Other books that might interest you

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  Nana

  Émile Zola

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  "Nana" by Émile Zola is a novel that explores the decadence and moral decay of Parisian society in the 19th century. It follows the life of Nana, a beautiful and ambitious young woman, as she navigates the social and economic challenges of her time. The novel provides a vivid portrayal of the excesses and corruption of the Second Empire, using Nana as a symbol of the destructive influence of unchecked desire and hedonism.

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  Daisy Miller

  Henry James

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  "Daisy Miller" is a novella written by Henry James, first published in 1878. The story is set in the late 19th century and revolves around the experiences of a young and unconventional American woman named Daisy Miller as she travels in Europe. The novella explores themes of social class, cultural clash, and the consequences of defying societal norms.

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  Head & Shoulders - A coming of...

  F. Scott Fitzgerald

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  Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on 24th September 1896 in Saint Paul, Minnesota into an upper-middle class family. Whilst his mother was pregnant with him, his two young sisters tragically died.  Fitzgerald once said this was when his destiny as a writer was ordained. 
   
  His intelligence and talent was recognised from an early age, with his first story, about a detective being published in the school magazine when he was just 13.   
   
  In 1913 he enrolled at Princeton but his devotion to his own literary pursuits resulted in him leaving and, rather bizarrely, joining the Army.  In 1918, stationed at Fort Sheridan near Montgomery, Alabama he met and became infatuated and then inseparable from Zelda Sayre.  Initially though she refused to marry him but with the success of ‘This Side of Paradise’, the fame and the flow of money enabled them both to begin a gilded life.  For them this was The Jazz Age.  For Fitzgerald he was already an alcoholic. 
   
  He continued to write with great mastery and the titles of his novels and many of his 164 short stories are household names.  The Great Gatsby, often cited as The Great American Novel was published to mixed reviews.  As America moved from the Great Depression to the slaughter of the Second World War his works and himself were seen as far too entwined with the decadent twenties. The world had moved on and he hadn’t.   
   
  Further tragedy was never far from his life. Zelda after years of erratic and now intolerable behaviour was committed to an institution in 1936.  His own sales began to decline and he became a hack for hire in Hollywood, dependent on increasing amounts of booze and the weekly pay check.  His drunken state had often resulted in arrest or hospitalisation, further imperiling his talents.   Despite his contribution to many MGM films he received only one credit. 
   
  The end came all too soon for one of America’s greatest ever writers.  On 21st December 1940, at only 44 years of age in Hollywood, F Scott Fitzgerald succumbed to a heart attack.

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  Her Lover - From their pens to...

  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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  Study in Scarlet A: A Sherlock...

  Arthur Conan Doyle

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  Discover the origins of the world’s most famous detective in A Study in Scarlet: A Sherlock Holmes Novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, the first thrilling adventure of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. This audiobook introduces listeners to the iconic detective duo as they work together to solve a baffling murder mystery. When a dead body is discovered in a deserted London house with no apparent cause of death, Holmes applies his legendary powers of deduction to uncover a web of secrets and intrigue. 
  As the story unfolds, listeners are taken on a gripping journey, from the foggy streets of Victorian London to the deserts of Utah, revealing how a complex tale of love, betrayal, and revenge led to the crime. With Doyle’s masterful storytelling and Holmes’ brilliant detective work, A Study in Scarlet lays the foundation for the entire Sherlock Holmes series. 
  Narrated with precision and engaging detail, this audiobook brings to life the fascinating world of Holmes and Watson, making it perfect for both new listeners and longtime fans. Whether you're a fan of classic mysteries, detective fiction, or simply love a good puzzle, A Study in Scarlet promises to captivate from beginning to end. 
  Start Listening to A Study in Scarlet today and experience the brilliant detective mind of Sherlock Holmes in his very first case!

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  Halloween Horror Collection -...

  Mary Shelley, Joseph Sheridan Le...

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  Step into the world of the Halloween Horror Collection, a gripping audiobook anthology that brings together some of the most terrifying and thrilling tales ever told. Perfect for fans of horror classics, this collection includes unforgettable stories such as Frankenstein, Carmilla, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and selections from the dark mind of Edgar Allan Poe—along with much more. 
  Prepare to encounter Mary Shelley's iconic creature in Frankenstein, explore the gothic allure of Carmilla, and be haunted by the eerie legend of Washington Irving’s Headless Horseman. Experience the chilling transformations of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and feel the creeping dread of Edgar Allan Poe’s haunting works like The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven. 
  Masterfully narrated to heighten the tension and atmosphere, each story in this collection immerses you in a world of horror, suspense, and the supernatural. Whether you're preparing for Halloween or simply enjoy a good scare, the Halloween Horror Collection offers the perfect mix of classic tales that will send shivers down your spine. 
  Start listening to the Halloween Horror Collection today and dive into a terrifying journey through some of the greatest horror stories ever written!

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