Engelske bøger

It is as great an offence against a child to starve his mind as to starve his body. The Astorg Audiobook collection means to bring together the fairy tales, stories, myths and legends which have fed the children of many generations in the years when the imagination is awakening and craving stimulus and material to work upon. These two stories are folk tales from the Slavic world; discover the stories and culture from Eastern Europe to Central Asia, recorded by the best storytellers for the enjoyment of children and adults alike. We put together two of the most charming stories from the Slavic culture: The Twelve Months, and The Two Brothers.

Just So stories is a classic of children's literature, and one of Rudyard Kipling's best known books. It was published in 1902, as a collection of the stories he told his daughter Josephine at bedtime; the little girl insisted that the stories be told "just so" or she would wake up and add the missing sentence, eventually making all these stories like charms, effective if untouched. They depict how one animal or another acquired its distinctive features: delight your children with the tale of how the camel got his lump, how the leopard got his spots, and why rhinos have folds in their skins and bad tempers, among many others read by Katie Haigh.

‘600 Quotations from the Great Writers of the 17th Century’ features the wit and wisdom of some of the 17th century’s greatest-ever writers, including Miguel de Cervantes, novelist and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, French playwright Jean Racine, and English playwright William Shakespeare, one of the most quoted people in the world.This carefully curated compilation is motivating, insightful, and entertaining and will delight those who are looking for an extra dose of inspiration.Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) is renowned for his best-selling novel ‘Don Quixote’, which has been adapted for TV and film on many occasions. German poet and playwright, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), is the author of the acclaimed ‘Metamorphosis of Plants’ and ‘Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship’.French playwright Jean Racine (1639-1699) is one of the greatest playwrights of the 17th century and the author of ‘Phèdre’, ‘Andromaque’, and ‘Athalie’. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is considered one of the most famous English playwrights and the author of ‘Hamlet’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Romeo & Juliet. His works continue to entertain and inspire to this day.

The concept of mindfulness has been an essential part of life in Oriental societies for centuries. It is a fundamental key to awakening and living one's own life in full conscience, as opposed to the pointless suffering one can experience through the hectic pace of Western ways of life. This series of mindfulness exercices will introduce you to the most simple and powerful techniques. They are essential for beginning one's work in mindfulness, and will benefit more advanced practicioners by enhancing one's powers of concentration, visualization, and general awareness. Step in now for a more enlightened life on your own terms.

On the top of the tower is a short story in the « The Eight Strokes of the Clock » collection of eight short stories by Maurice Leblanc. Their main character: Arsène Lupin, the beloved gentleman thief, one of the most famous characters of the detective genre. All eight stories are independent but brought together by a leading thread. Posing as Prince Rénine, Lupin uses his legendary wit to free a young woman from a tedious destiny before having her make him a promise: she will become his bride if together, they manage to solve seven other mysteries before the eighth stroke of the clock, three months from then. This adventure will lead them from fearsome foes to tricky riddles, each more mysterious than the last. How was a box set on fire when nobody was in the room? How was a man stabbed in the back when nobody went into or out of his cottage after he entered it? Why are women being systematically murdered with identical hatchet blows to the forehead, several months apart? And when an insane killer threatens his beloved, the world's greatest thief will stop at nothing to catch him. Enjoy Leblanc's Eight Strokes of the Clock in top-quality narration: On the Top of the Tower, The Water Bottle, Therese and Germaine, The Lady with the Hatchet, Footprints in the Snow, At the Sign of Mercury.

Jack and the Beanstalk is an English fairy tale, the best known of the "Jack tales", a series of stories featuring an archetypal English hero. According to scholarly research, this particular tale takes its roots in ancient stories told more than 5000 years ago, in which a boy steals an ogre's treasure. In this tale, Jack is a poor boy sent by his mother to the market to sell their dairy cow. He encounters a bean dealer who sells him magic beans; upon seeing him return with a few beans and no money, his mother is desperate, throws the beans on the ground and sends him to bed without supper. In the morning, they discover the beans have sprouted a fabulous beanstalk that would lead a climber to a land high in the sky... This classic tale is told by Katie Haigh, for the pleasure of children and adults alike.

This collection of audiobooks will help you understand a crucial part of the history of French monarchy. For each King, you will find a detailed description of the style of his reign and his political achievements, narrated in a lively way.

