Other books that might interest you

• 

  The Return of Sherlock Holmes...

  Arthur Conan Doyle, Classic...

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Return of Sherlock Holmes is the sixth book in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series and marks the long-awaited return of the world's most famous detective. This collection of thirteen short stories begins with The Adventure of the Empty House, in which Dr. Watson and readers discover that Holmes survived his confrontation with Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. Reunited with Watson, Holmes takes on some of his most intriguing cases, including The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, The Adventure of the Dancing Men, and The Adventure of the Six Napoleons. These tales showcase Holmes' unmatched brilliance in solving mysteries that baffle all others. A masterpiece of detective fiction, The Return of Sherlock Holmes reaffirms Holmes' enduring place as one of literature's greatest characters.

  Show book

• 

  Aunt Lindy A Story Founded on...

  Victoria Earle Matthews

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The bookshelves of American literature are incredible collections that have gathered together centuries of very talented authors.  From this continent their fame spread and whilst among their number many are now forgotten or neglected their talents endure.  Among them is Victoria Earle Matthews.

  Show book

• 

  F Scott Fitzgerald - A Short...

  F. Scott Fitzgerald

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24th 1896 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to an upper-middle-class family. His early years in Buffalo, New York showed him to be a boy of high intelligence and drive with a thirst for literature.  
   
  In 1908, his father was fired from Procter & Gamble, and the family returned to Minnesota. Here Fitzgerald attended St. Paul Academy, in St. Paul, until 1911. At 13 he was published in the school newspaper, it was, of all things, a detective story. In 1911, aged 15, he was sent to the prestigious Newman School, in Hackensack, New Jersey. And, after graduating in 1913, he decided to continue at Princeton University. Here he firmly dedicated himself to writing. Unfortunately his writing pursuits came at the expense of his coursework. In 1917 he dropped out to join the U.S. Army.  
   
  However this service to his country came with the very real fear that he might perish in the trenches of Western Europe with his literary dreams not yet begun. So he spent the weeks before reporting for duty at work on a novel entitled The Romantic Egotist.  Fitzgerald was assigned to Camp Sheridan, in Alabama. It was there that Fitzgerald met the love of his life; Zelda Sayre, the "golden girl," of Montgomery youth society.  
   
  The war ended before Fitzgerald could be deployed, and he moved to New York City hoping to start a career in advertising that would be lucrative enough to convince Zelda to marry him. Unable to convince her that his means were enough to support her she broke off the engagement. Fitzgerald returned to his parents in St. Paul, to revise The Romantic Egoist, now recast as This Side of Paradise. His revised novel was accepted by Scribner's and published in 1920 becoming an instant success.  
   
  It launched Fitzgerald's career as a writer and provided a steady income suitable for Zelda's ambitions. The engagement resumed and they married at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Frances Scott "Scottie" Fitzgerald, their only child, was born on October 26, 1921. 
   
  Inspired by the parties he had attended visiting Long Island's north shore Fitzgerald began planning the greatest of his novels, The Great Gatsby, in 1923, wanting to produce "something new—something extraordinary and beautiful and simple and intricately patterned."  Published in April 1925, The Great Gatsby received mixed reviews and sold poorly; only 20,000 in its first year.  Today, it is considered a literary classic and one of a small circle vying for the title "Great American Novel".  
   
  Fitzgerald continued to supplement his income by writing short stories for magazines and to sell his stories and novels to Hollywood. He called this "whoring".  
   
  In February 1932, Zelda was hospitalized with schizophrenia. Fitzgerald rented a house nearby and worked on his latest book, Tender Is the Night, and finally published it in 1934.  
   
  Fitzgerald's heavy and excessive drinking had now developed into alcoholism and with recurring financial difficulties, the emotional toll of Zelda's mental illness, this meant several difficult years.  
   
  In 1937, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood. His income improved and he began to work in the film industry. He found movies beneath his talents, but was once again in perilous financial straits, and so spent the second half of the 1930s in Hollywood, working on a triangle of short stories, scripts for MGM, and his final novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon.   
   
  In 1939, MGM ended the contract, and Fitzgerald became a writer for hire. Still an alcoholic, he now became estranged from Zelda and developed a relationship with Sheilah Graham, the Hollywood gossip columnist. They quickly became lovers.  
   
  In this last period of his life his alcoholism had left him physically wrecked. After suffering a heart attack, in Schwab's Drug Store, he was ordered to avoi

  Show book

• 

  The Ransom of Red Chief

  O. Henry

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In the first tale, we follow two workmen on an intriguing journey to Coney Island, where the heartsick and disgruntled Tobin has his palm read. Who knew that palmistry could be so unpredictable? Secondly, a tale of kidnapping gone awry.A little boy, self proclaimed "Red Chief", is taken from his home, and has so much fun he never wants to go back, much to the chagrin of the kidnappers.A B. J. Harrison audio production.

  Show book

• 

  Love and Lightning - From their...

  John Oakum

  • 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 CJohn Oakum.

  Show book

• 

  Mystery at Stowe The (Detective...

  Vernon Loder

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  First published by Collins in 1928, this was the first of 22 mystery novels by Vernon Loder, one of the most popular British mystery-thriller writers of his generation. 
  When a guest at Stowe House is found dead, killed by a lethal dart, suspicion naturally falls on the resident collector of poisoned weapons from tribes in South America. With the entire house party as potential suspects, what part did the woman explorer play in this sinister tragedy? The local police are baffled, and call on the help of an amateur, whose recent assignment working with bushmen in Africa brings new insight into an increasingly unconventional investigation . . . 
  THE MYSTERY AT STOWE by Vernon Loder is a detective fiction novel that stands at the top of its genre. It's the best in its class, offering a thrilling narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. 
  n

  Show book