Showing results by narrator "Chris Newman" in All Categories

Most people have heard of Ludwig von Beethoven, one of the most famous composers of all time. His music had a certain aggression, passion, and beauty to it that still brings admirers to tears, more than 200 years later. His symphonies came from his creativity, the circumstances, and the trends in that time period in Germany and Austria. There is much to say about the historical context, the deep experiences, and the studies that Beethoven encountered during his life.

Picasso’s work is famous. His art is intricate, yet bizarre. His personal life was filled with struggles, and his children weren’t any better off, creating substance abuse and suicidal headlines. Despite the dysfunctionality in his personal and family life, his artwork reflected something new and fresh. And in a variety of paintings, an underlying rebel message against totalitarian regimes. Having lived through many horrors of the Spanish war, as well as other 20th-century conflicts, the painter showed both style and morale in his works, and left a legacy studied by the masses.

Perhaps you have heard of Edgar Allan Poe. Perhaps not. Either way, this 19th-century author has received quite some fame for his works and his unique style. His mystery and gruesome horror stories, comedy, and other genres have reached far into the depths of American literature. Edgar Allan Poe had a life, a background worth studying. His death, however, was and still is a mystery by itself. Find out more about this fascinating author, in a time we can hardly understand without knowing more about it.

Elvis Presley is the famous singer who caused so much controversy, he was hated and loved among most of the American people. His sexual moves, his novel way of putting songs together - there was just something about him that attracted the ladies and the media attention at the same time. In a way, you could say he was living the American dream. But he was kind of a bad boy - facing legal troubles, broken relationships, and drug abuse. Explore the era and methods of Elvis with us, in this concise audiobook biography about his life.

Charlie Chaplin was, at some point in history, the best paid actor in the world. He was famous for his comedy movies and his humor. He had an extensive career in acting, especially during World War 1, the Great Depression, and World War 2. What a fascinating time period in history to be a movie actor! Aside from that, you might have heard of him, but not a lot about him. In this guide, you will explore more about his passion, his life, his scandalous relationships, and controversial following; his lawsuits, successes, background, and much, much more.

Vincent van Gogh is undoubtedly one of the most influential painters of the end of the 19th century. An entire museum in Amsterdam is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh. And even though his name is famous now, his life was tough, and he faced many fears, worries, and inner demons. The sad reality that this artist’s success wasn’t evident during his life but only after his death doesn’t change the fact that he is, nevertheless, a grand success. Let’s discuss the circumstances under which this Dutch painter lived, and what moved him to go in the direction he did.

Oscar Wilde was a wild one. His statements were bold, his career was successful, and his tongue was sharp. Not only did he disturb the common narrative of the nuclear family, the Catholic church, and the idea of patriotism, but he also blew many people away with his defense of his principles, his criticism of the state, philosophies on life itself, and more. Being open about being a homosexual in a time when it was unaccepted and even illegal, his life ended in imprisonment and exile. Yet, despite his orientation and his controversial preferences, his prose and poetry did not suffer.

Alexander Hamilton was a Caribbean-born American leader, political leader, legal scholar, army leader, legal representative, lender, and economic expert who lived from January 11, 1755 or 1757 until July 12, 1804. He was a founding father of the United States of America. He was the creator of the country's monetary system, the Federalist Party, the USA Coast Guard, and the New York Post paper, and a popular translator and advocate of the US Constitution. Hamilton, as first secretary of the Treasury, was the driving force behind President George Washington's financial policy.

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, handicap rights champ, political activist, and speaker who lived from June 27, 1880 to June 1, 1968. She was born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, and following a bout of health problem at the age of 19 months, she lost both her sight and hearing. Keller used home signals till she was seven years of age, when she met Anne Sullivan, her first instructor and long-lasting partner, who taught her language, and that includes reading and writing.

Harriet Tubman (March 10, 1822—March 10, 1913) was an abolitionist and political activist in the United States. Tubman, who was born into slavery, got away and went on to free around 70 enslaved people, which includes family members and good friends, through the Underground Rail Road, a network of antislavery activists and safe houses. She worked for the Union Army as an armed scout and spy throughout the American Civil War. Tubman was an activist in the women's suffrage movement in her last years.

