Audio Books
Showing 1601–1650 of 2033 results
The Alps, the Danube and the Near East
Journeying through many countries including Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Switzerland and Greece, the author gives an in-depth account of many aspects of the culture of the times and the people of the regions. (Summary by Betty B)
The Altar of the Dead
A fable of literally life and death significance, the story explores how the protagonist tries to keep the remembrance of his dead friends, to save them from being forgotten entirely in the rush of everyday events. He meets a woman who shares his ideals, only to find that the past places what seems to be an impassable barrier between them. Although James was not religious in any conventional sense, the story shows a deep spirituality in its treatment of mortality and the transcendent power of unselfish love. (Introduction by Wikipedia)
The Amateur
On the steamer on his way to London, Austin Ford meets a young woman, who is going to London to find her missing husband. Being a specialist in finding people, Mr. Ford agrees to help her in her quest. However, something appears to be not quite right about the lady and her story… (Summary by Carolin)
The Amateur Cracksman
“I’d tasted blood, and it was all over with me. Why should I work when I could steal? Why settle down to some humdrum uncongenial billet, when excitement, romance, danger and a decent living were all going begging together?”- A. J. Raffles, The Ides of March. The Amateur Cracksman is the first collection of stories about A. J. Raffles, gentleman, cricketer, and thief. After stopping his old school friend, Bunny Manders, from a desperate attempt at suicide, Raffles introduces the unsuspecting Bunny to a new way of earning a living, burglary. Though frequently horrified by Raffles’s actions, the conscience-stricken Bunny stands by him through all their adventures, firm to his promise, “When you want me, I’m your man!” (Summary by Kristin Hughes)
The Amateur Emigrant
In July 1879, Robert Louis Stevenson left Scotland to meet his future wife in her native California. Leaving by ship from Glasgow, Scotland, he determined to travel in steerage class to see how the working classes fared. At the last minute he was convinced by friends to purchase a ticket one grade above the lowest price, for which he was later thankful after seeing the conditions in steerage, but he still lived among the ‘lower’ classes. His comments on the experience make interesting reading. His father however was so shocked at the thought of his son associating with people ‘beneath him’ that the work was not published for a number of years, (Summary by annise)
The Amazing Adventures of Letitia Carberry
Letitia, Aggie and Lizzie are at it again, solving mysteries, getting into scrapes. Is there no end to the antics of these three spinster ladies? A murder at a hospital, reuniting lovers, a mangy dog or does it have fleas? The hilarious and often perilous adventures of Letitia Carberry. – Summary by Sandra More stories at LibriVox Tish: The Chronicle of Her Escapades and Excursions More Tish
The Amazing Interlude
It is the early days of The Great War. As the curtain rises, Sara Lee is sitting by the fire in her aunt and uncle?s home, knitting a baby afghan. Her beau?s name is Harvey. He has his eye on a little house that is just perfect for two and he will soon propose to Sara Lee. But in this play, the mise en sc?ne is about to change. A fairyland transformation will take place and Sara Lee will step into a new and different story, where she is the princess in a forest of adventure. There is a prince, too, whose name is Henri. He is as strange as the forest itself. And then just as suddenly, the scene changes back and Sara Lee is once again sitting alone by the fire, knitting socks for the soldiers this time, and with a memory and a new stirring in her heart. This is the story of Sara Lee?s amazing interlude. (Summary by MaryAnn)
The Amazons: A Farcical Romance
This 1895 farce inspired by the outlandish idea of women wearing pants, centers around the predicament of the three daughters of the eccentric Marchioness of Castlejordan, who determined to have sons, raised them like boys. She encouraged them to dress and act like boys at home, yet dress like ladies when out. As the girls come of age, they are conflicted. They want to please mother by acting as her sons, but, suddenly smitten with three gentlemen, they are compelled to grow up and be ladies. When their suitors secretly come to woo, they aren?t sure what to do??and what will mother do if she finds out? (Summary by A.L. Gramour) Cast Lady Castlejordan: Algy Pug Noeline: Elizabeth Klett Thomasin: Arielle Lipshaw Wilhelmina: Amy Gramour Reverend Roger Minchin/Andre de Grival: Lars Rolander Barrington Litterly: John Fricker Galfred Tweenwayes: Peter Bishop Sergeant Shuter: Liberty Stump Fitton/Youat/Orts: Levi Throckmorton Narrator: Malane Audio edited by Amy Gramour
