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The only novel Pushkin ever wrote, "The Captain’s Daughter" is a story written in the same vein as Walter Scott’s historical romances. Though his attempts at prose were not that warmly welcomed by the Russian audience as his poetic endeavours, the novel is a masterful and successful experiment with literary conventions and genres. A novel as real as life and portraying the consciousness of Russians at the time, "The Captain’s Daughter" is a romance of oppositions, revolutions, social criticism, and political turmoil, making it a milestone and major influence in Russian literature. Deservedly labelled "the best Russian poet", Pushkin’s short life did not prevent him from ushering Russian literature into its modern era. A master of the vernacular language and multifarious and vivid writing style, Pushkin’s oeuvre was of great influence to a whole legion of Russian writers and literary styles. Among his best-known works are the narrative poems "Ruslan and Ludmila" and "Eugene Onegin", the drama "Boris Godunov", several novels, short stories, and fairy tales.

World Classics

The Captain's Daughter

"The Haunted Bookshop" is a so called "bibliomystery" (a mystery story set in the world of books) from 1919. It is the story of the eccentric owner of the Haunted Bookshop, Roger Mifflin, who some readers might remember from "Parnassus on Wheels". This second-hand, Brooklyn bookstore is "haunted by the ghosts of all great literature." It is set around the time of the end of World War I. A young man, Aubrey Gilbert, stops by the shop, trying to sell Mifflin advertising copy. He fails but is intrigued by the proprietor. Later, a certain volume mysteriously disappeared from Mifflin’s shelves. This is a lively and often humorous tale. It is full of intrigues and is generously sprinkled with liberal doses of Mifflin’s unique philosophy on literature and book selling. Christopher Morley (1890–1957) was an American author, poet and journalist from Pennsylvania. His father was a mathematics professor and his mother a violinist. The family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1900 and he later studied modern history at Oxford. After getting his degree, he moved back to America and married Helen Booth Fairchild, with whom he had four children. Morley was a prolific writer and is remembered for novels such as "Parnassus on Wheels" (1917), "The Haunted Bookshop" (1918), "Thunder on the Left" (1925), and "Kitty Foyle" (1939).

The Haunted Bookshop

What seems to be quite an ordinary short story of a seduction and abduction of a young girl, "The Stationmaster" proves to be one of Pushkin’s best tales. At first sight an innocent kiss, the parting gift of Dunia to the traveler sends the mundane world of the stationmaster Samson Vyrin into complete disorder. Pushkin’s narrative style and knowledge of the human soul paint a picture of emotional waterfalls and whirlpools that threaten to engulf the characters. A story about how people cope with loss and helplessness. Deservedly labelled "the best Russian poet", Pushkin’s (1799-1837) short life did not prevent him from ushering Russian literature into its modern era. A master of the vernacular language and multifarious and vivid writing style, Pushkin’s oeuvre was of great influence to a whole legion of Russian writers and literary styles. Among his best-known works are the narrative poems "Ruslan and Ludmila" and "Eugene Onegin", the drama "Boris Godunov", several novels, short stories, and fairy tales.

The Stationmaster

"The Mysterious Rider" is a Western novel published in 1921. The novel tells us the complex story of a girl named Columbine who grew up on Bill Bellounds’, her adoptive father’s, ranch. Columbine is forced considering marriage to Bellounds’ son Jack, a coward and a thief. The girl is however in love with the cowboy Wilson Moore. One day the mysterious rider Bent Wade comes to work in the ranch. The moment he sees Columbine for the first time is also when he realizes that she is his daughter. Bent Wade is also the one who saves Columbine’s beloved Wilson who gets attacked by the jealous Jack. Will Columbine find out the truth about her real father? Will she and Wilson get the chance to be finally together? Zane Grey’s adventurous novel about love, hate and friendship is also adapted to several movies. Pearl Zane Grey was an American author born in 1872. He is best known with his adventure novels which idealize the American frontier and which largely created a new genre called western. The novel "Riders of the Purple Sage", published in 1912, earned Grey wide popularity. The book turned to the author’s all-time-best seller and also one of the most successful Western novels. Zane Grey wrote more than 80 books which later inspired many Western writers who followed in Zane Grey’s footsteps.

The Mysterious Rider

When Maria Gavrilovna decides to elope with her suitor Vladimir Nikolayevitch, little do they know what supernatural occurrences this might evoke. An exceptionally chilling and dismal tale, "The Blizzard" portrays the terrifying ups and downs of the suitor, who is caught by the snowstorm while trying to reach his soon bride-to-be. It combines fast-paced narration, with hopeless situations, gloomy natural descriptions, and a realistic, psychological portrait of the main heroine – and all that turns the love-conquers-all story into an enigmatic and thrilling read. Deservedly labelled "the best Russian poet", Pushkin’s short life (1799-1837) did not prevent him from ushering Russian literature into its modern era. A master of the vernacular language and multifarious and vivid writing style, Pushkin’s oeuvre was of great influence to a whole legion of Russian writers and literary styles. Among his best-known works are the narrative poems "Ruslan and Ludmila" and "Eugene Onegin", the drama "Boris Godunov", several novels, short stories, and fairy tales.

The Blizzard

"Everybody knows it's our business to score. You don't get a chance to get a bite of any thing, and you don't get to bed till two o'clock o' nights, but you're always being screamed at to bring the balls." One day while a scorer is keeping tally in a billiard room, a well-dressed stranger comes through the door. Soon, the scorer finds in him a willing apponent. But the more the scorer wins, the more he wish they'd never started playing. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian author, a master of realistic fiction and one of the world’s greatest novelists. Tolstoy’s major works include "War and Peace" (1865–69) and "Anna Karenina" (1875–77), two of the greatest novels of all time and pinnacles of realist fiction. Beyond novels, he wrote many short stories and later in life also essays and plays.

