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A sailing memoir written by seaman and adventurer Joshua Slocum, who was the first person to sail around the world alone, documents his epic solo circumnavigation. An international best-seller, the book became a great influence and inspiration to travelers from each corner of the globe. Additionally, Slocum is an example that through determination, courage and hard work any dream can easily become a reality. Written in a modern and conversational tone, the autobiographical account begins with Slocum’s description of his hometown of Nova Scotia and its maritime history. He illustrates the town as a maritime province of Canada, where many vessels have been carved and built from widespread spruce commonly found in the area. The author then goes on to tell of his dedication and hard work invested in rebuilding an old sloop which he subsequently named Spray. It was this tiny boat that accompanied Slocum on his monumental single-man voyage. The journey began in April 1895, when the adventurer set sail from Boston and traveled to various locations around the world, exploring the local nature, culture and meeting many interesting people along the way. The author recounts his experience through a sequence of adventures, most eminent being his encounter with pirates, an attack by indigenous locals and perilous occurrences at sea. Holding most appeal in the book is the fact that the voyage took place in a time without the comfort and security of modern technology, which only intensifies the excitement and emphasizes the true danger faced by Slocum in the many unpredictable situations he finds himself in. Apart from being an exceptional mariner, Slocum is an equally talented narrator, as he depicts events which are not only entertaining to read, but also hold great historical and cultural significance considering the time of his journey. Well written and engaging to the very last page, Sailing Alone Around the World is one of the finest examples of travel literature ever written. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Society & Culture

Tags: Adventure, art, audio books, audiobook, Biography, ebooks, free audio books, Joshua Slocum, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Non-fiction, Sailing Alone Around the World, Sea stories, travel

If you’ve enjoyed watching the 1998 BBC television miniseries, you’d probably want to renew your acquaintance with William Makepeace Thackeray’s 1847 novel, Vanity Fair. However, if you’re unfamiliar with what has been dubbed one of the Best 100 Books in English Literature, you certainly have a treat ahead. Miss Pinkerton’s Academy in Chiswick Mall in London is where young ladies with ambitions of making a good marriage are sent by their socially aspiring middleclass parents. Two young ladies, Amelia Sedley and Rebecca (Becky) Sharpe are on their way home after completing their term at Miss Pinkerton’s. Amelia is from a well to do family, while Becky is a scheming orphan who has latched on to her amiable friend in the hopes of climbing the social ladder. In Amelia’s comfortable Russell Square home, Becky goes to work immediately. Her target is Amelia’s clumsy, boastful, wealthy civil servant brother, Joseph, who is home on furlough from India. She also meets the dashing Captain George Osborne, Amelia’s childhood sweetheart. Things don’t go according to plan and Becky soon moves to a country mansion, Queen’s Crawley, where she takes up a job as a governess to the children of the wealthy widower Sir Pitt Crawley. She manages to entrap the naïve younger son of the house, Rawdon Crawley. Meanwhile, Amelia and George marry. However, George is not all he seems and turns out to be a coward in war and an unscrupulous liar. He is also weary of his marriage and begins to pay undue attentions to Becky, whom he meets in Brighton where she is staying with her husband. The rest of the story follows the lives of the two classmates and their travails. The title of Vanity Fair is taken from John Bunyan’s famous 17th century work, Pilgrim’s Progress. In Bunyan’s allegorical tale of Christian’s journey, Vanity Fair is the name of an endless carnival in the town of Vanity, and represents worldly vices and sinful attachments. Thackeray was writing in the Golden Age of Satire when greats like Dryden, Pope, Swift, Addison, Steele and Fielding were regaling readers with their caustic, acerbic wit. Vanity Fair explores the ideas of transient, materialistic desires and their harmful effects on people. His biting satirical portrait of the selfish and street smart Becky and her overwhelming desire for wealth and social success is one of the masterpieces in English literature. Thackeray’s brilliant gifts for slicing through the pretensions and facades that human beings hide behind remain one of the reasons why Vanity Fair is even today considered a must read classic. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Comedy

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, satire, Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray

