God's fool
Maarten Maartens
Read by Anna Simon
At the age of nine, Elias Lossell becomes deaf and blind from an accident. Communication with him becomes difficult, and mentally, he never really grows up. Years later, circumstances make him the richest man in town as the heir of the wealthy firm of tea merchants, while his two younger twin half-brothers Hendrik and Hubert are left to do the actual work of management on his behalf. This causes a lot of resentment, especially with half-brother Hendrik, who loves money, and is also hampered by a headstrong, spendthrift wife. Hendrik tries to gain control of the firm and buy out Elias by any means, but things get out of hand.
The novel is full of satirical comments and asides directed at the reader. It is set in the fictitious Dutch town of Koopstad (“Buying City”), where money, commercial success and social status are very important. It gives a satirical view of contemporary life at the end of the 19th century. The novel was a bestseller at the time of its appearance in 1892, though it is now all but forgotten. Maarten Maartens (1858-1915) was a Dutch writer who wrote all his principal literary work in English. (Summary by Anna Simon) (14 hr 46 min)
Chapters
Sweeps the reader into a cloud of mist | 13:13 | Read by Anna Simon |
Shows that the story will be a highly respectable one | 14:42 | Read by Anna Simon |
And also altogether comfortable | 10:46 | Read by Anna Simon |
The new life begins | 18:47 | Read by Anna Simon |
Light and shade | 19:13 | Read by Anna Simon |
"Thunder"-storms | 18:26 | Read by Anna Simon |
Stepmothers | 17:07 | Read by Anna Simon |
Cousin Cocoa | 16:31 | Read by Anna Simon |
Elias hears - the thruth | 8:24 | Read by Anna Simon |
Dr. Pillenaar's revenge | 18:33 | Read by Anna Simon |
"Like a stream under a willow-tree" | 21:56 | Read by Anna Simon |
Volderdoes Zonen | 25:56 | Read by Anna Simon |
The head of the firm | 22:31 | Read by Anna Simon |
No thoroughfare, and the way out | 13:33 | Read by Anna Simon |
Hendrik's temptation | 33:59 | Read by Anna Simon |
Compos mentis | 16:41 | Read by Anna Simon |
A "struggle-for-lifer" | 16:36 | Read by Anna Simon |
The marriage-lottery | 13:38 | Read by Anna Simon |
Blank | 19:18 | Read by Anna Simon |
Cousins and cozenage | 13:54 | Read by Anna Simon |
The bride asks for flowers on her path | 18:37 | Read by Anna Simon |
Treats of religion | 17:48 | Read by Anna Simon |
Music and discord | 15:43 | Read by Anna Simon |
A prince among paupers | 21:42 | Read by Anna Simon |
Elias slays his ten thousands | 12:48 | Read by Anna Simon |
Hendrik Lossell's first step | 19:49 | Read by Anna Simon |
Aigre-doux | 14:50 | Read by Anna Simon |
Why not? | 13:00 | Read by Anna Simon |
A partnership with limited liability | 15:58 | Read by Anna Simon |
Elias's eyes open upon the world | 12:00 | Read by Anna Simon |
Two brothers in misfortune | 13:11 | Read by Anna Simon |
"A fool and his money" | 16:48 | Read by Anna Simon |
The Rubicon | 10:11 | Read by Anna Simon |
A fool's thoughts | 8:00 | Read by Anna Simon |
And a wise man's deeds | 7:46 | Read by Anna Simon |
Two rights and no wrong | 20:05 | Read by Anna Simon |
A strange duck in the pond | 26:41 | Read by Anna Simon |
The power of attorney | 21:12 | Read by Anna Simon |
The message of eternal spring | 12:45 | Read by Anna Simon |
A flash of light | 7:48 | Read by Anna Simon |
Brothers in unity | 26:29 | Read by Anna Simon |
Blind justice | 18:55 | Read by Anna Simon |
Doomed | 24:39 | Read by Anna Simon |
Alas, poor Hubert! | 26:05 | Read by Anna Simon |
Social science | 19:44 | Read by Anna Simon |
The catastrophe | 31:51 | Read by Anna Simon |
The shadow of the sword | 12:59 | Read by Anna Simon |
Shoemaker, stick to thy last | 13:59 | Read by Anna Simon |
Hubert's deliverance | 5:34 | Read by Anna Simon |
Elias's guilt | 8:18 | Read by Anna Simon |
Koopstad cackles | 17:08 | Read by Anna Simon |
The resurrection and the life | 20:46 | Read by Anna Simon |
Reviews
Karma awaits the Wicked
Average American
Though difficult to follow, at times, this is a tale of morality, through sibling rivalry, greed and, deception. The LibriVox Volunteer is terrific, as always.
one of my favorite readers
Ms. Elizabeth
semi-sad ending. "it is the LOVE of money"that destrys lives.
What a great story! and great narration! this is one of the best!!
Katie c