Other books that might interest you

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  The Three Questions

  Leo Tolstoy

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  A short story by Leo Tolstoy first published in 1885 as part of the collection What Men Live By, and Other Tales. The story takes the form of a parable, and it concerns a king who wants to find the answers to what he considers the three most important questions in life.

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  Nisida

  Alexandre Dumas

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  "Nisida" by Alexandre Dumas is a tale of love, betrayal, and justice set against the vibrant backdrop of Italy. The story follows a young man entangled in a feud between two rival families, whose lives are forever changed by passion and revenge. At its heart is Nisida, a mysterious and captivating woman whose actions drive the plot to its dramatic climax. Dumas masterfully weaves themes of honor, morality, and sacrifice, exploring the consequences of unchecked emotions and societal expectations. Rich in suspense and emotional depth, the novel delves into the complexities of human relationships and the blurred lines between right and wrong. A compelling blend of romance and tragedy, "Nisida" reflects Dumas’s signature flair for intrigue and adventure.

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  Baffling Beasts - 15 Tales of...

  Walter De la Mare, Arlton Eadie,...

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  Fifteen horror stories about strange beings and behaviours that defy conventional definitions. 
  Contents: 
  Warning Wings by Arlton Eadie (Weird Tales, 1929) 
  A seemingly insignificant white moth. 
  Mother of Toads by Clark Ashton Smith (WT, 1938) 
  An unusual witch. 
  The Destroying Horde by Donald Wandrei (WT, 1935) 
  The first BLOB story? 
  Caterpillars by E. F. Benson (The Room in the Tower, 1912) 
  Terrible things in an Italian villa. 
  The Urbanite by Ewen Whyte (WT, 1950) 
  The great city is never still. 
  Rats by F. A. M. Webster (At Dead of Night, 1931) 
  A plague of rats. 
  The Malignant Invader by F. B. Long (WT, 1932) 
  A creature from the bowels of the earth. 
  The Horror in the Museum by H. P. Lovecraft (WT, 1933) 
  A private wax museum that specialises in the grotesque. 
  My Father, the Cat by H. Slesar (Fantastic Universe, 1957) 
  A most unusual cat. 
  The Seeking Thing by Janet Hirsch (Magazine of Horror, 1964) 
  Something in the middle of the road. 
  They by R. B. Johnson (WT, 1936) 
  They dwell in Dead Man's Canyon. 
  The Hyena by Robert E. Howard (WT, 1928) 
  A man with an unusual ability. 
  Sredni Vashtar by Saki (The Chronicles of Clovis, 1911) 
  A secret in the garden shed. 
  Demons of the Film Colony by Theodore LeBerthon (WT, 1932) 
  A tale of 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein'. 
  A:B:O. by Walter de la Mare (Cornhill, 1896) 
  The excavation of a metallic chest.

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  A Dead Woman's Secret - From...

  Guy de Maupassant

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  Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was born on August 5th, 1850 near Dieppe in France.  
  Maupassant’s early life was badly torn when at age 11 (his younger brother Hervé was then five) his mother, Laure, a headstrong and independent-minded woman, risked social disgrace in order to obtain a legal separation from her husband. 
  After the separation, Laure kept custody of her two boys. With the father now forcibly absent, Laure became the most influential and important figure in the young boy's life.   
  Maupassant’s education was such that he rebelled against religion and other societal norms but a developing friendship with Gustave Flaubert began to turn his mind towards creativity and writing. 
  After graduation he volunteered for the Franco-Prussian war. With its end he moved to Paris to work as a clerk in the Navy Department.  Gustave Flaubert now took him under his wing.  Acting as a literary guardian to him, he guided the eager Maupassant to debuts in journalism and literature.  For Maupassant these were exciting times and the awakening of his creative talents and ambitions. 
  In 1880 he published what is considered his first great work, ‘Boule de Suif’, (translated as as ‘Dumpling’, ‘Butterball’, ‘Ball of Fat’, or ‘Ball of Lard’) which met with a success that was both instant and overwhelming.  Flaubert at once acknowledged that it was ‘a masterpiece that will endure.’ Maupassant had used his talents and experiences in the war to create something unique.  
  This decade from 1880 to 1891 was to be the most pivotal of his career.  With an audience now made available by the success of ‘Boule de Suif’ Maupassant organised himself to work methodically and relentlessly to produce between two and four volumes of work a year.  The melding of his talents and business sense and the continual hunger of sources for his works made him wealthy. 
  In his later years he developed a desire for solitude, an obsession for self-preservation, and a fear of death as well as a paranoia of persecution caused by the syphilis he had contracted in his youth.  
  On January 2nd, 1892, Maupassant tried to commit suicide by cutting his throat.  Unsuccessful he was committed to the private asylum of Esprit Blanche at Passy, in Paris.  It was here on July 6th, 1893 that Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant died at the age of only 42.

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  The Brethren

  H. Rider Haggard

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  "The adventure begins when Rosamund is taken from England and carried to the East. The plot thickens as the two young knights follow her in hopes of rescuing her from the Muslim leader, Saladin. As the Cross and the Crescent face each other at the Battle of Hattin, the story of Rosamund is unfolded and the riddle is solved.    With dangerous lions, a moon light duel on a bridge, and beautiful Arabian horses, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. "The Brethren" invites readers to witness the clash of swords, the fervor of the Crusades, and the passions that drive men to acts of valor and sacrifice. Whether you're drawn to historical fiction or tales of knights and damsels, these novel promises adventure and intrigue."

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  A Christmas Carol

  Charles Dickens

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  "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
  
  Ebenezer Scrooge is a man of business—cold, solitary, and miserly. He views Christmas as a "humbug" and charity as a waste. But on one fateful Christmas Eve in the fog-shrouded streets of London, he is visited by the chained spirit of his deceased partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him of a terrible fate. To save his soul, Scrooge must endure a journey through time led by three spectral guides.
  
  A Journey of Transformation: From the nostalgic, bitter-sweet memories of his youth to the joyful but struggling household of his clerk, Bob Cratchit, Scrooge is forced to witness the reality of the world he has ignored. The sight of the frail but hopeful Tiny Tim and the grim shadow of a future unmourned pushes Scrooge to the brink of despair—and ultimately, to a breathtaking resurrection of his own humanity.
  
  The Book That "Saved" Christmas: Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during a time of social upheaval, intending it as a "sledgehammer" blow for the poor. In doing so, he helped create the modern celebration of Christmas, emphasizing family, feasting, and the "shut-up heart opened freely." This is not just a ghost story; it is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to change and that the greatest wealth is found in the welfare of our fellow man.
  
  Rediscover the magic of the season. Purchase "A Christmas Carol" today and keep the spirit of Christmas all year round.

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