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  Kipps

  H. G. Wells

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  First published in 1905 Kipps soon became H.G Wells’ most popular novel. It is a rags to riches story of a “simple soul” Arthur Kipps, a naïve young man who finds himself suddenly struggling to keep afloat in the deep waters of unlooked for wealth. He reaches out to those he considers his betters to anchor himself in this new world, so far removed from his relatively humble life of apprentice to a Draper. 
    
  Young Kipps is quick to abandon his first love Ann for the allure of Helen Walsingham, whom he feels is more the match for the inevitable rise in his status which must surely follow his new found wealth. 
    
  Wells lets the obviously humorous side of the situation naturally unfold, whilst subtly framing Kipps’ rise and fall in the context of the hypocrisies and futilities of Edwardian English society. 
  Narrated by Simon Hester. With original music.

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  The Darling

  Anton Chekhov

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  "The Darling"  is a short story by Russian author Anton Chekhov, first published in the No.1, 1899, issue of Semya (Family) magazine, on January 3, in Moscow. Later, Chekhov included it into Volume 9 of his Collected Works, published by Adolf Marks.
  The story follows the life of a woman who is referred to by others as "darling" for her generosity and submissive nature.

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  L'Assommoir

  Emile 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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  Buddenbrooks - The Decline of a...

  Thomas Mann

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  Buddenbrooks is a 1901 novel by Thomas Mann, chronicling the decline of a wealthy north German merchant family over the course of four generations, incidentally portraying the manner of life and mores of the Hanseatic bourgeoisie in the years from 1835 to 1877. Mann drew deeply from the history of his own family, the Mann family of Lübeck, and their milieu.
  It was Mann's first novel, published when he was twenty-six years old. With the publication of the second edition in 1903, Buddenbrooks became a major literary success. Its English translation by Helen Tracy Lowe-Porter was published in 1924. The work led to a Nobel Prize in Literature for Mann in 1929; although the Nobel award generally recognises an author's body of work, the Swedish Academy's citation for Mann identified "his great novel Buddenbrooks" as the principal reason for his prize.
  Mann began writing the book in October 1897, when he was twenty-two years old. The novel was completed three years later, in July 1900, and published in 1901. His objective was to write a novel on the conflicts between businessman and artist's worlds, presented as a family saga, continuing in the realist tradition of such 19th-century works as Stendhal's Le Rouge et le Noir (1830; The Red and the Black). Buddenbrooks is his most enduringly popular novel, especially in Germany, where it has been cherished for its intimate portrait of 19th-century German bourgeois life.
  Before Buddenbrooks Mann had written only short stories, which had been collected under the title Der kleine Herr Friedemann (1898, Little Herr Friedemann). They portrayed spiritually challenged figures who struggle to find happiness in (or at the margins of) bourgeois society. Similar themes appear in the Buddenbrooks, but in a fully developed style that already reflects the mastery of narrative, subtle irony of tone, and rich character descriptions of Mann's mature fiction.
  The exploration of decadence in the novel reflects the influence of Schopenhauer's The World as Will and Representation (1818, 1844) on the young Mann. The Buddenbrooks of successive generations experience a gradual decline of their finances and family ideals, finding happiness increasingly elusive as values change and old hierarchies are challenged by Germany's rapid industrialisation. The characters who subordinate their personal happiness to the welfare of the family firm encounter reverses, as do those who do not.
  The city where the Buddenbrooks live shares so many street names and other details with Mann's native town of Lübeck that the identification is unmistakable, although the novel makes no mention of the name. The young author was condemned for writing a scandalous, defamatory roman à clef about (supposedly) recognisable personages. Mann defended the right of a writer to use material from his own experience.
  The years covered in the novel were marked by major political and military developments that reshaped Germany, such as the Revolutions of 1848, the Austro-Prussian War, and the establishment of the German Empire. Historic events nevertheless generally remain in the background, having no direct bearing on the lives of the characters.

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  The Walk of a Queen

  Annie M. P. Smithson

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  Intrigue, espionage, and romance collide in this gripping historical mystery set during the Irish struggle for independence at the turn of the 20th century.
  
  As underground revolutionaries in Dublin fight against British rule, Geraldine Moore and her spirited friend Jill find themselves caught in a dangerous game of love and loyalty. When a mysterious French woman arrives in their circle, her presence threatens their revolutionary cell and their closest relationships. As British forces tighten their grip on Dublin, Geraldine finds herself torn between her dedication to the cause and her growing feelings for the enigmatic Dr O'Connor. Meanwhile, her comrades Anthony and Desmond face a test of their brotherhood that could lead to the ultimate sacrifice. Through shocking twists and heartbreaking turns, Geraldine and Jill must fight to expose a traitor and secure freedom for both their cause and their loved ones.
  
  A penetrating look at a pivotal time in Irish history, The Walk of a Queen seamlessly weaves friendship, faith and romance with a propulsive espionage plot. Meticulously researched and breathlessly paced, this classic novel is perfect for fans of historical thrillers and anyone fascinated by the untold stories of Ireland's battle for freedom.

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  The Count Of Monte Cristo

  Alexandre Dumas, Auguste Maquet

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  On the eve of his wedding to the beautiful Mercedes, Edmond Dantès is betrayed by jealous rivals and wrongfully imprisoned for treason. Locked away in the dreadful Château d'If, he spends years plotting his escape and planning a brilliant revenge against those who destroyed his life.  
  As the mysterious and powerful Count of Monte Cristo, he returns to exact justice, but along the way, he faces his own vulnerability. Filled with adventure, romance, and intrigue, Alexandre Dumas’s epic tale is a timeless story of betrayal, redemption, and the consequences of revenge. This audiobook will take you on a thrilling journey you won’t forget!

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