Showing results by narrator "Sara Nichols" in All Categories

"Summer" is one of only two novels Edith Wharton wrote that takes place in a rural setting (the other being her classic "Ethan Frome.") Given the subject matter (and the behavior of its lead character), the book was considered scandalous in its day, but it is now considered a classic of early 20th century American literature. The story follows the life and sexual awakening of Charity Royall, a young girl living in a small town who has dreams of moving out of her poverty-stricken community.

Controversial, scandalous and almost universally censored and criticized upon its first release in 1899, Kate Chopin's The Awakening is a pioneering novel of female independence and sexual exploration and was one of the earliest American works of fiction to examine the societal oppression that beset married women in the last 19th century.

Here is Hugh Lofting's classic tale of the English doctor who learns how to speak to his non-human patients—dogs, cats, rhinos, and monkeys alike—as he travels from England to the jungles of Africa and back again. Doctor Dolittle's entourage of animal friends, including Polynesia the parrot, Gub-Gub the pig, Jip the dog, and Dab-Dab the duck, journey with the doctor and team up to help him out of one scrape after another.

Long hailed as one of the most brilliant and beloved authors of the Edwardian era, E.M. Forster's works have become among the most critically acclaimed and cherished novels of the past hundred years and have been adapted numerous times for the stage and screen. "A Room With a View" and "Howards End" are presented here in their original and unabridged formats, narrated by renowned audiobook performer Sara Nichols, best known for her readings of Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" and Willa Cather's Prairie Trilogy.

The Sign of the Four is the thrilling follow-up to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's premiere novel, A Study in Scarlet in which he introduced the world's first unofficial consulting detective, the legendary and brilliant Sherlock Holmes.

"The Blue Castle" is one of the few books author L.M. Montgomery (author of the "Anne of Green Gables" series) wrote for an adult audience. It is a romantic novel set in early 20th-century Ontario, Canada, that follows the emotional and romantic awakening of Valancy Stirling, a 29-year-old spinster trapped in a stifling, judgmental family. Valancy appears trapped, living a dull, joyless life while her relatives order her about. Her only escape is her imagination, where she dreams of a beautiful place she calls the Blue Castle-a symbol of freedom, love, and happiness.

Lucy Maud Montgomery, the Canadian author best known for her "Anne of Green Gables" series, also wrote a small number of stand-alone novels that have become among the most admired and well-read books in Canadian literature. Here, we present two of Montgomery's finest novels: "The Blue Castle" and "Kilmeny of the Orchard."

Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of the most beloved writers of children's books in history. Two of her novels, "A Little Princess" and "The Secret Garden", regularly find themselves near the top of any list of favorite children's books and they have both been adapted to the stage and screen dozens of times.

The most romantic literary lovers in history: Heathcliff and Cathy. Frederic and Catherine. Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby. Now, all three of their classic stories are collected in one volume: the Classic Romance Collection - Volume II featuring Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights," Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" and F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."

Predating Bram Stoker's "Dracula" by twenty-five years, Sheridan Le Fanu's "Carmilla" is one of the earliest examples of vampire fiction; a Gothic novella narrated by a young girl who becomes a victim of the title character, a female vampire with whom she also kindles a romance.

"His Last Bow" is a classic mystery collection from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It also contains the very last story featuring Doyle's greatest creation: the legendary and enigmatic consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes. Along with the coda to the Holmes canon, this collection also contains a number of Holmes favorites, including The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge and The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans. But without a doubt, the final story - "His Last Bow" - is the most exciting entry in this one-of-a-kind volume.

When the New Mexico territory is annexed by the United States in the mid-1800's, the Catholic Church decides it is time to re-assert its authority in the region which, due to centuries of neglect, is now a haven for corrupt priests. The Vatican chooses Father Jean Marie Latour, a French Jesuit living in Ohio, to accomplish this task, and soon after elevating him to bishop, sends him on his journey into the Wild West.

A collection of observations about the male of the species from one of the 20th century's most celebrated and renowned humorists, Men I'm Not Married To is a series of descriptions of nine men, all of whom Parker managed to avoid accompanying down the aisle. Some longer, some very short, each of these descriptions shows Parker's full range of wit, sardonic humor, and wry cynicism.

In "The Song of the Lark," we follow the life of budding artist Thea Kronbog, who rises from complete obscurity in a tiny Colorado town to become a world-renowned opera singer. A fascinating look at life in the early 20th century as well as a deep dive into the life and struggles of a creative artist rising to the top of her profession, "The Song of the Lark" was universally praised for its realism and meticulous depiction of Thea's journey. One of the most important and powerful novels of the early 20th century, "The Song of the Lark" is presented here in its original and unabridged format.

Presented here is Volume III of our Feminist Literary Classics series, featuring three of the most important feminist novels ever written: Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf, O Pioneers! by Willa Cather and So Big by Edna Ferber. The first book in this collection is Orlando: A Biography, a groundbreaking English novel by Virginia Woolf that explores English history, gender roles and sexual politics in a way few books have before or since.

In this follow-up to her best-selling debut collection of poetry (Enough Rope from 1926) Dorothy Parker published Sunset Gun (1928) her second of three volumes of short verse. One of the 20th century's most celebrated and renowned humorists, Parker once again delivers a biting, satiric, and insightful look at love, life, and literature in this brilliant collection.

So Big is author Edna Ferber's breakout, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of life on an American farm, which features the hardscrabble schoolteacher-turned-truck-farmer Selina Peake DeJong, one of the most iconic characters in 20th century fiction.

E. Nesbit's classic novel Five Children and It was a blockbuster success when it was serialized in The Strand magazine in 1902 and published as a stand-alone novel later that year. It has never been out of print since its initial publication.

Taking place at Christmastime, the tale revolves around Gabriel Conroy and his wife Gretta, who are attending a holiday party hosted by Gabriel's elderly aunts. In typical Joycean style, this seemingly mundane setting hides many of the guests' mysteries, not the least of which is shielded by Gretta herself. When her secret finally spills forth, it has a profound and immediate effect on Gabriel, changing his life forever.

Presented here is Volume IV of our Feminist Literary Classics series, featuring three of the most important feminist works ever written: A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather.