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  Blood - From their pens to your...

  Hanns Heinz Ewers

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  Hanns Heinz Ewers was born on 3rd November 1871 in Düsseldorf, Germany. 
  His first published poem was at 17 on the death, after a reign of only 99 days, of the German Emperor Frederick III. 
  A stint in the German military was cut short after only 44 days because of his myopia.  Writing was to be the way forward for him with a book of satiric verse published in 1901. At the same time he co-founded a literary vaudeville troupe that toured central and eastern Europe before censors and expenses forced its closure.  An inveterate traveller he was in South America when the Great War enveloped Europe and he relocated to New York. 
  From here his story darkens. Although by now a successful and admired author he was arrested in the U S in 1918 as a German Agent on the pretext of his travels and a falsified Swiss passport. Interned, he was released in 1921 and returned to Germany.  He claimed only to be raising money for the German Red Cross. 
  His literary fame is decidedly easier to clarify. His novels beginning with ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ in 1910 are dark, they bristle with evil intent and are littered with characters who have a dubious moral compass and yet, along with his short stories, are brazen, brilliant feats of literary narrative. 
  He also wrote and published plays, fairy tales, opera librettos, critical essays and lectured for many years on ‘The Religion of Satan’ and was one of the first to write scripts for the cinema, which he considered a legitimate art form. 
  As the Weimar republic began its chaotic death throes Ewers became attracted to the rising Nazi Party.  At first he was warmly received despite disagreeing with its anti-semitism (his most famed literary character had a Jewish mistress) and he was even commissioned by Hitler to write a biography of the Nazi martyr Horst Wessel.  This together with his own homosexuality culminated with his works being banned in 1934 and his assets and property seized.  It took him many years to have the ban lifted.  This association rightfully clouds his personal reputation but has meant his literary contributions are also overlooked and neglected. 
  Hanns Heinz Ewers died of tuberculosis on 12th June 1943 in his Berlin apartment.

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  Eugene Onegin

  Alexander Pushkin

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  In this timeless Russian classic, the charismatic but aloof Eugene Onegin rejects love, friendship, and opportunity in favor of cynicism and self-isolation. When he returns to his rural estate, he crosses paths with the idealistic Tatyana, who falls deeply in love with him. But Onegin's cold dismissal of her leads to a tragic sequence of events that changes all their lives.
  
  With sharp wit and vivid characters, Eugene Onegin is a rich exploration of love, regret, and the consequences of neglecting what truly matters.

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  The Encantadas

  Herman Melville

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  "The Encantadas, or Enchanted Isles" is a novella by American author Herman Melville. First published in Putnam's Magazine in 1854, it consists of ten philosophical "Sketches" on the Encantadas, or Galápagos Islands. It was collected in The Piazza Tales in 1856. The Encantadas was a success with the critics, and contained some of Melville's "most memorable prose".
  An anonymous narrator unites the ten disparate "Sketches", each of which begin with a few lines of poetry, mostly taken from Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene. All of the stories are replete with symbolism reinforcing the cruelty of life on the Encantadas. "Sketch First" is a description of the islands; though they are the Enchanted Isles they are depicted as desolate and hellish. "Sketch Second" is a meditation on the narrator's encounter with ancient Galápagos tortoises, while "Sketch Third" concerns the narrator's trip up the enormous tower called the Rock Rodondo. "Sketch Fourth" details the narrator's musings from atop the tower, and his recollection of the islands' accidental discovery by Juan Fernández. "Sketch Fifth" describes the USS Essex' encounter with a phantom British ship near the area during the War of 1812.

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  HG Wells Collection - The Pearl...

  H. G. Wells

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  Step into the Enchanting Worlds of HG Wells' Short Stories! 
   
  Immerse yourself in the genius of HG Wells with our digital audiobook collection, showcasing his captivating short stories: "The Loyalty of Esau Common," "My First Aeroplane," "Little Mother up the Morderberg," and "The Pearl of Love." 
   
  "The Loyalty of Esau Common": Delve into the intricate world of human relationships, as Esau Common navigates loyalty, betrayal, and the complexities of the heart. This story will leave you questioning the depths of trust. 
   
  "My First Aeroplane": Join Wells on a journey through time as he recounts the exhilaration and awe of witnessing the birth of aviation. Experience the thrill of human achievement and technological progress through his vivid storytelling. 
   
  "Little Mother up the Morderberg": Explore the mysteries of a quaint village perched on the edge of a cliff. Wells weaves a tale of eerie folklore, secrets, and the inexplicable in a setting that will send shivers down your spine. 
   
  "The Pearl of Love": Witness the transformative power of love as Wells takes you on a sentimental journey filled with poignant moments and tender emotions. This story is a testament to the enduring strength of the human heart.

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  Les Misérables: Volume 2:...

  Victor Hugo

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  Victor-Marie Hugo (26 February 1802 - 22 May 1885) was a French poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, and dramatist of the Romantic movement. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote abundantly in an exceptional variety of genres: lyrics, satires, epics, philosophical poems, epigrams, novels, history, critical essays, political speeches, funeral orations, diaries, and letters public and private, as well as dramas in verse and prose.
  BOOK 3: ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE PROMISE MADE TO THE DEAD WOMAN: Montfermeil is situated between Livry and Chelles, on the southern edge of that lofty table-land which separates the Ourcq from the Marne. At the present day it is a tolerably large town, ornamented all the year through with plaster villas, and on Sundays with beaming bourgeois.

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  Sister Carrie

  Theodore Dreiser

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  "Sister Carrie" is a novel written by Theodore Dreiser, first published in 1900. The book is considered a classic of American literature and is known for its naturalistic portrayal of urban life and the pursuit of the American Dream. "Sister Carrie" tells the story of Carrie Meeber, a young woman who leaves her small-town life to seek success and fulfillment in the bustling city of Chicago. As she navigates the challenges of urban life, Carrie encounters the complexities of love, ambition, and societal expectations. The novel explores themes of materialism, social class, and the consequences of individual choices.

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