Interactive English

A timeless observation of the human condition from one of the best story writers in the history of world literature. Chekhov’s stream-of-consciousness technique that revolutionised modern literature and his characteristic mix of humour and poignancy unite the 11 stories featured in this collection: "A Tragic Actor", "In a Strange Land", "Oh the Public", "The Looking Glass", "Her Husband", "Overdoing It", "Talent", "Anyuta", "The Helpmate", "Ivan Matveyich", and "Polinka".

An iconic collection of fairy tales from the master of storytelling, Charles Perrault, including some of his best work: 'Little Red Riding Hood', 'The Sleeping Beauty', 'Puss in Boots', 'Little Thumb', 'Cinderella', 'Blue Beard', and 'Beauty and the Beast'. Read in English, unabridged.

Once upon a time there was a very beautiful doll's-house; it was red brick with white windows, and it had real muslin curtains and a front door and a chimney. One morning Lucinda and Jane had gone out for a drive in the doll's perambulator. There was no one in the nursery, and it was very quiet. Presently there was a little scuffling, scratching noise in a corner near the fire-place, where there was a hole under the skirting-board.

When Benjamin Bunny grew up, he married his Cousin Flopsy. They had a large family, and they were very improvident and cheerful. I do not remember the separate names of their children; they were generally called the Flopsy Bunnies.

Once upon a time there was a pussycat called Ribby, who invited a little dog called Duchess to tea.

Once upon a time there were three little kittens, and their names were Mittens, Tom Kitten, and Moppet. They had dear little fur coats of their own; and they tumbled about the doorstep and played in the dust. But one day their mother - Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit - expected friends to tea; so she fetched the kittens indoors, to wash and dress them, before the fine company arrived.

In the time of swords and periwigs and full-skirted coats with flowered lappets - when gentlemen wore ruffles and gold laced waistcoats of paduasoy and taffeta - there lived a tailor in Gloucester. He sat in the window of a little shop in Westgate Street, cross legged on a table, from morning till dark. All day long while the light lasted he sewed and snippeted, piecing out his satin and pompadour and lutestring; stuffs had strange names and were very expensive in the days of the tailor of Gloucester.

Once upon a time there was a frog called Mr. Jeremy Fisher; he lived in a little damp house amongst the buttercups at the edge of a pond. The water was all slippy-sloppy in the larder and in the back passage. But Mr. Jeremy liked getting his feet wet; nobody ever scolded him, and he never caught a cold!

Seaside and the sounds of ocean waves is one of the most relaxing experiences. Memories of holidays suddenly become alive and that perfect evening just after sunset when crickets start their gentle tunes. This audio recording features both those enigmatic ocean waves and relaxing evening song of seashore crickets.

Morning birdsong is both gentle and empowering. As birds and insects wake up in the bright rays of sunshine, they start their morning song. This morning song wakes and acts as warmup for all those wild creatures. Flatlands and grasslands provide habitat for many birds and insects. You can experience their morning chorus in this recording containing a variety of birds and ground insects.

The coyote is smaller than its close relative the gray wolf and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. The coyote holds title of being the most vocal of all wild North American mammals. Both strength and range of vocalizations are among the most complex among such animals. The familiar coyote howl is also known as its greeting song, which forms part of the final act of a complex greeting ceremony. It is the most iconic sound of the coyote.

Birdsong relaxes physically and stimulates cognitively at the same time. People find birdsong relaxing and reassuring because over thousands of years, they have learnt when the birds sing they are safe. This natural soundscape is productivity boosting and can be used at work to help focus, improve cognition and reduce tiredness. Gentle birdsong also masks unwanted background noise, hum, and conversation, which will help with reduction of tension and stress.

The most essential thing in the world to any individual is to understand himself. The next is to understand the other fellow. From this book you are going to learn which of the five types you are and how to get the best out of it. The alimentive type, or The Enjoyer, is discussed in this volume as well as all key principles of human analysis. Read in English (unabridged).

This volume of Chekhov stories offers a unique selection, each touching upon fundamentally important subjects such as the purpose and value of life, what it takes to be human, eternal life and higher objectives of human life, happiness, guilt and romance.

Doctors and kind relations will succeed in stupefying mankind, in making mediocrity pass for genius and in bringing civilisation to ruin. Kovrin is a gifted man, well educated. Following the advice of his doctor, he decides to leave his busy city lifestyle and travels to recover his health in a beautiful family country estate. There he meets this mystical and prophetic Black Monk, a character from an ancient legend, which he thinks is nothing more than a hallucination.

The poignant, everyday dramas of imperial Russia with subtle sound effects, including music by Pyotr Tchaikovskiy, and the Russian-sounding narrator adds credibility and authenticity to the listening.

Featuring: Talent, Anyuta, The Helpmate, Ivan Matveyitch, and Polinka.

Read in English by Max Bollinger (unabridged) and accompanied by Tchaikovskiy piano music.

Subtle humour is one of the key elements in Chekhov's imaginative stories. But as an artist, Chekhov is more complicated. He paints life with all its nuances and shades of grey. His stories are full of characters who give us invaluable insight into universal wisdom of everyday life - civilised professionals, enlightened misfits, philanthropic gentry, rich landowners and impoverished royalty holding candles for reason, justice and passion.

This volume offers a contrasting selection of stories and tales from the master of psychology Fyodor Dostoyevsky and heartwarming storyteller Beatrix Potter. The collection includes 'An Honest Thief' and 'The Peasant Marey' by Fyodor Dostoyevsky; and 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit', 'The Tale of Benjamin Bunny' and 'The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies' by Beatrix Potter. Read in English, unabridged.

A collection of short stories by Anton Chekhov, featuring "A Tragic Actor", "In a Strange Land", "Oh the Public", "The Looking Glass", "Her Husband", and "Overdoing It".

These stories are small masterpieces. The scene is set quickly, and within a few sentences the storyline is underway. But all seem to contain elements of the unexpected.

Fairy tales are rarely written exclusively for children. They offer a variety of strong characters, themes and challenges as well as an insight into the mystery of the soul. These tales often contain profound truths that survived many hundreds of years and a universal appeal that makes them both enjoyable and enlightening. Modern concepts of mindfulness can often be found as original themes among these tales.