Home New Books All Titles Software Donate

New This Week

	A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens That miserly man, Ebenezer Scrooge, so cheap he won't even paint out the name of his dead partner, Marley, from the company sign, though he has been dead these many years. The old penny-pincher is about to come face to face with the reality of the world. Or as Charles Dickens himself wrote, "I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it."
	A Child's Christmas In Wales by Dylan thomas There is the story of one day in the life of a young boy growing up in wales. This is probably my favorite secular Christmas story. It is filled with fun and joy and just a bit of the mystery that a boy feels at Christmas.
	The Captives by Hugh Walpole "I confess that I do not see why the very existence of an invisible world may not in part depend on the personal response which any of us may make to the religious appeal. God Himself, in short, may draw vital strength and increase of very being from our fidelity. For my own part I do not know what the sweat and blood and tragedy of this life mean, if they mean anything short of this. If this life be not a real fight, in which something is eternally gained for the universe by success, it is no better than a game of private theatricals from which one may withdraw at will. But it feels like a real fight--as if there were something really wild in the universe which we, with all our idealities and faithlessness, are needed to redeem; and first of all to redeem our own hearts from atheisms and fears . . ."
	The Devil's Disciple by George Bernard Shaw An intesting book about the story of the narrow minded puritans fighting back against the british army ,once a great powerful one.
	The Dragon And The Raven by G. A. Henty A masterpiece! In this story Henty gives an account of the fierce struggle between Saxon and Dane for supremacy in England, and presents a vivid picture of the misery and ruin to which the country was reduced by the ravages of the sea-wolves. The hero, a young Saxon thane, takes part in all the battles fought by King Alfred. He is driven from his home and takes to the sea. As he sails his ship, The Dragon against the Raven (his enemy's standard) he encounters adventure, and more! He resists the Danes on their own element, and being pursued by them up the Seine, is present at the long and desperate siege of Paris. Good plot with terrific action.
	Cupid's Understudy by Edward Salisbury Field A little money can be a dangerus thing. A lot of money can be even more so. And "Dad" had a lot of money and it came his way by a "fluke". Or as Elizabeth says, "If Dad had been a coal baron, like Mr. Tudor Carstairs, or a stock- watering captain of industry, like Mrs. Sanderson-Spear's husband, or descended from a long line of whisky distillers, like Mrs. Carmichael Porter, why, then his little Elizabeth would have been allowed the to sit in seat of the scornful with the rest of the Four Hundred, and this story would never have been written. But Dad wasn't any of these things; he was just an old love who had made seven million dollars by the luckiest fluke in the world."
	The Guns Of Bull Run by Joseph A. Altsheler The Guns Of Bull Run tells the story of the events leading up to the begining of the American Civil War. It opens with a simple letter and after it is read the reader, Dr. Russell says, "I have just received a letter from an old friend in Charleston and he tells me that on the twentieth, three days ago, the state of South Carolina seceded from the Union. He also sends me copies of two of the Charleston newspapers of the day following. In both of these papers all despatches from the other states are put under the head, 'Foreign News.' With the Abolitionists of New England pouring abuse upon all who do not agree with them, and the hot heads of South Carolina rushing into violence, God alone knows what will happen to this distracted country that all of us love so well." And so begins this engrosing tale.
	Beethoven the Man and the Artist by Kerst & Krehbiel Here, taken from his diaries, notes, letters and conversations is the story of Ludwig van Beethoven as told by himself. The edittors, Kerst and Krehbie have woven a fabric from many patches and the result is a whole and not a patchwork. It takes a little getting used to at first but as you read you will get into the flow. You will know Beethoven as you never imagined.
	The Blue Moon and Other Short Stories by Laurence Housman Here is a little collection of tales by Laurence Housman. From the Blue Moon to The Rat Catchers Daughter you will surely find stories which will delight you and make you shiver at the came time. this is a wonderful collection of primo Housman. Try it, you'll see.
	The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit This book is a delight for adults and children alike. The way Nesbit captures the essences of the children down to the very last detail is impressive. The scenes that she presents appeare as though they have come out of a dream. The characters are heartening and the story is so elaboartely woven that you will marvle. You won't be dissappointed.
	The Spell of Egypt by Robert Hichens All my life I have been enchanted and held in spell by Egypt. From the stories of searching for the sources of the Nile to the curse of King tut I have hooked. this book is not gaudy or filled with unnecessary tales. Instead it explains that which I can not, the spell of ancient Egypt and why it is strong, even in the twenty first century.
	The Metal Monster by A. Merritt When Dr. Walter T. Godwin sets out to study a rare flower in Tibet, he has no idea of what adventures await him. Meeting old friends in the secluded Himalayas, he quickly finds himself fleeing from the descendents of a lost Persian Empire city right into the domain of a seemingly omnipotent metal intelligence. This extraterrestrial metal intelligence is made up of a collective composed of living cubes, pyramids and spheres. Even stranger, the intelligence seems to work through a human woman of great beauty, Norhala. This metal intelligence is beyond anything that Godwin and his compatriots can even understand--is humanity about the be replaced as the ruler of the Earth? Courtesy of Kurt A. Johnson
	The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo Contrary to popular opinion the novel Le Notre Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo is not primarily about the deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo. Quasimodo's role is actually surprisingly small in the story, which makes you wonder why the English translater's chose "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" as the translation for the title. Actually, as the original French title would indicate, it is the cathedral itself that is the focus of the book. This is why in the unabridged editions of this book you will find numerous chapters that seemingly have nothing to do with the plot of the story. This is the books weakest point, and it may turn many people away from the book. Once you get into the plot, however, it is iimpossible to put the book down. The characters are intriguing: composer Pierre Gringoire, archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, once a paragon of virtue now tormented by his corrupt love for a gipsy girl, L'Esmerelda, the naive gipsy dancer, Phoebus, the selfish, egotistical captain of the guards, and of course Qausimodo, a deaf, deformed bellringer. The relationships between these characters are complex and dark but they make an unforgettable story. The story is never, from front to back, a happy one, so if you are looking for a book that makes you "feel good" this is not the one for you. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a good book to read, that is unafraid to deal with the darker side of reality, I highly recommend "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Courtesy Gerry T. Neal This book was contributed by Kate Halleron.
	The Discovery of The Source of the Nile by John Hanning Speke In 1858 the author, Speake, discovered Lake Victoria. In this journal he recounts his adventure, discusses the natural history and tells of his daily living. This is a little bit of everything wrapped up into an adventure tale.
	For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke Clark's writings in this book give you an insight into penal life in Australia's early history. His writing style gives you an empathy with the characters,and his descriptons of the Port Arthur site make you feel as if you are there. This is a much better insight into the history and mentality of Australia than any tour/travel planner you could read. It has survived the test of time because it is so accurate in its portrayal of the penal transportation system. It also serves to show that the recent tragedy at Port Arthur Tasmania is minor and almost insignificant if it is compared to what the "civilized" british empire performed at the same location
	Five Weeks In A Balloon by Jules Verne The debut novel from Jules Verne, originally published in 1870. This is the work that established his reputation. Originally planned for a children's magazine, this story about traveling in balloons across Africa resonates in Verne's later works and contains all his fondly remembered themes.
	The Monster Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs A mad scientist on a tropical island sets out to create life, with monstrous results until 'Number 13' is created. Edgar Rice Burrough's usual plot devices (damsel in distress, heroism against long odds) are well used here. An engaging read ... better than 'Pelucidar' but not as good as 'Tarzan of the Apes.' Courtesy J. Newton
	The Reef by Edith Wharton A challenge to the moral climate of the day, The Reef follows the fancies of George Darrow, a young diplomat en route from London to France, intent on proposing to the widowed Anna Leath. Unsettled by Anna's reticence, Darrow drifts into an affair with Sophy Viner, a charmingly naive and impecunious young woman whose relations with Darrow and Anna's family threaten his prospects for success. Whatever you think of "The Reef," it contains one of Edith Wharton's most wonderful scenes. Our "hero" has been dallying for a while in a hotel with the young girl he picked up on the boat dock, and he's wearying of her. We see his boredom and disillusionment through his reactions to the mere sounds she is making in the next room. He is so familiar by now with her habits and movements that he knows what she's doing without actually seeing her. A gem of a scene, in a strange jewel of a book.
	Love-at-Arms by Rafael Sabatini "If you are in case to fear betrayal, it may well be, my friends. As I crossed the bridge over the Metauro and took the path that leads hither, my eyes were caught by a crimson light shining from a tangle of bushes by the roadside. That crimson flame was a reflection of the setting sun flashed from the steel cap of a hidden watcher. The path took me nearer, and with my hat so set that it might best conceal my face, I was all eyes. And as I passed the spot where that spy was ambushed, I discerned among the leaves that might so well have screened him, but that the sun had found his helmet out, the evil face of Masuccio Torri." There was a stir among the listeners, and their consternation increased, whilst one or two changed colour. "For whom did he wait? That was the question that I asked myself, and I found the answer that it was for me. If I was right, he must also know the distance I had come, so that he would not look to see me afoot, nor yet, perhaps, in garments such as these. And so, thanks to all this and to the hat and cloak in which I closely masked myself, he let me pass unchallenged." So it begins and in true fashion Sabatini takes us all on a rollicking ride to the very end, where of course, boy gets girl, or is it the other way around?
	The Borgias by Alexander Dumas, Pere Dumas's 'Celebrated Crimes' was not written for children. The novelist has spared no language--has minced no words--to describe the violent scenes of a violent time. In some instances facts appear distorted out of their true perspective, and in others the author makes unwarranted charges. It is not within our province to edit the historical side of Dumas, any more than it would be to correct the obvious errors in Dickens's Child's History of England. The careful, mature reader, for whom the books are intended, will recognize, and allow for, this fact.
	Five Children and It by E. Nesbit You will be struck by E. Nesbit's boundless imagination, sharp wit, and dead-on dialogue. The heroes of the story are real kids with real personalities - rare even now, much less in a Victorian children's novel. Many scenes will make you laugh even at the upteenth reading, such as when the kids have to think up "Red Indian" names on the fly and come up with Panther, Squirrel, and Bobs of the Cape Mounted Police. This book is strongly recommended to anyone who enjoys the Harry Potter books, as it offers a similar blend of magic, adventure, humor, and memorable characters Courtesy: Shaenon K. Garrity This book was contributed by Kate Halleron.
