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Enjoy the short stories of three of the greatest writers of French literature, for the first time together in audiobook and narrated in a lively way. Guy de Maupassant was an absolute master of the short story genre, delighting in clever plotting, concise style, and efficient storytelling, which he used to produce stunning pieces in a very condensed format. He produced more than 300 short stories; we selected for you 9 of the most bizarre, influent, humorous or plain shocking. They are in order: The Englishman of Etretat, The Mustache, A Mother of Monsters, A Portrait, A Widow, Madame Baptiste, The Drunkard, Magnetism, An Uncomfortable Bed. By Honoré de Balzac, The Unknown Masterpiece is a short text that was received as a revolution in the world of art, for its work about artistic creation: what does completion or failure mean, and how is it that technique does not guarantee either. Flaubert was known for his scrupulous devotion to his style, sometimes working for a whole week to achieve a single page. A Simple Soul is a short text containing a lifetime of human emotions. It has been said that no other author has imparted so much beauty and integrity to so modest an existence. This short story is utterly poignant and will change your view of selflessness.

This collection of audiobooks will help you understand a crucial part of the history of English 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. Portraits of Henry V, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Richard III and Elisabeth Ist.

Self-esteem is an essential survival tool and any lack of it must be treated very seriously. This series of relaxation exercices has been specifically designed to accompany you through the healing process of strenghtening your self-esteem. Learn to achieve relaxation and set aside gnawing problems, work on your positive self-image through guided active imagination, master the proven technique of color visualization for relaxation so that you can effectively recall and apply it whenever needed, and use active imagination to amplify your personal power.

Enjoy this collection of the best tales, fairy tales and stories with an animal cast, gathered for the entertainment and education of children of all age. From ancient Japanese legends to classic tales by Perrault and Andersen, through medieval folktales, you will discover many sides of culture. The Fables of La Fontaine also use animals, behaving as men to bring forth moral teachings and considerations about society. Jean de la Fontaine is the most famous French fabulist ever; he was recognized as one of the foremost men of letters of France, and his Fables are still learned by every child as an essential part of moral culture. Along with the other classic stories, we have collected for you a selection of his most striking fables, narrated by the best storytellers, for you to enjoy this compilation of the best animal tales and stories ever produced.

Expand your horizons with three stories from far-away countries, tales of timeless wisdom and a window to the soul of other cultures. These three stories are from the most different parts of the world, but all are food for thought and use powerful imagery to help children develop their intelligence and imagination. The first story is from India: the Alligator and the Jackal is a tale of cleverness, about which will defeat the other in a battle of wits. Sinbad the Sailor is taken from the Arabian Nights, or One Thousand and One Nights, as told by the great Scheherazade, and tells about the fantastic journeys of the folkloric hero. The White Stone Canoe is an American Indian legend, about the making of a ruler from the Iroquois tribe. All are narrated in a warm and lively manner, making it perfect for bedtime stories or entertainment at any hour.

Ali Baba is a character from the folk tale « Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves ». Ali Baba is a poor woodcutter who discovers the secret of a thieves' den, entered with the phrase "Open Sesame". The thieves learn this and try to kill Ali Baba, but Ali Baba's faithful slave-girl foils their plots. Ali Baba gives his son to her in marriage and keeps the secret of the treasure.This story is included in many versions of the One Thousand and One Nights. It is one of the most familiar of the "Arabian Nights" tales.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (commonly shortened to Alice in Wonderland) is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells the story of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar and anthropomorphic creatures. The tale is filled with allusions to Dodgson's friends. The tale plays with logic in ways that have given the story lasting popularity with adults as well as children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the 'literary nonsense' genre, and its narrative course and structure have been enormously influential, especially in the fantasy genre.

Classic tales and stories are an fundamental part of children's development. They connect with the essentials of our culture; they awaken imagination and bring essential teachings. This specially compilation includes classic folk tales, handed down over years and centuries for their elegance and power of evocation, and famous inspiring stories: The Story of Peter Pan, an adaptation of the play by James M. Barrie, The Three Little Pigs, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter, The Three Bears, Rapunzel, The Frog Prince, Tom Thumb, The Brave Tin Soldier, The Snow Man by Hans Christian Andersen, Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarves, Little Red Hood, Cinderilla, Beauty and the Beast, The Wolf and the Fox, and Bluebeard by Charles Perrault.

