Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich

By: Stephen Leacock

Narrated by: Cate Barratt, Jeff Moon, Ron Altman, Richard Andrews, David Prickett, John Burlinson, Lee Ann Howlett

Stephen Leacock (1869-1944) may be considered the Canadian counterpart to Mark Twain. For many years he was professor of economics at Magill University and published a number of well-regarded texts on economics and political science. However, he is best known today for his many volumes of humorous fiction. During the 1920s he was one of the most widely read authors in the English-speaking world and was considered by Jack Benny and Groucho Marx to be one of the greatest comic writers of all time.

In Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich, Leacock applies a satirical scalpel to the foibles and pretensions of the wealthy and the powerful. He not only probes the quirks of traditional power structures like corporations (public and private), political parties, universities, and churches but also finds time to poke fun at one of his favorite targets - the world of psychic phenomena.

A Little Dinner with Mr Lucullus Fyshe
The Wizard of Finance
The Arrested Philanthropy of Mr. Tomlinson
The Yahi-Bahi Oriental Society of Mrs. Rasselyer-Brown
The Love Story of Mr. Peter Spillikins
The Rival Churches of St. Asaph and St. Osoph
The Ministrations of the Rev. Uttermust Dumfarthing
The Great Fight for Clean Government

Narrated by Cate Barratt.

Cast: Lucullus Fyshe - Jeff Moon; Dr Boomer - Ron Altman; Fareforth Furlong - Richard Andrews; Mrs. Rasselyer-Brown - Lee Ann Howlett.

Additional voices supplied by Bob Neufeld, Ben Stevens, P. J. Morgan, Brett Downey, Denis Daly, Andy Harrington, David Prickett, John Burlinson, Alan Weyman, Joseph Tabler, Susan Iannucci, Becca Maggie, Jennifer Fournier, Ted Wenskus, Leanne Yau, Arielle Lipshaw, and Marty Kris.

Audio edited by Denis Daly.

Public Domain (P)2017 The Online Stage

Poor narrator

I like this author, but unfortunately I couldn’t get past the first chapter because the narrator has an unpleasant voice.

humorous?

the book is a satire on the venality of the rich circa 1914. things have only changed in that venality is more democratic these days. I was lead to believe that this was a contender with mark twain in humor, but I don't think I even smiled once...