Other books that might interest you

• 

  Four Arthurian Romances

  Chrétien de Troyes

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Arthurian Romances by Chrétien de Troyes form the wellspring of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Stories of knightly valour in the Welsh Marches had existed before the 12th century, but it was the magnificent poetry and imagination of Chrétien, the 12th century French poet and trouvère, which brought alive the great characters of Arthur, his wife Guinevere, Lancelot and others. In fact, it was here, in these romances, that the tale of Lancelot of the Lake and his fated love for Guinevere first made its appearance in European literature. And far from being trapped in formal medieval stanzas, their passion has come down to us in words that still resonate: 'From the moment he caught sight of her, he did not turn or take his eyes and face from her.' 
   
  From these four romances emerge a chivalric Arthurian vision as vivid and human as the more familiar telling by Sir Thomas Malory three centuries later. The three other stories are equally rich and compelling, painting images of knightly ethics, courageous deeds and above all love, honour and service. Chrétien's telling is the outstanding Arthurian literary source, bringing together as it does the British plot, the characters and the adventures with a French courtly sensitivity. Though less known than Lancelot and Guinevere, the story of the trials leading to the love between Eric and Enide is just as memorable; in Cligès, the young hero travels between Greece and Arthur's court in order to win his spurs and his love; and in Yvain, the knight is helped by a faithful lion to achieve his aim. 
   
  These Four Arthurian Romances are read with full commitment by Nicholas Boulton using the translation by W. W. Comfort.

  Show book

• 

  Three Musketeers The (Unabridged)

  Rudyard Kipling

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "The Three Musketeers" is a short story by Rudyard Kipling which introduces three fictional British soldiers serving in India in the later nineteenth century: the privates Learoyd, Mulvaney and Ortheris. These characters appear in many early Kipling stories. "The Three Musketeers" was first published in the Civil and Military Gazette on 11 March 1887. It appeared in book form in Plain Tales from the Hills (1888).This is the first appearance of Kipling's 'Soldiers Three', Terence Mulvaney the Irishman (pronounced Mulvanny), John Learoyd from Yorkshire, and the London cockney, Stanley Ortheris. They are experienced old soldiers, crafty, tough, and humorous. Here a visiting Lord has asked for the regiment to be turned out for an extra parade, which is deeply unwelcome to all. The Three stage a mock abduction, in which his carriage is run away with, amid much noise and many murderous shouts. They then come to the rescue, finding him terrified by 'the bandits' and too shaken to attend the parade which is cancelled. He rewards them handsomely.

  Show book

• 

  Sodom and Gomorrah – Part II

  Marcel Proust

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In Sodom and Gomorrah, Part II, Marcel continues his voyage of discovery through the homosexual world, where the affairs of the ageing Baron de Charlus lead to unexpected and hilarious adventures. But the discovery of a secret in the past of his mistress, Albertine, fills Marcel with fear and forces him to change his plans. Sodom and Gomorrah – Cities of the Plain addresses the subject of homosexual love with insight and understanding.

  Show book

• 

  The Wizard of Oz

  L Frank Baum

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  When Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught up in a whirlwind and carried far away to the land of Oz, the little girl has no idea of the strange adventure that awaits her! Lost in a strange land, she, and three strange friends she makes along the way, make their way to the Emerald City, home of the Mysterious Wizard: Oz the great and terrible, in the hope that he can give each what they desire most. But Oz demands a high price for such a task, and even then all is not as it seems...  
  This timeless classic by L Frank Baum, that resulted in multiple sequels, narrated her by Michael Ward.

  Show book

• 

  Great Expectations

  Charles Dickens

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "Great Expectations" is a novel by Charles Dickens, first published in serialized form between 1860 and 1861. The story follows the life of an orphan named Pip, who rises from humble beginnings thanks to an anonymous benefactor. Set in Victorian England, the narrative explores themes of social class, personal development, and the complexity of human emotions, as Pip navigates love, ambition, and moral dilemmas. The novel is considered one of Dickens's greatest works and a classic of English literature.

  Show book

• 

  Roverandom

  J.R.R. Tolkien

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Tolkien’s acclaimed modern classic ‘fairie’ tale, read by Derek Jacobi. 
  While on holiday in 1925, four-year-old Michael Tolkien lost his beloved toy dog on the beach at Filey in Yorkshire. To console him, his father, J.R.R.Tolkien, improvised a story about Rover, a real dog who is magically transformed into a toy and is forced to seek out the wizard who wronged him in order to be returned to normal. 
  This charming tale, peopled by a sand-sorcerer and a terrible dragon, by the king of the sea and the Man-in-the-Moon, went through several drafts over the years. Now, many years on, the adventures of Rover – or, for reasons that become clear in the story, ‘Roverandom’ – are performed by Sir Derek Jacobi. 
  J.R.R. Tolkien, the classic Sunday Times bestselling author, weaves a tale of magic and adventure in Roverandom. This top fiction book is a testament to Tolkien's mastery in the fantasy genre, as he brings to life the story of a toy dog's quest for transformation. 
  For fans of Andrzej Sapkowski (The Lady of the Lake), Frank Herbert (Dune), John Howe (A Middle-earth Traveller) and Robert Jordan (The Path Of Daggers).

  Show book