Arsene Lupin: one of the most famous and intriguing figures of French detective literature. He was created by Maurice Leblanc, a brilliant journalist, writer and storyteller, and is the hero of a total of 24 books, novels and short stories alike. The fictional gentleman thief is a master of disguise, a criminal genius and a moral figure well-set in righting a few wrongs himself when Justice can't be bothered. "The Extraordinary Life of Arsène Lupin in Prison", as per the original title, opens with a letter from Lupin to Baron Nathan Cahorn. Lupin demands the wealthy Baron send him several of his most precious valuables, or else... he will come and take everything. But Lupin is incarcerated in the famous La Santé Prison! When the deadline comes, detective Ganimard and his men keep a keen eye on the belongings... This series of audiobooks recorded by the best storytellers recaptures all the elegance and finesse of the beloved French criminal.

This collection brings together the best tales and stories for little boys. It includes folk tales, classic tales by Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Andersen, stories from Danmark, France, Italy, England, and the Arabian Nights; all these stories from around the world respond to boys' desire for exploration, feed their imagination, and help them develop their intelligence with timeless wisdom from every country. Enjoy the best tales and stories for boys, narrated in a warm and lively way: The Brave Tin Soldier, by Andersen; The Master Cat or Puss in Boots, by Charles Perrault; The Three Little Pigs; The Snow Man, a rare tale by Hans Christian Andersen; Blue Beard, by Charles Perrault; Tom Thumb; The Story of Peter Pan, adapted from the play by James M. Barrie; The Ugly Duckling, by Andersen; The Frog Prince; Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, from One Thousand and One Nights; The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids, an ancient folktale; The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by British author Beatrix Potter; and Pinocchio's Adventures in Wonderland, by Carlo Collodi.

Discover the endless fascination of ancient Arabian culture with six ancient tales we selected for you for their power of evocation, wisdom and humor. These stories are from the Arabian Nights, also known as One Thousand and One Nights, which is a collection of much more ancient folk tales, fairy tales and poems collected over the centuries. They come from ancient and medieval Arabic, Persian, Mesopotamian, Indian, and Egyptian folklore and literature. This makes The Arabian Nights a priceless treasure, as it takes us to the very roots of humanity's cultural treasures in a delightful and passionate way. Enjoy six of the the most charming stories told by Sheherazade: Sinbad the Sailor; The Enchanted Horse; Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves; Persevere and Prosper; The Story of Caliph Stork; and Aladdin.

The Extraordinary adventures of Arsène Lupin include one of the earliest forms of crossover, with the parodic "Sherlock Holmes arrives too late". This short story is a delightful confrontation between two legendary characters: Arsène Lupin, the most famous thief in the world of literature, daring, bold and elegant, and Sherlock Holmes, the clever detective from Baker Street. This episode engages them in a battle of wit, as Holmes is called to solve an ancient riddle and protect an art collection from the Gentleman Thief who expressed an unwelcome interest. On his way to meet the authorities, Holmes bumps into a hurrying stranger... This adventure has also been published as "Herlock Sholmès Arrives Too Late", for obvious copyright reasons. Enjoy the confrontation between two of the best minds in the world of fiction!

Beauty and the Beast (French: La Belle et la Bête) is a very famous traditional fairy tale written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. A wealthy widowed merchant lives in a mansion with his three daughters. All are equal in beauty, but the youngest, Beauty, is kind and pure of heart; while the two elders, in contrast, are wicked, selfish, vain and secretly taunt and treat Beauty more like a servant than a sister. The merchant eventually loses all of his wealth in a tempest at sea. One day, the merchant becomes lost in a forest. Seeking shelter, he enters a dazzling palace. A hidden figure opens the giant doors and silently invites him in. The merchant finds tables inside laden with food and drink, which seem to have been left for him by the palace's invisible owner. The merchant accepts this gift and spends the night there. The next morning as the merchant is about to leave, he sees a rose garden and recalls that Beauty had desired a rose. Upon picking the loveliest rose he can find, the merchant is confronted by a hideous "Beast" which tells him that for taking his most precious possession after accepting his hospitality, the merchant must die. The merchant begs to be set free, arguing that he had only picked the rose as a gift for his youngest daughter. The Beast agrees to let him give the rose to Beauty, but only if the merchant will return. The merchant is upset, but accepts this condition. Beauty says she wants to go to the Beast's castle. The Beast receives her graciously and informs her that she is now mistress of the castle, and he is her servant. He gives her lavish clothing and food and carries on lengthy conversations with her. Every night, the Beast asks Beauty to marry him, only to be refused each time. For several months, Beauty lives a life of luxury at the Beast's palace, having every whim catered to by servants, with no end of riches to amuse her and an endless supply of exquisite finery to wear...

