Other books that might interest you

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  Shades A Phantasy - Ukranian...

  Vladimir Korolenko

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  Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko was born in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire on 27th July 1853. 
   
  His father died when he was 13 and life was then often struck with bouts of poverty, which resulted in his education being somewhat erratic.   A spell in exile at 23 was followed by another as the politics of the times opposed his volatile but heart-felt passions. 
   
  Writing was also coming to the fore and in 1879 his debut short story telling of a young Narodnik searching for social and spiritual identity, was published. 
   
  In 1881, Korolenko refused to swear allegiance to the new Russian Tsar and was again exiled, this time much farther afield.  He spent the next three years doing manual work, but took time to study local customs and history.  These impressions in exile provided rich material for his writings. 
   
  In 1885 he was allowed to settle in Nizhny, where again he repeatedly questioned the authorities.  That same year ‘Makar's Dream’ established his literary reputation and was part of his first collection ‘Sketches and Stories’, the following year. 
   
  In the early 1890’s when famine struck Central Russia, he went to work on relief missions, collecting donations, supervising the delivery and distribution of food, opening 45 free canteens, all this while writing the graphic reports that would later be published as ‘In the Year of Famine’ in 1893. 
   
  By 1896 despite some psychological disorders, he was well regarded amongst Russian writers and was even a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Throughout his writing career Korolenko was a staunch advocate of human rights, putting that sacred activity above what he called his 'part-time-writing'. 
   
  In the Revolutionary year of 1905, under his editorship, Russkoye Bogatstvo published the Manifest by the Petersburg Soviet of the Workers' deputies. Korolenko was now repeatedly harassed by the authorities, had his flat raided many times and materials confiscated. 
   
  As a lifetime opponent of Tsarism, he guardedly welcomed the Revolution of 1917.  Once the nature of Bolshevism was established, he soon started to criticize it. During the Russian Civil War that ensued, he condemned both the Red Terror and the White Terror.  
   
  Despite suffering from a progressive heart disorder, he collected food packages for children in famine-stricken Moscow and Petrograd as well as organised orphanages and shelters for the homeless.  
   
  Vladimir Korolenko died in Poltava, Ukraine, of the complications of pneumonia on 25th December 1921.  He was 68. 
   
  In this story Korolenko invokes the characters of Socrates and Elpidias who, after their deaths, involve themselves in a debate on God.  This is a tour-de-force of conception and execution.

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  Timeless Terrors Vol 2 - Volume...

  Various Authors

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  The veil between life and death grows thin once more. Timeless Terrors: Volume Two gathers six haunting masterworks of classic and Gothic horror, each a descent into the strange, the spectral, and the doomed. Step into worlds where music can hold back madness, where fate is written in heat and shadow, and where no mask can hide from death itself. 
  Witness the oppressive dread of August Heat, the dark justice of The Cats of Ulthar, the haunted sorrow of The Boarded Window, and the otherworldly melodies of The Music of Erich Zann. Journey onward to The Tomb, where obsession crosses the threshold of mortality, and end beneath the crimson glow of The Masque of the Red Death, Poe’s chilling vision of plague and retribution. 
  This volume includes: 
  August Heat, The Cats of Ulthar, The Boarded Window, The Music of Erich Zann, The Tomb, and The Masque of the Red Death. 
  Through the voice of horror author Jonathan Dunne, these timeless stories rise again from the crypt of literature’s darkest imagination. Immerse yourself in tales that echo through eternity — where every silence hides a secret, and every breath may be your last.

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  Allan Quatermain Stories

  H. Rider Haggard

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  Step into the untamed heart of Africa with Allan Quatermain Stories, a sweeping collection of classic adventures from the legendary H. Rider Haggard. Follow the fearless big-game hunter and explorer Allan Quatermain as he journeys through perilous landscapes, lost kingdoms, and ancient mysteries hidden deep within the continent’s wild frontiers. 
  Across deserts, jungles, and towering mountain ranges, Quatermain faces ruthless enemies, mystical legends, and moral dilemmas shaped by the complex clash of cultures during the era of colonial exploration. These timeless tales blend danger, discovery, suspense, and humanity—capturing the thrill of adventure fiction at its very origins. 
  Narrated with gripping clarity by Ken Kowalik, this collection brings Quatermain’s world vividly to life, immersing listeners in treacherous expeditions, forgotten civilizations, and the unforgettable spirit of a man driven by courage, curiosity, and conscience. 
  Perfect for fans of classic adventure, lost-world tales, and heroic journeys into the unknown.

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  Flappers and Philosophers

  F. Scott Fitzgerald

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  Flappers and Philosophers is the first collection of eight short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1920. All of the stories had been published earlier, independently, in either Saturday Evening Post, or Scribner's Magazine.
  Included in this collection:
  1. The Offshore Pirate
  2. The Ice Palace
  3. Head and Shoulders
  4. The Cut-Glass Bowl
  5. Bernice Bobs Her Hair
  6. Benediction
  7. Dalyrimple Goes Wrong
  8. The Four Fists

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  Shawl straps

  Louisa May Alcott

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  Shawl-Straps by Louisa May Alcott is a part of the Aunt Jo’s Scrap Bag series. The book follows the real exploits of Louisa May Alcott and her sister May as they travel through Europe in 1870-71, unencumbered by any male solicitude or patronage, along with their sidekick, Alice Bartlett. The story involves a mysterious lady in green velvet with many diamonds, and a shabby, speechless companion, who sailed about the ship, regardless of the rumors told of her.

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  The Fall of the House of Usher

  Edgar Allan Poe

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  Experience the gothic horror of Edgar Allan Poe with "The Fall of the House of Usher," the third part of an Edgar Allan Poe short story collection, read by Jake Urry. In this dark tale, the writer visits his friend Roderick Usher's decaying mansion and becomes entangled in the eerie atmosphere and psychological terror that pervade the house. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, leading to a chilling and unforgettable climax. 
  Jake Urry's narration captures the brooding tension and sinister beauty of Poe's writing, making this audiobook a must-listen for fans of classic horror. His rich voice and expert pacing bring the haunted house and its doomed inhabitants to life, offering an immersive experience that will leave listeners spellbound.

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