Diminutive dramas

audiobook

Diminutive dramas

by Maurice Baring

EN·~3 hours·22 chapters

Chapters

22 total

I CATHERINE PARR OR ALEXANDER’S HORSE

10:21

II THE DRAWBACK

9:22

III PIOUS ÆNEAS

10:10

IV THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER

7:21

V THE GREEK VASE

10:13

VI THE FATAL RUBBER

9:53

VII THE REHEARSAL

13:02

VIII THE BLUE HARLEQUIN (WITH APOLOGIES TO MR. MAETERLINCK)

12:48

IX THE MEMBER FOR LITERATURE

11:36

X CALIGULA’S PICNIC

11:16

Description

In these bite‑sized sketches the court of Henry VIII becomes a kitchen table, where the king argues with his queen over something as ordinary as a boiled egg. The dialogue crackles with the same authority and absurdity that made their reigns famous, turning the mundane into a stage for wit, rivalry, and the occasional slip of historical fact.

Each scene pits a well‑known figure against a familiar domestic concern—a royal composer proposing a new ballad, a queen insisting that Alexander’s horse was black, a monarch defending his view of ancient texts. The humor comes from the clash of grand legacy with petty grievance, inviting listeners to hear history whispered in a modern, almost conversational tone. The performances are quick, lively, and perfect for a short listening break, offering a fresh, playful glimpse of the personalities behind the names.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (214K characters)

Release date

2026-01-10

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Maurice Baring

Maurice Baring

1874–1945

An English man of letters with a reporter’s eye for detail, he wrote poems, novels, essays, and travel books shaped by wide experience in Europe and Russia. His work offers a vivid glimpse of the cultured world that existed before the First World War, while still feeling personal and observant.

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