A Kidnapped Santa Claus is a Christmas-themed short story by American writer L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; it has been called "one of Baum's most beautiful stories".The story opens with a quick overview of Santa's castle in the Laughing Valley. Its focus soon switches to the five Caves of the Daemons in nearby mountains. These creatures are pagan daemons rather than Christian demons, in that they are not servants of Satan or necessarily evil. Four of the five, the Daemons of Selfishness, Envy, Hatred, and Malice, certainly are bad, but the fifth, the Daemon of Repentance, is a more ambiguous figure.

Step into a world of adventures with this collection of timeless stories whose legendary heroes have become an essential part of humanity's cultural legacy. Follow Tom Thumb in his weird adventures, as the hero of the first fairy tale ever to be printed in English; marvel at the story of Peter Pan, adapted from the play by James M. Barrie; enjoy the narration of Cinderilla, Riquet with the Tuft, and Aladdin; shiver with fright as Jack the giant killer confronts and outwits terrible giants under King Arthur's reign; enjoy the best stories of the Arabian Nights with Sinbad the Sailor and Ali Baba. Hansel and Gretel is a cautionary tale; Perrault's The Master Cat or Puss in Boots is more humorous. Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarves, and Little Red Riding Hood, are universally beloved.

Tsar Alexander I was the grandson of Catherine the Great. He became Tsar after his father Paul I was murdered and ruled Russia during chaotic period of the Napoleonic Wars. In Russian history, he is known as "Alexander the Blessed." A legendary ruler, he led his country to one of her greatest triumphs, against Napoleon, although he was often viewed as an enigma by his contemporaries. Discover the life and struggles of one of the most influential rulers through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

Discover fundamentals of European culture with a selection of the best stories by Hans Christian Andersen, who is credited with some of the best fairy tales ever written. His stories are a delight for children of all ages; their elegance, wit, and themes transcending age and nationality, makes them suitable for little kids and adults alike. They have inspired numerous adaptations and are positively ageless. Discover or rediscover, narrated in a warm and lively way, the stories which have become a trademark signature of Danemark in European culture: The Brave Tin Soldier, The Little Match-Seller, The Snow Man, The Story of the Youth who went forth to learn what Fear was, The Elves and the Shoe-Maker, The Nightingale, The Princess and the Pea, The Red Shoes, The Toad, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's new Clothes.

The best Italian stories are those who capture our imagination and fill us with various delights. The Adventures of Pinocchio in Wonderland is a succession of various tales, each one very different from the others, in which the talking marionnette Pinocchio goes from mischievous adventure to enlightening redemption. All of these stories are considered a canonical piece of children's literature; they have inspired countless adaptations, such as Walt Disney's classic animation. It is one of the most translated and widely read works of literature ever written, and gave birth to popular pieces of wisdom such as a liar's long nose.

Jewish folklore is full of vivid stories that both entertain and teach. We have selected for you a collection of tales and stories from the Talmud and Midrash, and rewritten to suit the needs of children of Jewish culture and any other. Along with a large helping of gentle humor, these tales entertain while being infused with the perennial Jewish struggle for survival and dignity; children will discover tales of marvel, and learn about Jewish fundamental values, such as how the wise Rabbis of old took into account the necessities of the little ones. This audiobook rassembles the following stories, narrated in a lively way: From Shepherd-Boy to King; The Water-Babe; King for Three Days; The Beggar King; The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog; The Paradise in the Sea; The Magic Palace; The Sleep of One Hundred Years; The Fairy Frog; The Rabbi's Bogey-man.

