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The Class of '37: Voices from Working-class Girlhood

It is 1937 in a northern mill-town and a class of twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls are writing about their lives, their world, and the things that matter to them. They tell of cobbled streets and crowded homes; the Coronation festivities and holidays to Blackpool; laughter and fun alongside poverty and hardship. They are destined for the cotton mill but they dream of being film stars. Class of '37 uses the writing of these young girls, as collected by the research organisation Mass Observation, to rediscover this lost world, transporting readers back in time to a smoky industrial town in an era before the introduction of a Welfare State, where once again the clouds of war were beginning to gather. Woven within this rich, authentic history are the twists and turns of the girls' lives from childhood to beyond, from their happiest times to the most heart-breaking of their sorrows. A compelling social history, this intimate reconstruction of working-class life in 1930s Britain is a haunting and emotional account of a bygone age.

Claire Langhamer, Hester Barron (Author), Bea Holland (Narrator)

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This Sceptred Isle: Empire: The Classic BBC Radio History

Christopher Lee's highly-acclaimed and award-winning BBC Radio 4 history of the British Empire. Britain had the biggest empire the world has ever known. At one time a quarter of the global land mass was British. Over a third of the world was insured at Lloyds. At his coronation, more than 400 million people saluted George V. Truly, the sun never set on this historical phenomenon. Whatever the day, whatever the hour, somewhere on the globe, the empire worked and played the British game, often absurdly so. BBC Radio 4's monumental history of Britain tells the story of the British Empire from its earliest beginnings through the years when British influence grew steadily around the globe, years when Britain took full advantage of the technical advances of its industrial revolution. Here are the origins of the modern nations of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and of the ways in which British influence has affected, for better or for worse, nations such as India, Sri Lanka, and China. Here are the stories, not always happy and glorious, of Captain James Cook, Mungo Park, Warren Hastings, Sir Stamford Raffles, and David Livingstone. The story of the British Empire is one of enormous personalities, adventure, scientific and maritime development, and the building of one of the most complex international administrations the world has ever seen. ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Christopher Lee (Author), Anna Massey, Christopher Eccleston, Denis Lawson, Juliet Stevenson, Mark Heap, Martin Freeman, Rob Brydon, Robert Powell, Various (Narrator)

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Slavery and Freedom in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War Era

This book examines the complexities of life for African Americans in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley from the antebellum period through Reconstruction. Although the Valley was a site of fierce conflicts during the Civil War and its military activity has been extensively studied, scholars have largely ignored the Black experience in the region until now. Correcting previous assumptions that slavery was not important to the Valley, and that enslaved people were treated better there than in other parts of the South, Jonathan Noyalas demonstrates the strong hold of slavery in the region. He explains that during the war, enslaved and free African Americans navigated a borderland that changed hands frequently-where it was possible to be in Union territory one day, Confederate territory the next, and no-man's land another. He shows that the region's enslaved population resisted slavery and supported the Union war effort by serving as scouts, spies, and laborers, or by fleeing to enlist in regiments of the United States Colored Troops. Noyalas draws on untapped primary resources to continue the story and reveal the challenges African Americans faced from former Confederates after the war. He traces their actions, which were shaped uniquely by the volatility of the struggle in this region, to ensure that the war's emancipationist legacy would survive.

Jonathan A. Noyalas (Author), David De Vries (Narrator)

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Lujuria

Con esta disparatada y cómica obra que inicia la serie 'Los pecados capitales de la historia de España', Juan Eslava Galán nos ofrece anécdotas y curiosidades sobre relacionadas con el sexo y el deseo acontecidos a lo largo de la Historia de España. Como un moderno diablo cojuelo, Eslava nos destapa en este libro los tejados españoles para indagar en los variados modos en que hemos transgredido el sexto mandamiento de Isabel II acá. En esta amena lectura asistiremos a la sesiones de cine porno con que Alfonso XIII amenizaba a sus compañeros de montería los días de lluvia; a los bailes taxi de la Segunda República que permitían a los reprimidos abrazar a una mujer hermosa al precio de un cupón; a la dieta de carne impuesta por los obispos durante el Nacionalcatolicismo, a las dificultades de la mayor escritora de novelas eróticas cuando tuvo que enfrentarse a su propia noche de bodas; a las parejas refugiadas en la 'fila de los mancos' de los cines, al recauchutado de los primeros condones, a las furibundas excomuniones del cardenal Segura, a las extravagancias de los censores que agregaban encajes para ocultar la teta, a la revolución de las costumbres que trajo la democracia y al impactante desnudo de Marisol, la niña modelo del franquismo, que conmocionó España hasta sus más recónditos cimientos propulsándola a su puesto actual de la nación más liberada de Europa.

