Penguin Island

by Anatole France

Description

The novel (original French title -- L'Île des Pingouins) is a satire on human nature. The first publication was in 1908. These penguins are mistaken for humans by the 97-year-old priest, Father Mael, because of his bad eyesight. He baptizes them, and once baptized, they have no choice but to become human. They take on human traits (build civilizations, go to war, etc.). The book is very funny and powerful. (Summary by Michael)

Audio Tracks

Number Title Length Listen
1 1-1 Life of Saint Mael 00:03:30 Listen
2 1-2 The Apostolical Vocation of Saint Mael 00:09:43 Listen
3 1-3 The Temptation of Saint Mael 00:06:53 Listen
4 1-4 Saint Mael's Navigation on the Ocean of Ice 00:06:00 Listen
5 1-5 The Baptism of the Penguins 00:06:24 Listen
6 1-6 An Assembly in Paradise 00:18:36 Listen
7 1-7 An Assembly in Paradise (Continuation and End) 00:10:49 Listen
8 1-8 Metamorphosis of the Penguins 00:03:44 Listen
9 2-01 The First Clothes 00:10:51 Listen
10 2-02 The First Clothes (Continuation and End) 00:01:51 Listen
11 2-03 Setting Bounds to the Fields and the Origin of Property 00:08:38 Listen
12 2-04 The First Assembly of the Estates of Penguinia 00:05:29 Listen
13 2-05 The Marriage of Krakken and Orberosia 00:04:37 Listen
14 2-06 The Dragon of Alca, pt. 1 00:05:34 Listen
15 2-07 The Dragon of Alca, pt. 2 00:04:59 Listen
16 2-08 The Dragon of Alca, pt. 3 00:06:07 Listen
17 2-09 The Dragon of Alca, pt. 4 00:05:15 Listen
18 2-10 The Dragon of Alca, pt. 5 00:06:59 Listen
19 2-11 The Dragon of Alca, pt. 6 00:06:19 Listen
20 2-12 The Dragon of Alca, pt. 7 00:06:03 Listen
21 2-13 The Dragon of Alca, pt. 8 (end) 00:04:25 Listen
22 3-1 Brian the Good and Queen Glamorgan 00:08:16 Listen
23 3-2 Draco the Great (Translation of the Relics of St. Orberosia) 00:06:56 Listen
24 3-3 Queen Crucha 00:06:38 Listen
25 3-4 Letters: Johannes Talpa 00:07:32 Listen
26 3-5 The Arts: The Primitives of Penguin Painting 00:11:30 Listen
27 3-6 Marbodius 00:26:03 Listen
28 3-7 Signs in the Moon 00:03:22 Listen
29 4-1 Mother Roquin 00:09:53 Listen
30 4-2 Trinco 00:06:37 Listen
31 4-3 The Journey of Doctor Obnubile 00:09:19 Listen
32 5-1 The Reverend Fathers Agaric and Cornemuse 00:15:02 Listen
33 5-2 Prince Crucho 00:05:52 Listen
34 5-3 The Cabal 00:10:04 Listen
35 5-4 Viscountess Olive 00:08:39 Listen
36 5-5 The Prince des Boscenos 00:11:17 Listen
37 5-6 The Emiral's Fall 00:15:09 Listen
38 5-7 Conclusion 00:06:59 Listen
39 6-01 General Greatauk, Duke of Skull 00:06:57 Listen
40 6-02 Pyrot 00:07:26 Listen
41 6-03 Count de Maubec de la Dentdulynx 00:07:40 Listen
42 6-04 Columban 00:06:31 Listen
43 6-05 The Reverend Fathers Agaric and Cornemuse 00:09:16 Listen
44 6-06 The Seven Hundred Pyrotists 00:09:20 Listen
45 6-07 Bidault-Coquille and Maniflore, the Socialists 00:12:50 Listen
46 6-08 The Columban Trial 00:12:05 Listen
47 6-09 Father Douillard 00:10:26 Listen
48 6-10 Mr. Justice Chaussepied 00:08:46 Listen
49 6-11 Conclusion 00:07:43 Listen
50 7-1 Madame Clarence's Drawing-Room 00:08:15 Listen
51 7-2 The Charity of St. Orberosia 00:08:57 Listen
52 7-3 Hippolyte Ceres 00:12:36 Listen
53 7-4 A Politician's Marriage 00:08:43 Listen
54 7-5 The Visire Cabinet 00:10:45 Listen
55 7-6 The Sofa of the Favorite 00:09:14 Listen
56 7-7 The First Consequences 00:07:20 Listen
57 7-8 Further Consequences 00:13:34 Listen
58 7-9 The Final Consequences 00:17:49 Listen
59 8-1 The Endless History & Section 1 00:13:31 Listen
60 8-2 Section 2 00:08:29 Listen
61 8-3 Section 3 00:10:57 Listen
62 8-4 Section 4 00:03:27 Listen
Year 1908
LanguageEnglish
Length9:04:31
GenresSatire