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The World's Great Novels

Experience distance learning 1940s style with The World's Great Novel presented by the NBC University of the Air.

Worlds Great Novels

37 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 18 hours, 4 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
19 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from January 03, 1947:

"Moby Dick Pt 1"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Wuthering Heights First EditionThe World's Great Novels, produce by the NBC University of the Air,  worked with the University of Louisville, the University of Tulsa and Washington State University to present serialized adaptions of classic novels over two to six episodes. Listeners could enroll in correspondence courses and earn college credit for listening to the books. For a quarter, students could purchase a companion study guide, The Handbook of the World's Great Novels.

The show was broadcast out of Chicago from 1944 to 1948 on WMAQ and other NBC stations with a group of actors from Chicago.  In 1948 the show changed names to NBC University Theater, moved to Hollywood and changed the format from 30-minute shows to one hour shows. This version of the show aired from 1948 to 1951.

Guest commentators appeared on some shows providing commentary about the book currently being read. College Students StudyingCommentators included novelists, magazine editors, and academics.The universities also provided messages during the broadcast to let listeners know that they can earn college credit for listening to and reading the classics.

The novels selected were not presented unabridged, they were adapted for the 30-minute radio format. For example, the first and second broadcasts presented "Tom Jones" by Henry Fielding. It seems that the purpose of the radio show was to introduce the listener to the book to grab their interest so that they will go on to read the book, hopefully for college credit. See also: University of the Air's American Novels and Indiana School of the Sky.

For more dramatized broadway plays, see also: Showtime. For other literature-based see also: American Novels, Authors Collection, The Author Meets the Critics, Author's Playhouse, Best Plays, Favorite Story, Great Plays, NBC University Theater, New Theater, Theater Guild on the Air, Tell It Again, Theater Royal, World's Greatest Novels, and Your Playhouse of Favorites.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    These are great. Very skillfully condensed.

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    For the most part, I am happy and enjoy them. Some I order are not what I expected, but I enjoy most of them. My hearing is terrible, and some of them are difficult to understand. I am unhappy when I get part, especially when the end is not there. However, I have been ordering for many years; they must satisfy me.

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    37 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 18 hours, 4 min
    37 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 18 hours, 4 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 37 shows - total playtime 18 hours 4 minutes
    2. World's Great Novels 460104 036 Ninety-Three Pt 1-.mp3
    3. World's Great Novels 460111 037 Ninety-Three Pt 2-.mp3
    4. World's Great Novels 460118 038 Ninety-Three Pt 3-.mp3
    5. World's Great Novels 460125 039 Ninety-Three Pt 4-.mp3
    6. Worlds Great Novels 441014 Don Quixote First Episode.mp3
    7. Worlds Great Novels 470103 Moby Dick 1-4.mp3
    8. Worlds Great Novels 470110 Moby Dick 2-4.mp3
    9. Worlds Great Novels 470117 Moby Dick 3-4.mp3
    10. Worlds Great Novels 470124 Moby Dick 4-4.mp3
    11. Worlds Great Novels 470627 Pierre Gorotte.mp3
    12. Worlds Great Novels 471017 Diana-Crossways 2-4.mp3
    13. Worlds Great Novels 471024 Diana-Crossways 3-4.mp3
    14. Worlds Great Novels 471031 Diana-Crossways 4-4.mp3
    15. Worlds Great Novels 471107 Silas Marner 1-2.mp3
    16. Worlds Great Novels 471114 Silas Marner 2-2.mp3
    17. Worlds Great Novels 471121 A Tale-Two Cities 1-4.mp3
    18. Worlds Great Novels 471128 A Tale-Two Cities 2-4.mp3
    19. Worlds Great Novels 471205 A Tale-Two Cities 3-4.mp3
    20. Worlds Great Novels 471212 A Tale-Two Cities 4-4.mp3
    21. Worlds Great Novels 471219 A Child Is Born.mp3
    22. Worlds Great Novels 471226 Christmas Cptr-Pickwick Papers.mp3
    23. Worlds Great Novels 480102 Wuthering Heights 1-4.mp3
    24. Worlds Great Novels 480109 Wuthering Heights 2-4.mp3
    25. Worlds Great Novels 480116 Wuthering Heights 3-4.mp3
    26. Worlds Great Novels 480123 Wuthering Heights 4-4.mp3
    27. Worlds Great Novels 480227 Man Without A Country.mp3
    28. Worlds Great Novels 480402 Moonstone Part 1-4.mp3
    29. Worlds Great Novels 480409 Moonstone Part 2-4.mp3
    30. Worlds Great Novels 480416 Moonstone Part 3-4.mp3
    31. Worlds Great Novels 480423 Moonstone Part 4-4.mp3
    32. Worlds Great Novels 480430 Kidnapped 1-3.mp3
    33. Worlds Great Novels 480507 Kidnapped 2-3.mp3
    34. Worlds Great Novels 480514 Kidnapped 3-3.mp3
    35. Worlds Great Novels 480521 Washington Square Part 01.mp3
    36. Worlds Great Novels 480604 Conn Yankee-King Arthurs Ct 1-3.mp3
    37. Worlds Great Novels 480611 Conn Yankee-King Arthurs Ct 2-3.mp3
    38. Worlds Great Novels 480618 Conn Yankee-King Arthurs Ct 3-3.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    37 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 18 hours, 4 min
    37 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 18 hours, 4 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 37 shows - total playtime 18 hours 4 minutes
    2. World's Great Novels 460104 036 Ninety-Three Pt 1-.mp3
    3. World's Great Novels 460111 037 Ninety-Three Pt 2-.mp3
    4. World's Great Novels 460118 038 Ninety-Three Pt 3-.mp3
    5. World's Great Novels 460125 039 Ninety-Three Pt 4-.mp3
    6. Worlds Great Novels 441014 Don Quixote First Episode.mp3
    7. Worlds Great Novels 470103 Moby Dick 1-4.mp3
    8. Worlds Great Novels 470110 Moby Dick 2-4.mp3
    9. Worlds Great Novels 470117 Moby Dick 3-4.mp3
    10. Worlds Great Novels 470124 Moby Dick 4-4.mp3
    11. Worlds Great Novels 470627 Pierre Gorotte.mp3
    12. Worlds Great Novels 471017 Diana-Crossways 2-4.mp3
    13. Worlds Great Novels 471024 Diana-Crossways 3-4.mp3
    14. Worlds Great Novels 471031 Diana-Crossways 4-4.mp3
    15. Worlds Great Novels 471107 Silas Marner 1-2.mp3
    16. Worlds Great Novels 471114 Silas Marner 2-2.mp3
    17. Worlds Great Novels 471121 A Tale-Two Cities 1-4.mp3
    18. Worlds Great Novels 471128 A Tale-Two Cities 2-4.mp3
    19. Worlds Great Novels 471205 A Tale-Two Cities 3-4.mp3
    20. Worlds Great Novels 471212 A Tale-Two Cities 4-4.mp3
    21. Worlds Great Novels 471219 A Child Is Born.mp3
    22. Worlds Great Novels 471226 Christmas Cptr-Pickwick Papers.mp3
    23. Worlds Great Novels 480102 Wuthering Heights 1-4.mp3
    24. Worlds Great Novels 480109 Wuthering Heights 2-4.mp3
    25. Worlds Great Novels 480116 Wuthering Heights 3-4.mp3
    26. Worlds Great Novels 480123 Wuthering Heights 4-4.mp3
    27. Worlds Great Novels 480227 Man Without A Country.mp3
    28. Worlds Great Novels 480402 Moonstone Part 1-4.mp3
    29. Worlds Great Novels 480409 Moonstone Part 2-4.mp3
    30. Worlds Great Novels 480416 Moonstone Part 3-4.mp3
    31. Worlds Great Novels 480423 Moonstone Part 4-4.mp3
    32. Worlds Great Novels 480430 Kidnapped 1-3.mp3
    33. Worlds Great Novels 480507 Kidnapped 2-3.mp3
    34. Worlds Great Novels 480514 Kidnapped 3-3.mp3
    35. Worlds Great Novels 480521 Washington Square Part 01.mp3
    36. Worlds Great Novels 480604 Conn Yankee-King Arthurs Ct 1-3.mp3
    37. Worlds Great Novels 480611 Conn Yankee-King Arthurs Ct 2-3.mp3
    38. Worlds Great Novels 480618 Conn Yankee-King Arthurs Ct 3-3.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    37 recordings on 19 Audio CDs. Total playtime 18 hours, 4 min
    37 recordings on 19 Audio CDs
    total playtime 18 hours, 4 min