	Theodore Roosevelt an Autobiography by Theodore Roosevelt Outstanding! This book is a tome of philosophy, adventure, intrigue, and above all, inspiration. Notwithstanding these encomia however, the reader should beware before making a hegira into its noble pages that this autobiography does not follow the traditional structure of a "biography." Rather it can be described as being a compendium of T.R.'s philosophy on life. The true strength of its pages being found in how T.R.'s experiences and actions staunchly uphold and support his 'vigor of life' and probity which he so often addressed as being fundamental to all good Americans. Accordingly, I suggest a first-time reader of T.R. would be best served by initially reading a more "objective" biography of T.R. (I suggest Nathan Miller's Theodore Roosevelt, A Life) in order to become familiar with the events and time frames involved. This will allow the reader to more appreciate the nature, values and beliefs of the great man as told in this book by the ultimate authority, himself. Along with being completely inspired by a man of such high moral values, the factual anecdotes related in this book comfort you in the knowledge that this hero practiced what he preached. In a speech by his own hand, T.R. embodied his own life; "The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;...who strives valiantly...who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat." T.R. was a naturalist, legislator, cowboy, businessman, soldier, author, conservationist, U.S. President, world explorer, and above all an inspirational "doer of deeds." This book eloquently tells the reader why he felt he needed to perform these deeds and what was going through his mind all the while. Courtesy: : Richard J. Larrabee
	Tish by Mary Roberts Rinehart While Mary Roberts Rinehart is best known for her mystery novels, she wrote a series of short stories about three aging spinsters. Tish is the ringleader of this trio and she guides them through one reckless adventure after another. While not every story is a perfect gem, most of them are funny. They are worth reading and re-reading. The stubborn and iron-willed Tish is a delight to read about. Courtesy : Christopher Valdez
	The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper The Deerslayer (1841) is the last of the Leatherstocking Tales, but the first in the development of the hero Natty Bumppo. This novel marks Cooper's return to historical romance after more than a decade given largely to social and political commentary. This edition provides the authoritative text of the novel and prefaces to The Deerslayer (1841 and 1850) and to the Leatherstocking Tales "The Deerslayer" is, chronologically, the first of Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales, although the last to be written. It takes place in the early 1740s on the Lake Glimmerglass. Natty Bumppo, called Deerslayer, and his friend Hurry Harry March go to Tom Hutter's "Castle," which is a house built on stilts on a shoal in the middle of the lake, and it is practically impregnable. March intends to get Tom's daughter Judith to marry him. More love is in the air, for Deerslayer plans to meet Chingachgook at a point on the lake in a few days in order to help him rescue his bride-to-be, Wah-ta-Wah, who is a prisoner of the Hurons. War breaks out, Tom and Harry are captured by Hurons, and the untested Deerslayer must go on his first warpath to rescue them. That sets up the plot, and there follows many twists and turns, ending with a very haunting conclusion.
	A Forgotten Empire: Vijayanagar by Robert Sewell The two Portuguese chronicles, a translation of which into English is now for the first time offered to the public, are contained in a vellum-bound folio volume in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, amongst the manuscripts of which institution it bears the designation "Port. No. 65." The volume in question consists of copies of four original documents; the first two, written by Fernao Nuniz and Domingo Paes, being those translated below, the last two (at the end of the MS.) letters written from China about the year 1520 A.D. These will probably be published in translation by Mr. Donald Ferguson in the pages of the Indian Antiquary. The first pair of original papers was sent with a covering letter by some one at Goa to some one in Europe. The names are not given, but there is every reason for believing that the recipient was the historian Barros in Lisbon. Both these papers are in the same handwriting, which fact -- since they were written by separate Portuguese merchants or travellers at Vijayanagar in different years, one, I believe, shortly subsequent to 1520 A.D., the latter not later than about 1536 or 1537 -- conclusively proves them to be copies of the originals, and not the originals themselves.[2] I have inserted a facsimile of two pages of the text, so that no doubt may remain on this point. The first portion consists of the conclusion of the text of Fernao Nuniz; the second of the covering letter written by the person who sent the originals to Europe; the third of the beginning of the text of Domingo Paes. Paes being the earlier in date (about 1520) I have given his account of personal experiences first, and afterwards the historical summary composed by Nuniz about the year 1536 or 1537.
	Helen Of Troy by Andrew Lang Andrew Lang wrote the narrative poem Helen of Troy in 1882. Known more for his children's "Fairy" books lang also was a writer of two novels and wrote versions of Odyssey and the Iliad. He is a well-respected alumnus of St Andrews University where one of his early pieces imagined Dr Johnson on the links. He spent much of his active professional life in London, but he had a considerable knowledge of much of Scotland, and an appreciation of the Scottish character which illuminated his work, and, at the end of his life, led him to begin the influential Highways and byways of the Border, completed by his wife and son. What Lang singularly failed to do was to write either a lasting novel or a really striking poem, but he was a very significant literary figure.
	Andersonville by John McElroy Andersonville tells the story of the horror prisoners of war experienced in the Andersonville prison during the American Civil War. Prisoners of War during the Civil War were never intended to be held for the duration. At the beginning, both the Confederacy and the Union participated in a system of prisoner exchange, which set the guidelines for establishing prisons as "holding pins." The prisoners were well fed and able to support themselves. Andersonville and Johnson Island are two notorious prisons of the Civil War. They were survivable prisons until politics interfered with the operation of the prisoner exchange and forced each side to retain their prisoners of war. Both Johnson Island and Andersonville suffered from similar problems such as mal-nutrition and overcrowding. Andersonville was a prison of a makeshift quality that probably contributed to its notoriety. Life within Andersonville was full of suffering and death, and it resulted in the complete breakdown of humanity. Johnson Island military prison was constructed in a manner more befitting of a prison. Life within Johnson Island was difficult, but the suffering did not result in the complete devolution of society. Comparing the facilities and the life of the prisoners of Andersonville and Johnson Island, prison life in Andersonville was far worse than life in Johnson Island. The Confederacy could not handle the number of prisoners that they had captured, and these prisoners struggled for their lives as the Confederate war effort became incapable of sustaining itself and it's soldiers. The prisoners in Union prison ate better food and lived in provided shelters. While in Andersonville soldiers did not even receive enough food to live, and they also were not provided with supplies. However, it is not possible to ignore the fact that on both sides prisoners suffered.
	The War Prayer by Mark Twain My friends, this week I am only publishing one eBook. The events of the past week have been such that I have not been able to go through the trvialities of eBook preparation. I have been glued to the television, sick at heart and afraid of what is to come. The one eBook that im publishing is the only one that I know of that is worthy of being published here this week. When Mark Twain wrote "The War Prayer" and showed it to a friend, the friend said that it was a most important writing and that it should be published immediately as far and wide as possible. But Twain disagreed and said that it indeed was powerful but not to publish it until after he had died. And it was not published until after the death of the writer. Please take this slim volume and read it. Then think about what is to come... September 15, 2001
	Pictures From Italy by Charles Dickens Charles Dickens' pleasant recollections of his travels to Italy. "This Book is a series of faint reflections - mere shadows in the water - of places to which the imaginations of most people are attracted in a greater or less degree, on which mine had dwelt for years, and which have some interest for all. --Charles Dickens This book was contributed by Jessica Chew
	A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett This is a story about a different kind of princess than one might imagine; a princess that is an orphan - lonely, cold, hungry and abused. Sara Crewe begins life as the beloved, pampered daughter of a rich man. When he dies a pauper, she is thrown on the non-existent mercy of her small-minded, mercenary boarding school mistress. Stripped of all her belongings but for one set of clothes and a doll, Sara becomes a servant of the household. Hated by the schoolmistress for her independent spirit, Sara becomes a pariah in the household, with only a few secretly loyal friends. But through her inner integrity and strength of will, Sara Crewe maintains the deportment, inner nobility and generous spirit of a "real" princess. It is a fabulous story of the triumph of human will, and good over evil. Courtesy: : Margaret Fiore
	The Mucker by Edgar Rice Burroughs Billy Byrne was a product of the streets and alleys of Chicago's great West Side. From Halsted to Robey, and from Grand Avenue to Lake Street there was scarce a bartender whom Billy knew not by his first name. And, in proportion to their number which was considerably less, he knew the patrolmen and plain clothes men equally as well, but not so pleasantly. And so the life and times of Billy Byrne.
	Okewood Of The Secret Service by Valentine Williams Douglas Oakwood is a character who is featured in a number of books by Williams called "The Clubfoot Series", named after the arch nemesis, Dr. Adolph Grundt (Clubfoot). The protagonist, Oakwood, who was wounded in World War I and retired is pulled into the field of espionage. His brother Frances has dissappeared behind the lines in Europe and so Douglas Oakwood goes undercover in hopes of finding him somewhere behind the war torn lines.
	Dubliners by James Joyce In his book Dubliners, James Joyce allows us to enter into the very soul of various characters that surface throughout the book. His masterful descriptions invite us to see life through their eyes and experience their feelings of discontent, frustration, jealousy, longing, pride. It gives us the ability to look outside ourselves and view the suffering of those around us. The book is divided into fifteen mini stories. Each one is distinct and each one allows us to glimpse another soul. We peer into the mind of young boy who has had his first brush with death when an elderly friend dies. We see a young man go in search of a gift to bring the girl that has caught his heart. We gaze into the frustrations of a man who feels trapped in his job and finds only momentary solace in his alcohol. And finally we view a wife who hears a song that brings back memories of a youth time lover she had who had died and cries as her husband wonders if he might ever have that same level of lover for her as did that young man years ago. Each of these characters teaches us something about ourselves. We laugh at the naivety of the young characters depicted at the beginning of the book and realize that we once had their innocence. We pity the other characters because of their entrapped existence. We mourn for their hopelessness and wish we could do something to rescue them from their plight. We wonder how they could be so filled with pride, anger, and misery and then are led to wonder if we suffer from similar maladies. Courtesy: Joey Price
	The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey Set in the 1870's in Texas, Buck Duane kills a man in self-defense and becomes an outlaw. Captain Mac Kelly of the Texas Rangers offeres Buck a full pardon, with a catch. In order to earn it Buck must bring down a gang of deadly rustlers who will stop at nothing. And so the gunfighter hero, Buck, goes after the Chelsedine Gang, and into danger.
	Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum In Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz we see Dorothy and the Wizard reunite, of course, but there are some interesting things going on. The Wizard has become a grand character; Baum has thrown his own nature into him and has made him real to us. The Wizard is now a resourceful, sometimes devious, sardonic, yet compassionate man. The story delves into the bizarre with the Glass City and its vegetable people (and their gruesome demise). The Gargoyles are quite disturbing in their emotionally hollow, wooden world. The Braided Man of Pyramid Mountain provides dry humor (here we see Baum's love of puns). Esentially this is one of the more original works of Baum, with quixotic new characters, and further development of those we already knew. Perhaps Ozma comes into her own in this novel; she is what a queen should be, loyal to her subjects, but not above the law; she is regal, kind yet firm, passionate and loving. Baum has created a fearsome yet beautiful per! sonage in Ozma. This is a great read; recommended non-Ozophiles so that the MGM movie can be challenged, and the true Oz can be appreciated in its majesty of fantasy, humor, horror, and splendor.
