Other books that might interest you

• 

  The Imp of the Perverse

  SAMPI Books, Edgar Allan Poe

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In the short story "The Imp of the Perverse", Edgar Allan Poe deals with the psychology of guilt and self-destruction. A man, after committing a murder in order to inherit a fortune, is tormented by the need to confess his crime, driven by an irresistible impulse, the "demon of perversity", which leads him to his own ruin.

  Show book

• 

  Cohen of Trinity - From their...

  Amy Levy

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Amy Levy was born in London, England in 1861, the second of seven in a fairly wealthy Anglo-Jewish family. The children read and participated in secular literary activities and became firmly integrated into Victorian life. 
  Her education was at Brighton High School, Brighton, before studies at Newnham College, Cambridge; she was the first Jewish student when she arrived in 1879, but left after four terms. 
  Amy’s writing career began early; her poem ‘Ida Grey’ appeared when she was only fourteen. Her acclaimed short stories ‘Cohen of Trinity’ and ‘Wise in Their Generation,’ were published by Oscar Wilde in his magazine ‘Women's World’. 
  Her poetic writings reveal feminist concerns; ‘Xantippe and Other Verses’, from 1881 includes a poem in the voice of Socrates's wife. ‘A Minor Poet and Other Verse’ from 1884 comprises of dramatic monologues and lyric poems. 
  In 1886, Amy began a series of essays on Jewish culture and literature for the Jewish Chronicle, including ‘The Ghetto at Florence’, ‘The Jew in Fiction’, ‘Jewish Humour’ and ‘Jewish Children’. 
  That same year while travelling in Florence she met the writer Vernon Lee. It is generally assumed they fell in love and this inspired the poem ‘To Vernon Lee’. 
  Her first novel ‘Romance of a Shop’, written in 1888 is based on four sisters who experience the pleasures and hardships of running a London business during the 1880s. This was followed by Reuben Sachs (also 1888) and concerned with Jewish identity and mores in the England of her time and was somewhat controversial. 
  Her final book of poems, ‘A London Plane-Tree’ from 1889, shows the beginnings of the influence of French symbolism. 
  Despite many friendships and an active life, Amy suffered for many years with serious depressions and this, together with her growing deafness, led her to commit suicide by inhaling carbon monoxide on September 10th, 1889. She was 27.

  Show book

• 

  Selected Short Stories - by F...

  F. Scott Fitzgerald

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Selected Short Stories is a collection of some of F. Scott Fitzgerald's most memorable and thought-provoking works. Published in 1931, the collection includes several of his best-known stories, such as "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," "Bernice Bobs Her Hair," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." These stories explore themes of social class, love, loss, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. Fitzgerald's writing style is characterized by its elegance, wit, and poetic language, making his stories both engaging and thought-provoking. 
   
  One of the recurring themes in Fitzgerald's stories is the tension between the individual and society. In many of his stories, the characters are struggling to find their place in a society that values wealth, status, and conformity. This is particularly evident in "Bernice Bobs Her Hair," in which the protagonist, Bernice, must decide whether to conform to the expectations of her wealthy cousin or to follow her own desires. Similarly, in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," the protagonist must come to terms with his unusual condition, which sets him apart from the rest of society. 
   
  Another important theme in Fitzgerald's stories is the fleeting nature of happiness and the inevitability of change. Many of his characters are searching for love, success, or fulfillment, but find that these things are elusive and ultimately fleeting. This is particularly evident in "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," in which the protagonist discovers a hidden mountain of diamonds, only to realize that his wealth is meaningless in the face of the vastness of the universe. Fitzgerald's stories remind us that life is both beautiful and fragile and that the pursuit of happiness can be both exhilarating and heartbreaking. 
  Overall, Selected Short Stories is a testament to Fitzgerald's talent as a writer and his ability to capture the spirit of his time.

  Show book

• 

  Across the Moors - From their...

