Other books that might interest you

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  The Terrible Old Man

  H. P. Lovecraft

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  Title: The Terrible Old Man 
  Author: H. P. Lovecraft 
  Narrator: Jonathan Dunne 
  Original Publication: 1921 
  Public Domain: Yes 
  Series Placement: Number 18 in the Timeless Terrors series 
  Description: 
  The Terrible Old Man by H. P. Lovecraft is a chilling short tale first published in 1921. In the coastal town of Kingsport, a reclusive old sailor is whispered about by townsfolk. When three thieves attempt to rob him, they discover that some men—and some houses—harbor powers both strange and deadly. Lovecraft’s story blends uncanny suspense with dark humor, creating a memorable tale of retribution and cosmic dread. 
  Narrated by Amazon bestselling horror author Jonathan Dunne, this recording captures the story’s eerie atmosphere, suspense, and Lovecraft’s signature blend of the mundane with the supernatural. While the text is in the public domain, this performance is an original work and copyright © 2025 Jonathan Dunne. 
  This audiobook is part of Timeless Terrors, a dedicated series bringing classic horror back to life — stories from the great masters of the macabre, narrated afresh to haunt a new generation. 
  Listeners should be prepared for a brief but unsettling exploration of greed, mystery, and the hidden powers that dwell in the ordinary world.

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  Dagon (Unabridged)

  H. P. Lovecraft

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  "Dagon" is the second story of the writer H.P.Lovecraft, written in 1917 and published ,for the first time, in 1919. The work takes its title from the mythological God Dagon, and tells a disturbing story, happened years before to a man with the obsession of suicide. Before throwing himself from the window of his attic, this man writes some notes related to his mental state. Then, he began to recall an old story that happened in the years of the First World War: suddenly, he finds himself a prisoner of a German ship in the Pacific Ocean. After only five days, the protagonist manages to escape with a raft. Wandering for days, adrift in the sea, one afternoon he finds himself stranded on a disquieting and apparently deserted island. Immediately he notices that in the mud, a lot of rotting fish are stranded...

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  A Wagner Matinee - From their...

  Willa Cather

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  Willa Sibert Cather had Welsh ancestry but like her parents Charles and Mary, was born in Virginia, on 7th December 1873.  Despite strong roots in the community, Willa was 9, when the family moved to Nebraska, to work the rich soil and avoid TB of which there were numerous outbreaks in Virginia.   
  The vastness and drama of the Nebraska prairie and its’ extreme weather conditions as well as the many diverse cultures of the local families proved to be a major influence on her and can be evidenced in much of her later writing.   
  Her first writing was for the local journal when she was at the University of Nebraska and later became the managing editor of the student newspaper.    
  In 1896 she obtained work for a woman’s magazine in Pittsburgh and soon after became a regular contributor to the Pittsburgh Leader and wrote poetry and short stories for the Library, another local publication.   
  Her first collection of short stories, ‘The Troll Garden’, was published in 1905 and contains several of her most famous including ‘A Wagner Matinee’ and ‘Paul's Case.’ As a writer Cather was now taking immense strides forward.   
  Between 1913 and 1918 Cather wrote her Prairie Trilogy: ‘O Pioneers!’, ‘The Song of the Lark’, and ‘My Ántonia’ and in 1922 the Pulitizer Prize was hers for her novel ‘One of Ours’ set during WWI.  
  Acknowledged as one of America's greatest writers’ further honours flowed. In 1943 she was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The following year Cather received the gold medal for fiction from the National Institute of Arts and Letters.  
  A determinedly private person, Cather destroyed many old drafts, personal papers, and letters. Her will would also restrict the ability of scholars to quote from personal papers that remained. 
  On 24th April 1947, Willa Siebert Cather died of a cerebral haemorrhage at her Manhattan home. She was 73.

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  Cain - From their pens to your...

  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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  L'Assommoir

  Émile Zola

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  Step into the gritty streets of Paris with "L'Assommoir" by Emile Zola, a poignant narrative of struggle and shattered dreams. Gervaise Macquart, a determined laundress, aspires for a better life but faces the harsh realities of poverty, alcoholism, and societal decay. As she navigates love, betrayal, and hardship, her hope gradually succumbs to despair. Zola's unflinching depiction of working-class life evokes powerful emotions, capturing the relentless grip of circumstance and the resilience of the human spirit.

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  Notre Dame de Paris

  Victor Hugo

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  Originally published in 1831, "Notre-Dame de Paris" is one of Victor Hugo's most renowned novels. The story unfolds in 15th-century Paris and revolves around the majestic Cathedral of Notre-Dame. The narrative interweaves the lives of its characters, including the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda, the deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo, the vain archdeacon Claude Frollo, and the dashing Captain Phoebus. Through its intricate plot, the novel delves into themes of love, passion, sacrifice, and societal judgment. Simultaneously, Hugo offers readers a rich depiction of medieval Paris, highlighting both its architectural wonders and the societal contrasts of the age.

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