This series of exercices is specially designed to help you overcome shyness, boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem, through simple and proven techniques. Self-esteem is an absolutely essential part of our survival. Without it, we are at risk of self-defeating behavior or unhealthily negative feelings. Through guided visualization and relaxation techniques, these exercices will help you overcome anxiety while easily improving your confidence and social skills. Listen to these exercises whenever you need to alleviate anxiety in link to social situations, for healing or for maintaining self-esteem in a time of stress and tension.

Jack the Giant Killer is a British fairy tale in which a young man uses clever tricks to outwit terrible giants and rid the country of the threat they pose. The tale is set during King Arthur's reign. The witty Jack encounters terrible giants, each one more threatening and dangerous than the others. They devour cattle, emprison women, and maintain the country in a state of fear and confusion; but, armed only with his brain and a few magical objects he gathered, Jack will gain the advantage and slay the monsters. This is a classic tale, of which child psychologist Bruno Bettleheim observed that it could play a crucial role in child development: the giants can represent the towering adults, and Jack's legend may give the child a way of retaliating in fantasy against their threatening dominance in reality.

Peter the Great ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire, leading a cultural revolution based on the Enlightenment, modernizing and rationalizing the Russian social and political system. "All his qualities, indeed, were on a colossal scale. His rage was cyclonic: his hatred rarely stopped short of extermination. His banquets were orgies, his pastimes convulsions. He lived and he loved like one of the giants of old". Discover the life and struggles of one of the most influential rulers through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

‘Lupin's Marriage, the Confessions of Arsène Lupin’ is a classic crime caper by the French writer Maurice Leblanc, featuring his famous gentleman-thief turned detective, Arsène Lupin.Referred to as the French ‘Sherlock Holmes and the inspiration behind the Netflix TV series ‘Lupin’, the criminal genius and master of disguise looks back on his action-packed adventures in this ten-story collection: ‘Confessions of Arsène Lupin’.The other stories in this compilation are: ‘Two Hundred Thousand Francs Reward’, ‘The Wedding Ring’, ‘The Infernal Trap’, ‘The Sign of the Shadow’, ‘The Red Silk Scarf’, ‘Shadowed by Death’, ‘A Tragedy in the Forest of Morgues’, ‘The Invisible Prisoner’ and ‘Edith Swan-Neck’.Full of villains to outsmart and ladies to save, these classic nail-biting mysteries are perfect for fans of the Netflix TV series ‘Lupin’ and Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ stories.Maurice Leblanc (1864 - 1941) was a French author and journalist, whose literary legacy consists of novels and short stories. Although he wrote two well-received science fiction books, he was most famous for his gentleman thief adventure series, ‘Arsène Lupin’ who was considered a French counterpart to Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective ‘Sherlock Holmes’.A whip-smart, witty, and roguishly handsome master of disguise, Lupin became an international success and saw Leblanc write over 60 crime novels and short stories featuring his French detective. The books inspired the hit Netflix TV series ‘Lupin’ starring Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, and Clotilde Hesme.He was awarded the Légion d'Honneur for his services to literature.

This collection of audiobooks will help you understand a crucial part of the history of French monarchy. For each King, you will find a detailed description of the style of his reign and his political achievements, narrated in a lively way.

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 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. She seeks refuge and confession in a monastery, only to discover the monks are perverts and to be forced to become their sex-slave; she tries to help a gentleman getting robbed in a field, but he eventually imprisons her in his dungeon, subjugating her to various sexual punishments... All of this is narrated by Justine herself, on her way to the gallocks. Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the arrest of the anonymous author of Justine and Juliette, and as a result Sade was incarcerated for the last 13 years of his life. The book's destruction was ordered by the Cour Royale de Paris on May 19, 1815.

Louis Philippe (1773–1850) is France's first "constitutional monarch", having being properly elected by the National Assembly. He lived through the French Revolution, during which he saw his brother and sister-in-law, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, guillotined by extreme revolutionaries. Then, Napoleon Bonaparte seized the throne, declared himself emperor, and began the conquest of Europe; after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, France welcomed Louis Philippe back as an elected King. His reign was based on the principle of union of king and people, and marked the first real shift away from the "divine right to rule" approach to kingship; as such, Louis Philippe is the best embodiment of the passage from the Ancien Regime to the truly modern world. This collection of audiobooks will help you understand a crucial part of the history of French monarchy. For each King, you will find a detailed description of the style of his reign and his political achievements, narrated in a lively way.