Juan Eslava Galán (Author), Jordi Varela De Orzco (Narrator)

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El silbido del arquero

Novela de aventuras, novela de guerra, de exilio y de amor, 'El silbido del arquero' es un viaje a los mitos de un pasado que aún ilumina nuestro presente. Cuando Eneas, huido del saqueo de Troya con su hijo y algunos hombres, naufraga en la costa africana, ante las playas de la ciudad de Cartago, su suerte queda en manos de la reina Elisa. A este héroe, vagabundo y derrotado, una misteriosa profecía le señala como fundador de la venidera civilización romana. Siglos después, en un tiempo circular y envolvente, el poeta Virgilio tendrá que recrear, por encargo del emperador Augusto, esa aventura inicial y las glorias pasadas del Imperio ya victorioso, que oculta abismos de miseria y codicia tras sus fastuosos mármoles. En un singular juego entre la Historia y la leyenda, 'El silbido del arquero' atrapa el reflejo de nuestros conflictos contemporáneos y la semilla de temas que nunca dejarán de fascinarnos: la sombra del poder sobre la libertad individual; el dilema de un hombre que, al derrumbarse su mundo, se debate entre reconstruir las ruinas o arriesgarse a levantar algo nuevo; las dificultades de una mujer poderosa en un universo de hombres y sus deseos de ser madre cuando su tiempo se acaba; la mirada de una adolescente sobre la convulsa vida adulta; la violencia, la piedad, el hado o la suerte... Tejida con las voces de unos personajes legendarios y, a la vez, intensamente vivos, la novela es un homenaje al arte de contar historias y al valor eterno del mito. Irene Vallejo, filóloga y escritora española, ha recibido en 2020 el Premio Nacional de Ensayo.

Irene Vallejo (Author), Aida De La Cruz (Narrator)

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Templarios, griales, vírgenes negras y otros enigmas de la Historia

Juan Eslava Galán nos ayuda a resolver diversos enigmas de la Historia aportando veracidad en algunos casos o desmitificando, en otros. En este audiolibro encontrarás una buena herramienta para satisfacer tu curiosidad sobre algunos de los más populares episodios relacionados con vírgenes negras, Santos Griales, Tablas Redondas...

Juan Eslava Galán (Author), Leopoldo Ballesteros (Narrator)

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Ancient Egypt: A Very Short Introduction, 2nd Edition

The ancient Egyptians are an enduring source of fascination-mummies and pyramids, curses, and rituals have captured the imagination of generations. We all have a mental picture of ancient Egypt, but is it the right one? How much do we really know about this great civilization? This second edition of Ancient Egypt: A Very Short Introduction explores the history and culture of pharaonic Egypt, including ideas about Egyptian kingship, ancient Egyptian writing systems, and the history of Egyptology. Ian Shaw introduces the listener to issues relating to ethnicity, race, gender, and sexual relations; the latest ideas about death, funerary rites, and mummification; and thoughts on religion and ethics in ancient Egypt. He also looks at the phenomenon of Egyptomania, whereby certain books and films have sensationalized aspects of Egyptian culture. Finally, Shaw takes the story to the present day by illustrating the impact of the Arab Spring on approaches to Egyptian museums and cultural heritage.

Ian Shaw (Author), Mike Cooper (Narrator)

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Men Without Country: The true story of exploration and rebellion in the South Seas

Full of misadventure and mystery, Men Without Country is a sweeping history of exploration and rebellion in the South Seas - told by a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, the man who led the infamous mutiny on the Bounty A mission to collect breadfruit from Tahiti becomes the most famous mutiny in history when the crew rise up against Captain William Bligh, with accusations of food restrictions and unfair punishments. Bligh's remarkable journey back to safety is well documented, but the fates of the mutinous men remain shrouded in mystery. Some settled in Tahiti only to face capture and court martial, others sailed on to form a secret colony on Pitcairn Island, the most remote inhabited island on earth, avoiding detection for twenty years. When an American captain stumbled across the island in 1808, only one of the Bounty mutineers was left alive. Told by a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, Men Without Country details the journey of the Bounty, and the lives of the men aboard. Lives dominated by a punishing regime of hard work and scarce rations, and deeply divided by the hierarchy of class. It is a tale of adventure and exploration punctuated by moments of extreme violence - towards each other and the people of the South Pacific. For the first time, Christian provides a comprehensive and compelling account of the whole story - from the history of trade and exploration in the South Seas to Pitcairn Island, which provided the mutineers' salvation, and then became their grave. Praise for Men Without Country 'Men Without Country shows what a writer can produce when he has real skin in the game ... Harrison Christian sets the record straight on the Bounty mutiny with forensic fervour, including the before, the during - and the after.' - Adam Courtenay, author of The Ship that Never Was

Harrison Christian (Author), David Tredinnick (Narrator)