The Ambassadors
Henry James considered The Ambassadors his best, or perhaps his best-wrought, novel. It plays on the great Jamesian theme of the American abroad, who finds himself in an older, and some would say richer, culture that that of the United States, with its attractions and dangers. Here the protagonist is Lambert Strether, a man in his fifties, editor of a small literary magazine in Woollett, Massachusetts, who arrives in Europe on a mission undertaken at the urging of his patron, Mrs. Newsome, to bring back her son Chadwick. That young man appears to be enjoying his time in Paris rather more than seems good for him, at least to those older and wiser. The novel, however, is perhaps really about Strether’s education in this new land, and one of his teachers is the city of Paris — a real Paris, not an idealized one, but from which Strether has much to learn. Chad Newsome, of course is there too, and so are a scattering of other Americans, his old friend Waymarsh and his new acquaintance Maria Gostrey among them. Had Strether his life to live over again, knowing what he has now learned,. how different would it be? and what are the lessons he takes home with him? (Introduction by Nicholas Clifford)
The Ambulance Made Two Trips
Big Jake Connors is taking over his town through violence, inimidation and bribery but Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald can only grind his teeth in frustration. The gangsters seem to have everything going their way until the day that a little dry cleaning establishment declines their offer of ‘protection’ and strange things start to happen. Murray Leinster gives us another wonderful product of ‘what if’ from his limitless imagination to enjoy in this gem of a story. Listen and smile. (Summary by Phil Chenevert)
The American
One of James?s early novels, The American plunges right in to one of the writer?s most enduring subjects, that of the innocent, or at least inexperienced, American abroad, seeking to come to terms with the social customs and conventions of an old European aristocracy (think of Daisy Miller, Portrait of a Lady, The Wings of the Dove and others). The aptly named Christopher Newman, having made a small fortune from business in California, has come to the Old World for the first time, determined to enlarge his experience by learning all he can of it. In Paris he meets an old acquaintance, Tom Tristram, who (though he himself has little interest in educating himself about Europe) shows him around, and introduces him to the young widow Claire de Cintre, whose family ? the aristocratic de Bellegardes ? distrust his American brashness and commercialism. Claire, nonetheless, agrees to marry him, thus pulling Newman, rather more deeply than he is prepared for, into a society that closely guards its secrets, and forcing him to face new and quite unexpected questions. (Introduction by Nicholas Clifford)
The American Bee Journal, Vol. VI. No. 3, Sept 1870
The American Bee Journal is the ?oldest bee paper in America established in 1861 devoted to scientific bee-culture and the production and sale of pure honey. Published every Wednesday, by Thomas G. Newman, Editor and Proprietor? In this issues are topics from Management of Bees in Winter to Artificial Queens, and a special tribute to James T. Langstroth. – Summary by Larry Wilson
The American Bee Journal, Vol. VI. No. 5, Nov 1870
The American Bee Journal is the ?oldest bee paper in America established in 1861 devoted to scientific bee-culture and the production and sale of pure honey. Published every Wednesday, by Thomas G. Newman, Editor and Proprietor? In this issue are included articles on wintering bees, foulbrood, introducing queens, hives, and reports from Vermont, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts, among other topics and correspondence. – Summary by Larry Wilson
The American Bee Journal, Vol. XXXIII, No. 2, Jan 1894
The American Bee Journal is the ?oldest bee paper in America established in 1861 devoted to scientific bee-culture and the production and sale of pure honey. Published every Wednesday, by Thomas G. Newman, Editor and Proprietor? In this issues are topics including Foul Brood and Its Propagation, Wintering Bees in the Cellar, Mailing Queen-Bees Long Distances, and a biography of Franklin Wilcox. – Summary by Larry Wilson
The American Bee Journal, Vol. XXXIII, No. 4, Jan 1894
The American Bee Journal is the ?oldest bee paper in America established in 1861 devoted to scientific bee-culture and the production and sale of pure honey. Published every Wednesday, by Thomas G. Newman, Editor and Proprietor? In this issues are topics from “Selling Extracted Honey at Retail” to “Danger in Climbing for Swarms” – Summary by Larry Wilson
