The Proud Reader

In this poem, James Corrothers expresses how thoughts and experiences can't be fully manifested in other ways. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO Dream and the Song by James David Corrothers published in The Book of American Negro Poetry, page 36-37 by New York: Harcourt Brace and Company Inc., 1922 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/james-david-corrothers/dream-and-the-song/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/james-david-corrothers/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

Kaiser Wilhem II adresses his people in this 1888 speech, delivered at the opening of the Reichstag. Besides the usual political fluff one would expect from a ruler, it is a bit ominous, because all that he wishes for Germany as a country and in relation to the rest of the world, is the exact opposite of what happened after World War I, and especially once the Nazis rose to power. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK INFO Speech from the Throne at the Opening of the Reichstag by Kaiser Wilhelm II translated by Louis Elkind, M.D. published in The German Emperor's Speeches by London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1904 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/kaiser-wilhelm-ii/speech-on-the-opening-of-the-reichstag/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/kaiser-wilhelm-ii/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

You gotta love a man who will talk smack to the Sun. Observe as John Donne brandishes his quill against Helios, in a masterfully written poem of the Renaissance period. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Sunne Rising by John Donne published in The Poems of John Donne, page 11-12 by London : Oxford University Press, 1912 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/john-donne/the-sunne-rising/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/john-donne/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this Victorian horror story by Edgar Allan Poe, a demon explains to us how he came upon a man at the shores of an African river, and tried to break his will. For the best experience, listen to this at night in pure blackness—turn off the lights, hit play, and then turn off your screen. 😐 - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO Silence - A Fable by Edgar Allan Poe published in The Broadway Journal, vol. II, no. 9 by New York: John Bisco, 1845 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/edgar-allan-poe/silence-a-fable/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/edgar-allan-poe/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this Victorian poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, the speaker sits by a fire thinking of his failed dreams, trying to embrace his present, and look forward to his future. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO Burning Drift-Wood by John Greenleaf Whittier published in The Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier, page 298-301 by Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1892-1894 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/john-greenleaf-whittier/burning-drift-wood/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/john-greenleaf-whittier/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

This is a fascinating Victorian article from 1845, discussing how the connecting of major cities via the telegraph will metaphorically shrink the country and bring us closer together as a people. It struck us as interesting because the same thing was said of the Internet—that it would bring the world closer to the point where we'd stop fighting among one another and become a single family. Unfortunately, we're not quite there yet, but it's nonetheless a compelling relationship between the views of a modern technology, its early antecedent, and the desires of the people of both eras. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Magnetic Telegraph by Anonymous staff, Albany Argus published in Littell's Living Age, Volume 4, Issue 34, January 4, 1845, page 21 by Boston: T. H. Carter & Co., 1845 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/anonymous/the-magnetic-telegraph/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/anonymous/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

This 1789 poem by William Wordsworth is a tale of local superstition about a woman and her dead child, told from the perspective of an outsider. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Thorn by William Wordsworth published in Poems by William Wordsworth, Volume II, page 2 by London: Printer for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row., 1815 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/william-wordsworth/the-thorn/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/william-wordsworth/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

This soliloquy is from Plautus' ancient Greek play, The Casket Comedy. Alcesimarchus laments how love tears him apart from all angles due to his situation. This recording is based on the 1917 translation by Paul Nixon. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO Alcesimarchus' Soliloquy by Titus Maccius Plautus translated by Paul Nixon published in Plautus, Volume II by London: William Heinemann, 1917 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/francisco-balagtas-baltazar/florantes-lament/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/francisco-balagtas-baltazar/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

This Romantic period poem by Francisco Balgatas, was written while he was imprisoned—an incarceration due to the influence of his muse's admirer, Mariano Capule. In it, the speaker laments the destruction of his once beautiful country by its current rulers, and questions God as to why he has not delivered them from this evil. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO Florante's Lament by Francisco Balagtas translated by George St. Clair published in Florante and Laura by Manila : The Times Press, 1920 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/francisco-balagtas-baltazar/florantes-lament/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/francisco-balagtas-baltazar/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this excerpt from a letter written by John Adams to John Taylor, April 19, 1814, Adams excoriates the notion that all people are born with the same strengths, faculties, influence and are due the same advantages—as observation shows us otherwise—but underscores that we are all born with equal rights and should be treated as such. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO Letter to John Taylor by John Adams written April 19, 1814 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/john-adams/letter-to-john-taylor/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/john-adams/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

Probably the most famous Victorian poem by Ethyl Lynn Beers, The Picket Guard was originally published in Harper's Weekly in 1861. In 1863, the poem was turned into a song by John Hill Hewitt. This may have inspired the title of the English translation of "All Quiet on the Western Front." - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Picket Guard by Ethyl Lynn Beers published in All Quiet Along The Potomac, and other poems, page 13 by Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1879 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/ethyl-lynn-beers/the-picket-guard/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/ethyl-lynn-beers/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this fable by Aesop, a mouse bargains with a lion that, if set free, he promises to repay the favor in the future. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Mouse And The Lion by Aesop translated byS. Vernon Jones published in Aesop's Fables, page 16 by London: William-Heinemann, 1912 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/aesop/the-mouse-and-the-lion/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/aesop/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

This risqué poem of the Enlightenment period by Aphra Behn is a tale of a sexually explicit encounter in a grove told from the woman's point of view. While tame by today's standards, this was certainly taboo for the 1680s. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Willing Mistriss by Aphra Behn published in The Works of Aphra Behn, page 163 by London: William Heinemann, 1915 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/aphra-behn/willing-mistriss/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/aphra-behn/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this letter penned by Bram stoker on Valentine's Day in 1876, he wishes Walt Whitman well and shares his hopes of meeting him one day. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO Letter to Walt Whitman by Bram Stoker written February 14, 1876 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/bram-stoker/letter-to-walt-whitman/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/bram-stoker/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

