Publisher: Charles River Editors
McTeague: A Story of San Francisco tells the story of a couple's courtship and marriage. When McTeague is barred from practicing dentistry the relationship between him and his wife quickly descends into mayhem.
Joseph Smith Fletcher (1863-1935) was a British journalist and author. He wrote more than 230 books on a wide variety of subjects, both fiction and nonfiction. He was one of the leading writers of detective fiction in the Victorian 'golden age' of the short story.'The Registered Packet' is the story of Martineau, a young man returning home by ship after a two-year absence. On the ship he meets a stranger and volunteers to deliver a small parcel for him to the nearest post office, in order that his fellow traveller might catch his train. But on arrival in Hull, Martineau inadvertently leaves his bag in the cab. He is able to track down the vehicle and find his bag again, but to his horror the packet which was entrusted to him has disappeared. He and his brother set off in search of the missing package...and what follows is an extraordinary tale.Show book
Known mainly for his tales of adventure, this work of science fiction by Jack London is set in a post-apocalyptic future. It's 2072, sixty years after the scarlet plague has depopulated the planet. James Howard Smith is one of the few survivors of the pre-plague era left alive in the San Francisco area, and as he realizes his time grows short, he tries to impart the value of knowledge and wisdom to his grandsons. Through his narrative, we learn how the plague spread throughout the world and of the struggles of the handful of survivors it left in its wake. The Scarlet Plague was originally published in London Magazine in 1912Show book
" My French master" is a short novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell in 1853. The British author is considered one of the most representative of the Victorian age.Show book
Romeo and Juliet is an iconic tragedy written by William Shakespeare, telling the story of forbidden love between Romeo and Juliet, two young members of the rival Montague and Capulet families in Verona. From the moment they meet, they fall deeply in love, unaware of the longstanding hatred that divides their families. Their sincere love drives them to defy social expectations and dream of a life together.However, a cruel twist of fate and a series of misunderstandings lead to a tragic end, highlighting the destructive consequences of family conflicts and intolerance. Secondary characters, such as Mercutio and Juliet's Nurse, add depth to the plot, bringing moments of lightness and tension that enrich the story.Through this poignant narrative, Shakespeare explores timeless themes of forbidden love, sacrifice, and fate, which continue to resonate with audiences today. Romeo and Juliet remains a powerful and enduring work, reminding us of love's strength in the face of prejudice and the human cost of hatred.Show book
Most of Wilkie Collins' later work was disparaged by the critics for espousing causes. Swinburne commented, 'What brought good Wilkies genius nigh perdition? Some demon whispered - "Wilkie! Have a mission!".'Despite this, the 'novelist of sensation' continued to appeal to the public with the construction of ingenious and meticulous plots. He had been the first to write a full-length detective novel but also wrote love stories, and The Two Destinies is a fine example, the author adding a hint of the supernatural to tempt the Victorians' interest in mesmerism and the occult.Mary and George love each other in early childhood, but George's father tears them apart, not believing that Mary, a bailiff's daughter, will be a fit match for his son. The family travel to America to pursue the father's dream of wealth.During George's absence, Mary moves to Scotland and, in order to survive, is forced into a marriage of convenience. George returns after 10 years to search for his promised bride and becomes obsessed and infatuated with a Mrs Van Brandt. Is the pursuit beginning to affect his sanity?Public Domain (P)2010 Assembled StoriesShow book
Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799 – 1837) was a Russian author of the Romantic era who is considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. He was notoriously sensitive about his own personal honour and is believed to have fought as many as twenty-nine duels... the last of which proved fatal for him.A duel is the crux of his masterful short story "The Pistol-Shot" - but it is a duel with a difference. It starts out normally enough... an insult, a challenge, a meeting with pistols at dawn. But when the first shot misses, the insolent nonchalence of the first shooter (who goes on eating cherries while is adversary takes aim) prompts the other dueller to delay taking his shot until such a time as shall suit him. He is determined to pick a moment when death will be most unwelcome and inconvenient for his adversary. One day a letter arrives for him... and he knows that the moment has come.Show book
