Kew Gardens

Virginia Woolf

Summary

First published in 1921 as part of her ground-breaking short-story collection Monday or Tuesday, Kew Gardens follows the thoughts of a set of characters walking past a flower bed in the royal botanic garden on a hot July day.
Interweaving the thoughts of the characters with depictions of the natural world surrounding them, the narrative flows from mind to mind, from the tranquil flower bed to the bustling city outside.
Written in Woolf's trademark style, brimming with keen observation and rich language, Kew Gardens is both a paean to the natural world and an empathetic exploration of human experience.
'The light fell either upon the smooth, grey back of a pebble or the shell of a snail with its brown, circular veins, or, falling into a raindrop, it expanded with such intensity of red, blue and yellow the thin walls of water that one expected them to burst and disappear… Then the breeze stirred rather more briskly overhead and the colour was flashed into the air above, into the eyes of the men and women who walk in Kew Gardens in July.'

Available since: 03/30/2022.

Print length: 48 pages.

Other books that might interest you

Tree The (Unabridged)

H. P. Lovecraft

"The Tree" is a macabre short story by American horror fiction writer H. P. Lovecraft. It was written in 1920, and published in October 1921 in The Tryout. Set in ancient Greece, the story concerns two sculptors who accept a commission with ironic consequences.
Lovecraft wrote "The Tree" early in his career. He was dismissive of the story in a 1936 letter. Such stories, he said, "if typed on good stock make excellent shelf-paper, but little else." The assessment of Lovecraft authority S. T. Joshi was that although the story "may be a trifle obvious... it is an effective display of Lovecraft's skill in handling a historical setting."

Show book

A Legend - From their pens to...

Alexander Kuprin

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.

Show book

The Mating Season - Best Seller

Allan Banford

In the gleaming metropolis of Crandon, citizens' lives revolve around the all-important mating season under the watchful eye of the authoritarian government. Jona and Remi, two young administrative clerks, feel the first stirrings of unease as oppressive new ovulation regulations are handed down.
When the long-awaited mating frenzy finally descends, instinct overrides conditioning and chaos erupts! Crazed citizens roam the streets desperately seeking partners. Behind closed doors, primal urges are indulged. Will Jona and Remi give in to temptation or follow protocol?
At the sterile government mating center, potential pairs are algorithmically matched based on genetics, not affection. Jona and Remi are disillusioned by the lack of genuine connection. Amidst the pandemonium, their eyes meet and a spark ignites.
Finding refuge in an abandoned building, Jona and Remi explore their illicit feelings. Outside, dissent brews as citizens protest for autonomy. The regime responds with brute force, but a secret resistance movement gains traction.
As the exhausting week draws to a close, Jona and Remi make fateful decisions that will shape their futures forever. Paired with incompatible mates, they conform under societal pressure. But a lingering longing for freedom remains.
Can Jona and Remi break Crandon's vicious mating cycle? Will they find purpose beyond reproduction? Their simmering discontent is about to boil over, threatening to dismantle the fabric of their dystopian society. Is an uprising on the horizon?
This electric page-turner paints a vivid portrait of individuality versus conformity, desire versus duty, and the spirit of youthful rebellion in a futuristic world gone mad. With bated breath, we wonder - will the flames of insurgency ignite Crandon forever?

Show book

Wind in the Willows The - Audiobook

Kenneth Grahame, Classic...

The Wind in the Willows is a charming and whimsical tale of friendship and adventure among woodland creatures. Set along the riverbank, it follows the lives of the gentle Mole, the brave Rat, the wise Badger, and the eccentric and reckless Mr. Toad. Each character brings their own quirks and lessons, from quiet moments on the river to wild escapades involving stolen cars and daring escapes.At its heart, the story celebrates the joys of nature, the warmth of home, and the bonds of friendship. With poetic descriptions, delightful humor, and a sense of timelessness, The Wind in the Willows captures the spirit of English countryside life and remains a beloved favorite for readers of all ages.

Show book

The complete novels of Charles...

Charles Dickens

Experience the Heartbeat of Victorian London.

No writer captured the soul of a city—and the conscience of an empire—quite like Charles Dickens. From the opulent drawing rooms of the elite to the foggy, desperate alleys of the working poor, Dickens's novels are a panoramic achievement of empathy and wit. This comprehensive collection brings together his entire novelistic output, offering a front-row seat to the birth of the modern world.

This definitive collection explores the pillars of Dickens's genius:

A Gallery of Immortals: Meet the most vivid cast in literary history—villains who chill the blood, orphans who break the heart, and eccentrics who provide endless laughter.

The Voice of Social Reform: Explore powerful narratives that challenged the cruelties of the workhouse, the labyrinth of the legal system, and the crushing weight of the Industrial Revolution.

Mastery of Serial Suspense: Experience the "cliffhanger" pacing that kept millions of Victorian readers waiting breathlessly for the next installment, blending mystery, drama, and romance.

The Atmosphere of the Fog: Immerse yourself in the sensory detail of 19th-century England, where the setting is as much a character as the people who inhabit it.

Dickens didn't just write books; he changed laws and opened hearts. His prose remains the gold standard for narrative realism and satirical humor. Whether you are seeking a sweeping family saga or a biting critique of institutional corruption, this volume is the essential cornerstone for every library of world literature.

Walk the streets of history. Buy "The Complete Novels of Charles Dickens" today and rediscover the power of a great story.

Show book

The Complete Short Stories of A...

A. Milne, Gyles Brandreth

A new collection of A. A. Milne’s short stories for grown-ups. Gathered in full for the first time, they include several never published before. They show Milne’s renowned charm, concision and whimsical flair in all their brilliance. 
 
He paints memorable scenes – from a children’s birthday party, to an accidental encounter with murder, and a case of blackmail – often with an unexpected twist. But he also deals in poignancy, from the girl who pulls the wool over her boyfriend’s eyes, to a first dance and first disappointment or family reunion and domestic dissonance. 
 
Beguiling and evocative, Milne’s thought-provoking stories for adults will make you see his works for children in a whole new light.

Show book