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In these unabridged readings of William Dean Howells, the listener is invited into drawing rooms, countinghouses, city streets, and quiet chambers of conscience, where ordinary lives reveal their most extraordinary...
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In these unabridged readings of William Dean Howells, the listener is invited into drawing rooms, countinghouses, city streets, and quiet chambers of conscience, where ordinary lives reveal their most extraordinary meanings. Here are stories of ambition, love, money, manners, and moral choice, told with wit, sympathy, and a clear eye for the truths people often hide from themselves. The William Dean Howells Library restores one of America’s great realist voices to the living ear.
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Transcribed
21 JUL 2026 · In which a quiet morning in a Northern Massachusetts farmhouse unfolds with an elderly couple and their young niece preparing for a poignant departure that stirs conflicting emotions of hope and reluctance. The scene is tenderly set with homely details and gentle dialogue that reveal the deep ties and understated tensions of a family facing change.
Transcribed
21 JUL 2026 · In which Lydia and her grandfather navigate the bustling and somewhat rough environs of Boston’s docks in search of a ship named the Aroostook, encountering the kindly and hearty Captain Jenness who offers reassurance and companionship on the eve of her voyage. The captain’s generous hospitality and the orderly, pleasant vessel inspire in Lydia a tentative comfort, even as the parting with her grandfather unfolds with both tenderness and anxious haste.
Transcribed
22 JUL 2026 · In which the young Lydia settles into her spacious cabin aboard the Aroostook, unfolding the snug comforts of her quarters and engaging in a gentle exchange with the boy steward Thomas, whose eager kindness and tales of the crew bring a modest warmth to the voyage’s beginning. As she arranges her belongings and reflects on the tapestry of her past—woven with loss and the attentive care of distant relatives—she stands contemplatively at the gangway, absorbing the harbour’s summer sunset and the poignant swell of homesickness that accompanies the twilight.
Transcribed
23 JUL 2026 · In which the early morning calm of a summer voyage is gently disturbed by the quiet arrival of unexpected passengers aboard the Aroostook, as the heroine observes the world with a mingling of wonder and unease. Amid the vivid impressions of life on the ship, a moment of light-hearted surprise arises in the galley, where appearances provoke both amusement and a swift assertion of dignity.
24 JUL 2026 · In which a round of considerate yet quietly uneasy reflection takes place over Lydia’s impending voyage, as her family and the minister deliberate her solitary position among strangers and her admirable self-reliance. The conversation, marked by the homely shelling of peas and gentle moral encouragement, reveals a community seeking to reconcile affectionate anxiety with faith in Lydia’s strength of character.
25 JUL 2026 · In which Lydia Blood, with a composed and somewhat proud reserve, breakfasts amidst a group of young men aboard a ship, while subtle social tensions and judgements unfold regarding her unexpected presence and that of a troublesome new passenger named Mr. Hicks. The captain, recognizing the peculiar situation, confides in the gentlemen his uneasy hopes for the voyage’s harmony and earns their respectful concurrence in looking out for the young lady’s comfort.
26 JUL 2026 · In which two friends, Staniford and Dunham, share contemplative reflections on ambition, identity, and the nature of society as they journey towards Europe, their conversation revealing varied aspirations and quietly affectionate familiarity. They muse upon a mysterious young woman named Lurella Blood, pondering her origins and character with a mixture of curiosity and gentle speculation that evokes the subtle social contrasts of their time.
27 JUL 2026 · In which the young men recover from the weariness of voyage and find themselves drawn into gentle companionship with Lydia, a tender and inexperienced girl whose quiet fascination with the sea and its simple creatures awakens a protective kindness in Dunham. As the ship cleaves the swell and the conversation meanders thoughtfully beneath the stars, the delicate social interplay and curiosity about Lydia’s unworldly perspective lend a serene distinction to their shared passage.
28 JUL 2026 · In which a voyage aboard the Aroostook unfolds under fair skies, bringing together a varied company whose attentions and pastimes gently centre upon young Lydia, whose quiet dignity and unstudied charm spark thoughtful musings among her companions. Through candid conversation and shared moments, her simple origins and unpretentious nature are revealed, casting a fresh light upon the world she inhabits and the unfamiliar lands toward which she sails.
29 JUL 2026 · In which the young lady Lydia reveals a surprising and captivating talent that captivates the company aboard ship, prompting reflections upon her quiet charm and latent powers. Meanwhile, amid a Sunday gathering for worship, loyalties and beliefs mingle with gentle humour and earnest debate, illuminating the varied spiritual temperaments of the seafaring company.
In these unabridged readings of William Dean Howells, the listener is invited into drawing rooms, countinghouses, city streets, and quiet chambers of conscience, where ordinary lives reveal their most extraordinary...
show more
In these unabridged readings of William Dean Howells, the listener is invited into drawing rooms, countinghouses, city streets, and quiet chambers of conscience, where ordinary lives reveal their most extraordinary meanings. Here are stories of ambition, love, money, manners, and moral choice, told with wit, sympathy, and a clear eye for the truths people often hide from themselves. The William Dean Howells Library restores one of America’s great realist voices to the living ear.
show less
Information
| Author | Good Old Classics |
| Organization | Good Old Classics |
| Categories | Fiction |
| Website | - |
| - |
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