In a world of oppressive surveillance and thought control, one man's quest for truth and love defies a ruthless regime. This timeless dystopian classic explores the chilling consequences of totalitarianism and the human spirit's resilience.

1984

Discover your dreams and your truth in this international bestseller that masterfully blends magic and mysticism. Follow Santiago's journey to find inner treasures and awaken to the beauty of life’s possibilities. A timeless classic awaits.

The Alchemist

In a bleak, dystopian future, a fireman questions his role in a society that burns books. Experience Ray Bradbury’s timeless classic, now narrated by Penn Badgley, and explore the power of ideas over mindless conformity.

Fahrenheit 451

In this classic 19th century story of love battling pride, we meet Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth is a smart, well-rounded woman, and she is one of five unmarried daughters of the country gentleman, Mr. Bennet, a country gentleman. Marriage is at the forefront Mrs. Bennet's mind, especially since her elderly husband's estate will not pass down to any of their daughters. The Bennets' small town is in an uproar when two highborn, eligible gentlemen, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, come to stay. Mr. Bingley takes and instant liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane. Elizabeth's prideful self does not realize her life is about to change when she meets the intolerable Mr. Darcy, who will make her questions her sensibilities.

Pride and Prejudice

Dating back to the 5th century B.C.,The Art of War is an ancient Chinese text on military strategy whose teachings have become very influential and popular in the west. Though authorship is attributed to Sun Tzu (Master Sun), many scholars believe the bulk of the text was written by his descendant Sun Bin, who lived some hundred years later. Its thirteen chapters cover such topics as Planning, Weaknesses and Strengths, Terrain, and Intelligence and Espionage. Popular with military thinkers, business leaders and entertainers alike, The Art of War is an essential tome on strategy that is remarkably relevant today despite its ancient origins.

Business Library

The Art of War

Discover the original vampire tale that inspired generations. In a secluded castle, an intoxicating romance unfolds between Laura and the mysterious Carmilla, shrouded in Gothic horror and psychological depth. An essential read for gothic fans.

Carmilla

A timeless satirical attack on social and political structures, this classic unfolds in a chilling dystopia where love and rebellion flicker against oppressive control. Discover the gripping tale of Winston Smith and his forbidden romance.

A timeless tale of love, ambition, and sisterhood, this classic explores the lives of the March sisters during the Civil War. Discover the power of family bonds in a world of conflict and dreams. A must-read for all.

World Classics

Little Women

10 invited guests on an island… Ten strangers, apparently with little in common, are lured to an island mansion off the coast of Devon by the mysterious U.N.Owen. Over dinner, a record begins to play, and the voice of an unseen host accuses each person of hiding a guilty secret. That evening, former reckless driver Tony Marston is found murdered by a deadly dose of cyanide. The tension escalates as the survivors realise the killer is not only among them but is preparing to strike again… and again…

And Then There Were None

A haunting exploration of the human psyche, this classic novel delves into the depths of mental illness and societal pressures. Plath's poetic prose captures the struggle for identity in a stifling world. A timeless masterpiece.

The Bell Jar

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is one of the most loved English Classics of all time. Mystery, hardship - and love. Jane comes from nothing but she desires everything life can offer her. And when she finds work as a governess in a mysterious mansion, it seems she has finally met her match with the darkly fascinating Mr Rochester. But Thornfield Hall contains a shameful secret - one that could keep Jane and Rochester apart forever. Can she choose between what is right, and her one chance of happiness?

Timeless Classic

Jane Eyre

Embark on an epic journey with Project Hail Mary, an inspiring tale of courage, innovation, and relentless determination that will ignite your inner drive and boost your productivity. This riveting audiobook follows a lone traveler on a high-stakes mission to save humanity, weaving together elements of scientific discovery, unexpected alliances, and personal transformation in a dynamic narrative designed for the modern adult seeking to overcome challenges and elevate their daily performance.

