Guy de Maupassant today remains among France’s renowned short story masters. He excels at recounting the banal daily lives of Frenchmen, which yet reveal deep moral truths. The first of these three classic tales is Boule de Suif, which relates the desperate attempts of several French citizens intent on escaping the rule of invading Prussian forces. The coach heading for Havre is conveying people of varying classes—nobility, rich and merchant—to a woman of comfort, whose heart and dignity prove larger than any of her fellow passengers’. In the Diamond Necklace, a woman obsessed with dreams of riches destroys the happiness she might otherwise have enjoyed. The Horla relates the irrationality of man—in this case, the descent of an otherwise well-situated man into madness by his own unjustified fears.

01—Boule de Suif

02—The Diamond Necklace

03—The Horla

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In “Icarus; or, The Future of Science,” Bertrand Russell explores the potential consequences of scientific advancement, drawing parallels between the myth of Icarus and the development of technology. He argues that while science can lead to progress, it also poses risks, particularly regarding power and societal structures. Russell suggests that scientific advancements, especially in the physical sciences, can increase power, lead to industrialism and war, and necessitate large-scale organization, which could potentially be used for oppressive purposes. He questions whether science will ultimately lead to human happiness or exacerbate existing societal problems.

Book cover image credited to Gordon Johnson.

The following chapters are to be found in a single audio file.

I Introductory

II Effects of the Physical Sciences

III The Increase of Organization

IV The Anthropological Sciences

Conclusion

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Political Ideals

by Bertrand Russell

Anyone familiar with Russell’s works will find a common theme running through the material: Despite being published over a century ago, his thoughts and philosophy remain remarkably a propos today. Russell argues AGAINST the possessive impulse that global capitalism stimulates in humans and which only benefits the possessor, and FOR the creative impulse, which benefits not only the creator but humankind as a whole. He also supports the establishment of an international parliament to address nation-to-nation conflicts—a palatable alternative to war.

1. Political Ideals

2. Capitalism and the Wage System

3. Pitfalls in Socialism

4. Individual Liberty and Public Control

5. National Independence and Internationalism

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Letters on England

By Voltaire

One of France’s greatest writers, Voltaire was frequently persecuted for his ideas and as a result, spent time in the famed Bastille. He fled his native land for England in 1726, at which time he witnessed the differences between the two countries. His celebrated Letters on England was first published in that nation in 1733 and contained 24 succinct letters on subjects ranging from religion and politics, to trade, the arts, philosophy, and science.

00 Letters 1 to 4: On the Quakers

01 Letter 5: On the Church of England

02 Letter 6: On the Presbyterians

03 Letter 7: On the Socinians, or Arians, or AntiTrinitarians

04 Letter 8: On the Parliament

05 Letter 9: On the Government

06 Letter 10: On Trade

07 Letter 11: On Inoculation

08 Letter 12: On the Lord Bacon

09 Letter 13: On Mr. Locke

10 Letter 14: On Descartes and Sir Isaac Newton

11 Letter 15: On Attraction

12 Letter 16: On Sir Isaac Newton’s Optics

13 Letter 17: On Infinites in Geometry, and Sir Isaac Newton’s Chronology

14 Letter 18: On Tragedy

15 Letter 19: On Comedy

16 Letter 20: On Such of the Nobility as Cultivate the Belles Lettres

17 Letter 21: On the Earl of Rochester and Mr. Waller

18 Letter 22: On Mr. Pope and Some Other Famous Poets

19 Letter 23: On the Regard That Ought to be Shown to Men of Letters

20 Letter 24: On the Royal Society and Other Academies

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From Britannica, The Horla, by Guy de Maupassant, is considered a masterly tale of the fantastic. The story was originally published as “Lettre d’un fou” (“Letter from a Madman”) in 1885 and was revised, retitled “Le Horla,” and published again in October 1886; the third and definitive version was published in May 1887. It is presented in the form of a diary and energetically details the hallucinatory obsessions of a madman.

