CostasNarrativeXP

CostasNarrativeXP celebrates 140th Anniversary"The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis StevensonA scientist’s chemical attempt to isolate his inner evil creates a monstrous separate identity that eventually consumes him.00:27 Story of the Door13:56 Search for Mr. Hyde31:34 Dr. Jekyll Was Quite at Ease36:14 The Carew Murder Case46:02 Incident of the Letter56:13 Incident of Dr. Lanyon1:05:18 Incident at the Window1:08:35 The Last Night1:33:26 Dr. Lanyon’s Narrative1:50:08 Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the CaseCharactersDr. Henry Jekyll - The protagonist whose scientific ambition and desire to separate his dual nature trigger the entire tragedy.Edward Hyde - Jekyll’s evil alter ego; he represents the pure, unrestrained depravity that eventually takes control.Gabriel John Utterson - The lawyer and narrator figure. Most of the mystery is seen through his eyes as he investigates the link between Jekyll and Hyde.Dr. Hastie Lanyon - Jekyll’s foil. As a "rational" scientist, his horror upon witnessing the transformation provides the definitive proof of Jekyll's success, and his downfall.Complete FeaturesCount of Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookPodcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOnPowered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 New Year feature"Brave New World" by Aldous HuxleyIn a genetically-engineered utopia where comfort is mandatory and individuality is extinct, the World State maintains total stability at the cost of the human soul.Chapter 3-400:27 3 Mustapha Mond, Lenina, and Bernard, contrasts the World State’s sexual freedom with past prudishness, presents soma, critiques conditioning, and foreshadows tension through Bernard’s discontent and the Savage Reservation.41:42 4 Lenina agrees to spend a week with Bernard; he and Helmholtz, both dissatisfied Alpha-plus men, discuss their emptiness and frustration with the World State’s shallow society.CharactersThe Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, D.H.C - The authoritative figure who leads the student tour and explains the technical "birth" processHenry Foster - The Director's assistant and a high-caste Alpha who is obsessed with statistics and the efficiency of the hatcheryLenina Crowne - A Beta-minus worker on the assembly line, specifically the "Embryo Store", who is described as uncommonly prettyMustapha Mond - Resident World Controller for Western Europe, sophisticated superior leader who enforces social stability through censorship while secretly possessing forbidden knowledgeBernard Marx - An Alpha-Plus specialist in Hypnopaedia whose physical stuntedness causes him to feel like a social outcastFanny Crowne - A Beta technician in the Bottling Room who acts as a strictly orthodox representative of the World State’s social rulesHelmholtz Watson - Alpha-plus lecturer and writer, is admired and impressive but secretly frustrated by the emptiness of his work and the World State.Costa's WordbookBoscage n a mass of trees or shrubs (Boss gage as in cage)Cuckoo n a long-tailed, medium-sized bird, typically with a grey or brown back and barred or pale underparts. Many cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of small songbirdsMaudlin adj self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental (Maw de lin)Discarnate adj (of a person or being) not having a physical body (dis Garn net)Harappa - a major archaeological site and ancient city in Pakistan, a key center of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500-1700 BC), known for advanced urban planning with grid systems, drainage, and fortified citadels, and also serves as the name for the broader Bronze Age culture it representsUr of the Chaldees - the biblical birthplace of Abraham, identified by archaeologists with the ancient Sumerian city of Ur (modern Tell el-Muqayyar) in southern Iraq, a wealthy metropolis known for its ziggurat and extensive trade in ancient Mesopotamia, from which Abraham left to journey to CanaanOdysseus - a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in that same epic cycleGotama - ind, the BuddhaAlhambra - a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Spain. