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1Who Was Who: 5000 BC - 1914 Biographical Dictionary of the Famous and Those Who Wanted to Be

By Irwin Leslie Gordon

A short, humorous biography of famous people from 5000 BC to 1914. -- S. McGaughey <br></br>From the Introduction, "The editor begs leave to inform the public that only persons who can produce proper evidence of their demise will be admitted to Who Was Who. Press Agent notices or complimentary comments are absolutely excluded, and those offering to pay for the insertion of names will be prosecuted. As persons become eligible they will be included without solicitation, while the pages will be expurgated of others should good luck warrant."<br /><br />Each section is shared by three readers: <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/231">Sean McGaughey</a> (Sections 1-12), <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/75">Jim Mowatt</a> (Sections 1-4), <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/254">Alan Davis Drake</a> (Sections 1-2), <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/1066">Laurie Anne Walden</a> (Sections 3-12), and <a href="http://librivox.org/reader/1401">Sibella Denton</a> (Sections 5-12).

The historical works of Tacitus are a history of the period from A.D. 14 to 96 in thirty volumes. Although many of the works were lost (only books 1-5 of the Histories and 1-6 and 11-16 of the Annals survive), enough remains to provide a good sense of Tacitus’s political and moral philosophy.<br /><br />He recognized the necessity for strong rulers but argued that more should be done to manage the succession of power and allow for the ascension of talent. Tacitus asserted that it was the dynastic ambitions of Rome’s many emperors that caused the decline of moral and political life and precluded the possibility of recruiting leaders of real ability. Moreover, the dynastic temptation caused political instability because military force was now required for political change. His works point to the necessity of systematic institutional restraints on power for the preservation of liberty.<br /><br />Gordon’s translation and his lengthy Discourses on Tacitus bring Tacitus’ ideas up to date and apply them to the British state of the early 18th century. (Description from Online Library of Liberty)

3Quiet Talks on Prayer

By S. D. Gordon

An open life, an open hand, open upward, is the pipe line of communication between the heart of God and this poor befooled old world. Our prayer is God's opportunity to get into the world that would shut Him out. (From the first chapter)

4Quiet Talks about Jesus

By S. D. Gordon

So far as I can find out, I have no theory about Jesus to make these talks fit into. I have tried to find out for myself what the old Book of God tells about Him. And here I am trying to tell to others, as simply as I can, what I found. It was by the tedious, twisting path of doubt that I climbed the hill of truth up to some of its summits of certainty. I am free to confess that I am ignorant of the subject treated here save for the statements of that Book, and for the assent within my own spirit to these statements, which has greatly deepened the impression they made, and make. There is no question raised here about that Book itself, but simply a taking and grouping up together of what it says. ( Summary by Introductory Section )

5Poems

By Adam Lindsay Gordon

This is a volume of poems by Adam Lindsay Gordon, 'British-born Australian Steeple-Chase Rider and Poet'.<br></br>"The poems of Gordon have an interest beyond the mere personal one which his friends attach to his name. Written, as they were, at odd times and leisure moments of a stirring and adventurous life, it is not to be wondered at if they are unequal or unfinished. The astonishment of those who knew the man, and can gauge the capacity of this city [Melbourne] to foster poetic instinct, is that such work was ever produced here at all. Intensely nervous, and feeling much of that shame at the exercise of the higher intelligence which besets those who are known to be renowned in field sports, Gordon produced his poems shyly, scribbled them on scraps of paper, and sent them anonymously to magazines. It was not until he discovered one morning that everybody knew a couplet or two of "How we Beat the Favourite" that he consented to forego his anonymity and appear in the unsuspected character of a versemaker. The success of his republished "collected" poems gave him courage, and the unreserved praise which greeted "Bush Ballads" should have urged him to forget or to conquer those evil promptings which, unhappily, brought about his untimely death.' - Summary from the Preface.<br>Note: The dramas (fragment of the Road to Avernus and Ashtaroth) have been left out of this volume.

6Song of Autumn

By Adam Lindsay Gordon

Adam Lindsay Gordon was an Australian poet, jockey and politician. - Summary by Wikipedia

Born in London's poverty-stricken and heavily Jewish East End, the Lipcott boys create their own successes in life and love. The brothers' commitment to improving the lives of working class people leads them to concoct The Scheme to help both the residents of their former neighbourhood and the Jewish people as a whole. The author stresses the responsibility of middle class Jews toward the Jewish poor. Consequently, this 1900 story has its preachy moments as well as some essentialised speculations about Jewish history and character. But the book isn't all earnestness - there are character studies, love interests, and some great comic scenes, too! The son of a Russian rabbi, Samuel Gordon (1871-1927) was born in Germany and came to England at the age of 13. Like Phil Lipcott, his protagonist in this novel, Gordon attended Cambridge University. The club envisioned by The Scheme seems modeled after London's Jewish Working Men's Institute. This was one of several East End organisations (e.g., the Jewish Girls Club, the Brady Boys Club) established by Jewish philanthropists around the turn of the 19th century to "instill in the rising generation all that is best in the English character..." (Col. A. E. Goldsmit, founder of the Jewish Lads Brigade). (Summary by Adrian Praetzellis)

