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  The Nose

  Nicolai Gogol

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  In 1722 Peter the Great introduced a system of positions and ranks for the military, the government, and the Russian court which enabled commoners to gain a modicum of nobility through service to the state. He did so in order to diminish the power of the hereditary nobility with whom he was struggling. This led to large bureaucracies and an obsession with appearances and status, a situation ripe for the brilliant satire of “The Nose”. The story is an absurd, comic, surreal and sometimes grotesque send up of Major Kovalyov, who wakes up one morning to find his nose missing. The story has three parts. In part one, Kovalyov's barber finds his client's nose in his breakfast and is nabbed by the police when he tries to throw it off a bridge.  In part two, Kovalyov awakes to find his nose gone. When he leaves to report the loss, runs into it on the street dressed in the uniform of an important official who outranks him. He chases it, but the nose eludes him until it is apprehended it is about to flee the city by coach. The nose is returned to Kovalyov, but it can't be re-attached, leading him to suspect that a curse has been placed on him. Meanwhile, the nose has become the talk of the town. In part three, the Major awakes with the nose fully intact. Things just drift back to normal. The story is a staple of Russian literature, has been staged and adapted numerous times, and has had a monument erected in its honor in St. Petersburg.

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  The Tales of Terror

  Robert Louis Stevenson

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  The Short Stories Of Robert Louis Stevenson. The short story is often viewed as an inferior relation to the Novel.  But it is an art in itself.  To take a story and distil its essence into fewer pages while keeping character and plot rounded and driven is not an easy task.  Many try and many fail.  In this series we look at short stories from many of our most accomplished writers.  Miniature masterpieces with a lot to say.  In this volume we examine some of the short stories of Robert Louis Stevenson.  In the Scottish canon to be placed alongside Burns is high praise indeed but it’s a rightful place for one of Scotland’s finest novelists.  Born in 1850 he managed to cram much into his 44 years travelling widely to France, the United States, Samoa and the South Seas.  Of course he is widely feted for his classics Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde, Treasure Island and poetry volumes such as A Child’s Garden Of Verses.  Here we concentrate on his short stories Olalla, The Body Snatchers and The Pavillion On The Links.  All offer compelling examples of narration and suspense superbly reduced to their essence.  Some of these stories are also available as an audiobook from our sister company Word Of Mouth.  Many samples are at our youtube channel   http://www.youtube.com/user/PortablePoetry?feature=mhee   The full volume can be purchased from iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores.  They are read for you by Richard Mitchley & Robbie McNab.  Index Of Titles; The Body Snatcher; Olalla.

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  Lady Eleanor Smith - A Short...

  Lady Eleanor Smith

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  Lady Eleanor Furneaux Smith was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside in England on the 7th August 1902 into a privileged family steeped in titles and politics. 
   
  Part of her education was at Miss Douglas's school at Queen's Gate.  Here she met and befriended several other young women that the British tabloid press would later call the ‘Bright Young Things’, a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London. 
   
  Smith's paternal great-grandmother, was said to have been a Gypsy, and this sparked an early and life-long interest with the Romani people, she even went so far as to learn to read and speak the language, which she called ‘musical and broken.’ 
   
  Her life was full of adventure and mishaps.  A mistaken encounter with a man she thought could help her into the film business turned out to threats of marriage and death from a man wanted for the murder of his father.  She was even arrested twice.  Once for listing her career as a journalist and another, in Rome, for walking around in a sleeveless dress. 
   
  Smith began her career writing society gossip columns for various newspapers but later received an offer to write for the newly-formed Great Carmo Circus, with which she travelled for several years and was the source material for many of her books. 
   
  Her first novel, ‘Red Wagon’, was published when she was 28 and it was an immediate bestseller.  A prolific writer several of her works were also adapted for films. 
   
  Smith also wrote ghost stories and others flavoured with evil.  Her support for the Conservative party may be forgiven but her attributed quote to be a ‘warm adherent of General Franco’ less so. 
   
  Lady Eleanor Furneaux Smith died on the 20th October 1945 in Westminster after a long illness.  She was 43. 
  1 - Lady Eleanor Smith - An Introduction 
  2 - One O'Clock by Lady Eleanor Smith 
  3 - Tamar by Lady Eleanor Smith 
  4 - Whittington's Cat by Lady Eleanor Smith

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  Uprising of the Pencils

  Nico Pengin

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  An Epic Tale of Overcoming Oppression and Uniting Against 
  In this exciting and inspiring tale, pencils of all shapes and sizes must band together to overthrow the tyrannical pens that have enslaved them for far too long. Follow a band of courageous pencils as they go on a life-changing journey to take back what is rightfully theirs. 
  From nervous nellies who can't stand up for themselves, to sly scouts using their color to conquer the enemy, this audiobook is full of characters that will speak to readers of all ages. 
  With themes of resilience, teamwork, and the power of speaking out against injustice, "Uprising of the Pencils" is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like a second-class writing instrument.Scroll up and get your copy now!

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  Juxtapositions

  Stacy Aumonier

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  One of Stacy Aumonier's best loved short stories, telling the story of a surprising evening with Colin St Clair Chasseloup: "the kind of man who always looked as though he had just had a cold bath, done Swedish drill, and then passed through the hairdresser’s on his way to your presence." Chasseloup and the narrator are dragged along by their wives to a concert which interests  neither of them. Both men make their escape from the concert, and decide to go for a drink, forgetting that it is a Sunday night and the pubs are closed. A dramatic, hilarious plot twist—and a revelation of the intriguing complexity of Chasseloup’s character—follows when Chasseloup becomes the victim of a bizarre case of mistaken identity.

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  Homeland and Other Stories

  Barbara Kingsolver

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  New York Times bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver delivers a collection of 12 original tales in Homeland and Other Stories that are every bit as emotionally resonant, humorous, and heartfelt as her much-beloved novels. 
  In settings ranging from eastern Kentucky to northern California and the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, Barbara Kingsolver uses her distinctive voice and vast knowledge of human nature to address some of her favorite themes: the importance of personal and cultural heritage; how the past effects the present and the enduring power of love. Kingsolver’s characters, many single mothers, struggle to make sense of their lives and find meaning in a difficult world. 
  Praised for her memorable characters and poetic prose, Kingsolver again proves why she is a literary force to be reckoned with. 
  This edition includes a P.S. section with additional insights from the author, background material, suggestions for further reading, and more.

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