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Age Of Pandemics (1817-1920): How they shaped India and the World

From lockdowns to lockups, viruses to vaccination, the movement of people to the movement of bowels, from rats to cats, and more, The Age of Pandemics chronicles the many facets of the cholera, plague and influenza pandemics, which claimed over 70 million lives between 1817 and 1920, with India being the epicentre in all these episodes. A time otherwise known for the worldwide spread of the industrial revolution, imperialism and globalization, the period between the early nineteenth century and the early twentieth century was also the 'age of pandemics'. This book documents the scale of devastation, the likely causes and consequences, and the resilience with which people faced those uncertain times. It also provides the first comprehensive coverage of the world's greatest demographic disaster ever to descend upon a country in a short period of time - the influenza pandemic in India in 1918 - which claimed more lives than all the battle casualties of World War I, and demonstrates the continuing relevance of learning from those times to tackle contemporary challenges, such as COVID-19.

Chinmay Tumbe (Author), Abhishek Ajay Sharma (Narrator)

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The Founders' Speech to a Nation in Crisis: What The Founders Would Say To America Today

In a work described as “the ethos of our democratic Republic through the consolidation of the thoughts and words of our founders' and reviews such as “I couldn’t put this book down!” and 'A fantastic read. It can be read in one day and reread the next.' author Steven Rabb has created a powerful read through the synergized writings of America’s Founding Fathers. Through the words of the Founders, Mr. Rabb has demonstrated with amazing clarity the relevance of America’s founding ideals and their resonance for our nation today. Framing the work as a reunion between the Founders in contemporary America, Mr. Rabb gives voice to their views on modern-day issues covering everything from religious liberty and the rule of law to freedom of speech and the threat tyranny poses still today. The Founders' Speech to a Nation in Crisis is a tapestry of the Founders’ own words written in ten chapters and woven into a single, powerful speech to America. In the first few chapters, we are reminded of the God-given rights of man along with the virtues and duties required in a people who seek to retain them. The final chapter is a powerful charge from the Founders for every American to heed the call and stand to defend our threatened liberties. The continuing relevance of our Founders’ words, revealed in this meticulously crafted work like no other, is a clarion call to defend our natural rights that will stun readers and leave them celebrating America's founding ethos and principles. As one reviewer stated: “I purchased this book based on the good reviews and, wow, it did not disappoint! Never has there been a better time to be reminded of the principles this country was built on. This book nearly made me stand up and cheer. Highly recommend!”

Steven Rabb (Author), Steven Rabb (Narrator)

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El buque del diablo (Devil's Ship)

El Imperio Otomano se alió con Alemania y Austria-Hungría en la Primera Guerra Mundial. Esto resultó, entre otras consecuencias catastróficas, en la guerra que duró dos años más de lo que debería, las dos revoluciones rusas de 1917 y la dictadura bolchevique, el genocidio del pueblo armenio, quince millones de muertos y el desmembramiento del Imperio Otomano, con el nacimiento de una miríada de nuevos Estados en Oriente Medio cuya inestabilidad social, económica y política sigue sin resolverse un siglo después. Si en los albores de la Primera Guerra Mundial el crucero de batalla alemán SMS Goeben,aislado en medio del Mediterráneo, no hubiera esquivado con su audacia y astucia a las marinas francesa y británica, para buscar refugio más allá de los Dardanelos, nada de todo esto habría sucedido. Esta es la historia no sólo de Goeben,sino también del hombre que la comandó; la historia de un hombre que, actuando por su cuenta, bajo sus propios criterios, cambió el destino del mundo.

Ildefonso Arenas (Author), Gabriela Garcia, Martin Untrojb (Narrator)

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A sangre y fuego (To Blood and Fire): Heroes, Bestias y martires (Heroes and Beasts of Spain)

Escritas entre 1936 y 1937, las nueve historias que componen este apasionante y perspicaz libro retratan diferentes acontecimientos de la Guerra Civil española. Con solidaridad y compasión por aquellos que sufren los horrores de la guerra de primera mano, el autor observa estas escenas de guerra con impresionante lucidez e imparcialidad, llevando a ambas partes a la tarea por las atrocidades que han cometido. Redactados entre 1936 y 1937, los nueve relatos que componen este libro cautivante y perspicaz retratan distintos sucesos de la Guerra Civil Española. Chaves Nogales, director del periódico Ahora durante los primeros meses de la guerra, basa cada uno de los episodios en hechos y personas reales. Con solidaridad y compasión por quienes sufren en carne propia los horrores de la guerra, el autor observa los acontecimientos de la contienda con una asombrosa lucidez e imparcialidad, denunciando las atrocidades cometidas por ambos bandos.

Manuel Chaves Nogales (Author), Carlos Alsina (Narrator)

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