  W F Harvey

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  William Fryer Harvey AM was born on 14th April 1885 into a wealthy Quaker family in Leeds, West Yorkshire. 
  He was educated at the Quaker Bootham School in Yorkshire and Leighton Park School in Reading before university at Balliol College, Oxford.  
  His health was fragile and he poured his energies into writing short stories and in 1910 published his first collection ‘Midnight House’. 
  In the Great War he was with the Friends' Ambulance Unit and then served as a surgeon-lieutenant in the Royal Navy.  There he received the Albert Medal for Lifesaving but lung damage received at that time troubled him for the rest of his life. 
  He continued to write short stories, and even a memoir, but by 1925 ill health had forced his retirement to any outside work.  Three years later he published his second collection which contained his macabre classic ‘The Beast with Five fingers’, only one more collection would come from his pen in his lifetime. 
  For many years of his life he now lived in Switzerland with his wife but a yearning to be home saw them come back to England in 1935. 
  W F Harvey died in Letchworth on the 4th June 1937. He was 52.

  Show book

• 

  Jane Austen Pride And Prejudice...

  Jane Austen

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Welcome to the world of Jane Austen, one of the most beloved authors in the English language. Austen's works are known for their wit, social commentary, and romantic storylines that have captivated readers for generations. 
  This audiobook is an introduction to the life and works of Jane Austen and will provide a glimpse into her world and the literary legacy she left behind. From her early years as a writer to the publication of her most famous novels, including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma, we will explore the themes, characters, and settings that make Austen's writing so timeless. Here you will discover the nuances of Austen's prose, the subtleties of her humor, and the depth of her insight into human relationships. Whether you are a longtime fan of Austen's work or new to her writing, this audiobook is the perfect starting point for exploring the world of Jane Austen. 
  Pride and Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The novel explores the themes of prejudice, love, and the role of women in society. The story revolves around the Bennet family, particularly the second-oldest daughter, Elizabeth. The novel explores the consequences of judging others based on appearance or reputation rather than getting to know them. The characters in Pride and Prejudice are well-developed and memorable. Elizabeth is a strong independent woman not afraid to speak her mind. She can also be stubborn and impulsive. Mr. Darcy is a wealthy and powerful man who initially comes across as arrogant and aloof. However, as the novel progresses, we learn that he is a complex and sympathetic character with a strong sense of honor and loyalty. Other important characters include Jane Bennet, Elizabeth's older sister, who is kind and gentle, and Mr. Bennet, the girl's father, who is sarcastic and witty.

  Show book

• 

  Mary E Mann - A Short Story...

  Mary E Mann

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Mary Rackham was born in Norwich on 14th August 1848 to a merchant family.  Little is known of her early life and her biography only re-appears in September 1871 with marriage to Fairman Joseph Mann, a farmer with 800 acres.   
   
  Mary moved to Shropham, Norfolk and became involved with the workhouse, visiting the sick and other unfortunates of the parish, her observations and experiences a valuable source for her later stories.  
   
  She took up writing, partly to offset the dreary village life of her surroundings, in the 1880s and published her first novel, ‘The Parish of Hilby’ (1883) at her own expense. It was well received by the critics.  
   
  Thus began a career that spanning three decades provided thirty-three novels, hundreds of short stories, and fourteen plays.? Her work was largely focused on rural life in Norfolk and centered on the fictional town of Dulditch, with grim but authentic accounts of poverty and deprivation.  
   
  Her marriage produced one boy and three girls. With her husband's death in 1913, she moved to Sheringham.  
   
  She is regarded as a major contributor to East Anglian literature with particular praise given to her short stories. 
   
  Mary E Mann died on 19th May 1929.  She was 80.  Her grave-marker is a carved open book with the epitaph ‘We bring our years to an end, as if it were a tale that is told’. 
   
  1 - The Short Stories of Mary E Mann - An Introduction 
  2 - Wolf Charlie by Mary E Mann 
  3 - Ben Pitcher's Elly by Mary E Mann 
  4 - Some of the Shipwrecked by Mary E Mann 
  5 - Rats by Mary E Mann 
  6 - Clomayne's Clerk by Mary E Mann 
  7 - The Country Doctor by Mary E Mann 
  8 - Little Brother by Mary E Mann

  Show book