The Gold Sickle
The Gold Sickle; or, Hena the Virgin of the Isle of Sen. A Tale of Druid Gaul is the first part of Eugène Sue's The Mysteries of the People; or, History of a Proletarian Family Across the Ages, in which he intended to produce a comprehensive "universal history," dating from the beginning of the present era down to his own days. Sue's own socialist leanings made this history that of the "successive struggles of the successively ruled with the successively ruling classes".
In the first volume we meet the Gallic chief Joel, whose descendants will typify the oppressed throughout the suite of novels. Joel and his son invite a traveller to share their supper one evening, curious as they are to hear his stories. When he refuses, they capture him; the exchange of stories around the hearth turns into a debate about freedom and what freedom is worth.
(Summary by Petra, partly adapted from the Translator's Preface)
Genre(s): Historical Fiction
Language: English
| Section | Chapter | Reader | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play 00 | 0 - Translator's Preface | Nadine Eckert-Boulet |
00:08:11 |
| Play 01 | 1 - The Guest | Mike Pelton |
00:20:13 |
| Play 02 | 2 - A Gallic Homestead | Mike Pelton |
00:18:32 |
| Play 03 | 3 - Armel and Julyan | Mike Pelton |
00:12:37 |
| Play 04 | 4 - The Story of Albrege | Mike Pelton |
00:10:59 |
| Play 05 | 5 - The Story of Syomara | Mike Pelton |
00:11:18 |
| Play 06 | 6 - The Story of Gaul | Mike Pelton |
00:13:13 |
| Play 07 | 7 - "War! War! War!" | Mike Pelton |
00:14:37 |
| Play 08 | 8 - "Farewell!" | Mike Pelton |
00:25:58 |
| Play 09 | 9 - The Forest of Karnak | Mike Pelton |
00:22:49 |