The American Bee Journal. Vol. VI, No. 4, Oct 1870
The American Bee Journal is the ?oldest bee paper in America established in 1861 devoted to scientific bee-culture and the production and sale of pure honey. Published every Wednesday, by Thomas G. Newman, Editor and Proprietor? In this issues are topics from Bee-Culture in Cities to Queen Raising and Breeding. – Summary by Larry Wilson
The American Bee Journal. Vol. XVII, No. 11, Mar. 16, 1881
The American Bee Journal is the ?oldest bee paper in America established in 1861 devoted to scientific bee-culture and the production and sale of pure honey. Published every Wednesday, by Thomas G. Newman, Editor and Proprietor? In this issues are topics from Colchian Honey and Honey-Producing in California to Early Importations of Italian Bees and Tardiness in Fecundity. – Summary by Larry Wilson
The American Bee Journal. Vol. XVII, No. 12, Mar. 23, 1881
The American Bee Journal is the ?oldest bee paper in America established in 1861 devoted to scientific bee-culture and the production and sale of pure honey. .Published every Wednesday, by Thomas G. Newman, Editor and Proprietor? In this volume are short articles and correspondence on a variety of topics from Royal Jelly to the Honey and Beeswax Market. – Summary by Larry Wilson
The American Bee Journal. Vol. XVII, No. 14, Apr. 6, 1881
The American Bee Journal is the ?oldest bee paper in America established in 1861 devoted to scientific bee-culture and the production and sale of pure honey. Published every Wednesday, by Thomas G. Newman, Editor and Proprietor? In this volume are short articles and correspondence on a variety of topics from Extracting Bees to Raspberry as a Honey Plant. – Summary by Larry Wilson
The American Book of the Dog
Here is a period piece, covering 47 breeds, about the early days of dog breeding, the birth of the American Kennel Club (1884) which firmly established breed standards, and the development of bench shows and field trials. Each article, written by a premier breed expert of the day, sheds light on how today’s breeds were sculpted from the best traits of dogs of yesteryear. Old dog training theory and methods of treating disease are discussed. Editor Shields called this book (as of 1891) ?the grandest work on the dog ever published.? Its various authors were part of the movement importing canine stock from Europe, often at enormous expense, and organizing national breed clubs from the various private clubs they were part of. (Summary by Michele Fry)
The American Claimant
The American Claimant is an 1892 novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The story focuses on the class differences and expectations of monarchic, hierarchical Britain and the upstart, “all men are created equal” America. Twain wrote the novel with the help of phonographic dictation, the first author (according to Twain himself) to do so. This was also (according to Twain) an attempt to write a book without mention of the weather, the first of its kind in fictitious literature. Indeed, all the weather is contained in an appendix, at the back of the book, which the reader is encouraged to turn to from time to time. (Summary by Wikipedia and John Greenman)
The American Credo
The American Credo: A Contribution Toward the Interpretation of the National Mind, published in 1920, is a commentary on US politics, specifically regarding the tribalism encouraged by politicians and religious leaders, the contradicting definitions of professed American ideals, and, further, the cyclical nature of human history itself. – Summary by Adrienne Prevost
The American Crisis aka “The Crisis”
A 13 pamphlet series by 18th century Enlightenment philosopher/author Thomas Paine, published between 1776 to 1783 during and immediately following the American Revolution, gathered into one volume in 1882 by Moncure D. Conway. Each essay, plus 2 inserts, bolstered the morale of the American colonists to fight hard for their independence, appealed to the English to support the colonist’s cause, clarified the issues at stake, and denounced any type of negotiated peace. Replete with quotable quotes, the first pamphlet, Crisis I, begins with the now-familiar words “THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” Paine, an Englishman living in the colonies, signed his pamphlets anonymously as “Common Sense.” ( Michele Fry)
The American Diary of a Japanese Girl
This is the fictional diary of a young Japanese woman, first published in installments before being published in a single volume. The book describes Morning Glory’s preparations, activities and observations as she undertakes her transcontinental American journey with her uncle, a wealthy mining executive.
