Showing results by author "Valerio Di Stefano" in All Categories

The Death of Ivan Ilyitch is the story of a socially ambitious middle-aged judge who contracts an unexplained and untreatable illness. As Ivan Ilyitch is forced to face the death he fears, he asks himself whether the life he thought was so correct was, in fact, a moral life after all. Written after Tolstoy's religious conversion, the novella is widely considered to be one of his masterpieces. (Summary by Laurie Anne Walden)

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote their Manifesto in December 1847, as a guide to the fundamental principles and practices of Communists. The Manifesto also predicted the ultimate downfall of the capitalist system.(Summary written by Gesine) A recording in the original German language is available here

The Douay Rheims New Testament, published in 1582, is a translation of St Jerome's Latin Vulgate which dates from the fourth century. It influenced production of the King James version of the Bible to come some years afterward, while being the only Roman Catholic authorized vernacular scriptures up until the middle twentieth century. Although updated linguistically in the 18th and 19th centuries to provide easier understanding by the laity and reduce its use of Latinized words, it strove to be faithful to the original translation. The work's importance is that it remains the scriptural texts ...

The American Minister and his family have bought the English stately home Canterville Chase, complete with the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville - blood-stains, clanking chains and all. But these modern Americans will have no truck with ghostly goings-on, and set out to beat the spectre at his own game. (Summary by David Barnes)

Lady Windermere's Fan: A Play About a Good Woman is a four act comedy by Oscar Wilde, published in 1893. As in some of his other comedies, Wilde satirizes the morals of Victorian society, and attitudes between the sexes.The action centres around a fan given to Lady Windermere as a present by her husband, and the ball held that evening to celebrate her 21st birthday. (Summary by Ruth Golding) Cast: Lady Windermere - Kristin Hughes Lord Windermere - Joe Earley Mrs. Erlynne - Elizabeth Klett Lord Darlington - Simon Taylor The Duchess of Berwick - Ruth Golding Mr. Cecil Graham - Chugosh Lord ...

An Ideal Husband is an 1895 comedy by Oscar Wilde which revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honor. The action is set in London, in "the present", and takes place within a single day. "Sooner or later," Wilde notes, "we shall all have to pay for what we do." But he adds that, "No one should be entirely judged by their past." (Summary from Wikipedia) Characters:Narrator – Read by Alex FosterThe Earl Of Caversham, K.G. – Read by LintonViscount Goring, his son – Read by John GonzalezSir Robert Chiltern, Bart., Under-Secretary ...

Attraverso l'analisi dettagliata e capillare delle recenti polemiche che hanno riguardato l'attività divulgativa dell'insegnante-influencer Vincenzo Schettini, dalla ricezione del pubblico a quella della stampa, l'Autore smonta pezzo per pezzo l'immagine di una scuola che non esiste, per ricondurre gli elementi di fatto e le supposizioni in un contesto più aderente alla realtà. Da "La fisica che ci piace" alla partecipazione al Festival di Sanremo, l'ascesa e il declino di un insegnante.

LibriVox’s Short Poetry Collection 001: a collection of 29 public-domain poems.

Durante una sfilata in costume dell'inizio del novecento, rievocativa del celebre episodio dell'imperatore Enrico IV di Franconia a Canossa, un nobile, interprete del ruolo di Enrico, cade da cavallo e batte la testa. In seguito all'incidente crede di essere veramente Enrico IV e per assecondarlo il nipote, figlio della sorella, mette al suo servizio dei servitori mettendo in atto una apposita scenografia. Sono trascorsi 12 anni dall'incidente...ma l'uomo è ancora veramente impazzito o ora finge solo di esserlo....? (Riassunto di Pier) Personaggi e interpreti: Narratrice: Marzia Marianera ...