Recollections of a scorer

Can children be even crueller than adults? Left without a father, Simon is being tortured by his peеrs to the point when he attempts a suicide. Luckily enough, the local blacksmith, Phillip Remy, takes him under his wing. In this heartbreaking drama, Guy de Maupassant, touches the readers’ feelings by exploring human cruelty and challenging societal stereotypes. Guy de Maupassant (1850 –1893) was a French author considered a father of the modern short story. During his prolific work life, he wrote 300 short stories, verse, travel books and novels. One of his most famous works, the novel Bel-Ami, inspired the 2012 movie with the same name, starring Robert Pattinson and Uma Thurman.

Simon's Papa

"Madam Bovary" is Gustave Flaubert’s debut novel and traces the life of the beautiful Emma Bovary, caught in the vicious circle of banality and boredom. Married to a simple man, limited to the provincial life outside, and dreaming with her eyes glued to the sentimental novels around her, Emma’s psyche embarks on a journey of sexual and psychological awakening. A novel about failed expectations and the disruption of social standards, "Madam Bovary" is not only recommended, but a must-read for fans of literature in general. Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) has earned his rightful place among the greatest French and Western writers. His literary career is famous for extraordinary style, exact dictum, and remarkable proportions of the depicted situations. Gently navigating the delicate line between romanticism and realism, Flaubert’s influence is undeniable. His best known works include the scandalous and overtly realistic "Madam Bovary", the historical novel "Salammbo" and the painting-inspired "The Temptation of Saint Anthony".

Madame Bovary

Halvard Solness is a master architect who has ruthlessly forged a preëminent career without regard for the feelings of those around him. In spite of this unscrupulous path of life, his conscience is still painfully alive, burdening him with guilt for past choices. He lives a tormented existence, fearful not only that he is going mad but also that he has unconsciously been in league with demonic powers in order to reach his present status. His long-suffering wife and his mistress try to deal with him in his fragile state while not being destroyed themselves. Into this fraught situation suddenly arrives the dangerous Hilda Wangel, an eldritch young woman claiming a special relationship with Solness from his past.One of the five great plays of Ibsen’s final period, “The Master Builder” is laden with layers of symbolic significance. Like most Ibsen works, it begins quietly with dialogue between quite ordinary people and only gradually reveals its depths of meaning and power.

The Master Builder

The classic travelogue of one of America's most famous authors, Following the Equator was written when Twain had fallen on hard times. At the time, Twain found himself compelled to take a tour of the British Empire in 1895 and write about it. This account of that trip, published in 1897, is a classic example of Twain's ever-vigilant observational wit. He addresses ever timely topics such as racism, imperialism, and religion.

Following the Equator

"Kathleen" is a 1920 novel by Christopher Morley. It tells the story of a group of eight Oxford undergrads who call themselves "The Scorpions." One day, they find a letter that a certain Kathleen wrote to Joe, and they build an idea of who she might be in their head, and are so intrigued, that they decide to go looking for her. Christopher Morley (1890–1957) was an American author, poet and journalist from Pennsylvania. His father was a mathematics professor and his mother a violinist. The family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1900 and he later studied modern history at Oxford. After getting his degree, he moved back to America and married Helen Booth Fairchild, with whom he had four children. Morley was a prolific writer and is remembered for novels such as "Parnassus on Wheels" (1917), "The Haunted Bookshop" (1918), "Thunder on the Left" (1925), and "Kitty Foyle" (1939).

Kathleen

Two white men. Gold on indigenous land. An indigenous chief who is tired of exploitation. Based upon Jack London’s own experiences with the Klondike gold rush in 1987, ‘The God of His Fathers’ is a collection of short stories detailing the brutality and adversity that awaited men in the unforgiving expanses of the Yukon. Described by many as London’s best and most defining work, his remarkable insight and unflinching realism appeal to fans of both adventure and historical novels. Jack London (1876–1916) was an American writer and social activist. He grew up in the working class, but his unflinching realism eventually earned him the status of one of the highest-paid authors of his time. Many of his novels are considered classics today, his most notable being ‘Call of the Wild’, ‘Sea Wolf’, and ‘White Fang’. Fans of Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, and Charles Dickens will enjoy his ability to make the mundane captivating.

The God of His Fathers: Tales of the Klondyke

"There were two Popes at this time (as if one were not enough!), and their quarrels involved Europe in a great deal of trouble." If only history could always be this fun! Unlike Shakespeare’s history plays before him, Charles Dickens doesn’t fictionalize British history here as much as he just makes it incredibly readable and entertaining. A Child's History of England is written chronologically with no complicated analysis, but full of great stories and anecdotes. It reads like a novel but is fairly accurate, and any child as well as adult will come away from it with good knowledge of basic English history. Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English author, social critic, and philanthropist. Much of his writing first appeared in small instalments in magazines and was widely popular. Among his most famous novels are Oliver Twist (1839), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1861).

