Other books that might interest you

• 

  Lady Windermere's Fan

  Oscar Wilde

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Lady Windermere's Fan, A Play About a Good Woman is a four-act comedy by Oscar Wilde, first produced 22 February 1892 at the St James's Theatre in London. The play was first published in 1893. Like many of Wilde's comedies, it bitingly satirizes the morals of Victorian society, particularly marriage.The story concerns Lady Windermere, who discovers that her husband may be having an affair with another woman. She confronts her husband but he instead invites the other woman, Mrs Erlynne, to his wife's birthday ball. Angered by her husband's unfaithfulness, Lady Windermere leaves her husband for another lover. Or does she? Is it really possible to trust delicious gossip? Are all men really bad? These and many other questions are raised and if not answered, then held up for public scrutiny in this biting satire of morals and proper behavior. The best known line of the play sums up the central theme:We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. —Lord Darlington (from Wikipedia and the reader)

  Show book

• 

  Oliver Twist - Full Cast Drama

  Charles Dickens

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "Oliver Twist," one of Charles Dickens' most enduring works, unfolds a compelling narrative of an orphaned boy's struggle against the stark injustices of 19th-century London. The story begins with the birth of Oliver in a workhouse, where his mother, who has died during childbirth, is just one of many tragic figures in the heartless world of poverty and exploitation. As a young boy, Oliver faces a harsh existence in the workhouse and eventually escapes to the bustling and treacherous streets of London. 
   
  In the city, Oliver becomes entangled with a gang of juvenile delinquents led by the malevolent Fagin and his menacing associate, Bill Sikes. Despite his innocence, Oliver is drawn into a world of crime, a stark contrast to his inherently good nature. As the narrative unfolds, readers follow Oliver's journey from the dangerous underworld to the compassionate embrace of Mr. Brownlow, who offers the boy a glimpse of a better life. 
   
  The narrative of "Oliver Twist" is a tale of contrasts, highlighting the stark divisions between the privileged and the impoverished, the forces of good and evil, and the corrupting influences of society. Dickens paints a vivid picture of the injustices and suffering experienced by the poor and orphaned, while also showcasing the potential for redemption and transformation. Through Oliver's journey, the narrative ultimately conveys a message of hope, resilience, and the belief that individuals, even those born into the most dire circumstances, can find their way to a better, more just life. Dickens' storytelling in "Oliver Twist" remains a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle for social justice and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

  Show book

• 

  Far From The Madding Crowd

  Thomas Hardy

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "Far From the Madding Crowd" is a novel written by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1874. The story is set in the rural English countryside and revolves around the life and romantic entanglements of Bathsheba Everdene, a headstrong and independent woman who inherits a farm. The novel explores themes of love, fate, and the complexities of relationships. 
   
  In the early part of the novel, Bathsheba Everdene inherits a farm called Weatherbury from her uncle. She is a beautiful and spirited young woman who attracts the attention of three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a humble and dependable shepherd; William Boldwood, a wealthy and reserved bachelor; and Sergeant Francis Troy, a dashing but reckless soldier. Bathsheba's choices and interactions with these men form the central focus of the story. Her decisions and the consequences of her actions drive the narrative forward and showcase the challenges and choices that women of the time faced in matters of love and marriage. 
   
  As the novel unfolds, Bathsheba's character undergoes significant development, and she grapples with her own emotions and the repercussions of her choices. "Far From the Madding Crowd" delves into the complexities of love and relationships, portraying the rural landscape and its inhabitants in vivid detail. Thomas Hardy's evocative prose and compelling characters make this novel a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers, exploring timeless themes of human nature and the rural life in 19th-century England.

  Show book

• 

  The Secret Sharer

  Joseph Conrad

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  When the new captain takes over command of his first ship for the homeward voyage from the Gulf of Siam, he surprises his crew by taking the first nightwatch himself. While alone on deck he is surprised to find a lone swimmer in the sea who comes on board. The stranger is a murderer escaping justice, but is also eerily an almost exact doppelganger of the captain himself. Not only does he look identical, but the two almost seem to share the same thoughts and secrets.Rather than turn his fugitive-double over to the authorities, the captain hides him in his own cabin. But on such a small ship the situation is untenable. Discovery is inevitable unless he can devise a way to let his alter ego escape before they start the long voyage across the ocean.A gripping and multi-layered story which leaves as many questions open as it answers. Conrad at his best.

  Show book

• 

  The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes are overshadowed by the event with which they close-the meeting of the great detective and Moriarty, the Napoleon of Crime. When "The Final Problem" was first published, the struggle between Holmes and his arch nemesis, seemingly to the death, left many readers desolate at the loss of Holmes, but it also led to his immortality as a literary figure. The stories that precede it included two narratives from Holmes himself-on a mutiny at sea and a treasure hunt in a Sussex country house-as well as a meeting with his brilliant brother Mycroft.Included in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes are "Silver Blaze," "The Yellow Face," "The Stock-Broker's Clerk," "The 'Gloria Scott,'" "The Musgrave Ritual," "The Reigate Puzzle," "The Crooked Man," "The Resident Patient," "The Greek Interpreter," "The Naval Treaty," and "The Final Problem."

  Show book

• 

  Firm of Nucingen

  Honoré de Balzac

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Part of the Comedie Humane and a "supplementary" tale to go with Father Goriot and Gobseck. Nucingen is the married family name of one of Father Goriot's daughters. "James Waring" is a pseudonym of Ellen Marriage (Balzac was considered sometimes too racy by the Victorian Age). (Summary by JCarson)

  Show book