Project Hail Mary

Step into the intriguing world of existentialism and moral ambiguity with Albert Camus' masterful novel, The Stranger. Set in the sun-drenched streets of French Algiers, this thought-provoking literary classic takes readers on a journey of introspection, challenging societal norms and exploring the depths of human existence. Meet Meursault, a dispassionate and detached protagonist, who finds himself caught in the chaos of an absurd and indifferent world. As the story unfolds, Meursault's life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes embroiled in a fateful act of violence, leading to a gripping exploration of morality, identity, and the meaning of life itself. Camus' exquisite prose paints a vivid portrait of Meursault's internal struggles and his alienation from the conventional expectations of society. Through Meursault's eyes, the reader is confronted with the stark reality of human existence, where indifference and the relentless march of time challenge our very notions of purpose and significance. The Stranger is not just a tale of a man's existential crisis; it is a profound examination of the human condition, raising questions about free will, the nature of truth, and the absurdity of life. Camus invites readers to confront the uncomfortable truths that lie within the recesses of our own minds, urging us to question our own lives and the choices we make. In this timeless masterpiece, Camus weaves together philosophy, psychology, and social commentary, creating a narrative that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally resonant. The Stranger challenges readers to confront their own beliefs, to grapple with the complexities of morality, and to ponder the essence of what it means to be alive. A literary treasure that has captivated readers for generations, The Stranger continues to provoke introspection and ignite intellectual debates. Camus' powerful exploration of the human condition remains as relevant today as it was when it was first published, reminding us of the eternal struggle to find meaning in a seemingly indifferent world. Prepare to be enthralled, disturbed, and ultimately moved by The Stranger, a novel that will leave an indelible mark on your soul and forever change the way you view the world around you.

The Stranger

"White Nights" is the story about a melancholic daydreamer, who spends his life idling in St. Petersburg and indulging in existential questions. He is so much in a world of his own that any actual real-life encounter leaves him bewildered and numb. Dostoevsky’s powerful and detailed psychological portrait makes the reader identify with the protagonist, who cannot but seek means of consoling him. One day a random encounter takes place and the story takes a surprising turn – only to leave the reader gasping for breath once the final pages come. Highly recommended for people who often feels the need to find an alternative to the grey and stifling everyday life. 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.

White Nights

A gripping exploration of morality and redemption, this classic delves into the tortured psyche of an ex-student in St. Petersburg. Experience the profound anguish of a soul wrestling with crime and conscience. A timeless journey awaits.

Crime and Punishment

Jane Austen’s most popular novel, originally published in 1813, some 17 years after it was first written, presents the Bennet family of Longbourn. Against the background of gossipy Mrs Bennet and the detached Mr Bennet, the quest is on for husbands for the five daughters. The spotlight falls on Elizabeth, second eldest, who is courted by Mr Darcy though initially she is more concerned with the fate of her other sisters. This marvellous account of family life in Regency England is read with customary panache by Juliet Stevenson.

A brilliant reimagining of a classic tale, this gripping blend of science fiction and romance explores love, truth, and morality in a dystopian New York City. Can compassion survive amidst the shadows of wealth and desire?

Local Heavens

Rediscover one of the greatest love stories of all time with this new audio edition of Pride and Prejudice, masterfully narrated by actress Adjoa Andoh ('Bridgerton', 'Doctor Who'). Pride and Prejudice's prolific status as a beloved story is thanks to its dynamic, ever-evolving central characters, as well as the strength of the wit and satire wielded by Austen. It is a love story, yes, but it is also a profound critique of Georgian high society and the plight of women. Without a male heir, the Bennet daughters risk losing their home and their income when their father, Mr Bennet, passes. To save the family, the sisters must marry - and most importantly, marry well. It is in this predicament that we find the smart and spirited Elizabeth Bennet, who despite pressure from her family, is determined to live and marry on her own terms. The arrival of the haughty, wealthy Mr Darcy who is impervious to her charms begins a timeless comedy of manners, and endless drama, where first impressions are just not what they seemed. Pride and Prejudice is a classic tale with numerous screen adaptations, most notably the BBC’s TV adaptation starring Colin Firth and an Oscar-nominated film starring Keira Knightley. British actress Adjoa Andoh has had a prolific career on both the stage and screen, from starring roles in the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the National Theatre to popular television Bridgerton and the Witcher. She now delivers a captivating performance, breathing new life into this much-loved novel. There are few authors as iconic as Jane Austen (1775-1817). Her body of work contains some of the most beloved books and characters of all time which have been in print for over two hundred years and sold millions of copies worldwide. Austen was a trailblazer, famed for her satire, her astute social commentary and her strong-willed, passionate heroines. Her ability to wield humour with realism has found her favour with critics and readers for generations. Her most famous works include Pride and Prejudice (1813), Emma (1816), Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Persuasion (1818), all of which have received success in adaptations for the screen, stage and radio.

Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's only novel. It was first published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, and a posthumous second edition was edited by her sister Charlotte. The name of the novel comes from the Yorkshire manor on the moors on which the story centres (as an adjective, wuthering is a Yorkshire word referring to turbulent weather). The narrative tells the tale of the all-encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them.

Wuthering Heights

Never underestimate Miss Marple. In a seemingly tranquil English village, a murder shatters the peace, revealing a web of secrets. Join the clever amateur sleuth in this classic cozy mystery where everyone is a suspect.

Marple

The Murder at the Vicarage

One of the very best Christie mysteries read by Hercule Poirot himself, David Suchet. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stopped the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train was surprisingly full for the time of the year. But by the morning there was one passenger fewer. An American lay dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. With tension mounting, detective Hercule Poirot comes up with not one, but two solutions to the crime.

Murder on the Orient Express

The Count of Monte Cristo (French: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel written by French author Alexandre Dumas (père) completed in 1844. It is one of the author's most popular works, along with The Three Musketeers. Like many of his novels, it was expanded from plot outlines suggested by his collaborating ghostwriter Auguste Maquet. The story takes place in France, Italy, and islands in the Mediterranean during the historical events of 1815–1839: the era of the Bourbon Restoration through the reign of Louis-Philippe of France. It begins on the day that Napoleon left his first island of exile, Elba, beginning the Hundred Days period when Napoleon returned to power. The historical setting is a fundamental element of the book, an adventure story centrally concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness. Before he can marry his fiancée Mercédès, Edmond Dantès, a French nineteen-year-old first mate of the Pharaon, is falsely accused of treason, arrested, and imprisoned without trial in the Château d'If, a grim island fortress off Marseille. A fellow prisoner, Abbé Faria, correctly deduces that romantic rival Fernand Mondego, envious crewmate Danglars, and double-dealing magistrate De Villefort are responsible. Over the course of their long imprisonment, Faria educates Dantès and tells him of a cache of treasure he found. After Faria dies, Dantès escapes and finds the treasure. As the powerful and mysterious Count of Monte Cristo, he enters the fashionable Parisian world of the 1830s to avenge himself.

The Count of Monte Cristo

A timeless classic that haunts the imagination, this dark tale invites you to a sinister carnival where dreams come at a chilling cost. Experience Bradbury's spellbinding prose in a mesmerizing journey of friendship and fear.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Widely considered one of the great American novels, Herman Melville's masterpiece went largely unread during his lifetime and was out of print at the time of his death in 1891. Called the greatest book about the sea ever written by D.H. Lawrence, Moby Dick features detailed descriptions of whale hunting and whale oil extraction as well as beautiful, incisive writing on race, class, religion, art, and society. The story, loosely based on a real whaling shipwreck, features the unforgettable, vengeful Captain Ahab, who obsessively hunts a great white whale who bit his leg off below the knee.

Moby Dick

'My dear, I don't give a damn.' The pampered daughter of a wealthy Georgian plantation owner, sixteen-year-old Scarlett O'Hara soon realises that young men can't resist her charms, despite her forthright manners and her refusal to embrace her mother's ladylike ways. She enters into an early marriage, but when the war between the Union and the Southern States breaks out and she is left a young widow, Scarlett's life is turned upside down, and she finds herself embroiled, together with the world surrounding her, in a long struggle for survival. Widely considered the great American novel, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer prize, and inspiring the iconic 1939 Oscar-winning film starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, Gone With The Wind's achievements are unparalleled and it remains an enduring classic.