A Victorian poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar, about the fleeting search for paradise and his personal view of his own. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Place Where the Rainbow Ends by Paul Laurence Dunbar published in The Complete Poems Of Paul Laurence Dunbar by Dodd, Mead and company, 1913 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/paul-laurence-dunbar/the-place-where-the-rainbow-ends/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/paul-laurence-dunbar/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

Published in Locomotive Fireman's Magazine in 1890, five-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America, Eugene Debs, promotes the Knights of Labor organization, and encourages "common laborers" to join with promises of a better future. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK INFO The Common Laborer by Eugene Debs published in Locomotive Firemen’s Magazine, V. 14, No. 4, page 293 by Terra Haute, Indiana: 1890 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/eugene-debs/the-common-laborer/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/eugene-debs/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

Thomas Chatterton wrote this satirical, religious poem in 1764. What's most impressive about this work is that Chatterton penned it when he was only eleven years old. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK INFO Apostate Will by Thomas Chatterton published in The Works Of Thomas Chatterton Vol. I by London: Biggs & Cottle | T.N. Longman and O. Rees, 1803 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/thomas-chatterton/apostate-will/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/thomas-chatterton/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

Though addressed and signed by Albert Einstein, the Einstein-Szilard Letter was largely (if not completely) written by Leo Szilard. In this letter, they inform President Roosevelt about the possibility of creating nuclear chain reactions with uranium, what the military applications might be, and attempt to persuade him to create a link between them and the necessary government agencies to quickly further this research and obtain the raw materials required. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK INFO Einstein-Szilard Letter by Leo Szilard written August 2, 1939 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/leo-szilard/einstein-szilard-letter/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/leo-szilard/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this Romantic period poem by Lord Byron, a preacher is reflecting on what he sees as the mistakes of his life. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO All is Vanity Saith the Preacher by Lord Byron translated byDelivered at the Constitutional Convention, 1787 published in The World's Best Orations Volume 6, page 169 by Albany NY: J. B. Lyon Company, Printer, 1913 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/george-gordon-lord-byron/all-is-vanity-saith-the-preacher/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/george-gordon-lord-byron/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this speech, Benjamin Franklin eloquently lays out why he and the rest of his colleagues should support the finalizing of the Constitution, even if they do not agree with it fully. He explains that his experiences have shown him that a person often changes their opinion in life, and they should not let their egos get in the way of doing something that is necessary and act on their great accomplishment instead of waiting in vain to achieve perfection. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO Disapproving and Accepting the Constitution by Benjamin Franklin translated byDelivered at the Constitutional Convention, 1787 published in The World's Best Orations Volume 6, page 169 by Albany NY: J. B. Lyon Company, Printer, 1913 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/benjamin-franklin/disapproving-and-accepting-the-constitution/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/benjamin-franklin/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this Renaissance poem, John Donne cleverly uses the drinking of blood by a flea as a means of persuading a woman, perhaps a virgin, into his bed. I guess even hundreds of years ago, some guys will try anything to get laid. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Flea by John Donne published in The Poems of John Donne, page 40-41 by London : Oxford University Press, 1912 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/john-donne/the-flea/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/john-donne/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this Victorian Poem, Longfellow shows the lighter side of the angel of death—perhaps implying that even that which we perceive to be pure evil, or a thing of darkness, also has another side that is positive and a thing of beauty. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Reaper and the Flowers by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published in Voices of the Night, page 8-10 by Cambridge: John Owen, 1839 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-reaper-and-the-flowers/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

In this Mortimer Collins poem, we are taken on a journey through scenes from a man's life with his cherished coat. Like the man, it was once pristine and full of life, and though now old and worn, it is a thing that brings one comfort and many fond memories. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO My Old Coat by Mortimer Collins published in The Inn of Strange Meetings, and Other Poems, page 83 by London: Henry S. King & Co., 1871 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/edward-james-mortimer-collins/my-old-coat/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/edward-james-mortimer-collins/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

This article was written in Paris for the Toronto Star by Ernest Hemingway in 1902. In it he describes the influx of the Russian ex-aristocracy, how they survive in this foreign country, and ponders what will happen once they run out of money. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO Paris is Full of Russians by Ernest Hemingway published in Toronto Star February 25, 1922 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/ernest-hemingway/paris-is-full-of-russians/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/ernest-hemingway/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!

This poem by Thomas Hardy explores what might go through a soldier's mind when facing an enemy—and how if not for the situation they find themselves in, perhaps could have crossed paths in an old pub and shared a pint instead of a bullet. - - - - - - - Support The Proud Reader on Patreon, SubscribeStar or Paypal, @TheProudReader. https://theproudreader.com/subscribe/ Follow us on social media and video platforms. https://theproudreader.com/social/ Download free texts and images at our website—an ever-growing, veritable treasure trove! https://theproudreader.com/ - - - - - - - AUDIOBOOK FO The Man He Killed by Thomas Hardy published in The Poetical Works of Thomas Hardy, Volume I, Page 263 by London: Macmillan & Co., Limited, St. Martin’s Street, 1923 Text Source: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/thomas_hardy/the-man-he-killed/ Author Page: https://theproudreader.com/library/authors/thomas_hardy/the-man-he-killed/ - - - - - - - Thanks for listening!