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“Mother America” itself is a fascinating story about a project to create a perfect specimen of American manhood: Boy America, in response to some Russian efforts. A team of geneticists is tasked to find the perfect mother and perfect genetic match, and the mother will be artificially inseminated. For marketing reasons, a popular actress is presented as one mother candidate … and then she and the head of the scientific project hit it off.

This is a great collection of action short stories from'The Golden Age of Science Fiction'. Featured here are three stories by Walter J. Sheldon:'I, The Unspeakable','Your Time Is Up','Houlihan's Equation', and'The Shrine'.

This is a great collection of action short stories from'The Golden Age of Science Fiction'. Featured here are five stories by Walter J. Sheldon:'This Is Klon Calling','Two Plus Two Makes Crazy','Houlihan's Equation','Jimsy And The Monsters, and'Brink Of Madness'.

The story revolves around the life of a young woman named Marjorie, who is faced with the challenge of choosing between two suitors. One is a wealthy and handsome man who promises her a life of luxury and comfort, while the other is a struggling artist who offers her a life of passion and adventure.As Marjorie weighs her options, she must also navigate the expectations of her family and society, who have their own ideas about what a proper marriage should look like. Along the way, she discovers the true meaning of love and the importance of following her heart. (Amazon)

The Sea Mystery is a 1928 detective novel by Freeman Wills Crofts. It is the fourth in a series of novels featuring Inspector French of Scotland Yard. As with a number of his works Crofts creates a puzzling mystery which French is then able to solve using a Tide table and Bradshaw's Guide to the railways.

“The Last Vial,” written by Sam McClatchie, M.D., is a grim statement about the possibilities of biological warfare. The year was 1962. John McDonald was a veteran of the Korean War and now maintained a quiet career as a pathologist. Upon his return from a much-needed vacation, he found his co-workers struggling with the after-effects of a sudden and overwhelming flu epidemic that had struck the entire North American continent. Careful analysis showed that this was no ordinary flu virus, but a man-made mutation that was unleashed on America's West Coast and quickly distributed across the continent. Was it the communists, or someone else? Whoever it was, they had started a quiet but deadly game of germ warfare and it was up to the recently reinstated Colonel McDonald to find the perpetrators—and the antidote! (Amazon)

Literature is a world of words and wonder, able to take us on almost unimaginable journeys from the wild and fantastic to the grind and minutiae of life.An author's ideas are his building blocks, his architecture of the mind, building a structure on which all else will rest; the narrative, the characters, the words - those few words that begin the adventure.In this series we look at some of our leading classic authors across two genres: the short story and the poem. In this modern world there is an insatiable need to categorise and pigeon-hole everyone and everything. But ideas, these grains and saplings of the brain, need to roam, to explore and find their perfect literary use vehicle. Our authors are masters of many literary forms, perhaps known for one but themselves favouring another.Story. Poems. Story. Within these boundaries come all manner of invention and cast of characters. And, of course, each author has their own way of revealing their own chapter and verse.

Literature is a world of words and wonder, able to take us on almost unimaginable journeys from the wild and fantastic to the grind and minutiae of life.An author's ideas are his building blocks, his architecture of the mind, building a structure on which all else will rest; the narrative, the characters, the words - those few words that begin the adventure.In this series we look at some of our leading classic authors across two genres: the short story and the poem. In this modern world there is an insatiable need to categorise and pigeon-hole everyone and everything. But ideas, these grains and saplings of the brain, need to roam, to explore and find their perfect literary use vehicle. Our authors are masters of many literary forms, perhaps known for one but themselves favouring another.Story. Poems. Story. Within these boundaries come all manner of invention and cast of characters. And, of course, each author has their own way of revealing their own chapter and verse.

Published in 1900, eleven years prior to her masterpiece Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton's novella The Touchstone explores the emotional complexities of love and betrayal. Penniless and unable to marry the woman he loves, the financially struggling lawyer Stephen Glennard discovers a way out of his predicaments by selling love letters written to him by deceased author Margaret Aubyn. Glennard's psychological anguish as he grapples with his guilt and the repercussions of his actions presents a poignant narrative of human conscience and morality.

Edith Nesbit was born on the 15th August 1858 in Kennington, then part of Surrey. Due to the health issues and tuberculosis of her sister Mary, Nesbit's early life was one of constant changes of house both in England and on the continent.At age 17, Nesbit met Hubert Bland and they married three years later―whilst she was 7 months pregnant. Bland also kept his affair with another woman going throughout their marriage and the two children of that relationship were raised by Nesbit as well as her own three with Bland.Together they were founder members of the Fabian Society in 1884 naming their son Fabian in its honour. They also edited the Society's journal; ‘Today'. Nesbit was an active lecturer and prolific writer on socialism during those years but gradually her work for them dwindled as her career as a children's writer grew. Her most famous success was ‘The Railway Children'but she was also very prolific and greatly accomplished in poetry, short stories―especially her macabre ghost and supernatural stories―and novels for adults. In February 1917, some three years after the death of Bland she married Thomas ‘the Skipper'Tucker in Woolwich, where he was a ship's engineer on the Woolwich Ferry.Edith Nesbit died from lung cancer on the 4th May 1924 at her house ‘The Long Boat'at Jesson, St Mary's Bay, New Romney in Kent. She was 65.

