Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

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  A Case of Identity

  Arthur Conan Doyle

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  A Case of Identity is one of the 56 short Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and is the third story in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.The story revolves around the case of Miss Mary Sutherland, a woman with a substantial income from the interest on a fund set up for her. She is engaged to a quiet Londoner who has recently disappeared. Sherlock Holmes' detective powers are barely challenged as this turns out to be quite an elementary case for him, much as it puzzles Watson.The fiancé, Mr. Hosmer Angel, is a peculiar character, rather quiet, and rather secretive about his life. Miss Sutherland only knows that he works in an office in Leadenhall Street, but nothing more specific than that. All his letters to her are typewritten, even the signature, and he insists that she write back to him through the local Post Office.The climax of the sad liaison comes when Mr. Angel abandons Miss Sutherland at the altar on their wedding day.Famous works of the author Arthur Conan Doyle's: "A Study in Scarlet", "Silver Blaze", "The Hound of the Baskervilles", "The Yellow Face", "A Scandal in Bohemia", "The Red-Headed League", A Case of Identity", "The Boscombe Valley Mystery", "The Five Orange Pips", "The Man with the Twisted Lip", "The Blue Carbuncle", "The Speckled Band", "The Engineer's Thumb", "The Noble Bachelor", "The Beryl Coronet", "The Copper Beeches" and many more.

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  Diplomacy - From their pens to...

  Lafcadio Hearn

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  Lafcadio Hearn was born on the 27th June 1850 on the Ionian isle of Levkás in Greece to a British Army officer and a Greek Mother. 
  His father, fearing for his career prospects at being married to a Greek Orthodox wife, sent them to Dublin whilst he continued to advance his career with further postings.  Life there was difficult for mother and son.  His father returned, wounded and traumatised, when Lafcadio was three.  He annulled the marriage and she remarried but had to give up care of Lafcadio to her sister-in law.   
  After brief periods for Catholic education in England and France he emigrated to Ohio in the United States when he was 19, taking on a series of casual jobs before embarking on a career as a journalist, publishing poems and essays in Cincinnati.  It was whilst here that he began a side-line in translating, starting with Gautier and Flaubert.  He married in 1874 to a 20 year old African-American woman in violation of Ohio's anti-miscegenation law.  The marriage soon failed. 
  In 1877 he relocated to New Orleans to write on a variety of themes before picking up a two year assignment from Harper’s to write in the West Indies, where he also wrote his first novel. 
  In 1890 Harper’s sent him to Japan.  Here he left journalism and took the remarkable decision to become a schoolteacher in the north of Japan.   Enraptured by the culture he was driven to explain it in various Western publications to those who had little, if any, knowledge of its culture.  Within the year he had fallen in love with, and married, a high-born Japanese lady, together they would have four children.   
  In 1895 he became a Japanese national and took the name Koizumi Yakumo, Koizumi being his wife’s family name. 
  The following few years, whilst a professor of Literature at the Imperial University of Japan, were his most creative and admired period.   
  Lafcadio Hearn died of heart failure on the 26th of September 1904, in Tokyo, Japan shortly before leaving to deliver a series of lectures at Cornell University in New York State.  He was 54.

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  The Three Musketeers

  Alexandre Dumas

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  "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas is a classic adventure novel written in the early 19th century. The story follows the ambitious and courageous young man, D'Artagnan, who travels to Paris to join the King's Musketeers and prove his worth among the legendary figures Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. 
  At the beginning of the book, we are introduced to D'Artagnan as he embarks on his journey with only a horse and the wisdom of his father. He quickly finds himself caught up in conflicts that test his bravery and lead to encounters with formidable adversaries. The narrative sets the stage for D'Artagnan's character development, highlighting his boldness and fiery spirit as he faces challenges while seeking camaraderie among the renowned Musketeers. 
  The whimsical tone and swashbuckling adventures draw readers into a vibrant world filled with honor, friendship, and rivalry, ensuring an engaging start to this timeless tale.

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  Han of Iceland

  Victor Hugo

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  Han of Iceland is Victor Hugo's electrifying early novel—a dark and dramatic tale of rebellion, vengeance, and the struggle between tyranny and justice. Written when Hugo was only a teenager, this powerful work reveals the early brilliance of one of France's greatest literary minds, blending Gothic intensity with political intrigue and romantic heroism.
  
  Set in 17th-century Norway, the novel unfolds against a backdrop of oppression and unrest. The kingdom groans under corrupt authority, while whispers of rebellion stir among the people. At the heart of the chaos stands Han of Iceland—a mysterious, ferocious outlaw who roams the icy wilderness. Feared as a monster and hunted as a criminal, Han is a figure wrapped in myth and terror. Yet behind his savage reputation lies a deeply human story shaped by betrayal, injustice, and grief.
  