The Battle of Thermopylae is without doubt the most famous battle in European ancient history. It has inspired many poems, stories, and movies, most recently Frank Miller's 300. Vastly outnumbered Greek soldiers fought with all their might and held off the Persian army for seven days, before the rear-guard was annihilated in one of history's most famous last stands. This battle is a perfect example of tactical optimization and a stunning demonstration of the advantages of training and equipment to maximize an army's potential. Discover the epic story of the Spartan soldiers who became a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds; relive the tale of treachery that lies behind the military feat, and understand the advantage freedom gives to an army when it is forced to become legendary.

Honoré de Balzac is one of the most renowned French novelists. His magnum opus, La Comédie Humaine (The Human Comedy) is a panorama of life in France in the years after the fall of Napoleon; his keen observation of detail, subtle psychology and unfiltered representation of society gave him his place as one of the founders and great masters of realism in European literature. His characters are complex, morally ambiguous and utterly real. The Conscript is one of the stories from the great collection making up the Human Comedy; it captures the human cost of revolution in a terribly touching way. Madame de Dey is a noble, rich widow whose son, an officer in the dragoons, has chosen to follow the Princes into exile. She remains behind in a precarious position to look after his fortune. She is now awaiting her son's arrival in disguise.

One Thousand and One Nights, also known as the Arabian Nights, is a collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories compiled during the Islamic Golden Age. The beautiful Sheherazade, threatened with death, manages to postpone the fatal day by telling one marvellous story every night. The stories themselves are folk tales, fairy tales and poems collected over many centuries, from ancient and medieval Arabic, Persian, Mesopotamian, Indian, and Egyptian folklore and literature. This makes The Arabian Nights a priceless treasure, as it takes us to the very roots of our culture in a delightful and passionate way. We have selected for you 5 of the most charming stories told by Sheherazade: Persevere and Prosper; The Story of Caliph Stork; The Enchanted Horse; Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves; and Sinbad the Sailor.

The Louvre is one of the largest museums ever built, and it is the most visited in the world. It hosts some of the most revered masterpieces from all history; it was home to kings and emperors, and it sits on legendary surroundings. Its riches are literally inhexaustible. This audiobook is designed to prepare your visit with the necessary elements for depth and meaning. It provides an overview of the history of the Louvre, which is itself a summary of the history of France. Each collection is then analyzed, with a highlight on the most interesting works of art. Each one of them will be presented in an original way, to help you appreciate its genuine importance and get the most pleasurable experience.

Snow Drop and the Seven Dwarfs also known as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves"is a German fairy tale, written by Brothers Grimm, known across much of Europe and is today one of the most famous fairy tales worldwide. A queen gives birth to a baby daughter, a girl with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. She is named 'Snow White'. Sadly, the Good Queen, Snow White's mother, dies during childbirth. After a year has passed, Snow White's father, the King, takes a new and second wife, who is very beautiful, but a wicked and vain woman. The new queen, Snow White's evil stepmother, possesses a magic mirror, which she asks every morning, "Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" The mirror always replies: "My Queen, you are the fairest one of all." The Queen is always pleased with that, because the magic mirror never lies. But as Snow White grows up, she becomes more beautiful each day and even more beautiful than the Queen, and when the Queen asks her mirror, it tells her that Snow White is the fairest. This gives the queen a great shock. She becomes yellow and green with envy and from that hour on, her heart turns against Snow White, and she hates her more and more each day. Envy and pride, like ill weeds, grow in her heart taller every day, until she has no peace day or night. Eventually, the Queen orders a huntsman to take Snow White into the deepest woods to be taken...

The Fairies is a classic folk tale by Charles Perrault. Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters. The elder was often mistaken for her mother, so like her was she both in nature and in looks. Both of them were so disagreeable and arrogant that no one could live with them. The younger girl, who was a true likeness of her father in the gentleness and sweetness of her disposition, was also one of the most beautiful girls imaginable. The mother doted on the elder daughter naturally enough, since she resembled her so closely; and she disliked the younger one just as intensely. She made her eat all her meals in the kitchen and work from morning till night. One of the poor child's many duties was to go twice a day and draw water from a spring a good half mile away, bringing it back in a large pitcher. One day when she was at the spring an old woman came up and begged for a drink...