The narrator becomes convinced that a mysterious invisible parasite is draining away his life force through his lips.

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Education and the Good Life

By Bertrand Russell

Early 20th-century philosopher, mathematician, historian, and social critic Bertrand Russell once again offers a refreshing and insightful look at the way in which we raise and educate our children and the effect it has on the kind of adults they become. Once again Russell demonstrates how timeless and unresolved some issues remain—be they war, religion, politics, or … in this instance … education.

Russell sets out his views on the four important characteristics of an ideal character: vitality, courage, sensitiveness, and intelligence, and then proceeds to take the audience on the ideal educational journey of a child, from infancy to adulthood. Although published in 1926, the insights in this work continue to apply today—perhaps more than ever.

00 – Introduction

Part I. Education and the Good Life

01- Chapter 1. Postulates of Modern Educational Theory

02- Chapter 2. The Aims of Education

Part II. Education of Character

03- The First Year

04- Fear

05- Play and Fancy

06- Constructiveness

07- Selfishness and Property

08- Truthfulness

09- Punishment

10- Importance of Other Children

11- Affection and Sympathy

12- Sex Education

13- The Nursey-School

Part III. Intellectual Education

14- General Principles

15- The School Curriculum Before Fourteen

16- Last School Years

17- Day Schools and Boarding Schools

18- The University

19- Conclusion

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The Benson Murder Case

By S.S. Van Dine

First published in 1926, The Benson Murder Case relates the murder of a wily womanizer found shot dead in his home, and behind locked doors. Amateur Detective Philo Vance makes his first appearance in this work and assists the New York District Attorney in tracking down the murderer. Vance would go on to feature in a dozen novels by Van Dine throughout the 1920s and 30s.

Introductory

Chapter 1. Philo Vance at Home

Chapter 2. At the Scene of the Crime

Chapter 3. A Lady’s Hand-bag

Chapter 4. The Housekeeper’s Story

Chapter 5. Gathering Information

Chapter 6. Vance Offers an Opinion

Chapter 7. Reports and an Interview

Chapter 8. Vance Accepts a Challenge

Chapter 9. The Height of the Murderer

Chapter 10. Eliminating a Secret

Chapter 11. A Motive and a Threat

Chapter 12. The Owner of a Colt-.45

Chapter 13. The Grey Cadillac

Chapter 14. Links in the Chain

Chapter 15. “Pfyfe–Personal”

Chapter 16. Admissions and Suppressions

Chapter 17. The Forged Check

Chapter 18. A Confession

Chapter 19. Vance Cross-examines

Chapter 20. A Lady Explains

Chapter 21. Sartorial Revelations

Chapter 22. Vance Outlines a Theory

Chapter 23. Checking an Alibi

Chapter 24. The Arrest

Chapter 25. Vance Explains His Methods

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The Little Women Collection by Louisa May Alcott presented by The Online Stage.

This collection includes the remastered Online Stage productions of Little Women, Little Men, Jo’s Boys as well as Comic Tragedies by Jo & Meg.

Little Women is the story of four sisters growing up against the background of the American Civil War. Alcott wrote the book at the urging of the publisher, Thomas Niles, who was seeking a story about girls that would have popular appeal. Although it was commenced essentially as a children’s book, it developed into something of a bildungsroman, which touches on more serious issues such as the difficulties faced by single-parent families, the death of a sibling, and fractured relationships.

Little Men tells the continuing story of Jo March, who has married Professor Bhaer, with whom she now runs a small school.

In Jo’s Boys, we revisit the Plumfield clan 10 years later, all grown up and finding their way through life’s adventures and misadventures. Simmering romances blossom for some while the bravery and strength of others are tested. Through it all, Jo and Professor Bhaer desperately hope they have done their duty in raising up good citizens of the world with dreams, passions, empathy, and intelligence. Alcott shines once again with her ability to write human emotion through real-world scenarios that are still relevant today.

