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  The Daughter of Pontius Pilate -...

  Ivan Vazov

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  Ivan Minchov Vazov was born on the 9th July 1850 (although that date is disputed) in the town of Sopot, in Bulgaria, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire.  
   
  After primary education at the local school he was sent to Kalofer to continue his studies and work as an assistant teacher.  He later spent a short time in Plodiv where he began to write poetry. 
   
  Fascinated by literature he abandoned work as an apprentice to move to Brăila, in Romania, where he lived with exiled revolutionaries and befriended the poet Hristo Botev. 
   
  By 1874, he had joined the struggle for independence from the Ottomans and returned to Sopot. After the failure of the 1876 uprising he had to flee the country, going back to Galaţi, in Romania, where most of the surviving revolutionaries were exiled. There he was appointed a secretary of the committee. 
   
  In 1876 he published his first work, ‘Priaporetz and Gusla’, followed by ‘Bulgaria's Sorrows’ in 1877. 
   
  Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878 as a result of the Russo-Turkish War and Vazov wrote the famous ‘Epic of the Forgotten’.  He now became the editor of the political reviews Science and Dawn.  
   
  Exile was forced upon him once again due to the persecution of the Russophile political faction. Later he returned to Bulgaria with his mother’s help, and started teaching and then became a civil servant. 
   
  He moved to Sofia in 1889 where he started publishing the review Dennitsa. 
   
  His 1888 novel ‘Under the Yoke’, depicting Ottoman oppression, is his most famous work and has been translated into over 30 languages. 
   
  During his life he became a prominent and widely respected figure in the social and cultural life of Bulgaria.  
   
  In 1917, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature. 
   
  Ivan Vazov died on September 22nd, 1921.  He was 71.

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  West-Running Brook

  Robert Frost

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  "West-Running Brook" is a collection of poetry by the renowned American poet Robert Frost, first published in 1928. The title poem serves as the centerpiece of the collection, with the overarching theme of the flow of time and the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. 
  In "West-Running Brook," Frost uses the metaphor of a brook that flows contrary to the usual direction, symbolizing the poet's own journey against the current of conventional wisdom and tradition. The brook becomes a powerful symbol of resilience and individuality, as well as a reflection of the poet's own introspection and exploration of the human experience. 
  Throughout the collection, Frost's signature style of writing in accessible yet profound language is evident. His poetry often explores themes of nature, rural life, and the complexities of human existence. With vivid imagery and keen observation, Frost invites readers to contemplate the beauty and mystery of the natural world, as well as the deeper truths and universal truths that lie beneath the surface. 
  Among the notable poems in the collection are "Spring Pools," which reflects on the cyclical nature of life and the passage of time; "The Silken Tent," a metaphor for the delicate balance between strength and flexibility in human relationships; and "Desert Places," which explores themes of isolation and existential despair amidst the vastness of the natural world. 
  "West-Running Brook" showcases Frost's mastery of form and language, as well as his ability to capture the complexities of the human condition with depth and nuance. Through its exploration of timeless themes and its lyrical beauty, the collection remains a testament to Frost's enduring legacy as one of America's most beloved poets.

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  To Build a Fire

  Jack London

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  A man treks through the frigid Yukon with his dog. When night falls, the temperature drops to negative 75°, and they struggle to keep warm. This classic tale of man vs. wild draws on classic themes of adventure, perseverance, and survival as the two try to make it through the night. First published in 1908, it became one of the most anthologized short stories of the twentieth century.  

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  The Dream - From their pens to...

  A J lan

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  Leslie Harrison Lambert was born on 11th November 1883 in Nottingham.  
  After attending Rugby School he trained to be a surveyor. One of his passions was magic and such was his prowess that he joined The Magic Circle, and performed at society events. 
  By the beginning of World War I he was an amateur radio ham and volunteered to work at a coastguard station in Norfolk to intercept German radio transmissions. By November 1914 he was with the Admiralty at Naval Intelligence Room 40.  By 1919 this had become part of the new Government Code and Cypher School.  He was still there as World War II erupted across Europe and with many of his colleagues he transferred to Bletchley Park.  There, in Hut 8, he was quoted as saying that "in contrast to his outrageously unconventional stories" that he led his life on "a monotonously regular timetable". 
  Life outside the Intelligence services was very different.  He married but the couple had no children.  They lived at Holland Park with a second home at Potter Heigham for sailing on the Norfolk Broads.  Other interests were as an amateur radio operator, using the call sign G2ST, and an authority on food and wine. 
  He contacted the BBC to suggest he might tell one of his own short stories on the radio.  Thus was born A J Alan, and his broadcast of ‘My Adventure in Jermyn Street’, on New Year’s Eve, 1924.  It was an immediate success and although he only broadcast a handful of times a year he was one of the most popular radio personalities of the time.  He spent weeks working on each short story, honing his conversational style, making his stories seem like anecdotes that had peculiarly happened to him.  
  A live broadcast was, in fact, a performance.  He used cards to avoid any rustling noises and kept a candle lit in case the lights failed.  His attire was a dinner jacket with eye glass, and a slim black briefcase.  
  Many of his stories were subsequently printed in newspapers and magazines. 
  By 1937 his health had deteriorated and he reduced his radio work making his last broadcast on 21st March 1940.  
  A J Alan died on 13th December 1941.

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  The Three Kisses - From their...

  Violet Quirk

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  The bookshelves of British literature are incredible collections that have gathered together centuries of very talented authors.  From these Isles their fame spread and whilst among their number many are now forgotten or neglected their talents endure.  Among them is Violet Quirk.

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  Dracula - A Full Cast Audio Drama

  Hamilton Deane, John L. Balderston

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  This full-cast performance of Dracula offers a new way to experience Bram Stoker's seminal vampire story, which follows Abraham Van Helsing's efforts to track down Lucy Seward after she becomes the victim of Count Dracula. Originally written by Irish playwright Hamilton Deane, this stage play was the first authorized adaptation of the 1897 epistolary novel Dracula. Beginning a tour in England in 1924, it was then revised by American writer John L. Balderstone for a Broadway production that opened in October, 1927, featuring Hungarian-American actor Bela Lugosi in his first English-language role. Balderstone's revision would become the basis of the 1931 film adaptation, also starring Lugosi. The play was revived in 1977, receiving the Tony Award for Best Revival and leading to the 1979 film, both starring Frank Langella.

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