One of the world’s most valued scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu scripture which is a part of the Indian epic Mahabharata. Undeniably, it is also one of the most important texts in the history of literature and philosophy. The scripture offers a guide on how to achieve a self-sufficient life and clarification of Indian theology. Written in the form of a poetic dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, the piece is comprised of 700 verses. It depicts the relationship between man and God, a divine purpose, and the omnipresence of God that serves to reward good. The literary piece takes place on the eve of a great battle which promises to be violent and with definite casualties. On the scene of the battlefield, Prince Arjuna is inspecting the area while in doubt and morally insecure about whether or not to go ahead with the battle against his very own kin. In response to the prince’s indecisiveness, Krishna explains his duties as a prince as he proceeds to address certain philosophies using examples and analogies. For that reason, the dialogue has been presented as a concise guide to Hindu philosophy and attainment of self-contentment. Most inspiring is the purpose of the sacred Hindu text, whose aims are not merely to enlighten and instruct on the scope of religion, but also try and reach out to humanity in general in order to incite a better life for everyone and promote coexistence. By means of its philosophies and knowledge, the document presents profound wisdom which is sure to leave an eternal impression through its powerful and perpetual message. A work offering comfort and enlightenment, the Bhagavad Gita is regarded with much respect and love as it directs its readers towards a fulfilling and joyous life. Translated by Sir Edwin Arnold, the book presents a translation magnificently written and true to the original, as it alluringly stirs up emotion and strong imagery within its audience.

Categories: Arts, Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture

Tags: audio books, audiobook, bhagavad-gita, ebooks, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Philosophy, religion, Sir Edwin Arnold (Translator)

Regarded as one of Grahame’s most distinguished short stories, the children’s classic was first published in 1898 and featured in Dream Days, a reminiscent short story collection for children, and has also been adapted into a feature film from Walt Disney Productions. The story centers on the events following the discovery of a dragon living inside a cave near a small town, which its residents perceive as dangerous and a threat to their safety, whereas as a young boy goes out of his way to prove the dragon’s harmless nature. Offering a positive glimpse of compassion, loyalty, and friendship, the classic serves as an early instance of a tale in which a dragon is presented in a good light, far from its previous stereotypical depiction as a menacing beast. The story sets into motion when a young shepherd boy discovers a dragon residing in a cave near his family home and village. Having read many stories concerning dragons, the young boy has adopted an open-minded attitude toward the feared creature, and quickly befriends the dragon. Moreover, the dragon demonstrates a love for poetry which confirms his intelligence and civility, and also gives an account of his life. However, the townspeople soon learn of the dragon’s dwelling and things quickly escalate, as they perceive him as a danger to them all and a problem that needs to be dealt with accordingly. Although the young boy welcomes him with open arms, the townspeople, on the other hand, are not convinced of its harmless intentions and unanimously agree that the beast should be vanquished. Subsequently, St. George arrives and is appointed the task of ridding the town of its unwelcome guest. So, St. George, the dragon, and the shepherd boy are thrown into a thrilling predicament, as they must join forces and come up with a solution that will fulfill everyone’s wishes. Containing all the vital elements to stir a child’s imagination including absorbing characters, an exciting plot, humor, rich descriptions, and delightful twists, The Reluctant Dragon is a gripping tale ideal for children in search of excitement, as well as for older readers who wish to take a trip down memory lane.

Categories: Arts, Kids & Family

Tags: Adventure, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fantasy, fiction, free audio books, Kenneth Grahame, Kids, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, The Reluctant Dragon

An anthology of Buddhist scriptures, appropriate as an introduction to its vast literature, or as a sampler for those who want to better understand Buddhism. The selections in this anthology are primarily from the Theravada school of Buddhism.

Categories: Arts, Religion & Spirituality

Tags: audio books, audiobook, Buddhist Writings, ebooks, free audio books, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Non-fiction, religion, various

Paladin Cycle — The Cosmic Horror Epic is an intense audio fiction experience for a mature audience. It’s Lovecraft meets D&D meets backwoods Texas! A sprawling series touches on all genres from fantasy, horror, romance, mystery, sci-fi and beyond. Based on the best selling novel by Max Redford & Lita Stone. The dark schemes of cosmic beings from another dimension are brewing in a small Texas town, but when these eldritch beings attempt to kidnap a young woman they may discover that the small town folk are anything but helpless. But the town of Buckeye, Texas may have to give up some of its darkest secrets before this cosmic battle is over.