	Washington And His Comrades In Arms by George M. Wrong This brief biography of George Washington, though written by a Briton for a british audience, admirably tells the story of George Washington and the struggle for independence. In the authors own words, "If excuse is needed it is to be found in the special interest of the career of Washington to a citizen of the British Commonwealth of Nations at the present time and in the urgency with which the editor and publishers declared that such an interpretation would not be unwelcome to Americans."
	Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair by William Morris Travel with Christopher from Oakenrealm to the Tofts and beyond. Meet Goldilind fair maid and celebrate at their marriage. Experience their life and adventures in this epic prose from the master, William Morris. Even at the stories depths Morris waeaves a tale filled with the most beautiful prose ever written. "Reading Morris is like reading a song without notes but never the less sublime."
	Against Apion by Flavius Josephus Flavius Josephus writes a defense of Judaism, answering an attack by a Roman author named Apion. We possess understandably few remnants of the ways in which subject nations responded to Roman disdain. In most cases only the ambiguous witness of material culture gives us access to the voices of the colonised. All the more precious, therefore, is Josephus’ Against Apion, where a knowledgeable spokesman for the Judaean tradition is bold enough to answer back to his cultural critics and skilful enough to do so in terms calculated to win Roman attention. In observing how Josephus deploys Roman stereotypes of Egyptians he unearths some facets of his rhetorical strategy and to illuminates thereby the cultural and political stance he adopts in re-presenting the Judaeans to his Roman or Romanised readers. Courtesy: John M.G. Barclay
	A Princess Of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs "Princess of Mars" is an astounding piece of fantasy. First story of ERB to be published in 1912, it contains the seeds of lots of scfi and Fantasy novels to come in the following years. Also we may detect some traits of Tarzan in John Carter character. It's a pleasure to read so "fresh" adventures depicting a whole planet culture, interaction between different races, monsters, ecology, inventions far ahead of ERB real world, as "rifles with explosive bullets guided by wireless sensors". It amazes me how ERB can master in a not so extensive text (for our standards); a high paced action story. Even if this book is 90 years old, you will enjoy it from the first to the last page. Courtesy: Maximiliano F Yofre
	A Book Of Remarkable Criminals by H. B. Irving Here is a book that will chill and thrill you. In these "modern" days and times we think that crime is rampant but when you read of H.H. Holmes and his death house, or of the other individuals in this book, you'll quickly find that there will always be those who delight in the baser side of life - and death.
	Grimms Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm One of the things that struck me as I read these stories is how short some of our favorite fairy tales really are. The other thing that struck me with wonder is how Disney could possibly take these delightful little tales and turn them into feature length movies. The story of the "Little Mermaid" for example is only a few paragraphs long. Cinderella isn't that much longer. Some of these stories are absolutely delightful in their irony or in the way a person tricks another in a humorous way. The story of "Ali And The Sultan's Saddle" immediately springs to mind. I had to laugh as his fast thinking and his humor. Some of these stories have morals that we sometimes seem to forget exist; and all are educational and fun in one way or another. Nowadays it isn't popular to read stories by the Brothers Grimm as they are politically incorrect. but perhaps we need to take a step back to examine ourselves and how serious we try to make the world and all things in it. There is still a lot of room for the stories of Ali Baba, the Fox and the Elephant, Goldilocks and all the rest. So take the time to read this book and to remember your own childhood and sense of wonder. Then read them to your children. Don't tell your children to read them, but read these stories to them yourself. Both your kids and you will be glad that you did.
	The Darrow Enigma by Melvin L. Severy As the part I played in the events I am about to narrate was rather that of a passive observer than of an active participant, I need say little of myself. I am a graduate of a Western university and, by profession, a physician. My practice is now extensive, owing to my blundering into fame in a somewhat singular manner, but a year ago I had, I assure you, little enough to do. Inasmuch as my practice is now secure, I feel perfectly free to confess that the cure I effected in the now celebrated case of Mrs. P- was altogether the result of chance, and not, as I was then only too glad to have people believe, due to an almost supernatural power of diagnosis.
	The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton The House of Mirth is a wonderful novel describing New York Society at the turn of the century. Lily Bart is a socialite on the lookout for a rich husband. She is beautiful and feels that that is all she has or needs to offer. Her ending is predictably sad, but nonetheless you wish otherwise. Wharton is a master at describing the society of her time. The characters are very vivid, you can almost feel that you know them.
	PROJECT TRINITY by Carl Maag and Steve Rohrer The race was on as World War II was drawing to a close. The United States and the Germans were competing... competing to produce the first atomic bomb. In the end we came to understand that the race was not as close as we suspected, but never the less the United States did produce the first atomic weapons - and used them. The world has not been the same since. And now in the early days of the twenty-first century the dragon of terror raises it's ugly head. The most prosaic and common of objects were turned into lethal ballistic missiles; airliners. And the targets were buildings packed with people. Following that episode the terrorists turned to biological attacks as they attempted to instill fear into the civilized world. What weapon will be next? We know that there are those who are trying to create their own nuclear weapons. Let us pray that they never succeed. Here in this slim volume are the unclassified documents surrounding the creation of the first atomic weapons of mass destruction. Though the reading is dry at times, it is well worth our while to read - and to understand. Because if we could do this nearly sixty years ago, it is even more possible that renegade forces can do it today. We are the targets and this is the weapon.
	The First Men In The Moon by H.G. Wells The invention of Cavorite, an anti-gravity substance, propells the protagonists to the moon. Though well written and at times humorous this book attempts, as did Verne's, to depict events based on the lack of knowledge. It is important to the reader to remember that Wells worked within the knowledge base of his day which included the possibility of an atmosphere on the moon, living creatures and more. All in all this is a fun read.
	Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray William Makepeace Thackeray subtitled "Vanity Fair", his masterful comic novel, "A Novel Without a Hero". But while this big, baggy eight-hundred page monstrosity of comic characters and situations may lack a hero, it has two of the most memorable characters in English literature: Amelia Sedley and Becky Sharp. The contrapuntal, shifting fortunes of these two women drive the narrative of this big book, painting, along the way, a brilliant satirical portrait of English and European society at the time of the Napoleonic wars. We first meet Amelia and Becky in the opening pages of the novel, leaving Miss Pinkerton's School for the wider world of fortune, love and marriage. Amelia Sedley, the naive, sheltered daughter of a rich London merchant whose fortunes will dramatically change over the course of her life, "was a dear little creature; and a great mercy it is, both in life and in novels, which (the latter especially) abound in villains of the most sombre sort, that we are to have for a constant companion so guileless and good-natured a person." In contrast, Becky Sharp, the impoverished orphan of an artist and a French opera singer of dubious repute, was a calculating, amoral social climber. "Miss Rebecca was not, then, in the least kind or placable . . . but she had the dismal precocity of poverty." From the opening pages, Thackeray captures the reader's interest in these two characters and carries the reader through marriages, births, deaths, poverty, misfortune, social climbing . . . even the Battle of Waterloo! While Amelia and Becky wind like a long, contrasting thread from the beginning to the end of this story, there are also plots and subplots, intrigues and authorial asides, and one character after another, all of this literary invention keeping the reader incessantly preoccupied and enthralled. Reading "Vanity Fair" is the furthest thing from "killing time" (as the dusty, misguided literary critic F. R. Leavis once said); it is, rather, the epitome of the nineteenth century English comic novel, a masterpiece in every sense of the word. Courtesy: Gary Jakaitis
	The Touchstone by Edith Wharton This is Wharton's first novella, written at a time when she was still developing her craft as a writer; the story can appear woefully underwritten. Still, the story is mesmerizing and dangerous, a Faustian tale of betrayal, greed and the consequences paid, and the more often you read through it, the more hidden meanings emerge. When you read it, think of the lover who sold Princess Diana's first secrets of their affair to the tabloids, and the consequences since. What ever happened to that man? Perhaps, like Stephen Glennard in "The Touchstone", he has gone mad from guilt, which, ironically enough, might prove he has a conscious after all.
	The Suitors of Yvonne by Rafael Sabatini Rafael Sabatini has written some of the best and most fun filled historical fiction of all time. I shamefully admit that I am a fan. Sometimes the last page of the book can be predicted - boy gets girl - but it is still worth the read. Filled with adventure, swashbuckling and romance the Suitors of Yvonne is no exception to the works of Sabatini. Enjoy.
	The Blue lagoon by H. de Vere Stacpoole This was an excellent story which surprised me to a great extent. Mr Stacpoole is an excellent writer with an ability to convey what it would be like to live on a dream island in the south pacific with a girl of your dreams. Excellent characterizations and a tremendous flow of descriptive words. Almost lyrical in many respects. His writing sometimes approaches poetry. Other passages are worthy of great pathos. I particularly liked the kids discovering death, what pure love is like, thoughts on religion. Just an excellent story written in a style that is no longer seen. Courtesy: Dennis Wilcutt
	The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain Pudd'Nhead Wilson is not Huckleberry Finn, but it is a worthy Twain novel, a strong example of his satiric and ethical writing. Written in 1894, ten years after he published his masterpiece, Twain revisits antebellum small-town Missouri life and this time, his anger at the institution of slavery and the racist folly are front and center in the voice of an omniscient narrator. Twain puts several 19th century conventions of pop entertainment to work in this story: murder, suspense, dramatic irony, verbal irony, babies switched at birth, cross gender dressing, and foreign intrigue, but he takes it out of the ordinary by making the trigger for the various plot lines come down to the very real human tragedy of slavery and the fear of being "sold down river." Although the suspense story may seem simple or outdated to a contemporary reader, many of Twain's themes are not. The subject of nature versus nurture is still debated today as are the politics of language and dialect. Twain's titular character is a hobbyist in what was then the nascent science of fingerprinting and his discussion compares to the contemporary debate over DNA evidence. Of course, the biggest problems the author addresses remain our biggest social challenges-- racial discrimination, the gap between the haves and have nots, and the persistence of classist social systems. Artistically, no, this is not Huckleberry Finn, but few books are. Twain's use of irony wells up from every scene, every phrase so much so that it shines brilliantly. It is a pleasure to read and it keeps you thinking long after it is over.
	Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain During their ride downriver on the way to visit Tom's Uncle Silas, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn encounter a series of mysterious clues--stolen diamonds, a mysterious stranger, manhunters, and others. Written in the vernacular - one of Twain's specialities - the reader is kept in suspense, right down to the final chapter. As always anything by Twain is an excellent read. Not to mention that something is learned in the process.
	To The Last Man by Zane Grey This story is outstanding. Lots of suspense and gunplay, with a hopeless romance injected to keep your mind engaged. This story is especially good as it is loosely based on a true blood feud which happened in Pleasant Valley, a town in the Tonto Basin area of Arizona. Therefore, you can visit the site, see where Zane set his novel, and know that while Grey's may have been a fictional account, a feud did happen, right where you are standing. The town is now called Young, by the way, to get rid of the stigma associated with the Pleasant Valley War. The account of the actual feud (available at the Tonto Basin Historical Center), and several key elements in Grey's novel are true. There was only one active participant who survived the feud, and the bit about the battle pausing so the ladies could bury their dead husbands to keep hogs from eating the corpses actually happened. Many thanks to an unknown reviewer
	The Kingdom of the Blind by E. Phillips Oppenheim Lord Romsey commenced his luncheon with an air of relief. He was a man of little more than middle-age, powerfully built, inclined to be sombre, with features of a legal type, heavily jawed. "Always tactful, dear hostess," he murmured. "As a matter of fact, nothing but the circumstance that it was your invitation and that Madame Selarne was to be present, brought me here to-day. It is so hard to avoid speaking of the great things, and for a man in my position," he added, dropping his voice a little, "so difficult to say anything worth listening to about them, without at any rate the semblance of indiscretion."
	A Day At The Beach and Other Stories For Adults by Anonomous Authors Someone once said to me, "If you can publish Fanny Hill then you can certainly publish some modern erotic stories." After a long struggle I decided to publish this set of stories. As the title says these are for adults. If you are not interested in this type of content, please do not download the book. My logs will tell me how many do download this book. I'm interested in seeing the results.
	The Machine by Upton Sinclair Sinclair set to work upon what he intended to be a trilogy of novels portraying the life of the city of New York. The first of these novels, "The Metropolis", dealt with what calls itself "society"; the second, "The Moneychangers", with "high finance"; the third, which was to be called "The Machine," was to carry its hero through a political career, presenting a study of "Tammany Hall" and the slums. This work was undertaken at a time when the writer was in wretched health and under great nervous strain. He was unable to make either of the two published volumes what he had intended; and the third volume he was unable to write at all - the most superficial study of the material brought him into contact with so much misery and oppression that he found the attempt was literally wrecking him. The theme, however, kept haunting him, and conditions which he had discovered cried out for publicity. He found that the work was taking, in his mind, the shape of a play, and so finally it came to be written. He is aware of the fact that two inadequate novels and a play constitute a somewhat dubious literary form. However, "The Machine" is to be read by itself - he makes the explanation here merely in order that readers of "The Metropolis" and "The Moneychangers" may understand why they find the same characters in the play, and may know what was the story to which the two novels were intended to lead up.
	Heartbreak House by Bernard Shaw Set during a house party at the eccentric household of Captain Shotover and his daughter Hesione, this comedy of manners takes a probing look at the conflict between old-fashioned idealism and the realities of the modern age. Written at the height of the first World War in Europe, an impassioned satire of the late nineteenth and early twentieth-century bourgeoisie offers a scathing portrait of a household of independent eccentrics.
	Merton Of The Movies by Harry Leon Wilson Merton of the Movies follows its title character from his hometown in Illinois, where he spends all his time watching the moving pictures, to his quest for being in them. This takes him to early Hollywood where he intends to work hard and make great sacrifices to be a star. Like the legions of hopefuls who still arrive in this town every day, he has a lot to learn.
	Hunting the Grisley by Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman as well as a vigorous supporter of conservation. Here he tells of his hunting exploits and educates at the same time. This is an enjoyable read.
	Port Jackson by Watkin Tench Port Jackson tells of the settling of this area of Australia when it was a penal colony. This is an interesting history and is enlightening in a number of ways. Learn about how the penal system worked and of the history of Australia.
	Reflections On The Decline Of Science In England by Charles Babbage Charles Babbage is considered to be the father of modern computing, even though when he was working the concept of the modern computer would have been identical to magic to him. Never the less it was Babbage who defined the major parts of a computer and build his analytical engine, the first step in computing design. His differential engine, the real computing machine, was never built, though he did assemble a few portions of it. The sheer immensity of the task, not to mention the cost, was enough to discourage anyone. His inventions, however, have proved a boon to humanity, among others he is credited with the invention of the cowcatcher, dynamometer, standard railroad gauge, uniform postal rates, occulting lights for lighthouses, Greenwich time signals, heliograph opthalmoscope. In this book Babbage takes on the scientific societies, the government, universities and more as he argues why science had so declined in England. He called on government and society to support the sciences with money and prestige to scientific endeavor.
	The Analysis Of Mind by Bertrand Russell One of Russell's most important and interesting books which reconciles the materialistic tendency of psychology with the anti-materialistic tendency of physics. You may be conscious of a friend either by seeing him or by "thinking" of him; and by "thought" you can be conscious of objects which cannot be seen, such as the human race, or physiology. "Thought" in the narrower sense is that form of consciousness which consists in "ideas" as opposed to impressions or mere memories. Lecture I Russell tries to give a first rough definition of what he considers thinking essentially is. In the first sentence he only enumerates instances of thinking, especially the two primary functions of perception and imagination. Then, in the second sentence, he boils thinking down to ideas as opposed to impressions or memories. This is the Humean or empiricistic view. It is also the common-sense view or what I call the primitive view of mind. Russell starts from the common experience we have of thinking. As science and philosophy have proven many times, the common view is more often than not mistaken. The common empirical view of thinking does not imply by necessity that the true essence and nature of thinking is just the way it appears to us in our daily use of thought. To gain more insight into the nature of thinking, a deeper contemplation is necessary. "Ideas" are the copies of impressions, as Russell states several lines further above, and not ideas in the Platonic sense. Russell determines the structure of thought completely on empirical grounds, disposing of the a priori transcendental structure postulated by Kant. Over the course of his long career, Russell made significant contributions, not just to philosophy, but to a range of other subjects as well. Many of Russell's writings on a wide variety of topics (including education, ethics, politics, history, religion and popular science) have influenced generations of general readers. After a life marked by controversy (including dismissals from both Trinity College, Cambridge, and City College, New York), Russell was awarded the Order of Merit in 1949 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. Also noted for his many spirited anti-war and anti-nuclear protests, Russell remained a prominent public figure until his death at the age of 97. Courtesy: Arnold, et. al.
	History Of The Warfare Of Science With Theology In Christendom by Andrew Dickson White It seems that from time immemorial there has always been a difference between the scientific thinker and the theology of the Bible. Even in this day and time the arguement over evolution is still as heated as ever. This book, History Of The Warfare Of Science With Theology In Christendom cuts right to the chase. It is not a light read but is extremely well constructed with cogent arguments on all points. This book deserves to be read if for no other reason than the clarity of its writing.
	The Jungle by Upton Sinclair This cornerstone of American literature has had a greater impact on American society than any other 20th-century novel. Upton Sinclair's The Jungle is a vivid portrait of life and death in a turn-of-the-century American meat-packing factory. Sinclair said that he "aimed for the public's heart but by accident hit it in the stomach." His portrayals of the horrors of the Chicago meatpacking industry so offended the American public that it resulted in the pure-food legislation of 1906 and the establishment of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Jungle is Sinclair's extraordinary contribution to literature and social reform. Few works of fiction have had the impact of this powerful work.
	Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis Published in 1922, Babbit, a satire on the American middle class, is Sinclair Lewis' second novel. He was the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. George F. Babbit at age 46 is a successful real estate broker in the midwestern town of Zenith. He, his wife and three children live in a modern house in the development of Floral Heights. It has all the modern conveniences, yet it doesn't have the atmosphere of a home. The neighbors, while appearing different, all seem to be as standardized as the houses. At home George often dreams of a fairy girl; a harmless dream, but showing his dissatisfacton with his current lifestyle. He feels powerful at work as he dictates letters to his secretary. George frequents The Athletic Club, where everyone meets, not to exercise, but to dine, smoke and socialize. Myra Babbit, George's wife, is rather a dull women, but even so, she is also vaguely dissatisfied with their life.
	The City That Was by Will Irwin At the turn of the twentieth century San Francisco was a vibrant city. Then in 1906 a devistating earthquake and fire destroyed much of the city. This short book tells of the city that was, San Francisco, before the earthquake.
	The Return by Walter de la Mare 'But I suppose we are all pretty much the same, if we only knew it,' he had consoled himself. 'We keep our crazy side to ourselves; that's all. We just go on for years and years doing and saying whatever happens to come up-and really keen about it too'-he had glanced up with a kind of challenge in his face at the squat little belfry-'and then, without the slightest reason or warning, down you go, and it all begins to wear thin, and you get wondering what on earth it all means.' ... He smiled, but a little confusedly; yet the thought gave even a spice of adventure to the evening's ramble.      He loitered on, scarcely thinking at all now, stooping here and there. These faint listless ideas made no more stir than the sunlight gilding the fading leaves, the crisp turf underfoot. With a slight effort he stooped even once again;-           'Stranger, a moment pause, and stay;      In this dim chamber hidden away      Lies one who once found life as dear      As now he finds his slumbers here:      Pray, then, the Judgement but increase      His deep, everlasting peace!' Nothing like a little mystery to brighten your day (or darken your evening) and this is just the one for you. It begins in a graveyard and who knows where it will end...
	Some Short Stories by Henry James This collection of some of Henry James short stories includes such greats as Booksmith, The Real Thing and others. Admittedly sometimes the reading gets a little slow in The Real Thing but don't take that so much as a warning as an invitation to explore.
