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  One Autumn Night - From their...

  Maxim Gorky

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  Alexei Maximovich Peshkov was born on 28th March 1868, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. 
  Better known as Maxim Gorky he was orphaned at 11 and ran away from home at 12.  At 19 he had already attempted suicide and thereafter travelled, by foot, across the Russian Empire for 5 years. 
  His first book ‘Essays & Stories’ in 1898 was a sensation and so began a long career as an author of short stories, novels and plays.  Gorky saw writing as a moral and political act that would help to change the unjust world around him.  He was an ardent early advocate of the emerging Marxist movement and publicly opposed the Tsarist regime leading several times to his arrest.  
  In 1904 he began his own theatre but the censor banned every play and Gorky was forced to abandon the project. 
  But Gorky was a financially successful author, editor, and playwright and gave monies to political parties as well as for civil rights and social reform.  The brutal shooting of workers, which set in motion the Revolution of 1905, pushed Gorky more decisively toward radical solutions.  
  In 1906 he went to the United States to raise funds for the Bolsheviks. Those experiences including a scandal over travelling with his lover and not his wife deepened his contempt for the ‘bourgeois soul.’ 
  Gorky now moved to Capri in Italy, both for health reasons and to escape the increasingly repressive times in Russia.  
  An amnesty for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty saw him return to Russia in 1914. His politics remained close to the Bolshevik cause.  But soon, after the 1918 revolution, his essays referred to Lenin as a tyrant for his senseless arrests and repression.  He was soon appealing to the outside world for food aid after the catastrophic crop failure. 
  In October 1921 Gorky returned to Italy, now in Fascist hands, and settled in Sorrento until 1932.  His health worsened with the onset of tuberculosis. 
  He wrote several successful books there but now decided to find an understanding with the communist regime. Stalin invited him home and his return was hailed as a major propaganda victory.  He was decorated with the Order of Lenin, and a province, a park, and various streets re-named in his honour. 
  But he had his faults too.  In 1933, Gorky co-edited a book on the White Sea-Baltic Canal and denied even a single prisoner died during its construction, but thousands had. As well, knowing that some Nazis were homosexual, a phrase was attributed to him that said ‘exterminate all homosexuals and fascism will vanish’.  Although he was himself was quoting another he was decidedly homophobic. 
  With the increase of Stalinist repression in 1935 Gorky was placed under unannounced house arrest. 
  Maxim Gorky died on the 18th June 1936 from pneumonia.  He was 68. 
  Stalin and Molotov were among those who carried Gorky's urn of ashes at his funeral.

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  Twelve Days of Winter

  Stuart MacBride

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  A collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season – from the No. 1 bestseller Stuart MacBrideOn the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… 
  Twelve days, twelve stories. 
  Meet Fat Billy Partridge, possibly the worst cat-burglar ever; newbie drug-dealer Brian, who probably shouldn’t be taking advantage of the job’s fringe benefits; Philippe, a chef with anger-management issues and lots of very sharp knives; Mr Unwin, the undertaker with the golden touch; and Lord Peter Forsyth-Leven, MSP, learning the hard way that having it all means you’ve got so much more to lose… 
  Thieves, drug dealers, lap-dancers, gangsters and even the odd good guy populate these twelve interlinked tales of crime and retribution set around the festive season. 
  Stuart MacBride, the Sunday Times bestselling author, brings his unique blend of black humour and mystery to the fore in this collection of hard-boiled thrillers. His distinctive voice and top-notch storytelling make this a must-read for fans of detective fiction. 
  For fans of Jd Kirk (A Killer of Influence), Ed James (Where the Bodies Lie), David J. Gatward (Grimm Up North), Tg Reid (The Killing Parade), and J M Dalgliesh (When Death Calls).

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  Sarajevo Marlboro

  Miljenko Jergović

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  Miljenko Jergović’s landmark collection of stories, Sarajevo Marlboro, set during the siege of Sarajevo, provides a deeply personal perspective on the lives of ordinary people trapped in extraordinary circumstances. At the same time, it offers profound insight into the universality of wartime suffering. 
  A native of Sarajevo, Jergović worked as a journalist for the weekly newspaper Nedjeljna Dalmacija, reporting from the besieged city during the Bosnian War, where he also served as a television editor. He witnessed moments of love, loss, and hope that transcended the surrounding violence. Against the backdrop of a war-torn city, these stories capture the resilience of everyday life. Each tale is a gem, rich with vivid details and unforgettable characters who linger in the reader’s mind long after the final page. Sarajevo Marlboro earned Jergović international acclaim and several prestigious awards, including the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Prize and the Ksaver Šandor Gjalski Award. 
  A tremendous volume; everybody should read it. “The Gardener” is one of the best stories I’ve ever read, but there are so many gems here — approachable, readable, witty, open, devastating. - John Darnielle, The Mountain Goats 
  Miljenko Jergović is a renowned Bosnian and Croatian writer, journalist, and publicist, recognized as one of the most prominent authors of the post-Yugoslav era, with acclaim extending beyond his native language. His works have been widely translated, receiving numerous domestic and international literary awards, solidifying his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary literature. He lives and works in Zagreb, Croatia. 
  Publication of this audiobook was cofunded by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia.

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  The Technopath - A Powers Masks...

  Tao Wong

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  Breaking News: Confessions of the Supervillain Mask the Technopath!  
  In an exclusive scoop, the Daily Messenger has acquired the transcript of the infamous Technopath’s interview with the Power Defense Authority upon her initial capture after the August 19th terrorist incident in downtown Mayson.  
  Among the shocking revelations in the transcript is allusions to the PDA knowing of her villainous sire, on-going abuse of the children of Masks and accusations of terrorism and collusion against Mordant Technologies.  
  For full details, just subscribe to the Daily Messenger within!  
  Written by bestselling author of the post-apocalyptic LitRPG the System Apocalypse and xianxia A Thousand Li , Tao Wong.

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  Two Tales From Anton Chekhov

  Anton Chekhov

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  Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (January 29, 1860 - July 15, 1904) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who, though a doctor by profession, is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his best short stories are held in high-esteem by writers and critics. The following recording includes the short stories, "The Trousseau" and "Champagne (A Wayfarer's Story)."

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  The Riddle

  Walter de la Mare

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  This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice.  
  The Riddle by Walter de la Mare is a haunting and mysterious tale about seven children sent to live with their elderly grandmother in a grand, old house. The house is full of charm, but the grandmother gives them one stern warning: they must never play near the ancient oak chest in the spare bedroom. What lies within the locked chest, and why do the children feel an irresistible pull to uncover its mystery? A mystery that may lead them to the unknown...

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