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  Black Beauty

  Anna Sewell

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  Black Beauty is a fictional autobiographical memoir told by a horse, who recounts many tales, both of cruelty and kindness. The title page of the first edition states that it was "Translated from the Original Equine by Anna Sewell." It was composed in the last years of her life, during which she was confined to her house as an invalid. After its publication in 1877, Sewell lived just long enough to see her first and only novel become an immediate bestseller, as well as it encouraging the better treatment of many cruelly-treated animals. 
   
  Although initially intended for people who work with horses, it soon became a children's classic. While outwardly teaching animal welfare, it also contains allegorical lessons about how to treat people with kindness, sympathy and respect. The story is narrated in the first person and each short chapter relates an incident in Black Beauty's life, with Sewell's detailed observations and extensive descriptions of horse behaviour lending the novel a good deal of verisimilitude.

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  Demir-Kaya - From their pens to...

  Alexander Kuprin

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  Alexander Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza in Russia on 7th September 1870. 
  At 3 his Father died and he and mother moved to Moscow. By 10 he was enrolled at the Second Moscow Military High School and there his interest in literature began. The Alexander Military Academy followed and two years later he was a sub-lieutenant and posted to an Infantry Regiment for a further four years. 
  Despite his duties he was a now a keen writer and published his first short story at this time. His military duties also garnered him experiences for his breakthrough work ‘The Duel’.  Leaving the military he left for Kiev to work for local newspapers.  He continued to publish both stories and novels and by 1901 he was in St Petersburg becoming part of a group that included Chekhov, Ivan Bunin, Maxim Gorky and Leonid Andreyev.  
  In the years that followed further controversial works and acclaim followed.  His comments on the regime meant he was also put under secret police surveillance.   
  As World War I erupted, Kuprin opened a military hospital but was then given command of an infantry company in Finland. He was soon discharged on grounds of ill health.  
  The October Revolution saw him praise Lenin, but he warned that the Bolsheviks threatened Russian culture and might cause further widespread suffering to the peasants.  As Civil War raged he took his family to Helsinki and then on to Paris. 
  Exile saw his talents decline further and his succumbing to alcoholism. He became lonely and withdrawn. The family's poverty increased his malaise.   
  In May 1937, the Kuprin’s returned to Moscow.  He now saw his work published but wrote almost nothing new.  In 1938 his health rapidly deteriorated.  Already suffering from a kidney problems and sclerosis, he had now developed cancer of the oesophagus.  
  Alexander Kuprin died on 25th August 1938.

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  Women of Fiction - Short Stories...

  Jane Austen, Amelia Ann Blanford...

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  Women of Fiction - Short Stories 
   
  Story List  
   
  1)     The History of England – Jane Austen 
  2)     The Four Fifteen Express - Amelia Ann Blanford Edwards 
  3)     Mark on the Wall – Virginia Woolf

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  The Metamorphosis

  Franz Kafka

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  Gregor, a travelling salesman, awakens one morning only to discover that he has transformed into a giant insect. His family is repulsed by him not knowing what to do. Gradually things start getting overturned because of the mishap, and Gregor's life crashes like a house of cards.
  The Metamorphosis was first published in 1915. It's Author Franz Kafka is well known for his exploration of the fantastic and isolation. He uses realism to depict bizarre situations. In The Metamorphosis, he incorporates themes like alienation and absurdity to convey narratives about isolated and anxious protagonists.
  The story does not mention the time period, but it's probably early 20th century. The whole narrative takes place in Gregor's apartment with his family and sister.

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  Temptation of Harringay The...

  H. G. Wells

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  Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 - 13 August 1946) was an English writer. Prolific in many genres, he wrote dozens of novels, short stories, and works of social commentary, history, satire, biography and autobiography. His work also included two books on recreational war games. Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is often called the "father of science fiction", along with Jules Verne and the publisher Hugo Gernsback.
  THE TEMPTATION OF HARRINGAY: It is quite impossible to say whether this thing really happened. It depends entirely on the word of R.M. Harringay, who is an artist.

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  Mariana

  Monica Dickens

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  Mary hears on the radio that the British warship her husband is on has sunk, leaving few survivors. Waiting for daybreak to bring news, Mary escapes into memories of her past. Sincere and engaging - a ‘hot-water bottle’ novel - Mariana by Monica Dickens is full of sharply remembered detail: childhood holidays, the heartbreak of first love, making friends, growing up. 
  At eleven, Mary Shannon is sprightly and observant. She adores leaving London to spend holidays with her family at Charbury House in Somerset. Playing with her cousins means time with Denys, who she loves best of all. When she joins a secondary school, Mary knows no one, but salvation comes in the form of Angela Shaw, and together they move on to acting college. The ups of studying with Angela are outnumbered by the downs, so Mary drops out after various humiliating run-ins with a cruel teacher. Next Mary moves to Paris, learns to design dresses, and is swept off her feet by the immensely wealthy Pierre. But will this be enough for her?Mariana is part of the Persephone Audiobook Collection, a series of forgotten classics including neglected fiction and non-fiction by women writers. First published in 1940, this edition includes a preface by Harriet Lane and is narrated by Sophie Roberts.

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