A Woman of No Importance is a play by Irish playwright Oscar Wilde. The play premièred on 19 April 1893 at London's Haymarket Theatre. It is a testimony of Wilde's wit and his brand of dark comedy. It looks in particular at English upper class society and has been reproduced on stages in Europe and North America since his death in 1900. (Summary by Wikipedia) Cast:Lord Illingworth: Peter BishopSir John Pontefract: Ernst PattynamaLord Alfred Rufford: Bob GonzalezMr. Kelvil, M.P.: Nigel BoydellThe Ven. Archdeacon Daubeny, D.D. : Martin GeesonGerald Arbuthnot: mbFarquhar, Butler: Delmar H ...

It is a sign of the speed at which events are moving that Hurst and Blackett’s unexpurgated edition of Mein Kampf, published only a year ago, is edited from a pro-Hitler angle. The obvious intention of the translator’s preface and notes is to tone down the book’s ferocity and present Hitler in as kindly a light as possible. For at that date Hitler was still respectable. He had crushed the German labour movement, and for that the property-owning classes were willing to forgive him almost anything. Both Left and Right concurred in the very shallow notion that National Socialism was merely ...

After a brief romance, the 17 year old Marya falls in love with the much older Sergyei Mikhailitch, an old family friend, and the two are married. They share an initially blissful life but after moving to St. Petersburg, Marya becomes enchanted with society and a rift opens between the two. (Summary by EvanJ)

Depiction of a dystopian society in the future in which manipulative social control is exercised on a gullible population… (summary by Peter Tucker)

In London, 1872, a rich English gentlemen named Mr. Phileas Fogg argues with the members in the Reform Club, and takes on a journey around the world in 80 days with his new servant, Passapartout, with accepting a wager. Summary by Jessie Yun Cast List: Narrator: Adele de Pignerolles Phileas Fogg: BrassRhino Passapartout: Will Levine Detective Fix: Larry Wilson Aouda, Porter: Jessie Yun James Forster, A Reader, Mr. Oysterpuff, Pilot, Purser, Townsperson, Passenger: Rachel Andrew Stuart: Rob Board Gauthier Ralph: Todd John Sullivan, Judge Obadiah, Colonel Stamp Proctor, Mormon, Captain Andrew ...

A witty collection of 12 short stories based on the Verga idea of "Humankind perennial moving state". They have been published in 1887. (Summary by Daniele)

La storia di un amore fascista vissuto e stroncato da inevitabili sensi di colpa, tra follia, adesione indefessa ai dogmi mussoliniani, autoassoluzioni e condanne morali costituisce il fulcro del nuovo romanzo di Valerio Di Stefano, ambientato nell'immediata vigilia dello scoppio della Seconda Guerra Mondiale in una dimenticata provincia piemontese.

Vols. 3 and 4 of Remembrance of Things Past. The hero, Marcel, meets the duchess of Guermantes in the role of his parent's landlady. The hero's grandmother is ill and dies. A night at the Princess de Parme's. The hero meets the extraordinary M. de Charlus and enters into a wary relationship with him. - Summary by Michael O'Kelly

Lord et Lady Glenarvan font une excursion au large de Glasgow à bord de leur yacht. L'équipage pêche un requin dans le ventre duquel on découvre une bouteille de Veuve Clicquot qui contient un message de détresse en trois langues différentes. Une expédition est mise en place pour tenter de retrouver les survivants.

Questa selezione dell'Antologia della poesia italiana, compilata e annotata da Ottaviano Targioni Tozzetti, inizia con la poesia di Guido Guinizelli e include il resto della prima parte dell'antologia. (Riassunto di Kazbek)

Callimaco è innamorato di donna Lucrezia che però è una donna onesta sposata a Messer Nicia. Come fare per conquistarla?.... - Summary by Pier Dramatis Personae: Prima Ninfa: FrancescaRoma Seconda Ninfa: Emanuela Primo Pastore: Pier Secondo Pastore: Kazbek Lettore del Prologo: Thiago Callimaco: Giovanni Siro: Francesco Carzedda Messer Nicia: Lorenzo Ligurio: Pier Frate Timoteo: Renzo Clerico Una donna: Emanuela Sostrata: Raffaella Liuzzo Lucrezia: Marrzia Marianera Indicazioni di scena: Claudia Graziano Montaggio di Pier col contributo di Francesco per le parti corali