The Soul of Man
Oscar Wilde
Read by Martin Geeson
“(T)he past is what man should not have been. The present is what man ought not to be. The future is what artists are.”
Published originally as “The Soul of Man Under Socialism,” this is not so much a work of sober political analysis; rather it can be summed up as a rhapsodic manifesto on behalf of the Individual. Socialism having deployed technology to liberate the whole of humanity from soul-destroying labour, the State obligingly withers away to allow the free development of a joyful, anarchic hedonism...
“Is this Utopian? A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing.”
Far from abandoning the epigram in favour of the slogan, Wilde wittily assails several of his favourite targets: the misguided purveyors of philanthropy; life-denying ascetics of various kinds; the army of the half-educated who constitute themselves the enemies of Art - and those venal popular journalists who cater to them...
“Behind the barricade there may be much that is noble and heroic. But what is there behind the leading-article but prejudice, stupidity, cant, and twaddle?” (Introduction by Martin Geeson) (2 hr 2 min)
Chapters
Section 1 | 20:54 | Read by Martin Geeson |
Section 2 | 19:21 | Read by Martin Geeson |
Section 3 | 12:39 | Read by Martin Geeson |
Section 4 | 23:17 | Read by Martin Geeson |
Section 5 | 21:36 | Read by Martin Geeson |
Section 6 | 25:02 | Read by Martin Geeson |
Reviews
Simply wonderful
Axel Dornelles
I have yet to find a sequence of words worthy enough to describe such a wonderful work of art. Some day I may find them, but, until then, this review is all I can offer.
thought provoking
adam
A thought provoking piece on individualism and art as the path to freedom and also commentary on the mindset and institutions that obstruct such freedom. A well read, very interesting listen.
Luna
terrific reading by Gleeson. great insight from Wilde. Funny how things never change
Beautiful
Dandy Lion
What a gracious gift Oscar Wilde has given to the genius.
My rating doesn't matter
subhani1
A piece of art , very individual.
A LibriVox Listener
A wonderful text about a wonderful future utopia!
A LibriVox Listener
wonderful....Oscar Wilde is really my literary GOD...Thankyou.
excellent reader, silly book but entertaining.
Mike Colyer