Categories: Fiction, Society & Culture

Tags: audiobook, Audiodrama, creepy, Crime, cult, Erotica, fantasy, fiction, ghost, godsbook, horror, horrorpodcast, lovecrft, Mature, Noir, oldones, oneones, Paladin, Podcast, pulp, roleplaying, romance, Series, story, storytelling, urban, urbanfantasy, warrior, weird, weirdfiction

Uncle Tom’s Cabin is one of the most controversial novels of the last century, with it’s sentimental portrayal of the anti-slavery movement in the USA. Written in 1852, the novel instantly rose to fame and split Americans up and down the country. Stowe was a passionate abolitionist and was inspired to write Uncle Tom when she spent time in Cincinnati in the early part of the 18th century. She met many slaves who had escaped from Kentucky and was touched by the friendships she built. It was with this sentiment that the novel was born and the deep empathy Stowe had for slaves is evident throughout. As you would expect, the book was hugely provocative with pro-slavery supporters outraged by the negative portrayal of masters within the slave trade. It was said to be so incendiary that Abraham Lincoln claimed Stowe to be “the little lady who started this great war”. It is not clear if that quote is genuine but the hype Stowe created both before and after the civil war is definitely real. The novel follows the story of long suffering slave Tom and mother and son duo Eliza and Harry. Whilst Tom is sold down the river by his master, Eliza and her son manage to escape the clutches of slavery. There is no doubt in the genuineness of Howe’s wish to uncover the slave trade for all of its sins. Pleasingly the book ends with an optimistic outlook, one that shook the government at the time and one sure to shake you. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Society & Culture

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Historical Fiction, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Uncle Tom's Cabin

The classic story of Jane Eyre reset in a steampunk world, complete with zephyr-ships, clockwork, and automatons in addition to the original romance and mystery! Written by Charlotte Brontë and originally published in 1847, these steampunk additions were imagined and added by R.A. Harding almost one hundred and seventy five years later. This speaks to the enduring quality of the book and the unmitigated moxie of one of its fans.Hear on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify.Preorder on publicworkssteampunk.com, Amazon or where ever you get your books! steampunk, audiobook, jane eyre, charlotte bronte, history chicks

Categories: Arts, Fiction

Tags: audiobook, Charlotte Brontë, classic literature, gaslamp, Jane Air, Jane Eyre, listen to Jane Eyre, steampunk

The Way We Live Now is a scathing satirical novel published in London in 1875 by Anthony Trollope, after a popular serialization. It was regarded by many of Trollope’s contemporaries as his finest work. One of his longest novels (it contains a hundred chapters), The Way We Live Now is particularly rich in sub-plot. It was inspired by the financial scandals of the early 1870s, and lashes at the pervading dishonesty of the age, commercial, political, moral, and intellectual. It is one of the last memorable Victorian novels to have been published in monthly parts. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Comedy

Tags: Anthony Trollope, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, satire, The Way We Live Now

The work consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes said to be from his lectures at the Lyceum which were either edited by or dedicated to Aristotle’s son, Nicomachus. In many ways this work parallels the similar Eudemian Ethics, which has only eight books, and the two works can be fruitfully compared. Books V, VI, and VII of the Nicomachean Ethics are identical to Books IV, V, and VI of the Eudemian Ethics. Opinions about the relationship between the two works, for example which was written first, and which originally contained the three common books, is divided. Aristotle describes his ethical work as being different from his other kinds of study, because it is not just for the sake of contemplating what things are, but rather to actually become good ourselves. It is therefore practical rather than theoretical in the original Aristotelian senses of these terms.

