Idols - William John Locke episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 1, 2026 · 8H 16M

Idols - William John Locke

from Mountebank · host William John Locke

"Idols" by William John Locke delves into the complexities of human nature and the often misguided reverence we place on our idols. This exploration of admiration and the consequences of idealization remains relevant today, as society continues to grapple with the impact of celebrity culture and the need for authentic connections. Locke’s insightful narrative encourages listeners to reflect on their own values and the figures they choose to elevate, making it a timeless examination of aspiration and disillusionment. With its enduring themes of faith, identity, and the search for truth, "Idols" invites you to question what it truly means to idolize and the implications it holds for our lives.

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Idols - William John Locke

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The Four Million by O. Henry Loyal Books An impoverished but loving young couple sacrifices their most precious possessions to buy Christmas gifts for each other. A tramp who is desperate to be sent to prison so he can escape the winter cold. Two depressed laborers get their palms read by a Coney Island mountebank. A yellow dog who relates the story of a fat lady and her hen pecked husband. These and other unforgettable characters form part of absolutely delightful and unforgettable short story collection, The Four Million by O Henry.As the master of the “twist in the tail/tale” and the completely unexpected endings, O. Henry is unrivaled. His penchant for word-play, creating utterly charming characters, the deep humanism and romance portrayed in his stories make him one of the most read and loved short story writers. In fact, he has almost appropriated the genre and no classic anthology of English language short stories is considered complete without an O. Henry story. And O. Henry was not even his real name! Born Willia Mountebank, The by William John Locke (1863 - 1930) LibriVox Andrew Lackaday, an English orphan, was born and brought up in a French circus. He becomes a highly skilled mimic and juggler. He plies his trade all round the country in company with his assistant Elodie, a Marseillaise. The Great War comes and he excels himself as a soldier, ending up as a Brigadier General. After the war, he has no option but to return to his old profession only to find that everything has changed post war. The book follows his changing fortunes. - Summary by Simon Evers Belle's Stratagem Hannah Cowley The Beaux Stratagem, already in the LibriVox catalog (https://librivox.org/beaux-str..., was written by George Farquhar in 1707. The Belle's Stratagem, "a Ladies' response" to the Beaux Stratagem play with strong female characters, was written by Hannah Cowley in 1780. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Doricourt: A D Latheron Hardy: Alan Mapstone Sir George Touchwood: ToddHW Flutter: Larry Wilson Saville: Mike Manolakes Villers: Marya James Courtall: Greg Giordano Silvertongue: Son of the Exiles Crowquill: qthemusic123 First Gentleman: Adrian Stephens Second Gentleman: Tomas Peter Mountebank: Sandra Schmit French Servant: Rémi Porter: Sonia Dick (Courtall's servant): David Purdy Letitia Hardy: Jenn Broda Mrs. Racket: Kelly S. Taylor Lady Frances Touchwood: Matea Bracic Miss Ogle: mleigh Kitty Willis: Sonia Lady: Rebecca Brown Servant: Michele Eaton Tradesman: David Purdy Mrs F

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