Family Classics

Lady Charlotte French-McGrath has successfully ruled over her family with a rod of iron until the arrival of Cynthia: beautiful, young, talented, selfish - and engaged to her son, Desmond. When Cynthia enters the Jazz Age, on the surface her life passes in a whirl of hunting, drinking and romance. But the ghosts of Garonlea are only biding their time: they know the source of their power, a secret handed on from one generation to the next.

A fresh, funny and accessible retelling of Jane Austen's classic story. When she was just 19, Anne Elliot followed the wishes of her father and turned down the proposal of the man she loved - a naval officer called Frederick Wentworth. Years later, Captain Wentworth returns from his time at sea, and Anne dares to hope that their paths might cross once more. But the course of true love is bumpy at best - will Anne and Frederick ever be reunited?

An untamed frontier. A family’s new start. To survive, they’ll need luck and they’ll need each other... New York City, New York, 1835. Thomas Bennett never planned on living in the shadow of his in-laws. But when a devastating fire wipes out New York City and forces him and his wife, Jane, to leave, he’s willing to do anything to gain his independence. Years later when an opportunity opens up to travel to the dangerous but promising frontier of the Pacific Northwest, Thomas and his reluctant wife prepare for the journey. Thomas and his brothers pave the way by booking passage on a ...

Excerpts from the classic medieval poem, performed in the original language with English translation, original music, and commentary.

One day, Naomi and her family moved to a city called Moab. Her two sons married two women from Moab. Eventually, Naomi's husband and both of her sons died. Without her family beside her, she became homesick for her hometown of Bethlehem.

What happened to Naomi's two daughter-in-laws? Did Naomi move back to Bethlehem? Did God provide for her during her journey? Who came with her? Did Naomi give God thanks for her home and family? Listen to find out for yourself!

Ben has been tramping for two weeks when he's discovered, nearly starving, by a widow and her two little girls. Mrs. Moss feeds and clothes him and gets him a job with the local Squire. But herding cows is boring for an active boy and he's about to take to the road again when the lovely Miss Celia, owner of the Big House (bordered by lilacs!) arrives and hires him to do odd jobs and be the company for her teenage invalid brother.

The next audio collection from Allan Ahlberg stars more of his best loved characters, including Master Salt the Sailor's Son, Ms Cliff the Climber and Mrs Plug the Plumber. Features 9 classic stories brought to life with music and dazzling sound effects.

All'inizio degli anni Settanta, in un clima di spaesamento generale, una madre ancora giovane scrive al figlio, sbandato e distante, scappato all'estero per motivi politici. Romanzo epistolare da cui emerge un interno famigliare lacerato e sordo, un intreccio di vite solitarie, come scrive Cesare Garboli, "fatte di passi sbagliati", di gelose intimità e di corrosive lontananze.

H.G. Wells is best known for his science fiction, but some of his greatest works were in other genres. "The Passionate Friends" is a love story. It also is a story about dreams, despair, jealousy, sex, the struggle against social convention, the future of civilization, and much much more. It is written by a father to his son, "not indeed to the child you are now, but to the man you are going to be." He writes it so that one day, perhaps when he is dead, his grown son can read it and rediscover him as a friend and equal.

Wenn ein großer Intellektueller wie Walter Benjamin über das frühe Werk eines 27-jährigen Schriftstellers sagt, er habe eines der "allerbesten Bücher des Jahrhunderts" verfasst, muss das schon etwas heißen: In einer kleinen Villa in der französischen Provinz wächst Adrienne Mesurat mit ihrer todkranken Schwester bei ihrem herrischen Vater auf. Ihr Alltag ist minutiös getaktet, kleinste Regelverstöße werden vom Vater unerbittlich geahndet. Eines Nachts stößt sie ihn von der Treppe in den Tod. Doch auch dieser Befreiungsakt kann Adrienne nicht retten. Julien Greens 1927 veröffentlichte Tragödie wird meisterlich gelesen von Udo Samel.

Schooldays at St Clare's are never dull for twins Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan in Enid Blyton's much-loved boarding school series. In book seven, Eileen's mother is the new matron, and Mam'zelle's niece, Claudine, joins St Clare's and causes havoc wherever she goes. The twins are enchanted by rebellious Claudine and her madcap plans, but will she last the term? Expect more mischief at St Clare's!

Catherine Sloper, the heroine of this tragicomic tale set in mid-19th century New York, is absolutely ordinary in every way except for her exceptional capacities in love and loyalty. These latter qualities are of no interest to her father, the successful society Doctor who is constantly disappointed by his daughter's failure to be brilliant, either physically or intellectually. For this reason, he is highly suspicious when Morris Townsend begins to woo her and is convinced the handsome young man's interest is only in the fortune Catherine will eventually inherit.

Julie thinks her new neighbors must be very scary because all the stuff being moved into their house is enormous. Then she meets David and finds out that he's just a normal, regular boy. But when David's father calls him for supper the sound makes Julie jump in the air, run in a circle three times, run home and lock herself in her room until it is time for breakfast the next day. Could David's father be a giant?

Rilla is Anne and Gilbert Blythe’s youngest daughter, an excitable 15-year-old who is unaware of how the world works, and is only interested in having fun. But the world is on the brink of a global war, and soon Rilla’s family and life are turned upside down, as several of her brothers enlist in the army and are sent to fight overseas. The book follows Rilla’s life through the duration of World War I, as she grows up quickly from the responsibilities put on young women in this time.

Spinky is convinced that his family hates him and goes off to sulk in his hammock. His brother and sister try to make amends. His mom even brings him a beautiful tray of food. But nothing can get Spinky to stop sulking - not even a circus passing by on his street! Will Spinky ever cheer up?

Published in 1854, the story describes class conflict in Victorian England and serves as a powerful critique of the social injustices that plagued the Industrial Revolution. Charles Dickens (1812 - 9 June 1870) is arguably the greatest novelist England ever produced. His innate comic genius and shrewd depictions of Victorian life - along with his memorable characters - have made him beloved by readers the world over.

Hiding is Roo Fanshaw's special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment's notice. When her parents are murdered, it's her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life. As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn't believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing?

Better known for her novels Little Women and Little Men, Louisa May Alcott continues the story of her feisty protagonist Jo in this final novel chronicling the adventures and misadventures of the March family. Entertaining, surprising, and overall a joy to hear, Jo's Boys is nevertheless shaded by a bittersweet tone, for with it Alcott brought her wonderful series to an end.

An insightful story about a happily married woman who takes over her husband’s business upon his early death and creates a prospering business with seed capital from a childhood friend. She maintains her beliefs and avocations while doing the hard work of farming.

Emma Woodhouse is pretty, clever and rich and sees no reason why she would ever need to get married. But she loves matchmaking for her neighbours, despite the advice of her friend Mr Knightley, who warns her against meddling. Her latest success - the wedding of her governess - makes her certain that she can find the right match for anyone. Can Emma's lucky streak continue? Or will best laid plans unravel...as they always seem to do?