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  Uncomfortable Bed An - From...

  Guy de Maupassant

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  Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was born on August 5th, 1850 near Dieppe in France.  
  Maupassant’s early life was badly torn when at age 11 (his younger brother Hervé was then five) his mother, Laure, a headstrong and independent-minded woman, risked social disgrace in order to obtain a legal separation from her husband. 
  After the separation, Laure kept custody of her two boys. With the father now forcibly absent, Laure became the most influential and important figure in the young boy's life.   
  Maupassant’s education was such that he rebelled against religion and other societal norms but a developing friendship with Gustave Flaubert began to turn his mind towards creativity and writing. 
  After graduation he volunteered for the Franco-Prussian war. With its end he moved to Paris to work as a clerk in the Navy Department.  Gustave Flaubert now took him under his wing.  Acting as a literary guardian to him, he guided the eager Maupassant to debuts in journalism and literature.  For Maupassant these were exciting times and the awakening of his creative talents and ambitions. 
  In 1880 he published what is considered his first great work, ‘Boule de Suif’, (translated as ‘Dumpling’, ‘Butterball’, ‘Ball of Fat’, or ‘Ball of Lard’) which met with a success that was both instant and overwhelming.  Flaubert at once acknowledged that it was ‘a masterpiece that will endure.’ Maupassant had used his talents and experiences in the war to create something unique.  
  This decade from 1880 to 1891 was to be the most pivotal of his career.  With an audience now made available by the success of ‘Boule de Suif’ Maupassant organised himself to work methodically and relentlessly to produce between two and four volumes of work a year.  The melding of his talents and business sense and the continual hunger of sources for his works made him wealthy. 
  In his later years he developed a desire for solitude, an obsession for self-preservation, and a fear of death as well as a paranoia of persecution caused by the syphilis he had contracted in his youth.  
  On January 2nd, 1892, Maupassant tried to commit suicide by cutting his throat.  Unsuccessful he was committed to the private asylum of Esprit Blanche at Passy, in Paris.  It was here on July 6th, 1893 that Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant died at the age of only 42.

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  Top 10 Short Stories The - The...

  Fyodor Dostevesky, Mark Twain,...

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  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. 
   
  The Century moves on decade by decade. War once again scars Europe, in America wagons roll west.  Social unrest continues even as conditions improve markedly for the few and only a little for the many.  The list of problems and of challenges described by our authors is long and their stories once again full of valuable and telling insights. 
   
  01 - The Top 10 - The 1870's - The Men - An Introduction 
  02 - Bobok by Fyodor Dostevesky 
  03 - A Ghost Story by Mark Twain 
  04 - God Sees The Truth But Waits by Leo Tolstoy 
  05 - Dickon the Devil by Sheridan Le Fanu 
  06 - The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller by Gustave Flaubert 
  07 - A Strange Story by Ivan Turgenev 
  08 - A Lonely Ride by Bret Harte 
  09 - Coward by Vsevolod Garshin 
  10 - The Man Without a Body by Edward Page Mitchell 
  11 - The Vampire by Jan Neruda

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  Anna Karenina - Key Insights

  Leo Tolstoy

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  Step into one of the greatest novels ever written, a sweeping story of passion, duty, and the search for meaning. Anna Karenina follows two powerful journeys: Anna, a woman of extraordinary beauty and charm, who risks everything for a love that defies society, and Levin, a landowner whose restless search for truth and purpose leads him through doubt, work, and ultimately to peace. 
  Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russia, the novel explores the collision between desire and responsibility, illusion and authenticity, despair and fulfillment. From glittering ballrooms to the quiet fields of the countryside, every page reveals timeless questions about love, family, faith, and the choices that define our lives. 
  More than a tale of romance and tragedy, Anna Karenina is a profound meditation on human struggle and resilience. It reminds us that passion without balance can destroy, while steady devotion to truth and purpose can transform even the most ordinary days into a life of meaning.

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  A Christmas Carol [A Softly...

  Charles Dickens

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  Revisit Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with the serenity of this Softly Spoken Story. Miles Palmer's calming narration takes you on a tranquil journey through this classic tale, creating a soothing and nostalgic experience that's perfect for cozy evenings during the holiday season or any quiet moment of reflection. Immerse yourself in the heartwarming story in a whole new way, as Scrooge's story gently unfolds. 
  As you listen, you'll be transported to the enchanting streets of Victorian London, witnessing the transformation of Scrooge, the joy of his warm hearted nephew, and the poignant moments with Bob Cratchit and his family. The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future await you in this new, softly spoken audiobook.

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  Matthew Insists on Puffed...

  L. M. 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.
  Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves: Matthew was having a bad ten minutes of it. He had come into the kitchen, in the twilight of a cold, grey December evening, and had sat down in the wood-box corner to take off his heavy boots, unconscious of the fact that Anne and a bevy of her schoolmates were having a practice of "The Fairy Queen" in the sitting-room.

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  The Land That Time Forgot

  Edgar Rice Burroughs

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  A group of intrepid explorers stumbles upon a hidden, prehistoric land trapped in a time warp. Led by the brave and resourceful scientist, Dr. Hath, they soon find themselves under attack by ferocious creatures and a ruthless tribe of dinosaurs. As the explorers struggle to survive and escape, they learn that the land is governed by an ancient, mysterious force that can reshape time itself. Along the way, they encounter a surprising ally, a young woman named Thora, who holds the key to their escape. This gripping adventure explores the power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit, as the explorers fight to return to their own time and save Thora from the dinosaurs' clutches.

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