship from flattery, danger from excitement, and freedom from loneliness. As Maya grows braver and wiser, her adventures begin to reveal a larger conflict: the natural world is full of rivalries and threats, and the hive she left behind may need more than honey to survive. Blending lively encounters with gentle moral questions about responsibility, belonging, and courage, this classic tale follows Maya as she searches for her place in a world that is both enchanting and perilous.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 01

(00:14:35) Chapter 02

(00:26:57) Chapter 03

(00:48:19) Chapter 04

(01:09:11) Chapter 05

(01:22:44) Chapter 06

(01:39:14) Chapter 07

(02:01:00) Chapter 08

(02:12:33) Chapter 09

(02:36:39) Chapter 10

(03:02:28) Chapter 11

(03:15:02) Chapter 12

(03:25:59) Chapter 13

(03:39:06) Chapter 14

(03:53:02) Chapter 15

(04:04:47) Chapter 16

(04:21:56) Chapter 17

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Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations General Assembly ~ Full Audiobook [history] Aug 27, 2022

Show notes

Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations General Assembly audiobook.

Genre: history

Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a landmark statement of the principles meant to guide how people and governments treat one another. Written in the wake of global conflict and mass atrocities, it sets out a shared moral and political framework built on the idea that every person is born free and equal in dignity and rights. Across its articles, the Declaration outlines core freedoms and protections, including the right to life and security, freedom from slavery and torture, equality before the law, fair trial and due process, privacy and family life, freedom of thought, religion, expression, and peaceful assembly, as well as rights connected to work, education, health, and an adequate standard of living. Alongside these rights, it emphasizes the responsibilities individuals have to their communities and the limits on power needed to prevent abuse. Heard as an audiobook, this concise text becomes a clear, accessible guide to the values that have shaped modern constitutions, international treaties, and civic movements, inviting listeners to consider what human dignity requires in daily life and public policy.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 1

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The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides ~ Full Audiobook [history] Aug 27, 2022

Show notes

The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides audiobook.

Genre: history

Written by the Athenian historian and general Thucydides, The History of the Peloponnesian War is a firsthand-driven account of the long, brutal struggle between Athens and Sparta and their allies in the late fifth century BCE. Opening with the mounting tensions that make conflict inevitable, Thucydides follows the war's early shocks and shifting alliances through campaigns on land and at sea, civic unrest, and the relentless pressures placed on leaders and ordinary citizens alike. The narrative brings major figures into sharp focus, from strategists weighing risk and honor to demagogues and diplomats fighting for advantage in assemblies and councils. Interwoven set-piece speeches and cool, analytical commentary explore the forces Thucydides believes move states: fear, interest, prestige, and the unpredictable consequences of human choice. At its core, this is not only a chronicle of battles and politics, but a study of power, decision-making under uncertainty, and how war tests the moral and institutional foundations of a society. Clear-eyed and unsentimental, the book invites listeners to consider why conflicts expand, how leaders justify actions, and what war reveals about human nature.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 1

(00:31:15) Chapter 2

(01:21:04) Chapter 3

(01:54:24) Chapter 4

(02:30:45) Chapter 5

(03:16:31) Chapter 6

(04:19:23) Chapter 7

(04:57:45) Chapter 8

(05:51:17) Chapter 9

(06:51:29) Chapter 10

(07:36:17) Chapter 11

(08:08:52) Chapter 12

(08:54:29) Chapter 13

(09:29:33) Chapter 14

(10:37:58) Chapter 15

(11:18:37) Chapter 16

(12:54:10) Chapter 17

(13:16:39) Chapter 18

(14:12:14) Chapter 19

(15:01:54) Chapter 20

(16:18:15) Chapter 21

(17:12:35) Chapter 22

(17:26:13) Chapter 23

(18:20:26) Chapter 24

(19:16:30) Chapter 25

(20:09:12) Chapter 26

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The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse by Thornton W. Burgess ~ Full Audiobook [family] Aug 27, 2022

Show notes

The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse by Thornton W. Burgess audiobook.

Genre: family

In The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse, Thornton W. Burgess invites listeners into the sunlit fields and shadowy thickets of the Green Meadows, where a small, curious mouse learns that the world is both wondrous and dangerous. Danny is quick and eager, but his love of exploring often puts him in the path of hungry enemies, especially the sly Reddy Fox and other sharp-eyed hunters who prowl the open ground. Guided by the cautions and clever advice of his friends - including old Mr. Toad, watchful birds, and the wise creatures who know every hiding place - Danny must master the arts of listening, watching, and thinking ahead if he wants to keep his whiskers intact. Each chapter is a lively episode filled with narrow escapes, practical lessons about animal habits, and the rhythms of meadow life, from secret tunnels to sudden alarms. Warm, playful, and gently instructive, this classic animal tale turns survival into an ongoing adventure, celebrating courage, patience, and the kind of smart caution that helps a small creature thrive in a big, bustling world.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 1

(00:17:01) Chapter 2

(00:39:23) Chapter 3

(01:01:11) Chapter 4

(01:23:26) Chapter 5

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Utopia by Thomas More ~ Full Audiobook [philosophy] Aug 26, 2022

Show notes

Utopia by Thomas More audiobook.

Genre: philosophy

This book is all about the fictional country called Utopia. It is a country with an ‘ideal’ form of communism, in which everything really does belong to everybody, everyone does the work they want to, and everyone is alright with that. This country uses gold for chamber pots and prison chains, pearls and diamonds for children’s playthings, and requires that a man and a woman see each other exactly as they are, naked, before getting married. This book gave the word 'utopia' the meaning of a perfect society, while the Greek word actually means ‘no place’. Enjoy listening to this story about a country that really is too good to be true.

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Chapters (Approximate)

(00:00:00) Chapter 00

(00:08:25) Chapter 01

(00:35:20) Chapter 02

(01:03:34) Chapter 03

(01:23:20) Chapter 04

(01:28:48) Chapter 05

(01:31:58) Chapter 06

(01:42:10) Chapter 07

(01:53:39) Chapter 08

(02:36:44) Chapter 09