Book description
The submerged land of Lyonesse was once part of Cornwall, according to myth and the oral tradition, standing for a lost paradise in Arthurian legend, but now an emblem of human frailty in the face of climate change. And there was indeed a Bronze Age inundation event which swept the entire west of Cornwall under the sea, with only the Scilly Isles and St Michael's Mount left as remnants above sea-level. Lyonesse was also Thomas Hardy's name for Cornwall where Penelope Shuttle has lived all her adult life, always fascinated by the stories and symbolic presence of Lyonesse. After seeing the Scilly Isles from a small plane at a low altitude - flying over the Wolf Lighthouse - and then visiting the recent Sunken Cities exhibition at the British Museum, imagination and memory played their part in joining the Lyonesse dots together for her, prompting what she calls 'a spontaneous inundation of approaches to the theme, images, soundings of Lyonesse'. As she writes in a preface to this book: 'The universality of loss, both of physical cities and of the human experience erased from the record, enhanced the resource of Lyonesse in my writing. Lyonesse is a place of paradox. It is real, had historical existence. It is also an imaginary region for exploring depths. It holds grief for many kinds of loss... The poems seek re-wilding of a city where human loss interconnects with mythic loss; myth is rooted in the real.' The second part of this book - New Lamps for Old - is a collection of poems she needed to write in coming up for air from the watery depths of Lyonesse, to find ways to begin again, to find meaning in life after bereavement. The 'old lamps' of a former life have been extinguished, leaving darkness. Her challenge was to find 'new lamps' to illuminate and give meaning to life. Lyonesse is a fluid magical world. The poems of New Lamps for Old are concerned with earth, air and fire. Both collections share allegiance with the fifth element, the spirit.
Roma Kabuki
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Delirium
Audiobook immersion simplified – this app's ease of use is a true asset. ListenBook's sharing options make it a breeze to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts and share recommendations. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Admiral Tot
I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature. One of the best audiobooks I’ve heard! The story was compelling, and the narrator’s delivery added depth to every scene. I found myself looking for excuses to listen just a little longer. Will definitely revisit this one!
Metal Aphrodite
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Emerald Vine
Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my carefully curated audiobook collection. I love the car mode. It’s so convenient for listening while driving. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app! I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Purity
ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! A wonderful performance! The narrator captured the mood of the book perfectly, making it easy to visualize each scene. The audio quality was crisp, and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish.
White Swan
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TrinitySoul
I can't believe how much time I've gained by listening while cooking and doing chores. The ease of downloading content via WiFi, WebDAV, and more has made ListenBook my audiobook hub. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Friday Ferrari
I'm amazed at how this app has expanded my reading horizons. This app's support for various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks without any limitations. I'm addicted to this app's seamless integration with my daily activities. 📱 Carrying stories in my pocket – this app's convenience is a game-changer! 📚🛍️ ListenBook has become my gateway to new worlds, allowing me to explore stories, ideas, and knowledge.
Cinder Coffee
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Chocolate Thunder
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SunVolt
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General Finish
ListenBook's comprehensive support for a wide range of audio formats sets it apart from other audiobook apps. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic! Downloading audiobooks over WiFi is super easy. Saves time. I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
MysticMingle
The app's customization options allow me to tailor the listening experience to my liking. Audiobooks have made waiting in lines and queues so much more bearable. This app has turned my cooking sessions into culinary adventures with a side of stories. This app has transformed my daily commute into a captivating journey of knowledge and entertainment. The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
Blade
With ListenBook, I can immerse myself in captivating stories and enriching knowledge, all in one app. ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. ListenBook has made audiobook listening a personalized and enriching journey. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to introduce others to the joys of audiobook storytelling. The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time.
Centurion Sherman
🌟 This app is a game-changer – its intuitive design and seamless functionality make listening to audiobooks a joy. 🎉🎧 Discovering new worlds through audiobooks has never been easier! This app's intuitive interface and seamless functionality make every listening session a delight. 📚🎧 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magical spell that transports me into the heart of the story. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very pleased.
Mule Skinner
This app has ignited my passion for reading once again – but in a modern, convenient way. ListenBook's basic audio filters enhance my listening experience and make it uniquely mine. Tone adjustment adds a personalized touch to the narration, making the audiobook experience even more immersive.
xFRST
Audiobooks made convenient – this app's functionality is a true gift. The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace.
Cosmo
Finally, an app that understands the power of CUE playlists. Perfect for organizing. ListenBook has become my go-to app for exploring a diverse range of audiobooks. It offers a wide array of features that cater to different preferences and needs. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay and Apple Watch is fantastic. I can listen anywhere.
Old Regret
Effortlessly accessing my favorite audiobooks has become a reality, all thanks to this app's user-centric design and comprehensive format support. A must-download! 📱🎧 The basic audio filters are a game-changer. Adjusting playback speed is a breeze. ListenBook has become my workout companion. It keeps me engaged and entertained during exercise.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience