Other books that might interest you

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  Foreordained - From their pens...

  Anthony Hope

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  Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins was born on 9th February 1863 in Clapton, London.  
  He was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead, Marlborough College and Balliol College, Oxford.  Hope trained as a lawyer and barrister and was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1887. Despite what was thought to be a promising legal career he had literary ambitions and wrote in his spare time. 
  His early works appeared in various periodicals of the day but for his first book ‘A Man of Mark’ (1890), with no publisher interested, he published with his own resources.  
  More novels and short stories followed, including the mildly successful ‘Mr Witt's Widow’ in 1892. Hope even found time to run as the Liberal candidate for Wycombe in the election that same year but was unsuccessful. 
  His first major literary success came with ‘The Dolly Dialogues’, a collection of previously published magazine pieces followed very quickly by his instant classic, ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. He now gave up the vestiges of his legal career to pursue writing full-time. 
  Despite never again reaching the same pinnacle of success he was popular and wrote prolifically across novels, plays and of course, short stories though his writing output rapidly diminished after the war. 
  In 1918 he was knighted for his contribution to propaganda efforts during World War I.  
  His short stories are delicate, mannered and often surprising with their wit, humour and interplay of characters who say one thing and usually mean another.  He was very definitely a writer of escapist rather than serious fare but they are no less enjoyable for that. 
  Anthony Hope died of throat cancer on 8th July 1933 at his country home, Heath Farm at Walton-on-the-Hill in Surrey. He was 70.

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  The Eidoloscope - Milnes...

  Robert Duncan Milne

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  Robert Duncan Milne was born on 7th June 1844 in Cupar in Fife, Scotland. 
   
  Little is known of the life of this extraordinary author who created some of the most appealing science fiction stories ever written.   
   
  As an adult he lived in San Francisco and wrote short stories for local newspapers and periodicals of the time and principally for The Argonaut, the political and literary newspaper heavyweight of the area. 
   
  Robert Duncan Milne died in San Francisco, California on 15th December 1899.  He was 55. 
   
  The Eidoloscope is a story of a man’s pursuit to record and reveal past events as though they are happening right now before our very eyes.  Outlandish, yes. But possible?

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  Behind a Mask

  Louisa May Alcott

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  Jean Muir is young, charming, and talented. As she diligently works as the Governess of young Bella Coventry, the men of the house seem to fall about her, won over by her charm and mysterious air. But is she really all that she seems...?  
  Written by Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women in 1866, and considered a masterpiece in the genre.  
  Narrated by Michael Ward.

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  Someone at a Distance

  Dorothy Whipple

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  Someone at a Distance was Dorothy Whipple’s last book, hailed by many as her best. The story charts the gradual breakdown of a marriage through the eyes of those involved. Whipple deftly and persuasively explores the minds of her characters, particularly the two women. This audio edition is read by Susan Wooldridge.Ellen and Avery North share a stable and secure life. Everything is well looked after: their teenage children, their garden, and Avery’s elderly mother who lives nearby. In time, old Mrs North decides she is in need of a live-in companion, and Louise Lanier arrives after responding to a newspaper advert. When Louise sets out to seduce Avery for the fun of it, her behaviour threatens to destroy Ellen and Avery’s peaceful life together. Someone at a Distance is part of the Persephone Audiobook Collection, a series of forgotten classics including neglected fiction and non-fiction by women writers. First published in 1953, this edition includes a preface by author Nina Bawden.

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  Mosses from an Old Manse

  Nathaniel Hawthorne

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  Immerse yourself in the haunting world of Nathaniel Hawthorne's masterpiece, Mosses from an Old Manse. Crafted from the depth of human complexities, this collection shines a ghostly light on the darker facets of our nature through allegories that captivate and challenge. Set against the historical backdrop of The Old Manse in Concord, these tales emerge from a place deeply entwined with American history and personal significance to Hawthorne. 
  Heralded by literary giants like Herman Melville for its "shrouded in blackness, ten times black" narrative, Mosses from an Old Manse offers readers a journey through stories that intricately blend the bright and somber aspects of human existence. Each tale reveals the genius of Hawthorne's craft, making it an essential exploration for those fascinated by the enduring themes of history, morality, and the complexities that lie within us all. 
  Discover why Mosses from an Old Manse stands as an immortal testament to American romanticism and dark romanticism. Let Hawthorne's ethereal prose guide you through a reflective journey into the human soul. 
  This audiobook was narrated and produced by RAM Studios, where humans and artificial intelligence collaborate to create an excellent listening experience. (The reading is done primarily by AI)

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  The Great Gatsby

  F. Scott Fitzgerald

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  "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
  
  In the sweltering summer of 1922, young bondsman Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, Long Island, finding himself neighbor to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is famous for his decadent, star-studded parties, yet he remains a man of shadows, driven by a singular, consuming purpose: to reclaim the love of the beautiful, ethereal Daisy Buchanan. As the jazz plays and the champagne flows, Fitzgerald unfolds a glittering tragedy of social climbing, infidelity, and the high cost of reinventing one's past.
  
  The Gilded Surface of the 1920s: Fitzgerald's prose captures the frantic energy of the Prohibition era—the "flapper" culture, the illegal speakeasies, and the soaring stock market. Yet beneath the sequins and the yellow Duesenbergs lies a biting critique of a society hollowed out by materialism. Through the eyes of the "within and without" narrator Nick Carraway, we witness the careless cruelty of the ultra-wealthy.
  
  Symbolism and the Soul: From the haunting "Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg" overlooking the Valley of Ashes to the iconic "Green Light" at the end of Daisy's dock, the novel is a masterclass in symbolism. It explores the impossibility of repeating the past and the tragic vulnerability of the romantic heart in a cynical world. The Great Gatsby remains the quintessential American novel, questioning if any amount of gold can truly buy a seat at the table of the elite.
  
  Step into the world of Gatsby. Purchase "The Great Gatsby" today and experience the most beautiful and brutal story of the 20th century.

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