Showing results by narrator "Katie Haigh" in All Categories

"Rapunzel" is a well-known fairy tale of German origin, recorded by the Brothers Grimm. A lonely couple, who want a child, lived next to a walled garden belonging to an evil witch named Dame Gothel. The wife, experiencing the cravings associated with the arrival of her long-awaited pregnancy, notices a rapunzel plant, growing in the garden and longs for it, desperate to the point of death. One night, her husband breaks into the garden to get some for her. She makes a salad out of it and greedily eats it.

"The Ridiculous Wishes" or "The Three Ridiculous Wishes" is a French literary fairy tale by Charles Perrault. A woodcutter complained of his poor lot. Jupiter granted him three wishes. The woodcutter went home, and his wife persuaded him to put off the wishing until the next day, after he had thought, but while sitting by the fire, he wished for sausages. His wife taxed him for his folly, and angry, he wished the sausages on her nose. Finally, they agreed to use the last wish to take the sausages off her nose, leaving them no better off than before.

"The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids" is a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. A mother leaves her seven children at home while she ventures into the forest to find food. Before she leaves, she warns her young about the Big Bad Wolf who will try to sneak into the house and gobble them up. The wolf will pretend to be their mother and convince the kids to open the door. The young children will be able to recognize their true mother by her white feet and sweet voice. The mother leaves and the seven kids stay in the house. Before long, they hear a voice at the door that says "Let me in children, your mother has something for each and every one of you". His gruff voice betrays him and the kids do not let him in.

"Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift is a wild series of adventures widely acclaimed as "universally read" and highly influential. After a shipwreck, an Englishman discovers new, strange lands, and learns of the customs and governments of their inhabitants. This is an opportunity both for absurd humor and political satire, and the story of Lilliput may be the best example of Swift's imagination and wit. Gulliver finds himself a prisoner of a race of tiny people, the Lilliputians; they are no more than 6 inches tall, and he appears a giant to them. Soon afterwards, the spectacular giant becomes a favorite of the court, and is given a good view of the politics of the kingdom.

Sir Francis Bacon had a tremendous impact on science and philosophy during the scientific revolution in XVIIth-century England. He was the first to argue for a skeptical and methodical approach in science, based on careful observation of events in nature, and founded on induction. His work, firmly grounded in empiricism to prevent projection of one's preferred hypothesis, made him the father of scientific method. This was a groundbreaking turn of events at the time, and is still the basis of the scientific framework today.

The Battle of Thermopylae is without doubt the most famous battle in European ancient history. It has inspired many poems, stories, and movies, most recently Frank Miller's 300. Vastly outnumbered Greek soldiers fought with all their might and held off the Persian army for seven days, before the rear-guard was annihilated in one of history's most famous last stands. This battle is a perfect example of tactical optimization and a stunning demonstration of the advantages of training and equipment to maximize an army's potential.

Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's best dramatist. His plays have been translated into every major language, and are the most performed ever. His work contains stunningly modern insight, witty jokes and soaring passion; it is an endless source of amazement and inspiration. Romeo and Juliet is perhaps his most famous and beloved; this heartbreaking tale of impossible love has marked every generation since its publication, and it is an essential part of Western culture.

Discover the fundamentals of the French republic with two essentials. "The French declaration of the rights of Man and of the Citizen" has been of tremendous influence on every democracy ever since; "La Marseillaise", which has been called "the greatest national anthem in the world", is a powerful and inspiring cry for battle and freedom. "The Declaration of the rights of Man and of the Citizen" introduce the idea that human rights are a feature of human nature itself; it is the first time the rights of man were said to be universal, without distinction of race or religion. This was the idea used to create a nation of free individuals equally protected by law, and it is still the basis of many democracies today.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau initiated the modern genre of autobiography, vastly influenced the development of the Enlightenment through his political philosophy, and helped develop modern educational thought, although his book on the question outraged the French parliament so much that an arrest order was issued against him.

