Bleak House (version 3) by Charles DICKENS (1812 - 1870) Genre(s): General Fiction Read by: Mil Nicholson in English Chapters: 00:00:00 - 24 - Chapter 24 00:47:47 - 25 - Chapter 25 01:12:02 - 26 - Chapter 26 01:46:59 - 27 - Chapter 27 02:18:22 - 28 - Chapter 28 02:48:17 - 29 - Chapter 29 03:13:10 - 30 - Chapter 30 03:53:50 - 31 - Chapter 31 04:36:11 - 32 - Chapter 32 05:09:46 - 33 - Chapter 33 05:47:15 - 34 - Chapter 34 06:28:13 - 35 - Chapter 35 The Chancery Court had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including administration of estates, the guardianship of orphans, and disputed property disbursement. In Dickens' time, some cases could take years to be settled, changing the lives of those involved.Esther Summerson, a young woman raised in a tough and unloving atmosphere, is unexpectedly requested to be a companion to two teenage orphans, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare, for whom the court has appointed as guardian, John Jarndyce. They take up residence at Mr. Jarndyce's home, Bleak House. The story of their lives and fortunes is the main thrust of the novel, and is related at times through the eyes of Esther, whose gentle point of view gives the reader a different and more intimate perspective.Richard is sure his fortune is ‘just around the corner' when the case of Jarndyce-v-Jarndyce, of which he and Ada will be beneficiaries, is settled. He tries his hand at a career or two, but he becomes obsessed with hastening the probate of the willed fortune he feels must soon be theirs. Further difficulties arise when he and Ada fall in love, while he, penniless, continues the quest to bring his case to justice.A scriber of legal documents dies, and from his death, questions arise which unearth secrets that the Jarndyce's neighbour, Lady Dedlock, has kept hidden for years. Inspector Bucket enters the case, and begins investigating the disappearance of Lady Dedlock. In the dirt poor part of London comes a young boy called Joe who claims to ‘know noffink' but who has witnessed something very important.Several other colorful characters are wound into the story. Nearly insane Miss Flite, who for years has attended court every day, with her little folder of documents, is ever hopeful of a settlement. Mr. Boythorn is a boisterous friend of Jarndyce who has a vendetta with Sir Leicester Dedlock. The Jellyby Family, invariably on the verge of a disaster, is neglected by their Mother who is obsessed with an overseas project. The Smallweed family is mean and avaricious - squeezing money from poor clients. Mr. Skimpole is the childlike captivating friend of Mr. Jarndyce who sees no harm in living off everybody else. Mr. Guppy fawns after Esther, and plots to steal documents with his friend Weevle. Mr. Woodcourt is a gentle surgeon and family friend, who becomes a hero.Since the writing of Bleak House, the property laws of England were changed, and disbursements were thenceforth conducted in court with the object of swiftly coming to a settlement for the benefit of inheritors.(Summary by Mil Nicholson) More information: http://librivox.org/bleak-house-by-charles-dickens-2/