Edith Nesbit was born on the 15th August 1858 in Kennington, then part of Surrey. Due to the health issues and tuberculosis of her sister Mary, Nesbit's early life was one of constant changes of house both in England and on the continent.At age 17, Nesbit met Hubert Bland and they married three years later―whilst she was 7 months pregnant. Bland also kept his affair with another woman going throughout their marriage and the two children of that relationship were raised by Nesbit as well as her own three with Bland.Together they were founder members of the Fabian Society in 1884 naming their son Fabian in its honour. They also edited the Society's journal; ‘Today'. Nesbit was an active lecturer and prolific writer on socialism during those years but gradually her work for them dwindled as her career as a children's writer grew. Her most famous success was ‘The Railway Children'but she was also very prolific and greatly accomplished in poetry, short stories―especially her macabre ghost and supernatural stories―and novels for adults. In February 1917, some three years after the death of Bland she married Thomas ‘the Skipper'Tucker in Woolwich, where he was a ship's engineer on the Woolwich Ferry.Edith Nesbit died from lung cancer on the 4th May 1924 at her house ‘The Long Boat'at Jesson, St Mary's Bay, New Romney in Kent. She was 65.

Edith Nesbit was born on the 15th August 1858 in Kennington, then part of Surrey. Due to the health issues and tuberculosis of her sister Mary, Nesbit's early life was one of constant changes of house both in England and on the continent.At age 17, Nesbit met Hubert Bland and they married three years later―whilst she was 7 months pregnant. Bland also kept his affair with another woman going throughout their marriage and the two children of that relationship were raised by Nesbit as well as her own three with Bland.Together they were founder members of the Fabian Society in 1884 naming their son Fabian in its honour. They also edited the Society's journal; ‘Today'. Nesbit was an active lecturer and prolific writer on socialism during those years but gradually her work for them dwindled as her career as a children's writer grew. Her most famous success was ‘The Railway Children'but she was also very prolific and greatly accomplished in poetry, short stories―especially her macabre ghost and supernatural stories―and novels for adults. In February 1917, some three years after the death of Bland she married Thomas ‘the Skipper'Tucker in Woolwich, where he was a ship's engineer on the Woolwich Ferry.Edith Nesbit died from lung cancer on the 4th May 1924 at her house ‘The Long Boat'at Jesson, St Mary's Bay, New Romney in Kent. She was 65.

Edith Nesbit was born on the 15th August 1858 in Kennington, then part of Surrey. Due to the health issues and tuberculosis of her sister Mary, Nesbit's early life was one of constant changes of house both in England and on the continent.At age 17, Nesbit met Hubert Bland and they married three years later―whilst she was 7 months pregnant. Bland also kept his affair with another woman going throughout their marriage and the two children of that relationship were raised by Nesbit as well as her own three with Bland.Together they were founder members of the Fabian Society in 1884 naming their son Fabian in its honour. They also edited the Society's journal; ‘Today'. Nesbit was an active lecturer and prolific writer on socialism during those years but gradually her work for them dwindled as her career as a children's writer grew. Her most famous success was ‘The Railway Children'but she was also very prolific and greatly accomplished in poetry, short stories―especially her macabre ghost and supernatural stories―and novels for adults. In February 1917, some three years after the death of Bland she married Thomas ‘the Skipper'Tucker in Woolwich, where he was a ship's engineer on the Woolwich Ferry.Edith Nesbit died from lung cancer on the 4th May 1924 at her house ‘The Long Boat'at Jesson, St Mary's Bay, New Romney in Kent. She was 65.

The Fellowship of the Frog is a 1925 crime novel by the British writer Edgar Wallace. It was part of a series of books featuring the character Inspector Elk of Scotland Yard. In 1936 it was adapted into a West End play The Frog by Ian Hay, which inspired the subsequent films.

