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  The Scarlet Letter - The...

  Nathaniel Hawthorne

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  This inspired audiobook tells the story of Hester Prynne, a young woman who conceives a child while her husband is missing at sea. The Puritan Elders of the New England settlement of Boston, where she lives, condemn her to wear a scarlet letter A to signify her adultery. She refuses to name her lover, and he too keeps his silence, but with a terrible cost. The tale is prefaced with an account of the Salem Custom-house where Nathaniel Hawthorne was working when he began writing The Scarlet Letter.  
   
  Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer. His works often focus on history, morality, and religion. He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, from a family long associated with that town.

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  Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle...

  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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  The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle is one of 56 short Sherlock Holmes stories written by British author Sir Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the seventh story of twelve in the collectionThe Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in Strand Magazine in January 1892. As London prepares for Christmas, newspapers report the theft of the near priceless jewel, the "Blue Carbuncle", from the hotel suite of the Countess of Morcar. John Horner, a plumber and a previously convicted felon, is soon arrested for the theft. Though the police have yet to find the jewel, and despite Horner's claims of innocence, the police are sure that they have the thief. Horner's record, and his presence in the Countess's room where he was repairing a fireplace, are all the police need.

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  The Age of Innocence

  Edith Wharton

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  The Age of Innocence is a 1920 novel by American author Edith Wharton. It was her twelfth novel, and was initially serialized in 1920 in four parts, in the magazine Pictorial Review. Later that year, it was released as a book by D. Appleton & Company. It won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Wharton the first woman to win the prize. Though the committee had initially agreed to give the award to Sinclair Lewis for Main Street, the judges, in rejecting his book on political grounds, "established Wharton as the American 'First Lady of Letters'". The story is set in the 1870s, in upper-class, Gilded Age New York City. Wharton wrote the book in her 50s, after she had established herself as a strong author, with publishers clamoring for her work.

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  Rip Van Winkle - A Robin Reads...

  Washington Irving

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  Washington Irving's classic tale of supernatural shenanigans involving the titular loveable layabout, Rip Van Winkle, who falls asleep in the mountains near his colonial village and wakes up in a new American nation. 
  First published in 1819. Narrated by Robin Reads.

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  The Call of the Wild

  Jack London

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  The Call of the Wild by Jack London is an epic adventure that takes listeners into the rugged wilderness of the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. This timeless classic follows Buck, a domesticated dog whose life takes a dramatic turn when he is stolen from his comfortable home and sold as a sled dog in the harsh, unforgiving North. Forced to confront his primal instincts, Buck must navigate a world filled with brutal challenges, hostile conditions, and the fierce struggle for survival. 
  As Buck adapts to his new environment, he experiences the call of his wild ancestry, gradually transforming from a tame pet into a leader of the pack. This powerful story explores the themes of resilience, instinct, and the transformative power of nature, capturing the essence of the wild and the spirit of adventure. 
  Narrated with intensity and emotion, this audiobook brings Jack London’s vivid descriptions and gripping storytelling to life. It’s perfect for those who love tales of survival, animal stories, and classics that stand the test of time. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a new listener, this audiobook will transport you to the frozen tundras and immerse you in Buck’s epic journey. 
  Start Listening to The Call of the Wild today and experience the thrilling journey of courage and self-discovery in the heart of the wilderness!

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  The Kiss

  Anton Chekhov

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  Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on 29th January 1860 in Taganrog, on the south coast of Russia.  
   
  His family life was difficult; his father was strict and over-bearing but his mother was a passionate story-teller, a subject Chekhov warmed to. As he later said; ‘our talents we got from our father, but our soul from our mother’.  
   
  At school Chekhov was distinctly average. At 16 his father mis-managed his finances and was declared bankrupt. His family fled to Moscow. Chekhov remained and eked out a living by various means, including writing and selling short sketches to newspapers, to finish his schooling. That completed and with a scholarship to Moscow University obtained he rejoined his family. 
   
  He was able to help support them by selling satirical sketches and vignettes of Russian lifestyles and gradually obtained further commissions. In 1884, he qualified as a physician and, although it earned him little, he often treated the poor for free, he was fond of saying ‘Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress.’ 
   
  His own health was now an issue as he began to cough up blood, a symptom of tuberculosis.  Despite this his writing success enabled him to move the family into more comfortable accommodation.  
   
  Chekhov wrote over 500 short stories which included many, many classics including ‘The Kiss’ and ‘The Lady with a Dog’.  His collection ‘At Dusk’ won him the coveted Pushkin Prize when was only 26.  
   
  He was also a major playwright beginning with the huge success of ‘Ivanov’ in 1887.   
   
  In 1892 Chekhov bought a country estate north of Moscow. Here his medical skills and money helped the peasants tackle outbreaks of cholera and bouts of famine. He also built three schools, a fire station and a clinic.  It left him with less time for writing but the interactions with real people gained him detailed knowledge about the peasantry and their living conditions for his stories.  
   
  His most famous work, ‘The Seagull’ was received disastrously at its premiere in St Petersburg. It was later restaged in Moscow to highlight its psychological aspects and was a huge success. It led to ‘Uncle Vanya’, ‘The Three Sisters’ and ‘The Cherry Orchard’.  
   
  Chekhov suffered a major lung hemorrhage in 1897 while visiting Moscow. A formal diagnosis confirmed tuberculosis and the doctors ordered changes to his lifestyle.  
   
  Despite a dread of weddings the elusive literary bachelor quietly married the actress Olga Knipper, whom he had met at rehearsals for ‘The Seagull’, on 25th May 1901. 
   
  By May 1904 with his tuberculosis worsening and death imminent he set off for the German town of Badenweiler writing cheerful, witty letters to his family and assuring them his health was improving.  
   
  On 15th July 1904 Anton Chekhov died at Badenweiler.  He was 44.

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