Comic Tragedies by Jo & Meg is a collection of plays written by Jo and Meg March, often discussed and performed in the March family attic by the beloved Little Women as the Pickwick Players. Our cast returns as Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth to perform every role with dramatic flair from damsels in distress to evil villains, and no shortage of mistaken identities and sword fights.

Cast:

Narrators—Lee Ann Howlett and Erin Grassie

Jo—Amanda Friday

Meg—P. J. Morgan

Beth—Tiffany Halla Colonna

Amy—Becca Maggie and Anna Grace

Laurie—Andy Harrington

Professor Bhaer—Ben Lindsey-Clark

Various other roles performed by Elizabeth Klett, Ron Altman, Ben Stevens, Nancy German, Maureen Boutilier, Jeff Moon, Jennifer Fournier, Miranda Hodges, Izzy Lindsey-Clark, Rebecca Thomas, Brett Downey, Sarah Pignatello, Chris Marcellus, Leanne Yau, Cate Barratt, Libby Stephenson, Marty Krz, David Prickett, Arielle Lipshaw, Ted Wenskus, Tomas Peter, Anastasia Durning, Josh Innerst, Tim Sailer, Sydnee Fullmer, Lance Rasmussen, Tyler Hyrchuk, Max Gallo, Anna Grace, Jennie VanderLugt, and Trisha Rose.

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In his book Pragmatism, William James attacked the transcendental, rationalist tradition in philosophy and tried to clear the ground for the doctrine he called radical empiricism. The book caused an uproar; it was greeted with praise, hostility, and ridicule. Determined to clarify the pragmatic conception of truth, James collected nine essays he had written on this subject before he wrote Pragmatism and six written later in response to criticisms of that volume by Bertrand Russell and others. He published the collection under the title “The Meaning of Truth” in 1909, the year before his death.

The Meaning of Truth shows James at his best—clear as always, and full of verve and good humor. Intent upon making difficult ideas clear, he is also forceful in his effort to make them prevail.

The above summary is by Harvard University Press.

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Bertrand Russell was a firm believer in Communism, noting that the greatest fault of the capitalist system is not the concentration of money, but of power. The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism, written following a trip to Soviet Russia in 1920, reflects his observations of the Bolshevik approach to this ideal.

Preface

Part I. The Present Condition of Russia

Chapter 1—What is Hoped from Bolshevism

Chapter 2—General Characteristics

Chapter 3—Lenin, Trotsky and Gorky

Chapter 4—Art and Education

Chapter 5—Communism and the Soviet Constitution

Chapter 6—The Failure of Russian Industry

Chapter 7—Daily Life in Moscow

Chapter 8—Town and Country

Chapter 9—International Policy

Part II. Bolshevik Theory

Chapter 1—The Materialistic Theory of History

Chapter 2—Deciding Forces in Politics

Chapter 3—Bolshevik Criticism of Democracy

Chapter 4—Revolution and Dictatorship

Chapter 5—Mechanism and the Individual

Chapter 6—Why Russian Communism Has Failed

Chapter 7—Conditions for the Success of Communism

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By E. W. Hornung

Hornung published this second volume of the adventures of genius cracksman A.J. Raffles in 1901. Raffles is always casing rich homes to burgle, and is always accompanied by his trusted friend and confidant ‘Bunny.’ While they generally score, their escapades are never without a certain degree of risk, but Raffles seems always prepared.

1.      No Sinecure

2.      A Jubilee Present

3.      The Fate of Faustina

4.      The Last Laugh

5.      To Catch a Thief

6.      An Old Flame

7.      The Wrong House

8.      On the Knees of the Gods

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Why Men Fight

By Bertrand Russell

Mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell was prompted to write and publish Why Men Fight (in 1917) as he and the world were experiencing the Great War. Russell shares his thoughts on how to end war—not just between states, but also between classes and individuals. He deals with the following topics in this work:

1. The Principles of Growth
2. The State
3. War as an Institution
4. Property
5. Education
6. Marriage and the Population Question
7. Religion and Churches
8. What We Can Do

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