Audiobooks narrated by Mary Ann Spiegel

"Anna Karenina is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever written, Tolstoy himself called it his first true novel. A complex novel in eight parts, with more than a dozen major characters, Anna Karenina is often published in more than 800 pages. It deals with themes of betrayal, faith, family, marriage, Imperial Russian society, desire, and rural vs. city life. The story centers on an extramarital affair between Anna and dashing cavalry officer Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky that scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg and forces the young lovers to flee to Italy in search for happiness, but after they return to Russia, their lives further unravel. Narrated in female American English accent."

Leo Tolstoy (Author), Mary Ann Spiegel (Narrator)

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My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard

"In 'My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard,' Elizabeth Cooper offers the reader a translation of two series of letters by Kwei-li, the wife of a high-rank Chinese official. The first series is addressed to her husband whilst he is on a world tour with Prince Chung in the late 19th century. The second series of letters is from 25 years later and are addressed to her mother-in-law. Political intrigue is raging in China and the country is on the verge of a revolution. With these letters, Cooper hoped to 'give a faint idea of the life of a Chinese lady,' 'a woman who had by education and environment exceptional opportunities to learn of the modern world, but who, like every Eastern woman, clings with almost desperate tenacity to the traditions and customs.' - Elizabeth Cooper, born Eslick (1877-1945) was an America author. Originally born in Homer, Iowa, she spent most of her adult life in Asia, and dedicated much of her work to the depiction of life, especially women’s, in countries such as China, Egypt, Turkey and Japan. Some her work includes: 'My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard,' 'Drusilla With a Million,' and 'Living up to Billy.'"

Elizabeth Cooper (Author), Mary Ann Spiegel (Narrator)

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Brewing

"The brewing of beer is regarded by many as a more or less mechanical operation, yet there is much more to it. Great is its debt of gratitude to the labours of scientific men. The aim of this work is therefore to show the number of scientific investigations of the first order of importance, which have given rise to the brewing industry. - Alfred Chaston Chapman (1869-1932) was a British chemist, whose work was especially focused on brewing and fermentation. In 1920, he was elected into the Royal Society. Throughout his career, he was sought after by many institutions, spending time working both at the University of London, of Leeds, and at the Royal Microscopioal Society, amongst many others. He is most commonly remembered today for his book 'Brewing'."

Alfred Chaston Chapman (Author), Mary Ann Spiegel (Narrator)

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A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf

"In early March 1867, Muir was injured while working at a wagon wheels factory: a tool he was using slipped and struck him in the eye. This accident changed the course of his life. He was confined to a darkened room for six weeks, worried he’d lost his sight forever. When he did recover, the world looked completely different and life had taken on a new meaning for him. Muir later said, 'This affliction has driven me to the sweet fields. God has to nearly kill us sometimes, to teach us lessons.' From that point on, he determined to 'be true to myself' and follow his dream of exploring and studying plants. A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf recounts Muir's walk of approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Indiana to Florida. He did not follow a specific route, only going by the 'wildest, leafiest, and least trodden way I could find.' This journal is the earliest of Muir's writings and autobiographically bridges the period between 'The Story of my Boyhood and Youth' and 'My First Summer in the Sierra.' - John Muir (1838-1914) was a Scottish-American author and naturalist, who is traditionally considered to be the 'Father of the National Parks'. Born in Dunbar (East Lothian), he spent his childhood exploring the area, and that is where his love of nature first bloomed. In 1849, his family emigrated to Portage, Wisconsin for religious reasons. At 22, he joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison, from which he never graduated, as he preferred to take a multitude of different classes in the variety of subjects he was interested him, such as chemistry, botany and geology. In 1866, whilst working at an Indianapolis wagon wheel factory, he got into a serious accident and almost lost his sight. When he recovered, he decided to follow his dreams and explore nature. In September 1867, he walked from Kentucky to Florida, later describing the trip in his 'A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf.' In 1868, he boarded a ship to Cuba, then later on sailed to New York City, from whence he travelled to California. From there, he decided to visit Yosemite, which he had long read about. He was one of the first to infer that the landscape there must have been formed by glaciers, a widely disputed theory at the time. Muir wrote countless essays, books and letters recounting his adventures out in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada, which have been read by millions. He played a vital role in the preservation of natural areas, and the creations of Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, amongst many others."

John Muir (Author), Mary Ann Spiegel (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Mary Ann Spiegel