Editorial: Polidori Books
In John William Polidori's The Vampyre, two men decide to travel together in Europe. On their journey, one of the men notices that his companion has troubling habits including one which is deadly.
The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry is a hilarious and ironic short story that flips the classic kidnapping plot on its head. First published in 1907, this timeless tale follows two small-time crooks who plan to kidnap the son of a wealthy man and hold him for ransom… only to discover that the boy is far more trouble than they bargained for. As chaos unfolds, the would-be kidnappers find themselves at the mercy of their wildly imaginative and hyperactive captive, “Red Chief,” who sees their criminal scheme as the perfect opportunity to live out his frontier fantasies. Full of O. Henry’s trademark wit, irony, and clever dialogue, this story delivers laugh-out-loud moments while skewering human folly and assumptions. Brought to life with vibrant narration and comic timing, this audiobook is a must-listen for fans of classic American short stories, lighthearted crime fiction, and literary humor.Ver libro
Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author? The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature. Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something. ‘The Old South’ is usually seen as an alluring, almost mysterious mythological land that the rest of America could never be. Side by side poverty and the genteel well-to-do have lived, on one side disparaging, on the other envious. Literary talents here are everywhere, detailing and witnessing for generations to come the inequality and iniquity that fuel much of its famed literature. 1 - The Top 10 - US Authors of the South - An Introduction 2 - The Million Pound Bank Note by Mark Twain 3 - The Caballero's Way by O Henry 4 - On the Gull's Road by Willa Cather 5 - The Stones of the Village by Alice Dunbar Nelson 6 - A Cullenden of Virginia by Thomas Wolfe 7 - The Octoroon's Revenge by Ruth D Todd 8 - The City of Refuge by Rudolph Fisher 9 - The Difference by Ellen Glasgow 10 - Skulls in the Stars by Robert E Howard 11 - The Strange Looking Man by Fanny Kemble JohnsonVer libro
A novel is a marriage. A short story a love affair. Prominent authors have described short stories as the most disciplined and difficult form of prose writing. Bronwyn Elsmore’s collection These Islands Here – Short Stories of the South Pacific, includes 32 fictional tales that present the varied facets of living in this part of the world. Most have been published previously, several have won short story competitions. Reviewers say: "the author has mastered the art of the short story"; "they all have one common factor – they are each beautifully crafted". “The 32 stories in this book are divided into decades, each time period with its own helpful introduction. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll learn more about the recent histories of Aotearoa/New Zealand.”Ver libro
Two leading London barristers--Queen's Counsels--disappear during a murder trial, one for the prosecution and one for the defense. Junior defense barrister Charles Dallas searches for his two colleagues, but they are about to undergo the most bizarre of trials themselves. English novelist and poet John Oxenham (November 12, 1852 - January 28, 1941) was born William Arthur Dunkerley in Manchester, England, in 1852. His entry into the literary world was not as a writer but as a publisher; with several partners he started the publication "The Idler", and later on the weekly "To-Day". He traveled extensively in Europe, Canada and the US as part of his publishing duties, but eventually decided he wanted to be a writer more than he did a publisher, and in 1913 he finished "Bees in Amber". However, his publisher would not spend a penny promoting it, and even asked that he limit the book to no more than 200 copies, as they knew they could not sell that many. He eventually printed the book at his own expense; it wound up selling almost 300,000 copies. During World War I he self-published several volumes of poetry, and together they sold over a million copies. He also wrote a song called "Hymn for the Men at the Front" that eventually sold more than 8,000,000 copies. Altogether he has published more than 40 novels, poetry books and essays.Ver libro
In "Splinters of Us," Olivia finds herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions and choices as she navigates the turbulent waters of love and self-discovery. Struggling with her long-standing affection for her best friend Ethan, Olivia's life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Max, a charismatic newcomer with a hidden past. As Olivia becomes entangled in a complex love triangle, she is forced to confront her deepest fears and desires. Ethan's unexpected confession and Max's mysterious revelations challenge Olivia's perceptions of herself and her relationships. Through heart-wrenching decisions and moments of profound clarity, Olivia learns that her journey is not just about choosing between two men but about finding her path and embracing her true self. "Splinters of Us" explores the delicate balance between familiarity and excitement, and the importance of self-love and personal growth. In this emotionally charged narrative, Olivia’s story will resonate with anyone who has ever grappled with their own heart’s choices and the search for identity.Ver libro
Six has always been a number we group things around – Six of the best, six of one half a dozen of another, six feet under, six pack, six degrees of separation and a sixth sense are but a few of the ways we use this number. Such is its popularity that we thought it is also a very good way of challenging and investigating an author’s work to give width, brevity, humour and depth across six of their very best. In this series we gather together authors whose short stories both rivet the attention and inspire the imagination to visit their gems in a series of six, to roam across an author’s legacy in a few short hours and gain a greater understanding of their writing and, of course, to be lavishly entertained by their ideas, their narrative and their way with words. These stories can be surprising and sometimes at a tangent to what we expected, but each is fully formed and a marvellous adventure into the world and words of a literary master. 1 - Six of the Best - H G Wells - An Introduction 2 - H G Wells - An Introduction 3 - The Crystal Egg by H G Wells 4 - The Man Who Could Work Miracles by H G Wells 5 - The Sea Raiders by H G Wells 6 - The Magic Shop by H G Wells 7 - The Flowering of the Strange Orchid by H G Wells 8 - A Dream of Armageddon - Part 1 by H G Wells 9 - A Dream of Armageddon - Part 2 by H G WellsVer libro
