Publisher: Charles River Editors
Charles W. Chesnutt was a prominent African-American writer, lawyer, and political activist. Chesnutt was a prolific author and his books were notable for exploring the racial and social issues in the American South after the Civil War. The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line is a short story collection that was published in 1899.
The culmination of Jane Austen's genius, a sparkling comedy of love and marriage Beautiful, clever, rich and single Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegee Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen's most flawless work.Show book
From the National Book Award–finalist: This “brilliant” story collection exploring the lives of dispossessed Americans is “one of his best achievements” (The Washington Post). Thematically focused on hard-luck characters trapped by desperate circumstances, Bell once again showcases his range and versatility in these eleven deeply felt stories. Whether in the Deep South or the grim Northeast; burdened with unspoken hurts or challenged by the harsh vicissitudes of contemporary life, Bell’s characters are drawn with clear-eyed compassion and dignity. But even in their gritty realism, moments of redemption or hopefulness elevate each of these memorable stories. And when the setting moves into the Great Plains during the nineteenth century, Bell convincingly connects the past to the present, hinting at his later acclaim as a historical novelist. Zero db stands as a timeless collection of “sagacious and lucid short stories by a contemporary writer with an ear for the seemingly inaudible emotions of life” (Los Angeles Times).Show book
Author David Morrell is a consummate storyteller, investing his tales with passion, sympathy, and narrative drive. From this master of literate, high-adrenaline novels of action comes three suspenseful short stories that will keep listeners guessing: "Front Man" – An aging screenwriter cast adrift in a youth-oriented Hollywood culture finds a scary way to make it back into the business. "Nothing Will Hurt You" – A father is obsessed by his daughter's murder and will stop at nothing to avenge her. "Resurrection" – A son is determined to preserve and care for a father in cryogenic sleep.Show book
This epic poem is about Alfred the Great's defense of Christian England against the pagan Viking invaders. The decisive battle is fought in sight of a white horse mark made on a hill, after which the poem is named. As the white horse mark must be continually maintained by weeding to be clearly seen, Chesterton sees it as a symbol of the continual struggle to maintain the Christian culture and values for which Alfred the Great foughShow book
'Here, among the hosts of ladies who write with care and inelegance, comes a woman artist. An Isle in the Water is a collection of fifteen well-conceived and excellently-finished Irish stories, for which it would be hard to find anything to say but praise. They are all extremely short for the force of their effect, and every touch tells; they are gracefully phrased without an appearance of artifice, subtly expressed without a suspicion of affectation.' -- Saturday Review, 1897Show book
The story of a bizarre love triangle. Two popular comedians, Robichon and Quinquart vie for the love of a pretty actress. She declares that she will marry the one who is a better actor... but how to decide? The pretty Suzanne's answer is that all Paris should decide. But how is this to be achieved?The two agree that to test their acting skills they should take on a serious acting role. But as they are famous as comedians, they realise it will be difficult to agree anyone to cast them in anything other than comedy. At this moment, a stranger joins them and asks some advice. He is the former public executioner, and is about to give a lecture for the first time. He is seeking some tips from the famous performers, as he is crippled with stage fright. Robichon offers to swap places and take over this performance...knowing that if he wins over the audience in this role, he will also win Suzanne's hand. Quinquart despairs. How on earth can he possibly beat Robichon's performance? But while the lecture is a masterful triumph, events take a most unexpected turn afterwards.Show book