Excerpt:'Captain Mike Brixan had certain mild and innocent superstitions. He believed, for example, that if he saw a green crow in a field he would certainly see another green crow before the day was out. And when, at the bookstand on Aix la Chapelle station, he saw and purchased a dime novel that was comprehensively intituled “Only an Extra, or the Pride of Hollywood,” he was less concerned as to how this thrilling and dog-eared romance came to be on offer at half a million marks (this was in the days when marks were worth money) than as to the circumstances in which he would again hear or read the word “extras” in the sense of a supernumerary and unimportant screen actress. The novel did not interest him at all. He read one page of superlatives and turned for relief to the study of a Belgian time-table. He was bored, but not so bored that he could interest himself in the sensational rise of the fictitious Rosa Love from modest obscurity to a press agent and wealth. But “extra” was a new one on Michael, and he waited for the day to bring its inevitable companion. To say that he was uninterested in crime, that burglars were less thrilling than golf scores, and the record of murders hardly worth the reading, might convey a wrong impression to those who knew him as the cleverest agent in the Foreign Office Intelligence Department. His official life was spent in meeting queer continentals in obscure restaurants and, in divers rôles, to learn of the undercurrents that were drifting the barques of diplomacy to unsuspected ports. He had twice roamed through Europe in the guise of an open-mouthed tourist; had canoed many hundred miles through the gorges of the Danube to discover, in little riverside beer-houses, the inward meanings of secret mobilizations. These were tasks wholly to his liking.'

Amazing Stories Volume 171 is a great collection of action short stories from'The Golden Age of Science Fiction'. Featured here are four short stories by Three different authors:'The Klygha', by H. B. Fyfe,'The Right Side Of The Tracks', and'The Happiness Rock'both by Albert Teichner, and'A Voice From The Inner World'by A. Hyatt Verrill.

Amazing Stories Volume 170 is a great collection of action short stories from'The Golden Age of Science Fiction'. Featured here are five short stories by different authors:'Everybody Knows Joe', by C.M. Kornbluth,'Star Chamber', by H. B. Fyfe,'Nightmare On The Nose', by Evelyn E. Smith,'The Towers Of Titan'by Ben Bova and'Radio Mates'by Benjamin Witwer.

La Maison, (The House) is a return to childhood and Henry Bordeaux birthplace. He came from a Catholic, royalist family, and he describes this environment. His childhood was lulled by the family's hope of the accession to the throne of the Count of Chambord (Henri V). Although he did not declare himself hostile to the republic, he often portrayed it with great irony. The novel's plot is based on the cohabitation of three generations in the family home.

Amazing Stories Volume 168 is a great collection of action short stories from'The Golden Age of Science Fiction'. Featured here are three short stories by different authors:'The Spirit Of Toffee', by Henry Farrell,'Beside The Golden Door', by Henry Slesar, and''Utopia? Never!''by Thomas M. Disch.

Excerpt:'I am the least controversial of men. Public disputations have rarely attracted me. For years I have failed to respond to Mr. Henry Arthur Jones, who long ago invented a set of opinions for me and invited me to defend them with an enviable persistence and vigour. Occasionally I may have corrected some too gross public misstatement about me—too often I fear with the acerbity of the inexperienced. But now, in my sixtieth year, I find myself drawn rather powerfully into a disputation with Mr. Hilaire Belloc. I bring an unskilled pen to the task.'

Amazing Stories Volume 169 is a great collection of action short stories from'The Golden Age of Science Fiction'. Featured here are five short stories by different authors:'I Bring Fresh Flowers', by Robert F. Young,'The Small Bears', by Gene L. Henderson,'Down To Earth', by Harry Harrison,'The Smart Ones'by Jack Sharkey and'War In Heaven'by Fletcher Pratt.

Excerpt:'A section of country highway. The road runs diagonally from the left, forward, to the right, rear, and can be seen in the distance winding toward the horizon like a pale ribbon between the low, rolling hills with their freshly plowed fields clearly divided from each other, checkerboard fashion, by the lines of stone walls and rough snake fences. The forward triangle cut off by the road is a section of a field from the dark earth of which myriad bright-green blades of fall-sown rye are sprouting. A straggling line of piled rocks, too low to be called a wall, separates this field from the road. To the rear of the road is a ditch with a sloping, grassy bank on the far side. From the center of this an old, gnarled apple tree, just budding into leaf, strains its twisted branches heavenwards, black against the pallor of distance. A snake-fence sidles from left to right along the top of the bank, passing beneath the apple tree. The hushed twilight of a day in May is just beginning. The horizon hills are still rimmed by a faint line of flame, and the sky above them glows with the crimson flush of the sunset. This fades gradually as the action of the scene progresses.'

Amazing Stories Volume 166 is a great collection of action short stories from'The Golden Age of Science Fiction'. Featured here are five short stories by different authors:'Stay Off The Moon!', by Raymond F. Jones,'Phoenix', by Marion Zimmer Bradley & Ted White,'The Vertigo Hook', by Richard Ashby,'Quinquepedalian'by Piers Anthony and'Date Of Publication, 2083 A.D.'by William Douglas Morrison.

