The World’s Story Volume I: China, Japan and the Islands of the Pacific


Lu par LibriVox Volunteers

(4.3 stars; 17 reviews)

This is the first volume of the 15-volume series of The World’s Story: a history of the World in story, song and art, edited by Eva March Tappan. Each book is a compilation of selections from prose literature, poetry and pictures and offers a comprehensive presentation of the world's history, art and culture, from the early times till the beginning of the 20th century.

Topics in Part I include China, Korea, Japan and the Islands of the Pacific. - Summary by Sonia

Cast list for The Sorrows of Han:

Emperor: Nemo
Lady/Princess: Eva Davis
Attendant: ToddHW
Envoy: SaraHale
President of the Council: Tomas Peter
Narrator: Sonia



Cast list for Ribs and Skin:

Rector: Nemo
Curate: Eva Davis
First Parishioner: Tomas Peter
Second Parishioner: ToddHW
Third Parishioner: SaraHale
Narrator: Sonia (18 hr 32 min)

Chapitres

Palace of the Dalai Lama at Lhasa, Thibet, Photograph, Frontispice 3:14 Lu par Sonia
Publisher's note 3:40 Lu par Sonia
Introduction, by Eva March Tappan 19:40 Lu par Sonia
China Part I: In the earliest days: historical note 2:30 Lu par Sonia
Shun of Yu who controlled the floods, by Confucius 13:15 Lu par Sonia
China Part II: Confucius and his age: historical note 1:18 Lu par Jim Locke
The story of Confucius, by Rev. A. W. Loomis 12:36 Lu par Jim Locke
A visit to a temple of Confucius, by Rev. A. W. Loomis 8:49 Lu par Jim Locke
Some of the proverbs of Confucius 2:44 Lu par Jim Locke
Manners and customs of Confucius's day, by Rev. William Speer 17:21 Lu par Jim Locke
Mencius, by S. Wells Williams 4:24 Lu par Jim Locke
A story of Mencius, by Unknown 1:44 Lu par Jim Locke
Proverbs of Mencius 1:12 Lu par Jim Locke
China Part III: Times of change and confusion: historical note 1:40 Lu par Jim Locke
The strenuous reign of Hoang-Ti, by Rev. Charles Gützlaff 16:42 Lu par Jim Locke
The rule of the Hans, by Rev. William Speer 9:30 Lu par Jim Locke
Rakan feeding the hungry spirit, Chinese painting, p. 52 3:09 Lu par Jim Locke
The three religions, by W. A. P. Martin 6:14 Lu par Jim Locke
Dream and reality, a Buddhist story, by Chuang Tzu 1:19 Lu par Jim Locke
Mulan, the maiden chief, by Unknown 5:52 Lu par Jim Locke
The prodigal emperor Wang-Ti, by Rounsevelle Wildman 5:57 Lu par Sonia
China Part IV: The Augustan age: historical note 1:26 Lu par Mona Jaheen (1956-2025)
Tai-Tsung the Good, by Rev. William Speer 6:24 Lu par Sonia
The rule of the empress Wu, by S. Wells Williams 3:25 Lu par brianna
The founding of Han-Lin College, by Rev. William Speer 5:25 Lu par Sonia
The binding of feet, by Rev. William Speer 2:31 Lu par andreearux
Printing, by Rev. William Speer 1:54 Lu par wubwave
China Part V: The coming of the Tartars: historical note 2:49 Lu par Jim Locke
The Tartars and their customs, by Marco Polo 11:25 Lu par cathar maiden
The Chinese theater, by Archibald Little 6:55 Lu par andreearux
The sorrows of Han, by Unknown 8:37 Lu par LibriVox Volunteers
Jenghiz Khan, the 'perfect warrior', by D. Petis de la Croix 5:52 Lu par cathar maiden
Jenghiz Khan captures Peking, by D. Petis de la Croix 2:55 Lu par cathar maiden
The dirge of Jenghiz Khan, by Unknown 1:37 Lu par Tomas Peter
China Part VI: Stories of the great Khan: historical note 2:02 Lu par brianna
The palace of the great Khan in Cambaluc (Peking), by Marco Polo 8:14 Lu par realisticspeakers
How the great Khan ate his dinner, by Marco Polo 6:49 Lu par realisticspeakers
How Kublai Khan went a-hunting, by Marco Polo 9:44 Lu par realisticspeakers
How the Khan sent his messages, by Marco Polo 9:07 Lu par realisticspeakers
The King's Messenger, by Chuang Tzu 1:17 Lu par Tomas Peter
The Polos teach the Khan how to capture a city, by Marco Polo 4:47 Lu par Tomas Peter
A Chinese city at the end of the thirteenth century, by Marco Polo 12:58 Lu par cathar maiden
The Peking Observatory, photograph, p. 128 2:24 Lu par brianna
China Part VII: Chinese fables and tales: historical note 1:51 Lu par Tomas Peter
The boy philosopher, by Unknown 2:09 Lu par andreearux
The elixir of life, by Unknown 1:24 Lu par brianna
The tiger and the monkey, by Unknown 1:27 Lu par SaraHale
Was he the only cheat?, by Unknown 2:33 Lu par Tomas Peter
The appeal of Lady Chang 3:04 Lu par Eva Davis (d. 2025)
The soul of the great bell, by Lafcadio Hearn 14:53 Lu par Tony Addison
China Part VIII: The coming of the missionaries: historical note 2:04 Lu par engineerSTL
An enterprising missionary, by John of Corvino 3:31 Lu par engineerSTL
The woman with the cross, by Mendez Pinto 8:54 Lu par Jim Locke
The worship of ancestors, by W. A. P. Martin 3:14 Lu par brianna
Teaching science to the emperor, by Père du Halde 15:21 Lu par Jim Locke
The emperor and the musician, by Père du Halde 4:14 Lu par Eva Davis (d. 2025)
The man who was afraid of becoming a horse, by Père du Halde 3:43 Lu par andreearux
How the bonzes got the ducks, by Père Le Comte 2:15 Lu par brianna
A visit to a Lama, by Père Gerbillon 9:07 Lu par Jim Locke
China Part IX: The first two centuries of Manchu rule: historical note 2:13 Lu par Tomas Peter
The coming of the Kalmucks, by Thomas de Quincey 8:05 Lu par Jim Locke
Chinese punishments, by Père du Halde 12:49 Lu par andreearux
The temple of Heaven, Peking, photograph, p. 186 2:25 Lu par Monika M. C.
Why the Chinaman wears a queue, by William Elliot Griffis 3:49 Lu par Jim Locke
How the Chinese received the first English ambassador, by Charles Gützlaff 8:16 Lu par Jim Locke
Opium-eaters, by William Speer 2:34 Lu par brianna
