Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

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  Peter Pan

  Saviour Pirotta

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  Wendy knows that all children have to grow up... all apart from the magical Peter Pan! When Peter flies through the nursery window and invites Wendy and her brothers, John and Michael, to come to Never-Never-Land, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime. J. M. Barrie's best-loved tale of Lost Boys, mermaids, pirates and a boy who will never grow up has been retold and adapted for younger readers aged 6+. 
   
  ABOUT THE SERIES: Abridged and retold in modern English, Arcturus Easy-to-Read Classics make 16 classic stories accessible to readers as young as six, while retaining all the charm, atmosphere, and sense of adventure that made the original tales world-famous.

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  The Great Gatsby

  F. Scott Fitzgerald

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  The Great Gatsby, set in the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties on Long Island, New York, is a poignant critique of the American Dream. The novel is not just a love story but a tragic tale of ambition, class, and the illusion of social mobility, encapsulated in the era's excess and disillusionment. When the novel was first published in 1925, it did not enjoy immediate commercial success. Only around 20,000 copies were sold in its first year, and Fitzgerald himself considered it a commercial disappointment. By the time of his death in 1940, Fitzgerald felt his work, including Gatsby, had been forgotten, with sales being so low that he was reportedly buying copies himself to keep it in print. The novel's fortunes changed dramatically during World War II when the Council on Books in Wartime chose it for distribution to American soldiers, printing over 155,000 copies. This initiative significantly boosted its popularity and recognition, transforming it from a largely forgotten work into an American classic. Today, The Great Gatsby sells approximately 500,000 copies annually, with total sales reaching over 25 million copies worldwide since its original publication. It has become Scribner's best-selling title, illustrating its enduring appeal and commercial success. Overall, The Great Gatsby has not only achieved commercial success but has also left a profound and lasting impact on American literature and culture, embodying the complexities and contradictions of the American experience. 
  F. Scott Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American novelist and short story writer, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. His works are emblematic of the Jazz Age, particularly capturing the spirit and excesses of the Roaring Twenties in America. 
  Frank Marcopolos lives in Florida with his dog, Sparky.

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  The Water Babies

  Charles Kingsley

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  Charles Kingsley's "The Water-Babies" stands as a timeless masterpiece that has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers since its first publication in 1863. A remarkable Victorian clergyman, author, and social reformer, Kingsley wove together a captivating narrative that transcends its era, providing readers with a delightful blend of fantasy, morality, and social commentary. 
  Set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, "The Water-Babies" reflects the societal concerns and moral dilemmas of Kingsley's time. In this enchanting tale, we follow the journey of Tom, a chimney sweep's apprentice who undergoes a miraculous transformation into a water-baby after a series of trials and adventures. As Tom explores the aquatic world, encountering an array of whimsical characters and undergoing moral lessons, Kingsley invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the world around them. 
  One of the novel's unique features is its dual nature as both a charming fairy tale and a vehicle for social critique. Kingsley uses the fantastical underwater realm to address issues of child labour, environmental degradation, and the moral conduct of society. Through humour, wit, and imaginative storytelling, he imparts valuable lessons about compassion, responsibility, and personal growth. 
  "The Water-Babies" remains relevant today as it resonates with universal themes and moral insights that extend beyond the Victorian context. The narrative's enduring appeal lies not only in its engaging storyline but also in the profound messages that it conveys about human nature and societal values. 
  Head Stories Audio presents " The Water Babies" by Charles Kingsley - narrated by Simon Hester. With original music.

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  Betty Brown the St Giles Orange...

  Hannah More

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  Hannah More was born on February 2nd, 1745 at Fishponds in the parish of Stapleton, near Bristol. She was the fourth of five daughters. 
  The City of Bristol, at that time, was a centre for slave-trading and Hannah would, over time, become one of its staunchest critics.  
  She was keen to learn, possessed a sharp intellect and was assiduous in studying.  Hannah first wrote in 1762 with The Search after Happiness (by the mid-1780s some 10,000 copies had been sold). 
  In 1767 Hannah became engaged to William Turner.  After six years, with no wedding in sight, the engagement was broken off.  Turner then bestowed upon her an annual annuity of £200.  This was enough to meet her needs and set her free to pursue a literary career.   
  Her first play, The Inflexible Captive, was staged at Bath in 1775. The famous David Garrick himself produced her next play, Percy, in 1777 as well as writing both the Prologue and Epilogue for it.  It was a great success when performed at Covent Garden in December of that year.  
  Hannah turned to religious writing with Sacred Dramas in 1782; it rapidly ran through nineteen editions. These and the poems Bas-Bleu and Florio (1786) mark her gradual transition to a more serious and considered view of life. 
  Hannah contributed much to the newly-founded Abolition Society including, in February 1788, her publication of Slavery, a Poem recognised as one of the most important of the abolition period.   
  Her work now became more evangelical.  In the 1790s she wrote several Cheap Repository Tracts which covered moral, religious and political topics and were both for sale or distributed to literate poor people.  The most famous is, perhaps, The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, describing a family of incredible frugality and contentment. Two million copies of these were circulated, in one year. 
  In 1789, she purchased a small house at Cowslip Green in Somerset. She was instrumental in setting up twelve schools in the area by 1800. 
  She continued to oppose slavery throughout her life, but at the time of the Abolition Bill of 1807, her health did not permit her to take as active a role in the movement as she had done in the late 1780s, although she maintained a correspondence with Wilberforce and others.  
  In July 1833, the Bill to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire passed in the House of Commons, followed by the House of Lords on August 1st. 
  Hannah More died on September 7th, 1833.

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  Some Possible Discoveries...

  H. G. Wells

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  Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 - 13 August 1946) was an English writer. Prolific in many genres, he wrote dozens of novels, short stories, and works of social commentary, history, satire, biography and autobiography. His work also included two books on recreational war games. Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is often called the "father of science fiction", along with Jules Verne and the publisher Hugo Gernsback.
  SOME POSSIBLE DISCOVERIES: The present time is harvest home for the prophets. The happy speculator in future sits on the piled-up wain, singing "I told you so," with the submarine and the flying machine and the Marconigram and the North Pole successfully achieved.

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  The Way to Dusty Death

  Alistair MacLean

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  The classic tale of high-octane adventure set in the world of 1970s Formula One, from the acclaimed master of action and suspense. 
  Johnny Harlow seems to have it all: he's good looking, desired by women, and envied by men; he's also the reigning Formula One world champion, the poster-boy for the world's most thrilling and richly financed sport. But a recent devastating accident has driven him to drink. 
  And now his beloved sport is changing: too many things are going wrong in too many races. And when Johnny is the apparent cause of the latest accident, he decides the time has come to sort things out. But what he finds has nothing to do with cars, and some people will do anything to prevent him from discovering the truth… 
  The Way to Dusty Death by Alistair MacLean is a best-selling novel that combines the thrill of sports with the suspense of an adventure story. The action-packed plot will keep readers hooked from start to finish. 
  For fans of Frederick Forsyth (The Veteran), Nevil Shute (A Town Like Alice), Ken Follett (The Armour of Light), Edward Marston (The Railway Detective's Christmas Case), and Eric Ambler (The Mask of Dimitrios). 
  HarperCollins 2025

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