A Child's History of England

Loretta is a young woman, and seriously heartbroken. She seeks for comfort in her older sister Daisy. Daisy’s husband decides to send Loretta to live with another couple; that way Loretta will gain enough distance to the man who broke her heart. Loretta, however, has a secret that worries her and keeps her up at night. ‘A Wicked Woman’ is one of the short stories in Jack London’s collection ‘When God laughs and Other Stories’. The collection includes 12 exciting short stories that focus on the layers of the human mind. Jack London (1876–1916) was an American writer and social activist. He grew up in the working class, but became a worldwide celebrity and one of the highest paid authors of his time. He wrote several novels, which are considered classics today, among these 'Call of the Wild', 'Sea Wolf' and 'White Fang'.

When God Laughs and Other Stories

Eleven-year-old Penrod Schofield and his wistful dog Duke go on a hilarious romp through turn of the century Indianapolis. "Penrod" (1914) chronicles his life, loves, and mostly the trouble he gets into. His adventures in pre-World War I Midwest have been likened to those of Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain), and this first collection of comic sketches by Booth Tarkington was followed by two further episodes: "Penrod and Sam" (1916) and "Penrod Jashber" (1929). Booth Tarkington (1869-1946) was an American novelist and dramatist. Originally from Indianapolis, he attended both Purdue University and Princeton, as well as getting an honorary doctorate from Columbia. His family was well-off, though they lost some of their wealth in the Panic of 1873 (the Great Depression). He won the Pulitzer Prize twice, for "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1918) and "Alice Adams" (1921), making him one of only three to win it more than once, putting him alongside William Faulkner and John Updike. Whilst he is less known today, he was considered to be America's greatest living author during the early 20th century.

Penrod

Betty Baird, the daughter of Doctor Baird, a Presbyterian minister of the village of Weston, is sent away to the Pines, a boarding school. At first, she is ridiculed by the more popular, and wealthier girls. But soon, Betty charms them with her unique and captivating personality, and she and her new friends go on many lighthearted adventures. This is the first volume in Anna Hamlin Weikel’s Betty Baird series, which was extremely popular among young girl in the early 1900s. The audiobook version of this novel is narrated by Holly Jenson, the author's great grand niece. Anna Hamlin Wikel (1864-?) was an American author from Pennsylvania. She who wrote under the pen name Anna Hamlin Weikel. She was married to Henry Wikel, a private school teacher. She made books her career and is mostly remembered today for her "Betty Baird" children’s book series. The character of Betty’s father in these novels was inspired by her own father, the clergyman Benjamin Hamlin.

Betty Baird

You can’t move. You can hardly breathe. Your mind is the only escape you have. That’s what Daniel Stranding discovers in San Quentin prison. Strapped into a straitjacket, he learns to enter into a trance and journey back through his past lives. He’s been an advisor to Ponticus Pilot; a shipwrecked sailor on a desert island; a nobleman in Renaissance France. These memories grant him wisdom and respite from the horrors of his present. "The Jacket" is a startlingly original delve into the human condition. It was inspired by Ed Morrell, a friend of Jack London’s who served time for bank robbery. Especially recommended for fans of thought-provoking science fiction. Jack London (1876–1916) was one of the first American writers to achieve worldwide celebrity. He did so with rugged adventure stories set in forbidding landscapes. And heroes who survive by embracing their most primal instincts. His breakthrough best seller was "The Call of the Wild". Inspired by his time in the Klondike Gold Rush, this hard-hitting novel is told from the perspective of a sled dog named Buck. It’s inspired many adaptations, including a big-budget movie starring Harrison Ford. Among London’s other notable works are "White Fang", also featuring a canine protagonist, as well as "The Sea-Wolf", "Martin Eden" and "The Iron Heel".

The Jacket

"Memoirs of a Cavalier" is a literary sleight of hand. Written in the style of an eyewitness account, it’s actually a work of fiction—a trick Defoe would repeat in his later book "A Journal of a Plague Year". Originally published anonymously, many readers of the time were fooled into thinking it was real. The book’s unnamed protagonist is an English gentleman with a lust for adventure. He details his experiences on battlefields across Europe, as a soldier in both the Thirty Years' War and the English Civil War. With its vivid scenes of warfare, "Memoirs of a Cavalier" truly makes history come alive. English writer Daniel Defoe (c. 1660–1731) led an extraordinary life. As a child, he survived both the Great Fire of London and a major outbreak of the bubonic plague. As an adult, he enjoyed careers as a merchant, political satirist, rebel soldier and even a spy. Defoe was in his fifties before he finally turned his hand to fiction. "Robinson Crusoe", his first novel, was an instant bestseller. The story of a shipwrecked sailor, its style and structure made it a landmark text in the history of English literature. His other notable works include "Moll Flanders", "A Journal of the Plague Year" and "Captain Singleton".

Memoirs of a Cavalier

Hedda Gabler has just returned from her honeymoon. She has married out of ennui, and is already heartily sick of her husband, who is a plodding, pedantic academic. Upon moving into her new Christiania home, she soon discovers that Thea Elvsted, an old schoolmate whom she always envied and despised, has boldly left her marriage in order to be with Eilert Lövborg, a former lover of Hedda who is trying to overcome a past life of debauchery and alcoholism by creating a revolutionary new work of philosophy and returning to respectability. Another old flame, Judge Brack, tries to wheedle his way back into Hedda’s life by any means possible. Yearning to exercise power over someone, anyone, to “mould a human destiny,” Hedda begins callously to manipulate the people around her to devastating effect. Written at the height of Ibsen’s mature period, this play has endured as one of the most-performed and most powerful of all Ibsen’s works. Hedda is both perpetrator and victim, a psychologically-complex, frustrated woman trying to assert some control over her world. Henrik Johan Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of realism" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre. His major works include Brand, Peer Gynt, An Enemy of the People, Emperor and Galilean, A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, and The Master Builder. He is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare, and A Doll's House became the world's most performed play by the early 20th century. Several of his plays were considered scandalous to many of his era, when European theatre was required to model strict morals of family life and propriety. Ibsen's work examined the realities that lay behind many façades, revealing much that was disquieting to many contemporaries. It utilized a critical eye and free inquiry into the conditions of life and issues of morality.