Gone With The Wind

Beloved by millions, this timeless classic holds the key to all you desire and everything you wish to accomplish. This is the book that reveals the secret to personal wealth. The Success Secrets of the Ancients— An Assured Road to Happiness and Prosperity Countless readers have been helped by the famous "Babylonian parables," hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works on the subject of thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth. In language as simple as that found in the Bible, these fascinating and informative stories set you on a sure path to prosperity and its accompanying joys. Acclaimed as a modern-day classic, this celebrated bestseller offers an understanding of—and a solution to—your personal financial problems that will guide you through a lifetime. This is the book that holds the secrets to keeping your money—and making more. The Richest Man in Babylon Read it and recommend it to loved ones— and get on the road to riches. MORE THAN TWO MILLION BOOKS SOLD

The Richest Man in Babylon

"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck is a classic novella that explores the dreams, hardships, and complexities of human relationships during the Great Depression. The story revolves around two itinerant ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, as they navigate a world marked by economic hardship and social injustice. Set against the backdrop of the American West, the narrative delves into the deep friendship between George and Lennie, two contrasting characters bound by a shared dream of owning a piece of land. Lennie, despite his immense physical strength, possesses a childlike innocence that complicates their journey. The novel poignantly addresses themes of loneliness, the pursuit of the American Dream, and the harsh realities faced by those on the margins of society. Steinbeck's rich prose captures the essence of the time and place, offering a compelling exploration of human resilience and the fragility of dreams. "Of Mice and Men" stands as a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers, prompting reflection on the enduring nature of friendship, the pursuit of happiness, and the societal challenges that shape the human experience.

Of Mice and Men

Discover the ancient language that shaped our world in this captivating exploration of history and linguistics. Journey through time with acclaimed journalist Laura Spinney as she unveils humanity's remarkable story.

Proto

Includes an introduction written and read by Jesmyn Ward, a foreword written and read by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s granddaughter, Eleanor Lanahan, and an afterword written and read by Professor James L. W. West III The only edition of the beloved classic that is authorized by Fitzgerald’s family and from his lifelong publisher. An all-new recording published for the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, this production presents the enduring original text, updated with the author’s own revisions, a foreword by his granddaughter, and with an introduction by National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the supreme achievement of his career. First published by Scribner in 1925, this quintessential novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s.

The Great Gatsby

The award-winning narrator of Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass brings the beloved classic The Secret Garden to sparkling new life in this delightful, highly accessible production. When her parents die from cholera in India, orphan Mary Lennox is sent to live with her uncle in a cold, dark mansion in England. Then she discovers a secret garden that has been locked since her Aunt died ten years earlier… Frances Hodgson Burnett was a British born American playwright and author best known for her children's stories Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Little Princess and The Secret Garden. Alison Larkin is the award-winning narrator of over 200 audiobooks including The Complete Novels by Jane Austen and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. www.alisonlarkin presents.com.

The Secret Garden

In George Orwell's timeless classic, "Animal Farm," a seemingly idyllic farm becomes the stage for a powerful and thought-provoking allegory. Set in a rural landscape, this remarkable novel examines the nature of power, corruption, and the human condition. When Old Major, a wise and respected boar, shares his vision of a utopian society, the animals of Manor Farm are captivated. Inspired by his words, they rise up against their human oppressors, overthrowing their human masters and establishing their own self-governed farm. Led by the pigs, notably the intelligent and manipulative Napoleon and the eloquent Snowball, the animals embrace the principles of "Animalism" and set out to create a fair and equal society. Initially, the farm thrives under the animals' collective efforts, with the Seven Commandments of Animalism serving as their guiding principles. However, as time passes, the pigs gradually assume more power and privilege, distorting the original vision of equality. The farm's transformation unfolds before the reader's eyes, as Orwell masterfully illustrates how power corrupts even the noblest of intentions. As the pigs consolidate their authority, the other animals witness a chilling erosion of their rights and freedoms. The novel vividly portrays the struggles, hardships, and disillusionment faced by the hardworking animals as they grapple with the stark reality that their revolution has been hijacked by those who crave power and control. "Animal Farm" is a captivating and deeply allegorical novel that holds a mirror to society's dynamics, exploring themes of totalitarianism, propaganda, and the dangers of unchecked authority. Orwell's sharp and incisive prose exposes the flaws and contradictions of human nature, challenging readers to question the nature of power and its ability to corrupt. Originally published in 1945, "Animal Farm" remains a literary masterpiece and a scathing critique of political systems and social hierarchies. It continues to resonate with readers of all ages, urging them to reflect on the fragility of democracy and the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of tyranny. With its compelling narrative, rich symbolism, and enduring relevance, George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is a must-read for anyone seeking to explore the complexities of power and the human struggle for freedom and equality.