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic worldChypre n a sophisticated and complex family of perfumes named after the island of Cyprus (Sheeper)Intravenal = intravenous adj existing or taking place within, or administered into, a vein or veins (Intra v nus)Hibiscus n a plant of the mallow family, grown in warm climates for its large brightly coloured flowers or for products such as fibre or timberTrobriand n the Trobriand Islanders, an indigenous Melanesian people from the Trobriand Islands (Kiriwina Archipelago) off Papua New Guinea (Troe brie end)Axiomatic adj self-evident or unquestionable (axiom Matic)Truculently adv in an angry or slightly aggressive way that may cause an argument (Truc cue lent ly)Flivver n a cheap car or aircraft, especially one in bad condition (Fliv ver)Pneumatic adj (of a woman) having large breastsEctogenesis n (chiefly in science fiction) the development of embryos in artificial conditions outside the uterus (ec toe Genesis)Physico-chemically adv in a manner relating to both physics and chemistry, describing properties or processes that involve both physical (like solubility, density, state) and chemical (like reactivity, bonding, pH) characteristics of a substance, often studied in physical chemistry to understand behavior, interactions, and changes (physical Chemical)Kurfürstendamm - ger, Berlin's famous 3.5 km long, elegant boulevard in West Berlin, known as the city's Champs-ÉlyséesThe 8th Arrondissement -fr, a prestigious district famous for the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, and Place de la ConcordeDichlorethyl sulphide - chemical name for mustard gas, a highly toxic, oily liquid used as a chemical warfare blister agent, causing severe skin burns, blisters (vesicant), eye damage, and respiratory issues like pulmonary edemaCorduroy n a thick cotton fabric with velvety ribs (Core du roy)Malthusian theory - developed by Thomas Malthus, that population grows geometrically (exponentially) while food supply grows arithmetically (linearly), inevitably leading to resource scarcity, famine, war, disease (Malthusian catastrophes), and poverty that checks population growth. Malthus argued that "positive checks" (misery, war) and "preventive checks" (moral restraint, delayed marriage) keep populations in check, criticizing aid that encouraged larger families (Mal thew sian)Pharmacologist n a research scientist studying how drugs affect the body, working in labs or pharma to discover and develop new drugs; pharmacists manage existing drugs for patients; pharmacologists research new onesHallucinant n something that causes hallucinations or a person who experiences them, often used for drugs or profound sensory experiences (hal Lew cin nent)Soma n hindu, an intoxicating drink prepared from a plant and used in Vedic ritual, believed to be the drink of the gods (Sow mah)Hoity-toity adj haughty or snobbish (Hoi ty Toi ty)Gonadal adj anything related to the gonads (go Na del)Cockchafer n a large brown European beetle which flies at dusk and is a destructive plant pest, both as an adult and a larva (Cock chay fer)Aphid n a small bug which feeds by sucking sap from plants (A fid)Hullabaloo n a loud, continued noise or mixture of noises, a commotion (Hul la ba loo)Complete FeaturesCount of Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookPodcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOnPowered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 New Year feature"Brave New World" by Aldous HuxleyIn a genetically-engineered utopia where comfort is mandatory and individuality is extinct, the World State maintains total stability at the cost of the human soul.Chapter 1-200:27 1 The Hatchery mass-produces citizens via an assembly line, biologically predestining Alphas and Betas for intellect and leadership, while conditioning the rest for manual labor.30:33 2 The state uses hypnopaedia and shocks to condition citizens to hate nature but crave expensive sports, ensuring constant consumption and social stability via manufactured "morals."CharactersThe Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, D.H.C - The authoritative figure who leads the student tour and explains the technical "birth" processHenry Foster - The Director's assistant and a high-caste Alpha who is obsessed with statistics and the efficiency of the hatcheryLenina Crowne - A Beta-minus worker on the assembly line, specifically the "Embryo Store", who is described as uncommonly pretty.Costa's WordbookGooseflesh n a state of the skin caused by cold, fear, or excitement, in which small bumps appear on the surface as the hairs become erectAbjectly adv humbly; a complete lack of pride, dignity, hope, or spiritStraight from the horse's mouth - idiom from the person who has direct personal knowledgeFretsawyer n a person