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  A Study in Scarlet

  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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  "A Study in Scarlet is an 1887 detective novel by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle. The story marks the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, who would become the most famous detective duo in literature1. The book's title derives from a speech given by Holmes, a consulting detective, to his friend and chronicler Watson on the nature of his work, in which he describes the story's murder investigation as his "study in scarlet": ""There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.""1    The novel begins with Dr. John Watson returning to London after serving in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He seeks a place to live and is introduced to Sherlock Holmes, who is looking for someone to share the rent at 221B Baker Street. Watson moves in, and after witnessing Holmes's deductive skills, becomes his close companion. A telegram requesting consultation on a murder case leads them to an abandoned house on Brixton Road. The victim is Enoch Drebber of Cleveland, Ohio, and the investigation reveals a mysterious message written in red: "RACHE" (German for "revenge"). Holmes deduces that the victim died from poison and provides a description of the murderer. Thus begins their first adventure together"

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  Twenty-Six Men and a Girl - From...

  Maxim Gorky

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  Alexei Maximovich Peshkov was born on 28th March 1868, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. 
  Better known as Maxim Gorky he was orphaned at 11 and ran away from home at 12.  At 19 he had already attempted suicide and thereafter travelled, by foot, across the Russian Empire for 5 years. 
  His first book ‘Essays & Stories’ in 1898 was a sensation and so began a long career as an author of short stories, novels and plays.  Gorky saw writing as a moral and political act that would help to change the unjust world around him.  He was an ardent early advocate of the emerging Marxist movement and publicly opposed the Tsarist regime leading several times to his arrest.  
  In 1904 he began his own theatre but the censor banned every play and Gorky was forced to abandon the project. 
  But Gorky was a financially successful author, editor, and playwright and gave monies to political parties as well as for civil rights and social reform.  The brutal shooting of workers, which set in motion the Revolution of 1905, pushed Gorky more decisively toward radical solutions.  
  In 1906 he went to the United States to raise funds for the Bolsheviks. Those experiences including a scandal over travelling with his lover and not his wife deepened his contempt for the ‘bourgeois soul.’ 
  Gorky now moved to Capri in Italy, both for health reasons and to escape the increasingly repressive times in Russia.  
  An amnesty for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty saw him return to Russia in 1914. His politics remained close to the Bolshevik cause.  But soon, after the 1918 revolution, his essays referred to Lenin as a tyrant for his senseless arrests and repression.  He was soon appealing to the outside world for food aid after the catastrophic crop failure. 
  In October 1921 Gorky returned to Italy, now in Fascist hands, and settled in Sorrento until 1932.  His health worsened with the onset of tuberculosis. 
  He wrote several successful books there but now decided to find an understanding with the communist regime. Stalin invited him home and his return was hailed as a major propaganda victory.  He was decorated with the Order of Lenin, and a province, a park, and various streets re-named in his honour. 
  But he had his faults too.  In 1933, Gorky co-edited a book on the White Sea-Baltic Canal and denied even a single prisoner died during its construction, but thousands had. As well, knowing that some Nazis were homosexual, a phrase was attributed to him that said ‘exterminate all homosexuals and fascism will vanish’.  Although he was himself was quoting another he was decidedly homophobic. 
  With the increase of Stalinist repression in 1935 Gorky was placed under unannounced house arrest. 
  Maxim Gorky died on the 18th June 1936 from pneumonia.  He was 68. 
  Stalin and Molotov were among those who carried Gorky's urn of ashes at his funeral.

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  Cloak The (Unabridged)

  Nikolai Gogol

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  Nikolai Gogol was one of the first to use the technique of the grotesque. According to Viktor Shklovsky, Gogol's strange style of writing resembles the "ostranenie" technique of defamiliarization. His early works, such as Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka, were influenced by his Ukrainian upbringing, Ukrainian culture and folklore.
  THE CLOAK: In the department of-but it is better not to mention the department. There is nothing more irritable than departments, regiments, courts of justice, and, in a word, every branch of public service. Each individual attached to them nowadays thinks all society insulted in his person.

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  Lysistrata

  Aristophanes

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  Transport yourself to ancient Greece with "Lysistrata" by Aristophanes, now available as a captivating audiobook. In this timeless comedy, Aristophanes offers a hilarious and thought-provoking exploration of gender relations, power dynamics, and the absurdity of war. 
  Listeners will be swept away by the antics of Lysistrata, a bold and cunning woman who devises a plan to end the Peloponnesian War by persuading the women of Greece to withhold sex from their husbands and lovers. As tensions rise and hilarity ensues, Aristophanes delivers biting social commentary and uproarious satire that remains relevant even in the modern era. 
  Perfect for fans of comedy and classical literature, "Lysistrata" offers a delightful blend of humor, wit, and social commentary that will entertain and enlighten audiences of all ages. Whether you're a student of ancient history or simply looking for a good laugh, this audiobook promises to deliver a memorable listening experience. 
  So, if you're ready to experience the wit and wisdom of one of ancient Greece's greatest playwrights, start listening to "Lysistrata" today and immerse yourself in the riotous world of Aristophanes' comedic masterpiece. Start Listening to "Lysistrata" today!

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  The Bostonians

  Henry James

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  "The Bostonians" by Henry James is a thought-provoking novel that revolves around the spirited feminist, Olive Chancellor, her protégée, Verena Tarrant, and the charming, conservative Basil Ransom. Set in 19th-century Boston, the story explores the suffrage movement and the clash of ideologies between the charismatic Verena and Basil, who seeks to sway her towards traditional values. Olive and Basil compete for Verena's loyalty, leading to a complex web of emotional entanglements and ideological battles. As Verena grapples with her identity and aspirations, she becomes torn between her duty to the women's movement and her personal desires.

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  Study in Scarlet A (a Sherlock...

  Arthur Conan Doyle

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  "A Study in Scarlet" was written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887, and he marks the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, who would go on to become one of the most well-known mystery-solving duos in literature.  
  When a gruesome murder is discovered with the word "RACHE" scrawled in blood, Sherlock Holmes uses his unique powers of deduction to uncover a hidden story of passion, betrayal, vengeance and retribution.

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