Mr. Croker writes amusingly when he describes Anglo-Indian life at some health station in Hindustan. There are two women in his story, the worldly Mrs. Langshire and the rather vulgar Mrs. Brande. Both are the wives of Indian officials. These ladies have nieces. Mrs. Langshire's niece is Lalla Paske, Mrs. Brande's Honor Gordon.

Excerpt:'Angel Esquire, of Scotland Yard, has his hands full in helping Jimmy Stannard, as he is known to the criminal element of London, solve the puzzle of the great safe which held the fortune of Old Reale who had placed it there, and who had taken the precaution to hide the combination in a bit of doggerel verse that served as a cryptogram. When Old Reale's Will was read it was found that four people might benefit by it. Two of them, known as members of the famous “Borough Lots” gang would stop at nothing to gain possession of the fortune. Jimmy and his friend are pitted against them in a story that constitutes the finest entertainment for the person liking excitement, love and mystery combined.'

Excerpt:'Where are you going, Philippa?'Mrs. Jackman asked sharply as Flip turned away from the group of tourists standing about in the cold hall of the Chateau of Chillon'I'm going for a walk,'Flip said Her father put his hand on her shoulder.'I'd rather you stayed with us, Flip.'She looked up at him, her eyes bright with pleading.'Please, father!'she whispered. Then she turned and ran out of the chateau, away from the dark, prisoning stones, and out into the sunlight that was as bright and as sudden as bugles. She ran down a small path that led to Lake Geneva, and because she was blinded by sudden tears and by the sunlight striking on the lake she did not see the boy or the dog sitting on a rock at the lake's edge, and she crashed into them.'

Excerpt:'Some years ago, when I was a slim young spin, I came out to India to live with my brother Tom: he and I were members of a large and somewhat impecunious family, and I do not think my mother was sorry to have one of her four grown-up daughters thus taken off her hands. Tom's wife, Aggie, had been at school with my eldest sister; we had known and liked her all our lives, and regarded her as one of ourselves; and as she and the children were at home when Tom's letter was received, and his offer accepted, she helped me to choose my slender outfit, with judgment, zeal, and taste; endowed me with several pretty additions to my wardrobe; superintended the fitting of my gowns and the trying on of my hats, with most sympathetic interest, and finally escorted me out to Lucknow, under her own wing, and installed me in the only spare room in her comfortable bungalow in Dilkousha.'

‘So many things to love about this book – stunning setting, fabulous characters, a murder mystery to solve, and all under a spellbinding timeslip twist. Absolutely devoured it.'Jessica Redland, million-copy bestselling author ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐It's an invitation that will change everything…It's 1923 when Pearl Glenham and her father are invited to a mysterious country house party on the Dorset coast, by a total stranger.Her father claims not to have any prior association with Highcliffe House, but upon arrival, it is apparent that he has a secret shared history with several of the guests. Belatedly discovering that her father was blackmailed into attending, Pearl's worries are compounded when their elusive host fails to even appear…Intimidated by everyone at the party, she escapes to the nearby cove and stumbles upon a mysterious mercury clock hidden in a cave. This strange encounter sets in motion a series of events that culminates in an horrific house fire, claiming the lives of all the guests, including Pearl herself.But then… Pearl wakes up back in the cave, seemingly destined never to live past midnight. She can repeat the day. But can she change its outcome?A completely addictive and unforgettable 1920s mystery – with a timeslip twist – perfect for fans of Daphne du Maurier, Agatha Christie, and Lucinda Riley. Readers are loving At the Stroke of Midnight:‘A fantastic read!… The puzzle, once solved, is staggering… Reminded me of Poirot… I'd recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction with a mystery and a dash of the unexplainable thrown in. Brilliant imagination!!!'Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘And Then There Were None meets Groundhog Day… The author does a great job of making you feel as if you're in the 1920s; it's a clever Christie-like whodunnit (and I didn't guess!) but it's more than that. It's a coming-of-age story… a lovely romance; and magical realism with the timeloop… Thoroughly good.'Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘So many twists and surprises, it was a thrilling experience trying to work out what was going on and who was responsible for the murders. Definitely a little Agatha Christie like, with a sprinkling of Rebecca for good measure.'Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A sumptuous, suspenseful and very satisfying read… Skilfully weaves drama, glamour, comedy, romance and coming of age in a time-twisty tale of suspense… Atmospheric… rich in period detail… perfectly paced.'Nancy Peach, bestselling author ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘To sum this book up in one word... Absobloodymazing!!!… I am in love with the way [the author] writes historical fiction, timeslips, mysteries and romance all in one book. She really is clever, the way she hides her clues throughout the book and gives her readers so many ‘aha'moments throughout. The sheer amount of twists leaves you feeling seasick in the best possible way.'Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘What a creative fascinating story!… A unique intriguing mystery set in 1923 with a fascinating time loop… Reminded me of an Agatha Christie… Kept me intrigued from start to finish… I loved it.'Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Kept me reading late into the night… Extraordinary “whodunnit” set in a different era… Reminded me of the film Groundhog Day… I loved this book.'Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'by Arthur Conan Doyle is a thrilling and iconic collection of detective stories featuring the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. John Watson. This collection brings together some of Holmes'most famous cases, including'A Scandal in Bohemia,''The Adventure of the Speckled Band,'and'The Red-Headed League.'Conan Doyle's writing captivates readers with its masterful storytelling, intricate plots, and the unparalleled deductive skills of Sherlock Holmes. Each story presents a unique mystery that challenges Holmes'intellect and astute powers of observation.Sherlock Holmes, with his razor-sharp wit and remarkable attention to detail, remains one of literature's most beloved and enduring characters. Dr. Watson's faithful narration provides readers with a window into the world of Victorian London and the enigmatic workings of Holmes'mind.'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'is a timeless classic that continues to enthrall readers of all ages. It has inspired countless adaptations, films, and television series, solidifying its place in literary history as the ultimate detective collection.Embark on a journey into the foggy streets of Victorian London, where mysteries abound and only Sherlock Holmes can unravel the truth. Arthur Conan Doyle's masterpiece is a must-read for anyone who enjoys the art of deduction and the thrill of solving intricate puzzles.ABOUT THE AUTHORArthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a Scottish author and physician best known for creating the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Doyle's literary contributions spanned a wide range of genres, including mystery, science fiction, historical fiction, and more. Doyle's most famous character, Sherlock Holmes, made his debut in the novel'A Study in Scarlet'and went on to become one of the most beloved and enduring fictional detectives in literature. The character's brilliant deductive reasoning and keen observation skills set a standard for the detective genre that persists to this day. Beyond his detective stories, Doyle wrote historical novels, science fiction, and non-fiction works. He was a prolific author and a passionate advocate for various causes, including spiritualism and the reform of divorce laws. Doyle's legacy as a writer is marked by his ability to captivate readers with intriguing mysteries and memorable characters. His impact on the detective genre is immeasurable, and Sherlock Holmes remains a cultural icon, inspiring numerous adaptations and interpretations in literature, film, and television.