  Parallel to Han's story is that of Ordener Guldenlew, a courageous and noble young man determined to clear the name of his beloved Ethel Schumacker's father, who has been falsely imprisoned for treason. As Ordener ventures into the frozen mountains to confront the legendary outlaw, he becomes entangled in a web of conspiracy that reaches into the highest levels of power. What begins as a mission of honor soon transforms into a confrontation with cruelty, ambition, and the true cost of vengeance.
  
  In Han of Iceland, Hugo explores themes that would later define his literary masterpieces: the abuse of authority, the dignity of the oppressed, the complexity of justice, and the tension between civilization and savagery. The novel pulses with dramatic confrontations, haunting landscapes, and larger-than-life characters. The icy Nordic setting mirrors the emotional intensity of the narrative, creating an atmosphere both stark and unforgettable.
  
  Though it is an early work, the novel foreshadows Hugo's later achievements in Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Readers will recognize his fascination with social injustice, moral struggle, and the redemptive power of courage and compassion. At the same time, the book carries a Gothic flair—filled with suspense, secret plots, and a brooding antihero whose legend looms over every page.
  
  Han of Iceland is a gripping blend of romance, adventure, and political drama. It is a story of loyalty tested, power corrupted, and humanity revealed in the harshest of conditions. For readers who appreciate classic literature rich in emotion, atmosphere, and moral complexity, this novel offers a compelling journey into the early imagination of a literary giant.

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  Reality or Delusion - From their...

  Ellen Wood aka Mrs Henry Wood

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  Ellen Price was born on 17th January 1814 in Worcester.  
  In 1836 she married Henry Wood, whose career in banking and shipping meant living in Dauphiné, in the South of France, for two decades.  During their time there they had four children. 
  Henry’s business collapsed and he and Ellen together with their four children returned to England and settled in Upper Norwood near London.   
  Ellen now turned to writing and with her second book ‘East Lynne’ enjoyed remarkable popularity. This enabled her to support her family and to maintain a literary career. 
  It was a career in which she would write over 30 novels including ‘Danesbury House’, ‘Oswald Cray’, ‘Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles’, ‘The Channings’ and ‘The Shadow of Ashlydyat’.  
  Sadly, her husband, Henry died in 1866. 
  Ellen though continued to strive on. In 1867, she purchased the magazine ‘Argosy’, founded two years previously by Alexander Strahan.  She was a prolific writer and wrote much of the magazine herself although she had some very respected contributors, amongst them Hesba Stretton and Christina Rossetti. Although she would gradually pare down writing for the magazine she continued to write novel after novel.  Such was her talent that for a time she was, in Australia, more popular than Charles Dickens. 
  Apart from novels she was an excellent translator and a writer of short stories.  ‘Reality or Delusion?’ is a staple of supernatural anthologies to this day. 
  Ellen Wood died of bronchitis on 10th February 1887).  He estate was valued at a very considerable £36,000.  
  She is buried in Highgate Cemetery, London.  
  A monument to her in Worcester Cathedral was unveiled in 1916.

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  The Tempest

  William Shakespeare

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  A spellbinding tale of magic, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption, The Tempest is one of William Shakespeare's most imaginative and poetic plays. Set on a mysterious island filled with enchantment and hidden dangers, this late romance blends drama, fantasy, and profound reflection into a story that continues to captivate audiences across centuries.
  
  At the center of the play is Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, who was betrayed by his brother Antonio and cast adrift at sea with his young daughter, Miranda. Stranded on a remote island, Prospero has mastered the art of magic and commands the spirit Ariel, along with other mystical forces. When fate brings his enemies within reach—sailing near the island—Prospero conjures a violent storm that shipwrecks them on its shores.
  
  As the castaways struggle to survive and make sense of their strange surroundings, Prospero carefully orchestrates events to confront his betrayers and restore justice. Meanwhile, Miranda encounters Ferdinand, the son of the King of Naples, and the two fall deeply in love, offering hope for reconciliation between once-divided families.
  
  Through its richly layered narrative, The Tempest explores themes of power, illusion, freedom, revenge, and forgiveness. Prospero's journey from anger to mercy lies at the heart of the play, raising timeless questions about authority, control, and the true nature of strength. The character of Caliban, the island's original inhabitant, adds further depth to the story, prompting reflection on colonialism, identity, and belonging.
  
  Often considered Shakespeare's farewell to the stage, The Tempest carries a tone of reflection and resolution. Its lyrical language and imaginative setting create a world where the boundaries between reality and enchantment blur, and where transformation becomes possible.
  
  Enchanting, thought-provoking, and deeply human, The Tempest remains a masterpiece of dramatic literature—a magical exploration of loss and reconciliation, and a powerful reminder that forgiveness can be the greatest act of all.

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