Publisher: DD Sales & Distributors
A CRUEL ENIGMA BY PAUL BOURGET Nor will this influence appear other than natural if it is borne in mind that, gifted with no mean qualifications for the task, 51. Bourget has made a deep and particular study of just those problems which, to this self-conscious, introspective age of ours, are possessed of all-absorbing interest.
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 Dora Sigerson Shorter.Show book
Is Your Reality Real? Discover the Visionary Who Saw the Future Before It Happened. Philip K. Dick was the "Shakespeare of Sci-Fi," a writer who moved beyond spaceships and lasers to explore the fragile nature of existence itself. His work serves as a haunting mirror to our modern world, predicting a future of pervasive surveillance, simulated realities, and the blurring line between human and machine. This comprehensive collection brings together his most influential novels and stories, offering a journey into the deepest labyrinths of the human mind. Inside this monumental collection, you will explore: The Master of the Shifting Reality: Experience "Gnostic" sci-fi where the world around the protagonist begins to dissolve, revealing a darker, more complex truth hidden beneath the surface. The Anatomy of Artificial Consciousness: Delve into the profound ethical questions of what it means to be alive, exploring the empathy—and lack thereof—in both humans and their synthetic counterparts. Pre-Cyberpunk Dystopias: Witness the birth of the "High Tech, Low Life" aesthetic, featuring gritty urban landscapes, corporate overreach, and the struggle of the individual to remain sane in an insane world. Metaphysical Paranoia: Discover narratives where memory is untrustworthy, identity is a commodity, and the government or a higher power is always watching. Dick's influence is the DNA of modern cinema and thought, inspiring everything from Blade Runner to The Matrix. Whether you are seeking a mind-bending thriller or a philosophical meditation on the soul, this volume is an essential cornerstone for any library of modernist science fiction and speculative philosophy. Trust no one, especially yourself. Buy "The Science Fiction Collection of Philip K. Dick" today and question everything.Show book
Dylan Marlais Thomas was born on 27th October 1914, in Swansea, Wales. From an early age, Thomas displayed a remarkable aptitude for language and storytelling. He found solace and inspiration in the rugged landscape of Wales, which would later become a central theme in his work. Thomas's literary journey began at school where his poetic talent began to emerge with contributions to publications and participation in the school magazine. At 16 he became a reporter for the South-West Daily News. The stage was also an important part of Thomas's early life as an actor, writer, producer and even set painter. In 1934, Thomas moved to London where he found himself amidst a vibrant literary scene and his early works, including ‘Eighteen Poems’ (1934) and ‘Twenty-Five Poems’ (1936), garnered critical acclaim and established him as a rising star in the poetry world. His distinctive voice, characterized by an ingenious use of words and rhythm, musical language and lush imagery, captivated readers and critics alike. He met and married Caitlin Macnamara in 1937 whom he had three children with. Despite his literary success, Thomas wrestled with personal demons. His struggles with alcoholism and tumultuous relationships fuelled his creativity but also threatened to consume him. His deep insecurities and fears, which found expression in his poetry's exploration of mortality and the human condition, are best exemplified in his most famous poem, ‘Do not go gentle into that good night,’—written in response to his father's failing health. The impassioned plea to rage against the dying of the light captures the essence of Thomas's defiance in the face of death. In 1950 Thomas embarked on the first of four lucrative tours of America at the invitation of the American poet John Brinnin. Together, for three months, they toured across the country and provided much needed revenue to the debt-ridden Thomas. His financial difficulties were eased by rich patrons, principally the wife of historian, A J P Taylor, who first gave him a house to live in in Oxford and then bought him his own house in Laugharne, Wales as well as settling many of his debts. Throughout his career, Thomas was a prolific writer, not only penning poetry but prose, stories, film scripts and radio dramas, the most enduring and well-known being ‘Under Milk Wood’ for the BBC with its rhythm, lyrical, evocative words and imagery and the comic exuberance to reveal the dreams and thoughts of a fictional Welsh fishing town. Thomas’s final tour of America in 1953 was to claim his life. Brinnin describes him as ‘a living delight and a living torment’ and says that sometimes he was amazed that he was able to stand up straight and more remarkably fulfil the poetry readings that were increasingly popular with the American literati and beyond, for all the drink he downed. Thomas liked the role of the tortured uncompromising artist and was often rude, difficult and, of course, drunk. Dylan Thomas was admitted to the emergency ward at St Vincent’s Hospital in a coma and died at noon on 9th November 1953. He was 39. His untimely death marked the premature end of a literary career that promised far more but his profound poetry has left an indelible mark on 20th-century literature reminding us of the fleeting nature of life and the enduring power of art.Show book