'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'by Robert Louis Stevenson is a gripping and chilling tale of duality, morality, and the darker aspects of human nature. Set in Victorian London, the story follows the respected Dr. Henry Jekyll, a scientist who becomes obsessed with separating his good and evil impulses.As Jekyll's experiments progress, he unwittingly unleashes his malevolent alter ego, Mr. Hyde, a figure of pure evil. Stevenson's narrative explores the consequences of unchecked desires and the blurred boundaries between good and evil.The novella is a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of human identity and the consequences of repressing one's inner demons. Through vivid prose and suspenseful storytelling, Stevenson keeps readers on the edge of their seats.'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'is a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences with its exploration of the duality of human nature. It serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of tampering with the human psyche and the eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil.Enter the shadowy streets of Victorian London and accompany Dr. Jekyll on his harrowing journey into the depths of his own psyche. Stevenson's masterful storytelling and exploration of the human soul make this novella an enduring and thought-provoking work of literature.ABOUT THE AUTHORRobert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, best known for his adventure and literary classics. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Stevenson's works have left an indelible mark on literature. Stevenson's most celebrated work is'Treasure Island,'an adventure novel that introduced the character Long John Silver and set the standard for pirate tales. He also penned'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,'a groundbreaking exploration of the duality of human nature. A prolific writer, Stevenson's other notable works include'Kidnapped,''The Master of Ballantrae,'and'A Child's Garden of Verses.'His writing often explores themes of adventure, identity, and the human spirit. Stevenson's adventurous spirit extended beyond his writing. He traveled extensively, seeking inspiration for his works in the places he visited. His life was marked by a sense of wanderlust and a curiosity about the world. Stevenson's legacy endures through his timeless stories and his ability to transport readers to distant lands and realms of imagination. His works continue to captivate readers of all ages and are celebrated for their enduring appeal.

