Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni
The Coming of the King is a delightful morality tale by Laura E. Richards. "Working together to make positive changes and act kindly to others doesn't require a king at all, but the warmth in our hearts can be as golden as a crown!". Now available in a refined digital edition.
"The Soul of Man" is an 1891 essay by Oscar Wilde in which he expounds a libertarian socialist worldview and a critique of charity. The writing of "The Soul of Man" followed Wilde's conversion to anarchist philosophy, following his reading of the works of Peter Kropotkin. In "The Soul of Man" Wilde argues that, under capitalism, "the majority of people spoil their lives by an unhealthy and exaggerated altruism-are forced, indeed, so to spoil them": instead of realising their true talents, they waste their time solving the social problems caused by capitalism, without taking their common cause away. Thus, caring people "seriously and very sentimentally set themselves to the task of remedying the evils that they see in poverty but their remedies do not cure the disease: they merely prolong it" because, as Wilde puts it, "the proper aim is to try and reconstruct society on such a basis that poverty will be impossible."Show book
Lyubov Grigoryevna, a matchmaker, visits Stytchkin, the head guard, to discuss his desire to find a wife. Stytchkin is a practical and sober man who values inner qualities over external appearance in a woman. He wants a wife who respects him and appreciates the happiness he provides. Stytchkin does not want a wealthy bride, but also cannot marry a poor girl due to the cost of living and potential children. The matchmaker offers Stytchkin options of French and Greek brides, but he declines. Stytchkin is surprised by the matchmaker's fee of 25 rubles and considers it expensive. The matchmaker explains that earnings from matchmaking have decreased over time. Stytchkin compliments the matchmaker, suggesting she could find a practical husband for herself. Stytchkin reveals his salary and additional earnings from catching fare evaders. Stytchkin expresses his desire for a middle-aged wife with qualities similar to the matchmaker. The matchmaker giggles and eventually accepts Stytchkin's proposal. Stytchkin explains his expectations for his future wife, emphasizing his strict and respectable nature. Overall, the story portrays Stytchkin's search for a wife and his preferences for a practical and respectful partner. The matchmaker plays a role in facilitating this process, and Stytchkin ultimately proposes to her.Show book
Oscar Wilde (16 October 1854 - 30 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. THE RISE OF HISTORICAL CRITICISM: This Essay was written for the Chancellor's English Essay Prize at Oxford in 1879, the subject being 'Historical Criticism among the Ancients.' The prize was not awarded. To Professor J. W. Mackail thanks are due for revising the proofs.Show book
Little Wars is a set of rules for playing with toy soldiers, written by English novelist H. G. Wells in 1913. The book, which had a full title of Little Wars: a game for boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys' games and books, provided simple rules for miniature wargaming. Although first printed in 1913.Show book
Edward Frederic Benson (1867-1940) was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer, best known for his spine-tingling and beautifully written ghost stories. The Room in the Tower is the most famous of these. It describes a horrific recurrent dream of nameless dread, occurring over a period of 15 years, in which the dreamer arrives at a peculiar house inhabited by a sinister silent family, where he takes tea on the lawn and is then shown to the room in the tower where something dreadful, malicious, and evil lurks... though he does not know what. Until one day, he finds himself at the house of his dream, just as tea is being served on the lawn.Show book
"All I really wanted was to try and live the life that was spontaneously welling up within me. Why was that so very difficult?" Generations of readers have recognized the impassioned cry that introduces the young narrator of Demian, and embraced this tale of a troubled young man's struggle toward self-awareness. Initially published in Berlin in 1919, the novel met with instant critical acclaim, as well as great popular success among people seeking answers amid the devastating aftermath of World War I. A brilliant psychological portrait of an individual's departure from social conventions in the search for spiritual fulfillment, Demian encompasses many of the themes associated with Hermann Hesse, its Noble Prize–winning author, particularly the duality of human nature and the quest for inner peace. Considered an important work in the evolution of 20th-century European literature, this perceptive coming-of-age novel enjoys a particular resonance with young adults, a fact that has made Demian a perennial favorite in schools and colleges all over the world. This inexpensive edition, featuring an excellent new English translation, is sure to be welcomed by teachers and students, and by the legions of confirmed Hesse fans.Show book
