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  The Cardinal's Snuff-Box - A...

  Henry Harland

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  An English novelist takes a villa in the Italian lakes to write, and finds his neighbor is a duchess, his gardener's daughter is not what she seems, and the local cardinal has a snuff-box and an eye for a plot. Harland edited The Yellow Book, the quarterly that defined the 1890s and then buried them; this sunlit comedy was his bestseller and the opposite of everything he had published. Sixty plates of Italian garden and lakeside scenes by painters including Giovanni Segantini and Giuseppe De Nittis, 1850 to 1924, mirror the sunlit world of the novel.

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  The Sea Raiders - From their...

  HG Wells

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  Herbert George Wells was born on September 21st, 1866 at Atlas House, 46 High Street, Bromley, Kent. He was the youngest of four siblings and his family affectionately knew him as ‘Bertie’.  
  The first few years of his childhood were spent fairly quietly, and Wells didn’t display much literary interest until, in 1874, he accidentally broke his leg and was left to recover in bed, largely entertained by the library books his father regularly brought him. Through these Wells found he could escape the boredom and misery of his bed and convalescence by exploring the new worlds he encountered in these books.  
  From these humble beginnings began a career that was, after several delays, to be seen as one of the most brilliant of modern English writers.    
  Able to write comfortably in a number of genres he was especially applauded for his science fiction works such as The Time Machine and War of the Worlds but his forays into the social conditions of the times, with classics such as Kipps, were almost as commercially successful.  His short stories are miniature masterpieces many of which bring new and incredible ideas of science fiction to the edge of present day science fact.  Wells also received four nominations for the Nobel Prize in Literature 
  Despite a strong and lasting second marriage his affairs with other women also brought the complications of fathering other children.  His writings and work against fascism, as well as the promotion of socialism, brought him into increasing doubts with and opposition to religion.  His writings on what the world could be in works, such as A Modern Utopia, are thought provoking as well as being plausible, especially when viewed from the distressing times they were written in. 
  His diabetic condition pushed him to create what is now the largest Diabetes charity in the United Kingdom.  Wells even found the time to run twice for Parliament. 
  It was a long, distinguished and powerfully successful career by the time he died, aged 79, on August 13th, 1946.

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  The Secret Garden | A Sleepy...

  Frances Hodgson Burnett

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  Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, brought to life by Slumber Studios with the soothing voice of Andrew Bond. This beloved classic, narrated to promote relaxation and a restful night's sleep, is perfect for listeners of all ages. 
  "The Secret Garden" tells the story of Mary Lennox, a young orphan sent to live with her reclusive uncle in a mysterious, secluded manor. While exploring, Mary discovers a hidden, neglected garden that holds the key to healing and transformation. Through her journey, she befriends a sickly cousin, Colin, and a spirited local boy, Dickon, and together they unlock the magic of the secret garden. 
  This timeless tale of friendship, rejuvenation, and the healing power of nature is ideal for unwinding before bed. Whether you struggle with insomnia, general restlessness, or simply enjoy a calming story to end your day, our audiobooks are crafted to guide you into a deep, peaceful slumber. 
  So settle in, relax, and let Andrew Bond's tranquil narration transport you to a magical garden, as it blooms and brings new life to all who encounter it. 
  Our audiobooks are designed with your peace in mind, featuring a slower narration pace and soothing background music to ensure a smooth transition into sleep. 
  If you're seeking a serene way to end your day and enrich your mind, "The Secret Garden" is the perfect choice. Just press play, get comfortable, and let Andrew's gentle voice guide you through this heartwarming story. Awake in the morning feeling refreshed and inspired.

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  Blood - From their pens to your...

  Hanns Heinz Ewers

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  Hanns Heinz Ewers was born on 3rd November 1871 in Düsseldorf, Germany. 
  His first published poem was at 17 on the death, after a reign of only 99 days, of the German Emperor Frederick III. 
  A stint in the German military was cut short after only 44 days because of his myopia.  Writing was to be the way forward for him with a book of satiric verse published in 1901. At the same time he co-founded a literary vaudeville troupe that toured central and eastern Europe before censors and expenses forced its closure.  An inveterate traveller he was in South America when the Great War enveloped Europe and he relocated to New York. 
  From here his story darkens. Although by now a successful and admired author he was arrested in the U S in 1918 as a German Agent on the pretext of his travels and a falsified Swiss passport. Interned, he was released in 1921 and returned to Germany.  He claimed only to be raising money for the German Red Cross. 
  His literary fame is decidedly easier to clarify. His novels beginning with ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ in 1910 are dark, they bristle with evil intent and are littered with characters who have a dubious moral compass and yet, along with his short stories, are brazen, brilliant feats of literary narrative. 
  He also wrote and published plays, fairy tales, opera librettos, critical essays and lectured for many years on ‘The Religion of Satan’ and was one of the first to write scripts for the cinema, which he considered a legitimate art form. 
  As the Weimar republic began its chaotic death throes Ewers became attracted to the rising Nazi Party.  At first he was warmly received despite disagreeing with its anti-semitism (his most famed literary character had a Jewish mistress) and he was even commissioned by Hitler to write a biography of the Nazi martyr Horst Wessel.  This together with his own homosexuality culminated with his works being banned in 1934 and his assets and property seized.  It took him many years to have the ban lifted.  This association rightfully clouds his personal reputation but has meant his literary contributions are also overlooked and neglected. 
  Hanns Heinz Ewers died of tuberculosis on 12th June 1943 in his Berlin apartment.

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  Beauty and the Beast and Tales...

  Bayard Taylor

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  Taylor announces at the outset that the facts are borrowed from the Russian author Petjerski and the fancy is his own, and then sets about softening outlines he considers too rugged for literary use. Around the title story stand his tales of home: Pennsylvania Quakers, German inns, Americans abroad and at their own firesides. Taylor was the best-known travel writer in America before he was forty, and later translated Faust into its original meters. Fifty-eight plates, among them Winslow Homer and Eastman Johnson, picture the American home and its roads, inns, and families that Taylor's tales of home bring to mind.

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  Five Children and It

  Edith Nesbit

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  "Five Children and It" by Edith Nesbit follows the adventures of the adventurous siblings who discover a magical creature, the Psammead, granting wishes with unpredictable outcomes. Each wish leads to comic misadventures, teaching valuable lessons about consequences, responsibility, and the fleeting nature of desires. Nesbit's enchanting tale explores the boundary between fantasy and reality, emphasizing the transformative power of imagination in the lives of these spirited children.

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