The Redskins, James Fenimore Cooper's 1846 novel about the Anti-Rent Wars in upstate New York, is now available in a scholarly edition. The final work in the'Littlepage trilogy,'The Redskins includes Cooper's enduring theme of Indigenous-White relations but examines it in the context of contemporary tensions between wealthy landlords and their tenant farmers in the Hudson Valley region. The work is narrated in the voice of a privileged landowner who presents an impassioned defense of the aristocratic class in America and thus raises cardinal questions regarding Cooper's own intentions and authorial control. Cooper himself was often derided as an'aristocrat'in this later phase of his career, and the novel can be read as both an endorsement of and a rebuttal to that judgment. Edited by Hugh Egan, this volume includes extensive historical background material as well as pertinent textual notes based on the original manuscript. As part of the series in the Writings of James Fenimore Cooper, this MLA-approved edition of The Redskins will serve as the definitive text for future teachers and scholars alike.The Writings of James Fenimore Cooper The distinguished Cooper scholar James Franklin Beard (1919–1989) began organizing the Writings of James Fenimore Cooper in the late 1960s, as his work on publishing the monumental Letters and Journals of James Fenimore Cooper came to fulfillment. Beard's intention was to provide readers with sound scholarly editions of Cooper's major works, based wherever possible on authorial manuscripts. To date, the Writings of James Fenimore Cooper has made available texts of many of Cooper's best-known novels, as well as some of his most important works of political and social commentary.

A Black American longshoreman struggles to feel at home after returning from service in WWI in this classic Harlem Renaissance novel. When America joins World War I in 1917, Jake Brown enlists, ready to fight the Germans and become a hero. Yet when he arrives in France, he's treated more like a slave than a soldier. He spends his time toting around lumber and picking fights with his white comrades. After deserting his post, he finds work and contentment in London's East End. But a race riot soon drives him to return home to Harlem... Back in the United States, Jake longs to settle down. He searches for work, friendship, and love, but to find and keep them proves challenging, especially while Jake is haunted by the violence of his past. Still, he chooses to rise above it all... Originally published in 1928, Home to Harlem renders a lively portrait of the New York City neighborhood in the 1920s, while depicting the life of single, working-class, Black men in the industrial Northeast following the First World War.

'The Classic Collection of Grace Livingston Hill: Illustrated'brings together a selection of timeless novels by the prolific author Grace Livingston Hill. This beautifully illustrated anthology includes beloved works such as'Crimson Roses,''Re-Creations,''In the Way,''Partners,''The Enchanted Barn,'and several others. Within these pages, readers will encounter a tapestry of engaging stories that explore themes of romance, faith, and the triumph of virtue. Grace Livingston Hill, a prominent American author during the early 20th century, is celebrated for her wholesome and inspirational narratives. Each novel in this collection weaves together compelling characters, moral dilemmas, and the enduring power of love. The addition of illustrations enhances the visual experience, offering readers a vivid portrayal of the characters and settings that have captivated audiences for generations. This comprehensive collection allows readers to immerse themselves in Hill's signature storytelling style, characterized by a blend of romance, Christian values, and a celebration of the human spirit. For those seeking a journey into the past and a taste of heartwarming narratives,'The Classic Collection of Grace Livingston Hill'provides a delightful opportunity to rediscover or explore for the first time the works of this influential and beloved author. Contents: Crimson Roses Partners Re-Creations In the Way The Mystery of Mary The Search The Witness An Unwilling Guest The Red Signal The Story of a Whim The Tryst The Big Blue Soldier Because of Stephen The Girl From Montana The Man of the Desert A Voice in the Wilderness The Enchanted Barn

In The Return of Don Quixote, G.K. Chesterton expertly blends humor and satire. Michael Herne, a librarian, becomes engrossed in the chivalrous age of knights, transforming himself into a modern-day Don Quixote. His quest disrupts the complacency of his contemporaries, challenging societal norms in a whimsical, thought-provoking adventure.

This story follows the mysterious Amos Judd who immigrates to the United States as a young child from a foreign land. Being adopted by a farmer and his wife, Amos'identity is further clouded with jewels, rich garments, and extensive amounts of cash that he brings with him as a child. As the book continues we are introduced to a young women who a then older Amos falls in love to. This romance continues as the mystery behind Judd is further explored and Judd's unique abilities are revealed. (Amazon)

Excerpt:''In regard to prefaces,'says the author of'Curiosities of Literature,'—'ladies consider them so much space for a love story lost, though the Italians call them la salsa del libra,—the spice of the book.'Be this as it may, I must mention that many of the men whose names occur in these pages, bore the part ascribed to them during the operations of Sir Charles Grey's army in the Antilles. A duel, nearly similar to that which is described as having taken place on board of the Adder frigate, actually occurred on the deck of one of H.M.'s ships-of-war when lying in a South-American port, in 1821. The situation of the wreck in the Isle of Tortoises was suggested to me by the discovery of a mysterious vessel in a cavern of the island of Baccalieu, when I was at Fort Townsend in Newfoundland, where it excited much speculation. As a few Mexican dollars were found on the rocks near, she was supposed to be Spanish; and such rumours were circulated of the vast treasure she contained, that H.M.S. Comus was despatched from Halifax to investigate the matter; but the hull contained a few dead bodies alone. That the marvellous might not be wanting, there was told a story of a gigantic anchor being thrown by the sea on the desert shore near her. There it lay for a time, till a party came to remove it; but it had vanished, like the treasure,—by no mortal agency, of course!'