The American Egypt
Arnold and Frost were English archaeologists who traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula and wrote “the first book ever written by Englishmen on Yucatan?that Egypt of the New World, where, it is now generally admitted, Central American Civilisation reached its apogee?and to be, for the present at least, the only Englishmen who can claim to have explored the uncivilised north-eastern portions of the Peninsula and the islands of her eastern coast.” Their studies brought them to the conclusion, contrary to the bulk of the body of other contemporary experts, “that America’s first architects were Buddhist immigrants from Java and Indo-China.” Summary by Lynne Thompson.
The American Far West: Seven Mid-Nineteenth Century Views From Abroad
Charles Dickens started and edited a magazine called All The Year Round, a weekly collection of articles on a wide variety of topics. An anonymous correspondent in 1868-69 sent in these seven articles about life in the far West of the United States. – Summary by david wales
The American Girl
Alexander Hamilton Laidlaw was born in Scotland. He graduated from Philadelphia Central High School in 1845. He practiced medicine from 1856-1905 and published some works including Soldier Songs and Love Songs, 1898, from which our Fortnightly Poem is taken. (David Lawrence)
The American Housewife
This cookbook and reference guide leads the American Housewife through how to make everything from Meat to Common Drinks, as well as helpful tips and tricks for any housewife! Also included in this fine text are sections on Cooking for The Sick, and how to make your own: Essences, Perfumes, Dyes and Soaps. This work also features an extensive section on The Art of Carving-Which covers anything you might need to carve! (Summary by Jennifer Stearns)
The American Language
“It was part of my daily work, for a good many years, to read the principal English newspapers and reviews; it has been part of my work, all the time, to read the more important English novels, essays, poetry and criticism. An American born and bred, I early noted, as everyone else in like case must note, certain salient differences between the English of England and the English of America as practically spoken and written?differences in vocabulary, in syntax, in the shades and habits of idiom, and even, coming to the common speech, in grammar. And I noted too, of course, partly during visits to England but more largely by a somewhat wide and intimate intercourse with English people in the United States, the obvious differences between English and American pronunciation and intonation. Greatly interested in these differences?some of them so great that they led me to seek exchanges of light with Englishmen?I looked for some work that would describe and account for them with a show of completeness, and perhaps depict the process of their origin. I soon found that no such work existed, either in England or in America?that the whole literature of the subject was astonishingly meagre and unsatisfactory.” – Summary by Mencken (Preface)
The American Postal Service, Second Edition
The history of the postal service in the United States goes back to the colonial period, but was established more formally with the issuing of postage stamps and regular delivery. Through small vignettes, this history is traced with attention to some of the more obscure, but fascinating aspects of the postal service and related topics, as well as the major aspects of the service. – Summary by Larry Wilson
The American Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
To follow up on the heels of volumes 1 and 2 of “The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes” released on LibriVox, here is a collection of stories starring his contemporary American rivals. Brought together and re-published in a single volume by Hugh Greene in 1979, this set of readings goes back to and uses the original source material. (Summary by ToddHW)
The American Senator
The American Senator is a novel written in 1875 by Anthony Trollope. Although not one of Trollope’s better-known works, it is notable for its depictions of rural English life and for its many detailed fox hunting scenes. In its anti-heroine, Arabella Trefoil, it presents a scathing but ultimately sympathetic portrayal of a woman who has abandoned virtually all scruples in her quest for a husband. Through the eponymous Senator, Trollope offers comments on the irrational aspects of English life. (Description by Wikipedia)
The Amethyst Box
On the evening before his marriage, Sinclair loses a precious curiosity from his collection: an amethyst box, containing a tiny flask of deadly poison. He suspects that this poison is in the possession of either his betrothed or her cousin, the girl his best friend Worthington loves. Turning to Worthington for help, they try to recover the box before the poison can be administered… (Summary by Carolin)
The Amethyst Cross
Things look bleak for Lesbia Hales. Her father does not let her marry the man she loves. Her mother is dead. She has to keep secrets in order to promote what she wants for herself. One day, her lover, George Walker, is injured in her home and someone stole the expensive amethyst cross. Who could have done that and why? – Summary by Stav Nisser.
