Publisher: Project Gutenberg
"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story written by O. Henry (a pen name for William Sydney Porter), about a young married couple and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been a popular one for adaptation, especially for presentation during the Christmas season.
William Le Queux (1864 - 1927) was an Anglo-French journalist and writer, diplomat, traveller, flying buff and wireless pioneer who broadcast music from his own station long before radio was generally available.He was phenomenally successful as a novelist and short story writer, and many of his tales are based on his own exploits, albeit vastly exaggerated. He is widely recongnized as one of the first creators of the spy story genre, in which his diplomatic background, familiarity with European high society and his interest in technology combined to create a rich tapestry for his intrigues.The Secret of the Black Bag is a classic secret service mission in which he travels to Brussels in an urgent race to outwit the French and secure the secret plans to a mysterious new weapon.Show book
This story was inspired by a remark of Mark Twain's to the effect that it was a pity that the best part of life came at the beginning and the worst part at the end. By trying the experiment upon only one man in a perfectly normal world I have scarcely given his idea a fair trial. Several weeks after completing it, I discovered an almost identical plot in Samuel Butler's "Note-books."Show book
A selection of poems by this renowned German poet. - Summary by Peter TuckerShow book
The Top 10 – The French – An Introduction Among the glories of French culture are the abundance of its literary talents. Within its rich historical legacy are authors who take the landscape of life and create very telling stories. This conflict between history and life summons ideas of strength, beauty, brutality, elegance and all manner of feelings and emotions in these miniature gems. 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.Show book
In this anthology, fourteen authors explore dark mysteries in the concrete jungle capital of Kenya, dealing with topics of race, religion, and corruption. Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book comprises all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective city. Brand-new stories by: Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Stanley Gazemba, Ngumi Kibera, Peter Kimani, Winfred Kiunga, Kinyanjui Kombani, Caroline Mose, Kevin Mwachiro, Wanjiku wa Ngugi, Faith Oneya, Makena Onjerika, Troy Onyango, J.E. Sibi-Okumu, and Rasna Warah. Praise for Nairobi Noir “Nairobi Noir takes readers into the enigmas that haunt Kenya’s most populous city through the deft storytelling of a stellar cast of writers, which includes Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Stanley Gazemba, Makena Onjerika, Troy Onyango, and others.” —Brittle Paper, One of 50 Notable African Books of 2020 “Nairobi is a city of 3 million souls, so it makes sense as a setting Akashic Books’ famed noir series. 14 new stories fill a collection with Nairobi old and new; authors range in age from 24 to 81, and many layers of the city and its complex subcultures will be revealed as the reader makes their way through. Perfect for the armchair traveler!” —CrimeReads, included in CrimeReads’ Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2020 “Crime fiction fans have much to savor.” —Publishers WeeklyShow book
My Sunny British DaysThriller, adventure and comedy are brought together in “My Sunny British Days” by Shreyans Ranjalkar. Written by child for children his stories take you on a magic carpet ride of adventure and bring to you; “The Lost Island” where a mysterious ring found by Sam and Jack transports them into a world of mystery, magic and dark sorcery. Challenge by an unknown enemy they attempt to free captives enslaved by a powerful spell. Then just when they think they have returned to the world they love and know, they are again summoned in “The Lost Island and Return of the Dark Devils”. Who calls this time, friend or foe? In “The Evil Lunch Ladies” hundreds of helpless children are rendered unconscious. What appeared to be a ‘normal’ school day had turned into a nightmare. George, Louis and Jack mysteriously escaped, now it’s up to them to save their peers. In “The small BIG Mistake” Mr. Harry was the kindest soul you could know. So kind that he managed to find himself in all types of mistaken situations. Yet one day would tell the rest apart. A sunny, happy day for Mr. Harry turned to panic and pain. Let the sunshine of “My Sunny British Days” warm your heart and bring back your own cherished memories. Step into the magical lands and experience the miraculous. “My Sunny British Days”A collection of Short StoriesShow book