Sci-fi love story set in 1961, where love is forbidden in a dystopian future.

Excerpt:'I always come back to Paris or to London as to a rich feast after abstinence. There are the reserves of perfect health to draw upon for its enjoyment; and I enjoy it while the reserves last. But, on the first sign of their depletion, I return to my lentils and spring water, which can stand my happiness in quite as good stead as young partridges and Montrachet. So the New Zealand shepherd, come once in a while to town, dissipates in a week of glorious debauch the accumulated earnings of a year or so spent in the comfortable solitudes. I don't blame him: on the contrary. What is the sense of storing up health and vigour for no other purpose than, like a miser, to hoard them? I use my physical energy to serve every ounce of me, brain, nerves and organs. A man in health is a man in happiness, whether he be dining at Voisin's, or on ripe figs on the hot rocks of les Baux. And I am a man in health; thank my good stars for that. Of all the great cities, I have sojourned in Paris more than in any other. I have not, like Byron, shaken the dust of my native land off my shoes; but I came so early abroad, that English ways have grown foreign to me. I did not in fact ever fit into their social scheme, though somewhere in my heart a respect survives for it. But the little island is too small for me; or I am too big for it. There is not my peer there in the art of modelling; not a piece of native sculpture that I should like to acknowledge for my own.'

Excerpt:'Binney Jenks, Tallow Martin, and I were sitting on Mark Tidd's front porch, waiting for him to get through supper. Maybe you've got an idea that didn't take any patience, but you want to change your mind pretty quick. Eating supper wasn't any two-second job with Marcus Aurelius Fortunatus Tidd. You can bet it wasn't. He didn't just grab a bite and run like us fellows do, but he sat down to the table with his stummick about six inches away from the edge of it, and kept on eating till he touched. He knew we were waiting for him, but that didn't make a bit of difference. If General Grant and the Emperor Napoleon were hanging around waiting for him to come out and play tag with them, he'd have eaten just as much and not a mite faster. When you weigh as much as he does I calc'late it takes more to keep you going, just like it takes more wood to run a big stove than it does a little one. It didn't take him much more than an hour to get his stummick filled up this time, and out he waddled, looking kind of pleased and peaceful, with his hand resting gentle on his belt.'

The Green Hat is a novel written by Michael Arlen, first published in 1924. It is a work that gained significant attention during the Jazz Age and is notable for its portrayal of a glamorous and decadent world. The novel was adapted into a film in 1928, starring Greta Garbo. The film, titled'A Woman of Affairs,'had to tone down some of the more scandalous elements of the novel due to the censorship standards of the time. In summary,'The Green Hat'by Michael Arlen is a novel that explores the rebellious and unconventional life of Iris Storm in the post-World War I era. It provides a glimpse into the societal changes and challenges faced by individuals breaking away from traditional norms during the Jazz Age.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author's brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens'across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author? The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature.Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.In this volume our classic authors from decades past look forwards into the future in their many ways. Their stories predict and expect many things. Intriguingly they interlace Sci-Fi with flavours and themes of other genres creating weird and wonderful stories that hold our attention with each turn of the page and fascinate our minds with their premise and execution.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author's brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens'across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author? The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature.Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.In this volume our classic authors from decades past look forwards into the future in their many ways. Their stories predict and expect many things. Intriguingly they interlace Sci-Fi with flavours and themes of other genres creating weird and wonderful stories that hold our attention with each turn of the page and fascinate our minds with their premise and execution

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author's brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens'across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author? The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature.Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.The German peoples spent centuries as tribes and regions without being a whole. Otto von Bismarck was instrumental in unifying these central European states into one country albeit based on the militaristic doctrine of Prussia. In the 20th Century its history was blighted by its capacity to resort to war to fulfill its ambitions, or right its perceived historical wrongs. In more modern times the nation is now seen as central to a peaceful and stable continent.In this volume the short stories by its greatest authors readily attest that their talents are equal to the greatest in World literature.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author's brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens'across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author? The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature.Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.In this volume we examine the German language. Or rather the authors who wrote in German but are here translated into English. German is most often called the language of philosophers due to its precision and clarity. However, if you've studied German, you will know that sentence construction can be difficult to grasp. However, within these stories the language of these great talents express themselves in dazzling prose and searching narratives. And the characters? Clearly the works of genius.