	Brother Jacob by George Eliot 'Brother Jacob' is the story of a confectioner's apprentice who steals from his mother to emigrate to Jamaica where he intends to be given his fortune. Although it is a (sour) moral fable, with every character emerging badly, rather than warmly humanistic, the novels' irritations are here - the bossy, intrusive narration; the portrait of a growing, bourgeois community, lifelessly focusing on their obsessions with status and money, where every metaphor is inextricably linked with commerce and consumption. Each character is a caricature: the 'humour' is smug, smart-alecky, sarcastic and sneering. The tale is full of the details English Literature critics enjoy - colonialism, mental defectives, assumed identities etc. courtesy: : Darragh O'Donoghue
	The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Vicente Blasco Ibanez This book depicts in great detail a way of life that is so changed from the present that it might as well be science fiction. The story begins in South America and moves to France and both places are described in loving detail. The father had first left Europe to avoid serving in the military and he returns, unknowingly, in time for his son to become involved in World War I. The description of the changing opinions and moods in Paris were fascinating. How many times have people thought a war would be over in a matter of weeks? The insight into pre World War I Germany was very educational. Many of the characteristics that I had assumed arose with the Nazis prior to WWII were clearly present much earlier. This book should not be missed by anyone interested in history or human nature. Courtesy: Joanne Clarke
	Stories of Africa by various English Writers In this book of stories of Africa you will find the familiar Alan Quatermain, a character created by H. Ryder Haggard (think of King Solomon's Mines) and the less familiar as well. A balanced collection of stories this book will surely have something for everyone. Here is adventure in the Dark Continent, romance, excitement, danger, mystery presented by some of the best writers of their day. The authors include Arthur Conan Doyle, J. Landers, William C. Scully, Percy Hemingway and more. This is a book you will enjoy.
	The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Here is the real story of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It is nothing like the recent movie but is a true spine chilling tale. Meet Ichabod Crane and find out why he is so frightened of the Headless Horseman.
	Life Of Hon. Phineas T. Barnum by Joel Benton There is no proof that Phineas Taylor Barnum ever said "there's a sucker born every minute." He did, however, say that "every crowd has a silver lining," and acknowledged that "the public is wiser than many imagine." In his 80 years, Barnum gave the wise public of the 19th century shameless hucksterism, peerless spectacle, and everything in between -- enough entertainment to earn the title "master showman" a dozen times over. In choosing Barnum as one of the 100 most important people of the millenium, Life magazine recently dubbed him "the patron saint of promoters." Here is the story of the greatest showman ever, P.T. Barnum.
	The Golf Course Mystery by Chester K. Steele There was nothing in that clear, calm day, with its blue sky and its flooding sunshine, to suggest in the slightest degree the awful tragedy so close at hand - that tragedy which so puzzled the authorities and which came so close to wrecking the happiness of several innocent people. This mystery, my friends, is not all fun and games!
	Indian Heroes And Great Chieftains by Charles A. Eastman Here are the stories of a number of Native American chieftains and heroes. Among them you will find the likes of Sitting bull and Chief Joseph. Sitting Bull, whose Indian name was Tatanka Iyotake, was born in the Grand River region of present-day South Dakota in approximately 1831. His nickname was Hunkesi, meaning "Slow" because he never hurried and did everything with care. Sitting Bull was a member of the Sioux tribe, and he joined his first war party against the Crow at age 14. The Sioux fought against hostile tribes and white intruders. Soon, Sitting Bull became known for his fearlessness in battle. He was also generous and wise, virtues admired by his tribe. He led his people in an attempt to resist the takeover of their lands in the Oregon Territory by white settlers. In 1877, the Nez Perce were ordered to move to a reservation in Idaho. Chief Joseph agreed at first. But after members of his tribe killed a group of settlers, he tried to flee to Canada with his followers, traveling over 1500 miles through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Along the way they fought several battles with the pursuing U.S. Army. His most remembered words are "From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever. "
	Edison His Life And Inventions by Dyer & Martin Thomas Alva Edison is one of America's most famous inventors. Edison saw huge change take place in his lifetime. He was responsible for making many of those changes occur. His inventions created and contributed to modern night lights, movies, telephones, records and CDs. Edison was truly a genius. Edison is most famous for his development of the first electric light bulb. When Edison was born, electricity had not been developed. By the time he died, entire cities were lit by electricity. Much of the credit for electricity goes to Edison. Some of his inventions were improvements on other inventions, like the telephone. Some of his inventions he deliberately tried to invent, like the light bulb and the movie projector. But some inventions he stumbled upon, like the phonograph. Of all his inventions, Edison was most proud of the phonograph. Edison invented and improved upon things that transformed our world. Some things he invented by himself. Some things he invented with other people. Just about all his inventions are things we still use in some form today. Throughout his life, Edison tried to invent things that everyone could use. Edison created the world's first "invention factory". He and his partners invented, built and shipped the product - all in the same complex. This was a new way to do business. Today many businesses have copied Edison's invention factory design.
	The Beasts of Tarzan. by Edgar Rice Burroughs As the rich Lord Greystoke, Tarzan found himself the target of greedy, evil men, the villainous Rokoff and Petrovich . His son is taken to Africa to be raised by cannibals, Jane is to receive a "fate worse than death and Tarzan is marooned on a desert island, Tarzan's plight seemed helpless. But with the help of Sheeta, the ferocious panther, and the great ape Akut, Tarzan crafted his escape with the giant Mugambi. Yet the trail of the kidnappers led deep into the interior--and it would take all of Tarzan's skills to reach his family in time. But following in the footsteps of his father, he reverts to a savage stage while battling for the lives of himself and his love.
	The San Francisco Calamity by Charles Morris, Ll. D. In 1906 an devastating earthquake struck San Francisco. As did the flood which destroyed much of Johnstown, Pennsylvania in May of 1889, the earthquake was followed by a fire of emmense proportions. When we think of the San Francisco earthquake we think of the more recent one because that is a part of our personal memory. But here is the story of personal memories of those who lived through the 1906 quake, told in their own words. Also in this book are stories of other natural disasters through the history of the world.
	Frequently Asked Questions about Ebola by Ornstein & Matthews I don't know where I stumbled on this little FAQ, but I found it fascinating reading. Though it is not specifically mentioned here, did you know that a strain of ebola actually invaded a monkey house in Maryland? That was actually the basis for the movie, "Outbreak." It's kind of chilling, but between the scare over anthrax and ebola, ebola is a lot more scary.
	The South Pole Volume 1 by Roald Amundsen In 1910 Roald Amundsen set out to find both the fabled Northwest Passage but also to travel to the South Pole. He and his crew set out on the ship "Fram" on this ill fated voyage. Never the less they did travel to Antarctica through much toil and pain. Here is the story of that heroic adventure.
	Twelve Stories and a Dream by H. G. Wells When I was a kid I remember reading this book of short stories by H.G. Wells. My reading spot was on the flat roof over my sister's room, at least in the summer time. I can remember reading this book because of the story "The New Accelerator." But The Magic Shop also stayed with me from those days. I know that you will enjoy this set of stories form an acclaimed master.
	Off on a Comet by Jules Verne It was Jules Verne who first wrote about what could happen should the earth collide with a comet. This "comet" is a small, planetiod-like world with atmosphere, land, and ocean. The journey is utterly unbelievable in the light of present knowledge, but Verne is as scientifically correct relative to the knowledge of his day as he could be. Before the travelers are redeposited on the earth in another grazing collision, the comet's eccentric orbit carries them near Venus and Mars, causing them to suffer through terrible extremes of climate. Verne delights in the ability of human ingenuity to overcome obstacles, conflicts, and deprivation as they explore and endure their temporary home. The flights of imagination involved are remarkable and the characterizations are good.Verne also dwells upon behaviors of people trapped on a journey of no return, though it should be treated with a vintage flavor.
	The Night Born by Jack London "It was in 1898 that I made that trip east over the Rockies, angling across to the Great Up North there the Rockies are something more than a back-bone. It is an unknown land. Great stretches of it have never been explored. There are big valleys there where the white man has never set foot, and Indian tribes as primitive as ten thousand years ... almost, for they have had some contact with the whites. Parties of them come out once in a while to trade, and that is all. I was coming up a stream the dogs were packing on their backs, and were sore-footed and played out; while I was looking for any bunch of Indians to get sleds and drivers from and go on with the first snow. And then I lifted a smoke, and heard the barking of the dogs--Indian dogs--and came into camp. There must have been five hundred of them, proper Indians at that, and I could see by the jerking-frames that the fall hunting had been good. And then I met her--Lucy. That was her name. She was nut-brown. I have called her a girl. But she was not. She was a woman, a nut-brown woman, an Amazon, a full-blooded, full-bodied woman, and royal ripe. And her eyes were blue. That's what took me off my feet--her eyes--blue, not China blue, but deep blue, like the sea and sky all melted into one, and very wise. More than that, they had laughter in them--warm laughter, sun-warm and human, very human, and . . . shall I say feminine? And she quoted to me those very words of Thoreau --the ones about the day-born gods and the night-born."
	Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Sa These Native American (Indian) legends and tales are some of the most enchanting one can read. Yet as they can be an insight into the soul of this once great and widespread peoples they can also reveal truths about them and about ourselves. As with Grimms fairy tales; morals will be found in most of these stories. You may be surprised at what you find in this little book. And you will enjoy what you find.
	The Queen of Hearts by Wilkie Collins We are three brothers; and we live in a barbarous, dismal old house called The Glen Tower. Our place of abode stands in a hilly, lonesome district of South Wales. No such thing as a line of railway runs anywhere near us. No gentleman's seat is within an easy drive of us. We are at an unspeakably inconvenient distance from a town, and the village to which we send for our letters is three miles off. My eldest brother, Owen, was brought up to the Church. All the prime of his life was passed in a populous London parish. For more years than I now like to reckon up, he worked unremittingly, in defiance of failing health and adverse fortune, amid the multitudinous misery of the London poor; and he would, in all probability, have sacrificed his life to his duty long before the present time if The Glen Tower had not come into his possession through two unexpected deaths in the elder and richer branch of our family. This opening to him of a place of rest and refuge saved his life. No man ever drew breath who better deserved the gifts of fortune; for no man, I sincerely believe, more tender of others, more diffident of himself, more gentle, more generous, and more simple-hearted than Owen, ever walked this earth.
	Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Gen. Lew Wallace Ben-Hur by Lewis Wallace is a historical novel, published in 1880 and has been widely translated ever since the first edition. The story depicts the oppressive Roman occupation of ancient Palestine and the origins of Christianity. The main character of the novel Judah Ben-Hur is wrongly accused by his former friend Messala (who is a Roman), of attempting to kill a highly ranked Roman official. He is then sent to be a slave on a ship and his mother and sister are imprisoned. Many years later Ben-Hur returns and wins a chariot race against Messala; and is later in the story reunited with his now leprous mother and sister. His mother and sister are cured on the day of the Crucifixion, and the family is converted to Christianity. Overall, I would have to say that Lewis Wallace has created one of the most enduring and entertaining novels of all time; and I would definitely recommend it to anyone remotely interested in well-written literature An interesting saidelight that is usually overlooked about Ben-Hur is that the book was written by Lew Wallace, a general who fought for the Union in the American Civil War.