Categories: Arts, Society & Culture

Tags: aristotle, audio books, audiobook, Classics (antiquity), ebooks, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Non-fiction, Philosophy, The Nicomachean Ethics

Ben, Polly, Joel, Davie and baby Phronsie are the five children of the late Mr. Pepper and his hard-working wife. The family is desperately poor and Mrs. Pepper and Ben have to work out of the house to keep the home fires burning. Young Polly takes over the reins of the household and becomes a surrogate mom to her little brothers and sister. This heart-warming tale has provided hours of entertainment to generations of children and parents. Five Little Peppers and How they Grew by Margaret Sidney is the first in a series of twelve books featuring the lives of the Pepper family. In this first book, we find the young Peppers struggling with a lack of money but yet they remain cheerful and brave, working together to make life easier for the mother. When the series begins, the youngest, Phronsie, or Sophronia, is a baby of three, and is doted upon by the entire clan. She loves dolls and is a kind hearted little girl, always willing to sympathize with anyone in need. Mrs. Pepper, or Mamsie, as the children call her, is the person who keeps her brood together and inculcates the values of sincerity, honesty, humility and hard work in them. The eldest two, Ben and Polly are capable assistants to their mother. Joel is the live wire in the family, while Davie is the quiet and reflective one. They all live together in their Little Brown House. A disaster leads to a chance meeting with a kind hearted philanthropist, J Horatio King, whose generosity and wealth change the lives of the Pepper family forever. This charming, if slightly dated, story was first published in 1881. It followed the tradition of children’s novels at the time, where a family learns to overcome hardship and triumphs in the end. Like Louisa M Alcott’s Little Women series, the Pepper books went on to trace the lives of the five well into adulthood, marriage and parenthood. Phronsie, the youngest is a young lady of twenty by the time the last book ends. Measles, poverty, adventures, a kidnapping, lots of humor and old fashioned values make Five Little Peppers… a delightful read for both parents and children. In the late 1930s and 40s, a series of films were made based on the books. However, the script was quite different and merely used the characters created by Margaret Sidney. This endearing tale that combines homespun wisdom with gentle humor is indeed a great addition to your children’s book shelf!

Categories: Arts

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Margaret Sidney

The Heroes, or Greek Fairy Tales for my Children by Charles Kingsley is a collection of three Greek mythology stories: Perseus, The Argonauts, and Theseus. The author had a great fondness for Greek fairy tales and believed the adventures of the characters would inspire children to achieve higher goals with integrity.

Categories: Arts, Kids & Family

Tags: audio books, audiobook, Charles Kingsley, ebooks, Fairy tales, fiction, free audio books, Kids, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Myths/Legends, or Greek Fairy Tales for my Children, The Heroes

An American Robinson Crusoe is a short version of the original story. An indolent, rebellious teen goes on a marine voyage against his parents’ wishes. The ship (and all of its crew) is lost in a storm, but Robinson makes it to a deserted island. He has no tools, no weapons, but he lives for over 28 years on the island. He befriends many animals on the island and after over 20 years living solo, he is joined by a young “savage” who becomes his constant companion. The transformation from the young, lazy teen to a self-sustaining, incredibly knowledgeable adult is one of the major themes in the story.

Categories: Arts, Kids & Family

Tags: Adventure, An American Robinson Crusoe, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Samuel B. Allison, Teen/Young adult

The Dhammapada is is a Buddhist scripture, containing 423 verses in 26 categories. According to tradition, these are verses spoken by the Buddha on various occasions, most of which deal with ethics. It is is considered one of the most important pieces of Theravada literature. Despite this, the Dhammapada is read by many Mahayana Buddhists and remains a very popular text across all schools of Buddhism. – Excerpted from Wikipedia

Categories: Arts, Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture

Tags: audio books, audiobook, Classics (antiquity), ebooks, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Non-fiction, Philosophy, religion, The Dhammapada, Unknown

