Brett W. Downey

3 books read for LibriVox

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Doctor Syn Russell Thorndike
A mild village vicar on Romney Marsh, sermons by day, and something much darker riding out under the moon; the fun is watching Thorndike keep both faces spinning. Pulpy and gleefully grim in places, so come for atmosphere and menace, not tidy comfort.
She Stoops to Conquer Oliver Goldsmith
You get a wonderfully playable comedy here, with Tony Lumpkin stirring up trouble and Kate Hardcastle disguising herself as a barmaid to find out what Marlow is really like. The plotting is deliberately tangled and theatrical, but the dialogue stays bright, mischievous, and surprisingly sharp about shyness and social performance.
The Two Noble Kinsmen William Shakespeare, John Fletcher
You get an unusual, slightly lopsided Shakespeare play here, with Palamon and Arcite’s fierce friendship turning into rivalry over Emilia, while the Jailer's Daughter brings a surprisingly tender, earthy counterpoint. The verse shifts between Shakespearean weight and Fletcher’s brisker comedy, so its strangeness is part of the appeal.

3 books read for LibriVox

filter sort era

Doctor Syn Russell Thorndike
A mild village vicar on Romney Marsh, sermons by day, and something much darker riding out under the moon; the fun is watching Thorndike keep both faces spinning. Pulpy and gleefully grim in places, so come for atmosphere and menace, not tidy comfort.
She Stoops to Conquer Oliver Goldsmith
You get a wonderfully playable comedy here, with Tony Lumpkin stirring up trouble and Kate Hardcastle disguising herself as a barmaid to find out what Marlow is really like. The plotting is deliberately tangled and theatrical, but the dialogue stays bright, mischievous, and surprisingly sharp about shyness and social performance.
The Two Noble Kinsmen William Shakespeare, John Fletcher
You get an unusual, slightly lopsided Shakespeare play here, with Palamon and Arcite’s fierce friendship turning into rivalry over Emilia, while the Jailer's Daughter brings a surprisingly tender, earthy counterpoint. The verse shifts between Shakespearean weight and Fletcher’s brisker comedy, so its strangeness is part of the appeal.