The Essential Reads

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Book 1 chapter 2 "The Mail" narrated by Isaac Birchall
Subscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinPodcast Link: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/13b1qP3WhCWxam9yc49vIF?si=4e279ef4f5f143a0⁠Summary:The story officially starts on the Dover Road with the Dover Mail on a very steep hill. The passengers are walking along side the coach. The horses are not content and have made several attempts to turn around, but they are made to walk on. There is a steaming cold mist making its way up the hill, and it seems to be following them, and blocks out nearly all light. All passengers are cautious of one another and suspect each and all to be a potential highway robber. The guard is armed and has a blunderbuss close at hand. They are nearly at the top of the hill, and the coachman calls to the guard for the time; they are late. They finally get to the top of the hill. Through the mist the coachman and the guard hear a horse coming near, and the guard orders the passengers to get into the cab. One of the passengers remains half on the step blocking the entry for the other two, and everyone still listens. When the other horseman makes his way closer, the guard calls for him to slow down, and the other shouts out asking if it is the Dover Mail, and asks for a Mr. Lorry, to which the first passenger responds. He says that he knows the messenger and gets down into the road again, giving the other two passengers the opportunity to get inside the cab and shut the door again. The man comes closer and gives over a letter to the passenger. Mr Lorry reads the letter once to himself then out loud, and proceeds to give his response to the horseman aloud, “recalled to life.” No one understands this letter, but the passenger tells the horseman that the recipient will understand its meaning. The passenger gets back into the cab with the frightened other passengers, who are feigning sleep. The guard and the coachman talk briefly about the letter and answer, but they understand nothing. Jerry, the messenger, waits for the Mail to move out of hearing, and then starts on his journey too, thinking about the answer given by Mr. Lorry. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities is one of the most sold books on the planet with over 200 million copies having been sold world wide. It is the most famous of Dickens' works and set in the bloody and violent French revolution. It blends the great history of the French revolution with the tale of a family. Raising enduring themes of imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal, there is a reason that this novel has stood the test of time and has been enjoyed by readers all across the globe in many different languages.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Book 1 chapter 1 "The Period" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinPodcast Link: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/13b1qP3WhCWxam9yc49vIF?si=4e279ef4f5f143a0⁠Summary:“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” One of the most iconic opening lines in literature sets the scene of one of the most read novels in the world. Charles Dickens tells his readers about what is happening in both England and France, where this novel is set. France is less spiritual than England and has been making and spending a lot of money. There are rumblings of revolution on the horizon. England is out of order. There are robberies and burglaries taking place all over the country, even in the capital. The Lord Mayor of London was even robbed, and the Jails (gaols) are riotous. The Hangman is very busy punishing all ne’er-do-wells. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities is one of the most sold books on the planet with over 200 million copies having been sold world wide. It is the most famous of Dickens' works and set in the bloody and violent French revolution. It blends the great history of the French revolution with the tale of a family. Raising enduring themes of imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal, there is a reason that this novel has stood the test of time and has been enjoyed by readers all across the globe in many different languages.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Book 1 chapter 1 "The Period" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinPodcast Link: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/13b1qP3WhCWxam9yc49vIF?si=4e279ef4f5f143a0⁠Summary:“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” One of the most iconic opening lines in literature sets the scene of one of the most read novels in the world. Charles Dickens tells his readers about what is happening in both England and France, where this novel is set. France is less spiritual than England and has been making and spending a lot of money. There are rumblings of revolution on the horizon. England is out of order. There are robberies and burglaries taking place all over the country, even in the capital. The Lord Mayor of London was even robbed, and the Jails (gaols) are riotous. The Hangman is very busy punishing all ne’er-do-wells. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities is one of the most sold books on the planet with over 200 million copies having been sold world wide. It is the most famous of Dickens' works and set in the bloody and violent French revolution. It blends the great history of the French revolution with the tale of a family. Raising enduring themes of imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal, there is a reason that this novel has stood the test of time and has been enjoyed by readers all across the globe in many different languages.