Ivan IV the Terrible was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547, then Tsar of All the Russias until his death in 1584. He transformed Russia from a medieval state into an empire, though at immense cost to its people, and its broader, long-term economy. He was described as intelligent and devout, yet given to rages and prone to episodic outbreaks of mental instability that increased with his age. In one such outburst, he killed his son and heir Ivan Ivanovich, which left his younger son, pious but politically ineffectual, to inherit the throne. Discover the life and struggles of this influential ruler through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's best dramatist. His plays have been translated into every major language, and are the most performed ever. His work contains stunningly modern insight, witty jokes and soaring passion; it is an endless source of amazement and inspiration. We have selected for you the best quotes ever written by one of the greatest literary figures to have ever walked on earth, from Hamlet to Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet to the Tempest, and from every other play in existence: Othello, King Lear, and the historical dramas, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Julius Caesar, Henry VIII, King Lear. Enjoy the force and passion of this fondation of literature and culture; get to know the Bard more intimely as you gain food for thought and enjoyable references.

Mornings set the whole day's beat: it is up to you to seize the opportunity of living a more relaxed and enjoyable life. This series of exercices are designed to take part in your personal morning routine, one or more at a time, as healthy habits to shape your way to success. Increase your self-esteem, become more relaxed and playful, learn mindfulness and improve your visualization skills through a journey of the senses, gain focus and presence through your whole day with proven and efficient techniques that will lead you to a more enlightened life.

The myth of King Midas is a cautionary tale about the dangers of believing that gold should be coveted above all things, and the foolishness of wishing without thinking. It appeared in Ovid's Metamorphosis, and has inspired many works of art and literature through the centuries. This is a retelling of the complete tale of the King with the Golden Touch, from the Gordian knot to the ears of an ass, in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

The bar was high after the glorious reign of the Sun King. Louis XV, his successor, had a difficult time driving the country through religious disputes, intellectual shifts and economical hardness. This eventually led to a steep economic decline, which played an important role in the reaction of the French people against the monarchy, and eventually gave way to the French Revolution. This collection of audiobooks will help you understand a crucial part of the history of French monarchy. For each King, you will find a detailed description of the style of his reign and his political achievements, narrated in a lively way.

Meditation has been scientifically proven to help alleviate pain, increase willpower and efficiency, and generally enhance satisfaction by bringing clarity and focus into everyday decisions. Long before that, it was agreed that its techniques were the basis for living a more empowered and enlightened life: the more consciousness one achieves, the easier it is to free oneself from the unconscious influences that can shape our behavior against our will. This album is the result of a careful compilation of every essential meditation tool for beginners. Simple yet powerful, they are easy to learn and provide you with a wide panel of techniques to help you shape your own daily meditation ritual and enjoy all the benefits of advanced practice. From breathing awareness to mantra meditation techniques, basic, intermediate and advanced Zen techniques, guided chakra meditations and visualizations: 21 tracks to guide you towards mastering all meditation essentials.

Tsar Nicholas I was the younger brother of his predecessor, Alexander I. He "came to represent autocracy personified: infinitely majestic, determined and powerful, hard as stone, and relentless as fate". He inherited his brother's throne despite a revolt against him, and went on to become the most reactionary of all Russian leaders, leading an agressive policy involving many expensive wars. Discover the life and struggles of this influential ruler through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

‘600 Quotations from the Great Writers of the 20th Century’ features the wit and wisdom of some of the 20th Century’s greatest writers and minds.A cherry-picked selection, the collection includes quotes from the likes of famous Irish poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde, American-Lebanese writer and poet Khalil Gibran, Winston Churchill, Britain’s celebrated prime minister, and many more.An entertaining and inspiring compilation of their best quotes, ‘600 Quotations from the Great Writers of the 20th Century’ is ideal for those interested in an extra boost of inspiration throughout their day.Young Jewish refugee Anne Frank (1929-1945) is famous for her diaries that detailed her attempts to hide from the Nazi’s in German-occupied Amsterdam. Winston Churchill (1874-1965) is the charismatic and oft-quoted, British Prime Minister that led the country to victory over Nazi Germany in the second World War. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) is one of the most celebrated writers in history and is best known for his novel ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’.The Austrian novelist and biographer Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) was one of the most famous authors throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Born in France, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944) was a writer and journalist, best known for his novella ´The Little Prince´. Khalil Gibran (1883-1931) was a Lebanese-American author and philosopher, best remembered for his prose poetry fable ´The Prophet´.

