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Just like Jack Nicholson’s character in ‘About Schmidt,’ the narrator of ‘A Recollection’ is feeling useless. He feels, to quote Morrissey, that ́Everyday is Like Sunday.’ To shake himself from his drudgery, he decides to take a stroll from Paris to catch a boat to Saint-Cloud. After a dreamy stroll, he encounters a married couple, who seem to be in a spot of bother. Taken with the wife, the narrator agrees to help them, but will her company help or hinder his need for excitement? Combining romance with waspish humour, Maupassant offers an interesting slice of middle-age life. With memory as its central theme, ‘A Recollection’ is the ideal read for fans of Kazuo Ishiguro. Ha...
If you have seen Ricky Gervais in 'The Office', you will know how much comedy and pathos occurs in apparently mundane locations. In 'The Lesser Bourgeoisie', Honore de Balzac turns his sharp eye on the intrigues of the white-collar world. Spinster Marie-Jeanne-Brigitte Thuillier has made money from selling her bank business. She dedicates her life to supporting her brother, an attractive but mediocre man with an illegitimate daughter, Celeste. Celeste's mother, Flavie, is a social climber who takes lovers to advance her husband's career - and to find a rich husband for her daughter. The murky waters are further muddied by the arrival of the lawyer Theodose de La Peyrade, who targets the hand...
While Wallace could never be accused of being a run-of-the-mill author, ‘The Price a Woman Pays’ is one of his more unusual tales. A gripping and fun short story, it follows the concerns of Dr Beechington who, down on his luck, wants to ensure that his daughter marries into money. Will she follow his request, or go her own way? An unexpected religious twist sets this story apart from the majority of Wallace’s works. Fast-paced and with a liberal sprinkling of wry humour, this is an ideal read for Wallace fans or those who want an introduction to his writing. Born in London, Edgar Wallace (1875 – 1932) was an English writer so prolific that his publisher claimed that he was responsibl...
Maitre Hauchecome spots a piece of string on the ground during his walk into town. As he bends down to pick it up, he could never have imagined the chaos that would soon ensue. His arch-nemesis Maitre Malandain is laying in wait. Hauchecome has walked straight into a trap intended to demolish his reputation in one blow. "The Piece of String" is an atmospheric revenge tale that portrays human nature, human cruelty, and malice that knows no limits. Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a French writer. Famed for being a master of the short story, he also wrote travel books and occasionally dabbled in poetry. His stories mainly focus on the relationships between men and women sitting at crossroads in their lives - whether personal or professional. His dramatic flair is largely influenced by French novelist Gustave Flaubert and is perfect for fans of Anton Chekhov's short stories. The most notable of the 300 short stories that he wrote include 'Bel Ami', 'Une Vie', and 'The Dumpling'.
Ok, nobody wants to lose pound500 – but is it big enough of a deal to deserve a short story? To put it into context: a Victorian pound500 was about pound60,000 in today’s money. So, yeah, it’s a big deal. That’s why, when Lady Lydiard has the money stolen from her, the plot becomes a whodunnit. A precursor to modern-day detective novels, this novella revolves around the colourful characters (and a Scottie dog) who are all present in Lady Lydiard’s household when her pound500 disappears. In this fun and compelling tale, two of the men suspected are both romantically interested in Isabel Miller, Lady Lydiard’s companion-cum-adoptive-daughter. "My Lady’s Money" follows these suspects as the intensity of both the theft and romance increases. A classic mystery novella with a love story: think Miss Marple but with marriage proposals. London-born Wilke Collins (1824-1889) became known in Victorian England for his novels and plays, sometimes writing together with Charles Dickens. His most famous works, "The Woman in White" (1859) and "The Moonstone" (1868), are examples of the first modern detective novels.