The ideology that was carried out in the vicious Spanish War right before World War II, and was embraced by Nazi Germany, was actually pushed and more or less invented by the Italians during a critical time in history when many changes were made, and when fear and uncertainty were in the air. Mussolini was efficient and influential. He was a fearless leader not to be trifled with. Let’s take a look at what he did and why. Throughout the interwar period, Mussolini, as totalitarian of Italy and creator of fascism, cultivated and promoted the worldwide development of fascist movements.

The painting of her on the battlefield with only one breast covered and holding a flag is probably one of the most famous paintings from European history. Many people have heard of Joan of Arc, but only a few know what she did or how her life was. Joan of Arc is a French heroine who was venerated as a saint for her role in the Lancastrian part of the Hundred Years' War. Joan said she saw visions of archangels and saints telling her to support Charles VII and free France from English supremacy late in the Hundred Years' War. She is one of France's nine secondary tutelary saints.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian attorney, anti-colonial patriot, and political ethicist who used nonviolent resistance to lead the triumphant struggle for India's independence from British rule, motivating civil liberties and liberty movements around the globe. The epithet Mahtm (which means "great-souled" or "age-old" in Sanskrit) was at first appointed to him in South Africa in the year 1914 and is now used all across the world. Gandhi was born into a Hindu family in seaside Gujarat and studied law at the Inner Temple in London.

Benjamin Franklin was an author, physicist, innovator, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political thinker who resided in America. Franklin was just one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, a drafter and signer of the US Declaration of Independence, and the first postmaster general of the United States. For his discoveries and views about electrical energy, he was an essential player in the American knowledge and the history of physics as a researcher. He is most prominent for his developments like the lightning arrester, bifocals, and the Franklin hotplate.

We all have a typical image of Vikings, from the horns on their helmets to the beards and the clothes they wear. Their ships have a certain charm, and their reputation is that they were brutal, raw, and believed in multiple gods. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore some of the details about the Viking history. What did they do? How did they treat their women? Where did they go to conquer other nations? These are some of the questions we will answer.

In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages started with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and transitioned into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. Population decrease, counter-urbanization, the collapse of central authority, invasions of countries, and mass movements of tribes, which had started in late antiquity, continued into the early Middle Ages. The massive movements of tribes formed new kingdoms in what remained of the Western Roman Empire. Explore more about this long time in history, a dark time when people faced countless challenges to their survival.

When we think of the Renaissance, we often think of paintings. And indeed, many painters and sculptors were part of the artistic transformation the Renaissance caused. But there was more. The Renaissance basically formed a period of collective enlightenment and freedoms that put an end to certain tyrannies and false notions from the Middle Ages. Advocates of a "long Renaissance" might put its start in the 14th century and its end in the 17th century. Let’s take a look at what the extensive time period of the Renaissance provided, and what it leaves us with today.

For centuries, raw and primal urges and principles had taken hold of conquerors, officials, and governments. But there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Humanity just needed to acknowledge knowledge. It needed to value the art of studying phenomena and learning, not just spiritual notions and religion. Welcome to the book about how this happened. Welcome to a glimmer of hope in humanity’s realization of what this world is and what lies in the elements yet to be discovered. Get ready for some enlightenment in your own life as you learn about the Age of Enlightenment.

The Crusades are one of those dark chapters in history that we would rather forget, especially religious people. In name of the church, or other religions, like the Muslim faith, people killed, destroyed, looted, and burned cities to the ground. There is nothing “holy” about attacking and plundering, yet this is what they did. In this book, we’ll explore some of the most important crusades everyone should know about. You will learn to understand better why people started them, what drove them to continue, and what ended them.

The Gilded Age was a period in American history that covered the late 19th century, from the 1870s till around 1900. The Gilded Age was a period of great financial development in the United States, specifically in the North and West. The time saw an increase of countless European immigrants, as American incomes were considerably higher than those in Europe, specifically for experienced workers, while industrialization demanded an ever-increasing labor force. The Gilded Age was also a time of severe poverty and inequality.