Showing titles in Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature

A selection of full-cast dramatisations of Ben Jonson’s finest comedies Ben Jonson was one of the most influential playwrights of the Jacobean era, renowned for his sharp, satirical comedies and considered one of Shakespeare’s great contemporaries. This collection brings together six...

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first...

Educated in Lebanon, United States, and France, Gibran was influenced by the European modernists of the late 19th century, but even more by Francis Marrash, who introduced poetic prose and prose poetry in the Arab world. Gibran's style of writing and ideas he wrote about are believed to have been greatly influenced by Marrash, particularly the concept of universal love.

From listening to his grandmother recite epic poems from memory to curling up in bed while his father read funny verses, award-winning actor John Lithgow grew up with poetry. Ever since, John has been an enthusiastic seeker of poetic experience, whether reading, reciting, or listening to great...

This book is an exploration of the wisdom in the Viking Age poem "Havamal", specifically as it relates to the average person who isn't a scholar of Old Norse, or even an enthusiast of Viking culture. This book is for the layman, the average person who simply wants to improve their life using proven advice. The poem "Havamal" is earthy, cynical, stoic, and grim in its depiction of human life. Havamal means “The Words of the High One”. The poem's speaker is none other than Odin, King of the Gods, who has traveled the many worlds seeking power and suffered greatly in his quest.

Dive into the epic adventure of the "Epic of Gilgamesh," a journey through time that takes you back to the origins of literature with one of the oldest stories ever told.

Discover one of the most powerful philosophical works ever written, now in a clear and truly listenable modern English edition. On the Shortness of Life by Seneca is more than an ancient essay. It is a direct and timeless reflection on how we waste our lives, and how we can reclaim them. Written nearly 2,000 years ago, Seneca confronts a question that still defines modern life: Why does life feel so short? His answer is simple and unsettling: Life is not short. We make it short. What makes this edition different?

A rare collection of vintage radio dramas from the renowned Ulster poet, plus bonus documentary Born in Belfast in 1907, Louis MacNeice wrote some of the most beautiful and best-loved poetry of the 20th century. But he was also one of the BBC’s most innovative writers and producers, scripting...

King Arthur is probably the most famous and certainly the most legendary medieval king. From the early ninth century through the middle ages, to the Arthurian romances of Victorian times, the tales of this legendary figure have blossomed and multiplied. And in more recent times, there has been a continuous stream of books claiming to have discovered the "facts" about, or to unlock the secret or truth behind, the "once and future king". Broadly speaking, there are two Arthurs.

Dating to the ninth century BC, Homer’s timeless poem still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amidst devastation and destruction, as it moves inexorably to the wrenching, tragic conclusion of the Trojan War. Renowned classicist...

It's a typical family Christmas for the Plantagenets, complete with backstabbing, double-crossing, and rampant infidelity. James Goldman's brilliant historical drama pits King Henry II against the strong-willed Eleanor of Aquitaine, brought to life by Alfred Molina and Kathleen Chalfant. Recorded before a live audience at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, in December 2001.

Greek poet Homer established the standard for tales of epic quests and heroic journeys with The Odyssey. Crowded with characters, both human and nonhuman, and bursting with action, The Odyssey details the adventures of Ulysses, king of Ithaca and hero of the Trojan War, as he struggles to return to his home and his waiting, ever-faithful wife, Penelope.

There’s something Constance Middleton’s friends are dying to tell her: her husband is having an affair – with her best friend! Despite their hints, Constance remains ever cool, and seemingly oblivious. Or is she? In this biting comedy of manners, marriages and mistresses, Constance – a not-so-desperate housewife - has some ideas of her own about extra-marital activity that surprise everyone in the end!

The novel follows the headstrong and intelligent Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates the life lessons of first impressions and hasty judgments with appreciation for what defines genuine goodness. With an overbearing mother desperate to marry off her five daughters and a dryly sarcastic father exhausted by the high-strung hysterics of his wife, Elizabeth concerns herself with the fate of her sisters while also discovering what she thought to be disgust and distaste towards the insufferable Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy might just be something else after all.

In The Republic, Plato tackles the big issues of the state and the individual: how the state should be ruled, and by whom; and the way the individual should lead his life - and why. The lively quality of the dialogue can be clearly appreciated in this new translation by Tom Griffith.

In the beginning, the world is spoken into existence with one word: “Earth.” There are no inhabitants, and no sun—only the broad sky, silent sea, and sovereign Framer and Shaper. Then come the twin heroes Hunahpu and Xbalanque. Wielding blowguns, they begin a journey to hell and back, ready to confront the folly of false deities as well as death itself, in service to the world and to humanity. This is the story of the Mayan Popol Vuh, “the book of the woven mat,” one of the only epics indigenous to the Americas.

"The Complete Works of Homer" is a meticulously curated anthology that brings together the iconic masterpieces of ancient Greek literature – "The Iliad," "The Odyssey," and "The Homeric Hymns" – accompanied by captivating illustrations. Homer's epic narratives are renowned for their profound...

Легенда о Фаусте занимает особое место в истории человечества. Под пером Гёте драма о Фаусте, посвященная вечной теме познания жизни, стала вершиной мировой литературы.

Shakespeare combined his love of theater with Greek mythology and the supernatural to create what is arguably his most playfully imaginative work. From love potions to bizarre transformations to the unforgettable play-within-a-play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a non-stop delight, and remains one of the milestones of the Bard’s canon.

Antigone, daughter of Jocasta and Oedipus, faces great challenges when she must arrange a formal burial for her brother, Polynices. This rendition of Antigone by Sophocles is of the highest-caliber audio. It's completely unabridged. Enjoy the classic story of Antigone narrated to perfection.