Voltaire was a French writer famous for his wit and irony. They were his tools for launching vitriolic attacks on the established Catholic church, the adversaries of freedom of religion and expression, and on separation of church and state. His prolific writing took almost every possible literary form: plays, novels, essays, but also poems, historical and scientific works.

Discover three classic short stories for kids and children of all ages, taken from the myths and legends of Native American Indians: "The Maiden who loved a Fish"; "The White Canoe"; "The Star Wife". We are in dire need for a greater understanding of Native American cultures, and these stories provide the food for thought necessary for greater proximity.

This five famous Indian tales are a collection of stories on human behaviors, portrayed by animal characters, with a beautifully wrought moral at the end. Discover the oldest legends of ancient India with this still resonating folk tales.

With its account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, of the Apostles' ministries in the early church, letters about Christian doctrine and counsel, and the prophetic Book of Revelation, the New Testament contains the essence of Christianity and an endless source of inspiration. We have selected for you 110 essential quotes, to accompany you in your daily life, give you references for your discussions and food for your thought. These quotes provide a precious occasion of reflecting on the wisdom accumulated in these sacred pages.

The Old Testament is the foundation of the Scripture. It is the first and most ancient section of the Christian Bible; it tells of the law and history of the Israelites, encloses treasures of poetry and wisdom, along with powerful prophecy. We have selected for you 100 quotes which will provide answers to your innermost questions, accompany you in faith, give you food for thought, and offer you wisdom and references to inspire you in your daily life. Enjoy these sacred pearls of wisdom taken from all the books of the Old Testament, let them inspire you and put them to use in your personal journey.

The tale is set during King Arthur's reign. The witty Jack encounters terrible giants, each one more threatening and dangerous than the others. They devour cattle, emprison women, and maintain the country in a state of fear and confusion; but, armed only with his brain and a few magical objects he gathered, Jack will gain the advantage and slay the monsters.

Creativity is one seemingly mysterious force, which we long to understand and develop. We have selected for you 100 quotes from the greatest thinkers, artists and creators, for you to get strength and inspiration in your own life. Nourish yourself with the experience and reflection of the greatest authors: Nietzsche, Flaubert, Hemingway, Henry David Thoreau, Picasso, Banksy and so many others. Each one of them will give you food for thought, boosting your creative powers and providing you with a new understanding of the act of creation from an artistic and philosophical point of view. Develop your understanding and boost your creativity with the help of the best minds ever!

"The Adventures of Pinocchio" is an Italian novel for children, by Carlo Collodi. A poor carpenter, Geppetto, wants to build a marionette from a piece of wood. But it begins to talk and whine; soon, the marionette runs away, and begins a life of mischievous adventures. The adventures of Pinocchio are considered a canonical piece of children's literature; they have inspired countless adaptations, such as Walt Disney's classic animation. It is one of the most translated and widely read works of literature ever written, and gave birth to popular pieces of wisdom such as a liar's long nose.

Victor Hugo is one of the best-known French writers, and is part of the greatest literary figures of all time. His poetry made him famous very early, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest lyric poets when he was only 20 years old. He was also a novelist and a dramatist, and furthered the cause of Romanticism, this exalted artistic movement which toyed with Sublime and soared on the winds of emotion.

For ages, the ancient myths of Greece and Rome have delighted and inspired the people of the world. Great legendary heroes and mysterious gods come together in those charming stories, which will unleash imagination and all the pleasures we owe the ancient art of storytelling. This timeless selection of the richest legends will make you travel in the time and thoughts of ancient life. Enjoy the stories of Midas, Orpheus, Pandora, Pyramus and Thisbe, Philemon and Baucis, Atalanta, and Cadmus.

Aladdin is a young lad dwelling in ancient China; his parents are in despair, as he is a never-do-well and won't ever do anything. A sorcerer from the Maghreb persuades him to retrieve a wonderful oil lamp from a magic cave. But then, the socerer attempts to double-cross Aladdin, who resists only to find himself trapped in the cave. Luckily, he has kept the magical object and a world of adventures opens before him.