A Thorny Path (Historical Novel)

Georg Ebers

Translator Clara Bell

Summary

A Thorny Path is a historical novel set in ancient Egypt, portraying a tale of young girls Melissa, daughter of Alexandrian gem-cutter and artist Heron.
"Above the huge stone edifice which was thus lighted up, the dome of the Serapeum rose high into the air, its summit appearing to touch the sky. Never had the gigantic structure seemed so beautiful to the girl, who had only seen it by daylight; for under the illumination, arranged by a master-hand, every line stood out more clearly than in the sunlight; and in the presence of this wonderful sight Melissa's impressionable young soul forgot the trouble that had weighed on it, and her heart beat higher. Her lonely life with her father had hitherto fully satisfied her, and she had, never yet dreamed of anything better in the future than a quiet and modest existence, caring for him and her brothers; but now she thankfully experienced the pleasure of seeing for once something really grand and fine, and rejoiced at having escaped for a while from the monotony of each day and hour. Once, too, she had been with her brothers and Diodoros, Alexander's greatest friend, to see a wild-beast fight, followed by a combat of gladiators; but she had come home frightened and sorrowful, for what she had seen had horrified more than it had interested her. And yet she had loved Diodoros from her childhood, and she would have enjoyed sitting quietly by his side more than looking on at the show."

Available since: 05/07/2021.

Print length: 513 pages.

Romance

Other books that might interest you

Beauty or Brains

Barbara Cartland

Barbara Cartland was the most prolific and popular romantic author of the Twentieth Century enchanting millions of readers with her unequalled tales of pure romance, dashing heroes, beautiful heroines, and of course, her trademark happy endings.

Now, as a tribute to Her Majesty the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee and to Barbara’s enduring appeal to romantics everywhere, her publishers have  launched her past collection - The Eternal Collection.

The collection includes - Elizabethan Lover, The Little Pretender, A Ghost in Monte Carlo and A Duel of Hearts which were all in circulation at the time Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952. The books are available at the Kindle Store at Amazon.co.uk – or from Amazon.com.

Ian McCorquodale, Barbara Cartland’s son, said, “My mother would have been so delighted that modern technology can now make her glorious and timeless romances so readily available to new generations of readers all over the world.”

Show book

Journey to a Star

Barbara Cartland

The dashing Marquis of Oakenshaw is asked by the Foreign Secretary to visit Siam to reassure the King who has been upset by Britain and France quarrelling over the frontiers.
Wealthy, handsome and a confirmed bachelor, the Marquis asks several friends to accompany him on his yacht to stave off the boredom of the long journey, including the latest Social Beauty – the recently widowed Lady Bradwell.
At the last moment, Lady Bradwell, having accepted excitedly, finds herself without a lady’s maid. Her cousin Tarina, also very beautiful but extremely poor, agrees to come with her under a disguised name.
How Tarina learns for the first time of the intrigues and temptations of Society but how she also lifts her eyes to the stars is told in this romance novel by Barbara Cartland.

Show book

When Twilight Breaks

Sarah Sundin

Munich, 1938. Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. If she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed--and wake up the folks back home. 
 
In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind. 
 
This electric standalone novel from fan-favorite Sarah Sundin puts you right at the intersection of pulse-pounding suspense and heart-stopping romance.

Show book

A Royal Punishment

Barbara Cartland

By edict of her Godmother, the Queen, lovely young Clotilda is shipped off to an obscure Balkan nation to marry its sexually depraved and sadistic reigning prince… Her reluctant escort: a dashing and devilish Marquis, loved by London Society’s ladies as much as he’s loathed by their jealous husbands… As his innocent young charge is attacked and then kidnapped by murderous brigands, he loses his heart… And the Marquis’s royal punishment becomes an all-consuming labour of love.

Show book

The Play's the Thing

Jessica Barksdale Inclán

Shakespeare has never been this sexy!

One evening when helping a colleague stage The Merchant of Venice, English professor Jessica Randall slides momentarily back to 1598. Later that night, she lands for good in the chambers of one William Shakespeare, a down-on-his luck playwright.

His biggest problem of late has been a non-stop stream of Jessicas apparating into his chambers nightly. Yet Jessica's appearance halts the visitations, though neither have a clue why. Can she get back to 2018? They don't know that either, and together they begin to craft a life together, all the while trying to break the time travel curse and avoid falling in love.

As Jessica grapples with practical (what is and how does one put on a farthingale?) and emotional (how to risk your heart when everything might disappear in an instant?) aspects of adapting to Elizabethan London, she must try to solve the mystery of the other Jessicas. More importantly, she must figure out how to get home without suffering from the broken heart she knows she can't avoid.

Despite being thwarted at every turn, Jessica manages to navigate her new world and her old one and save not only herself but Will Shakespeare and his legacy.

Praise for the books by Jessica Barksdale Inclán

“A magical, mystical tale, one you won’t soon forget.” —Amanda Ashley, author of A Fire in the Blood

“An author to watch.” —Kristin Hannah, author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone

“Jessica Barksdale Inclán brings a profound understanding of human nature to her characters.” —Sally Mandel, author of Take Me Back

“A rich blend of fantasy, farce and spot-on history, The Play's the Thing is a joyous journey through time, place, and the universal complexity of the human heart. A delightful marriage of Peggy Sue Got Married and Shakespeare in Love—a celebration not to be missed.”—Warren Read, author of Ash Falls and One Simple Thing

Show book

No Heart is Free

Barbara Cartland

Tally, Lord Brora, is heartbroken to discover that Amelia Melchester, whom he hoped to marry, has jilted him for Ernest Danks, a man likely to be the next Prime Minister. In a chance encounter, he meets young Jean Macloed, who is in the same unhappy situation as himself. Tally devises a scheme to bring Amelia and Jean's boyfriend, Angus, to their senses.
 
With the help of his friend Gerald, Tally transforms Jean from a penniless waif to society beauty and takes her to St. Moritz, with his mother acting as chaperone, in a bid to make the love of his life, Amelia, jealous and take him back. All is going to plan until a skiing accident makes Jean realise she no longer loves Angus. In despair she understands that her pretend love for Tally, is the real thing but his heart still belongs to the lovely, but selfish Amelia. She travels back to England to help some friends whose child is seriously ill and discovers a secret that could change the life of Tally’s mother, Margert Melton, forever.
 
How Tally’s plan unravels and how the revelations of the past come to the surface are told in this magnificently moving story of jealously, sadness and the power of love to heal all.

Show book