Ethan Reynolds
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The Palliser novels volume 3
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For an ambitious, keenly intelligent woman, lying proves to be the easiest way to get through life, in this Victorian-era classic. Lizzie Greystock is a woman of rare cunning and determination-both of which she uses to better her lot in life. This is especially true when she manages to convince the ailing Sir Florian Eustace to marry her shortly before his demise, leaving Lizzie both a wealthy widow and the mother to Florian's young son. A born...
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A fantastic mystery novel by the famous author of the 'Raffles' series, Ernest William 'Willie' Hornung. A man survives a fire on the ship he was taking from Australia to England, losing his love, the beautiful Eva Denison. He seeks to lose himself in the streets of London, but finds that someone is following him - leading him to uncover a sinister conspiracy... Warning: this book was written in 1897 and is as such a product of its time. Some of the...
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First published in 1751, "An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals" by David Hume, the Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, was the enquiry subsequent to his 1748 work "Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding" and is often referred to as "the second Enquiry". In Hume's own opinion it was the very best of all his writings. In "An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals", Hume expands upon his ideas of morality first discussed in his earlier...
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Thomas Paine, a seminal figure in American History, was an Englishman by birth who immigrated to America in 1774, where he quickly took up the cause of the independence of the American colonies from England. His famous work "Common Sense", published in 1776, helped to gain public support for the American Revolution and established him as a central figure among the founding fathers. Later, while living in France during the French Revolution, Paine...
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The Meaning of Truth is one of William James' most important books. It is a necessary read for anyone looking to understand the nature of truth. Does it exist independently of man or does man make truth what it is? Here you will find answers to this and many other questions on the nature of truth. William James was the older brother of novelist Henry James, and a pioneering psychologist and philosopher. His works pushed the boundaries of psychology...
6) Nostromo
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"Nostromo, A Tale of the Seaboard" is set in the South American country of Costaguana, and more specifically in that country's Occidental Province and its port city of Sulaco. Though Costaguana is a fictional nation, its geography as described in the book resembles real-life Colombia. Costaguana has a long history of tyranny, revolution and warfare, but has recently experienced a period of stability under the dictator Ribiera. Charles Gould is a native...
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Inspired by an account in The Broadway Journal of a surgeon putting a patient into an magnetic sleep, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar is a suspenseful tale concerning the forestallment of death by hypnosis. Originally published without a clear indication of its fictionality, the story was assumed to be a true account by some of its original readers.
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This brilliant satirical novel traces the life and loves of Ernest Pontifex, a young man who survives the baleful influence of a hateful, hypocritical father, a doting mother, and a debauched wife to emerge as a decent, happy human being. A fascinating character study, it is also a stinging satire of the Victorian gentry's pomposity, sentimentality, pseudo-respectability, and refined cruelty-one still capable of delivering death-blows to the same...
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The Boarded Window is a chilling short story by Ambrose Bierce that follows the life of Murlock, a solitary man who lives in a cabin with a boarded-up window. The story begins with Murlock's death and the discovery of his wife's grave nearby. As the narrator delves into the mysterious circumstances surrounding their lives, a haunting tale of loss, isolation, and perhaps even the supernatural unfolds. The boarded window, a constant symbol of seclusion...
10) A Dill Pickle
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The story explores the aftermath of a romantic relationship through a chance encounter. Former lovers, Vera and an unnamed man, meet after six years apart. Their conversation reveals shifts in their lives and perspectives, touching on themes of regret, disillusionment, and the complexities of human connection.
11) The sea-wolf
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A thrilling epic of a sea voyage and a complex novel of ideas. The Sea Wolf is a standard-bearer of its genre. The vivid story of a gentleman scholar's rescue and subsequent ordeal at the hands of a hunting schooner's brutal captain and devious crew. It remains one of Jack London's finest achievements.
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A classic horror tale from the iconic gothic author and the inspiration for the Netflix series from the creator of The Haunting of Hill House.
As The Fall of the House of Usher opens, an unnamed narrator has been summoned by his childhood friend, Roderick Usher, who has succumbed to a mysterious illness and longs for companionship. Upon first glance of the gloomy family mansion, the narrator is plunged into an unnerving depression, a dread...
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Abraham Lincoln read it with approval, but Emily Dickinson described its bold language and themes as "disgraceful." Ralph Waldo Emerson found it "the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet produced." Published at the author's expense on July 4, 1855, Leaves of Grass inaugurated a new voice and style into American letters and gave expression to an optimistic, bombastic vision that took the nation as its subject. Unlike many...
15) Fur
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In "Fur" by Saki, the story revolves around two friends, Suzanne and Eleanor, who are planning for their upcoming birthdays. Suzanne is particularly eager to receive an extravagant gift from her wealthy cousin, Bertram. The narrative begins with the two women discussing their desires, and Suzanne expresses her wish for a luxurious fur coat. Using the coat as a center piece, the story explores themes of manipulation and jealousy.
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In "Excepting Mrs. Pentherby," Saki explores the dynamics of social interactions during a house party where all attendees seem to get along splendidly-except for one notable exception, Mrs. Pentherby.The story follows Reggie Bruttle, who organizes the gathering, optimistic that it will be a harmonious affair despite the potential for conflict among the women present. Initially, his expectations are met, as the guests manage to coexist without significant...
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In The Story of St. Vespaluus by Saki, the narrative unfolds in a whimsical and satirical tone, set in a time of religious conflict between Pagans and Christians. The tale centers around the young and charming Prince Vespaluus, who defies his Pagan king uncle by embracing Christianity, much to the king's dismay.As Vespaluus navigates the treacherous waters of court politics, he faces a series of absurd punishments for his beliefs, culminating in a...
18) The Romancers
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The story unfolds in London's Hyde Park during autumn, where Morton Crosby, a cynical man, encounters a disheveled stranger who attempts to engage him in conversation. The stranger, a professional beggar, spins tales of his misfortunes, seeking sympathy and perhaps financial assistance. However, Crosby, unimpressed by the stranger's attempts at storytelling and dubious claims of past grandeur, counters with his own fabricated identity as an Afghan,...
19) The She-wolf
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"The She-Wolf" by Saki is a comedic short story that revolves around Leonard Bilsiter, a man who has failed to find interest in the real world and compensates by weaving elaborate tales of magic and transformation. He boasts about his supposed ability to turn people into wolves, which draws the attention of Clovis, a witty prankster.
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The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether is one of Edgar Allan Poe's most darkly humorous and unsettling tales. Set in a remote French madhouse, the story follows an unnamed narrator who visits an asylum to observe a new and revolutionary treatment method. However, what begins as a curious exploration quickly turns into a nightmarish experience as the narrator uncovers the bizarre and terrifying reality behind the so-called "soothing system."
Poe...