Showing results by author "Michela Bertazzo" in All Categories

The Spanish Tragedy, or Hieronimo is Mad Again is an Elizabethan tragedy written by Thomas Kyd between 1582 and 1592. Highly popular and influential in its time, The Spanish Tragedy established a new genre in English theatre, the revenge play or revenge tragedy. Its plot contains several violent murders and includes as one of its characters a personification of Revenge. The Spanish Tragedy was often referred to (or parodied) in works written by other Elizabethan playwrights, including William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and Christopher Marlowe.Many elements of The Spanish Tragedy, such as the ...

Last Days of Pompeii is a novel written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1834. Once a very widely read book and now relatively neglected, it culminates in the cataclysmic destruction of the city of Pompeii by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.The novel uses its characters to contrast the decadent culture of first-century Rome with both older cultures and coming trends. The protagonist, Glaucus, represents the Greeks who have been subordinated by Rome, and his nemesis Arbaces the still older culture of Egypt. Olinthus is the chief representative of the nascent Christian religion, which is ...

The Changeling is a sensational 1622 tragicomedy by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley that comprises two intertwining plots. The first involves Beatrice-Joanna, daughter of the governor of Alicante, and her unruly passion for Alsemero, despite the fact that she is engaged to Alonzo de Piracquo. She enlists the aid of her father's servant De Flores to kill Alonzo so that she can marry Alsemero. However, she does not anticipate that De Flores, who is in love with her, will demand payment for the deed. The second plot is set in a madhouse, where the jealous old doctor Alibius is keeping his ...

The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, commonly referred to simply as Doctor Faustus, is a play by Christopher Marlowe, based on the Faust story, in which a man sells his soul to the devil for power and knowledge. Doctor Faustus was first published in 1604, eleven years after Marlowe's death and at least twelve years after the first performance of the play. "No Elizabethan play outside the Shakespeare canon has raised more controversy than Doctor Faustus. There is no agreement concerning the nature of the text and the date of composition... and the centrality of the ...

A prose tract or polemic by John Milton, published November 23, 1644, at the height of the English Civil War... Milton, though a supporter of the Parliament, argued forcefully against the Licensing Order of 1643, noting that such censorship had never been a part of classical Greek and Roman society. The tract is full of biblical and classical references which Milton uses to strengthen his argument. The issue was personal for Milton as he had suffered censorship himself in his efforts to publish several tracts defending divorce (a radical stance at the time and one which met with no favor from ...

The diaries give a lively and accurate account of the author's experiences in the literary and courtly worlds of Georgian England. Summary by barbara2

I am Roderick Random. This is the contemporary story of my struggle against the adversity of orphan-hood, poverty, press gangs, bloody duels, rival fortune hunters, and the challenge to be well-dressed through it all. In the course of recounting my adventures to you, dear reader, I will give you a front row seat to the characters of English eighteenth century life including highway robbers, womanizing monks, debt-laden gallants, lecherous corrupt officials, effeminate sea captains, bloodthirsty surgeons, and my dear friend Miss Williams, a reformed prostitute. Educated in the classics, armed ...

Camilla is Frances Burney's third novel. It became very popular upon its publication in 1796. Jane Austen referred to it, among other novels, in her novel Northanger Abbey:“'And what are you reading, Miss — ?' 'Oh! It is only a novel!' replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. 'It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda'; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit ...

Sir Launcelot Greaves goes around the country with his comic squire, trying to be a knight and perform good deeds. This novel is written in the style of Don Quixote by the author of The Expedition Of Humphry Clinker and other 18th century picaresque novels. Great for those who love wise satires. - Summary by Stav Nisser.

Dieser Klassiker von Daniel Defoe erzählt die Geschichte eines englischen Seemannes, der Schiffbruch erleidet. Er erreicht eine einsame Insel und erzählt, wie er dort für lange Zeit lebt und die Abenteuer, die er dabei besteht. - Summary by Katharina21

Dieses Reise und Seefahrer Abenteuer erzählt die Geschichte von einem jungen Mann, der als Kind den Eltern geraubt worden ist und unter Zigeunern aufwächst. Er geräht an die See und lernt die Seefahrt, die ihn auf viele Abenteuer führt. - Summary by Katharina21

LibriVox volunteers bring you 22 recordings of From Spring Days to Winter by Oscar Wilde.This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for January 5, 2025. ------Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s.- Summary by Wikipedia

Guido Ferranti, a young man, travels to Padua with his friend Ascanio after receiving a mysterious letter from a stranger, claiming to know the true secret of Guido's birth. His plan of revenge goes awry, however, when he falls in love with his enemy's beautiful wife, the Duchess of Padua. (Summary by Wikipedia and wildemoose)Cast:Simone Gesso, Duke of Padua; Hugo the Headsman: Algy PugBeatrice, Duchess of Padua: Arielle LipshawAndreas Pollajuolo, Cardinal of Padua: ToddHWMaffio Petrucci; Servant; First Soldier; Usher: Charlotte DuckettJeppo Vitellozzo; Count Moranzone: Martin GeesonTaddeo ...

Collection of children’s stories written in 1888, dealing primarily with love and selfishness. These stories are generally sad, with a moralistic message. The collection includes: The Happy Prince, The Nightingale and the Rose, The Selfish Giant, The Devoted Friend, and The Remarkable Rocket. (Summary written by Joy Chan)

Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is subtitled "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People," and has proved immensely popular since its first performance in 1895. The play certainly has its farcical and comic elements, such as the witty banter exchanged by the characters and the flippant attitude towards love and marriage that characterizes the action. However, the play also explores more serious themes through the central story of Jack Worthing's search for his identity. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)CastJohn Worthing: Dublin GothicAlgernon Moncrieff: John FrickerRev. Chasuble: Martin ...

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, escritor, poeta y dramaturgo irlandés. Wilde está considerado como uno de los dramaturgos más destacados del Londres victoriano tardío; además, fue una celebridad de la época debido a su puntilloso y gran ingenio. - Summary by Phileas Fogg

Robert Sherard was Oscar Wilde's friend of 20 years and first biographer. The Life of Oscar Wilde was the second of his four biographies of the Irish playwright and wit. - Summary by Rob Board

Die amerikanische Familie Otis kauft Schloss Canterville, obwohl man sie ausdrücklich warnt, dass dort der Ahnherr, Sir Simon de Canterville, als Gespenst sein Unwesen treibt. Als Sir Simon seiner Geisterpflicht nachkommen und die Familie in Angst und Schrecken versetzen will, sind die Amerikaner kein bisschen davon beeindruckt, ganz im Gegenteil. Die beiden kleinen Söhne der Familie spielen ihm alle erdenklichen Streiche, Mr. Otis bittet darum, doch gefälligst die Ketten zu ölen, und der ältere Sohn entfernt jeden Tag den sich erneuernden Blutfleck in der Bibliothek mit einem ...

This is a solo recording of the play, meaning that all parts including stage directions are performed by one person. LibriVox has three excellent dramatic recordings with all the parts played by different people so if that is more to your taste, please listen to them. Little needs to be said about the play itself, a sparkling example of Wilde's amazing ability to poke fun at almost everyone while making you laugh out loud at the witty sayings sprinkled throughout the acts. As to the plot, if you don't know it already, let me just say that it involves two young English men who fall madly and ...

A compendium of Oscar Wilde's wit, including some of his most famous epigrams as well as unpublished quotations supplied by his friends. The book is formatted as a calendar, with one saying for each day of the year, and was edited by Wildean scholar, Stuart Mason (born Christopher Sclater Millard). - Summary by Rob Marland