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12 Books That Changed the World

Author : Melvyn Bragg

Performed By : Patricia Hodge, Hugh Ross, Robert Powell & Bill Bingham

Publisher : Hodder & Stoughton Audiobooks

Runtime : 2 hours

Categories : Arts & Drama
History
British

Our Price : $16.75

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When we think of great events in the history of the world, we tend to think of war, revolution, political upheaval or natural catastrophe. But throughout history there have been moments of vital importance that have taken place not on the battlefield, or in the palaces of power, or even in the violence of nature, but between the pages of a book.

In our digitised age of instant information it is easy to underestimate the power of the printed word. In his fascinating new book accompanying the ITV series, Melvyn Bragg presents a vivid reminder of the book as agent of social, political and personal revolution.

Twelve Books that Changed the World presents a rich variety of human endeavour and a great diversity of characters.

There are also surprises. Here are famous books by Darwin, Newton and Shakespeare – but we also discover the stories behind some less well-known works, such as Marie Stopes’ Married Love, the original radical feminist Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman – and even the rules to an obscure ball game that became the most popular sport in the world . . .

Great Introduction

Nick Ashfield from Bristol - 19 Mar 2007

This is a great introduction to some books you might not have heard of before. It provides a 10 minute summary of each book. Excellent for listening to in the car on long car journeys. Would love to get it on DVD but unfortunately ITV have decided not to release it.

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John Bull's Other Island

Author : George Bernard Shaw

Performed By : Christopher Benjamin, Patrick Duggan and cast

Publisher : Harper Collins UK

Runtime : 3 hours

Categories : Classic Literature
Classics

Our Price : $12.75

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When Thomas Broadbent, an Englishman, visits Ireland for the first time, he is accompanied by his friend Larry Doyle, an Irishman who is returning to his homeland after being away for many years.

Through the two men's differing responses to the country and also the Irish people's reactions to their two visitors, Shaw is able to explore the misunderstandings and misconceptions that have characterised relations between England and Ireland for centuries.

According to Shaw, 'John Bull's Other Island' was written in 1904 at the request of W.B.Yeats 'as a patriotic contribution to the repertory of the Irish Literary Theatre', but when Mr Yeats read the script he rejected it, claiming that it was beyond the resources of the Abbey Theatre.

In fact, for Yeats, a play which was 'uncongenial to the whole spirit of the neo-Gaelic movement' must have made uncomfortable reading, and for us today, in the light of all that has happened in the intervening years, the issues raised by the play have lost none of their urgency.