Audiobooks narrated by Claire Bloom

The Book of Virtues: 30th Anniversary Edition

Help your children develop moral character with this updated, 30th anniversary edition of the perennial classic The Book of Virtues. Almost 3 million copies of the Book of Virtues have been sold since it was published in 1993. It is one of the most popular moral primers ever written, an inspiring anthology that helps children understand and develop character—and helps parents teach it to them. Thirty years ago, readers thought that the times were right for a book about moral literacy. Back then, Americans worried that schools were no longer parents' allies in teaching good character. As the book's original introduction noted, "moral anchors and moorings have never been more necessary." If that was true in the 1990s, it is even more true today. The explosion of information with the Internet has left many unsure of what is valuable and what is not. Responsibility. Courage. Compassion. Loyalty. Honesty. Friendship. Persistence. Hard work. Self-discipline. Faith. These remain the essentials of good character. The Book of Virtues contains hundreds of exemplary stories offering children examples of good and bad, right and wrong. Drawing on the Bible, American history, Greek mythology, English poetry, fairy tales, and modern fiction, William J. and Elayne Bennett show children the many virtuous paths they can follow—and the ones they ought to avoid. For the 30th anniversary edition, the Bennetts have slimmed down the book's contents, while also finding room to introduce such figures as Mother Teresa, Colin Powell, and heroes of 9/11 and the War in Afghanistan. Here is a rich mine of moral literacy to teach a new generation of children about American culture, history, and traditions—ultimately, the ideals by which we wish to live our lives. The updated edition of The Book of Virtues will continue a legacy of raising moral children far into a new century.

Elayne Glover Bennett, William J. Bennett (Author), Andrea Martin, Barbara Bush, Charlton Heston, Claire Bloom, Dana Ivey, David Mccallum, Dorian Hairwood, Ed Asner, Elayne Glover Bennett, Eunice Wong, Faith Prince, Fritz Weaver, Harriet Walter, Janina Edwards, Jenn Bennett, Joe Morton, Kate Nelligan, Kirby Heyborne, Leon Nixon, Matt Stango, Michael York, Richard Thomas, Robert Petkoff, Timothy Andrés Pabon, Tom Selleck, Tonya Pinkins, William J. Bennett (Narrator)

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The Red Fairy Book

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. Three-headed trolls, horses that carry their masters up mountains of glass, giants and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and ogres-these are the companions who will thrill young boys and girls of all lands and all times, as Andrew Lang's phenomenally successful collections of stories have proved. From the day that they were first printed, the Lang fairy-tale books of many colors have entertained thousands of boys and girls, as they have also brought pleasure to the many parents who have read these unforgettable classics to their children. In addition to such familiar favorites as "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Rapunzel," "The Ratcatcher" ("The Pied Piper"), and "Snowdrop" ("Snow White"), The Red Fairy Book contains a wonderful collection of lesser-known tales from French, German, Danish, Russian, and Romanian sources. A tale from Norse mythology recounts the old story of Sigurd and Brynhild; tales by the great Madame d'Aulnoy include "Graciosa and Percinet" and "Princess Rosette"; lesser-known tales from Grimm's collection include "The Three Dwarfs," "Mother Holle," and "The Golden Goose." All in all, this collection contains thirty-seven stories, all narrated in the clear, lively prose for which Lang was famous. Not only are Lang's generally conceded to be the best English versions of standard stories, his collections are the richest and widest in range. His position as one of England's foremost folklorists as well as his first-rate literary abilities makes his collections unmatchable in the English language.

Andrew Lang (Author), Claire Bloom, Emily Janice Card, Gabrielle De Cuir, John Rubinstein, Justine Eyre, Kate Orsini, Orson Scott Card, Paul Boehmer, Stefan Rudnicki, Susan Hanfield (Narrator)

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Tristan & Iseult

This legendary and tragic tale of two lovers and their death has seen numerous variations over many centuries, and some say influenced the story of Lancelot and Guinevere. Historians suggest that it originally comes from the 12th century, when wandering minstrels and bards would relate the tale, glorifying its epic qualities of chivalry and fidelity.

