William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time.
A collection of the greatest poetry from the Victorian era, read by some of the 20th century’s most renowned actors.
Science, religion, and sexuality are played out in these timeless readings of poetry written during the Romantic period.
Performed by Sir John Gielgud; Peter Orr; Gwen Watford; and David King.
This collection includes poems from:
• Robert Browning
• Lord Alfred Tennyson
• Christina Rossetti
• Gerard Manley Hopkins
• Dante Gabriel Rossetti
• Algernon Charles Swinburne
• Paul Edmonds
• Matthew Arnold
• Haldreyn (William Morris)
• Arthur Hugh Clough
This is a Century for the history books. The Chinese curse of living in interesting times could not be more suited.A small island continued its expansion across the globe bringing both good and evil in its march. Empires clashed. Revolution shook many. The Industrial Age was upon us.Poets spoke up against slavery bringing social and political pressure upon an abominable horror. It was also the Age of the Romantics; Shelley, Keats, Byron lyrically rapture. Tennyson, Arnold, Browning rode a century of sweeping change of dynamism and great verse.
The United States has July 4th, Ireland St Patrick's Day and France Bastille Day.Most Nations celebrate a particular day as 'theirs'. That day is when they turn to themselves; to reflect on the past, to revel in the present and to look forward to the future.For England 23rd April is St George's Day.St George, a hero from bygone days, who slays Dragons and pursues other mythic deeds, is part of childhood. But for modern times, for modern Nations, a greater purpose is needed.For England St George is best now described as a principle. A small Nation grown large and respected for its brainpower, brawn and ingenuity and fighting for beliefs, misguidedly or not, that others can't or won't.Of course England's role has changed many times over the centuries but perhaps its basic tenets and desires haven't. Fair Play. A role for everyone on equal terms. Democracy. Tolerance. A safe haven for those oppressed. England 'expects' and sometimes succeeds.
Narrative Verse - Volume 4. 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 4 we bring you the classics of The Eve Of St Agnes - John Keats, Flodden - Sir Walter Scott, The Ballad Of Agincourt - Michael Drayton, Tam O'Shanter - Robert Burns, The Pied Piper Of Hamelin - Robert Browning. They are read for you by the renowned actors Sean Barrett and David Shaw-Parker.
English Poetry, Volume 2 - An Introduction. The English language has grown into the Worlds pre-dominant spoken language. It's estimated there are over one million words with which to do this. It's sources are rich and diverse, absorbing from other cultures and times without hesitation. It surely follows that when we add the talents of Shakespeare, Keats, Shelley, Kipling and Blake to a myriad of others that its beauty and reach entrance us with their thoughts and visions. In two volumes these remarkable poems present a wonderful companion through the long heritage of the English Language and its poets. The poems in volume 2 are; English Poetry - An Introduction; Bright Star - John Keats; La Belle Dame Sans Merci - John Keats; I Remember I Remember - Thomas Hood; Ballad - Thomas Hood; No! - Thomas Hood; If Thou Must Love Me - Elizabeth Barrett Browning; How Do I Love Thee - Elizabeth Barrett Browning; Ulysses - Alfred Lord Tennyson; Lady Clare - Alfred Lord Tennyson; from Pied Piper Of Hamblin - Robert Browning; Home Thoughts From Abroad - Robert Browning; The Jumblies - Edward Lear; Dover Beach - Matthew Arnold; Remember - Christina Rossetti; In The Willow Shade - Christina Rossetti; The Oxen - Thomas Hardy; Ah Are You Digging My Grave - Thomas Hardy; The Darkling Thrush - Thomas Hardy; Spring - Gerald Manley Hopkins; Epithalamion - Gerald Manley Hopkins; Loveliest Of Trees, The Cherry Now - AE Houseman; If - Rudyard Kipling; Tommy - Rudyard Kipling; The Way That Lovers Use - Rupert Brooke; Love - Rupert Brooke; The Old Vicarage Of Grantchester; Rupert Brooke
September - The ninth month of the year in our Gregorian calendar and with it arrives the Autumn equinox and the first glimpses of the new season.
There is much for out Poets including Browning, Kingsley, Yeats, Lanier and Lindsay to say and write about. Among our readers are Richard Mitchley and Ghizela Rowe. The tracks are; September - An Introduction; September 1st 1802 By William Wordsworth; In September By Amy Levy; Sonnet XXL, Sacred To The Memory Of Edward Spedding Who Died September 3rd 1832 By Henry Alford; September 1918 By Amy Lowell; In September By Thomas MacDonagh; Lines Written On The 6th September By Thomas Gent; September 1815 By William Wordsworth; An Indian Summer Day On The Prairie By Vachel Lindsay; September By George Arnold; September By Helen Hunt Jackson; September By Carlos Wilcox; A Calendar Of Sonnets By September By Helen Hunt Jackson; Postscriptum, September 1913 By Thomas MacDonagh; Indian Summer By Sara Teasdale; September 1819 by William Wordsworth; Indian Summer By Henry Van Dyke; September 1913 By William Butler Yeats; September By Janet Hamilton; September By John Payne; Sonnet September 1922 By Ivor Gurney; 21st September 1870 By Charles Kingsley; Among The Rocks By Robert Browning; September Dark By James Whitcomb Riley; Ode To The West Wind By Shelley; Written In September 1804 By Christian Milne; The Golden Wedding Of Sterling And Sarah Lanier September 27th 1868 By Sidney Lanier; Written In London September 1802 By William Wordsworth; Late September By Amy Lowell; A September Night By George Marion McClellan; September Midnights By Sara Teasdale.
With classics such as 'My Last Duchess' and 'The Pied Piper Of Hamelin' Robert Browning's status as one of the great Victorian Poets will always be secure in popular culture. For the more literary he is considered a master of dramatic verse and dramatic monologues. It is interesting to note that his career bloomed late. Indeed it was only after the death of his wife Elizabeth in 1861 and his return to England from their life in Italy that his work came into wider acceptance and critical acclaim. In the last years of his life he recorded part of a poem on a wax cylinder which was played after his death. It was said to be the first time anyone's voice had been heard from beyond the grave!
Westminster Abbey has seen much during its long, rich history. The coronations of Kings and Queens, the burials of Prime ministers. However it is also a church that remembers the men and women of the arts. Dedicated writers and poets who spoke so eloquently that the Nation wished to bid farewell on a stage grand enough to match their talents. Their talents and works are worth remembering and here, in this volume, their wise words speak too and for us all.
Robert Browning (1812-1889) playright and poet is known and admired for his dramatic monologues in blank verse of which he is a recognized master. He also wrote many lighter poems with a humorous touch. Here is one of his best known: "The Pied Piper of Hamelin."
Robert Browning (1812-1889) playright and poet is known and admired for his dramatic monologues in blank verse of which he is a recognized master. He was not always popular in his own time but is now considered one of the foremost poets of Victorian England.
This volume contains some of the best of the monologues including "Porphyria's Lover", "How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix","The Bishop orders his Tomb at Saint Praxed's Church", "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came" and"My Last Duchess", as well as "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" and shorter descriptive lyrical poems.
Paul Revere's Ride
In this classic piece of American poetry, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow commemorates the actions of American Patriot Paul Revere on April 18, 1775. The tale depicts Paul Revere's exciting midnight ride to warn all the neighbors in the countryside that the British were coming-one light if by land and two if by sea.
Pied Piper of Hamelin
The Pied Piper of Hamelin got rid of the pesky, hated rats, but when the villagers refused to pay for his services, the Pied Piper took matters into his own hands-and the villagers paid a very dear price, indeed.
