Publisher: Jovian Press
The violent spiritual crisis in Tolstoy's life that inspired his last period of creativity produced the stories in this compelling and startling collection. They portray the multifaceted nature of desire, from idealistic romance to sexual jealousy, from desperate lust to relentless longing.
In American Notes, Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author of the Jungle Book, visits the USA. As the travel-diary of an Anglo-Indian Imperialist visiting the USA, these American Notes offer an interesting view of America in the 1880s.Kipling affects a wide-eyed innocence, and expresses astonishment at features of American life that differ from his own, not least the freedom (and attraction) of American women. However, he scorns the political machines that made a mockery of American democracy, and while exhibiting the racist attitudes that made him controversial in the 20th century concludes "It is not good to be a negro in the land of the free and the home of the brave."G. A. England of Harvard University (letter to The New York Times 10/11/1902) wrote: "To the American temperament, the gentleman who throws stones while himself living in a glass house cannot fail to be amusing; the more so if, as in Mr Kipling's case, he appears to be in a state of maiden innocence regarding the structure of his own domicile."Show book
Candide, is a French satire written in 1759 by Voltaire, a philosopher of the Age of Enlightenment. One of the finest satires ever written, this lively tale follows the absurdly melodramatic adventures of the youthful Candide, who is forced into the army, flogged, shipwrecked, betrayed, robbed, separated from his beloved Cunégonde, and tortured by the Inquisition. As Candide witnesses calamity, upon calamity, he becomes disillusioned and discovers that all is not always for the best. Candide is characterized by its sarcastic tone, dark humor and erratic, fantastical, fast-moving plot. Voltaire ridicules religion, theologians, governments, armies, philosophies, and philosophers and romance. Candide has enjoyed both great success and great scandal. It was widely banned because it contained religious blasphemy, political sedition and intellectual hostility hidden under a thin veil of naïveté. Voltaire never admitted to having written the highly controversial Candide; instead, the work is signed Mister Doctor Ralph.Show book
Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?Jane Austen once compared her writing to painting on a little bit of ivory, 2 inches square. Readers of Persuasion will discover that neither her skill for delicate, ironic observations on social custom, love, and marriage nor her ability to apply a sharp focus lens to English manners and morals has deserted her in her final finished work.Show book
"In Our Time" is a collection of short stories by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1925. The book is divided into two parts: the first consists of short vignettes, often referred to as "interchapters," while the second contains longer stories. Set against the backdrop of World War I and the aftermath of the war, the collection explores themes of disillusionment, loss, and the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world. Hemingway's spare, economical prose style, known for its understatement and minimalism, is on full display throughout the book. The interchapters serve as interludes between the longer stories, providing glimpses into the lives of ordinary people and capturing moments of everyday existence. These vignettes offer insights into the human condition, often with a sense of detachment and stoicism. The longer stories delve deeper into the lives of characters grappling with the effects of war, both physical and psychological. From soldiers coping with trauma to expatriates navigating the complexities of love and relationships, Hemingway paints a vivid portrait of individuals struggling to find their place in a world marked by violence and uncertainty. "In Our Time" showcases Hemingway's mastery of the short story form and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience with precision and clarity. Through its exploration of themes such as war, trauma, and resilience, the collection remains a timeless work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.Show book
Ethan Frome is a novel by Edith Wharton, set in the fictional New England town of Starkfield. There a visiting engineer tells the story of his encounter with Ethan Frome, a man with a history of thwarted dreams and desires. The accumulated longing of Frome ends in an ironic turn of events. His initial impressions are based on his observations of Frome going about his mundane tasks in Starkfield, and something about him catches the eye and curiosity of the visitor, but no one in the town seems interested in revealing many details about the man or his history—or perhaps they are not able to. The narrator ultimately finds himself in the position of staying overnight at Frome's house in order to escape a winter storm, and from there he observes Frome and his private circumstances, which he shares and which triggers other people in town to be more forthcoming with their own knowledge and impressions. Artist Bio Author: Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was a Pulitzer Prized American novelist, short story writer, and designer. She combined her insider's view of America's privileged classes with a brilliant, natural wit.Show book
A Tramp Abroad is a work of travel literature, including a mixture of autobiography and fictional events, by American author Mark Twain, published in 1880. The book details a journey by the author, with his friend Harris (a character created for the book, and based on his closest friend, Joseph Twichell), through central and southern Europe. While the stated goal of the journey is to walk most of the way, the men find themselves using other forms of transport as they traverse the continent. The book is the fourth of Mark Twain's six travel books published during his lifetime and is often thought to be an unofficial sequel to the first one, The Innocents Abroad.As the two men make their way through Germany, the Alps, and Italy, they encounter situations made all the more humorous by their reactions to them. The narrator (Twain) plays the part of the American tourist of the time, believing that he understands all that he sees, but in reality understanding none of it.Show book
