Publisher: Zona Gale
"Daddy!" The dark was so thick with hurrying rain that the child's voice was drowned. So he splashed forward a few steps in the mud and puddles of the highway and plucked at the coat of the man tramping before. The man took a hand from a pocket and stooped somewhat to listen, still plodding ahead.
Mischief, prank, and mistaken identity take on a new meaning in this delightful concoction by the master of the Silver Age of Russian literature Dmitrey Merezhkovsky.Show book
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is among the earliest examples of American fiction with enduring popularity, especially during the Halloween season. Very understandable indeed, with its amazingly chilling and atmospheric ambience. The story is set in 1790 in the countryside around the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town (New York), in a secluded glen called Sleepy Hollow. Sleepy Hollow is renowned for its ghosts and the haunting atmosphere that pervades the imaginations of its inhabitants and visitors. The most infamous creature in the Hollow is the Headless Horseman, said to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper that had his head shot off by a stray cannonball during "some nameless battle" of the American Revolutionary War, and who "rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head". The Legend relates the tale of Ichabod Crane, a lean, lanky and extremely superstitious schoolmaster from Connecticut.Show book
In the realm of classic literature, there exists a treasure trove of stories that capture the essence of human emotions and experiences during times of conflict. One such masterpiece is "A Son at the Front," a novel written by Edith Wharton and published in 1923. This poignant work of fiction delves into the lives of its characters against the backdrop of World War I, weaving a narrative that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the unrelenting toll of war. The story primarily revolves around the protagonist, John Campton, an American painter residing in Paris. John is a devoted father, and his world revolves around his beloved son, George. The novel traces John's inner turmoil as he wrestles with his desire to protect his son from the horrors of war while also coming to terms with his own artistic ambitions. As the novel unfolds, we witness the complex interplay of personal and societal forces on the characters. John Campton's internal conflict reflects the broader dilemma faced by countless individuals during the Great War. The choice between pursuing one's creative aspirations and succumbing to the overwhelming demands of duty and patriotism is a recurring theme that resonates with readers even today. Edith Wharton, celebrated for her incisive social commentary and keen insight into human nature, portrays the characters in "A Son at the Front" with depth and nuance. John's struggles are a testament to the emotional turmoil experienced by parents who see their children heading to the frontlines of battle. The fear, anxiety, and helplessness that John grapples with are emotions that transcend time and place, making his character all the more relatable to modern readers.Show book
Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist and short story writer. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927, 1928, and 1930. Among her most popular and terrifying tales are the many masterly ghost stories which she wrote in her early career.During a convivial evening during which all the guests recount their own personal ghost stories, nobody expects the dry old host, Andrew Culwin, to contribute any supernatural experience. But when most of the guests have left, the youngest man present, Phil Frenham, challenges Culwin on the subject. In response, Culwin hands out another round of cigars and embarks on the strangest tale of all.Show book
Axel Heyst, a dreamer and a restless drifter, believes he can avoid suffering by cutting himself off from others. Then he becomes involved in the operation of a coal company on a remote island in the Malay Archipelago, and when it fails he turns his back on humanity once more. But his life alters when he rescues a young English girl, Lena, from Zangiacomo's Ladies' Orchestra and the evil innkeeper Schomberg, taking her to his island retreat. The affair between Heyst and Lena begins with her release, but the relationship shifts as Lena struggles to save Heyst from the detachment and isolation that have inhibited and influenced his life.Marked by a violent and tragic conclusion, Victory is both a tale of rescue and adventure and a perceptive study of a complex relationship and of the power of loveShow book
Born in London on 24th April 1815 Anthony Trollope is considered a giant of English literature. His early schooling was at Harrow and Sunbury. Here was often bullied due to the family’s reduced financial means. His bad tempered father seemed to be full of energy but unable to execute any idea into a regular income. In 1834 Trollope moved with his family to Bruges in Belgium to escape the debt collectors pursuing his father. With an offer of work for the General Post Office he returned to London later that same year. The next 7 years were, by his own account, unproductive and miserable. However, in 1841 a chance to move to Ireland for the GPO availed itself and he took it. During his long travels around Ireland he now began to write extensively often setting himself a schedule about how many words to write in a day. In 1851 he was sent to England to organise rural delivery in part of the country. In this period he began to nurture the first of the six Barsetshire novels “The Warden’ which was published in 1855. In his prolific career he wrote 47 novels as well as many short stories and travel books. On December 6th, 1882 he died in London and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.Show book