Little Eyolf

Della and James are a young married couple who want to delight each other with a surprise Christmas gift. It turns out easier said than done because both of them have very little money. Will they manage to buy something in time? What sort of sacrifices will they need to make to buy a gift that their beloved will appreciate? What if they already have it but are not aware of it? 'The Gift of the Magi' is a magical tale brimming with comic irony but also a resounding and valuable moral lesson. The twist ending is bound to make you laugh and give you ample food for thought on what truly is important in life. American short story master O. Henry is best known for his pithy, witty scores and surprise endings. In doing so he made commonplace experiences extraordinary and memorable. His work has been immortalised in the popular 1952 film 'O. Henry's Full House' starring Fred Allen, Anne Baxter, Marilyn Monroe and Jeanne Crain. William Sidney Porter (1862-1919), known simply as O. Henry, was a prolific American author of humorous literary pieces. His fame came exceptionally quickly and he became a bestselling author of short story collections. Perhaps the most famous of these are, 'Cabbages and Kings,' 'The Voice of the City' and 'Strictly Business.' The immensity of O. Henry's impact on the American short story genre for time to come is evidenced by the fact an annual award in his name is given out each year in the United States. O. Henry's work is a must read for fans of Hemingway, Guy de Maupassant and Anton Chekhov.

The Gift of the Magi

‘John Barleycorn’ is a deeply personal novel by Jack London. The book tells about London’s own struggles and problems with alcohol and alcoholism. It is a touching story of a young, sensitive man, who loses his battle against spirits. London had the feeling that alcohol made him able to write the way he did, but at the same time it was one of the reasons why the extremely talented writer died at the age of only 40. The book is an honest overview of an alcoholic mind, in which London confesses that he is against spirits – even though he himself was not strong enough to resist the King alcohol. Jack London (1876–1916) was an American writer and social activist. He grew up in the working class, but became a worldwide celebrity and one of the highest paid authors of his time. He wrote several novels, which are considered classics today, among these 'Call of the Wild', 'Sea Wolf' and 'White Fang'.

John Barleycorn

Everybody hates the refreshment room at the junction, it’s terrible. But the staff is convinced that they’re running a great operation. When their boss returns from abroad to report that in French refreshment rooms they actually accommodate the guests as best they can, serve them edible food and are nice in general, the staff is shocked. And so unfolds The Boy at Mugby, one of eight short stories in Mugby Junction written by Charles Dickens and a handful of other authors. The collection also includes the famous ghost story The Signal-Man, which the ninth Doctor Who, played by Christopher Eccleston, called "The best short story ever written." Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English author, social critic, and philanthropist. Much of his writing first appeared in small instalments in magazines and was widely popular. Among his most famous novels are Oliver Twist (1839), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1861).

Mugby Junction

In this High Victorian detective novel, Dyke Darrel investigates the robbery of the Central Railroad’s midnight express, during which Dyke’s friend Arnold Nicholson, a messenger, was murdered. He is helped by his sister Nell, with whom he was supposed to go on holiday. Dyke Darrell turns "the Gotham of the North" - as he calls Chicago - upside down in search of the culprit. On the way he encounters old ennemies, kidnappers and masquerades, as he tries to solve "the most audacious crime of my remembrance." Allan Frank Pinkerton was the son of Allan Pinkerton (1819-1884), the Scottish-American spy, detective and founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, which rose to fame in the mid-19th century. Inspired by his father work and the agency’s archives, A. Frank — like many other authors at the time — created highly sensationalised and popular novels based on the Pinkerton cases.

Dyke Darrel the Railroad Detective Or, The Crime of the Midnight Express

"Almayer’s Folly" (1895) is Joseph Conrad’s debut novel. It centers on the Dutch trader Kaspar Almayer, who comes to Borneo with a suitcaseful of dreams. He settles on the exotic island among the Malays and mainly deals in river trade. His half-Malay daughter, Nina, is met with reluctance by the local community. But Almayer wants to put an end to his waning career as a merchant and hopes to find the island's hidden gold mine, so that he can return to Amsterdam as a wealthy man, with his daughter, and give her both financial and social status. But fate can be cruel, not least in the colonies. This is the story of a man living at the edge of two cultures, having to adapt both sociologically and psychologically to a new environment. Here Conrad masterfully combines romance and adventure with moral and existential issues. Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) was a Polish-born author who left Poland in his teens to avoid enlistment in the Russian Army. He learned English aboard British ships and started writing in that language after settling in England. His most famous novel is "Heart of Darkness" (1899), which was inspired by his experiences on the open sea.

Almayer's Folly

You lose something. And only then you appreciate it. John Perkins has a peaceful and lovely life with his wife Katy. They live in a seeming harmony. However things turn upside down when one evening John comes home only to find it empty. Why is Katy gone? What has happened? John realizes how many important things he has lost, the most important of all – his precious Katy. Only if she could come back. Everything would be different and John would value her so much more. But will he actually? "The Pendulum" swings back and forth. It is up to John to grab the moment and appreciate it. Because some things cannot be reversed and only the regret is left. William Sidney Porter (1862-1919), known simply as O. Henry, was a prolific American author of humorous literary pieces. His fame came exceptionally quickly and he became a bestselling author of short story collections, among the most famous being "Cabbages and Kings", "The Voice of the City", and "Strictly Business." As a result of the outstanding literature legacy that O. Henry left behind, there is an American annual award after his name, given to exceptional short stories.

