Showing results by narrator "Jim Hodges" in All Categories

The 1660s were a time of turmoil in England: Cromwell had been defeated and Charles II, who was sympathetic to the Catholics, was restored to the throne; the Dutch declared war on England; the Plague raged; and the Great Fire of London destroyed half the city! Our hero, Cyril, at the death of his father Sir Aubrey Shenstone, inherits nothing except his father's title, and works as a bookkeeper for various London tradesmen.

In the 1990s, Jim Brewster put his sons, Ben and Luke, to bed each night with an "Uncle Rocky, Fireman" story. During each story, they enjoyed making truck engine sounds, blasting the siren, and testing the air horn. They also developed hand and body motions and pantomimed getting dressed for the fire. However, the best part of each story was at the end when they mimicked Uncle Rocky as he said, "Glad to do it!"

Originally published in Harper's Magazine in 1895 as chapters attributed to the fictitious author Sieur Louis de Conte, Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc is what American novelist and humorist Mark Twain considered to be his greatest work.

Bring history back to life through Jim Hodges' historically accurate, exciting, and edifying audio recordings. The conquest of the Aztec Empire by Hernando Cortez and a mere handful of Spaniards is one of the greatest romances of history. A writer of fiction would scarcely have dared to invent so improbable a story, but it is true. Fortunately Cortez was able to ally himself with many peoples conquered by the Aztecs who were all too happy to assist in their downfall.

In this exciting sequel to The Coral Island, R. M. Ballantyne continues the adventures of Ralph Rover, Jack Martin, and Peterkin Gay, who go to hunt and study Africa's elusive gorilla. The trio has a knack for finding danger, and there are many hilarious and hair-raising events they must pass through. Elephants and lions are just a few of the dangers that roam the African safari. The real question is, can Ralph, Jack, and Peterkin survive the dangers of a brutal slave-trader and a volatile native king?

Bring history back to life through Jim Hodges' historically accurate, exciting, and edifying audio recordings. Dwight Lyman Moody was one of the most famous Evangelists of the 19th century, giving thousands of sermons in hundreds of cities throughout the United States and England. He and his song leader, Ira Sankey, preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the highest and lowest members of society, using everyday examples and a common-man approach that enthralled them all.

In 1381, Wat, the Tyler, and the peasants he represented urged of the king of England that serfdom should be abolished, the right of all to market their goods publicly should be allowed, the price of good land should not be over four pennies an acre, and that all past offenses should be pardoned. Instead of presenting their requests in a respectful manner, they took to the streets of East Anglia, Kent, and London. Although their demands were certainly reasonable, their methods were not.

Liberty or death - this was the choice the people of 14th-century Scotland faced if they rose up against their English ruler. Most would say it was no choice at all. Many of the Scottish nobles were English supporters. Few could be expected to rise up against the numerically overwhelming English army. The hero of the story, Archibald Forbes, joins the struggle for Scottish freedom led by the valiant Sir William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

The story begins during the War of the Roses in England, but our hero, Gervaise Tresham, soon joins the Knights of St. John in Rhodes. Dedicated to God's service and pious in his personal life, Gervaise uncovers a plot, saves the coast of Italy from the Muslim corsairs, and is knighted by the Grand Prior. After being captured by and escaping from the enemy, the young English knight draws his sword in the defense of Rhodes.

Frederick Douglass was born in slavery in Talbot County, Maryland. During service to masters cruel and kind, he nevertheless learned to read and write. After suffering whippings, hunger, heat, cold, and grueling labor, he escaped from slavery in 1838. In 1841 he addressed an Anti-Slavery Society convention and spoke so eloquently that they immediately employed him as an agent. He was such an impressive orator, numerous persons doubted if he had ever been a slave.

G.A. Henty novels are highly researched as well as drawn from his first-hand experiences of people, places, and events. From 1579 through 1585, the heroic Dutch Protestants fight for freedom from Catholic Spanish rule. Few know of the persistent efforts of the Prince of Orange, known as William the Silent, or the huge obstacles he faced as the leader of the Dutch. Through the eyes of Ned Martin you will be taken back to these turbulent and troubled times.

When Harold Godwinson is crowned king of England in 1066, William of Normandy contests his right to be king because of an oath Harold had earlier sworn to support William's own acquisition of the throne. Henty's treatment of this critical time in history of the English people is even-handed, and his portrayal of Harold Godwinson - a king much neglected in our day - is a sympathetic one. Wulf of Steyning, a young Saxon thane in the service of Earl Harold, accompanies him on his fateful trip to Normandy.

Beric, a boy chief of a British tribe, takes a prominent part in the insurrection against Rome under Queen Boadicea. These efforts are useless against the mighty Roman army. For a short time, Beric and his companions continue the fight but are ultimately defeated and taken as prisoners to Rome. Through the eyes of Beric, the listener learns of life in AD 61 Rome, the gladiatorial schools, the great fire, and life in Nero's court.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have come to represent the never-ending struggle between right and wrong. Many of us know of King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, and Queen Guinevere, but are you familiar with the other characters surrounding Camelot and the Round Table? What was the significance of the Lady of the Lake, Merlin the Magician, Sir Mordred, and Morgana Le Fay?

G.A. Henty novels are highly researched as well as drawn from his first-hand experiences of people, places, and events. No portion of English history is more crowded with great events than the 100 Years’ War from 1337-1453 under King Edward III and his son, the “Black Prince.” The Battles of Cressy and Poitiers; the destruction of the Spanish fleet; the plague of the Black Death; and the Jacquerie rising are vividly related in this historically accurate adventure novel.

The year is 1659. You've been stranded on a desert island. How would you survive? Stay for 28 years and deal with cannibals, heartfelt spiritual awakenings, mutineers, goats, crops, and human visitations, and you have one of the most widely published books in all history, Robinson Crusoe, often credited as the beginning of realistic fiction as a literary genre.

In 1380, Venice is a world power. She is mistress of the sea, had checked the rising power of the Turks, conquered Constantinople, and successfully defied all the attacks of her jealous rivals. But now her strength and splendor are put to the severest test by the combined powers of Hungary, Padua, and Genoa. In an atmosphere of intrigue, crime and treachery, Francis Hammond displays a fine sense and manliness that carry him safely through the storm in the watery splendor of Venice.

In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia. Two brothers, diligent Frank and carefree Julian, end up on different sides of the conflict! Napoleon’s army of 500,000 defeat the Russians at Smolensk and Borodino, but wait too long after entering a deserted Moscow for Russia’s capitulation, which never comes. Retreat is the only option and a mere fifth of the army survive. Frank and Julian meet in Moscow under unexpected circumstances; one as the aid-de-camp to Sir Robert Wilson, the other having rescued the child of a Russian nobleman.

Australia in the 1830s was a wild place. Reuben Whitney, escaping an inaccurate perception of him in England, enjoys an adventurous passage aboard the Paramatta, and sails "down under." Joining the police force, he makes his mark in conflicts with the Aborigines and Bushrangers. Finally, he saves the life of a squire's daughter who has emigrated to Australia following her father's financial ruin. This story is filled with adventure, close calls, and historical information about the early days of Australia!

The Battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, the Declaration of Independence, Washington crossing the Delaware, Saratoga, and the final surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown - these are the scenes that stir the soul of many an American. But to an Englishman, they do no such thing. This Henty novel retells these stirring tales, but from a different perspective, helping listeners learn how the other side viewed this miraculous triumph of freedom that inspires millions throughout the world still today.