Weitere Bücher, die Sie mögen werden

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  The Great Gatsby

  F. Scott Fitzgerald

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  The Great Gatsby is a triumph of descriptive prose, and has entered into the annuls of fame of both American literature as well as Americana. The story transcends time, and while set in the Roaring Twenties, describes the human psyche - its needs, desires, obsessions - in both detail and depth. A must read for anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding into the mindset of that time, as well as perhaps modern-day America.

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  A Chameleon - From their pens to...

  Anton Chekhov

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  Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on 29th January 1860 in Taganrog, on the south coast of Russia.  
  His family life was difficult; his father was strict and over-bearing but his mother was a passionate story-teller, a subject Chekhov warmed to. As he later said; ‘our talents we got from our father, but our soul from our mother’.  
  At school Chekhov was distinctly average. At 16 his father mis-managed his finances and was declared bankrupt. His family fled to Moscow. Chekhov remained and eked out a living by various means, including writing and selling short sketches to newspapers, to finish his schooling. That completed and with a scholarship to Moscow University obtained he rejoined his family. 
  He was able to help support them by selling satirical sketches and vignettes of Russian lifestyles and gradually obtained further commissions. In 1884, he qualified as a physician and, although it earned him little, he often treated the poor for free, he was fond of saying ‘Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress.’ 
  His own health was now an issue as he began to cough up blood, a symptom of tuberculosis.  Despite this his writing success enabled him to move the family into more comfortable accommodation.  
  Chekhov wrote over 500 short stories which included many, many classics including ‘The Kiss’ and ‘The Lady with a Dog’.  His collection ‘At Dusk’ won him the coveted Pushkin Prize when was only 26.  
  He was also a major playwright beginning with the huge success of ‘Ivanov’ in 1887.   
  In 1892 Chekhov bought a country estate north of Moscow. Here his medical skills and money helped the peasants tackle outbreaks of cholera and bouts of famine. He also built three schools, a fire station and a clinic.  It left him with less time for writing but the interactions with real people gained him detailed knowledge about the peasantry and their living conditions for his stories.  
  His most famous work, ‘The Seagull’ was received disastrously at its premiere in St Petersburg. It was later restaged in Moscow to highlight its psychological aspects and was a huge success. It led to ‘Uncle Vanya’, ‘The Three Sisters’ and ‘The Cherry Orchard’.  
  Chekhov suffered a major lung hemorrhage in 1897 while visiting Moscow. A formal diagnosis confirmed tuberculosis and the doctors ordered changes to his lifestyle.  
  Despite a dread of weddings the elusive literary bachelor quietly married the actress Olga Knipper, whom he had met at rehearsals for ‘The Seagull’, on 25th May 1901. 
  By May 1904 with his tuberculosis worsening and death imminent he set off for the German town of Badenweiler writing cheerful, witty letters to his family and assuring them his health was improving.  
  On 15th July 1904 Anton Chekhov died at Badenweiler.  He was 44.

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  Twas The Night Before Christmas...

  Clement-Clarke Moore

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  Twas the Night Before Christmas has been called "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American" and is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. It has had a massive effect on the history of Christmas gift-giving. Before the poem gained wide popularity, American ideas had varied considerably about Saint Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors. A Visit from St. Nicholas eventually was set to music and has been recorded by many artists.

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  Bartleby the Scrivener

  Herman Melville

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  The narrator, an elderly Manhattan lawyer with a very comfortable business helping wealthy men deal with mortgages, deeds, and bonds. One day, Bartleby, a relatively new employee is asked to help proofread a document and Bartleby answers with what soon becomes his stock response: I would prefer not to. To the dismay of the narrator and to the irritation of the other employees, Bartleby performs fewer and fewer tasks around the office.

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  The Happy Prince and other Tales

  Oscar Wild

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  A collection of short stories by Oscar Wilde first published in May 1888. It contains the five stories: "The Happy Prince," "The Nightingale and the Rose," "The Selfish Giant," "The Devoted Friend," and "The Remarkable Rocket."  
  Narrated by Michael Ward

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  Lord Peter Views the Body - The...

  Dorothy L. Sayers

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  Step into the world of wit, sophistication, and intrigue with Lord Peter Views the Body, the fourth installment in Dorothy L. Sayers’ celebrated Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries. This delightful collection of twelve short stories showcases Lord Peter at his finest—solving cases that range from the bizarre to the macabre, all with his trademark charm and intelligence. 
  From uncovering the truth behind a mysterious corpse found in an unusual location to unraveling a seemingly impossible crime, Lord Peter’s keen intellect and unrelenting curiosity lead him to uncover secrets hidden in plain sight. Each story is a masterclass in clever plotting and sharp characterization, making it a perfect introduction to one of literature’s most beloved amateur sleuths. 
  Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the world of Lord Peter Wimsey, this audiobook promises an enthralling listening experience filled with humor, suspense, and the timeless allure of classic detective fiction.

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