    Worlds Great Novels Disc A001

    1. Worlds Great Novels 441014 Don Quixote First Episode
    2. World's Great Novels 460104 036 Ninety-Three Pt 1-

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A002

    1. World's Great Novels 460111 037 Ninety-Three Pt 2-
    2. World's Great Novels 460118 038 Ninety-Three Pt 3-

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A003

    1. World's Great Novels 460125 039 Ninety-Three Pt 4-
    2. Worlds Great Novels 470103 Moby Dick 1-4

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A004

    1. Worlds Great Novels 470110 Moby Dick 2-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 470117 Moby Dick 3-4

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A005

    1. Worlds Great Novels 470124 Moby Dick 4-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 470627 Pierre Gorotte

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A006

    1. Worlds Great Novels 471017 Diana-Crossways 2-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 471024 Diana-Crossways 3-4

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A007

    1. Worlds Great Novels 471031 Diana-Crossways 4-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 471107 Silas Marner 1-2

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A008

    1. Worlds Great Novels 471114 Silas Marner 2-2
    2. Worlds Great Novels 471121 A Tale-Two Cities 1-4

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A009

    1. Worlds Great Novels 471128 A Tale-Two Cities 2-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 471205 A Tale-Two Cities 3-4

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A010

    1. Worlds Great Novels 471212 A Tale-Two Cities 4-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 471219 A Child Is Born

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A011

    1. Worlds Great Novels 471226 Christmas Cptr-Pickwick Papers
    2. Worlds Great Novels 480102 Wuthering Heights 1-4

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A012

    1. Worlds Great Novels 480109 Wuthering Heights 2-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 480116 Wuthering Heights 3-4

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A013

    1. Worlds Great Novels 480123 Wuthering Heights 4-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 480227 Man Without A Country

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A014

    1. Worlds Great Novels 480402 Moonstone Part 1-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 480409 Moonstone Part 2-4

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A015

    1. Worlds Great Novels 480416 Moonstone Part 3-4
    2. Worlds Great Novels 480423 Moonstone Part 4-4

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A016

    1. Worlds Great Novels 480430 Kidnapped 1-3
    2. Worlds Great Novels 480507 Kidnapped 2-3

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A017

    1. Worlds Great Novels 480514 Kidnapped 3-3
    2. Worlds Great Novels 480521 Washington Square Part 01

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A018

    1. Worlds Great Novels 480604 Conn Yankee-King Arthurs Ct 1-3
    2. Worlds Great Novels 480611 Conn Yankee-King Arthurs Ct 2-3

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    Worlds Great Novels Disc A019

    1. Worlds Great Novels 480618 Conn Yankee-King Arthurs Ct 3-3

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