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  Carnivorine - From their pens to...

  Lucy H Hooper

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  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 Lucy H Hooper.

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  The Grave - From their pens to...

  Guy de Maupassant

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  Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was born on August 5th, 1850 near Dieppe in France.  
  Maupassant’s early life was badly torn when at age 11 (his younger brother Hervé was then five) his mother, Laure, a headstrong and independent-minded woman, risked social disgrace in order to obtain a legal separation from her husband. 
  After the separation, Laure kept custody of her two boys. With the father now forcibly absent, Laure became the most influential and important figure in the young boy's life.   
  Maupassant’s education was such that he rebelled against religion and other societal norms but a developing friendship with Gustave Flaubert began to turn his mind towards creativity and writing. 
  After graduation he volunteered for the Franco-Prussian war. With its end he moved to Paris to work as a clerk in the Navy Department.  Gustave Flaubert now took him under his wing.  Acting as a literary guardian to him, he guided the eager Maupassant to debuts in journalism and literature.  For Maupassant these were exciting times and the awakening of his creative talents and ambitions. 
  In 1880 he published what is considered his first great work, ‘Boule de Suif’, (translated as as ‘Dumpling’, ‘Butterball’, ‘Ball of Fat’, or ‘Ball of Lard’) which met with a success that was both instant and overwhelming.  Flaubert at once acknowledged that it was ‘a masterpiece that will endure.’ Maupassant had used his talents and experiences in the war to create something unique.  
  This decade from 1880 to 1891 was to be the most pivotal of his career.  With an audience now made available by the success of ‘Boule de Suif’ Maupassant organised himself to work methodically and relentlessly to produce between two and four volumes of work a year.  The melding of his talents and business sense and the continual hunger of sources for his works made him wealthy. 
  In his later years he developed a desire for solitude, an obsession for self-preservation, and a fear of death as well as a paranoia of persecution caused by the syphilis he had contracted in his youth.  
  On January 2nd, 1892, Maupassant tried to commit suicide by cutting his throat.  Unsuccessful he was committed to the private asylum of Esprit Blanche at Passy, in Paris.  It was here on July 6th, 1893 that Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant died at the age of only 42.

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  The Socialist - From their pens...

  Ryunosuke Akutagawa

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  Ryūnosuke Niihara was born in Kyōbashi, Tokyo in Japan on the 1st March 1892.  Sadly, his mother suffered severe mental illness after his birth and so, at only eight months old, he was sent to be raised by his maternal uncle and aunt, from whom he received the Akutagawa family name.  
  He was fascinated by classical Chinese literature from his early years and began writing after entering what was then the Tokyo Imperial University in 1913 to study English Literature.   
  The following year Akutagawa and his friends revived the literary journal ‘New Currents of Thought’ which published their own works and translations of such icons as W B Yeats and Anatole France. 
  Akutagawa published "Rashōmon" in 1915 and whilst it was disliked by his friends everyone else knew better.  As other short stories followed so did his growing literary reputation as the father of the Japanese short story. 
  Much of his work reinterpreted former classical works and incidents and this, melded with his strong dislike of naturalism, produced a writer of rare and genuine quality.  His character palette featured strong and domineering women, mainly based on his mother and the aunt who helped raise him. 
  In 1921, he spent four months in China as a reporter.  Whilst there his health was compromised by several illnesses and both his physical and mental health spiralled downwards.  He began to suffer from hallucinations and dreaded that he might have inherited his mother’s mental disorders.  
  Although he survived one suicide attempt Ryūnosuke Akutagawa died on the 24th July 1927 in Tokyo from an overdose of Veronal, a barbiturate.  He was 35.

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  The Canterville Ghost

  Oscar Wilde

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  Embark on a delightful journey into the world of whimsical humor and supernatural intrigue with "The Canterville Ghost" by Oscar Wilde, now available as a charming audiobook. In this timeless tale, listeners will be transported to the grand Canterville Chase, where the illustrious Otis family encounters a ghostly resident with a penchant for mischief. 
  As the story unfolds, listeners will follow the hilarious antics of the ghost as he attempts to frighten the unflappable Americans, only to find himself outwitted at every turn. With its blend of wit, satire, and gentle irony, "The Canterville Ghost" is a delightful romp that delights audiences of all ages. 
  Perfect for fans of classic literature and witty humor, this audiobook delivers a delightful performance that will leave listeners laughing out loud. Whether you're a longtime admirer of Oscar Wilde's work or new to his writing, "The Canterville Ghost" promises to entertain and enchant. 
  So, if you're ready to experience a tale of laughter, love, and ghostly hijinks, start listening to "The Canterville Ghost" today and immerse yourself in the timeless charm of Oscar Wilde's storytelling. Start Listening to "The Canterville Ghost" today!

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  The Street of the Four Winds

  Robert W. Chambers

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  This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. In a shabby studio above the winding streets of the Latin Quarter, a struggling young painter is adopted by a stray cat – and around its throat he finds a delicate token that could only have belonged to a woman. As he reads the secrets stitched into that small band, longing turns to obsession, and he resolves to follow the creature home to the one who lost it. But the climb up the Street of the Four Winds leads to a silence no romance prepares him for, and a door that should have stayed closed.

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  Bibliomysteries Volume 4

  Christopher Fowler, Michael...

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  A must-listen collection of four bibliomysteries by bestselling and award-winning authors 
   
   
   
  Bibliomysteries Volume 4 includes: 
   
   
   
  ● "Reconciliation Day" by Christopher Fowler 
   
   
   
  ● "Hoodoo Harry" by Joe R. Lansdale 
   
   
   
  ● "The Traitor" by Martin Edwards 
   
   
   
  ● "The Last Honest Horse Thief" by Michael Koryta

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