Showing results for "The Animals" in Literary History & Criticism

Step into the fascinating world of George Orwell's "Animal Farm," brought to life through the compelling narration of Vikram Singh in this captivating audiobook. Experience the rise and fall of Animal Farm, where the pursuit of equality turns into a chilling tale of power and manipulation. Orwell's timeless masterpiece unfolds in vivid detail, exploring the complexities of society, corruption, and the haunting echoes of human nature. Join us on an audio journey through this thought-provoking narrative that transcends generations on Audio Pitara.

While the popular image of the Victorian world is one of stiff formality and old-fashioned values, it was an incredibly transformative time for many people who sought better protections, fairer wages, and greater freedom. And this included an increasingly popular and successful fight for animal welfare. Prior to the 19th century, the mistreatment of animals was rarely questioned, and sports like bullbaiting and dogfighting were common. So, what brought the plight of exploited and suffering animals to the attention of activists, politicians, and the public at large?

Humans live in landscapes of make-believe. We spin fantasies. We devour novels, films, and plays. Even sporting events and criminal trials unfold as narratives. Yet the world of story has long remained an undiscovered and unmapped country. It's easy to say that humans are "wired" for story, but why? In this delightful and original book, Jonathan Gottschall offers the first unified theory of storytelling. He argues that stories help us navigate life's complex social problems.

Robert Nassau spent four decades as a medical missionary in Africa, arriving at Corisco Island, now part of Equatorial Guinea, in 1861; he also worked in the regions now known as Gabon and Cameroon. This book contains 61 folktales (some in multiple versions) that Nassau collected during his career in Africa: 16 stories from Mpongwe storytellers in Gabon, 34 stories from Benga storytellers in Equatorial Guinea, and 11 stories from Fang storytellers in Cameroon, all of which Nassau translated into English. For each story there is a list of the cast of animal characters, which provides the ...

BY GEORGE ORWELL

Tommy Smith is a wicked little boy, who would harm animals for sport. He would catch them if he could, throw stones if he could not, and generally disturb all animals around him. He became such a nuissance to everyone at last that the animals hold a meeting to discuss what to do. The wise owl has an idea: "Let the next animal that he is going to kill or throw stones at, call out to him, and tell him not to do so. This will surprise him so much that he will be sure to leave off, and then each of us can tell him something about ourselves in turn. In this way he will get such a high idea of all ...

Dive into the chilling tale of The Lancashire Witches, a richly imagined narrative centered around the infamous figures of Demdike, Chattox, and Alice Nutter. These historical characters haunted the Lancashire region near Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland in the early seventeenth century. While Ainsworths portrayal may be steeped in fiction, the witches themselves were real individuals caught in a web of societal turmoil. The story weaves through the dissolution of Whalley Abbey and the influential families of Assheton, Braddyll, and Nowell, culminating in the dramatic trials and ...

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole, CBE (1884 – 1941) was an accomplished English novelist whose journey from the son of an Anglican clergyman to a prominent writer was shaped by influential figures like Henry James and Arnold Bennett. Known for his vivid scene-setting and gripping plots, Walpole captivated readers in both the United Kingdom and North America during the 1920s and 1930s, though his works have faded from the spotlight since his passing. Among his significant contributions to literature is The Cathedral, a carefully crafted narrative developed over four years, beginning in 1918. This ...

Published in 1892, this pioneering book presents early philosophical and ethical arguments for the compassionate treatment of animals and critiques prevailing attitudes of cruelty and exploitation. Henry Salt's insights laid the groundwork for the modern animal rights movement, inspiring generations of advocates and contributing to the growing awareness and understanding of animal welfare issues. This early treatise remains a significant and enduring contribution to the ongoing discourse surrounding the moral considerations of human-animal relations. - Summary by Jeffrey Stumpf

A delightful children's tale of a tame robin, "supposed to be written by himself" about his domestic life with humans. - Summary by TR Love

Twin sisters, separated at birth to different lands. Later, Mnesilochus falls in love with one of them, only to see his friend Pistoclerus apparently with her. Great complications abound. Eventually all is explained and everyone joins together to carouse. (Parts of Act 1 are fragmentary, but it is easy to piece together what we all miss there so we can enjoy the rest.) - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Silenus, the Divinity, who speaks the Prologue: ToddHW Nicobulus, an aged citizen of Athens: Adrian Stephens Mnesilochus, his son: Greg Giordano Philoxenus, another aged citizen of Athens: Alan ...

Dive into a vibrant world of flora with this engaging volume, featuring delightful stories, enchanting poems, and fascinating facts about a diverse array of flowers. Designed specifically for children, this collection is thoughtfully divided into thirteen parts, each spotlighting a unique flower. - Summary by Rachel

In the book, Salt argues against the idea of speciesism, though the term was not coined for another 76 years. The book also argues against vivisection, misuse of horses and wild animals, hunting and fishing, and the fur trade, and in favor of vegetarianism. It is widely considered to be the first explicit treatment of the concept of animal rights. - Summary by Angus Taylor and James Hyslop

This book is written by a man who loved to be around animals & birds, treating them as his friends. Published articles by him had people of his time believing him to be a wildlife showman. Once passed his ashes were scattered on Croydon Mountain near his home, which event is commemorated on a local monument inscribed: Here were scattered the ashes of Ernest Harold Baynes, lover of animals and men, and loved of them. - Summary by adr6090

Prior to the emergence of paleontology and comparative anatomy as scientific disciplines at the end of the 18th century, it was generally known that there were species of animals that had disappeared completely. The term "extinction" originally applied to the extinguishing of fires or erasing of one's debt. It was not until 1784 that the term extinction was used to denote the complete eradication of a species of living being. In 1901, Frederic A. Lucas penned an overview of vertebrate animals whose only evidence of being remained in fossil records. The book focuses primarily on vertebrate ...

The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals is a book by Charles Darwin, published in 1872, concerning genetically determined aspects of behaviour. It was published thirteen years after On the Origin of Species and alongside his 1871 book The Descent of Man, it is Darwin's main consideration of human origins. In this book, Darwin seeks to trace the animal origins of human characteristics, such as the pursing of the lips in concentration and the tightening of the muscles around the eyes in anger and efforts of memory. Darwin sought out the opinions of some eminent British psychiatrists, ...

This book is devoted to the study of invertebrate animals. While most people associate the word "animal" with fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, 90% of the animal species on earth are invertebrates, i.e., they have no backbone. Protozoans and invertebrate animals are found world-wide, from the bottom of the oceans to the the rain forests, ice caves, and our own back yards. Many invertebrates still reside in the oceans, while others dwell in our houses, back yards and gardens, in ponds and streams, and on the menus in seafood restaurants. Holders's book represents a traversal of ...

During the past thirty years I have had numerous experiences with the grizzly bear in various sections of his territory. The material in this book is drawn chiefly from my own experiences with grizzly bears in the wilderness. (Summary adapted from the Preface)

Stories about unusual interactions between animals and humans that reflect some attitudes to the wild in the mid-eighteen hundreds, including trophy hunting."Chronically ill and often in pain," the author, Mary Custis Lee, experienced "hardship with sturdy and radiant faith." Maybe that's why she did not turn away in this book, from unpleasant and often gory accounts of animal encounters. (Summary by Czandra)

Combining beast fable with natural history, this is a highly engaging and informative account of some of the prehistoric mammals that once roamed across North America. Each short story tells us something about a different era of natural history, from the Eocene to the Pleistocene era. Entertaining and easy to understand stories, featuring early ancestors of squirrels, horses, camels, tapirs, elephants, and even manatees, will appeal to people of all ages. (Devorah Allen)