Animal Farm

Shirley Jackson’s beloved gothic tale of a peculiar girl named Merricat and her family’s dark secret Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Brave New World is a dystopian social science fiction novel by English author Aldous Huxley, written in 1931 and published a year later. Largely set in a futuristic World State, whose citizens are environmentally engineered into an intelligence-based social hierarchy, the novel anticipates huge scientific advancements in reproductive technology, sleep-learning, psychological manipulation, and classical conditioning that are combined to make a dystopian society that is challenged by only a single individual: the story's protagonist. Huxley followed this book with a reassessment in essay form, Brave New World Revisited (1958), and with his final novel, Island (1962), the utopian counterpart. The novel is often compared to George Orwell's 1884. Brave New World has frequently been banned and challenged since its original publication. It has landed on the American Library Association list of top 100 banned and challenged books of the decade since the association began the list in 1990. Author Aldous Huxley was an English writer and philosopher. He wrote nearly fifty books, both novels and non-fiction works—as well as wide-ranging essays, narratives, and poems. Born into the prominent Huxley family, he graduated from Oxford, with an undergraduate degree in English literature. Early in his career, he published short stories and poetry and edited the literary magazine Oxford Poetry, before going on to publish travel writing, satire, and screenplays. Huxley spent the latter part of his life in the United States, living in Los Angeles from 1937 until his death. By the end of his life, Huxley was widely acknowledged as one of the foremost intellectuals of his time. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature nine times and was elected Companion of Literature by the Royal Society of Literature in 1962. Also includes several ultra-rare previously unheard conversations with the esteemed intellectual.

Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

The Count of Monte Cristo (French: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel by French author Alexandre Dumas ( père) completed in 1844. It is one of the author's more popular works, along with The Three Musketeers. Like many of his novels, it was expanded from plot outlines suggested by his collaborating ghostwriter Auguste Maquet. Another important work by Dumas, written before his work with Maquet, was the short novel Georges; this novel is of particular interest to scholars because Dumas reused many of the ideas and plot devices later in The Count of Monte Cristo. The story takes place in France, Italy, and islands in the Mediterranean during the historical events of 1815–1839: the era of the Bourbon Restoration through the reign of Louis-Philippe of France. It begins just before the Hundred Days period (when Napoleon returned to power after his exile). The historical setting is a fundamental element of the book, an adventure story primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness. It centres on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune, and sets about exacting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. His plans have devastating consequences for both the innocent and the guilty. The book is considered a literary classic today. According to Luc Sante, " The Count of Monte Cristo has become a fixture of Western civilization's literature, as inescapable and immediately identifiable as Mickey Mouse, Noah's flood, and the story of Little Red Riding Hood."

2007 Audie Award Finalist for Solo Narration—Male *Winner of the Pulitzer Prize* “A beautiful tale, awash in the seasalt and sweat, bait and beer of the Havana coast. It tells a fundamental human truth: in a volatile world, from our first breath to our last wish, through triumphs and pitfalls both trivial and profound, what sustains us, ultimately, is hope.” —The Guardian The last of his novels Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the most enduring works of American fiction. The story of a down-on-his-luck Cuban fisherman and his supreme ordeal—a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream—has been cherished by generations of readers. Hemingway takes the timeless themes of courage in the face of adversity and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic. First published in 1952, this hugely popular tale confirmed his power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature.

