The Fallen Leaves

Wilkie Collins

Beschreibung

In 'The Fallen Leaves', Wilkie Collins presents a compelling narrative that intertwines elements of social criticism with a striking exploration of love and moral ambiguity. Set in Victorian England, the story unfolds through the perspectives of various characters, including a beggar and a genteel woman, deftly illuminating the stark contrasts between social classes and the intricacies of human relationships. Collins employs his characteristic blend of melodrama and realism, creating a vivid tapestry that highlights the moral complexities faced by individuals in a rapidly changing society. This novel showcases Collins's keen awareness of social issues, as well as his pioneering use of multiple viewpoints—an innovative approach that foreshadows modern narrative techniques. Wilkie Collins, a contemporaneous of Charles Dickens and an influential figure in the development of detective fiction, often drew inspiration from his own life experiences and the societal conditions of his time. His firsthand observations of poverty and class disparity informed his character development and thematic concerns in 'The Fallen Leaves'. Collins's literary contributions have established him as a formidable precursor to the genre of mystery and psychological fiction, revealing deeper insights into the human psyche and social dynamics. Readers seeking a profound exploration of societal truths through the lens of engaging storytelling will find 'The Fallen Leaves' to be an invaluable addition to their literary repertoire. Collins's masterful characterizations and insightful commentary on the nature of humanity compel the reader to reflect on the moral dilemmas that persist throughout history. This novel is not only an entertaining read but also an essential study of societal structures and the human condition.

Verfügbar seit: 15.08.2022.

Drucklänge: 321 Seiten.

Weitere Bücher, die Sie mögen werden

By Grace of Julius Caesar

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942), published as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning in 1908 with Anne of Green Gables. The book was an immediate success. The title character, orphan Anne Shirley, made Montgomery famous in her lifetime and gave her an international following.
By Grace of Julius Caesar: Melissa sent word on Monday evening that she thought we had better go round with the subscription list for cushioning the church pews on Tuesday. I sent back word that I thought we had better go on Thursday.

Zum Buch

Remarkable Case of Davidson's...

H. G. Wells

'The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes' is the strange tale of an inexplicable case of a scientist who, after an accident with a magnet and a flash of lightning, finds that his eyes no longer see the world where the rest of his body is but another part of the world altogether - a southern hemisphere island inhabited by penguins.

Zum Buch

The Open Window

Saki Saki

Title: The Open Window
Author: Saki (H. H. Munro)
Narrator: Jonathan Dunne
Original Publication: 1914
Public Domain: Yes
Series Placement: Number 30 in the Timeless Terrors series
Description:
The Open Window by Saki is a masterful blend of subtle wit and unsettling irony — a tale where polite conversation becomes a stage for deception and the supernatural lingers just out of sight. When the nervous Mr. Nuttel visits a country home for rest and recovery, his young hostess, Vera, entertains him with a chilling story of loss, ghosts, and an open window that never closes.
Deceptively light in tone, Saki’s story conceals a dark brilliance — a study in manipulation, imagination, and the thin line between truth and terror. The quiet domestic setting becomes the perfect trap for the reader’s expectations, as the tale turns from social comedy to ghostly suspense with unnerving precision.
Narrated by horror author Jonathan Dunne, this performance captures Saki’s sharp dialogue, dry tension, and sudden twist of fear. While the text itself is in the public domain, this narration is an original performance and copyright © 2025 Jonathan Dunne.
Part of Timeless Terrors, a series devoted to reviving the classic and uncanny, The Open Window stands as a timeless parable of storytelling itself — where every tale may open onto something far more chilling than it seems.
Prepare for a story that begins with civility and ends with a shiver — a moment when laughter and fear share the same breath.

Zum Buch

A Little Joke - From their pens...

Anthony Hope

Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins was born on 9th February 1863 in Clapton, London.
He was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead, Marlborough College and Balliol College, Oxford. Hope trained as a lawyer and barrister and was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1887. Despite what was thought to be a promising legal career he had literary ambitions and wrote in his spare time.
His early works appeared in various periodicals of the day but for his first book ‘A Man of Mark’ (1890), with no publisher interested, he published with his own resources.
More novels and short stories followed, including the mildly successful ‘Mr Witt's Widow’ in 1892. Hope even found time to run as the Liberal candidate for Wycombe in the election that same year but was unsuccessful.
His first major literary success came with ‘The Dolly Dialogues’, a collection of previously published magazine pieces followed very quickly by his instant classic, ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. He now gave up the vestiges of his legal career to pursue writing full-time.
Despite never again reaching the same pinnacle of success he was popular and wrote prolifically across novels, plays and of course, short stories though his writing output rapidly diminished after the war.
In 1918 he was knighted for his contribution to propaganda efforts during World War I.
His short stories are delicate, mannered and often surprising with their wit, humour and interplay of characters who say one thing and usually mean another. He was very definitely a writer of escapist rather than serious fare but they are no less enjoyable for that.
Anthony Hope died of throat cancer on 8th July 1933 at his country home, Heath Farm at Walton-on-the-Hill in Surrey. He was 70.

Zum Buch

Calling Things by Their Right...

Booker T. Washington

Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856 - November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African American community and of the contemporary black elite. Washington was from the last generation of black American leaders born into slavery and became the leading voice of the former slaves and their descendants. They were newly oppressed in the South by disenfranchisement and the Jim Crow discriminatory laws enacted in the post-Reconstruction Southern states in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
CALLING THINGS BY THEIR RIGHT NAMES: A few evenings ago I talked with you about the importance of learning to be simple, humble and child-like before going out into the world. You should remain in school until you get to the point where you feel that you do not know anything, where you feel that you are willing to learn from any one who can teach you.

Zum Buch

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Maria Krestovskaya

Maria Krestovskaya demonstrates her incredibly astute understanding of human mind as she gives us a unique glimpse into the mental turmoils associated with one boy's first love.

Zum Buch