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 52 "Pack Clouds Away" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinPodcast Link: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/13b1qP3WhCWxam9yc49vIF?si=4e279ef4f5f143a0⁠Summary:Edith is fretting in her room while waiting for the meeting between Margaret and Mr. Lennox to finish. At the sound of footsteps, she interrogates her brother-in-law and asks him to stay for lunch which he refuses. He shuts down her inquiries about a proposal and says that they have been talking business and business only. Before he leaves, he says that he will be back tomorrow with Mr. Thornton to finalise the business.The next day, to Margaret’s shock, Mr. Lennox does not come. Thornton is there alone and after an hour, Margaret determines to lead the meeting herself. She says that she will be sorry to lose him as a tenant. She goes on to explain a business deal wherein she would lend 1857 pounds to Mr. Thornton that is just sitting in the bank, he could pay her back at a better rate of interest and also continue working Marlborough Mills. She goes to look for more papers but is arrested by Thornton saying her name. She drops her head, and at a second call of her name she drops her head again. He comes close and whispers that if she does not speak, he will claim her as his own, and whispers once again her name. She falters at this and claims that she is not good enough for him, to which Thornton says that he too does not feel worthy enough for her. He places her into the same position she was in when she protected him from the rioters. He then say that he wishes to show her something and reaching for his pocketbook he shows her some pressed roses, she at first doesn’t know what they are, and after a minute she realises that they are from Helstone and that Mr. Thornton visited there. He says that he wanted to see that place where Margaret grew up. She tries to take them from him, and he replies that she will have to pay for them, and Margaret announces that she doesn’t know how she could possibly tell Aunt Shaw, Thornton joking that she will say “That Man?!” to her announcement, to which Margaret replies that Mrs. Thornton will say “That Woman?!” to his own announcement. The End.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 51 "Meeting Again" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinPodcast Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/13b1qP3WhCWxam9yc49vIF?si=4e279ef4f5f143a0⁠Summary:It is a very hot summer evening, and Edith goes into Margaret’s room. Edith tells Dixon that she should get some pomegranate blossoms for Margaret’s dress instead of the ones that she picked. She wonders how Mrs. Hale let Margaret wander around Milton by herself. When Margaret returns, Edith tells her that Mr. Lennox has had a meeting with Mr. Thornton in London and has invited him to dine with them. Margaret says that she isn’t hungry, but Edith forces her to dress for supper and join them. Downstairs, Mr. Lennox tells Margaret the reason for Mr. Thornton’s visit, his giving up the mills, and shares his fears that Edith will not accept him. When Thornton enters, Mr. Lennox introduces him to the party. He is still handsome and noble like, though a little aged from the stress of his business affairs. He greets Margaret happily, and they then go to dinner.Margaret is quiet at dinner and only asks Mr. Thornton about her friends in Milton. Mr. Lennox and Mr. Thornton talk together throughout the majority of the dinner, and Mr. Lennox tells Margaret that she was very ill when she first arrived in London but is now fully recovered. A politician is also at dinner, and enquires after Mr. Thornton, and after establishing who the newcomer is, talks with the Northern guest. Mr Thornton is not looking at Margaret, giving her an opportunity to study his face. Only once does he look at Margaret, after a comment from Mr. Lennox, but he instantly catches himself and feels a little anxious.After supper, Mr Thornton and the politician converse together, and Mr. Lennox talks with Margaret. He tells Margaret, that the politician is very pleased with Thornton. They then listen to the conversation between the two other men. It seems that the politician was recently in Milton and heard some good things about Thornton. Thornton says that he has grown close to the hands in his factory. The topic of Mr. Thornton’s business failures comes up, and Mr. Lennox tries to save Thornton from an embarrassment, but Thornton is more than happy to talk about his failures. He talks very positively about his hands and says that even though they don’t always understand why he makes certain decisions as a master, being closer to his workers has made all of their relations much easier but clarifies that he doesn’t believe this closeness will rid the world of strikes. He then perks up and comes over to Margaret to tell her that he received a letter from Higgins and other hands saying that if he were to start a new factory, that they would readily work for him again. Margaret is very pleased with this news and tells Thornton so. At the end of the evening as the men are leaving, Margaret slows Mr. Lennox down to ask him to come to visit her the following day at 11, causing the man to leave very pleased.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.