Figaro: The Life of Beaumarchais


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Beaumarchais – Watchmaker, music teacher, politician, opportunist, publisher, secret agent for Louis XVI, yet fomenter of revolution in both France and America – and yet again imprisoned for being an enemy of the Revolution. . . Friend of Voltaire, libertarian, arms dealer, and dramatist whose famous Figaro trio of satirical plays reflects the dissolution of Medieval society and torturous emergence of a new democratic era. This biography by John Rivers was originally published in 1922. (Summary by Lynette Caulkins) (11 hr 58 min)

Chapters

Preface 4:38 Read by Lynette Caulkins
Ch. I - In Which the Handsome Watchmaker Comes to Court 12:36 Read by Pamela Nagami
Ch. II - Mme. Francquet and the First Marriage of Beaumarchais 13:06 Read by Zunzil
Ch. III - The Duel 22:55 Read by Kerry Adams
Ch. IV - Some Early Adventures of Beaumarchais 15:39 Read by William Bruce McFadden
Ch. V - An Adventure in Spain 40:10 Read by Rita Boutros
Ch. VI - In Old Madrid 31:40 Read by Rita Boutros
Ch. VII - The Story of the Beautiful Creole 44:43 Read by Rita Boutros
Ch. VIII - Beaumarchais in His Early Plays 18:52 Read by Rita Boutros
Ch. IX - Mme. Lévêque and the Second Marriage of Beaumarchais 9:54 Read by Zunzil
Ch. X - Beaumarchais at Law 7:12 Read by czandra
Ch. XI - Beaumarchais, the Mad Duke, and the Demi-Mondaine 29:10 Read by czandra
Ch. XII - Beaumarchais in Prison 10:17 Read by Tatiana Chichilla
Ch. XIII - How "Louis XV Overthrew the Old Parlement and Fifteen Louis the New" 37:50 Read by Sarah Rothwell
Ch. XIV - How "Louis XV Overthrew the Old Parlement and Fifteen Louis the New" … 29:21 Read by Sarah Rothwell
Ch. XV - Concerning Mlle. Willermaula and the Third Marriage of Beaumarchais 8:53 Read by Zunzil
Ch. XVI - On Secret Service 15:58 Read by Availle
Ch. XVII - Beaumarchais and the Brigands of the Leichtenholtz 16:35 Read by Sarah Rothwell
XVIII - A Mysterious Affair 22:27 Read by Sonia
XIX - "The Barber of Seville" 53:47 Read by James R. Hedrick
XX - Beaumarchais and the Chevalier d'Éon 21:38 Read by Isaac Wachsman
XXI - The Rehabilitation of Beaumarchais 6:47 Read by Isaac Wachsman
XXII - Beaumarchais in Conflict with the Players 14:15 Read by Isaac Wachsman
XXIII - Beaumarchais Closes His Account 12:19 Read by Isaac Wachsman
XXIV - In Which Beaumarchais Discovers America 26:48 Read by mkirkpat
XXV - Beaumarchais and Voltaire 14:12 Read by William Bruce McFadden
XXVI - About "The Marriage of Figaro" 21:00 Read by Sarah Rothwell
XXVII - "The Marriage of Figaro" - Part 1 23:00 Read by James R. Hedrick
XXVII - "The Marriage of Figaro" - Part 2 44:28 Read by James R. Hedrick
XXVIII - Beaumarchais and Mirabeau 8:28 Read by czandra
XXIX - The Tribulations of a Knight-Errant 22:17 Read by Sarah Rothwell
XXX - Tarare, and the Last Incarnation of Figaro 14:59 Read by William Bruce McFadden
XXXI - Beaumarchais and the Deluge 31:19 Read by mkirkpat
XXXII - The Exile's Return, Last Years and Death 11:15 Read by Tatiana Chichilla