Other books that might interest you

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  Black Beauty

  Anna Sewell

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  "Black Beauty" is a classic work of children's literature penned by Anna Sewell in 1877. Told from the perspective of a horse named Black Beauty, the novel offers insights into the treatment of animals and the bond between humans and their animal companions. Black Beauty recounts his life's journey, from his carefree days as a foal in the English countryside to the harsher times he faced as a working horse in the bustling city of London. The narrative touches on issues of animal cruelty, kindness, and morality and promotes empathy and proper care for all living creatures.

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  Better Angel

  Richard Meeker

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  ""Better Angel" is a novel by Forman Brown, initially published in 1933 under the pseudonym Richard Meeker. Later, it was republished as "Torment" in 1951. This early novel offers a portrayal of a gay lifestyle without condemnation. In fact, Christopher Carey hailed it as the ""first homosexual novel with a truly happy ending"".    The title of the novel alludes to Shakespeare's Sonnet 144, which includes the line: "the better angel is a man right fair". This poem has been interpreted as having a homosexual subtext12.    The plot follows the journey of Kurt Gray, whose experiences mirror those of the author, Forman Brown. Kurt's life unfolds from his adolescent years in central Michigan to adulthood as a musician and composer. His story encompasses solitude, religious awakening, same-sex relationships, and intellectual exploration. The love affair between Kurt and another man, Derry, forms a central theme, along with their relationship with a third man named Tony. Notably, Brown based these characters on real individuals, including himself and his long-time lover, Harry Burnett.    Despite its initial lack of critical attention, "Better Angel" remains a significant work. It resurfaced in 1987 under its original title, with an introduction by Hubert Kennedy. Brown, who had used a pseudonym to protect his writing career and family, provided an epilogue for the 1990 reprint, explaining his reasons for anonymity.    This novel stands as a testament to the courage of early LGBTQ+ literature and offers a glimpse into the complexities of identity, love, and acceptance during a time when such themes were often silenced"

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  The Holy Night

  Selma Lagerlöf

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  As part of her collection "Christ Legends" Selma Lagerlöf wrote the story "The Holy Night," a Christmas-themed tale first published in sometime in the early 1900s but before her death in 1940. It tells the story of the author at five years old who experienced a great sadness when her grandmother passed which made her recall a story the old woman used to tell about the Holy Night.
  The story the grandmother tells is about a poor man who wanders around the village asking people for a single live coal to light his own fire, but keeps getting met with rejection until he runs into a shepherd who finds compassion in his heart to help, especially after seeing the state of the man's home and wife and child.

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  Cohen of Trinity - From their...

  Amy Levy

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  Amy Levy was born in London, England in 1861, the second of seven in a fairly wealthy Anglo-Jewish family. The children read and participated in secular literary activities and became firmly integrated into Victorian life. 
  Her education was at Brighton High School, Brighton, before studies at Newnham College, Cambridge; she was the first Jewish student when she arrived in 1879, but left after four terms. 
  Amy’s writing career began early; her poem ‘Ida Grey’ appeared when she was only fourteen. Her acclaimed short stories ‘Cohen of Trinity’ and ‘Wise in Their Generation,’ were published by Oscar Wilde in his magazine ‘Women's World’. 
  Her poetic writings reveal feminist concerns; ‘Xantippe and Other Verses’, from 1881 includes a poem in the voice of Socrates's wife. ‘A Minor Poet and Other Verse’ from 1884 comprises of dramatic monologues and lyric poems. 
  In 1886, Amy began a series of essays on Jewish culture and literature for the Jewish Chronicle, including ‘The Ghetto at Florence’, ‘The Jew in Fiction’, ‘Jewish Humour’ and ‘Jewish Children’. 
  That same year while travelling in Florence she met the writer Vernon Lee. It is generally assumed they fell in love and this inspired the poem ‘To Vernon Lee’. 
  Her first novel ‘Romance of a Shop’, written in 1888 is based on four sisters who experience the pleasures and hardships of running a London business during the 1880s. This was followed by Reuben Sachs (also 1888) and concerned with Jewish identity and mores in the England of her time and was somewhat controversial. 
  Her final book of poems, ‘A London Plane-Tree’ from 1889, shows the beginnings of the influence of French symbolism. 
  Despite many friendships and an active life, Amy suffered for many years with serious depressions and this, together with her growing deafness, led her to commit suicide by inhaling carbon monoxide on September 10th, 1889. She was 27.

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  Jane Eyre

  Charlotte Brontë

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  Step into the World of Romance, Mystery, and Resilience with Jane Eyre 
  Discover the timeless tale of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë’s masterpiece that has captivated readers for generations. This audiobook invites you to embark on Jane's extraordinary journey - from a childhood marred by cruelty and injustice to a life defined by independence, passion, and moral strength. 
  Follow Jane as she navigates the haunting halls of Thornfield Hall, where secrets lurk in the shadows and love blossoms against all odds. Experience her struggles for dignity and self-respect in a world that often denies her both. With unforgettable characters like the enigmatic Mr. Rochester and the fiery Bertha Mason, Jane Eyre is a profound exploration of identity, equality, and the power of the human spirit. 
  Perfectly narrated with the clarity and emotion of advanced AI, this audiobook breathes new life into a literary classic, making it accessible for both longtime fans and new listeners alike. 
  Prepare to be inspired, moved, and utterly captivated. Jane Eyre isn’t just a story - it’s an experience. 
  🎧 Listen now and let Jane’s voice guide you through her unforgettable tale.

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  Les Misérables: Volume 3: Marius...

  Victor Hugo

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  Victor-Marie Hugo (26 February 1802 - 22 May 1885) was a French poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, and dramatist of the Romantic movement. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote abundantly in an exceptional variety of genres: lyrics, satires, epics, philosophical poems, epigrams, novels, history, critical essays, political speeches, funeral orations, diaries, and letters public and private, as well as dramas in verse and prose.
  BOOK 6: THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS: Marius was, at this epoch, a handsome young man, of medium stature, with thick and intensely black hair, a lofty and intelligent brow, well-opened and passionate nostrils, an air of calmness and sincerity, and with something indescribably proud, thoughtful, and innocent over his whole countenance. His profile, all of whose lines were rounded, without thereby losing their firmness, had a certain Germanic sweetness, which has made its way into the French physiognomy by way of Alsace and Lorraine, and that complete absence of angles which rendered the Sicambres so easily recognizable among the Romans, and which distinguishes the leonine from the aquiline race.

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