George Robert Gissing was born on November 22nd, 1857 in Wakefield, Yorkshire. He was educated at Back Lane School in Wakefield. Gissing loved school. He was enthusiastic with a thirst for learning and always diligent. By the age of ten he was reading Dickens, a lifelong hero. In 1872 Gissing won a scholarship to Owens College. Whilst there Gissing worked hard but remained solitary. Unfortunately, he had run short of funds and stole from his fellow students. He was arrested, prosecuted, found guilty, expelled and sentenced to a month's hard labour in 1876. On release he decided to start over. In September 1876 he travelled to the United States. Here he wrote short stories for the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers. On his return home he was ready for novels. Gissing self-published his first novel but it failed to sell. His second was acquired but never published. His writing career was static. Something had to change. And it did. By 1884 The Unclassed was published. Now everything he wrote was published. Both Isabel Clarendon and Demos appeared in 1886. He mined the lives of the working class as diligently as any capitalist. In 1889 Gissing used the proceeds from the sale of The Nether World to go to Italy. This trip formed the basis for his 1890 work The Emancipated. Gissing's works began to command higher payments. New Grub Street (1891) brought a fee of £250. Short stories followed and in 1895, three novellas were published; Eve's Ransom, The Paying Guest and Sleeping Fires. Gissing was careful to keep up with the changing attitudes of his audience. Unfortunately, he was also diagnosed as suffering from emphysema. The last years of his life were spent as a semi-invalid in France but he continued to write. 1899; The Crown of Life. Our Friend the Charlatan appeared in 1901, followed two years later by The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft. George Robert Gissing died aged 46 on December 28th, 1903 after catching a chill on a winter walk.Show book
Jungle Tales of Tarzan is a collection of twelve loosely connected short stories by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, comprising the sixth book in order of publication in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. Chronologically the events recounted in it occur within Chapter 11 of the first Tarzan novel, Tarzan of the Apes, between Tarzans avenging of his ape foster mothers death and his becoming leader of his ape tribe. The stories ran monthly in Blue Book magazine, September 1916 through August 1917 before book publication in 1919.Show book
What would you give to remain flawless forever? Would you trade your very soul? In the decadent heart of Victorian London, the exquisitely beautiful Dorian Gray sits for his portrait by infatuated artist Basil Hallward. But when the cynical and charismatic Lord Henry Wotton introduces the naive youth to a hedonistic worldview, Dorian makes a terrifying, impassioned wish: that he might remain forever untouched by age, while his painted image bears the cruel ravages of time and sin. As Dorian plunges into a secret life of depravity, manipulation, and dark obsessions, his flawless face remains as pristine as an angel's. Yet, locked away in his attic, the portrait begins to warp into a gruesome reflection of his festering soul. Will his monstrous secret be discovered, or will the darkness consume him entirely? Why you will love this: Masterfully intertwining suspense with profound moral questions, this is the pinnacle of Philosophical Fiction / Gothic Fiction. Fans of classic psychological horror, atmospheric historical mysteries, and stories of doomed protagonists will be utterly captivated by Wilde's biting wit and lush, evocative prose. It is a quintessential exploration of vanity, art, and the duality of human nature that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. About the Author: Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, and novelist famed for his brilliant wit, flamboyant style, and legendary conversational skills. As a leading figure of the Aesthetic movement, his works brutally yet beautifully critiqued Victorian hypocrisy, cementing his legacy as one of the English language's most enduring literary icons.Show book