who saws timber for a livingFloridly adv in a way that has too much decorationGamete n a mature haploid male or female germ cell which is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote (Gahm meet)Thermogene n heat-producing, referring to substances or processes that generate heat, often by boosting metabolism (Thermo gin)Excised adj having been cut out surgically (Ex cysed)Viscosity n the state of being thick, sticky, and semi-fluid in consistency, due to internal friction (Vis gos city)Spermatozoa pl n the mature motile male sex cell of an animal, by which the ovum is fertilized, typically having a compact head and one or more long flagella for swimming (spermatoe Zoe ah)Burgeon v begin to grow or increase rapidly, flourish, bud (Bur gen)Piddling adj pathetically trivial, trifling (Pid dle ling)Viviparous adj (of an animal) bringing forth live young which have developed inside the body of the parent (vi Vip par rous)Largesse n generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others (lar Jess)Pituitary n the major endocrine gland, a pea-sized body attached to the base of the brain that is important in controlling growth and development and the functioning of the other endocrine glands (pit Chui tery)Peritoneum n the serous membrane lining the cavity of the abdomen and covering the abdominal organs (peri tone Neeum)Morula n a solid ball of cells resulting from division of a fertilized ovum, and from which a blastula is formed (More ryu la)Saline adj containing or impregnated with salt (Say line)Thyroxine n the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland, acting to increase metabolic rate and so regulating growth and development (thy Rox seen)corpus luteum - lat, a hormone-secreting structure that develops in an ovary after an ovum has been discharged but degenerates after a few days unless pregnancy has begunFreemartin n a hermaphrodite or imperfect sterile female calf which is the twin of a male calf whose hormones affected its developmentEndocrine adj relating to or denoting glands which secrete hormones or other products directly into the blood. (Endo cryne)Lupus n a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues and organs, causing widespread inflammation affecting joints, skin, kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs, with symptoms like fatigue, rashesImmunize v make (a person or animal) resistant to a particular infectious disease or pathogen, typically by vaccination (Im mune nise)Pavlovian adj known as Classical Conditioning, explains how learning occurs through association, where a neutral stimulus (like a bell) becomes linked with an unconditioned stimulus (like food) to trigger a learned (conditioned) response (like salivating), fundamentally shaping behaviorism by demonstrating involuntary responses can be trained (pav Loaf vian)Viscose n a viscous orange-brown solution obtained by treating cellulose with sodium hydroxide and carbon disulphide, used as the basis of manufacturing rayon fibre and transparent cellulose film (Vis cose like nose)Aryan adj (in Nazi ideology) of or denoting white non-Jewish people, especially those of northern European origin or descent typically having blonde hair and blue eyes and regarded as a supposedly superior racial group (Air ree yen)Quarto n a size of book page resulting from folding each printed sheet into four leaves (eight pages) (Quart toe)Posthumous adj occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator (Pos chu mous)Hypnopaedia n learning by hearing while asleep or under hypnosis (hypno Peedia)George Bernard Shaw - an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist; his expressed views were often contentious; he promoted eugenics and alphabet reform, and opposed vaccination and organised religionAsafoetida n a fetid resinous gum obtained from the roots of a herbaceous plant, used in herbal medicine and South Asian cooking (asa Fee tid da)Inculcate v instil (an idea, attitude, or habit) by persistent instruction (In cul kate)Complete FeaturesCount of Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookPodcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOnPowered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP end of the year featureAlexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"Plot outline by Auguste MaquetA sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.Volume V Chapter 96-117 Finale00:30 96 At Danglars’s contract signing Monte Cristo reveals a newly found waistcoat letter tying Andrea to