A TALE OF RACISM, REVENGE, BETRAYAL AND JEALOUSYOne of Shakespeare's most performed tragedies written in approximately 1603, Othello still resonates today with its themes of racism, revenge, betrayal and jealousy. Shakespeare creates a powerful drama with the story of a marriage between the exotic Moor, Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona. Despite building many differences into his hero and heroine, including race, age, and cultural background, most audiences believe the couple's strong love could overcome these differences were it not for a once trusted cohort, lago, who sets out to destroy Othello.The play begins in the powerful city state of Venice, a center of trade and banking, known for its military might. War is raging between Venice and Turkey. Two men — Roderigo, a young gentleman and former suitor of Senator Brabantio's daughter Desdemona, and Iago, an ensign who claims to have been passed over for promotion by Othello, are outside Senator Brabantio's house to tell him the news of his daughter's elopement with Othello.Othello is a Moorish general in the Venetian army who is determined to lead his men to victory with his “trusted” ensign lago. But after being passed up for a promotion, Iago has plans of his own. Using Othello's wife, Desdemona, as a pawn, Iago spins an elaborate web of deception leading Othello to believe that his wife is unfaithful and once lago has Othello where he wants him, revenge will be his. In the final dramatic scene of the play Othello strangles his wife, struggling with his love for her to the end.

Dr. Faustus is a great Elizabethan tragedy by Christopher Marlow originally published in 1600. The story is based on an earlier anonymous classic German legend involving worldly ambition, black magic and surrender to the devil. It remains one of the most famous plays of the English Renaissance.Dr. John Faustus, a brilliant, well-respected German doctor grows dissatisfied with the limits of human knowledge - logic, medicine, law, and religion, and decides that he has learned all that can be learned by conventional means. What is left for him, he thinks, but magic. His friends instruct him in the black arts, and he begins his new career as a magician by summoning up Mephastophilis, a devil. Despite Mephastophilis's warnings about the horrors of hell, Faustus tells the devil to return to his master, Lucifer, with an offer of Faustus's soul in exchange for twenty-four years of service from Mephastophilis.On the final night before the expiration of the twenty-four years, Faustus is overcome by fear and remorse. He begs for mercy, but it is too late. At midnight, a host of devils appears and carries his soul off to hell.Marlowe's dramatic interpretation of the Faust legend is a theatrical masterpiece. With immense poetic skill, and psychological insight that greatly influenced the works of William Shakespeare and other dramatists, Dr. Faustus combines soaring poetry, psychological depth, and grand stage spectacle. Marlowe created powerful scenes that invest the work with tragic dignity, among them the doomed man's calling upon Christ to save him and his ultimate rejection of salvation for the embrace of Helen of Troy.

A novel whose time has come: the Nobel Prize–winning author of Mr. President's visionary epic of ecological devastation, capitalist exploitation, and Indigenous wisdom, now available again for its 75th anniversary with a new introduction and with a foreword by Pulitzer Prize winner Héctor TobarA Penguin ClassicDeep in the mountain forests of Guatemala, a community of Indigenous Mayans—the'men of maize'—serves as stewards to sacred corn crops. When profiteering outsiders encroach on their territory and threaten to abuse the fertile land, they enter a bloody struggle to protect their way of life. Blurring the lines between history and mythology, Nobel Prize winner Miguel Ángel Asturias's lush, dream-like work offers a prescient warning against the loss of ancestral wisdom and the environmental destruction set in motion by colonial oppression and capitalist greed.For more than seventy-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 2,000 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

When the Bergson family leave their home in Sweden to travel to the United States in search of a better life, they, like many immigrants, are awed by the beautiful harshness of their new life in Nebraska. When their father, John Bergson, grows sick and dies, he leaves the farm in the hands of his eldest daughter Alexandra Bergson. Resourceful and determined, Alexandra devotes her life to her family's farm, determined to prosper even as her neighbors are overwhelmed by the unremitting demands of pioneer life. But when she falls in love with her childhood friend, Carl Linstrum, Alexandra must choose between her duty to the land, and to her heart. A spirited celebration of the immigrants who have shaped the United States, O Pioneers! is a masterpiece by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

By flickering candlelight, these haunting tales were carefully penned by some of greatest writers of the Victorian era, including Sheridan Le Fanu, Catherine Crowe and Mary Elizabeth Braddon.The Victorian era has been dubbed the'Golden Age of the Ghost Story', producing some of the most iconic and masterful ghost stories the genre has ever seen. In this exquisite collection, you will find 14 terrifying tales which have been haunting readers for more than a century. Be transported to cobwebbed crypts, creaking manor houses, and dusky moors, where peril lies just around the corner.Includes:• The Dream - Sheridan Le Fanu• The Italian's Story - Catherine Crowe• Eveline's Visitant - Mary Elizabeth Braddon• The Body Snatcher - Rudyard Kipling• And many more!Perfect for horror lovers, these classic ghost stories are sure to terrify and entertain in equal measure.