Joseph Bédier (Author), Claire Bloom (Narrator)

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School For Scandal

The School For Scandal is Sheridan's master work which wittily illustrates 18th century's aristocrats at play. With pinpoint accuracy Sheridan's characterisation of these decadent ruling classes give it a universal appeal as echoes of both the people and their antics are to be found in each generation.

Richard Sheridan (Author), Claire Bloom (Narrator)

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Our Lady of the Open Road, and Other Stories from the Long List Anthology, Vol. 2

This second volume of The Long List Anthology is designed to recognize the short works that were nominated for the 2016 Hugo Awards but did not make it into the top five short list for the final ballot. Thus, voted into the Hugo Award's long list of works-the top fifteen works nominated for each category-were these short stories and novelettes, now made available to a wider audience by award-winning narrators. Included in this volume are: "Our Lady of the Open Road" by Sarah Pinsker, read by Gabrielle de Cuir; "Today I Am Paul" by Martin L. Shoemaker, read by Stefan Rudnicki; "Madeleine" by Amal El-Mohtar, read by Paul Boehmer; "Damage" by David D. Levine, read by Claire Benedek "Pocosin" by Ursula Vernon, read by Stefan Rudnicki; and "Grandmother-nai-Leylit's Cloth of Winds" by Rose Lemberg, read by Gabrielle de Cuir.

David Steffen, Martin L. Shoemaker, Sarah Pinkster, Various Authors, Various Authors (Author), Claire Benedek, Claire Bloom, Gabrielle De Cuir, Paul Boehmer, Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator)

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The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis loved literature, especially poetry. "Once you can express yourself," she wrote, "you can tell the world what you want from it...All the changes in the world, for good or evil, were first brought about by words". Now, Caroline Kennedy shares her mother's favorite poems and the inspiration behind her strong belief in the power of literature. The poems presented span centuries and include works by such renowned authors as Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, Homer, W.B. Yeats, Emily Dickinson, E.E. Cummings, and Robert Frost. This volume also includes poems by Jacqueline Kennedy. Illustrated with photographs of the Kennedy family, and illuminated by Caroline's reflections on her mother's life and work. A wonderful volume for reading aloud or by yourself, a meaningful gift or keepsake, this book offers an intimate view of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' world, and a poignant glimpse into her heart. This audiobook includes a special reading by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Robert Frost reading "The Gift Outright" at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1961.

Caroline Kennedy (Author), B. D. Wong, Byron Jennings, Caroline Kennedy, Claire Bloom, Daniel Davis, Edward M. Kennedy, Jennifer Wiltsie, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Viola Davis (Narrator)

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Thirty Years of Treason: Excerpts from Hearings before the House Committee on Un-American Activities

A chilling reenactment of the federal government’s anti-Communist investigations. The testimony that the author has gleaned for this book from the thirty-year record of the House Un-American Activities Committee focuses on HUAC’s treatment of artists, intellectuals, and performers. This highly readable and absorbing collection of significant excerpts from the hearings shows with painful clarity how HUAC grew from a panel that investigated possible subversive activities in a “dignified” manner to a huge, unrelenting accusatory finger from which almost no one was safe. Thirty Years of Treason serves as a warning for the future and creates living history from the documentary record. “We have Bentley to thank for this bittersweet vaudeville show, this congressional cabaret of the absurd, this peptic epic…What he has done is give us HUAC as spectacle, and the perspective is shattering.”—New York Times

Eric Bentley, Various Authors (Author), A Full Cast, Alex Hyde-White, Arthur Morey, Burt Reynolds, Christian Rummel, Claire Bloom, Coleen Marlo, Dean Sluyter, Gabrielle De Cuir, Harlan Ellison, Jean Smart, Jim Meskimen, John Rubinstein, Kirby Heyborne, Kristoffer Tabori, Lee Rosch, Molly Underwood, Nathan Dana Aldrich, Orson Scott Card, Paul Boehmer, Richard Gilliland, Richard Mcgonagle, Robertson Dean, Roscoe Lee Browne, Scott Brick, Stefan Rudnicki, Stephen Hoye, Sunil Malhotra, Ted Scott, Theodore Bikel (Narrator)