The Angel of Terror
When this was written, literary traditions still decreed beauty to be the outward sign of inner saintliness, whereas evil characters tended to be ?ugly as sin.? Jean Briggerland defies these expectations by being every bit as angelically beautiful as she is sociopathic. So lovely that all around her are blinded to her guilt no matter how blatant her crimes, only Jack Glover, best friend and lawyer of her most recent victim, is aware of her true nature. Can he stop her crime spree and bring her to justice before she murders her way to wealth and happiness? He really, really shouldn?t count on it. Despite the book?s outrageously implausible plot, it nevertheless manages to keep one in suspense from first page to last. Advisory: Antiquated attitudes and occasional profanity will add unintentional humor to the charms of the story for some listeners but might offend others. (Summary by Lee Elliot)
The Angel of Terror (version 2)
Beautiful Jean Briggerland is the epitome of evilness in this twisting and turning thriller. She plots many different ways to steal her new victim’s riches including lies and murder. Only Jack Glover the lawyer of Jean’s most recent victim, is aware of her true nature. Can he stop her crime spree and bring her to justice before she murders her way to wealth and happiness? Don’t count on it! Page after page offers action, new twists, and unexpected surprises that will keep the reader listening for more! (Summary by Allyson Hester)
The Angel of the Revolution
The Angel of the Revolution: A Tale of the Coming Terror (1893) is a science fiction novel by English writer George Griffith. It was his first published novel and remains his most famous work. It was first published in Pearson’s Weekly and was prompted by the success of The Great War of 1892 in Black and White magazine, which was itself inspired by The Battle of Dorking. A lurid mix of Jules Verne’s futuristic air warfare fantasies, the utopian visions of News from Nowhere and the future war invasion literature of Chesney and his imitators, it tells the tale of a group of terrorists who conquer the world through airship warfare. Led by a crippled, brilliant Russian Jew and his daughter, the ‘angel’ Natasha, ‘The Brotherhood of Freedom’ establish a ‘pax aeronautica’ over the earth after a young inventor masters the technology of flight in 1903. The hero falls in love with Natasha and joins in her war against society in general and the Russian Czar in particular. It correctly forecasts the coming of a great war, but in pretty well all other respects widely misses the mark of the real events that followed. Nevertheless, it is a gripping and exciting story of intrigue and plot interwoven with love and romance played over a background of world war. – Summary by Wikipedia
The Angels of Mons
The Angels of Mons is a popular legend about a group of angels who supposedly protected members of the British army in the Battle of Mons at the outset of World War I. The story is fictitious, developed through a combination of a patriotic short story by Arthur Machen, rumours, mass hysteria and urban legend, claimed visions after the battle and also possibly deliberately seeded propaganda. (Summary by Wikipedia)
The Angels’ Song
All of the earthly trappings of a royal birth were absent from the birth of Jesus, yet the angels filled the heavens with the song “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.” Join the angels around the manger to look in wonder on the birth of the Redeemer and to reflect on the peace that Jesus brings to the world of men. The Rev. Thomas Guthrie was a 19th century Scotch Presbyterian minister who was an early advocate of the “ragged schools” movement. He wrote a number of devotional books reflecting the love for his Savior which motivated his lifelong work to provide education and training for the children of the poor. (Summary by MaryAnn)
The Angler
LibriVox volunteers bring you 11 recordings of The Angler by Thomas Buchanan Read. This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for August 29th, 2010.
The Animal Story Book
Edited by Andrew Lang, this book is an anthology of interesting stories about a wide variety of diffferent animals collected from numerous sources. – Summary by Elsie Selwyn
The B. B. Warfield Collection, Volume 1
Many of B. B. Warfield’s diverse and erudite theological writings were published as long articles in The Princeton Theological Review, sometimes spanning many issues of the periodical. The articles in this collection showcase the breadth of Warfield’s scholarship and interest, his clarity of analysis of cultural trends and his deep Calvinistic piety. (Summary by IntheDesert) The B. B. Warfield Collection, Volume 2 The B. B. Warfield Collection, Volume 3 The B. B. Warfield Collection, Volume 4
The B. B. Warfield Collection, Volume 3
This volume showcases the diversity of Warfield’s interests: as a systematic theologian, New Testament scholar, historian and churchman. Included are all the articles Warfield wrote for the journal Bibliotheca Sacra in the year of his death on John Humphrey Noyes and the Oneida Community. (Summary by IntheDesert) The B. B. Warfield Collection, Volume 1 The B. B. Warfield Collection, Volume 2 The B. B. Warfield Collection, Volume 4
The Beacon Second Reader
In the “Beacon Second Reader” the author has chosen for his stories only those of recognized literary merit; and while it has been necessary to rearrange and sometimes rewrite them for the purpose of simplification, yet he has endeavored to retain the spirit which has served to endear these ancient tales to the children of all ages. The fairy story appeals particularly to children who are in the second school year. – Summary from the Preface This school reader is an excellent resource for anyone learning to read English, children and adults alike. Reading along while listening is a great way to develop reading skills. The tables at the end of the reader provide lists of common word patterns to promote both reading and writing skills. Reading along is especially helpful for this part of the book.
