Poetry Audiobooks | Literature

The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive

"Brought to you by Penguin. Bracing and essential, a radical reframing of British Romanticism through the lens of Black experience – for fans of David Olusoga, Gretchen Gerzina, Saidiya Hartman and Emma Dabiri Wordsworth, Shelley, Byron, Keats – the Romantic poets are titans of English literature, taught and celebrated around the world. Their work is associated with sublime passions, violent stormscapes and a questing search for the inner self. It is rarely associated with the racial politics of the transatlantic slave economy. But these literary icons lived through a period when individual and collective resistance by Black people in Britain and her overseas colonies was making it increasingly difficult – and increasingly costly – to ignore their demands for freedom. A time when popular support for the abolition movement exploded across the country – and was met by a vehement, reactionary campaign from the establishment. A time when white supremacist ideologies were fomented to justify the abuse and exploitation of non-white 'races'. This cultural context is not immediately obvious in the canon of Romantic poetry. But that doesn’t mean it’s not there. The Trembling Hand turns an urgent critical gaze onto six major Romantic authors, examining how their lives and works were entangled with the racist realities of their era. Mathelinda Nabugodi pores over carefully preserved manuscripts, travels to the houses where these writers lived and died, examines the personal objects which survived them: a teacup, a baby rattle, a lock of hair. Amid this archive, she searches for traces of Black figures whose lives crossed paths with the great Romantics. And she grapples with the opposing forces of reverence and horror as her fascination with literary relics collides with feelings of sorrow and rage. © Mathelinda Nabugodi 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Mathelinda Nabugodi (Author), Natalie Simpson (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Rebellion of Care: Poems and Essays

"A moving manifesto in poems and essays, inviting readers to embrace their humanity and live fully alive in our age of social change, hyper-capitalism, and pervasive loneliness yes, everyone is struggling right now so please be gracious be kind & patient, but subvert every institution that relies on our suffering Something isn't right. Every generation thinks that, but we have more cause than most. The way our society has been constructed is just not good for our bodies, our minds, or our hearts. What possible chance do our souls have? In his debut collection, popular Instagram poet David Gate inspires us to rally for what makes life worth living: creating art as a form of care, living beyond consumer impulse, loving our neighbors (even the odd ones), and more. With his signature snark, humor, and billowing hope, Gate invites readers to ponder the complexities of self, community, love, and resilience. Rejecting the notion that despair and positivity are our only available responses, Gate urges readers to foster deep friendships that challenge social orders and embrace questions of meaning and purpose. For, in his words, "Saying something true in a world awash with lies is the first act of rebellion.""

David Gate (Author), David Gate (Narrator)

Audiobook

Libre

"A soaring collection of poems that deftly explores the familial, personal, and societal relationships of a young Black woman trying to make her way in a fraught world. Freedom reverberates in Skye Jackson’s breathtaking debut, Libre, with evocative poems that are heart-wrenching, haunting, sensual, and tender. This collection explores the experiences of a young Black woman in New Orleans as she navigates the pull of familial and romantic relationships, celebrating the joys of Blackness, art, and friendship. Libre also includes Jackson’s award-winning poem “can we touch your hair?” which was hand selected by former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins for inclusion in the Library of Congress Poetry 180 Project. An acolyte of Sade and Stevie Nicks, Jackson muses on microaggressions, interracial relationships, and the endless intricacies of Black women’s hair as she rails against loss, random violence, and the dark expectations that society often places upon people of color. She roams each room of the heart, open and unafraid of what she might find behind every door. Through it all, this debut shines as the poetry refracts and reflects like a mirror leaving nothing unseen."

Skye Jackson (Author), Skye Jackson (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Tenderness of Silent Minds: Benjamin Britten and his War Requiem

"The human body is the primary instrument of war, yet those waging war often confront soldiers' bodies in a detached or merely intellectual way. In The Tenderness of Silent Minds, Martha C. Nussbaum, a leading thinker on emotion, morality, and justice, conducts a pioneering study of Benjamin Britten's musical representations of the tender male body amidst the brutality of war, and their ability to transform consciousness by evoking potent, non-personal emotions. Offering a reading of Britten's views about the value and beauty of the body that situates these in the context of his thirty-nine year partnership with his lover, the singer Peter Pears, and also surveying pacifist themes in works written both before and after War Requiem, Nussbaum presents a compelling framework for critically assessing Britten's oeuvre. Nussbaum engages with a remarkably wide range of Britten's works, examining his treatment of aggression and its roots in his collaborations with the poet W. H. Auden, offering readings of the value placed on the body in early partnerships with Britten's beloved and singer Peter Pears, and surveying pacifist themes in Britten's earlier works. The analysis throughout is enriched with perspectives from Britten's personal letters and thoughtful study of the social and political backdrop of fear and homophobic disgust in mid-twentieth century Britain."

