Other books that might interest you

• 

  A Pen-and-Ink Effect - From...

  Frances E Huntley the writing...

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The bookshelves of British literature are incredible collections that have gathered together centuries of very talented authors.  From these Isles their fame spread and whilst among their number many are now forgotten or neglected their talents endure.  Among them is Ethel Colburn Mayne.

  Show book

• 

  The Man Who Sold The World - A...

  Rachel Lawson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Good quotes from The Man Who Sold The World 
  "The US president has met the new rulers of the Earth," said the tv. 
  On the tv was President Biden looking nervously at a mean looking grey alien. 
  "I can't believe they surrendered to the X-zeraciens," said Blake. 
  "Is this the start of world war 3?" asked Biden. 
  "I know about Putin he won't win," said The King of the Earth. 
  "Ok who are you guys!" said Biden. 
  The translator shrugged. 
  "... the Emperor of The Universe and his Judge!" 
  "Come on, man! You aren't more of them," said the president. 
  "No, they are invaders we are the owners of the Earth," Blake said. 
  The aliens translator looked nervous. 
  "You know of us what did he do?" ask The King the celestial emperor. 
  "He gave us this planet," said the alien. 
  "They kidnapped me," said the translator. 
  "You gave us this world to get back here and work with us here," said the grey. 
  "He's a conman," said Blake. 
   this is a micro short story

  Show book

• 

  The Lonely God - A Short Story

  Agatha Christie

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In the quiet halls of the British Museum, a forgotten stone idol sits unnoticed on a high shelf—its features eroded by time, its purpose long-lost. But for Frank Oliver, a lonely man recently returned to England, the little god becomes something more: a symbol of connection in a world that has passed him by. 
  When Frank notices a young woman visiting the same statue, day after day, something begins to shift. In their quiet devotion to a nameless figure, two strangers begin to find the possibility of something else—companionship, perhaps even love. 
  Agatha Christie’s The Lonely God is a tender and thoughtful departure from her usual crime stories. In this short tale, she explores isolation, identity, and unexpected human connection with quiet grace. 
  Perfect for fans of classic literature, character-driven stories, and emotional fiction with a hint of mystery.

  Show book

• 

  A Thing That Glistened - From...

  Frank R. Stockton

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Frank Richard Stockton was born in Philadelphia on 5th April 1834.  
  His father, a Methodist minister, discouraged Stockton’s literary career from an early age.  Feeling unable to go against those wishes it was for many years that Stockton’s income was maintained as a wood engraver.   
  His first work was published in 1867 and his first collection only appeared in 1870.  Despite this late arrival Stockton’s innovative and often far-fetched stories, with a gentle ‘poking fun’ humour were very popular.  Like his contemporary Mark Twain he avoided the scolding, hectoring and moral tones of many other authors and instead gently teased and cajoled his reader to open their eyes to the ills, the greed and the ambitions of the world around them.  His sci-fi stories in particular were far-seeing and inventive including a tale of negative gravity and a bloodless Anglo-US war won by technological feats.  
  Perhaps his most enduring tale though is ‘The Lady, or the Tiger?’ from 1882.  A condemned man is given a choice of being eaten alive or marrying his princess lover.  But he has to choose which door each is behind. 
  Frank R Stockton died in Washington, DC, on 20th April 1902, of a cerebral haemorrhage.  He is buried at The Woodlands in Philadelphia.

  Show book

• 

  The Story of B24 - From their...

  Arthur Conan Doyle

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 22nd May 1859.  His childhood was blighted by his father’s heavy drinking which for some years broke up the family. Fortunately, wealthy uncles were willing to support them by paying for education and clothing.  
  He was accepted at the University of Edinburgh to study medicine and also began to write short stories the first, ‘The Haunted Grange of Goresthorpe’, was published in Blackwood’s Magazine.  Despite several other stories and some articles in the British Medical Journal his medical studies took priority. 
  When these finished he was appointed as Doctor on the Greenland whaler ‘Hope of Peterhead’ in 1880 and then, after graduation, as ship’s surgeon on the SS Mayumba on its voyage to West Africa. 
  1882 saw a move to Plymouth and his own independent practice. With few patients he resumed writing and completed his first novel, ‘The Mystery of Cloomber’, although most of his output was short stories based on his experiences at sea.  
  He married Louisa Hawkins in 1885. However, two years later he met and fell in love with Jean Elizabeth Leckie, though they remained platonic out of respect for, and loyalty to, his wife. 
  His literary career suddenly burst into life in November 1886 with ‘A Study In Scarlet’, the first of the fabulously successful Sherlock Holmes stories.  
  With two children to support he now revisited his haphazard commercial arrangements and curtailed everything save for commissions from the Strand Magazine.  
  As a sportsman he was remarkably proficient. He was goalkeeper for Portsmouth Association Football Club and played ten first-class cricket matches for the Marylebone Cricket Club as well as captain of the Crowborough Beacon Golf Club in East Sussex.  
  In 1891 tired of writing Holmes stories, he began a series of historical novels and even went so far as to apparently kill off Holmes in a lethal brawl with his arch-nemesis Moriarty. 
  Despite heavy and sustained criticism he continued to write in support of the Boer War, a fact he thought contributed to his knighthood in 1902.  The following year to great relief and acclaim he brought Sherlock Holmes back from the dead in his first outing for a decade. 
  Sadly, his wife Louisa died from TB in 1906 and, a year later, he at last married Jean.  
  During the War and for several years after family deaths had left him depressed. In a search for solace and answers he alighted upon spiritualism and, such was his interest, that he wrote several books on the subject. 
  On 7th July 1930 Conan Doyle was discovered in the hall of Windlesham Manor, his house in East Sussex, clutching his chest dying of a heart attack.  He was 71.

  Show book

• 

  The Cask of Amontillado

  Edgar Allan Poe

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe is a dark and gripping tale of revenge, deceit, and the chilling depths of human malice. Set in the shadowy, wine-filled catacombs of an unnamed Italian city, this short story follows the cunning and vengeful Montresor as he seeks to settle an unnamed insult by luring his unsuspecting friend, Fortunato, into a deadly trap. 
  Poe’s masterful use of suspense and irony unfolds as Montresor, under the guise of friendship, tempts Fortunato with the promise of tasting a rare and exquisite wine—Amontillado. As they descend into the cold, claustrophobic depths of the catacombs, the tension builds, and the true nature of Montresor’s intentions becomes terrifyingly clear. Fortunato, oblivious to the danger he is in, finds himself entangled in a plot that will seal his fate forever. 
  This classic tale of horror delves into themes of pride, revenge, and the darkness within the human soul, showcasing Poe’s unparalleled talent for creating atmospheric and psychological suspense. Perfect for fans of gothic literature and psychological thrillers, this audiobook version of The Cask of Amontillado brings the sinister story to life, immersing listeners in its eerie and chilling world. 
  Start Listening to The Cask of Amontillado today and experience one of Poe’s most haunting works!

  Show book