The Slaves of Society: A Comedy in Covers

audiobook

The Slaves of Society: A Comedy in Covers

by Allen Upward

EN·~3 hours·16 chapters

Chapters

16 total
1

THE SLAVES OF SOCIETY

0:33
2

SCENE I A MOTHER’S CARES

15:17
3

SCENE II THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE

6:55
4

SCENE III THE SLAVE OF ALDERMAN DOBBIN

23:09
5

SCENE IV THE NOTORIOUS BELLE YORKE

23:55
6

SCENE V A PERSON OF IMPORTANCE

14:14
7

SCENE VI WHAT PEOPLE SAID

13:40
8

SCENE VII A QUESTION OF CHEMISTRY

10:50
9

SCENE VIII CINDERELLA

12:54
10

SCENE IX AND THE PRINCE

12:35

Description

In this sparkling turn-of-the‑century comedy, a fashionable marchioness laments that even the most privileged are “slaves of society,” while the ornate drawing‑rooms of Berkeley Square become a stage for witty repartee and subtle rebellion. Joined by the enigmatic Mr. Despresso—whose polished manners hide a mischievous streak—the two navigate a world of glittering parties, whispered intrigues, and the ever‑present pressure to conform to genteel expectations.

Through a series of lively scenes—from a mother’s caring concerns to a sudden bout of chemistry and a mischievous misfortune for society—the play skewers the rituals of the British elite with sharp humor and affectionate satire. Listeners will be drawn into the elegant absurdities of high‑society life, where every polished gesture masks a yearning for genuine freedom, and where even a simple muffin can spark a philosophical debate about cages of gold.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (206K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Original publisher

United States: Harper & Brothers, 1900.

Credits

D A Alexander, David E. Brown, Access Services at Purdue University Library, West Lafayette, Indiana, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Release date

2022-03-11

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Allen Upward

Allen Upward

1863–1926

A restless, wide-ranging writer, Allen Upward moved between poetry, fiction, law, and politics, leaving behind work that feels both intellectual and unexpectedly adventurous. He is often remembered today for having poems in Des Imagistes, the 1914 anthology edited by Ezra Pound.

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