Martha C. Nussbaum (Author), Tawnya Rollingson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Southern Bred: Poems

"Discover the captivating allure of the Deep South through the haunting and powerful verses of one of today’s most accomplished poets. Southern Bred is a haunting, powerful collection of gothic poems that captivate and transport the reader into the heart and soul of the Deep South. Each poem offers a glimpse into its mystery and enchantment, drawing you in with a blend of beauty and darkness. In the style of a memoir in verse, it showcases Ghigna’s southern soul and his tender, yet piercing language, and affirms his place as one of the finest poets of our time. “You don’t so much read these poems as fall into them. It’s like plummeting into someone else’s memories—a great rush of beauty and darkness, joy and weirdness. As soon as you finish one, you want to start over again from the beginning. This book is such a gift.”—Gin Phillips, author of Fierce Kingdom and Family Law"

Charles Ghigna (Author), Charles Ghigna (Narrator)

Audiobook

How To Become The Conqueror: An African American Revelation

"Taking a profound look at the African American experience and the far-reaching impacts of colonization and Western Civilization, this intimate relationship portrayed through poetry offers a truthful reflection that resonates not only in the United States but also throughout the diaspora. This raw and spiritual interpretation prompts the listener to contemplate and raises more questions than it answers. Through a blend of poetic voice, ancestral wisdom, and spiritual discovery, How To Become The Conqueror: An African American Revelation serves as both an emotional revelation and a call to consciousness. Performed and narrated by the author, Amsara Sekhita Mai Holly, with original vocals by the sister group Holly Girlz, this audiobook delivers a stirring sonic journey that uplifts, awakens, and challenges. Amsara Sekhita Mai Holly is a multidisciplinary artist, poet, actress, author, filmmaker and businesswoman. As a member of the music group and creative collective Holly Girlz, she works in deep collaboration with her sisters to produce art in many artistic and creative mediums. As a performer and storyteller, Amsara bridges activism, spirituality, and artistry in this book - channeling cultural reclamation and liberated creative expression. With roots in performance, literature, and African traditions, Amsara’s voice carries the weight of history and the fire of transformation. This debut audiobook is more than a collection of poetry, it is a ritual, a mirror, and a movement through rhythm. With How To Become The Conqueror, Amsara steps into the role of both witness and warrior, using her voice to explore the spiritual and psychological terrain of the African American experience with an unflinching gaze - using the spoken word as medicine, revolution and reverence. For those ready to reclaim, remember, and rise, this audiobook offers a sacred beginning."

Amsara Sekhita Mai Holly (Author), Amsara Sekhita Mai Holly (Narrator)

Audiobook

11:11 The Master Code

"11:11 is a channeled poetry book about activating your highest potential and timelines. This poetry book is for those who are ready to awaken their soul. 11:11 Is the master code So that you can receive The next download To step into Your radiant light So that you can allow Your truth to ignite Millions of people All over the world The light will rise The serpent unfurled The kundalini will awaken From the depths of the deep And millions will rise From their dormant sleep Now is the time To awaken the new Let the light shine forth And live what is true This channeled poetry book was inspired by the global planetary awakening happening at this time. If you’re seeing 11:11, you’re on the path of awakening. Allow 11:11 The Master Code to awaken the truth in your soul!"

Justin Wesenberg (Author), Justin Wesenberg (Narrator)

Audiobook

Joy Is My Middle Name

"Joy Is My Middle Name documents crawling through your twenties and emerging into your thirties. Walking uneasy cities and rural towns, talking about sex, race, womanhood, addiction, sobriety, consumerism and pop culture, these poems pull at the edges of the performed self with conversational ease. Humble, giddy, bold, empathetic, subversive, hilarious, lithe - the collection feels like a conversation with your greatest friend, over the best dinner. Full of stories, character, awkward silence, relatable sentiment; the buzz of perfect moments are funnelled onto the page."

Sasha Debevec-McKenney (Author), Sasha Debevec-McKenney (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Danish] - Skoven (uforkortet)

"'SKOVEN' er et musical-digt om det at være kvinde fra barn til voksen - og om det at være et mandligt vidne til et cyklusstyret kvindeliv i evig udvikling. Du vil møde en kvinde, en mand og de 9 muser: Thaleia, Terpsicore, Kalliope, Kleio, Melpomene, Erato, Euterpe, Urania og Polyhymnia. 'SKOVEN' er også udgivet som lydbog med forfatterens egen musik."

Julie Ben Semmane (Author), Julie Ben Semmane (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Italian] - Dubbi amorosi

Pietro Aretino (Author), Valerio Di Stefano (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Spanish] - Soledades, Galerías y Otros Poemas. 1907.

"Está en la sala familiar, sombría, y entre nosotros, el querido hermano que en el sueño infantil de un claro día vimos partir hacia un país lejano. Hoy tiene ya las sienes plateadas, un gris mechón sobre la angosta frente; y la fría inquietud de sus miradas revela un alma casi toda ausente."

Antonio Machado (Author), Valerio Di Stefano (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Spanish] - Sonetos del amor oscuro

"Los Sonetos del amor oscuro, o simplemente Sonetos, son una colección de sonetos escritos durante sus últimos años de vida por el poeta y dramaturgo español Federico García Lorca (Granada, 1898–1936), recopilados y publicados póstumamente. Por tanto, no es un libro definitivo establecido por el autor, y las diferentes ediciones pueden variar, tanto en el índice como en el título, dependiendo de las fuentes en que se base el editor."

Federico García Lorca (Author), Valerio Di Stefano (Narrator)

Audiobook

Poetry Audiobooks in Literature