This project is now complete! All audio files can be found on our catalog page: https://librivox.org/back-to-methuselah-by-george-bernard-shaw/
Source text (please read only from this text!): https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13084/In this late work, Shaw examines many contemporary issues under the broad rubric of evolution and then illustrates his opinions in five brief plays set in widely separated historical periods, beginning in the Garden of Eden and ending in the year 31,920 A.D. The unifying principle in this historical survey is the notion that the survival of humankind depends on increasing our lifespan to at least 300 years, a period permitting us to grow to maturity. The ultimate question that the mature cast of characters grapple with is what is to be the next significant step in evolution. Mere longevity simply enables them to ask this question. We see in the final play the beginning of the answer: first, escape from the social experiment, which began with Cain, a long and toilsome journey towards anarchy, and then gradual liberation from the grossness of physical imperfection and at last from bondage to flesh itself into immortality. What might lie beyond that, the author leaves to the imagination. (Summary by Thomas A. Copeland)
Target completion date: 2023-09-15
Prooflistening level: Standard
Prospective PLs, please see the Guide for Proof-listeners.
IMPORTANT - soloist, please note: in order to limit the number of languishing projects on our server, we ask that you post an update at least once a month in your project thread, even if you haven't recorded anything. If we don't hear from you for three months, your project may be opened up to a group project if a Book Coordinator is found. Files you have completed will be used in this project. If you haven't recorded anything yet, your project will be removed from the forum (contact any admin to see if it can be re-instated).
Please don't download or listen to files belonging to projects in process unless you are the BC or PL. Our servers are not set up to handle the greater volume of traffic. Please wait until the project has been completed. Thanks!
Magic Window:
BC Admin
LibriVox recording settings: mono (1 channel), 44100 Hz sample rate, 128 kbps constant bit rate MP3. See the Tech Specs
Intro to recording:
Leave 0.5 to 1 second of silence at the beginning.
For the first section, say:
For the second and subsequent sections, you may use the shortened intro if you wish:"Section (or Chapter) # of Back to Methuselah. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org." [Optional: "Read by your name."] "Back to Methuselah, by George Bernard Shaw. Section Title."
End of recording:"Section (or Chapter) # of Back to Methuselah, by George Bernard Shaw. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain." [Optional: "Read by your name."] "Section Title."
Say:
If you are recording the final section of the book, add:"End of section (or chapter) #." [Optional, and if not stated in the intro: "Read by your name, city, date."]
Leave 5 seconds of silence at the end."End of Back to Methuselah, by George Bernard Shaw."
Filename: backtomethuselah_##_shaw_128kb.mp3 where ## is the section number. (e.g. backtomethuselah_01_shaw_128kb.mp3)
Upload to the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
MC to select: TriciaG
Copy and paste the file link generated by the uploader into the relevant Listen URL field in the Section Compiler, enter the duration in the Notes field, and post in this thread to let your PL and MC know that you have uploaded a file. You may also post the file link in the thread.