The Old Man and the Sea

Set in Southwest England in the late 1800s, Sense and Sensibility follows the lives of the Dashwood sisters Elinor and Marianne. When inheritance money from their father does not fall their way, the sisters and their mother must move in with distant relatives. Settling in at Barton Park, the Dashwood sisters discover a new life, filled with new acquaintances and different suitors. From these new encounters, their lives are forever changed through a series of love, romance, and heartbreaks. Ultimately the sisters must choose between sense and sensibility while uncovering secrets about their potential suitors and the wealth-inspired motives the society holds.

Sense and Sensibility

The inspiration for A Haunting in Venice – soon to be a major motion picture. A teenage murder witness is drowned in a tub of apples… At a Hallowe’en party, Joyce – a hostile thirteen-year-old – boasts that she once witnessed a murder. When no-one believes her, she storms off home. But within hours her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple-bobbing tub. That night, Hercule Poirot is called in to find the ‘evil presence’. But first he must establish whether he is looking for a murderer or a double-murderer… Read by Hugh Fraser who played Captain Hastings in the popular TV series.

Hallowe’en Party

An alien invasion ignites chaos in Victorian England. As Martians descend, one man's desperate quest to reunite with his wife unfolds amidst a battle for Earth. This timeless classic redefines fear and humanity in a thrilling way.

War of the Worlds

Experience the timeless charm of Jane Marple through twelve fresh, captivating stories by bestselling authors. This collection breathes new life into Agatha Christie's beloved detective, inviting a new generation into her world of mystery.

Marple: Twelve New Stories

'Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad!' Lockwood is an unwanted guest, forced by a snowstorm to pass the night at the lonely and inhospitable house of Wuthering Heights. A child's ghost pleads at the window to be let in; a waif who has wandered the moor for 20 years. Lockwood's screams bring the fierce and brooding master of the house, Heathcliff, who is at first angry, and then, startlingly, sobs and begs for the ghost to return. This is the unforgettable opening to a passionate love story, a haunting Gothic tale, a stark depiction of rural isolation and cruelty.

A classic Agatha Christie short story, available individually for the first time as an ebook. Throwing on an almost convincing French accent, Tommy is determined to be the great Hanaud to his and Tuppence’s latest, rather lovely client. Miss Hargreaves has recently received a box of chocolates from nobody knows who, and due to her dislike of them was the only one to not fall foul of the arsenic spiked treats. But, Miss Hargreaves is not the first recipient of such a gift; three other large country houses have received arsenic laced chocolates. But Miss Hargreaves is holding something back, and it will take Tommy and Tuppence to take up residence at the old house to discover the true culprit, but will they find out the truth in time?

The House of Lurking Death

Buddenbrooks is a 1901 novel by Thomas Mann, chronicling the decline of a wealthy north German merchant family over the course of four generations, incidentally portraying the manner of life and mores of the Hanseatic bourgeoisie in the years from 1835 to 1877. Mann drew deeply from the history of his own family, the Mann family of Lübeck, and their milieu. It was Mann's first novel, published when he was twenty-six years old. With the publication of the second edition in 1903, Buddenbrooks became a major literary success. Its English translation by Helen Tracy Lowe-Porter was published in 1924. The work led to a Nobel Prize in Literature for Mann in 1929; although the Nobel award generally recognises an author's body of work, the Swedish Academy's citation for Mann identified "his great novel Buddenbrooks" as the principal reason for his prize. Mann began writing the book in October 1897, when he was twenty-two years old. The novel was completed three years later, in July 1900, and published in 1901. His objective was to write a novel on the conflicts between businessman and artist's worlds, presented as a family saga, continuing in the realist tradition of such 19th-century works as Stendhal's Le Rouge et le Noir (1830; The Red and the Black). Buddenbrooks is his most enduringly popular novel, especially in Germany, where it has been cherished for its intimate portrait of 19th-century German bourgeois life. Before Buddenbrooks Mann had written only short stories, which had been collected under the title Der kleine Herr Friedemann (1898, Little Herr Friedemann). They portrayed spiritually challenged figures who struggle to find happiness in (or at the margins of) bourgeois society. Similar themes appear in the Buddenbrooks, but in a fully developed style that already reflects the mastery of narrative, subtle irony of tone, and rich character descriptions of Mann's mature fiction. The exploration of decadence in the novel reflects the influence of Schopenhauer's The World as Will and Representation (1818, 1844) on the young Mann. The Buddenbrooks of successive generations experience a gradual decline of their finances and family ideals, finding happiness increasingly elusive as values change and old hierarchies are challenged by Germany's rapid industrialisation. The characters who subordinate their personal happiness to the welfare of the family firm encounter reverses, as do those who do not. The city where the Buddenbrooks live shares so many street names and other details with Mann's native town of Lübeck that the identification is unmistakable, although the novel makes no mention of the name. The young author was condemned for writing a scandalous, defamatory roman à clef about (supposedly) recognisable personages. Mann defended the right of a writer to use material from his own experience. The years covered in the novel were marked by major political and military developments that reshaped Germany, such as the Revolutions of 1848, the Austro-Prussian War, and the establishment of the German Empire. Historic events nevertheless generally remain in the background, having no direct bearing on the lives of the characters.