The Pendulum

The author is in the middle of working when he suddenly gets a visitor – a friend, whose face is completely pale. The author is no longer irritated by the interruption; he wants to know what has happened. The friend calms down and starts to tell a story of himself ending up in a vicious party where everyone hid their faces behind a mask... ‘A Masked Ball’ is a masterful short story written by Alexandre Dumas. Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870) was a French writer. He is best known for his novels ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ and ‘The Three Musketeers'. Dumas is considered as one of the most significant French writers of the 19th century. Dumas’s background was exceptional in 1800’s France as his grandmother was a black slave – and also Dumas faced a lot of racism. Many of Dumas’s books have been filmed into movies.

A Masked Ball

The Thénardiers have ended up in jail due to the crimes they are guilty of. Only their daughter Éponine has been acquitted. Éponine brings the address of Cosette to Marius – will Marius and Cosette finally get each other? Or will the riots intervene in their love? Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables’ is one of the most significant European novels. It takes place in the early 1800’s France, and it follows the tragic paths of multiple characters. ‘Les Misérables’ has been filmed into a movie numerous times. In 2012 Tom Hooper directed a movie starring Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe and Anne Hathaway. Victor Hugo (1802–1885) was a French writer. He is best known for his novels ‘Les Misérables’ and ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’. Hugo made his debut at a very young age; he published his very first book 'Odes et poésies diverses' at the age of 20. Hugo was also a human rights activist, and many of his works deal with human rights.

Les Misérables IV

A dog, named Lovey, tells us the story of his unpleasant mistress and dear owner. A couple in love struggle to find money for Christmas gifts for each other. Another married couple sacrifices their art and dreams in the name of love. A homeless guy tries badly to get himself into jail. Another poor man devotes his days to finding the girl he fell in love with at first sight. O. Henry’s second collection of stories "The Four Million" gives us the possibility to immerse ourselves in these tales about love and sacrifices, struggles and appreciation. The plot twists will however make you doubt how the story will develop until you reach the very last page. William Sidney Porter (1862-1919), known simply as O. Henry, was a prolific American author of humorous literary pieces. His fame came exceptionally quickly and he became a bestselling author of short story collections, among the most famous being "Cabbages and Kings", "The Voice of the City", and "Strictly Business." As a result of the outstanding literature legacy that O. Henry left behind, there is an American annual award after his name, given to exceptional short stories.

The Four Million

"Bruce" charts the story of an unwanted puppy who becomes loved by the mistress of the family. He is then enlisted as a carrier dog in World War I, completing heroic tasks and coming home a war hero. Albert Payson Terhune (1872 – 1942) was an American writer, journalist and dog breeder. He studied at Columbia University where he graduated with a Bachelor in Arts. As well as dog breeding, he also took part in boxing matches, and was a member of the Adventure’s Club of New York. He wrote a series of dog-focuses stories and novels, including the 1919 "Lad: A Dog". His novels were popular with both adults and children, and have inspired countless writers and screenwriters after him. His New Jersey estate, Sunnybank, still stands to this day and is maintained is in his memory.

Bruce

The fantasy and science-fiction stories in this early collection by H. G. Wells deal in extraordinary sarcasm, vividness, and attention to detail. The fantastic go hand in hand with the humorous, the scientific is both dangerous and wondrous, while the protagonists meddle with bacteria, ostriches, or large bat-like creatures. An interesting and thought-provoking anthology, "The Stolen Bacillus and Other Stories" is a multifarious collection that can appeal to all tastes! H. G. Wells was an English writer, remembered mostly for his science fiction works. Often described as a futurist, H. G. Wells’s influence cannot be neglected for his works foresaw many technological innovations such as space travel, the atomic bomb, and the Internet. Four times Nobel Prize in Literature nominee, Wells explored a wide array of themes in his works, occupying one of the central seats in the canon of British literature. Some of his best works include the time-travel novel "The Time Machine", the sci-fi adventure novel "The Island of Dr. Moreau", the mankind-versus-aliens novel "The War of the Worlds" and more than seventy short stories.

The Stolen Bacillus and Other Stories

One of Dostoevsky’s shorter novels, "The Gambler" reflects the author’s own difficult and prolonged battles with gambling as one of his major addictions. It is the story of a young man with aspirations to see and go beyond the established order, but in reality only gets stuck deeper and deeper into addiction and degradation. Dostoevsky does a great job in painting the psychological portrait of the protagonist, Alexey, who is having difficulties finding meaning in life and himself. Fyodor Dostoevsky was a famous Russian writer of novels, short stories, and essays. A connoisseur of the troubled human psyche and the relationships between the individuals, Dostoevsky’s oeuvre covers a large area of subjects: politics, religion, social issues, philosophy, and the uncharted realms of the psychological. He is most famous for the novels "Crime and Punishment", "The Idiot", and "The Brothers Karamazov". His literary legacy was met with mixed feelings, but remains gargantuan in its influence.

