Audiobooks Narrated by John Brown

A Country Cottage

"Anton Chekhov's story 'A Country Cottage' is about a young couple, Sasha the husband and Vanya his wife, enjoying their night alone together. The couple walks together, taking in the sights around them, which they find picturesque and charming. First publication of the work: June 15, 1885."

Anton Chekhov (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

A Pink Stocking

"'The Pink Stocking' by Anton Chekhov is a short story that unfolds on a dreary, rainy day with Pavel Petrovitch Somov, feeling bored and restless, pacing in his study. His wife, Madame Somov, is described as a pretty little lady wearing a light blouse and pink stockings, busily writing a letter to her sister Varya. Curious and looking for a distraction, Somov asks to read the letter and, while initially disinterested, he becomes increasingly concerned and confused as he progresses through the pages. Upon finishing the letter, he reacts with shock and disbelief, flinging the sheets on the table and uttering that the content is 'beyond anything' and 'positively incredible.' The story hints at a marital dynamic filled with secrets and perhaps suggests that Madame Somov has written something unexpected or alarming, leaving both the character and the reader with a sense of perplexity and intrigue."

Anton Chekhov (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

At a Summer Villa

"AT A SUMMER VILLA (1886) Pavel Ivanitch has been happily married for eight years when he receives an anonymous love-letter fixing a tryst in a secluded spot that evening. Scornful at first at the very thought, then perplexed and then intrigued, he finally decides to see what it is all about, and gets an unexpected surprise, and a good lesson to boot."

Anton Chekhov (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Fat and Thin

"'Fat and Thin' is a satirical short story by Anton Chekhov, first published in the No. 40, 1 October 1883 issue of Oskolki magazine, signed A. Chekhonte (А. Чехонте). The plot of the short story 'Fat and Thin' in its original version was based on an anecdote, and the conflict between the characters arose accidentally, due to the involuntary oversight of the 'Thin'. At a railway station the fat one, Mischa, accidentally meets the thin one, Porfiri. The thin man travels accompanied by his wife and son. The two old school friends greet each other in an exuberant and informal manner. A conversation follows, and it is about careers of both of them as government officials."

Anton Chekhov (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

A Daughter of Albion

"Albion's Daughter is a story by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. Written in 1883, first published in 1883 in the magazine 'Oskolki' No. 33 for August 13, signed by A. Chekhonte. 'A Daughter of Albion' is a short story hitting out at the free-spirited and broad-minded British of the nineteenth century. The word 'Albion' indicates someone belonging to Great Britain or England. In this story penned by Anton Chekhov, one of the greatest short story writers of the nineteenth century, a British governess is ridiculed by her cynical employer, who is infatuated with her. Her married employer is in a sexual relationship with her despite having a wife and children. He loves spending time with this free-spirited and haughty governess who looks down upon the Russian's backwardness. Because of her, he has taken to fishing all day without caring for his job, family, or friends. Chekhov uses subtle and brazen sexual innuendos to bring out the feelings Gryabov, the landowner, has for Fyce, the British governess."

Anton Chekhov (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

An Inquiry

"'An Inquiry' (1883) is a story about a country gentleman, who arrives in a city to obtain an inquiry on a case a party of which he is. However, he faces an almost insuperable obstacle on the way to get what he has come for in the form of an officer, whose job functions are to solve these queries actually."

Anton Chekhov (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Nerves

"Nerves is a story by Anton Chekhovs, first published: 1895. Three friends, Mayer (a medical student), Rybnikov (a student of the arts), and Vassilyev (a law student), decide to go out one night to get some girls. Mayer and Rybnikov had to spend some time convincing Vassilyev to come along, as he was far more fastidious and cautious than his friends. Vassilyev himself is envious of his friends, who live their lives in a much more carefree fashion. The three friends visit several different houses containing the girls, but Vassilyev finds himself more eager to talk to the girls and treat them to fancy drinks than to pay his money to get something more. He tries to understand the lives the fallen women are living, but he grows more and more disgusted with them..."

Anton Chekhov (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

A Lottery Ticket

"The lottery ticket by Anton Chekhov is a short story. As title suggests it revolves around probability of winning lottery. Ivan and his wife are from middle class background. However, at first skeptical Ivan soon finds hope when he sees probability of his wife, Misha has a chance of winning lottery, The moral of the story is that material possessions and wealth do not bring true happiness, and that greed can lead to bitterness and broken relationships. Instead, the story suggests that people should focus on the love and companionship they have in their lives, rather than obsessing over money and possessions."