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Thirty Years of Treason, Volume 1: Excerpts from Hearings before the House Committee on Un-American

A fascinating look into the federal government’s anti-Communist investigations The testimony that the author has gleaned for this book from the thirty-year record of the House Un-American Activities Committee focuses on HUAC’s treatment of artists, intellectuals, and performers. This highly readable and absorbing collection of significant excerpts from the hearings shows with painful clarity how HUAC grew from a panel that investigated possible subversive activities in a “dignified” manner to a huge, unrelenting accusatory finger from which almost no one was safe. Thirty Years of Treason serves as a warning for the future and creates living history from the documentary record. “[Portrays] a dark chapter in our nation’s history that needs to be remembered.”—Library Journal

Eric Bentley, Various Authors (Author), A Full Cast, Alex Hyde-White, Claire Bloom, Coleen Marlo, Dean Sluyter, Gabrielle De Cuir, Harlan Ellison, Jim Meskimen, John Rubinstein, Nathan Dana Aldrich, Orson Scott Card, Paul Boehmer, Richard Mcgonagle, Stefan Rudnicki, Ted Scott, Theodore Bikel, Various, Various Narrators (Narrator)

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All's Well That Ends Well

All's Well That Ends Well is a play by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1604 and 1605, and was originally published in the First Folio in 1623 Though originally the play was classified as a comedy, the play is now considered by some critics to be one of his problem plays, so named because they cannot be neatly classified as tragedy or comedy. When the clever and appealing Helena cures the ailing king of France of an illness, she asks for the hand of Bertram (a proper young Englishman) in return. Her efforts to win Bertram's love are rendered with wit and verve by a distinguished cast including Claire Bloom, John Stride, Dame Flora Robson, Eric Portman and Jack MacGowan. This performance brings to life this surprisingly modern play.

William Shakespeare (Author), A Full Cast, Claire Bloom, Robert Stephens (Narrator)

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She Stoops to Conquer

Charming satire of the sentimental comedies of the day has entertained audiences since 1773. A young lady poses as a serving girl to win the heart of a young gentleman too shy to court ladies of his own class. Many delightful deceits, hilarious turns of plot must be played out before the play concludes happily.

Oliver Goldsmith (Author), Claire Bloom, Oliver Goldsmith (Narrator)

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Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young 'star-cross'd lovers' whose untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. Read by an all star cast that include Albert Finney and Claire Bloom this audio recording is a fantastic piece of literature to ass to your collection. The tragic feud between 'Two households, both alike in dignity/In fair Verona', the Montagues and Capulets, which ultimately kills the two young 'star-crossed lovers' and their 'death-marked love' creates issues which have fascinated subsequent generations. The play deals with issues of intergenerational and familial conflict, as well as the power of language and the compelling relationship between sex and death, all of which makes it an incredibly modern play. It is also an early example of Shakespeare fusing poetry with dramatic action, as he moves from Romeo's lyrical account of Juliet-'she doth teach the torches to burn bright!' to the bustle and action of a 16th-century household (the play containsmore scenes of ordinary working people than any of Shakespeare's other works). It also represents an experimental attempt to fuse comedy with tragedy. Up to the third act, the play proceeds along the lines of a classic romantic comedy. The turning point comes with the death of one of one Shakespeare's finest early dramatic creations - Romeo's sexually ambivalent friend Mercutio whose "plague o'both your houses" begins the play's descent into tragedy. "For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo".

William Shakespeare (Author), Albert Finney, Claire Bloom, Dame Edith Evans (Narrator)

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Romeo & Juliet

William Shakespeare (Author), Claire Bloom (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Claire Bloom