The Gambler

Fortress-walled Saint Catherine's monastery on the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt) has been a pilgrimage site since its founding by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. According to tradition, the monastery sits at the base of the mountain where Moses received the Tablets of the Law. Set in rugged country, it was for a very long time only accessible through a long camel-back journey across the barren desert. The monastery survived intact through the centuries, and as a result became a rich repository of religious history: icons, mosaics, books and manuscripts have been preserved through the ages in the monastery’s library. "Our Journey to Sinai" by Agnes Bensly is the story of a visit to Saint Catherine's by a group of British scholars in the 1890's, who were drawn there in their quest for early Christian manuscripts. They were looking for a second century translation of the Gospels from the Greek into an Aramaic dialect called Syriac, a very rare and precious document. One of the group’s members, Agnes Smith Lewis, an accomplished linguist, has been to the monastery once before. During that visit, she had spotted a "palimpsest of most venerable appearance." Smith Lewis had recognized the hidden underwriting in this book to be in Syriac, "the native language of Our Lord and His disciples." This is the reason why the group has now decided to revisit Saint Catherine's, in the hope of finding and copying that ancient text. Their trip is vividly described by Agnes Bensly, portraying bustling Cairo, Bedouins crossing the desert with their camels, the monks and monastery life of Saint Catherine, the breathtaking climb up the 3000 stone steps to the top of Mount Sinai, and what they found in the mysterious manuscript they had come so far to see. "Our Journey to Sinai" is a wonderful travel book and an intimate portrait of Saint Catherine's monastery, a monastery which is today a World Heritage Site. Agnes Dorothea Bensly (born Von Blomberg), was born in 1834 in Postdam, Prussia (current Germany). The daughter of Baron Eduard von Blomberg, she married the Orientalist and biblical scholar Robert Lubbock Bensly (1831-93) in 1860. The Cambridge man had been studying Syriac in Bonn and Halle. He made two short visits to Egypt and Sinai but died a few days after his return from his last trip. Agnes lost her sight shortly after, but she wanted to have his work published, and as such, wrote "A Journey to Sinai" in braille. She passed away on the 22nd December 1900, in England.

Our Journey to Sinai

"He tried to rise, but two ill-savoured Tartars were already sitting on him and binding his hands behind his back." Two Russian soldier are kidnapped by their rivals while serving in the Caucasus. One is resourceful and optimistic and spends his time in captivity looking for a way to escape; the other is pessimistic and lazy and only complains. One day, they try to escape. The Prisoner in The Caucasus is based on a real incident from Tolstoy’s soldier days. It is about the power of military brotherhood and being of use to your enemy. Tolstoy helps the reader see the human side in every character and underlines all the things people have in common across enemy lines. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian author, a master of realistic fiction and one of the world’s greatest novelists. Tolstoy’s major works include "War and Peace" (1865–69) and "Anna Karenina" (1875–77), two of the greatest novels of all time and pinnacles of realist fiction. Beyond novels, he wrote many short stories and later in life also essays and plays.

The Prisoner in the Caucassus

Dangers and romance intertwine in one in the adventure novel "Martin Paz" from 1852. The Indian chief Martin Paz falls in love with a girl named Sarah. Sarah’s father, Samuel, has however already arranged the marriage of his daughter to the influential and wealthy mestizo Certa. Martin Paz will fight for his love and for her freedom. What he will find about Samuel is however something he could not have expected. Will Paz manage to rescue Sarah from the vicious hands of Certa? How will he get her out from the "abyss" she is sinking into? Can he save her yet again after his own people stab a knife in his back? Will Martin and Sarah be finally together or the death is going to win the round this time? Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French novelist who mostly wrote adventure fiction inspired by the scientific advances of the 19th century. With the help of editor Pierre-Jules Hetzel he wrote a series of books called "Extraordinary Travels", which includes "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1864), "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" (1870), and "Around the World in Eighty Days" (1873). Widely popular with both children and adults, Verne is one of the most translated authors of all times, and still inspires people the world over.

Martin Paz

Teenage angst and rebellion might feel like a modern phenomenon but, Bella and Edward, Ferris Bueller and Mean Girls couldn’t have happened without ‘Hard Times’. Family, work and rebellion are all at the heart of this, one of Dickens’ shortest works. Mr Gradgrind gives his two children Tom and Louisa a totally Utilitarian upbringing, disregarding the value of the human heart. What this creates, is the first traces of the modern teenager - rebelliousness and emotional turmoil create more problems than he could have imagined. Louisa, living in a loveless marriage to the greedy Josiah, and Tom, a hardened and unfeeling criminal – leaves their father questioning everything he believes in. A strong critique of industrialisation, full of passionate characters and tempestuous social clashes, this novel still resonates in the modern day. No one writes about the gulf between rich and poor as passionately as Charles Dickens. Full of controversy, arguments and social insight. Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English author, social critic, and philanthropist. Much of his writing first appeared in small instalments in magazines and was widely popular. Among his most famous novels are Oliver Twist (1839), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1861).

Hard Times

If you have at all dabbled in classic English literature, you may have had a hard time telling Charlotte from Emily, so now when a third sister, Anne, enters the fray, we understand if you're experiencing complete Brontë déjà-vu. With its official subtitle "A Novel" and "Agnes Grey" itself sounding like the nickname of a retirement home patron who's at least 50% dust, Anne's somewhat drab title game might come down to this being her debut novel. A semi-autobiographical piece, "Agnes Grey" tells the story of the titular character after her family falls on hard times and everybody has to chip in. Taking the position of governess in multiple houses with questionable success, Anne eventually meets Mr. Weston and suddenly everything becomes much more bearable. A proper Christian...ish Victorian novel peppered with poignant social commentary, "Agnes Grey" is about puritan minister's daughters with immoral girlfriends, dashing yet prudent bachelors, spoiled, punchable children and elbow-centered scenes of passion. Thus you probably already know if this book is down your alley, but if you need the final push, Irish author George Moore described the debut as "the most perfect prose narrative in English letters". Anne Brontë (1820-1849) was the youngest of the Brontë sisters, who wrote only two novels during her short, but influential lifetime. The difference with Anne is that she chose to write with a lot of irony and sarcasm, unlike the romantic aspirations of her older sisters. She also published her novels and poems under a male name. Best remembered for "Agnes Grey" and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall".

