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  Al Aaraaf II

  Edgar Allan Poe

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  Al Aaraaf II: Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories.
  
  Mysterious star!
  Thou wert my dream
  All a long summer night—
  Be now my theme!
  By this clear stream,
  Of thee will I write;

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  Portrait of a Lady The (Unabridged)

  Henry James

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  When Isabel Archer, a beautiful, spirited American, is brought to Europe by her wealthy Aunt Touchett, it is expected that she will soon marry. But Isabel, resolved to determine her own fate, does not hesitate to turn down two eligible suitors. She then finds herself irresistibly drawn to Gilbert Osmond, who, beneath his veneer of charm and cultivation, is cruelty itself. A story of intense poignancy, Isabel's tale of love and betrayal still resonates with modern audiences.

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  Bizeban - From their pens to...

  Moritz Jokai

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  Móric Jókay de Ásva was born on the 18th February 1825 in Komárom, then in the Kingdom of Hungary but now part of Slovakia.  
  Due to his timid and delicate constitution he was educated at home until the age of 10 and then sent away to complete his studies at the Calvinist college at Pápa. 
  At 12 his father died, and he was pushed to honour him by replicating his career as a lawyer.  He studied hard and completed the curriculum at Kecskemét and Pest.  He won his first case as a newly graduated lawyer. 
  But he found a career in law to be dull and, encouraged by the positive reaction to his first play, he moved to Pest in 1845.  There he published, first in a newspaper, and then as a novel ‘Hétköznapok’ (‘Working Days’).  It was acclaimed as a masterpiece.  To add to his promise he was appointed as the editor of Életképek, the leading Hungarian journal. 
  In 1848 he married the actress, Róza Laborfalvi.  That same year Europe was awash with revolutions and Jókai, a moderate Liberal, enthusiastically supported the nationalist cause and its decision to depose the Habsburg dynasty.  The attempt failed. 
  He was now classed as a political suspect and threw himself into his literary career, writing dozens of novels, many of them masterpieces, stories, essays and the like.  In total he wrote several hundred volumes, many of them in the local Magyar language which helped arrest its declining relevance in society.  
  By 1867 the political temperature had cooled, and he entered parliament as well as becoming the editor a government journal he had founded.   His skills were much admired and helped the government navigate through several difficult matters.   
  His wife died in 1886 but although grief-stricken he continued to work and to write.  
  In 1897 the king appointed him a member of the upper house.  Two years later he caused a minor scandal by marrying the young 20-year-old actress, Bella Nagy.  At the time he was 74.

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  In Bayswater - One family is...

  Mary Butts

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  Mary Frances Butts was born on 13th December 1890 in Poole, Dorset. 
   
  Her early years were spent at Salterns, an 18th-century house overlooking Poole Harbour.  Sadly in 1905 her father died, and she was sent for boarding at St Leonard's school for girls in St Andrews. 
   
  Her mother remarried and, from 1909, Mary studied at Westfield College in London, and here, first became aware of her bisexual feelings.  She was sent down for organising a trip to Epsom races and only completed her degree in 1914 when she graduated from the London School of Economics.  By then Mary had become an admirer of the occultist Aleister Crowley and she was given a co-authorship credit on his ‘Magick (Book 4)’. 
   
  In 1916, she began the diary which would now detail her future life and be a constant reference point for her observations and her absorbing experiences. 
   
  During World War I, she was doing social work for the London County Council in Hackney Wick, and involved in a lesbian relationship.  Life changed after meeting the modernist poet, John Rodker and they married in 1918. 
   
  In 1921 she spent 3 months at Aleister Crowley's Abbey of Thelema in Sicily; she found the practices dreadful and also acquired a drug habit.  Mary now spent time writing in Dorset, including her celebrated book of short stories ‘Speed the Plough’ which saw fully develop her unique Modernist prose style. 
   
  Europe now beckoned and several years were spent in Paris befriending many artists and writing further extraordinary stories.   
   
  She was continually sought after by literary magazines and also published several short story collections as books. Although a Modernist writer she worked in other genres but is essentially only known for her short stories.  Mary was deeply committed to nature conservation and wrote several pamphlets attacking the growing pollution of the countryside. 
   
  In 1927, she divorced and the following year her novel ‘Armed with Madness’ was published.  A further marriage followed in 1930 and time was spent attempting to settle in London and Newcastle before setting up home on the western tip of Cornwall.  By 1934 the marriage had failed. 
   
  Mary Butts died on 5th March 1937, at the West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance, after an operation for a perforated gastric ulcer. She was 46. 
   
  Her story ‘In Bayswater’ grippingly describes a man’s friendship with a dysfunctional family he rents a room from.  As each facet reveals itself his opinion and decisions change, back and forth, this way and that….

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  The Assignation

  Sampi Books, Edgar Allan Poe

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  In "The Assignation", Edgar Allan Poe tells the tragic story of an illicit love affair in Venice between a young man and the Marchesa Aphrodite. A heroic rescue leads to revelations of passion and despair, culminating in death and suicide under a veil of mystery and decadent beauty.

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  The Classic collection of Arthur...

  Arthur C. Clarke

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  The Classic Collection of Arthur C. Clarke brings together some of the most iconic and visionary short stories by one of science fiction's greatest minds. This anthology includes timeless works such as "The Nine Billion Names of God," "Armaments Race," "Into the Comet," "The Sentinel," "Superiority," and many others that showcase Clarke's unique blend of scientific imagination, philosophical depth, and subtle humor.In stories like "The Nine Billion Names of God," Clarke explores the intersection of science and spirituality, crafting narratives that are both thought-provoking and elegantly simple. Meanwhile, "Superiority" delivers a sharp critique of technological hubris, illustrating how advanced innovation can lead to unintended failure."Into the Comet" and "The Sentinel" reflect Clarke's fascination with space exploration and humanity's place in the cosmos. These tales challenge readers to think beyond Earth's boundaries and confront the mysteries of the universe with awe and humility.Clarke's writing is characterized by its clarity, optimism, and intellectual curiosity. His stories often feature plausible science and ethical dilemmas that remain relevant today.This collection is an essential read for science fiction enthusiasts and anyone interested in the future of humanity, technology, and the unknown.Contents: ReverieThe Other TigerPublicity CampaignIf I Forget Thee, Oh Earth…Who's There?The PossessedOut Of The Cradle, Endlessly Orbiting…The Nine Billion Names of GodArmaments RaceInto the CometThe SentinelSuperiority

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