Casa editrice: Alien Ebooks
A fascinating look at the impact of war, not only at the military front, but also on issues of social class and the role of women at the "home front."
Clotilde Augusta Inez Mary Graves was born on the 3rd June 1863 at Buttevant Castle, Co. Cork, to parents with military backgrounds. At age nine, the family moved to Southsea in England for yet another military posting. Her father’s postings gave her valuable experiences that would be put to good use in later years in some of her literary works. She was educated at a Catholic convent in Lourdes before returning to London in 1884 to study art in Bloomsbury. She worked part-time at the British Museum and the Royal Female School of Art and generated further income by drawing little pen-and-ink grotesques for the comic papers. A few years later a chance meeting found her writing extra lyrics for a pantomime version of Puss in Boots. She followed up with several financially successful plays, both in London and New York, and gained a measure of notoriety in one with the comparison of marriage and prostitution. Despite her dramatic success she published her first novel in 1911 under the pseudonym of Richard Dehan which she continued to use for later works. As well as novels and plays she published collections of short stories which glow with talent and invention. She was an unusual figure in London society, wearing her hair short, taking on a masculine manner and cut of clothing, and smoking cigarettes in public when such traits were considered eccentric at best. Add to this her admired collection of Chinese and Japanese trophies, her enthusiasm for fly-fishing and her riding of a tricycle and you have a perfect image of this fascinating writer. Clotilde Graves died at the convent of Our Lady of Lourdes at Hatch End in Middlesex, on the 3rd December 1932. She was 69.Mostra libro
Experience the timeless romance and mystery of "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë, narrated by the soothing voice of Elizabeth Grace and produced by Slumber Studios. Are restless nights a common occurrence? Whether you’re battling insomnia or a restless mind, this audiobook is tailored to guide you into a deep, rejuvenating sleep. Close your eyes, unwind, and let Elizabeth Grace's gentle narration lead you through the captivating tale of Jane Eyre. Journey with Jane from her challenging beginnings at Gateshead and Lowood School to her profound connection with Mr. Rochester at Thornfield Hall. Immerse yourself in the gothic beauty, emotional depth, and ultimate triumph of Jane's story. At Slumber Studios, we specialize in creating relaxing content to help you unwind and drift off to sleep. This audiobook features a slow, soft narration and calming background music, ensuring a tranquil transition to peaceful slumber. If you’re seeking a way to relax after a long day, you’ve found it. Simply press play, lay down in bed, and let Elizabeth's calming voice guide you into a world of dreams. Wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to embrace a new day.Mostra libro
Enoch Arnold Bennett was born on the 27th May 1867 in Hanley, one of the six towns that formed the Potteries and that later joined together to become Stoke-On-Trent. After passing entrance examinations for Cambridge University his solicitor father instead decided that he should work for him, unpaid, in his thriving office. In the evenings the young Bennett wrote or studied and one skill he developed was Pitman’s shorthand which gave him entrance to a position as a clerk at a solicitor’s office in London. From there followed various jobs but none seemed to be able to ignite his career as a full-time author. By 1903 he had moved to live in Paris; he was 35, unmarried and keen to settle into his new life. In 1908 he published his first remarkable novel; ‘Clayhanger’, that drew on his earlier life in the Potteries. A prolific writer he was able to deliver very fine works but also write many that were described as ‘potboilers’. Despite this disclaimer many were lapped up by an audience eager for his prose and helped turn him into the most financially successful author of the times. As the First World War drew to a close, he was appointed to run the Ministry of Information. During the 1920s he was reputedly the highest paid literary journalist in the land and continued to write novels, plays and short stories. Arnold Bennett died in his flat at Chiltern Court on the 27th March 1931, from typhoid after drinking water in France on his last holiday. He was 63.Mostra libro
Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey" stands as a unique gem among her body of work. Published posthumously in 1817, the novel offers a delightful departure from Austen's more conventional romantic tales, instead serving as a sharp satire of the gothic novel genre that was popular in her time. The story revolves around Catherine Morland, an earnest and imaginative young woman who is introduced to the world of society and courtship during her stay in Bath, England. As Catherine embarks on her own romantic adventures, Austen uses her character to playfully deconstruct the conventions of gothic literature, which was characterized by eerie castles, mysterious secrets, and dark, brooding heroes. Through Catherine's vivid imagination and penchant for reading gothic novels, Austen takes the opportunity to mock the sensationalism and melodrama of the genre. Catherine's expectations of intrigue and danger are repeatedly thwarted by the mundane realities of everyday life. Her tendency to view her surroundings through the lens of her favorite novels leads to humorous misunderstandings and serves as a commentary on the dangers of allowing fiction to overly influence one's perception of reality. Austen employs irony and humor throughout "Northanger Abbey" to highlight the contrast between Catherine's fanciful expectations and the ordinary events she encounters. The novel's satirical tone gently pokes fun at the excesses and absurdities of gothic literature while simultaneously celebrating the power of imagination and the importance of distinguishing between fiction and reality.Mostra libro
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on 29th January 1860 in Taganrog, on the south coast of Russia. His family life was difficult; his father was strict and over-bearing but his mother was a passionate story-teller, a subject Chekhov warmed to. As he later said; ‘our talents we got from our father, but our soul from our mother’. At school Chekhov was distinctly average. At 16 his father mis-managed his finances and was declared bankrupt. His family fled to Moscow. Chekhov remained and eked out a living by various means, including writing and selling short sketches to newspapers, to finish his schooling. That completed and with a scholarship to Moscow University obtained he rejoined his family. He was able to help support them by selling satirical sketches and vignettes of Russian lifestyles and gradually obtained further commissions. In 1884, he qualified as a physician and, although it earned him little, he often treated the poor for free, he was fond of saying ‘Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress.’ His own health was now an issue as he began to cough up blood, a symptom of tuberculosis. Despite this his writing success enabled him to move the family into more comfortable accommodation. Chekhov wrote over 500 short stories which included many, many classics including ‘The Kiss’ and ‘The Lady with a Dog’. His collection ‘At Dusk’ won him the coveted Pushkin Prize when was only 26. He was also a major playwright beginning with the huge success of ‘Ivanov’ in 1887. In 1892 Chekhov bought a country estate north of Moscow. Here his medical skills and money helped the peasants tackle outbreaks of cholera and bouts of famine. He also built three schools, a fire station and a clinic. It left him with less time for writing but the interactions with real people gained him detailed knowledge about the peasantry and their living conditions for his stories. His most famous work, ‘The Seagull’ was received disastrously at its premiere in St Petersburg. It was later restaged in Moscow to highlight its psychological aspects and was a huge success. It led to ‘Uncle Vanya’, ‘The Three Sisters’ and ‘The Cherry Orchard’. Chekhov suffered a major lung hemorrhage in 1897 while visiting Moscow. A formal diagnosis confirmed tuberculosis and the doctors ordered changes to his lifestyle. Despite a dread of weddings the elusive literary bachelor quietly married the actress Olga Knipper, whom he had met at rehearsals for ‘The Seagull’, on 25th May 1901. By May 1904 with his tuberculosis worsening and death imminent he set off for the German town of Badenweiler writing cheerful, witty letters to his family and assuring them his health was improving. On 15th July 1904 Anton Chekhov died at Badenweiler. He was 44.Mostra libro
Title: The Cats of Ulthar Author: H. P. Lovecraft Narrator: Jonathan Dunne Original Publication: 1920 Public Domain: Yes Series Placement: Number 16 in the Timeless Terrors series Description: The Cats of Ulthar by H. P. Lovecraft is a darkly enchanting tale set in a mythical land where superstition and cosmic justice intertwine. First published in 1920, the story recounts the curious events in the town of Ulthar, where it is said that no man may kill a cat. Through the eyes of a wandering traveler, we learn of the cruelty of an old couple who take pleasure in destroying cats, and of the strange vengeance that follows when a caravan of mysterious strangers arrives. The tale unfolds with Lovecraft’s unique blend of folklore and unease, weaving a fable that is at once cautionary and uncanny. This recording, narrated by Amazon bestselling horror author Jonathan Dunne, conveys both the mythic cadence and the chilling undercurrent of Lovecraft’s prose. While the text itself is in the public domain, this performance is an original work and copyright © 2025 Jonathan Dunne. This audiobook is part of Timeless Terrors, a dedicated series bringing classic horror back to life — stories from the great masters of the macabre, narrated afresh to haunt a new generation. Listeners should expect a strange and memorable meditation on cruelty, retribution, and the enigmatic power of cats in the unseen world.Mostra libro
