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Audiobooks Narrated by Shyama Perera
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‘A dime a dozen’ as known in America, is perhaps equal to the English ‘cheap as chips’ but whatever the lingua franca of your choice in this series we hereby submit ‘A Rhyme a Dozen’ as 12 poems on many given subjects that are a well-rounded gathering, maybe even an essential guide, from the knowing pens of classic poets and their beautifully spoken verse to the comfort of your ears.1 - A Rhyme a Dozen - 12 Poets, 12 Poems, 1 Topic. Lesbian Love2 - Wild Nights, Wild Nights by Emily Dickinson3 - The Touch by Renee Vivien4 - Hands and Lips by Radclyffe Hall5 - For the Courtesan Ch'ing Lin by Wu Zao6 - Love by by Edith Sodergran7 - I Can Give Myself To Her by Akiko Yosano8 - My Heart is Lame by Charlotte Mew9 - If You Could Come by Katharine Lee Bates10 - My Divine Lysis by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz11 - I Have Not Had One Word From Her by Sappho12 - L'Amitie, To Mrs M. Awbrey by Katherine Phillips13 - A Valentine by Matilda Betham Edwards
Katherine was born on the 14th October 1888 into a prominent family in Wellington, New Zealand, the middle child of five.A gifted celloist, at one point she thought she might take it up professionally but writing gradually began to move to the forefront of her interests. Her first writings were published at an early age in school magazines.At 19 Katherine left for England where she met and befriended the modernist writers D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf amongst others. She then travelled to Europe before returning to New Zealand. There she began to write the short stories that she would later become so famous for. Her stories often focus on moments of disruption and frequently open rather abruptly. There was another less-heralded side to Katherine's writings; that of poetry. Her verse certainly reflects much of the themes of her life and interests. Many poems are beautiful, thoughtful, tender and observant works on the human condition. Some though seem out of kilter for so great a talent, almost child-like in form and content. But taken as yet another facet of her work they accomplish much in helping us to understand her.By 1908 she had returned to London and to a rather more bohemian lifestyle. Life was to be lived and enjoyed. A passionate affair resulted in her becoming pregnant and in her being married off to an older man. But she left him the same evening with the marriage unconsummated. She was then to miscarry and be cut out of her mother's will (allegedly because of her lesbianism).In 1911 she was to start a relationship with John Middleton Murry, a magazine editor, and although it was volatile he supported her work and she wrote some of her best stories.During the First World War Mansfield contracted extrapulmonary tuberculosis, which rendered any return or visit to New Zealand impossible and led to her death at the tender age of 34 on 9th January 1923 in Fontainebleau, France.
Tagore was a true Renaissance man, distinguishing himself as a gifted philosopher, social and political reformer as well as a popular author in all literary genres. His most famous poem, extracts of which are recorded here, is Gitanjali which earned him the distinction of the first Asian writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. His songs include both the Indian and Bangladeshi national anthems. This selection of his poems is read for you by Shyama Perera a gifted journalist, broadcaster and novelist.
Rumi, claimed as the national poet of Iran, Turkey & Afghanistan had an early life dedicated to scholarly studies. He only started to write poetry after encountering a holy man called Shams whose subsequent death instilled a profound grief in Rumi and an outpouring of many thousands of verses in Persian. He also intrinsically linked with Sufism. This selection of his poems is read for you by Shyama Perera a gifted journalist, broadcaster and novelist.
The short story is often viewed as an inferior relation to the Novel but it is an art in itself. To take a story and distil its essence into fewer pages while keeping character and plot rounded and driven is not an easy task. Many try and many fail. Rabindranth Tagore was one to succeed as this audiobook ably demonstrates. We venture to the East to meet the poet and story teller who speaks a common language of love and mysticism which continues to convey valuable insights into universal themes in contemporary society. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) who was a gifted Bengali Renaissance man, distinguishing himself as a philosopher, social and political reformer and a popular author in all literary genres. He was instrumental in an increased freedom for the press and influenced Gandhi and the founders of modern India. He composed hundreds of songs which are still sung today as they include the Indian and Bangladesh's national anthems. His prolific literary life has left a legacy of quality novels, essays and in this volume his shorter works. Gitanjali, one of his most famous works, earned him the distinction of being the first Asian writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. Among our readers are Richard Mitchley, Shyama Perera and Ghizela Rowe.
Shyama Perara is a writer and journalist who writes clearly, succinctly and passionately on a number of issues as well as being a much admired novelist. In this collection she turns her knowing eye and insightful mind to British Theatre and the recent plays that come before audiences from the larges of west end theatres to the smallest of pop up theatres. It's a treat.
The Poetry Of Flowers - An Introduction. The simple beauty of a single flower has the power to fascinate, captivate and delight us. Its fragrance can intoxicate and it remains a wonderful gift to give or receive. The vast varieties of flowers that exist provide an exceptional burst of vivid and subtle shades of colours inspiring a smooth transition from petal to paper for so many of our greatest poets including Wordsworth, Tennyson, Burns, Swinburne and Coleridge. Among our readers are Richard Mitchley and Ghizela Rowe.
