Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

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  Richard Bruce - Burglar - Former...

  Edgar Wallace

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  Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was born on the 1st April 1875 in Greenwich, London.  Leaving school at 12 because of truancy, by the age of fifteen he had experience; selling newspapers, as a worker in a rubber factory, as a shoe shop assistant, as a milk delivery boy and as a ship’s cook.  
   
  By 1894 he was engaged but broke it off to join the Infantry being posted to South Africa. He also changed his name to Edgar Wallace which he took from Lew Wallace, the author of Ben-Hur.  
   
  In Cape Town in 1898 he met Rudyard Kipling and was inspired to begin writing. His first collection of ballads, The Mission that Failed! was enough of a success that in 1899 he paid his way out of the armed forces in order to turn to writing full time.  
   
  By 1904 he had completed his first thriller, The Four Just Men. Since nobody would publish it he resorted to setting up his own publishing company which he called Tallis Press. 
    
  In 1911 his Congolese stories were published in a collection called Sanders of the River, which became a bestseller. He also started his own racing papers, Bibury’s and R. E. Walton’s Weekly, eventually buying his own racehorses and losing thousands gambling.  A life of exceptionally high income was also mirrored with exceptionally large spending and debts.  
   
  Wallace now began to take his career as a fiction writer more seriously, signing with Hodder and Stoughton in 1921. He was marketed as the ‘King of Thrillers’ and they gave him the trademark image of a trilby, a cigarette holder and a yellow Rolls Royce. He was truly prolific, capable not only of producing a 70,000 word novel in three days but of doing three novels in a row in such a manner. It was estimated that by 1928 one in four books being read was written by Wallace, for alongside his famous thrillers he wrote variously in other genres, including science fiction, non-fiction accounts of WWI which amounted to ten volumes and screen plays. Eventually he would reach the remarkable total of 170 novels, 18 stage plays and 957 short stories. 
   
  Wallace became chairman of the Press Club which to this day holds an annual Edgar Wallace Award, rewarding ‘excellence in writing’.  
   
  Diagnosed with diabetes his health deteriorated and he soon entered a coma and died of his condition and double pneumonia on the 7th of February 1932 in North Maple Drive, Beverly Hills. He was buried near his home in England at Chalklands, Bourne End, in Buckinghamshire.

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  The Gold-Bug and Other Tales

  Edgar Allan Poe

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  Step into the haunting world of Edgar Allan Poe with The Gold-Bug and Other Tales, brought to life in the rich narration of Kevin Waites. From the thrilling treasure hunt of “The Gold-Bug” to chilling masterpieces like “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Fall of the House of Usher,” this collection showcases Poe’s genius for mystery, suspense, and psychological horror. Waites’ evocative performance captures the tension, darkness, and drama of each tale, immersing listeners in cryptic codes, Gothic settings, and unforgettable characters. Perfect for lovers of classic literature and atmospheric storytelling, this audiobook offers both adventure and terror in the voice of one of America’s greatest literary masters.

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  Aloysha the Pot - From their...

  Leo Tolstoy

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  Leo Tolstoy was born in 1828 in the Russian province of Tula to a wealthy noble family. As a child, he had private tutors but he showed little interest in any formal education. When he went to the University of Kazan in 1843 to study oriental languages and law, he left without completing his courses.  Life now was relaxed and idle but with some writing also taking place.  Gambling debts forced an abrupt change of path and he joined the army to fight in the Crimean War.  He was commended for his bravery and promoted but was appalled at the brutality and loss of life.  He recorded these and other earlier experiences in his diaries which formed the basis of several of his works. 
  In 1852 ‘Childhood’ was published to immediate success and was followed by ‘Boyhood’ and ‘Youth’. 
  His experience in the army and the horrors he witnessed resulted in ‘The Cossacks’ in 1862 and the trilogy ‘Sevastopol Tales’. After the war he travelled around Europe, visiting London and Paris and meeting such luminaries as Victor Hugo and Charles Darwin.  
  It was now that Tolstoy began his masterpiece, ‘War and Peace’. Published in 1869 it was an epic work that changed literature. He quickly followed this with ‘Anna Karenina’.  
  These successes made Tolstoy rich and helped him accomplish many of his dreams but also brought problems as he grappled with his faith and the lot of the oppressed poor. These revolutionary views became so popular that the authorities now kept him under surveillance.  
  He led a life of asceticism and vegetarianism and put his socialist ideals into practice by establishing numerous schools for the poor and food programmes. He also believed in giving away his wealth, which caused much discord with his wife.  
  His writing continued to bring forth classics such as ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’ and many brilliant and incisive short stories such as ‘How Much Land Does A Man Need’.  
  In 1901 Tolstoy was excommunicated from the Church and controversially deselected for the Nobel Prize for Literature. 
  Whilst undertaking a pilgrimage by train in October 1910 with his daughter Aleksandra he caught pneumonia in the nearby town of Astapovo.  Leo Tolstoy died on November 9th, 1910, he was 82.

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  Greats Abridged The: Wuthering...

  Emily Brontë

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  Step into the stormy moors of Yorkshire in this abridged retelling of one of literature’s most haunting love stories. The Greats Abridged: Wuthering Heights captures the dark romance and brooding passion of Emily Brontë’s original classic—condensed for modern listeners who crave the emotional intensity of the tale without sacrificing its poetic depth. 
  Follow the tormented saga of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, whose love defies social convention and even death itself. From windswept estates to spectral visits and bitter vengeance, this expertly narrated edition brings new life to a timeless tragedy. Perfect for those who want to experience the essence of Brontë’s masterpiece in a more accessible format. 
  Whether you’re a first-time listener or revisiting a favorite, this abridged edition delivers all the Gothic drama and psychological nuance that made Wuthering Heights a literary legend.

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  Fruitfulness

  Émile Zola

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  "Fruitfulness" delves into the contrasting themes of desire and duty, the pursuit of social status versus personal fulfillment, and the role of women in a society that seeks to confine them to traditional roles. Zola's masterful storytelling illuminates the complex layers of human nature, exposing the inherent contradictions and desires that drive individuals to make choices that shape their lives and those around them. With richly drawn characters and vivid descriptions of the French countryside, "Fruitfulness" is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that explores the timeless themes of love, ambition, and the struggle for self-discovery in a society defined by its rigid social hierarchy. It is a compelling tale that reminds us of the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of our choices in the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.

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  3 Men in a Boat

  Jerome K.

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  "Three Men in a Boat" follows the humorous misadventures of three friends - Jerome, George, and Harris - and their trusty dog, Montmorency, as they embark on a boating holiday on the River Thames. The story, a combination of travelogue and comic fiction, takes readers on a delightful journey filled with absurd incidents and hilarious anecdotes. Jerome K. Jerome's witty observations and satirical commentary on Victorian society, coupled with the camaraderie of the three friends, have made this timeless classic a beloved and enduring piece of humorous literature. 
   
  Jerome K. Jerome was a prolific British writer, humorist, and playwright, best known for his comic masterpiece "Three Men in a Boat," published in 1889. His witty and satirical style, coupled with a keen observation of human foibles, made him a popular literary figure of the Victorian era.

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