Showing results by narrator "David McCallion" in All Categories

Set in Medieval England, The Legends of King Arthur and his Knights by Sir James Knowles takes the listener on one adventure after another filled with magic and danger. When King Vortigern, the unrightful king of England plans to kill Merlin, Merlin tells the prophecy of his downfall and also predicts the birth of a new and powerful king, Arthur Pendragon. Merlin's prediction comes true, and Arthur is born and raised in secret by Merlin.

The Last of the Mohicans is a riveting tale set during colonial times, when the French and Indian War is in full swing in the western part of New York. During an attack by the French on a British outpost, two young sisters, Alice and Cora, are guided through the forest by an Indian guide and a British Army Colonel, to find their father. Several strangers they meet along the way join them on their journey which include two Mohican companions, who are the very last of their kind.

Two Years Before the Mast is an American classic published in 1840. This is the account of Richard Henry Dana’s two-year adventure as a sailor. Throughout his time sailing around Cape Horn on the brig Pilgrim, Dana kept a diary, and on his return to Massachusetts, he wrote this now-loved classic. While attending Harvard College, Dana was stricken with measles, which would ultimately have a detrimental effect on his eyesight.

The concept of justice and what constitutes "just" behavior has been a topic of philosophical conversation for centuries. Indeed, famed Greek philosopher Plato made it the very focus of his 10-book epic The Republic, in which he endeavored not only to give a working definition of the word "justice", but also to provide examples of justice in society, in the city-states, and in humankind. The Republic is written as a Socratic dialogue. In it, Socrates and other prominent figures have conversations regarding these topics.

The Man Who Was Thursday was written by G. K. Chesterton and follows newly recruited Scotland Yard detective Gabriel Syme as he infiltrates the dangerous underworld of the European anarchist council. Syme is a member of a special antianarchist division of the police and finds his way into the secret group through a poet he befriends, named Lucian Gregory.

Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome tells the story of three friends and their dog after they decide to take a boating trip along the Thames River. Taking a boat along the river was a popular way to spend a few days at the time, but most people who indulged in the activity probably didn't have as adventurous a time as J, George, Harris, and Montmorency the fox terrier when they came upon the perfect way (at least, it seems like this at the time) to spend their summer holidays.

Victory is the story of a loner who believes that the best way to avoid life's pain and pitfalls is to distance himself from others. In spite of his misgivings, Axel Heyst agrees to manage a coal company on a remote island. When the company eventually fails, he again turns his back on people and society, more convinced than ever that his original philosophy was right.

Published in 1651, Leviathan is considered to be one of the most important works of political philosophy and a major contribution to the modern idea of central government. In the mid-17th century, England was going through a turbulent time of change and unrest, which likely shaped Hobbes' ideas on strong government. Thomas Hobbes established the social contract theory. He believed that self-government did not create the ideal state due to the human tendency to be self-serving, something he believed would eventually lead to chaos.

The Deerslayer gives listeners a glimpse into another time and another culture. Raised by Indians, the young white man Natty Bumppo takes pride in doing everything just as well as his peers. Natty is courageous and one of the best hunters in his group which earns him the name Deerslayer, but his true test will come in the form of warfare. The Deerslayer’s story is one of violence and the reality of warfare. After killing his first enemy, Natty is captured and tortured. He believes this is the worst of mankind but nothing can prepare him for the cruelty of the civilized man.

His Last Bow is a collection of eight Sherlock Holmes mysteries, including "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge", "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box", "The Adventure of the Red Circle", "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans", "The Adventure of the Dying Detective", "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax", "The Adventure of the Devil's Foot", and "His Last Bow".

King Solomon's Mines tells the story of renowned hunter Allan Quatermain as he leads an expedition into the heart of Southern Africa in search of a missing treasure hunter. He's persuaded to go on the trek by the brother of the missing man, the aristocrat Sir Henry Curtis, who is desperate to find out if his brother has survived after leaving in search of the fabled treasure mines of King Solomon.

The Pickwick Papers was Charles Dickens earliest success. Written when Dickens was in his mid-20s, this charming and amusing story would be well-received by both critics and fans alike. Dickens introduces the listener to a number of classic characters in such a way that the listener is unwittingly lured into a world of hilarious adventure.

Sherlock Holmes receives a mysterious ciphered message from a man using an alias sent to Professor Moriarty. After deciphering the code, more than once, they uncover that a man named John Douglas is in imminent danger, and Holmes believes that Professor Moriarty might be involved. Holmes and Dr. Watson enlist the help of Inspector Alec MacDonald of Scotland Yard. The inspector and Holmes have different theories on who killed John Douglas, who was shot at close range inside his own home, and they go on the hunt for clues.

Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a classic series of 12 short stories about the genius detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his ability to solve any case. With the help of his faithful assistant Dr. Watson, Holmes tackles 12 individual mysteries each with a new victim and a different criminal. The concept behind these stories is that of a man who is serving a more fair form of justice to the everyday victim, regardless of income or social standing.

The classic story of Dracula, made and remade again and again, is indeed quite the adventure story filled with dark themes and motifs. Concepts such as love, death, possession, and motivation are present throughout this intense novel. Made famous by Bram Stoker in 1897, Dracula has been relegated to a variety of genres, as it does not seem to fit into just one. This is made immediately clear when the plot begins to unfold and we meet the characters as well as the plot twists that lurk around every corner.

Silas Marner, the namesake of the work, is a humble weaver. He comes to the town of Raveloe, where he continues his trade, yet his story intertwines with that of two brothers, Godfrey and Dunsey, the latter of whom is a conniving trickster. Silas, having little money to begin with, becomes obsessed with counting his small fortune that he keeps hidden in his cottage, and through a series of events involving the two brothers, that money is stolen, devastating Silas.

The Odyssey by Homer is an ancient Greek poem which tells the story of the hero Ulysses and his arduous journey home to Ithaca after the long and bloody Trojan war. After the ten-year battle and the fall of Troy, Ulysses intends to make his way back to his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. The Gods are against him and he faces many obstacles in his path which delay his return for many years. With her husband gone for so long Penelope assumes that he is dead and never to return.

When Kim O'Hara's Irish parents die, he is left to raise himself on the streets of Lahore where he scrapes a living. After being recognized by an acquaintance of his father, Kim is sent to an English school to learn espionage, and his education is paid for by an old Tibetan priest. After graduating the two are reunited and two roam India in search of the River of the Arrow, which will wash away all sin. Kim must find a way of reconciling his status as both a sahib (white European) and a chela (disciple).

In Denmark, a very prosperous and popular ruler, King Hrothgar, has built a large mead hall and encouraged all of his soldiers to be jubilant and merry. The commotion from the festivities has greatly upset a horrible demon, Grendel, who lives in the swamp. Every night the demon terrorizes the community forcing the Danes to suffer at the hand of the beast for many years until a young Geatish warrior, Beowulf, hears of the plight King Hrothgar has endured.

There may never have been a novel written about love and loss with more irony of poetry than Ethan Frome. Written almost exclusively in flashback, Ethan Frome has continued to draw attention and accolades since its publication in 1911 by famed writer Edith Wharton. When we are introduced to the novel's protagonist, we discover that he is married yet inconveniently in love with his wife's cousin, who is spending time with the family to help care for Ethan's sick wife.