Junte-se a nós em uma viagem ao mundo dos livros!
Adicionar este livro à prateleira
Grey
Deixe um novo comentário Default profile 50px
Grey
Assine para ler o livro completo ou leia as primeiras páginas de graça!
All characters reduced
Penguin Island - cover
LER

Penguin Island

Anatole France

Editora: BookRix

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Sinopse

Penguin Island is a satirical fictional history by Nobel Prize winning French author Anatole France. It is concerned with grandnarratives, mythologizing heroes, hagiography and romantic nationalism. It is about a fictitious island, inhabited by great auks, that existed off the northern coast of Europe. The history begins when a wayward Christian missionary monk lands on the island and perceives the upright, unafraid auks as a sort of pre-Christian society of noble pagans. Mostly blind and somewhat deaf, having mistaken the animals for humans, he baptizes them. This causes a problem for The Lord, who normally only allows humans to be baptized. After consulting with saints and theologians in Heaven, He resolves the dilemma by converting the baptized birds to humans with only a few physical traces of their ornithological origin, and giving them each a soul.  

Thus begins the history of Penguinia, and from there forward the history mirrors that of France (and more generally of Western Europe, including German-speaking areas and the British Isles). The narrative spans from the Migration Period ("Dark Ages"), when the Germanic tribes fought incessantly among themselves for territory; to the heroic Early Middle Ages with the rise of Charlemagne ("Draco the Great") and conflicts with Viking raiders ("porpoises"); through the Renaissance (Erasmus); and up to the modern era with motor cars; and even into a future time in which a thriving high-tech civilization is destroyed by a campaign of terrorist bombings, and everything begins again in an endless cycle.

The longest-running plot thread, and probably the best known, satirizes the Dreyfus affair — though both brief and complex satires of European history, politics, philosophy and theology are present throughout the novel. At various points, real historical figures such as Columba and Saint Augustine are part of the story, as well as fictionalized characters who represent historical people. Penguin Island is considered a critique of human nature from a socialist standpoint, in which morals, customs and laws are lampooned. For example, the origin of the aristocracy is presented as starting with the brutal and shameless murder of a farmer, and the seizure of his land, by a physically larger and stronger neighbor.
Disponível desde: 19/12/2023.
Comprimento de impressão: 326 páginas.

Outros livros que poderiam interessá-lo

  • Anthony - The Shackleford Sisters Book 9 - cover

    Anthony - The Shackleford...

    Beverley Watts

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Get ready for more laughter and sparkling romance in this, the final instalment of the Shackleford Sisters… 
    Anthony Shackleford had long been acquainted with the word duty. Indeed, since the moment he could walk, it had been drummed into him every Friday between the hours of two and four in the afternoon, accompanied by tea and apple cake. His mother had always been especially partial to apple cake. 
     
    The essence of his obligation was this. The Duke of Blackmore could not be expected to keep his in-laws into their twilight years. Despite the fact that his sisters had all made extremely advantageous marriages, as the only son, it was his job to ensure his parents a comfortable dotage. So, for the most part, his duty had always appeared very simple. Marry an heiress, preferably with a title. But while Anthony was handsome enough to capture the eye of even the pickiest of debutantes, the fact that the Duke had seen fit to gift him with a manor house and twelve acres would certainly help in winning over any unduly ambitious mothers. 
     
    Though grateful for his brother in law’s generosity, Anthony was nevertheless determined not to hang onto his benefactor’s coat tails and stubbornly declared he would undertake the repairs to Bovey Manor himself. Unfortunately, that meant he would have to temporarily set aside his duty since the renovations were likely to take some time… 
     
    Georgiana didn’t know her last name. In fact it was only by accident that she discovered her first one. Raised in the slums of Exeter, she’d been George to everyone for as long as she could remember and no one but her foster family had any idea she was a girl. She knew nothing of where she came from, only that Henry and Martha Atkins were being paid to keep her alive. Indeed, she’d always been a pain in her foster father’s slovenly arse - until she began to blossom into womanhood. As he suddenly started looking for ways to be alone with her, Georgiana realised she had to escape. 
     
    But Henry Atkins was not about to simply let her go. In truth, he dared not, since she was the key to plans years in the making… 
     
    When Anthony crossed paths with a raggedy arsed lad named George, employing him out of pity to help with the renovations to Bovey Manor, he had no inkling that his life was about to change forever, and duty would be the very last thing on his mind… 
     
    Perfect for fans of Regency Romances with wit and humour and a little bit of steam...
    Ver livro
  • Et Tu Babe? - cover

    Et Tu Babe?