Buddenbrooks

Told in the form of a series of letters ‘Frankenstein’ follows a young and charismatic Victor Frankenstein as he attempts to make his mark on the world of science. Taking a number of body parts from various corpses, he brings a monstrous creation to life which instead of being his crowning glory, terrifies him. The nameless monster escapes from his lab, taking many innocent lives before Frankenstein can track it down again. Shelley took inspiration from her trips through Germany and the legends of Castle Frankenstein, where an allusive alchemist engaged in dark experiments two centuries before. It is a thrilling novel that has inspired a whole genre of horror, as well as countless films adaptations, most recently ‘Victor Frankenstein’ starring James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe. Mary Shelley (1797-1851) was an English author of science fiction, historical fiction and travel writing who is best known for her classic novel ‘Frankenstein’ (1818). Shelley conceived of the idea for the novel at the age of eighteen when she was on holiday in Switzerland with Lord Byron and John William Polidori. Following the death of her husband and two children she returned to England with her only surviving son, to dedicate herself to his upbringing and writing professionally. She wrote numerous works in this time such as the apocalyptic novel ‘The Last Man’ (1826) and the historical fiction tale ‘Valperga’ (1823).

Svenska Ljud Classica

Frankenstein

Presented for the first time on audio, the epic tale of Beren and Lúthien will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves, Men and Orcs and the rich landscape unique to Tolkien’s Middle-earth in this unabridged recording read by critically acclaimed father and son, Timothy and Samuel West. Beren was a mortal man, but Lúthien was an immortal Elf. Her father, a great Elvish lord, was deeply opposed to Beren, and imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed Lúthien. Undaunted by Lord Thingol’s challenge, Beren and Lúthien embark on the supremely heroic attempt to rob Morgoth, the greatest of all evil beings, of a Silmaril, one of the hallowed jewels that adorn the Black Enemy’s crown. The tale of Beren and Lúthien, which was written shortly after J.R.R. Tolkien returned from the Battle of the Somme in 1916, was an essential element in the evolution of The Silmarillion. In this book Christopher Tolkien has extracted the various versions of Beren and Lúthien from the comprehensive work in which they are embedded. To show something of the process whereby this Great Tale of Middle-earth evolved over the years, he tells the story in his father's own words by giving, first, its original form, and then passages in prose and verse from later texts that illustrate the narrative as it changed. Presented together for the first time, they reveal aspects of the story, both in event and in narrative immediacy, that were afterwards lost.

Beren and Lúthien

A landmark feminist essay that explores the vital space women need to create, this classic delves into the struggles of female writers amidst a patriarchal literary world. Discover Woolf's powerful voice and vision.

