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  Mumu - Turgenev brilliantly...

  Ivan Turgenev

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  Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev was born on 9th November 1818 in Oryol, Russia to parents from the nobility.  He and his two brothers were raised by their mother on the family estate.  Surrounded by foreign governesses he became fluent in French, German, and English.  Their father spent little time with them and this undoubtedly had an effect on him and his brothers.  When he was nine the family moved to Moscow to give their children a better education. 
   
  Turgenev studied for a year at the University of Moscow and then at the University of St Petersburg to study Classics, Russian literature, and philology.  During that time his father died from kidney stone disease.  In 1838 Turgenev studied philosophy and history at the University of Berlin for 3 years before returning to St Petersburg for his master's. 
   
  He started his career with the Russian Civil Service and it was only in 1852, after several earlier publications, that he made his name with his short story collection, ‘A Sportsman's Sketches’, based on his observations of peasant life and nature. 
    
  That same year he wrote an obituary for Nikolai Gogol: "Gogol is dead!... What Russian heart is not shaken by those three words?... He is gone, that man whom we now have the right (the bitter right, given to us by death) to call great."  The St Petersburg censor banned publication but the Moscow censor allowed it.  He was dismissed but Turgenev was held responsible and imprisoned for a month, and then exiled to his country estate.  
   
  Along with many other intellectuals Turgenev left Russia and settled in Paris in 1854.  During this period he wrote his finest stories and four novels.  
   
  Alexander II ascended the Russian throne in 1855, and the political climate relaxed.  Turgenev returned home.  
   
  ‘Fathers and Sons’, Turgenev's most famous and enduring novel, appeared in 1862. Its leading character is considered the first ‘Bolshevik’ in Russian literature. But the hostile reaction prompted Turgenev's decision to again leave Russia.  
   
  His health declined during his later years.  In January 1883, an aggressive malignant tumor was removed but by then it had metastasized in his upper spinal cord, causing him intense pain in his final few months of life.  
   
  Ivan Turgenev died on 3rd September 1883 of a spinal abscess, a complication of the metastatic liposarcoma, in his house near Paris.  He was buried in St Petersburg.  
   
  In Mumu, Turgenev hauntingly tells the story of a Gerasim, a six foot five deaf mute with the menial job of yard-porter who is ostracized by all those around him.  A dog, Mumu, becomes his only true and faithful friend.  One day he is given a dreadful and agonizing choice.

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  The Taming of the Shrew

  William Shakespeare

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  “For I am born to tame you, Kate,And bring you from a wild Kate to a KateComfortable as other household Kates.”Baptista Minola has two daughters: Katherina and Bianca. Bianca is the “ideal wife” – beautiful, kind, submissive, and eager to wed. She has many suitors asking for her hand in marriage. The only thing standing in her way is her father’s promise not to let her marry before Katherina – and Katherina wants to anything but become a bride. Katherina is assertive and domineering, and unwilling to change her personality to attract a husband.When a man named Petruchio comes to town, Katherina finally feels she has found someone she can live with – he is quick-witted like her, and doesn’t seem to take offense to her brash communication. However, as soon as they are married, Petruchio begins “taming” her by gaslighting her and undermining her at every turn and denying her necessities like food, sleep, and clothing.This plot runs in sharp contrast to Bianca’s, who is able to woo an array of suitors after her sister is finally wed. Many men are running around and trying their best to deceive and bribe their way into Bianca’s heart, when she only has eyes for one called Lucentio.Between the comedy of a gaggle of men running around wildly to attempt to wed Bianca and the over-the-top portrayal of Katherina’s “taming,” The Taming of the Shrew is a humorous play that offers a fascinating look at the 16th century’s views on women, marriage, and domesticity.

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  The Death of Ivan Ilych

  Leo Tolstoy

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  Leo Tolstoy's late masterpiece on dying and the unravelling of the values of his middle class protagonist.

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  A Christmas Inspiration

  L. M. Montgomery

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  Beth and Jean and three other girls at No. 16 Chestnut Terrace are spending a cheery Christmas together opening presents that came in the mail, since none could go home this year. Beth remarks that Miss Allen, an older woman resident of the boarding house, is apparently alone this year. Though Miss Allen is not widely liked by the girls, they agree that no one should have to spend Christmas alone. Thus, a Christmas Inspiration is born.

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  Winnie the Pooh - The Lost...

  A.A. Milne

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  Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne: "Winnie-the-Pooh" introduces readers to the lovable and endearing characters of the Hundred Acre Wood, including the sweet-natured Winnie-the-Pooh, the timid Piglet, the wise Owl, and the energetic Tigger. Written by A. A. Milne for his son Christopher Robin, these charming stories of friendship, adventure, and simple pleasures have captured the hearts of generations. Milne's delightful tales and the whimsical illustrations by E. H. Shepard have made "Winnie-the-Pooh" an enduring classic of children's literature, celebrated for its warmth, humor, and timeless appeal. 
   
  A. A. Milne, whose full name is Alan Alexander Milne, was a celebrated English author and playwright, born on January 18, 1882, in London, England. He is best known for creating the beloved children's book series based on the endearing character Winnie-the-Pooh, inspired by his son Christopher Robin Milne and his collection of stuffed animals. Milne's delightful tales of friendship, adventure, and imagination captured the hearts of readers of all ages, becoming timeless classics. Beyond his Winnie-the-Pooh stories, Milne wrote numerous plays, novels, and poetry, showcasing his versatility and talent as a writer. His contributions to children's literature continue to bring joy and enchantment to generations worldwide.

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  From Beyond (Unabridged)

  H.P. Lovecraft

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  The story is told from the first-person perspective of an unnamed narrator and details his experiences with a scientist named Crawford Tillinghast. Tillinghast creates an electronic device that emits a resonance wave, which stimulates an affected person's pineal gland, thereby allowing them to perceive planes of existence outside the scope of accepted reality. Sharing the experience with Tillinghast, the narrator becomes cognizant of a translucent, inter-dimensional environment that overlaps our own recognized reality. From this perspective, he witnesses hordes of strange and horrific creatures that defy description. Tillinghast reveals that he has used his machine to transport his house servants into the overlapping plane of reality. He also reveals that the effect works both ways, and allows the inter-dimensional creature denizens of the alternate dimension to perceive humans. Tillinghast's servants were attacked and killed by one such inter-dimensional entity, and Tillinghast informs the narrator that it is right behind him. Terrified beyond measure, the narrator pulls out his gun and shoots it at the machine, destroying it. Tillinghast dies immediately thereafter as a result of apoplexy. The police investigate the scene and it is placed on record that Tillinghast murdered the servants in spite of their remains never being found.

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