<p dir="rtl">קוֹצוֹ שֶׁל יוּד היא פואמה עברית רחבת-יריעה של יהודה ליב גורדון (יל"ג), שהתפרסמה בהמשכים בכתב העת "השחר" שבעריכת פרץ סמולנסקין בשנת תרל"ו (1876), ואחר-כך שוכללה על ידי המשורר וקיבלה את צורתה הסופית בחודש אב תרל"ח (1878). שמה של הפואמה נגזר מהמסופר בעלילה, על רב שפסל גט, אותו השיגה אישה עגונה מבעלה, עקב האות י' שחסרה הייתה בשם הבעל. בספרות העברית ידועה הפואמה כאחת המחאות הפואטיות החריפות כנגד השלטון הרבני על הקהילה מצד אחד, וקיפוח זכויותיהן של נשים מצד שני.</p>"The Point on Top of the Yodh" is a Hebrew poem by Judah Leib Gordon that was published serially in 1876 in the journal <i>Hashachar</i> (edited by Peretz Smolenskin) and refined by the poet into its final form in 1878. The title of the poem is derived from its story of a woman who obtains a divorce document from her husband, who had deserted her. However, a rabbi invalidates the divorce document because of a missing letter (a yodh) in the husband’s name. The poem is considered one of the strongest protests in Hebrew literature against rabbinic rule over the community and discrimination against women. (Summary from Wikipedia)

Judah Leib Gordon was born to well-to-do Jewish parents who owned a hotel in Vilnius, Lithuania. He took a leading part in the modern revival of the Hebrew language and culture. His satires did much to rouse the Russian Jews to a new sense of the reality of life, and Gordon was the apostle of enlightenment in the Ghettos. His Hebrew style is classical and pure. Much of his poetry revolves around biblical and historical themes. His works were intended to disseminate Enlightenment values and had a profound impact on Jewish life. Many feel his romantic works lack the same militancy as his poetic works, though his advocacy resurfaces in his realistic novels. <i>Two Days and One Night in a Hotel</i>, first published in 1868, is set in a shtetl (a small Jewish village in Eastern Europe), where life was full of contradictions. (Summary by Wikipedia and Omri Lernau)

10Hunting Song

By Adam Lindsay Gordon

LibriVox volunteers bring you 14 recordings of A Hunting Song by Adam Lindsay Gordon.<br> This was the Weekly Poetry project for February 24, 2019. <br> ------<br> Adam Lindsay Gordon was an Australian poet, jockey, police officer, and politician. In this Weekly Poem he raises a glass "..to every sportsman, be he stableman or lord," (Wikipedia )

The rose, the flower of love, the flower of life, the floral symbol of all life's occasions whose presence both motivates and adorns indelible life memories is the subject of these wonderful poems. From the pen of poet Elizabeth Gordon the rose becomes an integral component of life as she shares tales embodying the poignancy of our existence, the pathos of our being - thorns and prickles not excluded. These wonderful poems are uplifting, inspirational and remarkably filled with facets of a life we all share while being accompanied by the comforting and beautiful presence of this heartening heavenly floral offering, the rose. - Summary by Bruce Kachuk

12Night Thoughts

By Hanford Lennox Gordon

LibriVox volunteers bring you 11 recordings of Night Thoughts by Hanford Lennox Gordon. .<br> This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for March 21, 2021. <br> ------<br> Hanford Lennox Gordon was of Scottish descent. He led a varied life, serving a short stint in the First Minnesota Regiment, but left due to health concerns. He went on to practice law and served as the registrar for the U.S. land office in Monticello and St. Cloud, MN. He is the author of several books of poetry. - Summary by David Lawrence

13Quiet Talks on Power

By S. D. Gordon

The first book of S. D. Gordon's famous "Quiet Talks" series, "Quiet Talks on Power", explores man's inward desire for power, and shows that the Holy Spirit is the only source of true power to be found in the world. Gordon demonstrates that walking daily with God results in an evident power and authority from God to meaningfully change the world. - Summary by Justin Vistine

14Really So Stories

By Elizabeth Gordon

These stories for young people are Really So; they are not made up stories about bears or witches. These are short educational sketches about how our calendar came to be, where Valentine's Day came from, how pelicans live with their big beak, how we have the wonderful telegraph, and many more. So if you are a bit tired of fairy tales, try these bite sized sections packed with what really happened. They are Really So ! . - Summary by philchenevert