The Alhambra: A Series of Tales and Sketches of the Moors and Spaniards: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

The Alhambra: A Series of Tales and Sketches of the Moors and Spaniards, credited to Washington Irving, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of The Alhambra: A Series of Tales and Sketches of the Moors and Spaniards, by Washington Irving. Read by David Wales. This is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories by Washington Irving. Irving lived at the Alhambra Palace while writing some of the material for his book. In 1828, Washington Irving traveled from Madrid, where he had been staying, to Granada, Spain. At first sight, he described it as "a most picturesque and beautiful city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever seen." He immediately asked the then-governor of the historic Alhambra Palace as well as the archbishop of Granada for access to the palace, which was granted because of Irving's celebrity status. Aided by a 35-year old guide named Mateo Ximenes, Irving was inspired by his experience to write Tales of the Alhambra. Throughout his trip, he filled his notebooks and journals with descriptions and observations though he did not believe his writing would ever do it justice. He wrote, "How unworthy is my scribbling of the place." A commemorative plaque in Spanish at the Alhambra reads, "Washington Irving wrote his Tales of Alhambra in these rooms in 1829". The book was instrumental in reintroducing the Alhambra to Western audiences. (Summary by Wikipedia and David Wales)

Recording facts

• Recording title: The Alhambra: A Series of Tales and Sketches of the Moors and Spaniards
• Author credits: Washington Irving
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 33
• Listed recording duration: 10:57:16

Catalogue topics

• non-fiction
• essay
• Travel
• Art
• History
• Alhambra
• Granada
• Spain

Opening tracks: first 24 of 33

1. 00 The Dedication — 2:16
2. 01 Chapter 1 The Journey — 43:00
3. 02 Chapter 02 Government Of The Alhambra — 7:41
4. 03 Chapter 03 Interior Of The Alhambra — 19:12
5. 04 Chapter 04 The Tower Of Comares — 11:30
6. 05 Chapter 05 Reflections On The Moslem Domination In Spain — 9:14
7. 06 Chapter 06 The Household — 11:42
8. 07 Chapter 07 The Truant — 7:53
9. 08 Chapter 08 The Author's Chamber — 12:47
10. 09 Chapter 09 The Alhambra By Moonlight — 4:04
11. 10 Chapter 10 Inhabitants Of The Alhambra — 9:50
12. 11 Chapter 11 The Balcony — 15:17
13. 12 Chapter 12 The Adventure Of The Mason — 8:33
14. 13 Chapter 13 A Ramble Among The Hills — 19:04
15. 14 Chapter 14 The Court Of Lions — 14:22
16. 15 Chapter 15 Boabdil El Chico — 8:57
17. 16 Chapter 16 Momentos Of Boabdil — 8:07
18. 17 Chapter 17 The Tower Of Las Infantas — 3:38
19. 18 Chapter 18 The House Of The Weathercock — 2:24
20. 19 Chapter 19 The Legend Of The Arabian Astrologer — 46:03
21. 20 Chapter 20 Legend Of The Three Beautiful Princesses — 59:10
22. 21 Chapter 21 Local Traditions — 5:35
23. 22 Chapter 22 Legend Of The Moor's Legacy — 52:29
24. 23 Chapter 23 Visitors To The Alhambra — 14:28

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