A 'Boston tea-party' in China, by William Speer 5:49 Lu par Monika M. C.
What the Chinese thought about the English, by Unknown 2:48 Lu par brianna
How the 'Arrow War' began, by W. A. P. Martin 5:02 Lu par ToddHW
Receiving the yellow jacket, by A. Egmont Hake 4:16 Lu par ToddHW
China Part X: Language, schools, and examinations: historical note 1:42 Lu par Mona Jaheen (1956-2025)
The Mandarin language, by Père du Halde 4:10 Lu par ToddHW
How Chinese children learn to read, by Père du Halde 6:54 Lu par April6090
When I went to school in China, by Yan Phou Lee 14:40 Lu par April6090
A child's first lesson, by Unknown 2:46 Lu par brianna
Civil-service examinations in China, by W. A. P. Martin 15:22 Lu par Jim Locke
Questions from a civil-service examination 2:01 Lu par Jim Locke
China Part XI: In recent years: historical note 2:16 Lu par Tomas Peter
War between China and Japan, by W. A. P. Martin 9:08 Lu par Demosthenes
The adventures of Yao Chen-Yuan 17:51 Lu par Jim Locke
When the allies entered Pekin, by Pierre Loti 16:59 Lu par Jim Locke
A diplomatic correspondence between the United States and China 6:19 Lu par Devorah Allen
The republic of China 1:44 Lu par Tomas Peter
Korea: historical note 2:00 Lu par Availle
A grain shop in Korea, photograph, p. 264 2:23 Lu par Availle
When Hideyoshi invaded Korea, by Homer B. Hulbert 20:56 Lu par Availle
Japan Part I: In ancient times: historical note 1:46 Lu par Availle
Jimmu Tenno, the first mikado of Japan, by William Elliot Griffis 7:52 Lu par Nuria
The Japanese story-teller, by Sir Edwin Arnold 12:49 Lu par Nemo
The fisher-boy Urashima, by Unknown 4:36 Lu par Nemo
Social life in Kioto, by William Elliot Griffis 14:27 Lu par Jim Locke
The story of Yoshitsune, by Yei Theodora Ozaki 30:29 Lu par Colleen McMahon
Three Japanese poems, translated by Frederick Victor Dickins 1:40 Lu par Nemo
The great Buddha of Kamakura, photograph, p. 318 3:58 Lu par Demosthenes
Japan Part II: The rule of the Shoguns: historical note 1:58 Lu par Availle
The great Khan Kublai invades Japan, by Marco Polo 9:30 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
The coming of Will Adams to Japan, by Will Adams 12:59 Lu par Availle
Long spears or short spears, by Walter Dening 18:31 Lu par Availle
How a man became a god, by Lafcadio Hearn 24:14 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
Ribs and skin, by Unknown 16:56 Lu par LibriVox Volunteers
How it would feel to be a Shinto god, by Lafcadio Hearn 12:59 Lu par Eva Davis (d. 2025)
Interior of a Japanese temple, photograph p. 368 3:32 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
Tadasuke, the Japanese Solomon, by Walter Dening 20:05 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
The sword of Japan, by Sir Edwin Arnold 24:18 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
Japan Part III: Some curious customs: historical note 1:30 Lu par SaraHale
A Japanese dinner party, by Sir Edwin Arnold 18:01 Lu par realisticspeakers
How Japanese ladies go shopping, by Alice M. Bacon 13:27 Lu par April6090
An incense party, by Sir Edwin Arnold 11:32 Lu par Devorah Allen
A Japanese house, by Basil Hall Chamberlain 5:19 Lu par April6090
Thinking out a garden, by Mortimer Menpes 3:09 Lu par April6090
A stone gateway, photograph p. 418 1:17 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
An artist in flowers, by Mortimer Menpes 5:59 Lu par realisticspeakers
How a Japanese paints, by Mortimer Menpes 3:54 Lu par Emma Charlotte
How to talk politely in Japan, by Percival Lowell 2:15 Lu par Availle
Japan Part IV: The awakening of Japan: historical note 2:57 Lu par realisticspeakers
When Commodore Perry landed in Japan, by Francis L. Hawks 22:50 Lu par realisticspeakers
The president's letter, by Townsend Harris 10:58 Lu par realisticspeakers
The schools of old Japan, by Francis Ottiwell Adams 7:21 Lu par Nuria
How to learn Japanese, by Rev. M. L. Gordon 9:08 Lu par Availle
The attack upon Port Arthur, by Lieutenant Tadayoshi Sakurai 13:22 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
Japan Part V: Little stories of Japan: historical note 1:37 Lu par SaraHale
Japanese politeness, by Mortimer Menpes 1:53 Lu par April6090
How the shopkeeper lost his queue, by Lafcadio Hearn 2:14 Lu par Eva Davis (d. 2025)
Fuji-Yama, photograph, p. 462 2:06 Lu par Availle
The cherry tree of the sixteenth day, by Lafcadio Hearn 3:53 Lu par Nemo
Japanese children and their games, by Sir Edwin Arnold 23:51 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
Islands of the Pacific: historical note 1:41 Lu par Sonia
The first Australian colonists, by W. H. Lang 13:44 Lu par Son of the Exiles
Gold, gold, gold!, by W. H. Lang 18:38 Lu par Son of the Exiles
The missionary and the cannibals, by Reginald Horsley 18:46 Lu par Jim Locke
Hot-water basins, New Zealand, photograph, p. 502 2:37 Lu par Tomas Peter
The story of Pitcairn Island, by Anonymous 11:58 Lu par BettyB
The last voyage of Captain Cook, by Charles C. B. Seymour 21:10 Lu par BettyB
The vengeance of the goddess Pele, by Kalakaua 11:51 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
Father Damien, the missionary to the lepers, by John C. Lambert 21:50 Lu par Lynda Marie Neilson
A visit to Aguinaldo, by Edwin Wildman 10:11 Lu par SimonNix
Preparing our Moros for government, by R. L. Bullard 42:11 Lu par Jim Locke
Baro Buddor, an ancient temple of Java, photograph, p. 562 2:48 Lu par Monika M. C.
Detail of temple at Bramabanan, photograph p. 562 0:56 Lu par Monika M. C.
A visit to a head-hunter of Borneo, by William Henry Furness, third 16:43 Lu par cathar maiden