A Room of One's Own

"The Call of Cthulhu" is one of H. P. Lovecraft's best-known short stories. Written in the summer of 1926, it was first published in Weird Tales, February 1928. It is the only story written by Lovecraft in which the extraterrestrial entity Cthulhu himself makes a major appearance. It is written in a documentary style, with three independent narratives linked together by the device of a narrator discovering notes left by a deceased relative. The narrator pieces together the whole truth and disturbing significance of the information he possesses, illustrating the story's first line: "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity; and it was not meant that we should voyage far."

The Call of Cthulhu

This book, newly updated, contains now several HTML tables of contents that will make reading a real pleasure! The first table of contents (at the very beginning of the ebook) lists the titles of all novels included in this volume. By clicking on one of those titles you will be redirected to the beginning of that work, where you'll find a new TOC that lists all the chapters and sub-chapters of that specific work. 1. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) 2. The Divine Comedy (Dante Alighieri) 3. Meditations (Marcus Aurelius) 4. Emma (Jane Austen) 5. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) 6. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum) 7. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) 8. Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) 9. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) 10. Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes) 11. The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Agatha Christie) 12. The Richest Man in Babylon (George S. Clason) 13. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) 14. Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad) 15. A Tale Of Two Cities (Charles Dickens) 16. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky) 17. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas) 18. Middlemarch (George Eliot) 19. The Innocence of Father Brown (G. K. Chesterton) 20. The Border Legion (Zane Grey) 21. The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) 22. Think And Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill) 23. The Odyssey (Homer) 24. The Iliad (Homer) 25. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (Victor Hugo) 26. Les Misérables (Victor Hugo) 27. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett) 28. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Washington Irving) 29. The Turn of the Screw (Henry James) 30. The Metamorphosis (Franz Kafka) 31. The Jungle Book (Rudyard Kipling) 32. The Call Of The Wild (Jack London) 33. Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) 34. War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy) 35. At the Mountains of Madness (H.P Lovecraft) 36. The Call of Cthulhu (H.P Lovecraft) 37. Anne of Green Gables (Lucy Maud Montgomery) 38. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind (Joseph Murphy) 39. Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson) 40. The Fall Of The House Of Usher (Edgar Allan Poe) 41. Swann's Way (Marcel Proust) 42. The Federalist Papers (Publius) 43. Frankenstein (Mary Shelley) 44. Dracula (Bram Stoker) 45. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Mark twain) 46. The Art of War (Sun Tzu) 47. Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu) 48. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (Lew Wallace) 49.The Science of Getting Rich (Wallace D. Wattles) 50. The War of the Worlds (H. G. Wells)

50 Masterpieces you have to read before you die vol: 1 (2020 Edition)

An undisputed masterpiece of twentieth-century literature, perfect for Fitzgerald lovers and classics collectors alike. Set against a backdrop of jazz music, bootlegging, and lavish parties, The Great Gatsby is the story of Midwesterner Nick Carraway’s curious introduction to the decadent world of his mysterious, wealthy neighbor Jay Gatsby, whose thirst for riches is matched only by his tragic obsession with the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. Penned in the “roaring twenties,” the novel continues to be the subject of numerous film and stage adaptations and has become a fixture in the American classroom. This dangerously propulsive tale of glitz and glamour continues to be relevant as readers long for escapist novels—a chance to flee into Gatsby’s famed mansion and lose oneself in the rush of opulence. The Great Gatsby audiobook is brought to life by Tim Robbins, famed American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, and musician.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cosmos and renowned astronomer Carl Sagan’s international bestseller about the discovery of an advanced civilization in the depths of space remains the “greatest adventure of all time” (Associated Press). The future is here…in an adventure of cosmic dimension. When a signal is discovered that seems to come from far beyond our solar system, a multinational team of scientists decides to find the source. What follows is an eye-opening journey out to the stars to the most awesome encounter in human history. Who—or what—is out there? Why are they watching us? And what do they want with us? One of the best science fiction novels about communication with extraterrestrial intelligent beings, Contact is a “stunning and satisfying” (Los Angeles Times) classic.

Contact

Winter is here, and with it comes a chilling murder. When a journalist is killed before revealing vital information, DCI James Walker must race against time to uncover the truth. This unputdownable psychological thriller will keep you guessing.

DI James Walker series

Cold Blooded Killer

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