	A Young Girls Diary by Translated by Eden and Cedar Paul Not to be confused with the Diary of Anne Frank. This diary is a gem. Never before, I believe, has anything been written enabling us to see so clearly into the soul of a young girl, belonging to our social and cultural stratum, during the years of puberal development. We are shown how the sentiments pass from the simple egoism of childhood to attain maturity; how the relationships to parents and other members of the family first shape themselves, and how they gradually become more serious and more intimate; how friendships are formed and broken. We are shown the dawn of love, feeling out towards its first objects. Above all, we are shown how the mystery of the sexual life first presses itself vaguely on the attention, and then takes entire possession of the growing intelligence, so that the child suffers under the load of secret knowledge but gradually becomes enabled to shoulder the burden. Of all these things we have a description at once so charming, so serious, and so artless, that it cannot fail to be of supreme interest to educationists and psychologists. Sigmund Freud
	In the South Seas by Robert Louis Stevenson In his book, In the South Seas, Stevenson gives an accurate and in depth look into the people and culture of the islands of the South Pacific. The book describes Stevenson's two year journey from the Marqueses Islands, to Tahiti, then Honolulu, and finally Somoa. Stevenson uses the great adventures he experienced and his masterfully writing skills to paint a breath taking view of the islands and thier many beauties. Courtesy: Kenneth Harper
	The Shame of Motley by Rafael Sabatini Set in the days of the Borgias this is the story of Lazzaro Biancomonte. Lazzaro is also known as the court jester in Pesario's Court. But, of course, it goes much deeper than that for Lazzaro is much more than the jester in this rollicking swashbuclking adventure as only Sabatini could posibly have written it.
	The Chimes and The Hollly Tree by Charles Dickens "The Chimes" celebrates New Year's Eve rather than Christmas, reminding the reader that there is always something for which to be grateful. In " The Holly Tree," the narrator is an old man who tells his Christmas story, which is that he came close to forsaking his bride. The tragedy was prevented by a providential snowstorm which confined him to an inn and delayed his departure.
	The Gift Of The Magi by O. Henry The Gift Of The Magi is one of O. Henry's classic stories. It tells of young love at Christmas time. A young couple just beginning their wedded life and of very limited means want more than anything to give each other a gift that will reflect and celebrate their devotion, one to the other. The gifts they select, and at the cost to each of them, all result in one of the most endearing, heartwarming, and humorous of conclusions. Thanks to Nancy, whoever you are, for reminding me of this treat.
	The Outlaw Of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs "The Outlaw of Torn" is one of his best yarns. Henry III of England insults Sir Jules de Vac, who takes his vengeance by kidnapping young Prince Richard, a figure, Burroughs points out, who has been lost to the pages of history. As Norman, the Outlaw of Torn, the young man becomes the greatest swordsman in England and a fearless outlaw with a price upon his head who raises an army loyal only to him. Of course, although he is ignorant of his noble birth, he is drawn to the lovely Bertrade de Montfort, daughter of the King's brother-in-law, the Earl of Leicester. This romance fits in nicely with the plans of de Vac, who contrives situations for the king to be responsible for killing his own son. The obvious comparison for "The Outlaw of Torn" is with Robin Hood, but Burroughs' pulp novel has its own tale to tell. This is one of his best novels and as an example of the pulp fiction of the early 20th century it is a first-class work. Courtesy: Lawrance M. Bernabo
	Concerning Hades by Flavius Josephus The historian Falvius Josephus discusses, in this brief work, the difference between the classical version of Hell as envisioned by the Greeks and the reality of Hell as he himself sees it. Presented in eight brief chapters Josephus clarity of thought is evident.
	Now It Can Be Told by Philip Gibbs Here is Gibbs first hand account of the World War I on the western front, He speaks of the tragidy of war and of this war in particular. As Mr Gibbs says, " The purpose of this book is to get deeper into the truth of this war and of all war--not by a more detailed narrative of events, but rather as the truth was revealed to the minds of men, in many aspects, out of their experience; and by a plain statement of realities, however painful, to add something to the world's knowledge out of which men of good-will may try to shape some new system of relationship between one people and another, some new code of international morality, preventing or at least postponing another massacre of youth like that five years' sacrifice of boys of which I was a witness."
	The Barrel Organ by Alfred Noyes      Go down to Kew in lilac time; in lilac time; in lilac time;      Go down to Kew in lilac time; (it isn't far from London!)      And you shall wander hand in hand with love in summer's wonderland;      Go down to Kew in lilac time; (it isn't far from London!) This haunting and lilting refrain sets the scene and pace for Alfred Noyes lovely poem The Barrel Organ. As you read it you will feel as though you are floating over the place and can actually smell the lilacs.
	The Story Of The Glittering Plain by William Morris The Glittering Plain was the first of Morris's great fantasies, published in 1891, and it set the style for such later works as The Wood Beyond the World, The Well at World's End, and The Water of the Wondrous Isles. Morris had perfected the genre by the time he wrote The Glittering Plain. His pseudo-mediaeval prose style is at its most enchanting, while the story keeps the reader enthralled throughout the volume. Morris established several of the hallmarks of heroic fantasy by creating a quasi-medieval setting for his tale and devising a simple, believable framework for magic to work. Here in The Story of the Glittering Plain he pitted his chivalric knights against supernatural forces. Much of Morris' success is in communicating his own pleasure in these narratives to the reader; and the indefiniteness of place and time in which they are set, contrasted with the extreme definiteness of their imaginary topography, gives them the vivid charm of fairy-tale. His mind still ran upon the northern epic, and the scenes and personages of the first three of these romances, so far as they belong to any country at all, belong to the remote north of Europe.
	The Fifteen Decisive Battles Of The World by Sir Edward Creasy, M.A. A 150-year-old classic account of famous battles of the past 2,300 years that fundamentally changed the course of world history. Battles under discussion include the battle of Marathon, the victory of Arminius over the Roman legions under Varus, the battle of Hastings, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the battle of Waterloo. Depending on your point of view this book is either biased to the British way of military thinking, or is the place to start your collection. Either way it is a definitive book.
	Swallow by H. Rider Haggard Over twenty years have passed since we found some unique opportunities of observing Boer and Kaffir character in company; therefore it is not perhaps out of place that I should ask you to allow me to put your name upon a book which deals more or less with the peculiarities of those races--a tale of the great Trek of 1836. H. Ryder Haggard
	Human Nature by Herbert N. Casson I would say that it is a book written with a very good common sense approach to the subject of human nature, it is very clear and simple, and easy to understand. I think that the ideas in this book are as valuable to day as they were when it was written. And I liked it so much that I typed it for my friends. Courtesy: Antonio Antonio sent me a copy of the book after he typed it. Many thanks!
	Songs Before Sunrise by Algernon Charles Swinburne Swinburne is now recognized as one of England's greatest poets and critics, and as one of the greatest parodists of all time. His intoxicating poetry, whether in English, French, Latin or Greek, is characterized by aggressive alliteration, driving anapaestic rhythms, and a defiance of restraint and convention. His main themes are liberty, the relationship between pleasure and pain, and the psychology of sexual passion. He was pagan in his sympathies and fervently anti-theistic: "Thou hast conquered, O pale Galilean, the world has grown grey from thy breath" (from "Hymn to Proserpine"). Songs Before Sunrise is a book of poetry dealing with political and religious liberty. Try as I might, I can not find where the author's name is misspelled in the document files. As a result the current version of this eBook has the author's name spelled incorrectly on the title page. My apologies.
	A Village Stradivarius by Kate Douglas Wiggin The man in the doorway smiled as over the misdemeanour of somebody very dear and lovable, and rising from his chair felt his way to a corner shelf, took down a box, and drew from it a violin swathed in a silk bag. He removed the covering with reverential hands. The tenderness of his face was like that of a young mother dressing or undressing her child. As he fingered the instrument his hands seemed to have become all eyes. They wandered caressingly over the polished surface as if enamoured of the perfect thing that they had created, lingering here and there with rapturous tenderness on some special beauty— the graceful arch of the neck, the melting curves of the cheeks, the delicious swell of the breasts. When he had satisfied himself for the moment, he took the bow, and lifting the violin under his chin, inclined his head fondly toward it and began to play.
	The Valley Of The Moon by Jack London Against a backdrop of the deadly struggles of organized labor in turn-of-the-century California, Jack London created an odyssey of two young lovers who pursue their dream of returning to the roots of their American pioneer ancestors. This book was originally written as a serial for Cosmopolitan magazine, and is reprinted in sections representing each issue. It is wonderfully illustrated by Howard Christy. Despite the xenophobia (quite common in the era), the book presents two compelling protagonists, and follows them in a struggle against union-busting bosses, poverty, and nature. The pages fly by.
	Pandora by Henry James Meet Count Otto Vogelstein an intelligent young German. And meet Pandora Day, a lovely, young, strong young American. Both are on a voyage from Southampton. Both are on their own voyages to discovery and the future. But what does that future hold for each, and how are they intertwined? Or are tehy?
	The Grand Canyon Of Arizona by George Wharton James Written over one hundred years ago this book is a trravelogue of the Grand Canyon. Quaint, but interesting, it takes you through all the steps necessary for visiting this natural wonder. All in all this is a nice read. Don't try contacting the agencies metioned in the text; none of the have zip codes!
	Organic Gardeners Composting by Steve Solomon If you are interested in gardening then you should be interested in composting. Here is everything you ever wanted to know about composting. This book is enlightening and educational and fun to read. Before you turn a spade of soil you should read this book. Note: This book uses a number of tables. It is possible that early versions of Microsoft Reader will not display them properly, or at all.
	Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters Masters has written not fables, but the essence of American life. He hasn't captured the life and times of 1915, but has instead recorded in 1915 the life and times of our present day America. The same reason the paintings of Norman Rockwell makes sense is why Edgar Lee Masters poetry makes sense. To read the quick messages on the gravestone of one man, learning a little bit him, and something about a neighbor or two, we can learn a little about how we live in communities today. Our lives, like Jimmy Stewart's character in "It's a Wonderful Life" found out, interact and impact everyone we meet. Who we love, who we should love and who we reject. And when we die, others feel the loss. Masters has aptly put this in a humorous, yet insightful way into short verses. The poems don't rhyme. The meter is not solid, and the poetics aren't intricate. They aren't poems like Poe's or Dickinson, not in the way they wrote American poems. Don't expect iambic pentameter-based sonnets or villanelles. Expect a conversation, and listen in. The poetry here is in the subtle use of social nuance. In the nuances are his insight and wit. Two readings will bring to light what you miss in the first. Download this book, read it slow. It reads faster than most poetry books, but don't get caught in the temptation to zoom through each poem just because you can. After you read it, see the play if it happens to be performed in your town. Courtesy: Anthony Trendl
	The Original Peter Rabbit Books by Beatrix Potter These are the stories that we all thought we knew. But in re-reading them we find that our selective memory has dimmed and things are not as we remember. Whether they are printed on paper, or are stored on our Pocket PC, sometimes it is good to return the stories of our childhood. But as I say with all children's books, don't give the book to your child to read, but read this book to your child. And discuss what you have read. Look at the dedication on the esspc home page and then read these stories to your child. You'll be glad you did.