For those interested in a more philosphical aspect of war, ‘The Meaning of the War’ by Henri Bergson is a short non-fiction work that explores ‘Life & Matter in Conflict’, as the subtitle of the book tells us. A renowned French philosopher, Bergson delves into the history and politics of war, specifically examining Germany during World War I. This book criticizes the ideology that might is right. A policy that has been fatal for regions that neighbour Germany. To further get insight into the philosophical aspect of war, Sigmund Freud's essay ́Reflections on War and Death ́ provides a great perspective on the modern mental state of people during WWI. Henri Bergson was a French philosopher, born in 1859, who criticised his contemporary Kant, and debated Albert Einstein. In 1927, Bergson won the Nobel Prize in Literature "in recognition of his rich and vitalizing ideas and the brilliant skill with which they have been presented".
Jolly Roger McKay is an outcast who is running from the law, or more precisely from Cassidy – a sheriff from the Royal Mounted Police. Nada is a young girl who lives a difficult life together with her alcoholic father, who worships Jolly Roger. McKay and Nada fall in love and decide to make the most of their time together, as sheriff Cassidy is close in on them. How did Jolly Roger become an outlaw? Will he finally get caught? Do McKay and Nadia have future together? Find all the answers in James Oliver Curwood’s novel of risks and love "The Country Beyond" from 1922. James Oliver Curwood (1878 - 1927) was an American writer as well as an unwavering nature lover and conservationist. As such, many of Curwood’s action-adventure stories were based on real events from the rugged landscapes of the American Northwest. He built himself Curwood Castle, which he used as a writing studio and as a place to greet guests. More than 150 motion pictures have been adapted to or directly inspired by his novels.
The beautiful and ambitious Ivy got exactly what she wanted when she married Jervis Lexton for his money. At least, she thought she had. In fact, she got a whole lot less than she bargained for when he and his father gamble away much of their fortune. As Ivy's frustration grows, Jervis dies from a mysterious illness that investigators think may have been a poisoning. Amid accusations and fear, suspicion builds that Ivy may have been behind it. This is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie's 'Miss Marple' books and the crime novels of Raymond Chandler. Marie Belloc Lowndes (1868-1947) was an English novelist and the sister of author Hilaire Belloc. Her first published work was the 1898 biography 'HRH The Prince of Wales: An Account of His Career'. She went on to produce more than 40 novels - mainly mysteries and sometimes based on true crime. Her writing was popular for many decades and had a following among authors, including Ernest Hemingway, who admired her understanding of female psychology.
What would you wish for if you could have anything? William Wymark Jacobs raises this age-old question when the White family stumble upon a monkey’s paw with the power to grant wishes. When their wish for riches goes awry, they are forced to face the truth - that all actions have consequences, magically granted or not. Over time, Jacobs’ novel has become a classic horror story, boasting an impressive amount of adaptions. Including an episode of ‘The X-Files’, ‘The Simpsons’, and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. William Wymark Jacobs (1863-1943) was an English author. Despite being famed for his quick-witted comedies, his most successful novel came from his experiments within the horror genre. His most notable works include ‘The Monkey’s Paw’, ‘The Toll House’, and ‘Jerry Bundler’. Jacob’s unique ability to couple the everyday with the unthinkable makes his works unmissable for fans of Stephen King, and all classic horror.
Colonial Administrator Sanders is known for exploiting the people of Liberia. But when he encounters the one man three steps ahead of him, all that is about to change. Both a conman and a crook, escaped convict turned tribal chief Bosambo is ready to outwit Sanders and his crew. He is nevertheless fiercely loyal to him and ready to spring to his rescue in times of need. Weaving another rip-roaring tale in the ‘Sanders of the River’ adventure series, Wallace’s novel – and 1935 film starring Paul Robeson and Leslie Banks – is ideal for fans of the 2016 blockbuster hit, ‘The Legend of Tarzan’. Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was an English writer so prolific, that his publisher claimed that he was responsible for a quarter of all books sold in England. An author, journalist, and poet, Wallace wrote countless novels, short stories, screenplays, and stage plays, along with historical non-fiction. His work has been adapted into more than 160 films. In 1932, Wallace died suddenly in Hollywood, during the initial drafting of his most famous work, ‘King Kong’.