The legend of the famous hero Robin Hood originates in dramatic pieces and ballads from the 15th century in England. His story has been given shape and retold through the centuries, and is still universally known to children nowadays. The Tales of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, as retold by Mary Macleod, is a faithful rendition of the original Middle-age legend full of colorful and moral adventures. It is read by Katie Haigh, for the delight of children and as well as adults sensitive to literary style.

Dance of Death is a prose poem in which Death laments over the cruel task God has given him. Engaging in a dialogue with Satan, and later Nero as one of Satan's first minions, Death suggests that of the two of them, Satan has the more enviable lot, as his work will one day be done and he will have rest. "Dance of Death" is impregnated with the spirit of romanticism, which had a powerful hold on the mind of Flaubert at the time of its writing. Its florid prose makes it a very interesting curiosity for the reader wishing to know a younger Flaubert, who would only later become the famous author of Madame Bovary.

Snow-White and Rose-Red is a German fairy tale written by Brothers Grimm. Snow-White and Rose-Red are two little girls living with their mother, a poor widow, in a small cottage. They are very good little girls, they love each other dearly, and their mother is very fond of them. Dark-haired Rose-Red is outspoken and cheerful and loves to play outside. Fair-haired Snow-White is quiet and shy and prefers doing housework and reading. One winter night, there is a knock at the door. Rose Red opens the door to find a bear. At first, she is terrified, but the bear tells her not to be afraid. "I'm half frozen and I merely want to warm up a little at your place," he says. They let the bear in, and he lies down in front of the fire. Snow-White and Rose-Red beat the snow off the bear, and they quickly become quite friendly with him. They play with the bear and roll him around playfully. They let the bear spend the night in front of the fire. In the morning, he leaves trotting out into the woods. The bear comes back every night for the rest of that winter and the family grows used to him. When summer comes, the bear tells them that he must go away for a while to guard his treasure from a wicked dwarf. During the summer, when the girls are walking through the forest, they find a dwarf whose beard is stuck in a tree. The girls rescue him by cutting his beard free, but the dwarf is ungrateful and yells at them for cutting his beautiful beard. The girls encounter the dwarf several times that summer, rescue him from some peril each time and the dwarf is ungrateful each time. Then one day, they meet the dwarf once again. This time, he is terrified because the bear is about to eat him...

August Strindberg belongs to the same generation of authors as the Russian Chekhov and the Norwegian Ibsen. Strindberg stands at the crossroads of such decisive influences as those of Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Schiller, Zola, Byron, or Freud's precursors such as Bernheim. He absorbed the aesthetic trends of his time, particularly naturalism. He is also a virtuoso painter, closely related to Edward Munch. All his writings bear witness to his life and bear the traces of his crises, his struggles, his revolts against a society of rigid conformism. Through his struggles, he extracts from himself a dark work that explores the distress of modern man. Kafka, the expressionists, and many contemporary authors strongly claim his legacy. Franz Kafka: "I feel better because I read Strindberg. I don't read him to read him, but to snuggle up to his chest... The huge Strindberg. This rage, these pages won with the strength of the fist... " Four of his short stories are presented in this audiobook : The German Lieutenant; Unwelcome; Over-refinement; Paul & Peter.

The Fables of Jean de La Fontaine were issued in several volumes from 1668 to 1694. They are classics of French literature. The Fables supply delights to three different ages: the child rejoices in the freshness and vividness of the story, the eager student of literature in the consummate art with which it is told, the experienced man of the world in the subtle reflections on character and life which it conveys. The Fables were regarded as providing an excellent education in morals for children, and the first edition was dedicated to the six-year old Dauphin, the Eldest Son of the King. Eventually the fables were learned by heart for such entertainments and afterwards they were adopted by the education system, not least as linguistic models as well. Most famous Fables are « The raven and the fox », « The frog that whished to be as big as the ox », « The city rat and the country rat », « The wolf and the dog », « The lion going to war », for example.