Publisher: JH
The Deerslayer is the last book in Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales pentalogy, but acts as a prequel to the other novels. It begins with the rapid civilizing of New York, in which surrounds the following books take place. It introduces the hero of the Tales, Natty Bumppo, and his philosophy that every living thing should follow its own nature. He is contrasted to other, less conscientious, frontiersmen.
This is the story of a magnificent wolf-dog, born in the wild, who struggles to survive in the harsh Yukon. White Fang is the lone survivor of his family and soon learns to follow the brutal law of the North— kill or be killed. Isolated and mistreated, White Fang becomes a mortal fighter, feared by all. Only through kindness and gentleness is this killer transformed into an animal capable of great love.Show book
Perceval Gibbon was born on the 4th November 1879 in Trelech, Carmarthenshire in Wales and, unusually, was partly educated at the Moravian School, in Koenigsfeld, Baden, Germany. Gibbon’s early career was as a merchant seaman during which he travelled to Europe, Africa, and the Americas. These early experiences were later reflected in his literary works. He is perhaps best known for his 1912 novel ‘Margaret Harding’ but began his literary career as a poet with ‘African Items’ in 1903 followed quickly by two novels and then the first collection of his short stories in 1905: ‘Vrouw Grobelaar's Leading Cases’. His short stories were much admired, and many contained cutting and ironic endings. As a journalist he wrote for several newspapers including for the Rand Daily Mail and in the closing stages of the Boer War he wrote for the Natal Witness. As the First World War began its titanic struggle across Europe Gibbon joined British Intelligence and was also a war correspondent with the Italian Army from 1917-1918. By the end of the War he had advanced to the rank of Major in the British Royal Marines. Perceval Gibbon died on the 30th May 1926.Show book
This classic novel has been thrice adapted for the screen by the BBC. Mary Smith relates the story of her time with middle-aged spinster sisters Miss Matty and Miss Deborah. Witty, poignant, and often ironic, Cranford is the tale of what these two women will do to remain respectable, proper, and kind with only moderate means. “... an extremely clever piece of writing.”—Guardian (UK)Show book
Mary Frances Butts was born on 13th December 1890 in Poole, Dorset. Her early years were spent at Salterns, an 18th-century house overlooking Poole Harbour. Sadly in 1905 her father died, and she was sent for boarding at St Leonard's school for girls in St Andrews. Her mother remarried and, from 1909, Mary studied at Westfield College in London, and here, first became aware of her bisexual feelings. She was sent down for organising a trip to Epsom races and only completed her degree in 1914 when she graduated from the London School of Economics. By then Mary had become an admirer of the occultist Aleister Crowley and she was given a co-authorship credit on his ‘Magick (Book 4)’. In 1916, she began the diary which would now detail her future life and be a constant reference point for her observations and her absorbing experiences. During World War I, she was doing social work for the London County Council in Hackney Wick, and involved in a lesbian relationship. Life changed after meeting the modernist poet, John Rodker and they married in 1918. In 1921 she spent 3 months at Aleister Crowley's Abbey of Thelema in Sicily; she found the practices dreadful and also acquired a drug habit. Mary now spent time writing in Dorset, including her celebrated book of short stories ‘Speed the Plough’ which saw fully develop her unique Modernist prose style. Europe now beckoned and several years were spent in Paris befriending many artists and writing further extraordinary stories. She was continually sought after by literary magazines and also published several short story collections as books. Although a Modernist writer she worked in other genres but is essentially only known for her short stories. Mary was deeply committed to nature conservation and wrote several pamphlets attacking the growing pollution of the countryside. In 1927, she divorced and the following year her novel ‘Armed with Madness’ was published. A further marriage followed in 1930 and time was spent attempting to settle in London and Newcastle before setting up home on the western tip of Cornwall. By 1934 the marriage had failed. Mary Butts died on 5th March 1937, at the West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance, after an operation for a perforated gastric ulcer. She was 46. Her story ‘In Bayswater’ grippingly describes a man’s friendship with a dysfunctional family he rents a room from. As each facet reveals itself his opinion and decisions change, back and forth, this way and that….Show book
When Cedric Charlton - an unsuspecting tax inspector - arrives at the door of the Pop Larkin farm, he soon forgets the purpose of his visit... The fun-loving Ma and Pop Larkin distract him at every turn with strawberries, cream, alcohol, and their attractive young daughter, Mariette. Well known by the popular TV series starring David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones, The Darling Buds of May is the quintessential feel-good, country romp. It will have you falling wholeheartedly in love with the Larkin family and their carefree way of life. So grab a bowl of ice cream, pull out a deck chair and share in the 'perficktion' of country life. ©1958 H. E. Bates (P)2015 Naxos AudioBooksShow book