Agnes Grey

Are memories of past love affairs stronger than time? After a mysterious foreign letter arrives at breakfast, Georges Garin shares with his friend a peculiour travelogue. While inspecting a wrecked ship, an English man with his three daughters approaches him. A passionate love affair flares between Garin and the oldest daughter which settles in his heart for the years to come. The remarkable short story writer, Guy de Maupassant, unveils bit by bit their tale with a subtle expression of eroticism. Guy de Maupassant (1850 –1893) was a French author considered a father of the modern short story. During his prolific work life, he wrote 300 short stories, verse, travel books and novels. One of his most famous works, the novel Bel-Ami, inspired the 2012 movie with the same name, starring Robert Pattinson and Uma Thurman.

The Wreck

More than 10 000 years ago something terrible happened in the land of Mnar. Shepherd people built a new city called Sarnath. But the land they took to themselves was not uninhabited – there was a strange race living in the area, and they even had their own town called Ib. The people of Sarnath decided to destroy the other race. But they didn’t know that one day these creatures would return and have their revenge... H.P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) was an American horror writer. His best known works include ‘The Call of Cthulhu’ and ‘the Mountains of Madness’. Most of his work was originally published in pulp magazines, and Lovecraft rose into fame only after his death at the age of 46. He has had a great influence in both horror and science fiction genres.

The Doom That Came to Sarnath

Activist and abolitionist Frederick Douglass is one of the most famous anti-slavery writers in American history. Following 20 years of enslavement in Maryland, Douglass made a daring bid for freedom in 1838, travelling north via the ‘underground railroad’ before arriving in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he would settle. It was not long before Douglass took up the cause of black Americans, risking his freedom through writing and lecturing, and travelling the globe to spread his message. In My Bondage and My Freedom (1855) Douglass lays bare his story, illuminating the plight of slaves, the overwhelming prejudices of the time, and the dignity and determination that led to his emancipation.

My Bondage and My Freedom

M. de Rênal is the mayor of a provincial town named Verrières, who hires Julien Sorel as a private teacher for his child. Sorel desires to become a real man and follow the steps of his hero – Napoleon. The young man thinks that it is his duty to seduce the mayor’s wife and they become lovers. However, their little secret will soon be revealed. Who will find out about the love affair? What is going to happen with the two lovers? Will mayor M. de Rênal also find out or the truth will be hidden from him? Find all the answers in Stendhal’s novel "The Red and the Black" from 1830. Stendhal (1783-1842), the pseudonym of Marie-Henry Beyle, was a French writer. A pioneer of literary realism, he is best known for his novels "The Red and the Black" (1830) and "The Charterhouse of Parma" (1839).

The Red and the Black

H.P. Lovecraft is a master of horror – and in this compilation of stories the reader gets a chance to meet some of Lovecraft's most memorable characters. In ‘The Alchemist’ we meet Count Antoine de C who tells about the curse of his family – due to the curse everyone is expected to die before the age of 32. In ‘Dagon’ the protagonist is addicted to morphine because of the terrible things that happened to him on a ghost island. In ‘Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family’ Arthur Jermyn tells about his strange family – and the madness that was in all Jermyns. The collection includes 100 horrific short stories. H.P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) was an American horror writer. His best known works include ‘The Call of Cthulhu’ and ‘the Mountains of Madness’. Most of his work was originally published in pulp magazines, and Lovecraft rose into fame only after his death at the age of 46. He has had a great influence in both horror and science fiction genres.

33 Tales of Horror

While on holiday, four children let their imaginations run wild and tell each other fantastical stories. They picture themselves married to one another, living at sea, having magic godmothers, and one imagines a land without grownups in which they are parents to their own parents! Holiday Romance is an endearing story with amazing insight into children’s way of thinking. Written in such authentically childish voices, you almost forget that Charles Dickens is in fact behind all of it. Fun and charming, Holiday Romance transports you to the time and place of these four children’s lives , and it’s truly the place to be. Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English author, social critic, and philanthropist. Much of his writing first appeared in small instalments in magazines and was widely popular. Among his most famous novels are Oliver Twist (1839), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1861).

Holiday Romance

Mammoths have been extinct for thousands of years. So what do you do when an insanely talented hunter and storyteller describes how he just killed one? Thomas Stevens is a skillful hunter, but his storytelling ability is where his real gift lies, are these mammoths real? What is being hunted out there? ‘A Relic of the Pliocene’ is one of the intriguing short stories in Jack London’s collection ‘The Faith of Men and Other Stories'. All of the stories are set in Yukon, Canada, and they all boast a fast-paced plot, captivating characters, and London’s signature charm Jack London (1876–1916) was an American writer and social activist. He grew up in the working class, but his unflinching realism eventually earned him the status of one of the highest-paid authors of his time. Many of his novels are considered classics today, his most notable being ‘Call of the Wild’, ‘Sea Wolf’, and ‘White Fang’. Fans of Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, and Charles Dickens will enjoy his ability to make the mundane captivating.