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony TROLLOPE (1815 - 1882) Genre(s): Crime & Mystery Fiction, Historical Fiction Read by: Laura Koskinen, Philippa, Notelrac, cvd, par2323, Hannah Dowell, Lee Ann Howlett, DianaJMB, Catherine Millward, TriciaG, Christine Blachford, skellie, Sage Tyrtle, Simon Evers, Andrew Coleman, Bethany Simpson, Mil Nicholson, Hoosemon, Maire Rhode, LC in English Chapters: 00:00:00 - 30 - Mr. Greystock's Troubles 00:21:46 - 31 - Frank Greystock's Second Visit to Portray 00:49:31 - 32 - Mr. and Mrs. Hittaway in Scotland 01:03:28 - 33 - 'It Won't Be True' 01:25:03 - 34 - Lady Linlithgow at Home 01:45:07 - 35 - Too Bad for Sympathy 02:09:01 - 36 - Lizzie's Guests 02:29:12 - 37 - Lizzie's First Day 02:57:37 - 38 - Nappie's Grey Horse 03:28:04 - 39 - Sir Griffin Takes an Unfair Advantage 03:38:00 - 40 - 'You Are Not Angry?' 03:49:06 - 41 - 'Likewise the Bears in Couples Agree' 04:11:01 - 42 - Sunday Morning 04:24:18 - 43 - Life at Portray 04:46:49 - 44 - A Midnight Adventure 05:08:04 - 45 - The Journey to London 05:25:16 - 46 - Lucy Morris in Brook Street 05:49:10 - 47 - Matching Priory 06:13:22 - 48 - Lizzie's Condition 06:26:35 - 49 - Bunfit and Gager 06:49:31 - 50 - In Hertford Street 07:10:27 - 51 - Confidence 07:23:41 - 52 - Mrs. Carbuncle Goes to the Theatre 07:51:35 - 53 - Lizzie's Sick-Room 08:19:38 - 54 - 'I Suppose I May Say a Word' 08:43:38 - 55 - Quints or Semitenths 08:55:19 - 56 - Job's Comforters 09:16:40 - 57 - Humpty Dumpty 09:43:06 - 58 - 'The Fiddle with One String' 09:54:10 - 59 - Mr. Gowran Up in London Lizzie Greystock, a fortune-hunter who ensnares the sickly, dissipated Sir Florian Eustace, is soon left a very wealthy widow and mother. While clever and beautiful, Lizzie has several character flaws; the greatest of these is an almost pathological delight in lying, even when it cannot benefit her. Before he dies, the disillusioned Sir Florian discovers all this, but does not think to change the generous terms of his will.The diamonds of the book's title are a necklace, a Eustace family heirloom that Sir Florian gave to Lizzie to wear. Lizzie attempts to hold onto them, much to the irritation of the longtime family lawyer, Mr Camperdown. The Eustaces find themselves in an awkward position. On the one hand, the diamonds are a valuable heirloom to which Lizzie may not have a legal claim, but on the other, they do not want to antagonize the mother of the heir to the family estate (Lizzie having only a life interest).Meanwhile, after a respectable period of mourning, Lizzie searches for another husband, and 'the plot thickens'. (Summary from Wikipedia)This is the third of Trollope's six 'Palliser' novels. LibriVox recordings of other novels in the series are available:1-Can You Forgive Her?2-Phineas Finn, the Irish Member3-The Eustace Diamonds4-Phineas Redux5-The Prime Minister6-The Duke's Children More information: http://librivox.org/the-eustace-diamonds-by-anthony-trollope/

No Surrender by Constance Elizabeth MAUD (1857 - 1929) Genre(s): Historical Fiction Read by: Lisa Reichert in English Chapters: 00:00:00 - 12 - Scene XI: A Crushed Butterfly 00:16:01 - 13 - Scene XII: Behind Prison Bars 00:45:03 - 14 - Scene XIII: In the Punishment Cell 01:34:21 - 15 - Scene XIV: Joe's Surrender 02:00:47 - 16 - L'Envoie. The Passing of the Women Written from the midst of the struggle for female suffrage, Constance Elizabeth Maud's novel No Surrender (1911) is a Call to Arms. It is a dramatic narrative portraying key players and historical events in the battle for the Vote for Women in Britain. Jenny Clegg is a Lancashire millgirl working long, hard hours under unhealthy conditions in order to support her mother and younger siblings, only to have her father take possession of her savings. In order to seek the rights to improved work conditions, equal pay, and many other human rights, she joins the movement of women seeking political representation. The perspectives of the genteel and working classes, men, as well as the Antis, are presented. (Summary by Lisa Reichert) More information: http://librivox.org/no-surrender-by-constance-elizabeth-maud/ LibriVox - free public domain audiobooks (https://librivox.org/)

Green Valley by Katharine Yirsa Reynolds (1883 - ?) Genre(s): Published 1900 onward Read by: Jim Locke, Janna Erikson, Dumple, Bethany Megill, TR Love, Carolyn Spencer-Kerridge, Gillian Hendrie, rex27, Renee More, springteacher in English Chapters: 00:00:00 - 20 - Chapter 20: CHRISTMAS BELLS 00:11:28 - 21 - Chapter 21: FANNY'S HOUR 00:33:18 - 22 - Chapter 22: BEFORE THE DAWN 00:44:30 - 23 - Chapter 23: FANNY COMES BACK 01:02:42 - 24 - Chapter 24: HOME AGAIN More information: https://librivox.org/green-valley-by-katharine-yirsa-reynolds/ LibriVox - free public domain audiobooks (https://librivox.org/)