Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

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  The Pit and the Pendulum

  Edgar Allan Poe

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  "I was sick—sick unto death with that long agony"
  
  Imprisoned in a nightmarish dungeon by the Spanish Inquisition, a man awakens in darkness, knowing he is about to face a series of terrifying tortures designed to break his body, mind and spirit. Chained beneath the slowly descending blade of a pendulum, with the walls closing in and the yawning mouth of a deadly pit in the centre of the floor, he is forced to confront fear, madness, and the unknown.
  
  Edgar Allan Poe's classic short story is a masterclass in psychological terror, creating an atmosphere of fear and suspense not through the use of supernatural monsters, but through isolation, anticipation and the diabolical ingenuity of man. One of the author's most enduring tales, it has been adapted multiple times for film, television and radio, with notable adaptations including the 1961 film starring Vincent Price and the animated 2013 film Extraordinary Tales.
  Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic known for his dark, atmospheric tales and haunting poetry. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American literature, Poe helped shape the horror and science-fiction genres and is widely credited with inventing detective fiction in his 1841 short story, Murders in the Rue Morgue. Despite a life marked by personal tragedy and financial hardship, Poe produced a number of enduring classics such as The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Fall of the House of Usher, and since his somewhat mysterious death, he and his writings have had a wide-ranging influence in popular culture. In 1946, the Mystery Writers of America established the annual Edgar award, which honour the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, and film.

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  Dark Dignum - From their pens to...

  Bernard Capes

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  Bernard Edward Joseph Capes was born on the 30th August 1854 in London.  He was one of 11 children. 
  His early work was as a journalist and this developed into writing many short stories for the periodicals of the time including Blackwood's, Cassell's, Cornhill Magazine, Illustrated London News, Macmillan's Magazine, Mall Magazine, Pearson's Magazine, The Idler, and The Queen. 
  It took him many years to decide that writing full-time could be a sustainable career path.  His initial success came with ‘The Mill of Silence’.  As well as being published it garnered second prize at a competition sponsored by the Chicago Record.  He exceeded that by winning it the following year with ‘The Lake of Wine’.   
  Capes quickly became both prolific and popular.  As well as his stories and articles for the periodicals he wrote around 40 volumes across novels, poetry, history as well as romance and mystery novels. 
  Bernard Capes died on 2nd November 1918 in the flu epidemic.

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  Demir-Kaya - From their pens to...

  Alexander Kuprin

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  Alexander Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza in Russia on 7th September 1870. 
  At 3 his Father died and he and mother moved to Moscow. By 10 he was enrolled at the Second Moscow Military High School and there his interest in literature began. The Alexander Military Academy followed and two years later he was a sub-lieutenant and posted to an Infantry Regiment for a further four years. 
  Despite his duties he was a now a keen writer and published his first short story at this time. His military duties also garnered him experiences for his breakthrough work ‘The Duel’.  Leaving the military he left for Kiev to work for local newspapers.  He continued to publish both stories and novels and by 1901 he was in St Petersburg becoming part of a group that included Chekhov, Ivan Bunin, Maxim Gorky and Leonid Andreyev.  
  In the years that followed further controversial works and acclaim followed.  His comments on the regime meant he was also put under secret police surveillance.   
  As World War I erupted, Kuprin opened a military hospital but was then given command of an infantry company in Finland. He was soon discharged on grounds of ill health.  
  The October Revolution saw him praise Lenin, but he warned that the Bolsheviks threatened Russian culture and might cause further widespread suffering to the peasants.  As Civil War raged he took his family to Helsinki and then on to Paris. 
  Exile saw his talents decline further and his succumbing to alcoholism. He became lonely and withdrawn. The family's poverty increased his malaise.   
  In May 1937, the Kuprin’s returned to Moscow.  He now saw his work published but wrote almost nothing new.  In 1938 his health rapidly deteriorated.  Already suffering from a kidney problems and sclerosis, he had now developed cancer of the oesophagus.  
  Alexander Kuprin died on 25th August 1938.

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  Against the Grain or Against Nature

  Joris-Karl Huysmans

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  "Against Nature" or "Against the Grain"—is an 1884 novel by the French writer Joris-Karl Huysmans. Let's explore this intriguing work:    Plot Summary:  The narrative revolves around a single character: Jean des Esseintes. He is an eccentric, reclusive, and ailing aesthete.  As the last scion of an aristocratic family, Des Esseintes despises nineteenth-century bourgeois society. His goal is to retreat into an ideal artistic world of his own creation.  The novel primarily consists of a catalogue of Des Esseintes's neurotic aesthetic tastes, musings on literature, painting, religion, and hyperaesthetic sensory experiences.  "À rebours" delves into themes associated with the Symbolist aesthetic, breaking away from Naturalism and becoming the epitome of "Decadent" literature. It profoundly influenced works like Oscar Wilde's ""The Picture of Dorian Gray""1.  Background:  Huysmans, the author, underwent a significant shift in his writing style. His early works were Naturalist, depicting the drudgery of working-class life in Paris.  However, he found this approach limiting and decided to apply the minutely documented realistic detail to a portrait of an exceptional individual: Jean des Esseintes.  The character of Des Esseintes is partly based on Huysmans himself, sharing similar tastes but taken to greater extremes. Huysmans transformed this "wild and gloomy fantasy" into the novel ""À rebours""12.  "Against Nature" invites readers into a world of decadence, introspection, and aesthetic obsession."

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  The Artful Hussar

  Johann Peter Hebel

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  Johann Peter Hebel's The Artful Hussar is a short story that showcases the wit and resourcefulness of a clever soldier. The tale follows a cunning hussar who, through his quick thinking and charm, manages to outsmart those around him. Set against the backdrop of military life, the story highlights themes of intelligence, deception, and survival. With Hebel's signature blend of humor and moral insight, The Artful Hussar offers a delightful and thought-provoking glimpse into human nature and ingenuity.

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  War and Peace - Book 3: 1805...

  Leo Tolstoy

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  War and Peace is a literary work mixed with chapters on history and philosophy by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. It was first published serially, then published in its entirety in 1869. It is regarded as one of Tolstoy's finest literary achievements and remains an internationally praised classic of world literature.
  Book 3: 1805: Prince Vasíli was not a man who deliberately thought out his plans. Still less did he think of injuring anyone for his own advantage. He was merely a man of the world who had got on and to whom getting on had become a habit.

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