	Antonina, or the Fall of Rome by Wilkie Collins In preparing to compose a fiction founded on history, the writer of these pages thought it no necessary requisite of such a work that the principal characters appearing in it should be drawn from the historical personages of the period. On the contrary, he felt that some very weighty objections attached to this plan of composition. He knew well that it obliged a writer to add largely from invention to what was actually known--to fill in with the colouring of romantic fancy the bare outline of historic fact--and thus to place the novelist's fiction in what he could not but consider most unfavourable contrast to the historian's truth. He was further by no means convinced that any story in which historical characters supplied the main agents, could be preserved in its fit unity of design and restrained within its due limits of development, without some falsification or confusion of historical dates--a species of poetical licence of which he felt no disposition to avail himself, as it was his main anxiety to make his plot invariably arise and proceed out of the great events of the era exactly in the order in which they occurred.      Influenced, therefore, by these considerations, he thought that by forming all his principal characters from imagination, he should be able to mould them as he pleased to the main necessities of the story; to display them, without any impropriety, as influenced in whatever manner appeared most strikingly interesting by its minor incidents; and further, to make them, on all occasions, without trammel or hindrance, the practical exponents of the spirit of the age, of all the various historical illustrations of the period, which the Author's researches among conflicting but equally important authorities had enabled him to garner up, while, at the same time, the appearance of verisimilitude necessary to an historical romance might, he imagined, be successfully preserved by the occasional introduction of the living characters of the era, in those portions of the plot comprising events with which they had been remarkably connected.
	Legends Of Babylon And Egypt by Leonard W. King Leonard W. King does a remarkable job in comparing the legends from the middle east (Sumeria, Babylon, Egypt and Mesopotamia) with the scriptures in the Judaio/Christian Bible. The parallels are remarkable, from the story of the creation through the flood and beyond. As a comparative history this is well worth reading, and just as well worth reading for the educational value.
	The Profits Of Religion by Upton Sinclair I won't pretend to tell you that I have read and enjoyed this entire book. There are some things about Upton Sinclair and his writings that just rub the wrong way. Never the less this book is a must read simply because of the tenor of the wold religions of the present day. All religions can not possibly be right and it seems that too many religions lean too far to meet the ends of their own means. Whether we are of Islam, Christian or Jewish background it matters little if we keep our faith and do it faithfully. But when politics, ideology and money get in the way all of humanity is in for a hard ride. Not trying to preach (though I am a minister in the United Church of Christ) it is apparent that it is not the basis of human faith that drives some of organized religion but the politics and dollars surrounding us that drive human religion. Be it the selling of indulgences in the time of Luther and Zwingly, or the insanity of killing innocents in the name of the most holy (Allah, God) in the Crusades, the Inquisition, or on September 11, 2001, it is still wrong! Sometimes "faith" takes a back seat to expediency and profit. Upton Sinclair takes us on a trip through the history and background of religion and shows how it has been bastardized in many ways. The book is not an easy or comfortable read, but it does point out things that some would rather remain hidden. Read this book and then judge for yourself.
	The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson War, treachery, disguise, secret passages, shipwrecks, damsels in distress -- an amazing amount gets packed into this not-very-long book. Great fun, but the pseudo-fifteenth-century dialog ("Sirs, this knave arrow likes me not. But it importeth rather to take counsel.") will prove an unfortunate obstacle to the very readers who would otherwise enjoy the story most, the young. The Black Arrow seems to me to be one of the most underrated books I have ever seen. It is one of the very few works of Stevenson and probably one of the best. It is an excellent mix of romance, drama and action, and is guaranteed to hold your interest. It is Stevensons only work in the field of Romance/Drama and is a work to rival such classics as The Three Musketeers and The Man in the Iron Mask. The language has a slight archaic ring to it which is, after reading the foreword by Stevenson, realized to be quite deliberate. A must read.
	Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini It begins with the throwing of a glass of wine into the face of a geneleman. And it ends... If you've read at least one Rafael Sabatini book you already know how it ends. If you haven't, then read this book. There is never a dull moment in this tale of swashbuckling romance. Sabatini's dry wit flashes through from the first page to the last. Revel in it, this book is a keeper.
	Iron Workers and Tool Makers by Samuel Smiles The Author offers the following book as a continuation, in a more generally accessible form, of the Series of Memoirs of Industrial Men introduced in his Lives of the Engineers. While preparing that work he frequently came across the tracks of celebrated inventors, mechanics, and iron-workers— the founders, in a great measure, of the modern industry of Britain— whose labours seemed to him well worthy of being traced out and placed on record, and the more so as their lives presented many points of curious and original interest. Having been encouraged to prosecute the subject by offers of assistance from some of the most eminent living mechanical engineers, he is now enabled to present the following further series of memoirs to the public.
	The Son Of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs If you liked Edgar Rice Burrough's first novel, chances are you'll like the fourth of the series. Tarzan's son finds himself somewhat in his father's shoes, although their situations are reversed; Jack Greystoke starts a civilized English boy before circumstances force him to become an African tree-swinger like his father before him. Although the plot may feel familiar, the adventures are still exciting, and this is one of the last Tarzan books really worth reading, since it still contains continuity from the preceding novels (Burroughs went to a much more discontinuous adventure style later in the series). If only to hear Tarzan lecture his son on the evils of jungle life, Son of Tarzan is worth reading. It's deja vu all over again, but worth the trip.
	Shot In The Dark by Cara Swann A poor young mother struggles to survive as a con artist, but wants to get out of the life for the sake of her daughter. She plans one last big heist of an armored car with a recently paroled ex-con, but their scheme goes awry when her former drug addict boyfriend escapes prison and abducts the child. Copyright © 2000 Cara Swan
	The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman, Jr. On April 28, 1846, Francis Parkman, who had already decided that he was going to write the history of the settling of America, and Quincy Adams Shaw set forth from St. Louis up the Missouri River for a "tour of curiosity and amusement to the Rocky Mountains." They traveled some 1700 miles, meeting trappers, gamblers, woodsmen, soldiers and Indians and Parkman eventually spent three weeks hunting buffalo with a band of Oglala Sioux. The following year he published this travelogue which remains one of the great books ever produced by an American and embarked him on a career as one of Americaís first great historians.
	Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe As a boy growing up in 17th Century England, all Robinson Crusoe wanted to do was be a sailor. His parents tried to dissuade him -- it was a dangerous occupation, and certainly a middle class child like him could find a calling much safer and more comfortable. Naturally, he didn't listen, and essentially ran away from home, finding opportunities to sail on a few ships and encountering a few dangers until he finally reached Brazil, bought a plantation, and looked forward to that comfortable life of prosperity his parents said would be his if he'd only use his head. But Crusoe is one to push fate. He embarks on a ship bound for Africa to collect slaves, and during a storm in the Caribbean Sea, the ship is wrecked and the crew drowned except for Crusoe, who manages to swim to the shore of a deserted island. Unable to get back to civilization, he salvages as many goods as he can from the wrecked ship and resolves to survive as long as possible in this new, unwelcome habitat. Crusoe's resourcefulness is astounding. He builds a sophisticated hut/tent/cave complex to live in, hunts goats and fowl, harvests fruit, and figures out how to grow barley, rice, and corn, bake bread, and make earthenware vessels. After living this way for nearly two peaceful decades, Crusoe discovers that savages from a distant island are using his island for their cannibal feasts. He manages to save the life of one of their potential victims, a savage he names Friday, who becomes his faithful servant. With Friday's help, Crusoe realizes he now has a chance to escape the island once and for all and get back to civilization, although his plans don't proceed quite as he envisioned them. "Robinson Crusoe" is a neatly woven adventure yarn, but under the surface there are several themes. The most apparent is that the novel seems like a morality tale -- i.e., hard work and faith in God will see you through bad times; virtue is rewarded and arrogance is punished. Another theme is that although nature can be a cruel foe, man is better off learning to work in harmony with it than struggling against it. Most interesting to me, though, is that reading about Crusoe's self-education in the art of survival is like witnessing the anthropological process of how civilization developed from savagery.
	The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James The Turn Of The Screw is a complex exploration of human psychology and the nature of perception. The central question is, are the heroine's perceptions "real" or the product of hysterical imagination? James does not tell us definitively, but leaves us to ponder which we believe to be true - and whether there's ever a clear difference. The Victorian language only adds to the atmosphere of a tale redolent with Freudian possibility. The book must have been quite shocking to its initial audience, and within this context, it still is a shocker. Read this book and focus on the psychological aspects, and you'll likely have a good time.
	Dope by Sax Rohmer This novel may have been prompted in part by the death of Billie Carleton, a London showgirl, who performed in the Armistice Victory Celebration at Albert Hall and died in her hotel room later that night of an overdose -- presumably opium obtained in Limehouse. The incident led to an official five year long investigation of Chinatown's drug traffic and a new novel from Sax Rohmer which the dustjacket proclaimed to be "based upon actual conditions as they existed in London." Rohmer explicitly denies that Dope was based on the Carleton case. He claims the story was 'on the stocks' before the case became public. Courtesy: Robert E. Briney
	The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins Wilkie Collins, who wrote such landmark (and lengthy) mysteries as "The Moonstone" and "The Woman in White," has a very short effort, too. "The Haunted Hotel" is that effort. As mysteries go, this one is rather understated, though one must make allowances for the fact that it was written in 1878, long before Christie, Carr, and others gave the genre a more definite shape. (One must also make allowances for the sexism contained in the book lest one hurl the book at the nearest wall, window, or other suitable repository.) The story begins when a man and woman become engaged. Sadly, though, he was already engaged. His first fiancee very graciously bows out, and the man marries his second fiancee. They head to Venice, where their stay in a castle is marked by mystery. A maid quits. A porter then disappears without a trace. Finally, the man dies. All of these events lead toward a series of coincidences that draws the many characters together for a final revelation. The story, though, is more a melodrama than a mystery. Indeed, the mystery is subverted for much of the story as the characters' lives overlap, collide, and generally run into each other. It is easy, amid this seeming chaos, to lose sight of the second fiancee, a fascinating character who is so dominated by her sense of fate and supernatural vengeance that she causes events for which she later blames Fate. Unfortunately, she is the most interesting character and is absent from too much of the story. She alone seems to break free of the rather confining roles imposed on the others by the times and the culture. In a longer book, her absences might be a source of great consternation, but the reader who pushes through the first 80 or so pages will be well rewarded in the last 50, where she reclaims center stage and where the mystery also comes to the fore.
