Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Jane Eyre, the beloved heroine, is for many their first introduction to a truly independent female character in classic literature. Charlotte Bronte develops an assertive and passionate character in Jane, whose search for belonging and freedom remains refreshingly relevant for the modern-day reader.
London businessman Mr. Bedford is broke. He retreats to a beautifully mundane area of the British countryside to focus on writing a play, which he hopes will bring him financial success. By a stroke of luck, Mr. Bedford quickly reaches new heights…just not in the way he anticipated. Mr. Bedford’s countryside retreat is interrupted by a peculiar physicist named Mr. Cavor, who is developing an anti-gravity material called cavorite. The unlikely pair sets sight on the moon and begins planning the first ever lunar expedition. Mr. Bedford sees it as a lucrative business venture. Mr. Cavor sees it as a chance for recognition in his field. But when they are captured by an alien species, they must face a more pressing matter: Will they make it back to earth alive? From the father of science fiction H.G. Wells, The First Men in the Moon transports readers to distant worlds while ultimately shedding light on our own human nature and civilization as we know it.Show book
Barry Eric Odell Pain was born at 3 Sydney Street in Cambridge on 28th September 1864. He was one of 4 children. He was educated at Sedbergh School and then Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. In 1889, Cornhill Magazine published his short story ‘The Hundred Gates’. This opened the way for Pain to advance his literary career on several fronts. He became a contributor to Punch and The Speaker, as well as joining the staff of both the Daily Chronicle and Black and White. Pain was also a noted and prominent contributor to The Granta and from 1896 to 1928 a regular contributor to the Windsor Magazine. It is often said that Pain was discovered by Robert Louis Stevenson, who compared his work to that of Guy de Maupassant. It’s an apt comparison. Pain was a master of disturbing prose but was also able to inject parody and light comedy into many of his works. A simple premise could in his hands suddenly expand into a world very real but somehow emotionally fraught and on the very edge of darkness. Barry Pain died on 5th May 1928 in Bushey, Hertfordshire.Show book
The women of Athens are sick of the Peloponnesian war that has dragged on for year after year after year, causing great hardship to everyone. They decide to deny the men sex until they agree to make peace, using the one thing that perhaps men enjoy more than killing each other. Does it work? Listen and find out. This comedy by Aristophanes was first performed in 411 BCShow book
Immerse yourself in the thrilling world of Victorian crime with Hunted Down: The Detective Stories of Charles Dickens. This captivating audiobook brings to life Dickens’ masterful detective tales, filled with intrigue, deception, and sharp-witted investigators. Experience the suspense and rich storytelling of one of history’s greatest authors as he delves into the dark corners of justice and mystery. Perfect for fans of classic literature and detective fiction, this audiobook will keep you on the edge of your seat. Listen now and uncover the secrets hidden within Dickens’ most gripping crime stories!Show book
‘My favourite novel and one I wish I’d written.’ ALAN BENNETT Winner of the McKitterick Prize for best first novel by an author aged over 40, and the Hawthornden Prize for imaginative literature. Everyone craves retirement from the Civil Service, don’t they? That time for an ageing patriarch to enjoy the fruits of a well-earned pension and the respect of his family; maybe even to indulge in a love of music halls and metropolitan life. If only people would listen and do as they were told… His fourth son William, the long-suffering narrator, is the constant butt of his father’s jokes and victim of his brothers’ indifference. But as death, divorce and other darker dramas follow, father and son slowly establish a strange harmony. The Tap Dancer, the latest from award-winning author Andrew Barrow, is a humorous fiction that has been short-listed for its literary excellence. This new classic is a top choice for readers around the globe. For fans of Alan Bennett (The Laying On Of Hands), Anne Tyler (Vinegar Girl), Nina Stibbe (One Day I Shall Astonish the World), Rose Tremain (Absolutely and Forever), and India Knight (Darling). HarperCollins 2023Show book
A wonderfully narrated version of this classic novel by Jane Austen. Penny Wyatt-Gold has the perfect voice to bring all the author's characters to life in a way that will enthrall and entertain.Show book
