Other books that might interest you

• 

  Sherlock Holmes: The Engineer's...

  Arthur Conan Doyle

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Embark on a gripping journey with The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb, the ninth part of the Sherlock Holmes Short Story collection, narrated by Jake Urry. In this thrilling tale by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a young hydraulic engineer named Victor Hatherley seeks Watson's medical help after a horrifying encounter that left him with a severed thumb. As Holmes delves into the engineer's account of a mysterious and dangerous job, he uncovers a sinister plot that endangers many lives. 
  Jake Urry's dynamic narration brings the intensity and drama of this unusual case to life, making this audiobook a must-listen for both devoted Sherlock Holmes fans and newcomers. Discover the brilliance of Holmes's deductive skills and the dark secrets lurking in The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb with this captivating recording.

  Show book

• 

  The Masque of the Red Death

  Edgar Allen Poe

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Pestilence and Squalor pervade every part of society. Yet, the mighty Prospero must have his party. Enjoy this tale on the folly of parties during an epidemic!

  Show book

• 

  Fyodor Dostovesky - A Short...

  Fyodor Dostoevsky

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky was born in Moscow on 11th November, 1821 to distinguished multi-ethnic parents from a Lithuanian background.   
   
  His childhood years were at the family home in hospital grounds which also contained an orphanage, an insane asylum and a cemetery for criminals.  The young Fyodor often disobeyed his father by talking to the ill in the hospital gardens.   
   
  His health was compromised at age 9 when he experienced his first epileptic fit. By the time he was a teenager both parents had died and he was now enrolled in a military academy where he graduated and eventually became a Lieutenant in 1842.  He left military service the next year. 
   
  In 1846 he published his first novel ‘Poor Cow’ to great literary acclaim.  His next was unable to emulate that success but his short stories helped provide an income.  Life as an author was definitely difficult. As he began his next work he was arrested and incarcerated for treason and participation in the political and literary Petrashevsky Circle. Although the case was weak and unjustified he was sentenced to 4 years of hard labour followed by 5 years of military service in a Siberian regiment.  
   
  Despite the undoubted hardships and setbacks in his life, and whether they helped or hindered his writing, his talents produced many exceptional works of literature including ‘Crime and Punishment’, ‘The Idiot’ and ‘The Brothers Karamazov’.   
   
  Dostoevsky’s ability to get under the skin of his characters and show the inner workings of their mind was hugely influential and ahead of its time.  Interwoven with this was the influence of the broader social, spiritual and political forces at work in a person's psyche.   
   
  Fyodor Dostoevsky struggled financially and remained in poor health for much of his adult life.  He died from a lung haemorrhage on 9th February, 1881. 
   
  1 - Fyodor Dostoyevsky - A Short Story Collection - An Introduction 
  2 - The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fyodor Dostovesky 
  3 - An Honest Thief by Fyodor Dostoyveskey 
  4 - Bobok by Fyodor Dostoyevsky 
  5 - The Beggar Boy at Christ's Christmas Tree by Fyodor Dostoyevsky 
  6 - The Crocodile. An Extraordinary Incident - Part 1 by Fyodor Dostoyevsky 
  7 - The Crocodile. An Extraordinary Incident - Part 2 by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

  Show book

• 

  A Wagner Matinee - From their...

  Willa Cather

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  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.

  Show book

• 

  The Sorrows of Young Werther

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Sorrows of Young Werther is a classic novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, published in 1774. It tells the tragic story of Werther, a young man deeply in love with Charlotte, who is already engaged to another man. 
  Werther's passionate and introspective nature leads him to become increasingly isolated and consumed by his unrequited love. His emotional turmoil intensifies as he witnesses Charlotte's happiness with her fiancé. Struggling with despair and a sense of hopelessness, Werther ultimately makes a tragic decision. 
  The novel's exploration of romantic love, emotional intensity, and the complexities of human nature resonated deeply with readers of the time. It became a cultural sensation and is considered a seminal work of German literature.

  Show book

• 

  Roads of Destiny

  O. Henry

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "Roads of Destiny" by O. Henry navigates through the crossroads of fate, where characters confront life-altering choices and unforeseen consequences. With his signature blend of humor and poignancy, O. Henry weaves tales of love, betrayal, and redemption, painting vivid portraits of individuals grappling with destiny's whims. Through twists of fate, the stories explore the human condition with insight and compassion, revealing the interconnectedness of lives bound by the roads they travel.

  Show book