Showing results by narrator "Jim Hodges" in All Categories

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!"

Pragmatic gambler Phileas Fogg has made a gentlemanly wager to the members of his exclusive club: that he can circle the world in just 80 days, right down to the minute. Fetching his newly appointed French valet, Fogg embarks on a fabulous journey across land and sea - by steamer, rail, and elephant - to win the bet of a lifetime.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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? 

The Saxons and Vikings fought many fierce battles in Britain in the eighth and ninth centuries. During the struggle, 23-year-old Alfred ascended the throne and temporarily beat back the pagan hordes and concluded a peace treaty. Following another war in 878, peace was again achieved; the Danish King Guthrum accepted Christianity and withdrew to East Anglia, and Alfred the Great fortified cities, built a navy, codified laws, and revived learning among the Saxons until his death in AD 900. The hero is a Saxon thane named Edmund who joins the forces of King Alfred.

Shortly before the US Revolutionary war against England, most inhabitants were her loyal subjects. France had control of much of southern Canada and the “western” lands of the current states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Skirmishes abounded for years between English settlers pushing west and French settlers and their Indian accomplices. This story includes depictions of the battles of Forts Duquesne and Necessity in Pennsylvania, and Forts Ticonderoga and William Henry in New York, and Quebec in Canada.

Set in 1585 through 1604, this sequel to By Pike and Dyke continues the story of the Dutch Protestant struggle for independence from their Spanish Catholic rulers. Two English brothers experience the major conflicts in the struggle meeting one of the greatest generals of the time, Sir Francis Vere. Their adventures include the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the battle of Cadiz and Ostend, life in Holland and Spain, and more. Henty’s legendary storytelling once again captures the reader’s imagination while educating his readers

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.

Here is Book 6 in the exciting Hardy Boys Mystery series! Frank, Joe, and his friends, while ice skating, get caught in a blizzard which results in their finding and befriending a poor old miner who lost his gold to thieves! Their famous detective Dad, Fenton, just happens to be investigating the same missing gold in Montana! He calls the boys to come and help him as he’s injured and bed-bound. They are followed, tricked, and delayed, but ultimately get to Montana where they are attacked by wolves in abandoned mines, and finally begin Hunting for Hidden Gold!

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.

Few wars have been fought by each side with greater intensity of conviction in the rightness of its cause or with more abundant personal heroism than the War Between the States. The story begins with a great responsibility falling on Vincent Wingfield, the teenage son of a widowed Virginia plantation owner. Vincent must decide what course of action he should take when a problem arises on the plantation.

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!

Historian Sarah Hopkins Bradford details the life of heroic abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who was born into slavery but escaped to lead other enslaved people to freedom.

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.