December Tales - William Harrison Ainsworth

from Phaedrus · host Plato

December Tales by William Harrison Ainsworth invites listeners into a world rich with narrative charm and timeless themes. This collection of stories, set against the backdrop of the winter season, captures the essence of human experience through tales that resonate with the spirit of reflection and introspection. Ainsworth's ability to weave together elements of folklore and morality makes this work a compelling exploration of the human condition. As the cold months approach, the themes of warmth, community, and the enduring nature of storytelling remind us of the connections we share, making it a perfect listen for those seeking comfort and inspiration during the darker days of winter.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 3, 2026

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December Tales - William Harrison Ainsworth

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Fables of Phaedrus Phaedrus Dive into the enchanting world of fables with Fables of Phaedrus, where timeless stories impart valuable moral lessons. While the modern interpretation of a fable often features talking animals or inanimate objects, Phaedrus, the foremost Latin fabulist, breaks the mold with his innovative storytelling. His narratives encompass not only animals but also human characters, transforming them into captivating short tales that resonate even today. This collection presents Phaedrus five acclaimed books of fables, brought to life in English prose by Henry Thomas Ridley. Join us on this literary journey that bridges ancient wisdom with contemporary relevance. Phaedrus by Plato (Πλάτων) (c. 428 BCE - c. 347 BCE) LibriVox “For there is no light of justice or temperance, or any of the higher ideas which are precious to souls, in the earthly copies of them: they are seen through a glass, dimly…”Socrates and his earnest friend Phaedrus, enjoying the Athenian equivalent of a lunchtime stroll in the park, exchange views on love and on the power of words, spoken and written.Phaedrus is the most enchanting of Plato’s Erotic dialogues (capitalised in honour of the god). The barefoot philosopher urges an eager young acquaintance – who has allowed his lover’s oratorical skills to impress him overmuch – to re-examine the text of Lysias’s speech in the light of his own exalted (and Platonic) vision of Love. Not long ago this early example of literary dismantling was itself deconstructed by a contemporary sage - Jacques Derrida. The present reader tries to present Socrates as he conceivably was: the chortling, pot-bellied ex-soldier, a flirtatious yet charismati The Fables of Phaedrus by Phaedrus Loyal Books The fable is a small narrative, in prose or verse, which has as its main characteristic the aim of conveying a moral lesson (the “moral”), implicitly or, more normally, explicitly expressed. Even though the modern concept of fable is that it should have animals or inanimated objects as characters – an idea supported by the works of famous fabulists such as Aesop and La Fontaine – Phaedrus, the most important Latin fabulist, is innovative in his writing. Although many of his fables do depict animals or objects assuming speech, he also has many short stories about men, writing narratives that seem to the modern eye more like short tales than fables. Despite many other fables being attributed to Phaedrus, only five books are considered by scholarship to have been written by him. Phaedrus’ five books of fables are here presented in a translation to English prose by Henry Thomas Ridley. Phaedrus by Plato Loyal Books “For there is no light of justice or temperance, or any of the higher ideas which are precious to souls, in the earthly copies of them: they are seen through a glass, dimly…”Socrates and his earnest friend Phaedrus, enjoying the Athenian equivalent of a lunchtime stroll in the park, exchange views on love and on the power of words, spoken and written.Phaedrus is the most enchanting of Plato’s Erotic dialogues (capitalised in honour of the god). The barefoot philosopher urges an eager young acquaintance – who has allowed his lover’s oratorical skills to impress him overmuch – to re-examine the text of Lysias’s speech in the light of his own exalted (and Platonic) vision of Love. Not long ago this early example of literary dismantling was itself deconstructed by a contemporary sage - Jacques Derrida. The present reader tries to present Socrates as he conceivably was: the chortling, pot-bellied ex-soldier, a flirtatious yet charismatic talker with a serious passion for Truth. (Introductio

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