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  About Love - From their pens to...

  Anton Chekhov

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  Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on 29th January 1860 in Taganrog, on the south coast of Russia.  
  His family life was difficult; his father was strict and over-bearing but his mother was a passionate story-teller, a subject Chekhov warmed to. As he later said; ‘our talents we got from our father, but our soul from our mother’.  
  At school Chekhov was distinctly average. At 16 his father mis-managed his finances and was declared bankrupt. His family fled to Moscow. Chekhov remained and eked out a living by various means, including writing and selling short sketches to newspapers, to finish his schooling. That completed and with a scholarship to Moscow University obtained he rejoined his family. 
  He was able to help support them by selling satirical sketches and vignettes of Russian lifestyles and gradually obtained further commissions. In 1884, he qualified as a physician and, although it earned him little, he often treated the poor for free, he was fond of saying ‘Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress.’ 
  His own health was now an issue as he began to cough up blood, a symptom of tuberculosis.  Despite this his writing success enabled him to move the family into more comfortable accommodation.  
  Chekhov wrote over 500 short stories which included many, many classics including ‘The Kiss’ and ‘The Lady with a Dog’.  His collection ‘At Dusk’ won him the coveted Pushkin Prize when was only 26.  
  He was also a major playwright beginning with the huge success of ‘Ivanov’ in 1887.   
  In 1892 Chekhov bought a country estate north of Moscow. Here his medical skills and money helped the peasants tackle outbreaks of cholera and bouts of famine. He also built three schools, a fire station and a clinic.  It left him with less time for writing but the interactions with real people gained him detailed knowledge about the peasantry and their living conditions for his stories.  
  His most famous work, ‘The Seagull’ was received disastrously at its premiere in St Petersburg. It was later restaged in Moscow to highlight its psychological aspects and was a huge success. It led to ‘Uncle Vanya’, ‘The Three Sisters’ and ‘The Cherry Orchard’.  
  Chekhov suffered a major lung hemorrhage in 1897 while visiting Moscow. A formal diagnosis confirmed tuberculosis and the doctors ordered changes to his lifestyle.  
  Despite a dread of weddings the elusive literary bachelor quietly married the actress Olga Knipper, whom he had met at rehearsals for ‘The Seagull’, on 25th May 1901. 
  By May 1904 with his tuberculosis worsening and death imminent he set off for the German town of Badenweiler writing cheerful, witty letters to his family and assuring them his health was improving.  
  On 15th July 1904 Anton Chekhov died at Badenweiler.  He was 44.

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  Kidnapped

  Robert Louis Stevenson

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  The narrative begins with young David Balfour's attempt to claim his inheritance, which leads to his kidnapping and the unfolding of a gripping tale of betrayal, friendship, and survival. Along the way, David encounters characters such as Alan Breck Stewart, a Jacobite, and together they navigate the treacherous Scottish Highlands, facing numerous challenges and adventures.

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  Tess Of The D'ubervilles

  Thomas Hardy

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  "Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented" is a novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891. The novel explores the life of Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman from a rural working-class family who is sent to claim kinship with the wealthy d'Urberville family. Tess's life is forever changed by this connection, leading to a series of tragic events. Hardy's work critiques the social mores of Victorian England, particularly concerning the themes of gender, religion, morality, and the injustices of the class system. Tess's story is one of innocence beset by societal and personal misfortune, and the novel is considered one of Hardy's masterpieces and a landmark in literary realism.

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  The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes

  Arthur Conan Doyle

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  "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" is a collection of short stories featuring the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John Watson. First published in 1892, the book includes some of Sherlock Holmes's most famous cases, such as "A Scandal in Bohemia," "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," and "The Adventure of the Speckled Band." These stories showcase Holmes's unparalleled powers of observation and deduction as he solves various mysteries, from thefts and kidnappings to more complex and unusual crimes.

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  Tales of the Jazz Age

  F. Scott Fitzgerald

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  The collection Tales of the Jazz Age includes the short stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald: 
  The Jelly-Bean
  May Day
  Porcelain and Pink
  Tarquin of Cheapside
  Oh Russet Witch!
  The Lees of Happiness
  Mr. Icky
  Jemina, The Mountain Girl

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  The Bobbsey Twins at Home

  Laura Lee Hope

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  "There is no place like home for the Bobbsey twins—especially when there is a mystery to solve!"
  
  Nan, Bert, Flossie, and Freddie are back in Lakeport! While their previous adventures took them far afield, The Bobbsey Twins at Home proves that life in a busy household is never quiet. From winter snowstorms and sledding mishaps to the excitement of school days and local festivities, the twins find themselves at the center of every neighborhood event. When small mysteries begin to crop up around town—including a missing fire engine toy and strange happenings at the Bobbsey lumber yard—the older twins, Nan and Bert, must use their wits to set things right while keeping an eye on their energetic younger siblings.
  
  The Heart of Lakeport: This volume provides the most detailed look at the Bobbseys' domestic life. Readers are introduced to the cozy atmosphere of their home, the bustling activity of Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard, and the charming community of Lakeport. It captures a bygone era where the greatest thrills were found in simple community gatherings and outdoor play.
  
  Early 20th-Century Childhood: The Bobbsey Twins at Home serves as a wonderful historical mirror. It describes the games, chores, and social expectations of children in 1916. Whether they are dealing with a school bully or planning a surprise for their parents, the twins handle every situation with the pluck and honesty that made them icons of American juvenile literature.
  
  A Foundational Mystery: Before they were world travelers, the Bobbseys were neighborhood detectives. This book emphasizes the "everyday mystery"—lost items, misunderstood secrets, and the importance of helping neighbors. It is an ideal read-aloud book for families, fostering a love for storytelling and problem-solving in young readers.
  
  Experience the warmth of a classic American childhood. Purchase "The Bobbsey Twins at Home" today.

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