    Mark Leyner

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    An outrageous "novel" by the author of I Smell Esther Williams.In this fiendishly original novel, Mark Leyner is a leather-blazer-wearing, Piranha 793-driving, narcotic-guzzling monster who has potential rivals eliminated by his bionically enhanced bodyguards, has his internal organs tattooed, and eavesdrops on the erotic fantasies of Victoria's Secret models–fantasies that naturally revolve around him. Leyner's jet-propelled roller derby through the cultures of celebrity, cyberpunk, and rabid egotism is exhilaratingly bizarre, exhaustingly funny—and you'd better hope it's just fiction.
    Ver livro
  • How to make your dreams come true? Stupid address - cover

    How to make your dreams come...

    BARAKATH

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Enjoy the laughter in you.
    Ver livro
  • The Blooming of Bud - cover

    The Blooming of Bud

    Robin Knight

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    BUD 
     
     
     
    I'm ready to open my flower shop Bud's Blooms and turn over a whole new petal. But when a new arrival in Mulligan's Mill—fancy French pastry chef Pascal Dupont—decides to open a new patisserie right next door, I find myself more than just a little distracted by the grumpy, gorgeous Parisian chef. 
     
     
     
    Maybe, with a little help from my friends, I'll get all the love advice I need to become the smooth, suave, sophisticated gentleman that Pascal might notice. 
     
     
     
    PASCAL 
     
     
     
    Sacre bleu! How the hell did I find myself in a place like Mulligan's Mill, a white-picket, tiny-minded, tin-can town that couldn't be further than my glittering, glamorous Paris if it tried? But there's a secret hiding somewhere in this small American town that will save my reputation and send my culinary career soaring. 
     
     
     
    What I wasn't expecting was the distraction of my hot, hunky, American neighbor. But I've been working so hard on my career, even I didn't know how much a man like Bud would make my heart bloom. 
     
     
     
    Now the question is, can I solve my mystery, save my career, and win the heart of my American-pie sweetheart without setting the temperature too high and burning my chances of finally finding true love?
    Ver livro
  • 3666 Interesting Fun And Crazy Facts You Won't Believe Are True - The Knowledge Encyclopedia To Win Trivia - cover

    3666 Interesting Fun And Crazy...

    Scott Matthews

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Research conducted by NASA in 1995 concluded that the perfect nap lasts for 26 minutes. Did you know Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts? Did you know that if you're looking for a job, the application and resume are not nearly as important as a reference? In fact ...... knowing someone who works at the company increases your chances of getting an interview and makes you 40% more likely to get the job over someone with a fancier resume. 
    If you learned anything in the last few lines you're going to learn a bunch more in the next 3666 facts. This book is a 3 in 1 compilation of our previous best selling fact series. It's full of interesting information that you can whip out in any conversation. You'll never be lost for words and always have the perfect ice breaker. 
    ★You're going to learn more about the world you live in & some of the topics include:★ScienceEconomicsHuman AnatomyAnimal SpeciesSpaceAnd many, many more! 
    What are you waiting for? Knowledge is power! Come on in and we’ll delve into the interesting and fascinating facts about the world around us. Scroll up and click the ‘add to cart’ button now!
    Ver livro
  • GOD IS NOT FAIR - Coming To Terms With Life's Raw Deals - cover

    GOD IS NOT FAIR - Coming To...

    Joel A. Freeman

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    SO WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? 
    Sometimes life isn't fair, but we expect it to be. Why else would we be so angry and hurt when it isn't? 
    Written by Joel Freeman and read by Herman Veal, in a listener-friendly and thought-provoking style, Joel Freeman encourages readers to seek a greater understanding of their feelings of loss and grief through personal reflection. He also prompts discussion about their expectations of themselves, God and others. 
    This book is not filled with glib answers, which serve to drive honest strugglers into deeper disillusionment. Drawing on his years of experience in counseling people through their grief and suffering, Dr. Freeman provides a framework upon which can be found true, lasting peace and security. 
    Endorsed by Joni Eareckson Tada, Billy Graham, Paul Meier and others, "God Is Not Fair" presents helpful insights, poignant stories and touches of humor in revealing a biblical perspective on these questions. You are about to embark upon a remarkable journey. 
    ENDORSEMENTS: 
    When I became paralyzed in a diving accident, I felt that God owed me explanations. My questions were not unlike those of most people who suffer. With wit and disarming style, Joel Freeman helps us find at least some of those answers. 
        -- Joni Eareckson Tada, Author and Speaker 
    I was going through treatment for cancer and if one more person gave me some syrupy sweet, overly illustrated, "overly Job," candy coated, "shut-up-and-put-up-God-can-do-what-He-wants-so-you-have-no-right-to-feel-anger-or-grief-or-confusion" books I was going to go insane. Then I stumbled upon this book and it blew me away. It packs a powerful message that helps answer questions, but also helps you learn to deal with life’s problems. 
        -- Emma, a reader
    Ver livro