Showing results by publisher "InAudio" in Romance

Margaret Hale, a 19-year-old girl, is returning to her family’s village after living with her aunt for nearly a decade. Her life is quickly thrown into upheaval upon her return, as her father leaves his vocation as a pastor in the Church of England, and their family is scorned for dissenting.

Published a year before her death at the age of 30, Emily Bronte's only novel is set in the wild, bleak Yorkshire Moors. Depicting the relationship of Cathy and Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights creates a world of its own, conceived with an instinct for poetry and for the dark depths of human psychology. Emily Jane Bronte was born July 30, 1818 at Thornton in Yorkshire. Emily's mother died in 1821 and her two eldest sisters died in 1825, leaving Emily, her brother and two sisters to be raised by their aunt. Later all three daughters were to publish poems and stories.

Isabel Archer is a young woman who has inherited a large sum of money after the death of her father. She is invited to visit her aunt and uncle’s estate in London, where she is greeted by a cast of eclectic neighbors, many of whom offer her marriage very quickly due to her status. Isabel is set on maintaining independence though and refuses several offers of marriage as she lives in pursuit of her destiny. Eventually, she does fall prey to the people trying to gain her fortune and settles into an unhappy marriage with an egotistical man named Gilbert Osmond.

As his tale begins, Orlando is a passionate young nobleman whose days are spent in rowdy revelry, filled with the colourful delights of Queen Elizabeth's court. By the close, he will have transformed into a modern, thirty-six-year-old woman and three centuries will have passed. Orlando will not only witness the making of history from its edge, but will find that his unique position as a woman who knows what it is to be a man will give him insight into matters of the heart.

The first of Homer's epic poems tells of the counsel of Nestor, Achilles' slaying of Hector, and the defeat of the Trojans by the Greeks.

In the greatest novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald, listeners can be transported back to that world to experience both the highs and lows of the time. These novels incorporated Fitzgerald’s own life experiences to give listeners a firsthand view of what life truly was like for his generation.

Jane Austen was born in Steventon, England, in 1775, where she lived for the first 25 years of her life. Her father, George Austen, was the rector of the local parish, and provided most of her education in their home. She began to write while in her teens and completed the original manuscript of Pride and Prejudice First Impressions, between 1796 and 1797. Pride and Prejudice was published in January 1813, two years after Sense and Sensibility, her first novel.

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw is the fascinating tale of Henry Higgins, a professor of speech and phonetics who takes on the task of teaching Eliza Doolittle, a lower-class flower seller, how to "act like a lady".

In the teeming city of medieval Paris lives Quasimodo, a man born with a hunchback who lives in the Notre Dame Cathedral as a bell ringer. He is treated despicably by everyone around him, save for Esmeralda, a beautiful woman who has attracted the eyes of many in Paris. His love for Esmeralda will drive him to do daring feats of bravery to keep her safe from the world and those who would harm her, even if it leads to his own undoing.

Tess of the d’Urbervilles is a complex and impactful novel by Thomas Hardy. The novel follows the life of Tess, the eldest child of a family who believes they have a small claim to royalty because of their family name. When misfortune hits the family, Tess takes it upon herself to seek out a wealthier relative and ask for money, but instead is taken into the service of a libertine, who takes advantage of her situation and youth.

Persuasion follows Anne Elliot, a strong young woman, as she is reacquainted with her once-fiance, Frederick Wentworth. In Austen’s beloved witty writing, the story follows the duo and their families as they face financial troubles, crisscrossed relationships, the strong emotions of jealousy and unrequited affection, and the societal pressures of the age.

The two oldest Dashwood sisters approach romance differently. One impulsively jumps into love while the other is far more prudent. When tragedy strikes they find themselves searching for suitable husbands. Elinor feels ill-equipped to compete with the self-centred, fortune-driven society she finds herself in, whilst Marianne's unshakeable belief in her own feelings makes her susceptible to the designs of unscrupulous men. Can they find true love?

The Blue Castle is a novel full of humour and romance. It tells the story of a woman named Valency and her discovery of a new world of love and happiness. Valency escapes the clutches of her overbearing family and finds solace in her new friendships and new surroundings.

The Picture of Dorian Gray centers on the character of Dorian Gray, a handsome young man who is the muse for a talented painter. Dorian wishes for a painting of himself to take on the effects of aging instead of him so he can give into any vice he wants - and his wish comes true. The novel follows Dorian Gray’s life of giving into every temptation and moral malfeasance that come his way, ranging from smaller vices like vanity and dishonesty all the way to debauchery and murder.

Agnes Grey is a young woman determined to prove to her family that she is mature and able to contribute financially to the household when her father’s investment plan goes awry. Agnes seeks out placements as a governess, and her jobs takes her between wealthy households far from home with unruly children and untidy houses.

Catherine’s favorite genre to read is Gothic fiction, a romanticized, dark, and mysterious genre. As Catherine grows older and begins to meet more of the world outside of her family to increase her social circle, her imagination begins to get the better of her. Everyday scenarios become romanticized and dramatic, natural deaths become mysterious, and innocent motives are questioned as Catherine fancies herself a character in a Gothic drama. Catherine’s naivete and escapism are what holds her back from maturing into an adult.

Mansfield Park was Jane Austen’s third novel, and is often stated to be her most mature. The complex love entanglements, mature situations, and familial drama are common in Austen’s literature, but Mansfield Park is one of the most complex of her novels. The book has been lauded for its challenging of the conservative values of the age, and for its masterful artistry which cleverly disguises the social commentary within.

Lady Susan charms everyone she meets - particularly the men - and is keen on toying with emotions for her own amusement. The novel, told in letters between various characters, follows Lady Susan’s escapades and influences on her family, and the affects that her presences has on their individual trysts and ties to one another.

In provincial France lives Charles Bovary, a doctor who is in an unhappy marriage, and Emma Roualt, the daughter of a farmer who wishes for a more exciting life. Emma has spent time reading about luxurious lives and whirlwind romances in novels and longs for the day she’ll experience such a life. When this pair crosses paths, there is immediate connection and excitement, and the two are married. But Emma soon finds out that her life is not going to be like her books and finds that married life is less exciting than she had hoped.

Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility is a classic staple of English literature. Published in 1811, this novel tells the story of the Dashwood ladies - Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret - as their family is forced to move to a new estate. Elinor and Marianne, the oldest of the trio, come of age in a tumultuous time, and the novel focuses on their romances, tribulations, and relationships with one another as they grow up.