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  Scenes of Clerical Life

  George Eliot

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  Three novellas that brilliantly portray English country and clergy life at the turn of the nineteenth century from the author of Middlemarch.   Initially appearing in Blackwood’s Magazine, this trio of linked stories comprises George Eliot’s first published work. Together they form a portrait of small-town life in Midlands, England, where changes are affecting both society at large and religious beliefs and institutions.   In “The Sad Fortunes of Reverend Amos Barton,” the clergyman struggles to raise funds for church repairs and perform his parochial duties, while a target of gossip—both good and bad. Meanwhile, few in Shepperton can find fault with his shy and hardworking wife, who cares for their six children, stretching Barton’s meager salary—and herself—to the limit.   Set before the arrival of Amos Barton, “Mr. Gilfil’s Love Story” features well-liked parish priest Maynard Gifil, who is known for smoking long pipes and preaching short sermons. Shockingly tumultuous events lead up to his marriage—including a love triangle, deception, and a murder plot.   An argument over religious doctrine splits the market town of Milby into two factions in “Janet’s Repentance.” With the arrival of Reverend Tryan, a rumor spreads that Evangelicalism has invaded the parish, angering local lawyer Robert Dempster. But his long-suffering wife finds in Tryan a kindred spirit, leading her to embark on a new life.  “The exquisite truth and delicacy, both of the humour and the pathos of those stories, I have never seen the like of.” —Charles Dickens “A first-rate novel, and its author takes rank at once among the masters of the art.” —The Times

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  Before Insulin - From their pens...

  J Connington

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  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 J J Connington.

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  Désirée's Baby - From their pens...

  Kate Chopin

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  Katherine O'Flaherty was born on the 8th February 1850 in St Louis, Missouri to parents of French and Irish descent. 
  At age 5, she was sent to the Sacred Heart Academy and, apart from a 2 year period at home when her father died, remained there until graduating in 1868.  Whilst there she began writing and became an avid reader of almost anything that crossed her path.   
  Kate married Oscar Chopin in 1870 and the couple moved to New Orleans, and later to the rural setting of Cloutierville, Louisiana to raise their 6 children.  
  In 1882 her husband died leaving her in a deep trench of debt.  Despite her best efforts to turn the businesses around they were sold, and she moved the family back to St Louis and the financial help of her mother.  Sadly, her mother died within the year.  Kate, now struggling with depression, pushed herself to write and gained a local reputation as a writer of short stories that captured the local color and vibrancy of her surroundings.  
  By the early 1890’s her short stories were published nationally.  With this widespread audience also came negative reviews, controversy, and cries of immorality as themes such as interracial relationships, the rights of women and other burning issues of the day were written about. 
  Despite the criticism, which unnerved her, she continued to write though in the main her works, around 100 short stories and two novels, were not attributed with any literary worth. 
  Kate Chopin died from a brain haemorrhage in St Louis Missouri on the 22nd of August 1904.  She was 54. 
  For much of the 20th Century her work was forgotten and out of print.  It was only in early 1970’s, with the rise of feminism and the call for a more just society that she was given the status her works had long described and shone a literary light at.  She is now safely revered as one of America’s great authors.

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  Let's Go! - The Adventures of...

  Larry Jacobson

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  Let’s Go! is Nonstop action and adventure with just the right amount of light fantasy-fiction. Skip begins searching for his mysterious runaway brother, who was last seen in Tahiti. The search for his brother explodes into a dangerous journey Skip never expected.He meets Kanek, a Tahitian orphan, and together they sail around the world searching for Skip’s brother. They’re surprised and shocked about the dark discoveries they make, but are compelled to keep on the hunt. They become involved way over their heads and danger lurks everywhere as the boys encounter dragons, snakes, crocodiles, man-fish, pirates, and erupting volcanoes. Only having just met, Skip and Kanek must learn to trust each other in these situations and are faced with life or death decisions along their journey. The story is fast-paced, exciting, and dangerous, and at many points, the boys are faced with the question of whether to go on or not. What is important in life? What are the boys’ priorities? They don’t seem to want to give up…but should they?

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  The Short Stories of William...

  William Hope Hodgson

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  William Hope Hodgson was born in Essex, England on November 15th, 1877. 
   
  Over his short career he produced a large body of work which explored and covered many genres. From horror, to science fiction, to stories on the sea, where he had spent much of his early life. 
   
  In 1899, at the age of 22, he opened W. H. Hodgson's School of Physical Culture, in Blackburn offering tailored exercise regimes for personal training.  
   
  Eventually the business shut down and he immersed himself in writing.  An article in 1903 ‘Physical Culture versus Recreative Exercises’ led the way into fiction writing.  In 1904 came his first short story ‘The Goddess of Death’.  It was the beginning of an intensely creative period in his life. 
    
  He wrote novels, poetry and many, many short stories including series on the Sargasso Sea and Captain Gault. 
   
  One of his most memorable creations was his Carnacki, Supernatural Detective creation.  This fused together his passion for sleuthing and interest in the Occult.  It was a memorable success. 
   
  When war drew its shadow over Europe Hodgson received a commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. In 1916 he was thrown from a horse and suffered a serious head injury; he received a mandatory discharge, and returned to writing. 
   
  Hodgson recovered sufficiently to re-enlist but at the Battle of Ypres in April 1918 he was killed by an artillery shell. 
  01 - William Hope Hodgson - A Short Story Collection - An Introduction 
  02 - Carnacki, The Ghost Finder - No1 - The Gateway of the Monster by William Hope Hodgson 
  03 - The Shamraken Homeward-Bounder by William Hope Hodgson 
  04 - The Voice in the Night by William Hope Hodgson

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  The Captain of the Polestar - A...

  Arthur Conan Doyle

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  A frozen Arctic expanse, a Captain who appears to be hardly of sound mind and a strange wailing from across the ice fields makes for an eerie and desolate voyage. John M’Allister-Ray, a student of medicine aboard the Polestar, records the events in his diary whilst scarcely believing what he is witnessing. The Captain of the Polestar is a standalone enhanced audio tale from the Victorian Anthologies series featuring short stories by classic writers of the spooky, the scary and the supernatural. Guaranteed to give you the shivers, each collection includes familiar and loved creepy tales as well as those less well-known.

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