Other books that might interest you

• 

  Aristopia: a Romance-History of...

  Castello Newton Holford

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "Aristopia: A Romance-History of the New World is an 1895 utopian novel written by Castello Holford. It holds the distinction of being considered the first novel-length alternate history in English and is among the earliest examples of alternate histories in general1.    In this captivating tale, Ralph Morton, an early settler in Virginia, stumbles upon a reef made of solid gold. Rather than squandering his newfound wealth, Morton shrewdly uses it to establish a planned society called Aristopia (derived from the Greek word for "the best place"). Drawing inspiration from Sir Thomas More's Utopia, Morton introduces his own innovations and adaptations.    Here are some key features of Aristopia:    Land Ownership: In Aristopia, all land is owned by the government, which then leases it to businesses and private citizens.  Monopolized Trade: Large-scale trade is monopolized by the state.  Wealth Limitations: Inherited wealth is limited.  Productive Refugees: Morton welcomes productive refugees from European conflicts, including Huguenots, Irish fugitives, and skilled artisans from northern Italy and Switzerland.  Prosperity and Expansion: The colony thrives, expands westward, and even supports the American Revolution. Eventually, Aristopia conquers Canada and comes to dominate all of North America north of Mexico.  This novel offers a unique twist on the utopian genre by imagining an alternate history where the United States was founded under different circumstances, leading to a superior society in the author's own time"

  Show book

• 

  The Blind Man

  D H Lawrence

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  'The Blind Man' is a delicate study of a loving relationship blighted by the man's blindness and disfigurement in the first world war. The arrival of an old friend of the woman brings into the open feelings and fears previously suppressed.

  Show book

• 

  Herman Melville - Short Stories

  Herman Melville

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Step into the world of Herman Melville's masterful storytelling with our short story collection. 
   
  Experience the gripping narrative of 'Bartleby the Scrivener, A Story of Wall Street,' a thought-provoking tale delving into themes of individuality and society. Feel the adrenaline rush with 'The Chase,' where suspense and adventure collide in Melville's vivid storytelling. Then, embark on a maritime journey unlike any other in 'Rounding Cape Horn,' immersing yourself in the raw power of the sea and the trials faced by sailors. This collection offers a captivating blend of Melville's literary genius, transporting readers through varied landscapes and emotions in tales that continue to resonate with audiences today.

  Show book

• 

  A Slip of the Pen - From their...

  Amy Levy

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Amy Levy was born in London, England in 1861, the second of seven in a fairly wealthy Anglo-Jewish family. The children read and participated in secular literary activities and became firmly integrated into Victorian life. 
  Her education was at Brighton High School, Brighton, before studies at Newnham College, Cambridge; she was the first Jewish student when she arrived in 1879, but left after four terms. 
  Amy’s writing career began early; her poem ‘Ida Grey’ appeared when she was only fourteen. Her acclaimed short stories ‘Cohen of Trinity’ and ‘Wise in Their Generation,’ were published by Oscar Wilde in his magazine ‘Women's World’. 
  Her poetic writings reveal feminist concerns; ‘Xantippe and Other Verses’, from 1881 includes a poem in the voice of Socrates's wife. ‘A Minor Poet and Other Verse’ from 1884 comprises of dramatic monologues and lyric poems. 
  In 1886, Amy began a series of essays on Jewish culture and literature for the Jewish Chronicle, including ‘The Ghetto at Florence’, ‘The Jew in Fiction’, ‘Jewish Humour’ and ‘Jewish Children’. 
  That same year while travelling in Florence she met the writer Vernon Lee. It is generally assumed they fell in love and this inspired the poem ‘To Vernon Lee’. 
  Her first novel ‘Romance of a Shop’, written in 1888 is based on four sisters who experience the pleasures and hardships of running a London business during the 1880s. This was followed by Reuben Sachs (also 1888) and concerned with Jewish identity and mores in the England of her time and was somewhat controversial. 
  Her final book of poems, ‘A London Plane-Tree’ from 1889, shows the beginnings of the influence of French symbolism. 
  Despite many friendships and an active life, Amy suffered for many years with serious depressions and this, together with her growing deafness, led her to commit suicide by inhaling carbon monoxide on September 10th, 1889. She was 27.

  Show book

• 

  Fox and the Cat The - Story Time...

  Brothers Grimm

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The German tale of four brothers who set out to learn their crafts in the big wide world. When they return home as skilled men; a thief, an astronomer, a hunter, and a tailor their skills are challenged by their father - 'I should like to try what each of you can do in this way.

  Show book

• 

  Hard Times (Legend Classics)

  Charles Dickens

  • 0
  • 4
  • 0

  “It is said that every life has its roses and thorns; there seemed, however, to have been a misadventure or mistake in Stephen’s case, whereby somebody else had become possessed of his roses, and he had become possessed of somebody else’s thorns in addition to his own.” 
  Published originally in weekly instalments, Hard Times is focusing on Mr Gradgrind’s flawed model of upbringing and its lifelong impact on the wellbeing and destinies of his children. The novel, in fact, follows two opposing ways an individual can be formed. On the one hand, there is Tom and Louisa whose numerous misfortunes are predetermined by their father’s insistence on knowing bare facts without reaching for the substance. They are ill-equipped for the real world and, as a result, Louisa suffers emotionally having had a marriage of convenience, while Tom intentionally devises to incriminate another for his own misdeed. On the other hand, there is Mr Gradgrind’s student Sissy, whose guardian he becomes upon her father’s disappearance. Despite Mr Grandgrind’s scorn, she approaches things with a genuine sensibility that helps her to lead a happier and more fulfilled life. The readers are prompted to ponder throughout the novel whether Mr Gradgrind will eventually acknowledge his failure as a parent. 
  Hard Times is an unusually short novel for Dickens and the only one not to feature London scenes. Instead, it is set in the North and beside addressing the issues of education, it also exposes the harsh daily living conditions of regular working-class people and the negative side of industrialisation. The author captures the zeitgeist of a new era where the old and new ways have to coexist and where many are continuously being left behind either by being deprived financially or spiritually. While maxims and cold facts are effective for scientific progress and the operations of complex machinery, they are not a prerequisite for human happiness. The volume’s solid subject matter is intertwined with the gripping elements of suspense that will undoubtedly appeal to a diverse audience. 
  The Legend Classics series:Around the World in Eighty DaysThe Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Importance of Being EarnestAlice's Adventures in WonderlandThe MetamorphosisThe Railway ChildrenThe Hound of the BaskervillesFrankensteinWuthering HeightsThree Men in a BoatThe Time MachineLittle WomenAnne of Green GablesThe Jungle BookThe Yellow Wallpaper and Other StoriesDraculaA Study in ScarletLeaves of GrassThe Secret GardenThe War of the WorldsA Christmas CarolStrange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeHeart of DarknessThe Scarlet LetterThis Side of ParadiseOliver TwistThe Picture of Dorian GrayTreasure IslandThe Turn of the ScrewThe Adventures of Tom SawyerEmmaThe TrialA Selection of Short Stories by Edgar Allan PoeGrimm Fairy TalesThe AwakeningMrs DallowayGulliver’s TravelsThe Castle of OtrantoSilas MarnerHard Times

  Show book