Audiobooks by Matthew Arnold

B. J. Harrison Reads The Scholar-Gypsy Audiobook

An impoverished Oxford scholar decides to quit his studies and joins a group of gipsies. He absorbs their customs, trades and traditional way of learning. He learns that wisdom is not only to be found in schools and universities. It is among us and it is up to us to open our eyes to it. Matthew Arnold's 'The Scholar Gipsy' reminds us of this. B. J. Harrison started his Classic Tales Podcast back in 2007, wanting to breathe new life into classic stories. He masterfully plays with a wide array of voices and accents and has since then produced over 500 audiobooks. Now in collaboration with SAGA Egmont, his engaging narration of these famous classics is available to readers everywhere. Matthew Arnold was an English poet who lived in the period 1822-1888. His works depict the social issues of his time and therefore he was often called a sage writer. He was well aware of his place in poetry as he wrote to his mother that his poems 'represent, on the whole, the main movement of mind of the last quarter of a century'. Matthew Arnold's most significant works are 'Culture and Anarchy', a work of criticism, 'Empedocles of Etna' and 'The Scholar Gipsy'. Matthew Arnold is considered to be one of the three major poets of the Victorian era, along with Tennyson and Browning.

Matthew Arnold (Author), B. J. Harrison (Narrator)

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William Shakespeare - A Tribute in Verse

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon in late April 1565 and baptized there on 26th April. He was one of eight children. Little is known about his life but what is evident is the enormous contribution he has made to World Literature. His writing was progressive, magnificent in scope and breathtaking in execution. His plays and sonnets helped enable the English language to speak with a voice unmatched by any other.William Shakespeare died on the 23rd April 1616, survived by his wife and two daughters. He was buried two days after his death in the chancel of the Holy Trinity church.Poets rarely praise another of their kind but Shakespeare deserved all their praise – and more. And our poets down the centuries have been lavish and fulsome with him. Or to paraphrase the great Bard himself:—‘If words shall be the food of love, read on….’

Ben Jonson, John Milton, Matthew Arnold (Author), Ghizlea Rowe, Gideon Wagner, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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Sohrab & Rustum

Matthew Arnold was born on the 24th December 1822 in Laleham, Surrey. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby school. In 1836, Arnold was sent to Winchester College, but the following year he was enrolled in the fifth form at Rugby. In the sixth form he came under the tutelage of his father. Whilst there Arnold won many school prizes for English essay writing, together with Latin and English poetry. His first volume, ‘The Strayed Reveller, and Other Poems’ was published in 1849.Wishing to marry, but unable to on the meagre wages of a private secretary, Arnold sought, and was appointed, in April 1851, as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. It was a necessary sacrifice and overall he found the work miserable. However, the income and security enabled him to marry Frances Lucy in June, 1851. They would have six children.In 1852, Arnold published ‘Empedocles on Etna, and Other Poems’ followed in 1853 by ‘Poems: A New Edition’ that included his epic ‘Sohrab and Rustum’. In 1854, ‘Poems: Second Series’ was published.Arnold was elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford in 1857, and was the first incumbent to deliver his lectures in English rather than in Latin. He was re-elected in 1862. Matthew Arnold died on 15th April, 1888 of heart failure whilst running to catch a train that would have taken him to see his daughter, who was visiting from the United States. He was 65.Arnold is often referred to as the third great Victorian poet, along with Tennyson and Browning. He was also keenly aware of his stature. In a letter in 1869 to his mother, he wrote:‘’My poems represent, on the whole, the main movement of mind of the last quarter of a century, and thus they will probably have their day as people become conscious to themselves of what that movement of mind is”.

Matthew Arnold (Author), David Shaw-Parker, Ghizela Rowe (Narrator)

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The Great Poets: Matthew Arnold

Considered the bridge between romanticism and modernism, Matthew Arnold wrote verse that is simple, unadorned and straightforward. From the hypnotic and beautiful lines of Dover Beach, to the pastoral narrative of The Scholar Gipsy, Arnold cast a gaze at the main intellectual issues of the nineteenth century while giving a timeless insight into man and nature. This collection covers his major poetic works, including the narrative poems, sonnets and elegiac poems, illuminating the lyricism and serenity of Arnold's best poetry. Delivered with verve and passion, Jonathan Keeble's reading is suffused with an energy found in Arnold's most moving poetry. Other poems include Desire, Longing, A Summer Night, Consolation, Philomela, A Dream, East London, West London, Thyrsis, Immortality, Growing Old, A Wish, Bacchanalia|Or, The New Age, A Modern Sappho, The Hayswater Boat, The River, Human Life, The Buried Life, Austerity of Poetry, A Farewell, Requiescat.

