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  A Very Short Romance - From...

  Vsevolod Garshin

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  Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin was born on 14th February 1855 in what is now Dnipro in the Ukraine, but then part of the Russian Empire. 
  After attending secondary school he studied at the Saint Petersburg Mining Institute.  
  Wars between and on behalf of Empires were a regular feature of the decades then.  Garshin volunteered to serve in the Russian army at the beginning of the Russo-Turkish War in 1877.  
  He began as a private in the Balkans campaign and was wounded in action.  By the end of the war, in 1878, he had been promoted to officer rank.  
  By now Garshin, having previously published some articles and reviews in newspapers, wished to devote himself to a literary career.  The decision made he resigned his army commission. 
  His time as a soldier provided rich experiences for his early stories. His first ‘Four Days’ was related as the interior monologue of a wounded soldier left for dead on the battlefield for four days, face to face with the corpse of a Turkish soldier he had killed, gained him early admiration as an author of note.  
  He wrote perhaps only 20 stories, but their influence was immense, although in these more modern times he is barely remembered and lives in the more prolific shadows of others.  His characters are superbly worked into stories that come alive in the intensity and reality of his prose.   
  Garshin’s most well-known story is ‘The Red Flower’, also known as ‘Scarlet Blossom’ and is easily amongst the first rank of stories dealing with mental health issues.  
  Despite early literary success, he himself experienced periodical bouts of mental illness.   
  In one such bout Garshin attempted to commit suicide by throwing himself down the stone stairs leading into his apartment building.  Although not immediately fatal, Vsevolod Garshin died as a result of his injuries in a St Petersburg hospital on 5th April 1888.  He was 33.

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  Bleak House Volume 1

  Charles Dickens

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  Bleak House is one of Dickens's finest novels, containing one of the most vast, complex and engaging arrays of minor characters and sub-plots in his entire canon. The story follows long-running litigation in England's Court of Chancery, Jarndyce v Jarndyce, which has far-reaching consequences for all involved. This case revolves around atestator who apparently made several wills.

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  The Cossacks - A Tale of Honor...

  Leo Tolstoy

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  Is true happiness found in civilization—or in the wild embrace of nature? 
  In The Cossacks, Leo Tolstoy crafts an unforgettable tale of adventure, love, and personal transformation. The novel follows Dmitry Olenin, a disillusioned Russian nobleman who joins the military in the Caucasus, hoping to find meaning in the simplicity of Cossack life. But as he becomes enchanted by the rugged landscape and the fearless Cossack warriors, he also falls for the beautiful yet unattainable Maryanka, a woman who belongs to their world in ways he never can. 
  Caught between his admiration for Cossack traditions and the reality of imperial conquest, Olenin is forced to confront his ideals, his place in the world, and the harsh truth that freedom comes at a price. Tolstoy’s powerful storytelling and deep psychological insight make The Cossacks a fascinating meditation on identity, honor, and the search for fulfillment. 
  What You’ll Discover in This Modern Translation:A Thrilling Tale of War and Passion – Experience the raw beauty and danger of Cossack life on the fringes of the Russian Empire.A Philosophical Exploration of Freedom – Follow Olenin’s internal struggle between civilization and the call of the wild.A Masterpiece in a Fresh, Readable Style – This modern adaptation ensures that Tolstoy’s storytelling remains clear and compelling for contemporary readers.A Timeless Reflection on Love and Belonging – Witness a story of unfulfilled romance and the universal longing to find one’s true place in the world. 
  Can a man ever truly belong to a world that is not his own? 
  Get your copy today and experience one of Tolstoy’s most fascinating and introspective novels.

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  Brightness Falls - From their...

  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.

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  The Metamorphosis

  Franz Kafka

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  "Metamorphosis" is one of Franz Kafka's most renowned and influential works. It tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who awakens one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect-like creature. The narrative delves into the profound alienation, guilt, and absurdity experienced by Samsa, who becomes an outcast in his own home and a source of shame and revulsion to his family. Kafka's novella is a powerful exploration of human identity, the nature of existence, and societal reactions to the unfamiliar and grotesque.

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  Sherlock Holmes & the Adventure...

  Arthur Conan Doyle

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  Step into the intriguing world of Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Greek Interpreter, a gripping short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by the soothing voice of Andrew Bond and produced by Slumber Studios. 
  If racing thoughts or sleepless nights are keeping you awake, this audiobook is designed to gently guide you into a calm and restful sleep. 
  Close your eyes, relax, and let Andrew Bond’s calming narration transport you to Victorian London, where Sherlock Holmes and his brilliant brother, Mycroft, become entangled in a mysterious case involving a kidnapped interpreter, a secret message, and a chilling conspiracy. Experience the suspense, clever deductions, and quiet charm of this classic mystery while drifting gently into deep relaxation. 
  At Slumber Studios, we create tranquil content to help you unwind and fall asleep effortlessly. This audiobook features slow, gentle narration paired with soft background music, offering the perfect escape into dreamland. 
  If you're searching for a peaceful way to end your day, this is the perfect choice. Simply press play, get cozy, and let Andrew’s serene voice guide you through the shadowy twists of The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter. Wake up refreshed, with a sense of clarity and calm to carry you through your day.

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