Caderousse. Police arrive to arrest Andrea as an escaped convict for murder, but he has already fled elsewhere.24:30 97 Eugénie and Louise immediately enact their escape plan, disguise Eugénie as Louise’s brother, use the passport and theater letters Monte Cristo provided, pack their trunk, and leave for Italy through Brussels.38:33 98 Andrea steals the wedding jewels, flees by cab and horse, hides in an inn chimney, drops into Eugénie and Louise’s room, is caught by police, and the exposed women depart for Brussels amid attention.1:05:37 99 Madame Danglars seeks help from Debray, then Villefort. She asks Villefort to let Andrea escape to avoid scandal, but he refuses. He has bigger worries at home, and Andrea has already been caught.100 Recovering, Valentine sees Monte Cristo, who reveals watching her for nights, substituting poison for healthy drinks. He gives her red liquid, telling her to feign sleep when the killer soon to be revealed arrives after midnight.101 Pretending sleep, Valentine saw her stepmother poison her drink. Monte Cristo returned, promising a safety plan. He gave her a drug, emptied some poison to fake consumption, and left through a secret door.102 Madame de Villefort confirms Valentine's death and disposes of the poison. Monte Cristo secretly replaced it, which Dr. d'Avrigny identified, causing the killer to collapse as servants fled.2:10:41 103 Noirtier warns Maximilien, who finds Valentine dead. He carries Noirtier to her side. Maximilien, d'Avrigny, and Noirtier compel Villefort to swear vengeance, giving him three days.104 While Valentine is prepared for burial, Villefort obsesses over Benedetto. Monte Cristo takes five million francs from Danglars, forcing the banker to gather cash, burn papers, and flee his creditors.105 Monte Cristo follows a suicidal Maximilien, revealing he is Edmond Dantès. The Count stops him by promising happiness and requires him to live with him for one month.3:23:51 106 Debray finalizes Madame Danglars's secret wealth, contrasting her greed with the poverty of Mercédès and Albert. Albert enlists and sends his mother to Marseille.107 Andrea, imprisoned in La Force, hopes Monte Cristo will save him. When Bertuccio visits, Andrea suggests Monte Cristo is his father. Bertuccio promises to return tomorrow with the real name.4:16:39 108 Villefort prepares for Benedetto's trial while Noirtier finds peace. Villefort confronts his wife, Mme de Villefort, about the four deaths she caused and demands she use her saved poison on herself before he returns.109 Andrea's sensational trial draws a crowd. Socialites Beauchamp, Château-Renaud, and Debray exchange rumors, with Debray suggesting young Edward is the poisoner in the Villefort deaths.110 Andrea, calm, admits being a criminal but refuses his name. When he declares Villefort is his father, the chaos ends with Villefort acknowledging the truth and staggering out, forcing a trial postponement.5:10:03 111 Regretting his demand, Villefort finds his wife and son, Edouard, dead by poison. Monte Cristo reveals his identity (Edmond Dantès), but is horrified that his vengeance resulted in the boy's death.112 Maximilien and Monte Cristo discuss the fallen before leaving Paris. In Marseille, Count visits Mercédès, revealing his vengeful methods. She expresses regret over marrying Fernand and wishes only for Albert's happiness.6:04:38 113 Revisiting Château d’If, the Count relives his suffering, finds Faria’s manuscript as divine approval of his vengeance, then urges despairing Maximilien to wait until October 5 on Monte Cristo island for happiness.114 Danglars withdraws five million, is shadowed by Peppino, kidnapped by Vampa’s bandits, and locked in the catacombs, still believing his remaining fortune will easily buy his freedom.6:59:07 115 Starving Danglars waits for ransom demands; Peppino offers meals at extortionate prices. A chicken costs heavy. Outraged, Danglars bargains in vain and finally agrees, paying a fortune for every bite while imprisoned.116 Danglars pays a fortune for every meal until only a fraction remain. Starving, he repents. Monte Cristo reveals himself as Edmond Dantès, forgives him, orders food, and frees him with the last 50,000 francs.117 On Monte Cristo island, Maximilien swallows the green elixir, “dies,” awakens to find Valentine alive. Monte Cristo gifts them his fortune, sails away with Haydée, leaving the famous last words: “wait and hope!”Main Characters of Volume VEdmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.Costa's