Showing results by narrator "Paul Spera" in All Categories

"The 120 Days of Sodom" is "the most impure tale that has ever been told since our world began". It was written by the Marquis de Sade, a french noble man, in the space of 37 days, while imprisoned in the famous parisian Bastille. Fearing confiscation, the Marquis de Sade, Donatien-Alphonse-François, had to write it on a continuous roll of paper, made up of small pieces glued together. The original manuscript is now on display in Paris, and is the third most expensive kept in France, insured for 12 million euros.

Discover an abridged version of Marquis de Sade most famous and outrageous masterpieces: "Philosophy in the Bedroom" ("La philosophie dans le boudoir"), "Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue", and "The 120 Days of Sodom".

Discover a new version of Marquis de Sade's most famous and outrageous masterpieces: "Philosophy in the Bedroom" (La philosophie dans le boudoir), "Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue" and "The 120 Days of Sodom". "Philosophy in the Bedroom" (La philosophie dans le boudoir) was written in 1795 by the Marquis de Sade, while imprisoned in the Bastille. It is a work of extreme pornography, laced with socio-political subversion. The main characters are libertines, who decided to give a young maiden their own brand of sex education.

Guy de Maupassant was an absolute master of the short story genre, delighting in clever plotting, concise style, and efficient storytelling, which he used to produce stunning pieces in a very condensed format. Maupassant specialized in realism, with its sharp criticism of lower human nature and society, and fantastic, although his ventures in the supernatural are often used as an implicit symptom of the protagonists' troubled minds - he was absolutely fascinated with psychiatry, which was nascent at the time.

Albert Einstein is widely considered as one of the greatest minds that ever lived. He developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics alongside quantum mechanics, and penned the world's most famous equation, E=mc².

Jung regarded the unconscious and its symbolic content as crucial to our psychological development; among the central concepts of analytical psychology is individuation, which is the lifelong psychological process of differentiation of the self. Jung considered it to be the main task looming over every human being in their development, and experimented with a variety of practices to dive always deeper into it. These 100 quotes have been carefully selected to introduce you to his character and his way of thinking, and to inspire you into making your own discoveries about the unconscious.

"Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue", is an early work by the Marquis de Sade. It is a novella, written in two weeks while he was imprisoned in the famous Bastille. Unlike some of his other works, it is not just a catalogue of sadism. It is meant to bring new life to an old genre, which had the reader accustomed to see virtue eventually triumph after trials only meant to bring out its value. Sade would have none of that in Justine: in her quest for virtue, the main character keeps falling into terrible situations, which humiliate her and present her with sexual lessons hidden under the mask of virtue.

In this audiobook, read by Paul Spera, each historical event is replaced into context and presented in clear and easy-to-read snippets, so that younger and older readers can deepen their understanding of how modern France came to be and broaden their culture. This historical essays deals with France's earlier kings, the hundred years' war, the struggle with Burgundy, the Italian wars, the wars of religion, absolute monarchy, and the French Revolution.

The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is the ultimate tragic love story. It is perhaps one of the most famous Greek myths, and the greatest artists have composed masterpieces to honour these two great lovers who lost their chance at reunion. The earliest account comes from Ibycus (circa 530 BC), a Greek lyric poet. This short story is a mixture of the various existing versions, presenting the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in all its details, all the way to Orpheus' death at the hands of the Bacchantes.

The myth of Icarus is an ageless story of failure at the hands of pride, similar to that of Phaeton. It is a fundamental part of Greek mythology and of modern culture. This short story is a retelling of the myth from 1914, a year in which it was easy to fear for a son who would soar in the sky with metal wings; the story of Icarus and Daedalus is told in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

"The Art of War", by the Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu, was written in fifth century BC and remains one of the most influential strategy treatises of all time. It was held as the most important military treatise for 1500 years, and has now a pervasive influence on Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy and beyond. The ancient wisdom of this ultimate guide to combat strategy is indeed applicable in all areas of life by anyone willing to ensure every kind of victory.

"Philosophy in the Bedroom" ("La philosophie dans le boudoir") was written in 1795 by the Marquis de Sade, while imprisoned in the Bastille. It is a work of erotism, laced with socio-political subversion. The main characters are libertines, who decided to give a young maiden their own brand of sex education. They explain to her that pleasure is the most important goal of all, and then proceed with affirming that she will not be able to feel "true pleasure" without pain.

"The Outsider." Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) is a novelist famous for his horror stories, fantasy and science fiction. Although he was not famous during his lifetime, his work is now considered a classic of literature. Lovecraft's work has influenced many authors, including Stephen King, who considers him "the greatest craftsman of the classic horror story of the 20th century."

"Hypnos." Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) is a novelist famous for his horror stories, fantasy and science fiction. Although he was not famous during his lifetime, his work is now considered a classic of literature. Lovecraft's work has influenced many authors, including Stephen King, who considers him "the greatest craftsman of the classic horror story of the 20th century."

The myth of Echo and Narcissus appears in Ovid's "Metamorphosis", a Latin mythological epic from the Augustan Age. It is one of the most touching stories ever written and has inspired countless works of art through the centuries. The nymph Echo angers Hera, queen of the gods, who curses her: henceforth, Echo will only be able to repeat the last words that struck her ears. One day, the beautiful Narcissus, son of a nymph and a river god, passes through the forest.

H. P. Lovecraft 15 Essential Stories & H. G. Wells 7 Essential Stories: 22 stories of real fantastic, horror or science fiction classics. Lovecraft: The Temple, Dagon, The Music of Erich Zann, The Nameless City, Hypnos, The Outsider, The Colour out of Space, The Rats in the Walls, The History of Necronomicon, Azathoth, The Stolen Body, The Lurking Fear, The Whisperer in Darkness, Herbert West Reanimator, The Shadow over Innsmouth. H. G. Wells: The Valley of Spiders, The Magic Shop, Mr. Ledbetter's Vacation, Miss Winchelsea's Heart.

Mahatma Gandhi is a world-famous pacifist figure who managed to lead the Indian independence movement against British rule by employing nonviolent civil disobedience. His ethics and unwavering stance inspired movements for civil rights and freedom all across the world, long after his assassination in 1948.

H.P. Lovecraft - 15 essential Stories: The Temple, Dagon, The Music of Erich Zann, The Nameless City, Hypnos, The Outsider, The Colour out of Space, The Rats in the Walls, The History of Necronomicon, Azathoth, The Stolen Body, The Lurking Fear, The Whisperer in Darkness, Herbert West Reanimator, The Shadow over Innsmouth.

"The Shadow over Innsmouth." Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) is a novelist famous for his horror stories, fantasy and science fiction. Although he was not famous during his lifetime, his work is now considered a classic of literature. Lovecraft's work has influenced many authors, including Stephen King, who considers him "the greatest craftsman of the classic horror story of the 20th century."

Mark Twain is one of the wittiest and most prolific writers of all time. He is mostly known for "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and its sequel, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", which is often called the Great American Novel.