Other books that might interest you

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  The Girl Who Drove the Cows

  Lucy Maud Montgomery

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  Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942), published as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning in 1908 with Anne of Green Gables. The book was an immediate success. The title character, orphan Anne Shirley, made Montgomery famous in her lifetime and gave her an international following.
  The Girl Who Drove the Cows: "I wonder who that pleasant-looking girl who drives cows down the beech lane every morning and evening is," said Pauline Palmer, at the tea table of the country farmhouse where she and her aunt were spending the summer.

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  Greats Abridged The: Oliver Twist

  Charles Dickens

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  Step into the grim yet hopeful world of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens' timeless tale of hardship, perseverance, and the quest for belonging—now thoughtfully abridged for modern listeners. Follow young Oliver, an orphan born into poverty and misfortune, as he escapes the harsh workhouse system only to be swept into the dark underworld of London crime led by the cunning Fagin and his band of pickpockets. Along the way, Oliver’s journey brings him face to face with both the cruelest and kindest sides of Victorian society.  
  This abridged version retains all the heart, tension, and social commentary of the original while offering a streamlined narrative ideal for students, families, and first-time Dickens readers. Narrated with warmth and clarity by Mary Ellin Kurtz, The Greats Abridged: Oliver Twist brings new life to a classic for all ages.

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  Candide - The Classic Tale

  Voltaire

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  Candide is characterized by its tone as well as by its erratic, fantastical, and fast-moving plot. A picaresque novel with a story similar to that of a more serious coming-of-age narrative, it parodies many adventure and romance clichés, the struggles of which are caricatured in a tone that is bitter and matter-of-fact. Still, the events discussed are often based on historical happenings, such as the Seven Years' War and the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. As philosophers of Voltaire's day contended with the problem of evil, so does Candide in this short theological novel, albeit more directly and humorously. Voltaire ridicules religion, theologians, governments, armies, philosophies, and philosophers. Through Candide, he assaults Leibniz and his optimism. 
   
  Candide has enjoyed both great success and great scandal. Immediately after its secretive publication, the book was widely banned to the public because it contained religious blasphemy, political sedition, and intellectual hostility hidden under a thin veil of naïveté. However, with its sharp wit and insightful portrayal of the human condition, the novel has since inspired many later authors and artists to mimic and adapt it. Today, Candide is considered as Voltaire's magnum opus and is often listed as part of the Western canon. It is among the most frequently taught works of French literature. The British poet and literary critic Martin Seymour-Smith listed Candide as one of the 100 most influential books ever written.

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  The Island of Doctor Moreau

  H. G. Wells

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  "The Island of Doctor Moreau" is a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, first published in 1896. The story revolves around Edward Prendick, a shipwreck survivor who finds himself on a remote island controlled by the mysterious Doctor Moreau. Moreau, a disgraced vivisectionist, is conducting horrifying experiments, transforming animals into human-like creatures. As Prendick explores the island, he grapples with themes of identity, morality, and the ethical limits of scientific exploration.

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  The Big Four

  Agatha Christie

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  Originally published as a series of short stories in Sketch magazine, this tale of international intrigue and espionage begins when a visitor stumbles into detective Hercule Poirot's bedroom. In the final moments before his death, he tells Poirot of the crime cartel known only as the Big Four. What follows is Hercule Poirot's biggest case yet, taking him and his sidekick Arthur Hastings on the trail of the Big Four before their plans to take control of the world unfold. Note: The Big Four contains characterization and thematic elements representative of prejudiced beliefs, particularly Sinophobia and Orientalism. While these views were never legitimate nor equitable, they were unfortunately commonplace at the time of writing and publication. Rather than glossing over this painful dimension of literary history, this audiobook edition references the text as it was originally published so that it may be included when taking into consideration the overall impact of Agatha Christie's body of work. The beliefs and views present in this book do not reflect that of the publisher's.

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  The Remarkable Rocket

  Oscar Wilde

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  At a royal wedding celebration, a group of fireworks discuss life, philosophy and politics. One supercilious rocket considers himself to be particularly "remarkable". A witty fable on the subject of vanity, The Remarkable Rocket was first published in The Happy Prince and Other Tales in 1888.

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