Anton Chekhov (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Too Early

"The story takes place in the village of Shalmovo, where two peasant sportsmen, Filimon Slyunka and Ignat Ryabov, are sitting in a pothouse turned restaurant. Slyunka is an old man who used to be a house-serf and now lives off his old wife's alms. Ryabov is a silent, sturdy peasant. Slyunka and Ryabov are trying to convince the innkeeper, Semyon Mitritch, to give them a gun that they had left as collateral. Semyon refuses, citing the Lenten season and the lack of game. Despite their pleas and promises to return the gun, Semyon remains firm in his decision. Slyunka and Ryabov leave the tavern and decide to go stand-shooting in the forest, hoping to find snipe. They walk to the forest, but find no snipe and decide to wait another five days before trying again. The story ends with the sportsmen walking home in silence. Overall, the story portrays a slice of rural life and explores themes of poverty, longing, and the connection between humans and nature."

Anton Chekhov (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Political Science. Classics Collection:: Sun Tzu-The Art of War, Plato-The Republic, Niccolo Machiav

"Why Political Science Classics Collection is so important? In today's world, providing quality training for the younger generation at colleges and universities is of primary importance. But higher education is not enough. Any graduate is first and foremost a citizen of his nation. He has the right to be an actor in the political life of his society. The political changes taking place today in the modern world are dependent on the civic stance of each person. In this way, a serious challenge facing the world system of higher education is to educate citizens who are capable of navigating and influencing the modern political processes in his country. Youth today actively participate in campaigns carried out by political parties and community organizations. However, it is impossible to develop conditions which foster a civic position without the existence of a political culture. In today's global community, facing growing pressures of political extremism and radicalism, knowledge of basic political science principles should help students develop a democratic ethos and foster qualities, such as political tolerance, compromise, and cooperation, while learning to express and defend their interests in a civilized manner. The foundation of political science lies in the accumulated knowledge of mankind. This collection was compiled as an aid to college and university students. Each included piece is required reading at some of the best universities on the planet including: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Columbia Universities, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, among others. This collection includes works famous authors: The Art of War by Sun Tzu Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu The Republic by Plato Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli Utopia by Thomas More Common Sense by Thomas Paine Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels The State and Revolution by Vladimir lenin"

Friedrich Engels, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, Lao Tzu, Marcus Aurelius, Niccolo Machiavelli, Plato, Sun Tzu, Thomas More, Thomas Paine, Vladimir Lenin (Author), Alfred Costa, Andrew Roberts, Douglass Scott, Jamey Lewis, John Brown, Jowanna Lewis, Kenneth Elliot, Peter Coates, Richard Williams (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Damon Runyon Theater - Tobias the Terrible & Little Miss Marker: Episode 1

"The Damon Runyon Theatre Hour. Damon Runyon is acknowledged as one of the great writers to come out of twentieth century America. Runyon's short stories are almost always told in the first person by a narrator who is never named, and whose role is unclear; he knows many gangsters and has no job that can be gleaned from his musings, nor does he admit to any criminal involvement; He's a bystander, an observer, an average street-corner Joe. Runyon described himself as "being known to one and all as a guy who is just around". That line seems to say a lot about Runyon and his life. It was like you were with him on some street corner hustle or some shady dive and he was filling you in on all the angles, all the gossip, all of life. He was who so many people wanted to be with......or so many people wanted to be. Of course, the cliché about newspapermen and writers is that they are heavy drinkers, chain-smokers, gamblers and obsessively chase women with a sideline in the gathering of stories and facts and actually getting something written just before the deadline hits. That seems like Damon Runyon and his life summed up in one sentence. His stories became legendary ways of looking that bit differently at America, of soaking up the atmosphere of a glamorous and rip-roaring age and distilling it into black and white type or, in our case, The Damon Runyon Theatre Hour."

Damon Runyon (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Damon Runyon Theater - Romance in the Roaring Forties & The Lemon Drop Kid: Episode 2

"The Damon Runyon Theatre Hour. Damon Runyon is acknowledged as one of the great writers to come out of twentieth century America. Runyon's short stories are almost always told in the first person by a narrator who is never named, and whose role is unclear; he knows many gangsters and has no job that can be gleaned from his musings, nor does he admit to any criminal involvement; He's a bystander, an observer, an average street-corner Joe. Runyon described himself as "being known to one and all as a guy who is just around". That line seems to say a lot about Runyon and his life. It was like you were with him on some street corner hustle or some shady dive and he was filling you in on all the angles, all the gossip, all of life. He was who so many people wanted to be with......or so many people wanted to be. Of course, the cliché about newspapermen and writers is that they are heavy drinkers, chain-smokers, gamblers and obsessively chase women with a sideline in the gathering of stories and facts and actually getting something written just before the deadline hits. That seems like Damon Runyon and his life summed up in one sentence. His stories became legendary ways of looking that bit differently at America, of soaking up the atmosphere of a glamorous and rip-roaring age and distilling it into black and white type or, in our case, The Damon Runyon Theatre Hour."

Damon Runyon (Author), John Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free