#1622: Chs. 9-16, Bk. 4, On Christian Doctrine by St. Augustine

On Christian Doctrine continues, with more talk about how Christian teachers should talk.

Book 4, Chs. 9-16.

30:25.

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#1621: Part 1, Prologue, Confessio Amantis by John Gower

Gower’s Confessio Amantis is a great classic of English literature and poetry, and nobody reads it.

Until now. (cue ominous music)

I had to do something. All Browning’s blank verse is driving me insane. So welcome to my best Middle English, which stinks for accuracy but ought to be intelligible. Gower is also guaranteed to make you feel better about all the goings-on down at your local parish, because they probably aren’t as bad as the goings-on he complains about.

Prologue, Part 1.

28:09.

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What’s Happened to SFFAudio?

If this is all some kind of Invisible Man stunt, then all is Wells.

But it seems to be nothing but whitespace at the moment, if you can even get it to load. Which I can’t, except in a cache. Their RSS feed seems to be active, though, which is odd.

Anybody know what’s going on? Dead server? Bad page coding? What?

Anything we can do to help?

UPDATE: And now it’s back. I’m glad. I guess I had only to complain winsomely enough. 🙂

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#1620: “Song in a Minor Key” by C.L. Moore

“Song in a Minor Key” is the last of the Northwest Smith stories, and probably the shortest. Still, I feel fortunate and honored to present this little tale that’s slipped into the public domain. Enjoy!

“Song in a Minor Key”

7:06.

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#1619: Ch. 1, Bk. 3, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, as we begin the part of the book dedicated to virtues and how to practice them. In this chapter, we begin a discussion of how to pick out which virtues to concentrate on getting and keeping.

Bk. 3, Ch. 1.

12:18.

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#1618: Part 3, “The Were-Wolf” by Clemence Housman

“The Were-Wolf” continues, with more creepy Nordic winter and dark disagreements between brothers.

Part 3.

25:11.

There’ll be at least one more week of this story.

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#1617: Chs. 5-8, Bk. 4, On Christian Doctrine by St. Augustine

On Christian Doctrine continues, as St. Augustine waxes eloquent over the eloquence of Biblical writers. He gives us a rhetorical analysis of one passage of St. Paul and another of the prophet Amos, and we also learn a bit about the ancient art of elocution. (Which would come in handy for us audiobook readers, it would seem.) We don’t tend to think of the Bible as an oral work deploying oral rhetorical skills; St. Augustine thinks that way of it first.

Book 4, Chapters 5-8.

36:32.

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#1616: Ch. 8, The Brand of Silence by Johnston McCulley

The Brand of Silence continues, as Sidney Prale finds the case become more bewildering.

Chapter 8: Lies and Liars.

17:56.

UPDATE: I apologize for the slowness of the last few days. My sinus and allergies have really been acting up.

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#1615: Ch. 7, The Brand of Silence by Johnston McCulley

The Brand of Silence continues, as Sidney Prale fights to prove his innocence.

Chapter 7: Evidence.

17:56.

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#1614: Chs. 20-21, Bk. 2, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues, with advice on how to go to Communion.

Bk. 2, Chs. 20-21.

14:22.

I believe this is the end of Book 2. There’s more to come, of course. 🙂

Also, I apologize for not posting before. I thought I had, but accidentally left “A Question of Courage” set as a draft. It’s been a very bad week for sinus and allergies, so thank you for your patience with me.

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#1613: Ch. 19, Bk. 2, An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

An Introduction to the Devout Life continues to advise you. In this installment, we get hints on how to make a good Confession, as well as hints on how not to make your priest tear his hair out with frustration.

Bk. 2, Ch. 19.

8:54.

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#1611: Part 2 of “A Question of Courage” by J.F. Bone

“A Question of Courage” concludes with a big space navy war bang.

(There’s a bit of unnecessary info-dump, which makes me wonder if this is part of an idea for one of Bone’s novels. I’m not sure if we’re meant to take the political backstory seriously, or assume that Things Are Hinky. I personally go with the hinky, especially since Bone is tricky like that in his novel The Lani People.)

“A Question of Courage”, Part 2.

35:42.

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A Brief Clarification

The actor Kevin O’Brien, star of stage, screen, and now, audiobooks, is a fine and worthy member of my clan. I am sure that his <downloadable mp3s of works by Chesterton and Pope Benedict XVI will be an ornament to your iPod or other music player.

However, I mean “clan” in the very most extended “all O’Briens are descended from Brian Boroimhe from back about AD 980” kind of way. He is not related to me in any closer fashion of which I’m aware, nor do I know him personally.

I do have a younger brother named Kevin. But trust me, he looks totally different. Also, not an actor.

(I’m not related in any non-clan fashion to Michael O’Brien, either. Although I have annoyed him with my commentary on positive Christian draconic imagery from medieval Catholic tradition, which proves I must be family!)

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#1610: Chs. 1-4, Bk. 4, On Christian Doctrine by St. Augustine

On Christian Doctrine continues, as St. Augustine points out that it’s easier to teach and defend the faith if you know how to talk.

Book 4, Chapters 1-4.

11:19.

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#1609: Part 5 of “Letter 22: To Eustochium” by St. Jerome

My series of nearly randomly chosen letters by St. Jerome continues, as we finally finish out that letter to young Miss Eustochium, with some pretty good advice and imagery from our favorite curmudgeon.

Letter 22E

19:03.

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