Showing results by narrator "Chris Newman" in All Categories

Oliver Cromwell was an English army and statesman who led Parliamentary armies against King Charles I throughout the English Civil War. Why was he so hated by so many? And is this image of him historically correct? The reason why people thought he was so evil is because of his brutality against the Irish at that time. Several Irish and English scholars agree that Cromwell was too cruel in Ireland. Other academics accuse him of "ethnic cleansing", or the systematic expulsion of a certain ethnic population from a territory. Is this true? And why did he do this?

Zapata was associated with political efforts against Daz and the landowning hacendados from an early age, and when the Revolution emerged in the year 1910, he was placed as a key figure in the peasant insurgence in Morelos. He established the Freedom Army of the South with the help of certain other peasant leaders, and he rapidly rose to become its undisputed head.

The cult image, female divine being, and folk saint Nuestra Seora de la Santa Muerte (Spanish meaning: Our woman of the holy death) is a cult image, female divine being, and folk saint in Mexican Neopaganism and folk Catholicism. Her worshippers relate her with healing, security, and safe delivery to the afterlife simply because she's a personification of death. In spite of condemnation from Catholic Church leaders and, more just recently, evangelical movements, her following has grown substantially since the start of the 21st century.

It’s a hard name to pronounce, but hey, it’s been the legend of Native American peoples for centuries. Was it a man? Was it a god? Was it a white person? Or, was it some animal or strange thing? Quetzalcoatl is an Aztec divine being whose name originates from the Nahuatl language and meaning "valuable snake" or "Quetzal-feathered snake".

Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a revolutionary in Mexico. He was a key figure in the Mexican Revolt of the years 1910 until 1920, and also the primary leader of the people's revolution in the Mexican state of Morelos and the creator of the Zapatismo agrarian movement.

Mark Twain is arguably one of the most famous authors in the United States, with his books Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. His characters were a typical, yet deviant, episode of the time period in which he lived, depicting the circumstances under which many people lived. If you want to know more about this known author, this classical writer, then get started on listening right now!

Many people have had the pleasure to listen to Mozart’s music. His legacy has lived on for more than two centuries. And although he only lived to be 35 years old, he has had a major impact on the classical music genre. From simple rebel to sheer genius, this intelligent composer has shown the world that despite all the odds, masterpieces and pure art can become a reality.

Marilyn Monroe has been part of the sexual revolution during the mid-20th century. Her influence in the movie industry, as an icon for attractiveness and femininity, have been noticed by hundreds of millions, even after her death. Did Marilyn Monroe have success? Yes. Was her life easy? Not by far. Her failed marriages, early childhood trauma, mood disorder, and some of the struggles with her sexuality, contracts, and Hollywood producers have made her life go up and down so much that I’m sure she would describe some moments as the ultimate bliss and others as a living hell.

William Shakespeare is the celebrated script writer of the most popular plays in the English language. By writing both tragedies, romances, and comedies in the 16th century, he made a name for himself and became successful in the art of drama. Shakespeare’s life and decisions led to his acclaim, and in this audiobook, we will lay out some of the most significant changes in both his personal choices and his career. Despite of his financial debts, his complex family life, and his background, he was able to entertain his audiences both in his time and for centuries after his death.

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.

Charles Dickens is often remembered for his novel, A Christmas Carol. And even though it is a very interesting novel, it wasn’t even his favorite! Charles Dickens had a fascinating life, in an entirely different era and age in world history. To understand what and why he wrote what he did, it will be useful to see his works in the light of his marriage, his financial hardships, his success, his children, his traumas, and his goals. Become acquainted with this genius writer and his true drive that led him to who he became to be.

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.

This is a bundle of biographies of scientists and inventors that have paved the way for the technology and society we enjoy today. Their genius ideas and out-of-the-box thinking have been inspiring and courageous, to say the least.

Orville and Wilbur Wright were 2 American air travel leaders who are commonly credited with developing, structure, and flying the world's first effective motor-driven plane. On December seventeenth, 1903, four miles (6 kilometers) south of Cat Hawk, North Carolina, they made the first regulated, supported flight of a powered, heavier-than-air airplane with the Wright Leaflet. The brothers were also the first to develop airplane controls, leading the way for fixed-wing powered flight.

Michel de Nostredame, referred to as Nostradamus in Latin, was a French astronomer, doctor, and presumed seer mostly known for his work Les Prophéties, a collection of 942 poetic quatrains supposedly predicting future events, which was first released in the year 1555. In this audiobook, let’s take a look at what he predicted, and if any of it came true.