18 Nov 2008 Woman in White, The by Collins, Wilkie
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The Woman in White is an epistolary novel written by Wilkie Collins in 1859, serialized in 1859-1860, and first published in book form in 1860. It is considered to be to the first mystery novel, and is widely regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of ’sensation novels’….
The Woman in White is also an early example of a particular type of Collins narrative in which several characters in turn take up the telling of the story. This creates a complex web in which readers are unsure which narrator can, and cannot, be trusted. Collins used this technique in his other novels, including The Moonstone. This technique was copied by other novelists, including Bram Stoker, author of Dracula (1897), although by the end of the 19th century the technique was considered “old-fashioned”. (Summary from Wikipedia)
17 Nov 2008 Bib Ballads by Lardner, Ring
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Ring Lardner is a typical parent when his first child is born, full of wonder and the rest of the usual emotions as he watches his little son grow. He wrote a series of 29 short poems on various facets of parenthood. (Summary by Jack Thro)
16 Nov 2008 Ester Ried by Alden, Isabella, Pansy
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Authored by Isabella M. Alden under the pen name "Pansy."
Ester Ried's life is a dull monotony of toiling at her family's boardinghouse. She's overworked, jealous and cranky, a poor example of a Christian to her family and associates. She awakens to a new attitude and commitment due to an extended visit with her cousin. (Summary written by Tricia G)
16 Nov 2008 Smile, Smile, Smile by Owen, Wilfred
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LibriVox volunteers bring you 9 recordings of Smile, Smile, Smile by Wilfred Owen. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of November 9th, 2008.
15 Nov 2008 Varney, the Vampyre, Vol. 1 by Prest, Thomas Preskett
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Originally published as a penny dreadful from 1845 until 1847, when it first appeared in book form, Varney the Vampyre is a forerunner to vampire stories such as Dracula, which it heavily influenced.
Flora Bannersworth is attacked in her own room in the middle of the night, and although her attacker is seemingly shot dead, the body is nowhere to be found. The discovery of two small bite marks on Flora's neck leads Mr Marchdale, an old friend of the family, to the conclusion that she was bitten by a vampire. While Flora recovers, her brother Henry and Mr Marchdale begin their hunt for the vampire. Their suspicions soon fall on the mysterious Sir Francis Varney, who has just bought an old abbey near Bannersworth Hall, and who bears an uncanny resemblance to Marmaduke Bannersworth, a long-dead ancestor of the family. (Summary by Annika Feilbach)
15 Nov 2008 Five Weeks in a Balloon by Verne, Jules
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Join three intrepid explorers as they seek to cross and explore the continent of Africa from Indian Ocean to Atlantic Ocean, except they’re doing it by hot air balloon. Scholar and scientist Samuel Ferguson, his manservant Joe, and his friend Richard “Dick” Kennedy engage in this mighty scientific feat, as they face danger after danger, enjoy adventure after adventure, and experience the literal highs and lows of Africa from the view of a hot air balloon. (Summary by Alex C. Telander)
15 Nov 2008 White Moll, The by Packard, Frank L.
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Frank Lucius Packard (February 2, 1877 – February 17, 1942) born in Montreal, Quebec, was a Canadian novelist. Packard is credited with bridging the gap from the “cozy” style mysteries to the more gritty, hard-boiled style of such writers as Dashiell Hammet and Raymond Chandler. Packard also wrote a series of novels, beginning in 1917, featuring Jimmie Dale. A wealthy playboy by day, at night, Jimmie becomes a crimefighter “The Gray Seal” complete with mask and secret hide-out, “The Sanctuary”. This character certainly influenced later crimefighting characters such as Batman and The Shadow.
In The White Moll (1920) Rhoda Gray, “The White Moll”, an angel of mercy who spends her time helping the poor in the slums of New York City, is drawn into the criminal world when she attempts to help Gypsy Nan, who is not what she seems. Accused of a crime and on the run from the police, she must battle the most nefarious criminal gang in the New York underworld to prove her innocence. Populated by such characters as Pierre Dangler, the Pug, Pinkie Bonn, Skeeny, the Sparrow and above all “the Adventurer”, this story contains shoot-outs, car chases, adventure and enough suspense and deception to satisfy the most avid mystery lover. (Summary by Rowdy Delaney)
15 Nov 2008 Herodotus' Histories Vol 1 by Herodotus of Halicarnassus
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The Histories of Herodotus of Halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in Western literature. Written about 440 BC, the Histories tell the story of the war between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states in the 5th century BC. Herodotus traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book. The rise of the Persian Empire is chronicled, and the causes for the conflict with Greece. Herodotus treats the conflict as an ideological one, frequently contrasting the absolute power of the Persian king with the democratic government of the Greeks. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia.)
