Verlag: Alien Ebooks
Shy retiree Unsworth strikes up a tentative friendship with a widow, Mrs. Cruse. This classic short story first appeared in MacLean’s, December 1, 1932.
A wounded aviator returns home after his time in World War One. Escorted to his small hometown in Georgia by another wounded veteran of the war and a widow, he faces the many realities that come with his return: his anything-but-loyal fiancée, the silence he lives in because of his head injury, and the widow who plans to marry him herself.Zum Buch
Persuasion is Jane Austen's final novel, written soon after she finished "Emma" and completed in August 1816. Sadly, she passed away in 1817 and the novel was published in December of that year, dated 1818. Persuasion is related to "Northanger Abbey" due to both being set in Bath and originally published together. The novel tackles the theme of persuasion and also highlights the Royal Navy, as two of Austen's brothers were admirals. Bath's superficial social life, which Austen was familiar with, is also portrayed. Persuasion departs from Austen's earlier works with its biting satire and regretful outlook, but ultimately emphasizes a more fulfilling life symbolized by the Navy. The protagonist Anne Elliot ultimately embraces this worldview by the end of the book. Chapter Start Times: 1-0:00, 2-15:10, 3-26:04, 4-40:53, 5-51:30, 6-1:08:52, 7-1:27:56 8-1:44:27, 9-2:01:14, 10-2:15:50, 11-2:35:52, 12-2:51:53, 13-3:19:45, 14-3:33:33, 15-3:46:01, 16-4:00:51, 17-4:13:47, 18-4:31:50, 19-4:51:33, 20-5:03:58, 21-5:22:17 22-5:56:28, 23-6:25:48, 24-7:00:06Zum Buch
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on 29th January 1860 in Taganrog, on the south coast of Russia. His family life was difficult; his father was strict and over-bearing but his mother was a passionate story-teller, a subject Chekhov warmed to. As he later said; ‘our talents we got from our father, but our soul from our mother’. At school Chekhov was distinctly average. At 16 his father mis-managed his finances and was declared bankrupt. His family fled to Moscow. Chekhov remained and eked out a living by various means, including writing and selling short sketches to newspapers, to finish his schooling. That completed and with a scholarship to Moscow University obtained he rejoined his family. He was able to help support them by selling satirical sketches and vignettes of Russian lifestyles and gradually obtained further commissions. In 1884, he qualified as a physician and, although it earned him little, he often treated the poor for free, he was fond of saying ‘Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress.’ His own health was now an issue as he began to cough up blood, a symptom of tuberculosis. Despite this his writing success enabled him to move the family into more comfortable accommodation. Chekhov wrote over 500 short stories which included many, many classics including ‘The Kiss’ and ‘The Lady with a Dog’. His collection ‘At Dusk’ won him the coveted Pushkin Prize when was only 26. He was also a major playwright beginning with the huge success of ‘Ivanov’ in 1887. In 1892 Chekhov bought a country estate north of Moscow. Here his medical skills and money helped the peasants tackle outbreaks of cholera and bouts of famine. He also built three schools, a fire station and a clinic. It left him with less time for writing but the interactions with real people gained him detailed knowledge about the peasantry and their living conditions for his stories. His most famous work, ‘The Seagull’ was received disastrously at its premiere in St Petersburg. It was later restaged in Moscow to highlight its psychological aspects and was a huge success. It led to ‘Uncle Vanya’, ‘The Three Sisters’ and ‘The Cherry Orchard’. Chekhov suffered a major lung hemorrhage in 1897 while visiting Moscow. A formal diagnosis confirmed tuberculosis and the doctors ordered changes to his lifestyle. Despite a dread of weddings the elusive literary bachelor quietly married the actress Olga Knipper, whom he had met at rehearsals for ‘The Seagull’, on 25th May 1901. By May 1904 with his tuberculosis worsening and death imminent he set off for the German town of Badenweiler writing cheerful, witty letters to his family and assuring them his health was improving. On 15th July 1904 Anton Chekhov died at Badenweiler. He was 44.Zum Buch
A poignant coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of World War I. It follows Rilla Blythe, the youngest of the Anne Shirley-inspired Blythe family, as she navigates adolescence during turbulent times. Initially carefree, Rilla matures rapidly amidst wartime challenges, including her brothers’ enlistment and the strain on her tight-knit community. Through heartbreak and hope, she discovers inner strength, love, and resilience. Montgomery beautifully intertwines personal growth with the broader impact of war, creating a touching tale of courage, sacrifice, and enduring optimism.Zum Buch
First published in 1850, David Copperfield begins with avid the tragedy of David's brother dying when David is just a boy. After this episode, he is sent by his step-father to work in London for a wine merchant. When conditions worsen he decides to run away and embarks on a journey by foot from London to Dover. On his arrival, he finds his eccentric aunt, Betsey Trotwood who becomes his new guardian. Being witness to the formation of David's character is quite fascinating. David begins as a strong child whose only aspiration is a better life. On the way to his adulthood, David sees how people enter and leave his life. Romanticism takes its place in David’s life as he gets married to Dora Spenlow who is not long for this world. Will David ever find stability and happiness? And what of his wife? Dickens proves to be a master in creating an autobiographical work that is a captivating page-turner. Charles John Huffam Dickens FRSA was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.Zum Buch
In a town full of suffering poor people, a swallow who was left behind after his flock flew off to Egypt for the winter meets the statue of the late "Happy Prince", who has never experienced true sorrow, for he lived in a palace where sorrow was not allowed to enter. Viewing various scenes of people suffering in poverty from his tall monument, the Happy Prince asks the swallow to take the ruby from his hilt, the sapphires from his eyes, and the gold leaf covering his body to give to the poor...Zum Buch