WordbookFricassee - fr, a dish of stewed or fried pieces of meat served in a thick white sauce (Fric ca see)Che cosa? - ita, What?Harpagon - a miser, a greedy and stingy person, due to the character from Molière's play L'Avare (The Miser)Piecemeal adv adj characterized by unsystematic partial measures taken over a period of timeUsury n the action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interes (U sher ry)Calypso…Telemachus - reference is to Homer’s Odyssey: When Odysseus is shipwrecked and washed up naked and half-dead on the island of the nymph Calypso, she takes him in. Telemachus is Odysseus’ son in Homer’s OdysseyCaryatids - sculpted female figures used as architectural supports in place of columns.The most famous examples stand on the porch of the Erechtheion temple on the Acropolis in AthensUnctuous adj (of a mineral) having a greasy or soapy feelFelucca n a small boat propelled by oars or lateen sails or both, used on the Nile and formerly more widely in the Mediterranean regionComplete FeaturesSongs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookPodcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOnPowered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP end of the year featureAlexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"Plot outline by Auguste MaquetA sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.Volume V Chapter 113-11400:30 113 Revisiting Château d’If, the Count relives his suffering, finds Faria’s manuscript as divine approval of his vengeance, then urges despairing Maximilien to wait until October 5 on Monte Cristo island for happiness.29:49 114 Danglars withdraws five million, is shadowed by Peppino, kidnapped by Vampa’s bandits, and locked in the catacombs, still believing his remaining fortune will easily buy his freedom.Main Characters of Volume VEdmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.Costa's WordbookAutumnal adj of, characteristic of, or occurring in autumn (aw Tum nal)Mirabeau - Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau (1749–1791), a famed French orator, writer, and central figure of the early French Revolution; died suddenly in 1791 at the height of his influence. Because he was a deeply controversial political figure, admired as the "Tribune of the People" but distrusted for secretly consulting with the King, his sudden death at age 42 led many to believe he had been poisoned by his political rivals, rather than dying from natural causesVacillating adj wavering between different opinions or actions, irresolute (Va cil lating)Eurus - a figure in Greek mythology who personifies the East Wind, often associated with bad omens, storms, and bringing warm, dry air and rain (or sometimes blight). Unlike the cold North Wind (Boreas) or gentle West Wind (Zephyrus), Eurus is often depicted as unsettling and violentAllegro! Moderato! - ita, Fast!, Slow!Marius and Gracch - ita, Gaius Marius, the great Roman general and seven-time consul who rose from plebeian origins and championed the common people; Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, two famous 2nd-century BCE tribunes who fought for land reform for the poor and were both assassinated by the Senate; they are ultimate symbols of ancient Rome’s populist heroes, the champions of the little guy against the aristocracyMorra - ita, traditional Italian hand game: Two players simultaneously throw out fingers while shouting a guess at the total number of fingers shown. Fast, loud, and usually played for small bets — very common among working-class Italians in the 19th centuryFacchini - ita, porters / baggage carriers / general labourersOrvieto - ita, famous white wine from the town of Orvieto in Umbria, central Italy. In 1840s Rome it was the classic cheap, everyday table wine that ordinary Romans, porters, coachmen, and bandits drank by the bottle or flask. Slightly sweet, low-alcohol, straw-coloured, sold in wicker-covered fiasco bottles.Non capisco - ita, i do not understandmio caro? - ita, my dear?Dentro la testa! - ita, inside the head! (put your head inside)Scendi! - ita, come down!Di quà - ita, over hereAvanti! - ita, go ahead!Plutarch - (c. 46 – after 119 AD) was a Greek-Roman philosopher, biographer, and essayist; famous for one single work that has never stopped being read for 2,000 years: Parallel LivesEcco! - ita, Here! (here you are)Complete FeaturesSongs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookPodcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOnPowered by Firstory Hosting