William Shakespeare, Plato, Buddha, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Napoleon Bonaparte are just some of the famous names that make up this collection of 500 famous quotes.With ancient sages, politicians, military leaders, philosophers, and physicists imparting their wisdom, this carefully crafted compilation will not only develop your cultural knowledge but entertain, amuse, and inspire you too.´Develop your General Culture in 1000 Quotes´ will delight those who would like a boost of cultural literacy.William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was one of the greatest English poets, playwrights, and actors. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900) is regarded as one of the 19th-century philosophers to have had a lasting effect on contemporary philosophy. Sun Tzu (544 BC-496 BC) was a Chinese philosopher and military general who influenced Western and East Asian philosophy with his work ´The Art of War´. Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher who founded the Platonist school of thought. He is considered a key figure in the history of Ancient Greek and Western philosophy.Lao Zi (1368 – 1644) is credited as the founding father of Taoism. Thought to have lived at the same time as Confucius, he wrote the Tao Te Ching. Gautama Buddha (480 BCE – 400 BCE) was an aristocrat who eschewed materialism, in favour of spiritual reflection. He is the founder of Buddhism. Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) was a theoretical physicist, who is best remembered for developing the Theory of Relativity.Born in England, Winston Churchill (1874-1965) served as the British Prime Minister during WWII. Confucius (551 BCE–479 BCE) was born in China. His profound teachings established Confucianism, which promotes personal and societal morality. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was a French military leader during the French Revolution.

William Shakespeare, Plato, Buddha, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Napoleon Bonaparte are just some of the famous names that make up this collection of 500 famous quotes.With ancient sages, politicians, military leaders, philosophers, and physicists imparting their wisdom, this carefully crafted compilation will not only develop your cultural knowledge but entertain, amuse, and inspire you too.´Develop your General Culture in 500 Quotes´ will delight those who would like a boost of cultural literacy.William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was one of the greatest English poets, playwrights, and actors. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900) is regarded as one of the 19th-century philosophers to have had a lasting effect on contemporary philosophy. Sun Tzu (544 BC-496 BC) was a Chinese philosopher and military general who influenced Western and East Asian philosophy with his work ´The Art of War´. Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher who founded the Platonist school of thought. He is considered a key figure in the history of Ancient Greek and Western philosophy.Lao Zi (1368 – 1644) is credited as the founding father of Taoism. Thought to have lived at the same time as Confucius, he wrote the Tao Te Ching. Gautama Buddha (480 BCE – 400 BCE) was an aristocrat who eschewed materialism, in favour of spiritual reflection. He is the founder of Buddhism. Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) was a theoretical physicist, who is best remembered for developing the Theory of Relativity.Born in England, Winston Churchill (1874-1965) served as the British Prime Minister during WWII. Confucius (551 BCE–479 BCE) was born in China. His profound teachings established Confucianism, which promotes personal and societal morality. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was a French military leader during the French Revolution.

A French political philosopher and politician, Alexis de Tocqueville's works are now considered early examples of sociology and political science.They include many of his famous insights, such as "Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom." and "There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult - to begin a war and to end it."A carefully selected collection that contains 100 of Tocqueville’s most celebrated quotes, this book will delight those interested in the musings of one of the most notable French political philosophers.Alexis de Tocqueville, (1805 - 1859) was a French political philosopher, historian, and politician, best known for writing ‘Democracy in America’ (1835–40) and ‘The Old Regime and the Revolution’ (1856). Both works explored the effects of improving social conditions on the individual and the state in western society, and are now considered early examples of sociology and political science.Tocqueville was named Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) in 1837, and in 1838 was elected to the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. In 1841, he was elected to the Académie Française.

‘100 Quotes by Ambrose Bierce’ is a selection of thoughts, observations, and sayings by one of the most inventive minds of the 19th century.Bierce’s obsession with the preposterousness of death takes centre stage, shot through with pithy humour, and comments on human nature.A superb read for fans of horror and historical fiction alike, this book is an excellent addition to any library.Born in Ohio, Ambrose Bierce (1842 – 1914) became one of the most influential writers in American literary history. After fighting in the American Civil War, where he got severely wounded, Bierce moved to San Francisco.A writer for ‘Hearst Magazines’ until 1909, Bierce carved out a formidable reputation as a journalist, with his experiences in the Civil War laying the foundations for many of his literary works. His style highlighted the futility of war and questioned the importance of dying for beliefs, rather than knowledge.In addition to writing about the gritty absurdities of war, Bierce became a respected writer of horror, his stories acting as inspiration for various TV shows and films, including ‘The Twilight Zone,’ and ‘Old Gringo,’ starring Jane Fonda and Gregory Peck.

