Translator Peter Anthony Motteux, Thomas Urquhart
Publisher: e-artnow
Gargantua and Pantagruel is a pentalogy of novels which tells of the adventures of two giants, Gargantua and his son Pantagruel. The book is written in an amusing, extravagant, and satirical vein, and features much crudity, scatological humor, and violence.
"The Scarlet Pimpernel" is a historical adventure novel first published in 1905. Written by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, the story is set during the early phase of the French Revolution and introduces the character of Sir Percy Blakeney, a daring English nobleman who disguises himself as the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel. Under this alter ego, he daringly rescues French aristocrats from the guillotine. The novel also explores the tension and romance between Sir Percy and his French wife, Marguerite, who is initially unaware of her husband's secret identity. The book has been adapted into numerous stage and film productions and has spawned sequels and a whole series of Pimpernel books.Show book
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an 1845 memoir and treatise on abolition written by famous orator and former slave Frederick Douglass during his time in Lynn, Massachusetts. It is generally held to be the most famous of a number of narratives written by former slaves during the same period. In factual detail, the text describes the events of his life and is considered to be one of the most influential pieces of literature to fuel the abolitionist movement of the early 19th century in the United States. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass encompasses eleven chapters that recount Douglass's life as a slave and his ambition to become a free man. It contains two introductions by well-known white abolitionists: a preface by William Lloyd Garrison, and a letter by Wendell Phillips, both arguing for the veracity of the account and the literacy of its author.Show book
This audiobook delves into the scandalous world of high society, love affairs, and social maneuvering in 19th-century Paris. The story revolves around Esther, a beautiful and ambitious courtesan, and her rise to power through relationships with wealthy and influential men. Balzac's vivid depiction of the character's motivations and manipulations exposes the underbelly of Parisian society, where desire, ambition, and greed drive the actions of the elite. With its incisive critique of societal values, "Scenes from a Courtesan's Life" remains a significant work within Balzac's panoramic exploration of French society. Honoré de Balzac, a French novelist, and playwright, is renowned for his ambitious project "La Comédie Humaine," a vast collection of interconnected novels and stories depicting various aspects of French society in the early 19th century. Balzac's realistic portrayals of characters and society set a new standard for French literature and earned him a lasting place in literary history.Show book
Book 11: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame or Notre-Dame de Paris is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. - The story is set in Paris in 1482 during the reign of Louis XI. The gypsy Esmeralda (born as Agnes) captures the hearts of many men, including those of Captain Phoebus and Pierre Gringoire, but especially Quasimodo and his guardian Archdeacon Claude Frollo. Frollo is torn between his obsessive lust for Esmeralda and the rules of Notre Dame Cathedral. He orders Quasimodo to kidnap her, but Quasimodo is captured by Phoebus and his guards, who save Esmeralda. Gringoire, who attempted to help Esmeralda but was knocked out by Quasimodo, is about to be hanged by beggars when Esmeralda saves him by agreeing to marry him for four years.Show book
The classic novel of two mixed-race siblings who flee the South after the Civil War, hiding their identities—until a romance brings the truth to light.A landmark in African American literature, The House Behind the Cedars tells the tale of Rena Walden, who runs away from North Carolina to start a new life with her brother. Their mixed ancestry allows them to “pass” as white—and they settle into life in Clarence, South Carolina, keeping their past a secret.But Rena eventually becomes romantically involved with a white man from a prominent and wealthy family—and their lives are turned upside-down when her true heritage is revealed. “A story of sustained strength and interest, wrought out to an artistic finale.” —Detroit Free PressShow book
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was an English writer of 957 short stories and over 170 novels. He is widely recognized as one of the most prolific writers of his age. "White Stockings" is a compelling and cleverly constructed story about a vengeful jilted lover with a gambling addiction, a racing tout, a gullible lover, a hairdresser and a wily old racehose owner... most of whom are hell-bent on double-crossing each other.Show book