The Best American Humorous Short Stories
Eighteen short stories by famous and little known authors compassing the period 1839 – 1914. The editor’s very extensive introduction is omitted from this LibriVox audio book. (Summary by David Wales)
The Best British Short Stories of 1922
Twenty-four short stories by famous and not-so-famous British authors. (Summary by David Wales) Note: A shortened section 21 was replaced on Dec 30, 2014 with the full text.
The Birds’ Christmas Carol
Carol Bird was born on Christmas Day. She has spent all of her 11 years putting others above herself, always finding ways to make their lives a little more special. Even when faced with her own illness, the pure goodness of her heart shines through. She vows to find a way to spread Christmas cheer and decides to give a grand Christmas Party for a poor neighbourhood family. (summary by Laura Caldwell and Sarah Jennings)
The Birds’ Christmas Carol (version 2)
Born on Christmas Day, little Carol Bird is a gentle soul who touches every life around her. Despite physical illness, Carol is loved by everyone who knows her. This year, she is going to make Christmas extra special for her family and the little Ruggles children who live nearby. (Introduction by Andrea Boltz)
The Birth of Merlin: The Childe Hath Found His Father
Merlin. King Arthur. War betwixt British and Saxons. Uther Pendragon. Collapsing castle foundations, Magicians and spirits, and fighting dragons and a blazing comet. Good entertaining stuff. But is it Shakespeare? The 1662 first printed edition of this play says it was written by William Shakespeare and William Rowley. It doesn’t appear that anyone any longer believes that Shakespeare was actually involved, and probably this is entirely Rowley – who co-authored plays with a fair number of other authors of the period. Rowley also acted in London troupes, including Shakespeare’s The King’s Players, often in low comedy Clown parts he wrote for himself such as is found in this play. – Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Aurelius, King of Brittain: Mike Manolakes Vortiger, King of (Welsh) Brittain: Craig Franklin Uter Pendragon, the Prince, Brother to Aurelius: JBerkhouse Donobert, a Nobleman, and Father to Constantia and Modesta: VocalPenguin The Earl of Gloster, and Father to Edwyn: Algy Pug Edoll, Earl of Chester and General to King Aurelius: Hamlet Cador, Earl of Cornwal, and Suitor to Constantia: Quin Herron Edwyn, Son to the Earl of Gloster, and Suitor to Modesta: Tomas Peter Toclio, Nobleman: Adrian Stephens Oswald, Nobleman: Andrew Gaunce Merlin the Prophet: Alan Mapstone Anselme the Hermit, after Bishop of Winchester: Jim Locke Clown: ToddHW Sir Nichodemus Nothing, a Courtier: Greg Giordano The Devil, father of Merlin: Phil Schempf Ostorius, the Saxon General: CassiopeiaSparks Octa, a Saxon Nobleman: Tchaikovsky Proximus, a Saxon Magician: Scott McKinley Bishop: Derek Trial Saxon Lord 1: Grace Buchanan Saxon Lord 2: Alan Mapstone Edols Captain : Derek Trial Gentleman 1: Wayne Cooke Gentleman 2: Seaquill A little Antick Spirit: Devorah Allen Artesia, Sister to Ostorius the Saxon General: Jenn Broda Constantia, daughter to Donobert: Lydia Modesta, daughter to Donobert: Linda Olsen Fitak Jone Goe-too’t, Mother of Merlin: Sonia A Waiting-woman to Artesia: Joanna Michal Hoyt Lucina, Queen of the Shades: Availle Armel: Sandra Schmit Plesgeth: Grace Buchanan Messenger: Grace Buchanan Stage Directions: David Purdy Editing: ToddHW
The Birth of Professional Rugby League in Australia: A selection from the Sydney Morning Herald (1907-08)
In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald’s coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. – Summary by Phil Benson