The Faith of Men and Other Stories

The life of a law clerk at a New York firm is hectic. It can only be made more so by the addition of a murder trial. Alongside his job at Graham & Royce, Lester has a front-row seat to the murder trial of Wall Street multi-millionaire Hiram Holladay. The banker’s loving daughter, Frances, is the prime suspect. This captivating novel details Lester’s experience as he attempts to prove Frances’ innocence. Stevenson’s excellent characters, his thrilling plots, and clever descriptions make this an unmissable introduction to classic mystery for fans of Karen M. McManus’ ‘One of us is lying’. An American author and librarian, Burton Egbert Stevenson (1872-1962) was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. After studying at Princeton, he fought in the First World War, founded a library in Camp Sherman, and worked at Chillicothe City Library for an impressive 58 years. He also founded the American Library in Paris during his posting as the European director of the Library War Service. Alongside this, he was an author, writing and compiling over 50 books across his lifetime. His children’s books and anthologies being his most well-known.

The Holladay Case

John, King of England's rule is challenged by an ambassador for King Phillip of France. Claiming that Arthur, the nephew of John should be crowned king instead, John declares war against France. Although John orders his nephew's death and turns the nobles against himself, the questions remain... who is the rightful heir to the throne of England? ‘King John’ is a brilliant historical fiction with its underlying theme of sources of power and authority it is both tragically poetic and satiric in equal measure. Perfect for fans of The Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries by Elly Griffiths. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is widely considered the world's greatest dramatist and is often referred to as England's national poet or the Bard. Most famous for his timeless plays, he also wrote a multitude of poems and sonnets. Shakespeare was the blockbuster writer of his day, his many works concerning universal themes of life, love, death, revenge, grief, jealousy, murder, magic, and mystery. Among some of his most famous are "Macbeth", "Romeo and Juliet", and "Hamlet", but the list is long, and many continue to be studied and performed, both their original form and modern adaptations.

King John

The famous Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, served as the major influence for this collection of essays and sketches by Washington Irving. Blending history, myth, and natural descriptions, Irving’s book became an indispensable attribute of the city’s newsstands and boutique shops. The truthful and picturesque account of the palace, the book is often deemed responsible for the revival of interest in this masonry of old. The pages are saturated with Irving’s own personal account during his stay, turning this work into a magical adventure for readers and tourists alike. Versatile as the subject matter of his literary oeuvre, the name of Washington Irving still echoes in the corridors of the American literary canon. Having earned special status as a man of letters in America and Europe alike, Irving’s fame stems primarily from his short stories "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". An avid biographer and historian, his influence can be felt within a vast group of American and British authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, E. A. Poe, Charles Dickens, and Sir Walter Scott.

Tales of the Alhambra

Peter Kropotkin’s magnum opus "Memoirs of a Revolutionist" serves the role of an astounding historical narrative of Russian politics in the second half of the 19th century. A perfect example of early anarchist writing, the book is emblematic of the origin of many anarchist movements all across Europe. The honesty and truthfulness of the narrative follows Kroopotkin’s prison and exile escapades, his admiration for women, and all the revolutionary incidents surrounding that enigmatic figure. Peter Kropotkin was a versatile Russian literary figure, whose occupation ranged from scientist and writer to a revolutionary and an advocate of anarchism. Kropotkin’s major influence was evident from his manifold philosophical stance – from a harsh critique on capitalist society to that of boosting local goods production. A political exile and an avid traveler, Kropotkin’s background found its place in his writing style. Among some of his best works are "The Conquest of Bread", "Memoirs of a Revolutionist", and "The State: Its Historic Role".

Memoirs of a Revolutionist

O. Henry is deservedly famous for his vivacious, humorous, ironic, but utterly realistic short stories, and this collection is no exception. Offering deep insights into the human soul and the throbbing pangs of love, poverty, jealousy, and deception, O. Henry’s stories successfully present the contemporary predicaments of the characters. William Sidney Porter (1862-1919), known simply as O. Henry, was a prolific American author of humorous literary pieces. His fame came exceptionally quickly and he became a bestselling author of short story collections, among the most famous being "Cabbages and Kings", "The Voice of the City", and "Strictly Business." As a result of the outstanding literature legacy that O. Henry left behind, there is an American annual award after his name, given to exceptional short stories.

Selected Short Stories: O. Henry

What happens when you glimpse into the fourth dimension? You return forever changed as a mirror image. Glimpsing into a parallel world through a science experiment gone wrong, the schoolteacher Gottfried Plattner returns after nine days in inverted form to tell the story of exactly what he saw in what can best be described as the ‘Other-World’. The cult status Netflix show, Stranger Things, clearly found inspiration in the way Wells touch upon subjects like parallel worlds, encounters with anomalous semi-human creatures, life and afterlife, Wells’ story masterfully, but feebly lifts the veil between worlds to give the reader a sneak peak of what lies beyond. H. G. Wells was an English writer, remembered mostly for his science fiction works. Often described as a futurist, H. G. Wells’s influence cannot be neglected for his works foresaw many technological innovations such as space travel, the atomic bomb, and the Internet. Four times Nobel Prize in Literature nominee, Wells explored a wide array of themes in his works, occupying one of the central seats in the canon of British literature. Some of his best works include the time-travel novel "The Time Machine", the sci-fi adventure novel "The Island of Dr. Moreau", the mankind-versus-aliens novel "The War of the Worlds" and more than seventy short stories.

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