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  God Sees the Truth But Waits -...

  Leo Tolstoy

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  Leo Tolstoy was born in 1828 in the Russian province of Tula to a wealthy noble family. As a child, he had private tutors but he showed little interest in any formal education. When he went to the University of Kazan in 1843 to study oriental languages and law, he left without completing his courses.  Life now was relaxed and idle but with some writing also taking place.  Gambling debts forced an abrupt change of path and he joined the army to fight in the Crimean War.  He was commended for his bravery and promoted but was appalled at the brutality and loss of life.  He recorded these and other earlier experiences in his diaries which formed the basis of several of his works. 
  In 1852 ‘Childhood’ was published to immediate success and was followed by ‘Boyhood’ and ‘Youth’. 
  His experience in the army and the horrors he witnessed resulted in ‘The Cossacks’ in 1862 and the trilogy ‘Sevastopol Tales’. After the war he travelled around Europe, visiting London and Paris and meeting such luminaries as Victor Hugo and Charles Darwin.  
  It was now that Tolstoy began his masterpiece, ‘War and Peace’. Published in 1869 it was an epic work that changed literature. He quickly followed this with ‘Anna Karenina’.  
  These successes made Tolstoy rich and helped him accomplish many of his dreams but also brought problems as he grappled with his faith and the lot of the oppressed poor. These revolutionary views became so popular that the authorities now kept him under surveillance.  
  He led a life of asceticism and vegetarianism and put his socialist ideals into practice by establishing numerous schools for the poor and food programmes. He also believed in giving away his wealth, which caused much discord with his wife.  
  His writing continued to bring forth classics such as ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’ and many brilliant and incisive short stories such as ‘How Much Land Does A Man Need’.  
  In 1901 Tolstoy was excommunicated from the Church and controversially deselected for the Nobel Prize for Literature. 
  Whilst undertaking a pilgrimage by train in October 1910 with his daughter Aleksandra he caught pneumonia in the nearby town of Astapovo.  Leo Tolstoy died on November 9th, 1910, he was 82.

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  3 Stories About - Identity - A...

  O Henry, Sherwood Anderson,...

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  There is something about the number 3.    
   
  The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two.   
   
  Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these more modern times, three’s a crowd may be too many, except when it’s a ménage à trois.  It seems good things usually come in threes. 
   
  Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore themes and literary avenues that classic authors were so adept at creating. 
   
  From their pens to your your ears. 
   
  01 - 3 Stories About - Identity 
  02 - Hands by Sherwood Anderson 
  03 - My First Goose by Isaac Babel 
  04 - The Gift of the Magi by O Henry

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  Top 10 Short Stories The - The...

  Fyodor Dostevesky, Mark Twain,...

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  Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart.  A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. 
   
  In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?  
   
  The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme.  Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature. 
   
  Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made.  If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something. 
   
  The Century moves on decade by decade. War once again scars Europe, in America wagons roll west.  Social unrest continues even as conditions improve markedly for the few and only a little for the many.  The list of problems and of challenges described by our authors is long and their stories once again full of valuable and telling insights. 
   
  01 - The Top 10 - The 1870's - The Men - An Introduction 
  02 - Bobok by Fyodor Dostevesky 
  03 - A Ghost Story by Mark Twain 
  04 - God Sees The Truth But Waits by Leo Tolstoy 
  05 - Dickon the Devil by Sheridan Le Fanu 
  06 - The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller by Gustave Flaubert 
  07 - A Strange Story by Ivan Turgenev 
  08 - A Lonely Ride by Bret Harte 
  09 - Coward by Vsevolod Garshin 
  10 - The Man Without a Body by Edward Page Mitchell 
  11 - The Vampire by Jan Neruda

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  At Christmas Time and Other Stories

  Anton Chekhov

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  This collection of short stories by Anton Chekhov are all set at Christmastime. Rather than depicting a sentimental image of Christmas, Chekhov paints a picture of the harsh reality faced by many of the poorer members of society during a bitter Russian winter, while still injecting elements of pathos and humour. This collection includes "At Christmas Time (Parts 1 & 2)", "Vanka" and "The Shoemaker and the Devil".

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  Emma

  Jane Austen

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  Emma by Jane Austen is a delightful and witty novel about Emma Woodhouse, a charming and independent young woman who takes pleasure in matchmaking among her friends, despite her own lack of romantic interest. Set in the idyllic English countryside, the story humorously explores themes of love, friendship, social class, and personal growth as Emma’s well-meaning meddling leads to unexpected consequences. Filled with Austen’s sharp observations on human behavior, Emma remains a timeless classic that blends romance with keen social satire.

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  Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

  Mark Twain

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  Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is more than a story—it's a journey down the mighty Mississippi River, a deep exploration of friendship, freedom, and the human spirit. 
  Follow young Huck Finn, a boy who defies societal expectations, as he teams up with Jim, an escaped slave seeking liberty. Together, they embark on an extraordinary adventure filled with thrilling encounters, life-or-death escapes, and moments of profound moral awakening. Along the way, Huck faces challenges that force him to confront the values of his world and redefine his own sense of right and wrong. 
  From encounters with conmen posing as royalty to daring escapes from danger, this timeless classic weaves humor, heartbreak, and suspense into an unforgettable narrative. With vividly drawn characters, riveting scenes, and Mark Twain's signature wit, this audiobook brings the 19th-century American South to life. 
  Narrated by a cutting-edge AI voice, this rendition captures the spirit and charm of Twain's original text, offering a modern way to experience a literary masterpiece. Download now and set sail on a story that continues to resonate across generations.

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