Family Life
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A Christmas Miscellany
A selection of eight short works, chapters, or poems about Christmas. – Summary by david wales
A Family Man
John Builder is a solid, middle-class Englishman. He is very domineering but finds that the women around him are insistent on living their own lives. They will not let him take control. His world begins to fall apart around him. Summary by Michele Eaton Cast: Stage Directions: MichaelMaggs Mr Builder: Adrian Stephens Maud: Jenn Broda Guy: John Payton Topping: Alan Mapstone Harris: Andrew Kennedy Camille: JennPratt Mrs Builder: WendyKatzhiller Annie: Michele Eaton Mayor: ToddHW Athene: Diana Helen Kennedy Ralph: Anthony Joseph Sergeant: David Purdy Moon: James R. Hedrick Chantrey: Mark Kilkelly Boy’s Voice: ksb013 Journalist: Sonia
Alice Dugdale
An ordinary village girl’s plans for the future with her long-standing beau are threatened when he is seen to be an attractive prospect by a local noble family Trollope’s novella works through the consequences with typical affection and sensitivity. – Summary by Anthony Ogus
Almond-Blossom
At the beginning of the story, Tony and Fay had lost a child. One day, Tony saves a little girl, Doro, from drowning. He and Fay end up adopting Doro. Soon after this, Fay discovers that she is with-child. She gives birth to a son, Rex, but tragedy soon follows. We follow the story of Doro and Rex, their unusual upbringing, and how time works its ways upon their relationships with their family members and with each other. For they have always known each other, and as they grow up, soon begin to see the other in a different light. This novel is a graceful portrayal of family relationships, growing up, dealing with loss and grief, and the realization that love reveals itself in the most unpredictable ways. Not much is known about the author except that she was an active contributor to a periodical called The Star from the 1920?s to mid-1930?s. She was also known to be a theater-goer who was interested in languages, as well as an avid motorist. It seems that she is even credited with being the first Englishwoman who rode the Zeppelin in Hamburg. – Summary by mlcui
Consequences
Set in late Victorian England, ?Consequences? follows the life of Alexandra Clare, a girl born into an upper class Catholic London family. Raised from birth for the privileged life of a wife and mother, Alexandra never quite fits in with her or her family?s expectations and fails at seemingly everything she tries ? school, the marriage market, family life.
Cradock Nowell Vol. 1
Cradock Nowell: a Tale of the New Forest is a three-volume novel by R. D. Blackmore published in 1866. Set in the New Forest and in London, it follows the fortunes of Cradock Nowell who is thrown out of his family home by his father following the suspicious death of Cradock’s twin brother Clayton. It was Blackmore’s second novel, and the novel he wrote prior to his most famous work Lorna Doone. ( Wikipedia) *Warning: Some listeners may be offended by some of the language. Words that were considered acceptable in the nineteenth century are not always politically correct today. It is LibriVox policy to leave the original wording as the author intended. Other volumes in the series: Cradock Nowell, volume 2 Cradock Nowell, volume 3
Cradock Nowell Vol. 3
Cradock Nowell: a Tale of the New Forest is a three-volume novel by R. D. Blackmore published in 1866. Set in the New Forest and in London, it follows the fortunes of Cradock Nowell who, at the end of Volume 1, is thrown out of his family home and disowned by his father following the suspicious death of Cradock’s twin brother Clayton, their father’s favorite. In Volume 2, the story picks up with those left behind at Nowelhurst and the question of who is now heir apparent to the Nowell fortune. Meanwhile, Cradock discovers life independent of the Nowell name and fortune is not easy. At the end of volume 2, we leave Cradock fighting for his life and his beloved Amy rushing to be with him. It was Blackmore’s second novel, and the novel he wrote prior to his most famous work Lorna Doone. *Warning: Some listeners may be offended by some of the language. Words that were considered acceptable in the nineteenth century are not always politically correct today. It is LibriVox policy to leave the original wording as the author intended. – Summary by Lynne Thompson Other volumes in the series: Cradock Nowell, volume 1 Cradock Nowell, volume 2
Fairy Prince and Other Stories
A charming family story told from the viewpoint of a nine-year-old girl. ?You don’t seem to understand,” I whispered. “It’s Christmas relationships that are worrying Carol and me so! It worries us dreadfully! Oh, of course we understand all about the Little Baby Christ! And the camels! And the wise men! And the frankincense! That’s easy! But who is Santa Claus? Unless?unless??” It was Carol himself who signaled me to go on. “Unless?he’s the Baby Christ’s grandfather?” I thought Derry Willard looked a little bit startled. Carol’s ears turned bright red. “Oh, of course?we meant on his mother’s side!” I hastened to assure him.? – Quote from the book.
