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  Cakes And Ale

  W. Somerset Maugham

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  When social climber Alroy Kear is given a plum commission to write the biography of recently deceased and highly regarded author Edward Driffield by Driffield's second wife, Kear needs background on Driffield's early years. Kear reaches out to an acquaintance, fellow author William Ashenden, who knew Driffield and his first wife Rosie while Driffield was early in his career and still largely unknown. Set in London during interwar years, W. Somerset Maugham skillfully weaves an engaging and sometimes humorous satire of London's literary society. Originally published as a serial, Cakes and Ale drew attention for its unflattering portrayals of London literary society's snobbery, and for the main characters, who were widely held to be based on English novelists Hugh Walpole and Thomas Hardy . (This was initially denied, but later confirmed in part, by Maugham himself.) While Maugham felt this was one of his lesser works, he noted that it was his favorite based on his portrayal of the colorful character Rosie. W. Somerset Maugham (died 1965) was a significant literary figure of the 20th century. Their work has endured across generations and continues to be read and studied worldwide. As a work of classic literary fiction, Cakes And Ale exemplifies the narrative craft and social insight that defined great storytelling of its era. Literary fiction of this period was characterized by careful attention to character psychology, social milieu, and the moral questions that animated public discourse.

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  Bellerophon To Anteia - From...

  Mary Butts

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  Mary Frances Butts was born on 13th December 1890 in Poole, Dorset. 
  Her early years were spent at Salterns, an 18th-century house overlooking Poole Harbour.  Sadly in 1905 her father died, and she was sent for boarding at St Leonard's school for girls in St Andrews. 
  Her mother remarried and, from 1909, Mary studied at Westfield College in London, and here, first became aware of her bisexual feelings.  She was sent down for organising a trip to Epsom races and only completed her degree in 1914 when she graduated from the London School of Economics.  By then Mary had become an admirer of the occultist Aleister Crowley and she was given a co-authorship credit on his ‘Magick (Book 4)’. 
  In 1916, she began the diary which would now detail her future life and be a constant reference point for her observations and her absorbing experiences. 
  During World War I, she was doing social work for the London County Council in Hackney Wick, and involved in a lesbian relationship.  Life changed after meeting the modernist poet, John Rodker and they married in 1918. 
  In 1921 she spent 3 months at Aleister Crowley's Abbey of Thelema in Sicily; she found the practices dreadful and also acquired a drug habit.  Mary now spent time writing in Dorset, including her celebrated book of short stories ‘Speed the Plough’ which saw fully develop her unique Modernist prose style. 
  Europe now beckoned and several years were spent in Paris befriending many artists and writing further extraordinary stories.   
  She was continually sought after by literary magazines and also published several short story collections as books. Although a Modernist writer she worked in other genres but is essentially only known for her short stories.  Mary was deeply committed to nature conservation and wrote several pamphlets attacking the growing pollution of the countryside. 
  In 1927, she divorced and the following year her novel ‘Armed with Madness’ was published.  A further marriage followed in 1930 and time was spent attempting to settle in London and Newcastle before setting up home on the western tip of Cornwall.  By 1934 the marriage had failed. 
  Mary Butts died on 5th March 1937, at the West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance, after an operation for a perforated gastric ulcer. She was 46.

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  A Study in Scarlet - Classic...

  Arthur Conan Doyle

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  Dr. John Watson and Sherlock Holmes meet and set up their lodgings at 221B Baker St. Over the course of several weeks, the good doctor finally persuades his mysterious roommate to reveal what exactly is his occupation. It seems that Sherlock Holmes is a self-proclaimed consulting detective. And as incredible as it sounds, the facts prove it to be true. A Study in Scarlet is the first Sherlock Holmes story/novella. Also included is the Edgar Allan Poe story: "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", generally considered the very first detective story. In this audiobook you get a firsthand glimpse into the very roots of detective fiction.

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  Lot No 249

  Arthur Conan Doyle

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  "...he’s a man whom I, for one, would rather not know."  
  So says Abercrombie Smith's friend to him one night about the man in the room directly below his: Edward Bellingham.  
  But Smith soon finds himself drawn into the acquaintance of the strange, Egypt obsessed man, and his room full of strange antiquities... and especially the pride of Bellinghams collection: A well preserved mummy, known only by the title "Lot No 249"... And soon, Abercrombie Smith comes to understand just how right his friend was to warn him, and just what murderous powers Bellingham has in his thrall...  
  A short story of supernatural horror written by Arthur Conan Doyle, and narrated by Michael Ward.

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  The Call of the Wild

  Jack London

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  Jack London's "The Call of the Wild" is an incredible story about loyalty, betrayal, trust, friendship, and the hardships of life in the far north. And all of this is described from an unprecedented perspective - the entire story is a series of heart-gripping adventures of a sled dog. A memorable tale with a deep, instructive message that provides excellent reading satisfaction for readers of all ages. 
  Buck, a mix of St. Bernard and Scottish Shepherd, is a strong and resilient creature, ideal for pulling dog sleds in the frosty Alaska. However, even HE fights with all his might to survive under the yoke of inexperienced, harsh, and often cruel human hands and the consistently deadly nature. When he is sold to a dog trader in the autumn of 1897, his peaceful life comes to an end, and arduous struggles begin. Fate throws him from place to place, transfers him from owner to owner, showing the dog the entire range of human and animal behaviors in extreme situations. As events unfold, his wild nature also awakens in the canine hero - a desire for unlimited, human-uncontrolled freedom and liberty. The call of blood increasingly calls him to break free from the harness and return to his roots.

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  Her First Ball - A Timeless...

  Katherine Mansfield

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  What if your very first dance could sweep you into a world of dazzling lights, laughter, and unforgettable magic? In "Her First Ball", Katherine Mansfield tells the enchanting story of eighteen-year-old Leila, a wide-eyed country girl visiting the city for the first time. Stepping into her cousin’s grand ball, she is mesmerized by swirling gowns, sparkling chandeliers, and the thrill of being noticed. Every smile, every dance, every glittering detail overwhelms her with joy and wonder - until a cynical older man delivers a sharp reminder that youth and beauty are fleeting. Brimming with charm, elegance, and emotional depth, this timeless short story captures the thrill of first experiences, the bittersweet sweetness of growing up, and the fleeting but unforgettable sparkle of life’s earliest joys. Press play and join Leila on a journey through music, laughter, and wonder - an audiobook experience that will leave your heart dancing long after the final note.

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