Matthew Arnold (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

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Narrative Verse - Volume 2

Narrative Verse - Volume 2 Poetry can capture the imagination in a few short lines but Narrative Verse or Poetry takes the form of telling a story whether it be simple or complex in a longer form. Among the most ancient forms of poetry it has widespread roots through almost every culture. In Volume 2 we bring you the classics of Sohrab & Rustum - Matthew Arnold, The Prisoner Of Chillon - Lord Byron and Faithless Sally Brown - Thomas Hood. They are read for you by the renowned actors Sean Barrett and David Shaw-Parker.

Lord Byron, Matthew Arnold, Thomas Hood (Author), David Shaw-Parker, Sean Barrett (Narrator)

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Matthew Arnold, The Poetry

Matthew Arnold, The Poetry. Poetry is a fascinating use of language. With almost a million words at its command it is not surprising that these Isles have produced some of the most beautiful, moving and descriptive verse through the centuries. In this series we look at individual poets who have shaped and influenced their craft and cement their place in our heritage. Matthew Arnold is rightly placed amongst the other greats of Victorian Poetry; Browning and Tennyson. The son of the founder of Rugby School he grew up to become a poet via a career as a school inspector. His own words best represent how he came to be so well regarded: "My poems represent, on the whole, the main movement of mind of the last quarter of a century, and thus they will probably have their day as people become conscious to themselves of what that movement of mind is". Many of the poems are also available as an audiobook from our sister company Portable Poetry. Among the readers are Richard Mitchley and Ghizela Rowe. Index Of Poems; The Last Word; The Austerity Of Poetry (A Sonnet); Bacchanalia; Or, The New Age; The Buried Life; A Caution To Poets; Consolation; Continued; Despondency; Calais Sands; Dover Beach; The Sea of Faith; The Divinity (A Sonnet); Early Death And Fame; East London (A Sonnet); Epilogue; Faded Leaves; The Future; Growing Old; Haworth Churchyard; Human Life; Immortality; A Memory Picture; A Modern Sappho; Mortality; A Nameless Epitaph; Religious Isolation; The Youth Of Man; Youth And Calm; West London (A Sonnet); A Wish; A Southern Night; Requiescat; Tristram Ans Iseult.

Matthew Arnold (Author), Ghizela Rowe, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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Victorian Poetry - Volume 1

Victorian Poetry - Volume 1 - An Introduction. Victoria's reign was long and presided over the restless expansion of the British Empire and reams of creative genius. Within these volumes we can bring only a glimpse of the richness, beauty and words of their poets and their musings on this remarkable age. Many are world renowned - Tennyson, Browning, Arnold, Kipling, Austin, Hopkins, Hardy and Swinburne. Some almost forgotten - Patmore, Newbolt, Synge. And some barely noted - Lyall, Meynell and Merdeith. But together they encompass a great poetical age. In Volume 1 we collect together Matthew Arnold to Elizabeth Gaskell. Among our readers are Richard Mitchley and Ghizela Rowe.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, GK Chesterton, Matthew Arnold (Author), Ghizela Rowe, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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Balder Dead (Version 2)

The poem begins with the beloved god Balder, thought to be invulnerable, dead at the hands of the inoffensive blind god Hoder, in a game. Loki, whose deceit brought about this catastrophe, is promptly punished with exile, and Odin, Balder's father, sponsors a heroic quest to rescue his son from the land of the dead. This desperate venture unexpectedly meets with partial success, a conditional agreement to release Balder if everyone in the land of the living mourns his death. And even though over every hope hangs the threat of the ultimate end of the reign of the Norse gods, the mother of the gods points out that "much must yet be tried which shall but fail." - Summary by T. A. Copeland

Matthew Arnold (Author), Thomas A. Copeland (Narrator)

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