Casa editrice: Alien Ebooks
Buchan's first book: the Sieur de Rohaine has fallen on hard times and leaves his native France to live for a while in the Scottish Highlands. "We understand that this is the first piece of fiction by a new writer. If so, it is a decidedly promising bit of work, full of humour and vitality, and it deserves to be successful" (The Bookman, December 1895).
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
Clever Hans is a fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm about a boy who ruins his engagement with a girl through a variety of comedic events. The title is claimed by most people to be ironic. It is Aarne-Thompson type 1685 and 1696.Mostra libro
Two close friends, Proteus and Valentine, are saying their goodbyes in the streets of Verona. Valentine plans to travel to Milan and discover the world, but Proteus wants to stay with Julia, a woman he loves. While in Milan, Valentine falls in love with the duke's daughter, Sylvia, and plans to elope with her. Antonio, Proteus' father, later orders his son to join Valentine in Milan. Before leaving, Proteus exchanges rings and vows of undying love with Julia. When Proteus enters the aristocratic courts of Milan, he instantly falls in love with Sylia and forgets all about Julia. The love triangle between Sylvia, Proteus, and Valentine will test the loyalty of friendship.Mostra libro
An army lieutenant concentrates on rationing out his company's supply of coffee, meticulously dividing the brown squares before him, when a shot rings out. The enlisted men, startled by the noise, suddenly see blood saturating their lieutenant's sleeve. In pain, the wounded officer sways, winces in disbelief, mutely surveys the forest, and tries instinctively and clumsily to sheathe the sword that he has been using to count out the coffee packets. His mind swirls with mysterious revelations about existence and the meaning of life. As his dumbstruck, sympathetic troops...Mostra libro
Robinson Crusoe is a timeless classic that tells the gripping tale of a young man's journey from ambition to survival. First published in 1719, the novel chronicles the adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a sailor whose life takes a dramatic turn when he is shipwrecked on a deserted island. Stranded for 28 years, Crusoe must use his wits, resourcefulness, and faith to overcome isolation, harsh conditions, and encounters with indigenous peoples and pirates.Through his struggles, Crusoe grows from a reckless seeker of fortune to a deeply introspective survivor. The book explores themes of resilience, human ingenuity, colonialism, and spirituality, making it both a thrilling adventure and a profound meditation on the human condition. Often regarded as one of the first English novels, Robinson Crusoe continues to captivate readers with its vivid storytelling and universal themes.Perfect for fans of adventure and those who love stories of triumph against all odds, Robinson Crusoe is a must-read that has inspired countless adaptations and remains a cornerstone of world literature.Mostra libro
Step into the world of classic literature with our digital audiobook version of "Young Goodman Brown and Other Stories." Immerse yourself in the haunting tales penned by some of the greatest authors in literary history. First up is Nathaniel Hawthorne's timeless masterpiece, "Young Goodman Brown," a journey into the heart of darkness where the line between reality and illusion blurs, leaving you questioning the nature of good and evil. Followed by Anthony M. Rud's "Ooze," a chilling exploration of the macabre that will send shivers down your spine as you venture into the mysterious depths of the unknown. Next, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's "A Debt of Honor" introduces you to a world of secrets and vengeance, where debts must be paid in blood, and the past can never truly be escaped. And finally, E. F. Benson's "Mr. Tilly's Seance" invites you to a gathering where the boundaries between the living and the dead are blurred, and the consequences of dabbling in the supernatural are all too real.Mostra libro