Fern’s Hollow
Ferns Hollow is the sad, but sweet story of a young boy who tragically loses his parents and has to care for his two sisters and crazed grandfather. He finds himself in many difficult situations which test his faith and courage. This book is about how he made it through many trials with God’s grace and guidance, learning many life lessons on the way. – Summary by fiddlesticks
Fireside Christmas Short Stories
A collection of Christmas-themed short stories, intended to warm the heart and share with the family. Each story or poem in this collection is unique: some make us pause to consider the meaning of Christmas, others entertain and make us smile. So curl up in front of a blazing fire and be transported back to Christmases past. (Summary by Lynne Thompson)
Stories of Successful Marriages
A collection of short stories by celebrated authors on the subject of successful marriages. Pieces originally appeared in other publications between 1858 and 1900 and were brought together by Walter Besant. – Summary by Lynne Thompson
Stories of Troubled Marriages
Anyone who is, or has been, married knows that marriage takes work. While some marriages may be ‘made in heaven’, others, quite simply, are not. This short anthology comprises stories of the second variety, as expounded by some of our favorite authors: Conan Doyle, Gissing, Kipling, D’Arcy and Morrison. – Summary by Lynne Thompson
The Cricket on the Hearth
John Peerybingle, a carrier, lives with his wife Dot (who is much younger than he), their baby, their nanny Tilly Slowboy, and a mysterious lodger. A cricket constantly chirps on the hearth and acts as a guardian angel to the family, at one point assuming a human voice to warn John that his suspicions that Dot is having an affair with the lodger are wrong. The life of the Peerybingles frequently intersects with that of Caleb Plummer, a poor toymaker employed by the miser Mr. Tackleton. Caleb has a blind daughter Bertha and a son Edward, who travelled to South America and seemingly never returned. Tackleton is now on the eve of marrying Edward’s sweetheart, May. In the end, the lodger is revealed to be none other than Edward. Tackleton’s heart is melted by the Christmas season, like Ebeneezer Scrooge, and surrenders May to marry her true love. It is suggested ambiguously that Bertha regains her sight at the end. (Wikipedia)
The Cricket on the Hearth (Version 2)
The tale of John Peerybingle, the good-hearted carrier, and his young wife Mary (‘Dot’), interwoven with the story of poor toymaker Caleb Plummer, his beloved blind daughter Bertha, and the harsh old toy merchant Tackleton, who is due to marry May Fielding, a childhood friend of Dot. Comic relief is provided by Tilly Slowboy, the disaster-prone nursemaid of John and Dot’s baby, and Boxer, the family dog. The cricket who chirps on the family hearth assumes fairy form to save the day when disaster looms in the form of a mysterious stranger. Sentimental? Certainly – but this, the third (1845) of Dickens’ short Christmas books, is as charming and irresistible as its predecessors A Christmas Carol (1843) and The Chimes (1844). The novella is subdivided into chapters called ‘Chirps’, similar to the ‘Quarters’ of The Chimes or the ‘Staves’ of A Christmas Carol. (Introduction by Ruth Golding)
Victorian Short Stories of Troubled Marriages
A delightful collection of short stories by some of the luminary authors of the Victorian era. These stories explore the truth behind the Victorian marriage. – Summary by Gina Belmonde