From Disney's animated version from 1950 to the 2021 live-action adaptation starring Camila Cabello, ´Cinderella´ is the beloved fairy tale of a young woman turned princess overnight.When her father dies, Cinderella becomes the servant of her stepmother and her two stepsisters.Her dream is to go to the ball given by the prince. With the help of her fairy aunt, she finds herself wonderfully dressed and can attend the ball until midnight.However, when the second chime of the clock rings out, Cinderella rushes off, leaving behind a slipper and an enamoured prince.There are many maidens in the kingdom. Will the prince manage to find the foot that fits the slipper?´Cinderella´ is perfect for fans of ´A Cinderella Story´ starring Hilary Duff and ´The Princess Diaries´ starring Anne Hathaway.Charles Perrault (1628-1703) was a famous and influential French author and one of the most well-known authors of fairy tales. Perrault is often credited as one of the early adopters of the literary genre, even setting the stage for authors such as the Brothers Grimm a century later.Other famous fairy tales written by Charles Perrault include ´The Little Red Riding Hood´, ´Bluebeard´, ´Puss in Boots´, and ´The Sleeping Beauty´. Igniting the imagination of children from all over the world, Perrault's tales continue to entertain people today.

The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, or more simply Don Quixote, is one of the most influential works of literature from a Spanish author. It is one of the earliest canonical novels, and is regularly cited as the best work of fiction ever published. A nameless hidalgo read so many chivalric romances that he loses his sanity and decides to set out into the world as a knight, to bring justice under the name Don Quixote. The delusional hidalgo then recruits a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, whose unique wit proves a marvelous addition to Don Quixote's idealistic bouts. This audio edition of a literary masterpiece brings you one of the funniest and most profound texts ever written, in a convenient format.Don Quixote has been portrayed on screen many times, including most recently in Terry Gilliam's spoof movie 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote', starring Adam Driver and Stellan Skarsgard. In 2000, John Lithgow, Bob Hoskins and Isabella Rossellini starred in 'Don Quixote'.Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) was a Spanish writer whose epic novel 'Don Quixote' made his name.The story is regarded as the first modern novel and one of the greatest books of all time.As is often the case with writers and artists of his time, Cervantes spent most of his life in poverty.He left Spain for Rome in 1569 to work for a cardinal, before joining the Spanish Navy, being badly wounded in 1571, then being captured by Barbary pirates and held for five years before being ransomed.He worked as a purchasing agent, then a tax collector, and his first novel, 'La Galatea', was published in 1585.His other works included '12 Exemplary Novels', 'The Travails of Persiles and Sigismunda' and the epic poem 'Journey to Parnassus'.'Don Quixote' was published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615.

Take a tour through nine of the finest minds of all time, with ‘900 Quotations from Modern Philosophy.’With words of wisdom, reflections, and observations on everything from life and love to death and hatred, and everything in between, this is a superb book for those looking for inspiring and self-questioning thoughts to gain a new perspective on our existence.A superb read for fans of modern philosophy and those who simply want something fascinating to dip in and out of.Michel de Montaigne (1533 – 1592) was a French philosopher, who pioneered the use of essays as a literary device. Montesquieu (1689 – 1755) was also French, whose writing had a huge influence on political systems. Voltaire (1694 – 1778), also from France, was one of the founders of the French Enlightenment movement. Niccolò Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) was an Italian diplomat who excused the use of unscrupulous means in politics.Born in Geneva, Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 – 1778) was a spearhead in the European Enlightenment movement. Born in Germany, Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) was another central figure of Enlightenment philosophy, as was Dutchman, Baruch Spinoza (1632 – 1677). Born in France, Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662) was a fideistic philosopher, while Francis Bacon (1909 – 1992) is best known as an existential artist.

From evil stepsisters and big bad wolves to anthropomorphic cats and murderous noblemen, this collection offers a selection of the best fairy tales by the iconic french author Charles Perrault.Enter into Perrault's magical world in this wondrous collection which includes the five following tales: ´Little Red Riding Hood´, ´Cinderella´, ´Puss in Boots´, ´Sleeping Beauty´, and ´Bluebeard´.Relive some of your favourite fairy tales with this timeless collection that will delight fans of H.C. Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.Charles Perrault (1628-1703) was a famous and influential French author and one of the most well-known authors of fairy tales. Perrault is often credited as one of the early adopters of the literary genre, even setting the stage for authors such as the Brothers Grimm a century later.Famous fairy tales written by Charles Perrault include ´Cinderella´, ´The Little Red Riding Hood´, ´Bluebeard´, ´Puss in Boots´, and ´The Sleeping Beauty´. Igniting the imagination of children from all over the world, Perrault's tales continue to entertain people today.