Critiques

Great book, some not so great readers


(3 stars)

As a passionate reader of Asian History I did enjoy the narrative and the stories told here. But I had to skip some chapters (specially those read by Brianna) out of pure desperation. Her reading speed falls so behind what's natural that I find myself focusing more and more on the silent spaces between words and sentences. I generally enjoy slow paced readers since I mostly listen to these audio books right before bed and find them relaxing. But I'm sorry to say some of these readers ruined half the book for me.

very interesting


(4 stars)

From the Publisher's Note: "The scope of " The World's Story " is briefly suggested by its subtitle, " A History of the World in Story, Song, and Art." It is a series of selections from the best prose literature, the most inspiring poetry, and the most striking examples of historical painting, made with a view to obtaining, from these three sources, a comprehensive and reasonably complete presentation of the world's history, from the earliest recorded events to the present time. It aims to utilize the writings of the best authors and the paintings of the greatest artists to present a series of pictures, each interesting and instructive in itself, and constituting as a whole an illuminating review of the most important events of the world's history. Art is relied upon to furnish its quota of material in precisely the same manner as literature."


(5 stars)

love this book man the whole series in fact but everyone knows Confucius ent the most famous person ever to come out of China, it's Jacky Chan! Apart from that the rest is all correct as far as I can tell. lol


(3 stars)

I’m sorry, but parts of this are unlistenable