14 Nov 2008 Selections from Ballads of a Cheechako by Service, Robert W.
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These twelve poems are taken from Ballads of a Cheechako which was Robert W. Service's third book of Yukon poems, published in 1909. The word Cheechako, from Chinook Jargon, originated in the United States (Alaska) and Canada (Yukon) and was imported into local English during the Yukon gold rush that began in 1896. Cheechako, is a non derogatory word meaning "newcomer" or "tenderfoot." The derivation looks something like this: chee new cha come ko home. (summary by Heidi Preuss)
14 Nov 2008 Bible (CEI) NT 01-27: Nuovo Testamento by Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
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ENGLISH: The New Testament is a collection of 27 books, of 4 different genres of Christian literature (Gospels, one account of the Acts of the Apostles, Epistles and an Apocalypse). Jesus is its central figure. The New Testament was written primarily in Koine Greek in the early Christian period, though a minority argue for Aramaic primacy. ITALIAN: Il Nuovo Testamento, facente parte della sola Bibbia cristiana, redatto originariamente in greco con numerosi semitismi, è composto dai quattro Vangeli, dalle lettere dell'apostolo Paolo, dalle Lettere cattoliche, dagli Atti degli Apostoli e dall'Apocalisse, per un totale di ventisette scritti. Tra le diverse confessioni cristiane (cattolica, ortodossa, protestante) c'è un sostanziale accordo sul numero e l'ordine dei libri. (Summary from Wikipedia)
14 Nov 2008 Anne of the Island (version 2) by Montgomery, Lucy Maud
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Anne is off to Redmond College! She will spend the next four years
14 Nov 2008 Sammlung kurzer deutschsprachiger Texte 006 by Various
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Diese Sammlung umfasst jede Art von deutschsprachigen Texten aller Genres, egal ob Fiktion, Non-Fiktion oder Lyrik. In dieser Sammlung finden sich:
01. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832): Die Sängerin Antonelli. "Aus 'Unterhaltungen deutscher Ausgewanderten'. Nach dem Tod ihres Geliebten wird die Sängerin von einem Spuk verfolgt."
02. Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893): Der Blinde. "Ein typisches Beispiel der unübertroffenen menschlichen Nächstenliebe: Maupassant beschreibt die Erinnerung an das traurige Martyrium eines Blinden der, da nicht arbeitsfähig - also nutzlos, von der Gesellschaft ausgestoßen und misshandelt wird."
03. Kurt Tucholsky (1890-1935): Der Loew' ist los. "Der Löwe Wüstenkönig versetzt Berlin in Angst und Schrecken. Die Ordnung gerät schnell durcheinander, einige wissen die Situation auszunutzen, während Militär und Politik drastische Mittel einsetzen, um den gelangweilten Löwen in Schach zu halten."
04. Kurt Tucholsky (1890-1935): Das Elternhaus. "Eine kurze Satire, die uns im Zoo durch verschiedene Elterngattungen führt und uns etwas über Erziehung beibringt."
05. Kurd Lasswitz (1848-1910): Die entflohene Blume. "Kurd Lasswitz verarbeitet in dieser Kurzgeschichte zwei seiner Lieblingsthemen: Das Leben auf dem Mars (siehe auch "Auf zwei Planten") und die Pflanzenseele (siehe auch "Sternentau - Die Pflanze vom Neptunsmond")."
06. Georg Queri (1879-1919): Das Kriegstagebuch. "Über den Versuch, ein Tagebuch zu führen."
07. Wilhelm Hauff (1802-1827): Satans Besuch bei Herrn von Goethe. "Auszug aus 'Mittheilungen aus den Memoiren des Satan'. Was Satan von Goethes Mephistopheles hält und was er bei einem Besuch im Hause des Dichters erlebt."
08. Eduard Mörike (1804-1875): Spuk im Pfarrhaus zu Cleversulzbach. "Mörike berichtet von seinen Erlebnissen in dem Pfarrhaus, das er von 1834-1843 als Pfarrer bewohnte."
09. Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926): Wie der Verrat nach Russland kam. "Ein Märchen."
10. Kurt Tucholsky (1890-1935): Vorsätze: "Über gute Vorsätze und was daraus wird."
Summary by Didier, Markus Wachenheim, Hokuspokus, Wassermann
12 Nov 2008 Mounted police life in Canada : a record of thirty-one years' service (1916) by Deane, Richard Burton
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Learn more about the famous and respected Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This book is the personal recollections of one ‘Mountie'; his life, experiences and trials as an officer in a new frontier – The Canadian Northwest.
12 Nov 2008 Majesty of Calmness, The by Jordan, William George
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Change your life by changing your thoughts. The Majesty of Calmness is your guide to attracting prosperity, manifesting opportunities, and managing stress—all while discovering the values most precious to you. (Summary by Andrea Fiore)
12 Nov 2008 Story Hour Readers: Third Year by Coe, Ida, Christie, Alice
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Short and sweet stories for children from the 19th century. The stories were compiled by two New York City teachers and were thought appropriate for third year children at that time.
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