Published in 1855, The Warden is the first installment in Trollope’s highly acclaimed series Chronicles of Barsetshire, and offers an enlightening insight into the life of the Victorian clergy, its gentry, politics, and social settings. The novel focuses on Mr. Harding, an elderly clergyman who finds himself in the center of a vehement dispute over his questionable position as warden of Hiram’s Hospital. Exploring various themes including human nature, morals, reform, and manners, The Warden is a perfect representation of the structure of Victorian society. Set in the fictional town of Barsetshire, the novel begins with the introduction of Reverend Septimus Harding, a humble man who lives a comfortable life together with his younger daughter Eleanor on account of his generous income as warden of Hiram’s Hospital and clergyman of the Barchester Cathedral. The Hiram’s Hospital is an almshouse which has been built on a land entrusted to the church by a wealthy medieval merchant. Consequently, the almshouse accommodates and supports twelve old beadsman, while also providing its warden with a substantial income and a pleasing residence near the hospital. Performing his duties as warden quite effectively, Harding takes good care of the old men and also creates a positive ambiance with his love for playing music. However, things turn sour for Harding with the appearance of John Bold, a young reformist, who claims that the foundation’s income is not appropriately distributed among its parties, and is therefore determined on exposing the charity’s inadequate dispersal of its funds. Furthermore, he goes on to attack Harding, accusing him of being selfish and taking advantage of his position as warden. Suffering a moral dilemma over whether it is just to receive such an income for his position at the almshouse, Harding slowly tries to reevaluate his position as warden, while firmly abiding to his righteous principles. Dragged into a legal campaign, Harding and the community are faced with a poignant challenge, as they must determine the most fitting course of action. Trollope successfully presents an array of memorable characters, an intricate conundrum, and a realistic portrayal of human nature, while also advocating for moral decency. Needless to say, the novel is an effective introduction to the renowned series that is regarded as Trollope’s greatest literary achievement. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Comedy

Tags: Anthony Trollope, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, satire, The Warden

Magnificent in its scale and scope, this monumental poem by the blind poet John Milton was the first epic conceived in the English language. It describes an omniscient, all powerful God, the Fall of Man, the Temptation in the Garden of Eden, the disgraced angel who later becomes known as Satan, the Angelic Wars fought by Archangels Michael and Raphael and the Son of God who is the real hero of this saga. The poet John Milton was more than sixty years old when he embarked on this immense work of literary creation. His father was a wealthy merchant who had embraced Protestantism despite opposition from his Catholic family. Milton grew up in a privileged environment, having been schooled at home by private tutors and traveling extensively throughout Italy. It was here that he first read Virgil and Homer and decided to create his own epic in English. Tumultuous historical events intervened, like the English Civil War and the establishment of Puritan Rule. Milton was deeply embroiled in politics and the new parliament. When the monarchy was restored, Milton found himself on the wrong side and he retreated into hiding where he began working on his dream of creating an epic to match the best in Latin and Greek. He completed it after five years of tremendous effort, since he was already totally blind when he began working. The entire work, consisting of nearly ten thousand individual lines of blank verse was dictated by Milton from memory, to a series of scribes. Paradise Lost consists of twelve smaller volumes divided into Books. Each one is devoted to a particular Biblical episode. It begins with a prologue that describes the subject of the epic, much like an introduction. The action shifts to the rebellion of Lucifer and from then on, to familiar episodes like the temptation of Adam and Eve and their disobedience to God’s laws. Satan and his unholy legions are described in great detail as are their rebellion and malevolence. Adam and Eve, God and the Son of God are portrayed in brilliant, unforgettable lines and the conflict between the forces of good and evil is represented on a cosmic scale. For lovers of poetry and literature, Paradise Lost represents a seminal work of supreme importance in English literature. Present-day readers will certainly find it fascinating to decode the multitude of classical references, Biblical lore, social and cultural themes that adorn this great work.

Categories: Arts, Religion & Spirituality

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, free audio books, John Milton, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Paradise Lost, poetry, religion

Cattle Brands is a collection of 14 entertaining short stories depicting not only the life of cowboys in the wild, wild West, but also the harrowing skirmishes with banditos, thrilling shoot-outs, attempt at and the recapture of stolen chattel from fierce desperados, and much, much more exciting accounts that make one think it all actually happened.

Categories: Arts

Tags: Adventure, Andy Adams, audio books, audiobook, Cattle Brands, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, westerns

These lesser known stories were penned by Conan Doyle during the period between killing off Sherlock Holmes in 1893 and reluctantly resurrecting him some ten years later. The swashbuckling, eponymous hero, Etienne Gerard, is one of Napoleon’s gallant French Hussars, who considers himself the finest of them all. Through these “Boys Own Adventures”, Conan Doyle pokes gentle fun at both the French and the English. This is the second volume containing eight adventures. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Comedy, Society & Culture

Tags: Adventure, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Historical Fiction, History, humor, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Gerard, War stories