Publisher: Qasim Idrees
Today, he is acclaimed as one of the most famous originators of the genre of detective fiction, but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's literary talents were broad, and he dabbled in many styles and themes over the course of his career. Round the Red Lamp is one of Doyle's tales set in the rough and tumble world of the nineteenth-century medical establishment.
Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author? The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature. Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something. These novelists burst with a literary energy that is hard to contain. They cover a myriad of styles and themes, narratives packed full of fully-formed characters in powerful tales that have become an essential and integral part of our literary heritage. 01 - The Top 10 - The Classic Novelists - An Introduction 02 - Transcendental Wild Oats by Louisa May Alcott 03 - The Signalman by Charles Dickens 04 - The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fyodor Dostovesky 05 - Bernice Bobs Her Hair by F Scott Fitzgerald 06 - The Sexton's Hero by Elizabeth Gaskell 07 - The Dead by James Joyce 08 - How Much Land Does A Man Need by Leo Tolstoy 09 - Malachi's Cove by Anthony Trollope 10 - Eve's Diary by Mark Twain 11 - Kew Gardens by Virginia WoolfShow book
The 12 Lays of Marie de France offer one of the most striking collections of short narrative poems of the 12th century - two centuries before Chaucer. Written in Anglo-French, they contain beguiling and entertaining stories of love and romance, of chivalry and adventure with sometimes even a magical twist. They are especially unique in early literature by being ascribed to a female poet, Marie de France: in the very first Lay - 'Guigemar' - is the introductory line: ‘Hear my Lords, what Marie says, who does not wish to be forgotten in her time.' In this modern prose translation by Edward J. Gallagher, professor of French studies, Wheaton College, Norton Massachusets, the vigour and spirit of the Lays is foremost, balanced by gentle poetry and story-telling. Professor Gallagher, in his introduction, explains: ‘If Chrétien de Troyes' five romances and the two Old French versions of the Tristan story constitute the medieval precursors of the modern novel, The Lays can be considered the medieval antecedents of the modern short story. What is undeniable is Marie de France's place in literary history as the most accomplished writer of lays.' Each of the Lays focuses on some extraordinary adventure involving in all cases a problematic love relationship in a chivalric society. The geographic setting is frequently, but not exclusively, Britain or continental Brittany. These are tales of honourable love, adulterous love, old men attempting to guard young wives, betrayal, hope and despair. Often, strict moral codes expected by the Church of the time are flouted as love conquers all. The Lays are read engagingly by Georgina Sutton. A short introduction leading to the Lays, and scholarly notes to conclude by Professor Gallagher are read by David Rintoul.Show book
Roughing It is a book of semi-autobiographical travel literature written by American humorist Mark Twain. He published in 1872 as a prequel to his first book, The Innocents Abroad. Roughing It is the hilarious record of those early years travelling from Nevada to California to Hawaii, as Twain tried his luck at anything and everything--and usually failed. Twain's encounters with tarantulas and donkeys, vigilantes and volcanoes, even Brigham Young, the Mormon leader, come to life with his inimitable mixture of reporting, social satire, and rollicking tall talesShow book
H. P. Lovecraft was one of the greatest horror writers of all time. His seminal work appeared in the pages of legendary Weird Tales and has influenced countless writer of the macabre. This is one of those stories.Show book
A count's only son could learn nothing. Three times the count sent him for a year to famous masters. Each time, the son came back: saying first that he knew what dogs said when they barked; the next time, what birds said; and finally, what frogs said. Infuriated by his uselessness, his father ordered his people to take him to the woods and kill him, but they sympathised with him, and instead brought the count the eyes and tongue of a deer as proof of his death.Show book
Sherlock Holmes brings us a collection of six detective mysteries."The Case of the Missing Mayan Codices""I do not suppose that you have brought your revolver with you, Watson?"I shook my head to indicate that my response was in the negative to his question. He turned his head forward again and led us through the kitchen, past several side pantries. "Whomever it came from, they must have been applying intermittent pressure on the wound as they walked.""Mysterious Murders Surround the Whistling Tavern""I do not suppose that you have brought your revolver with you, Watson?"I shook my head to indicate that my response was in the negative to his question. He turned his head forward again and led us through the kitchen, past several side pantries. As we cautiously inched forward, Holmes observed that the blood trail consisted of droplets of varying size."Perilous Jester""Another body, Holmes!" shouted Watson over the roar of the mob. We were shoved around as a row of policemen attempted to stop the crowd from surging forward."Go home!" yelled the police, swatting at people with their truncheons, though not to harm them."The Uncanny Disappearance of Miss Ellis"Mr. Ellis took a very deep breath, letting it out in a tired sigh."Our daughter is missing. Vanished from her room two nights ago without a sound." He began, wringing his hands as he searched for a place to sit. He found a chair and plopped down in it."The Mystery of the Faceless Bride"The bride carried no decaying roses, but her bridal dress was torn and burnt. Her bare legs, starved needle points, staggered disjointedly. The veil hung low over her face. I had my pistol; however, I could not shoot."The Game of Cat and Mouse"The interior was dark and neither of us searched for a lamp or switch. There came a ticking of some clock or another. And the sound of a dripping faucet somewhere in the house was like a hammer to an anvil.Show book
