Leda
Aldous Huxley
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Though he gained recognition for his later essays and novels, Aldous Huxley started his writing career as a poet. Published in 1920, Leda is his fourth compilation of poetry.
It begins with the passionate and slightly erotic poem "Leda", which recalls the love affair between Queen Leda, the mother of Helen of Troy, and her swan, Zeus in disguise. Some short poems follow. The book ends with two long sections. The first, "Beauty," is a short collection of vignettes where the author reflects on the concept of beauty through an ideal model of physical desire, Helen of Troy. The second, "Soles Occidere et Redire Possunt," or "Suns Can Set, and Suns Can Rise Again," is another long poem which reflects a day in the life of John Ridley, a deceased friend of Huxley's, who was mentally challenged throughout his entire life.. - Summary by Mary Kay (1 hr 55 min)
Chapters
| Leda, Part I | 6:48 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| Leda, Part II | 10:42 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| Leda, Part III | 7:40 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| Leda, Part IV | 7:13 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| The Birth of God | 2:14 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| On Hampstead Heath | 1:08 | Read by J. McDougall |
| Sympathy | 0:48 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| Male and Female Created He Them | 1:23 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| From the Pillar | 1:06 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| Jonah | 1:06 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| Variations on a Theme | 1:06 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| A Melody of Scarlatti | 0:33 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| A Sunset | 1:41 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| Life and Art | 0:57 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| First Philosopher's Song | 1:12 | Read by sdaeley17 |
| Second Philosopher's Song | 1:08 | Read by Rohasfin |
| Fifth Philosopher's Song | 0:52 | Read by Rohasfin |
| Ninth Philosopher's Song | 1:56 | Read by Rohasfin |
| Morning Scene | 0:47 | Read by SkyAlbatross |
| Verrey's | 1:02 | Read by SkyAlbatross |
| Frascatti's | 1:17 | Read by Jacquelyn Bengfort |
| Fatigue | 1:25 | Read by Jacquelyn Bengfort |
| The Merry-Go-Round | 2:01 | Read by Jacquelyn Bengfort |
| Back Streets | 1:35 | Read by J. McDougall |
| Last Things | 1:35 | Read by Jack Watson Warr |
| Gothic | 1:24 | Read by Jack Watson Warr |
| Evening Party | 1:14 | Read by Jack Watson Warr |
| Beauty, Parts I-V | 5:51 | Read by Jack Watson Warr |
| Beauty, Parts VI-VIII | 6:12 | Read by Jack Watson Warr |
| Soles Occidere et Redire Possunt, Foreward and Parts I-XI | 41:40 | Read by Mark Chulsky |