	The Land Of The Changing Sun by William N. Harben Harben's The Land of the Changing Sun is a science fiction story telling of the adventures of balloonists who land in the Anarctic and of how they survived. This early period piece makes the usual number of misapprehensions and mistakes. Still it is an enjoyable yarn.
	Theodore Roosevelt An Intimate Biography by William Roscoe Thayer William Roscoe Thayer's Theodore Roosevelt An Intimate Biography is one of the better biographies of the most dynamic President of the United States. Roosevelt was a most interesting and powerful man. He published his first book (on the Navies in the War of 1812) when he was a freshman in college. He was a cow puncher and ranch owner while still in his 20s in the west. He pushed through the Panama Canal, understanding that the most powerful weapon that a nation was a mobile navy, a point that is still taken much to heart in the United States. Since The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt and Theodore Rex are still protected by copyright I can not publish them - though I do recommend them highly. But I can publish this excellent work. It will make an excellent addition to any library.
	The Aran Islands by John M. Synge The geography of the Aran Islands is very simple, yet it may need a word to itself. There are three islands: Aranmor, the north island, about nine miles long; Inishmaan, the middle island, about three miles and a half across, and nearly round in form; and the south island, Inishere—in Irish, east island,—like the middle island but slightly smaller. They lie about thirty miles from Galway, up the centre of the bay, but they are not far from the cliffs of County Clare, on the south, or the corner of Connemara on the north.      Kilronan, the principal village on Aranmor, has been so much changed by the fishing industry, developed there by the Congested Districts Board, that it has now very little to distinguish it from any fishing village on the west coast of Ireland. The other islands are more primitive, but even on them many changes are being made, that it was not worth while to deal with in the text.      In the pages that follow I have given a direct account of my life on the islands, and of what I met with among them, inventing nothing, and changing nothing that is essential. As far as possible, however, I have disguised the identity of the people I speak of, by making changes in their names, and in the letters I quote, and by altering some local and family relationships. I have had nothing to say about them that was not wholly in their favour, but I have made this disguise to keep them from ever feeling that a too direct use had been made of their kindness, and friendship, for which I am more grateful than it is easy to say.
	Wild Justice by Ruth M. Sprague Copyright © 1993 Ruth M. Sprague The court and the EEOC said sex discrimination! Belmont U. terminated her anyway! Belmont University had always looked upon faculty misdeeds such as child molestation, sexual harassment or record falsification with a tolerant if not blind eye. Strange then that the entire administration mobilized to aim its big guns at Professor Diana Trenchant-or was it?      The inner workings of administrative jingoism are exposed as a popular teacher is given a termination hearing where the presiding officer is the accuser, the prosecutor and the judge, and the testimony in her defense is ignored. "Wild Justice chronicles the outrages of one woman's experience with an engaging mix of humor and indignation. The use of fictitious names underscores how the problems are systemic and not merely rooted in the particular persons involved in this `witch hunt'. I hope it will be widely read- both for its own sake and to encourage the kind of struggle that redirects higher education to serve the people and social justice, however wild!"      Professor Willard Miller, University of Vermont.
	Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs Although Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote many stories about societies of the distant future or past, peopled with anything from prehistoric creatures to aliens, I believe that this is the best representation of his talent for writing fast paced, fun to read science fiction. Although he did not have the advantage modern authors do of capitalizing on recent scientific advances for story material, he draws the reader in, especially in this book, with his ability to create a world of wild imagination and make the reader feel like they are part of the action. This is the book which made me an avid Burroughs fan and encouraged me to read the Mars, Tarzan (and other Pellucidar novels) in their entirety.
	A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthurs Court by Mark Twain You might wonder what prompted Mark Twain to sidle from "straight" fiction into the realm of outright fantasy. Twain transports a Connecticut shop foreman twelve centuries into the past [and 5 000 kilometres!] to Camelot and Arthur's court. Initially confused and dismayed, Hank Morgan's Yankee practicality is quickly aroused and he becomes a major figure among the panopolied knights. With the title of The Boss, his rank equals The King or The Pope with its uniqueness. His elevation doesn't distract him from a more profound impulse, however. Hank's Yankee roots and wide experience evoke an ambition - nothing less than revolution. He wants to sweep away the monarchy and aristocracy and establish an American-style republic in Arthurian Britain. Mark Twain's scathing criticism of the sham of hereditary monarchy bolstered by an Established Church makes this among his choicest writings. He resents the condition of a Church which "turned a nation of men into a nation of worms." A fervent believer in individual freedom, Twain uses Hank to voice his disdain of Britain's royalty. It's no more than might be expected of a man who boasted of but one ancestor - who sat on the jury that executed Charles I. Hank knows revolutions never succeed when implemented from above. Revolution be achieved only when the individual's attitude changes from meek acceptance to self assertion. Hank's method reaches people through clandestine schools and factories, publication of a newspaper and establishment of a telephone system. These new forms of manufacture and communication become the foundation by which Hank expects to abolish the ancient, mis-named, chivalric tradition. Does he change the course of history? Twain relocates the roots of American democracy from the heart of the frontier yeoman farmer to the brain of the urban industrial worker. Here the man of wide, practical experience shows how to survive compared to those with a formal education. Hank has a simple ambition - establishment of a republic - but utilizes a broad spectrum of ideas to bring it about. He would gladly replace the Established Church of Rome with his own Presbyterian ideals, but is aware that it would be swapping one evil for another. "Each man should select his own religion, or make one" he contends. Yet, finally, it is this dread force that impairs his desire for change. The final sequence stands as a peer to the biblical Armageddon, Twain wallowing in a frightful bloodletting unseen in any of his other works. Mark Twain contrasts the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution with the centuries of slavery, serfdom, and poverty that killed countless more people than that spasm of excising of aristocracy. What else spurred him to write of human rights with such passion? He had written of slavery before, but this book is especially wrathful in describing the "peculiar institution" eliminated in his homeland but a generation before. He forces the king to experience the slave's condition, a form of degradation he would have all aristocrats endure. Every feature of the human condition is examined in this timeless treasure. He challenges you to follow his gaze, considering whether today's societies, monarchical or not, will endure the scrutiny.
	Nostromo by Joseph Conrad Nostromo contains some of the most vividly realized characterization, plot, and sensory detail of any novel ever written in the English language, period. While the "eponymous" character remains purposefully enigmatic, the other inhabitants of Costaguena are stereoscopically fleshed out. We are on intimate terms with the Goulds. We know Decoud's innermost thoughts. It's true that Decoud is the central character of this novel. His isolation and mental defragmentation is Conrad's arguement for and refuation of existentialism. We are all islands, yet no man is in island. Take your pick. This is a very large piece of fiction. Do not approch it as you would some best seller. It's not going to entertain you on every page. What it will do is reward you in riches that can never come cheaply. Yet it is not like Finnegan's Wake, where you have to have your Boedekker's guide to see you along your journey. It's also a great adventure story, with a larger than life hero. If I could suggest one book to represent the most finely crafted novel of its era, this would be it. Courtesy: Bruce Kendall
	The Valets Tragedy by Andrew Lang Andrew Lang, well known for his fairy stories and fantasy moves here into history. In this book you will find the true stories of the Man In The Iron Mask, the Mystery of Edmund Berry Godfrey and the story of the False Jeanne D'Arc, but you will also find the story of the continuing saga of whether Shakespeare was really Roiger Bacon. Read it and make up your own mind.
	The Red Mans Continent by Ellsworth Huntington In writing this book the author has aimed first to present in readable form the main facts about the geographical environment of American history. Many important facts have been omitted or have been touched upon only lightly because they are generally familiar. On the other hand, special stress has been laid on certain broad phases of geography which are comparatively unfamiliar. One of these is the similarity of form between the Old World and the New, and between North and South America; another is the distribution of indigenous types of vegetation in North America; and a third is the relation of climate to health and energy. In addition to these subjects, the influence of geographical conditions upon the life of the primitive Indians has been emphasized. This factor is especially important because people without iron tools and beasts of burden, and without any cereal crops except corn, must respond to their environment very differently from civilized people of today. Limits of space and the desire to make this book readable have led to the omission of the detailed proof of some of the conclusions here set forth. The special student will recognize such cases and will not judge them until he has read the author's fuller statements elsewhere. The general reader, for whom this book is designed, will be thankful for the omission of such purely technical details.
	Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley An interesting first book for a renowned author. Crome Yellow is a wonderful introduction to Huxley's story-telling talents. The scenes were so meticulously laid out I felt I was watching a movie in my head. Crome was also a wonderful introduction to Huxley's knack for detailed characters. His writing style pulls you into the characters and the world of the book. Crome was a fabulous exploration of human sexual desire. The yearning, the attempts, the exploits, even the destruction of a man. All who have ever desired another can certainly relate to this one.
	Zen and the Art of the Internet by Brendan P. Kehoe This copyright book is a classic. Written in 1992 it still is the definitive volume on the Internet and what makes it tick. Of course there isn't a lot about browsers, web sites and the rest, but it does lay a strong foundation for anyone who wants to know how the Internet works and how to use it more effectively. Even the jaded pro may find a few gems in this work.
	Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray Meet Redmond Barry, the proud offshoot of a boozy clan. A handsome Irish upstart, he aspires to the rank of gentleman. He duels, drinks, spies, deserts (from two armies), gambles, cheats, lies and chases every skirt - all with impeccable honor, to hear him tell it. Young Barry is never more gallant than in pursuit of Lady Lyndon, most sought-after heiress in England. And what lady could refuse her hand - and money - to so magnetic a charmet. But great rank and wealth - so boldly won, so gloriously squandered - are not to last. Barry Lyndon must yet face the loss of his fortune, the revolt of his stepson, the collapse of his marriage, the death of a beloved child...
	Memoirs Of Extraordinary Popular Delusions by Charles Mackay In reading the history of nations, we find that, like individuals, they have their whims and their peculiarities; their seasons of excitement and recklessness, when they care not what they do. We find that whole communities suddenly fix their minds upon one object, and go mad in its pursuit; that millions of people become simultaneously impressed with one delusion, and run after it, till their attention is caught by some new folly more captivating than the first. We see one nation suddenly seized, from its highest to its lowest members, with a fierce desire of military glory; another as suddenly becoming crazed upon a religious scruple, and neither of them recovering its senses until it has shed rivers of blood and sowed a harvest of groans and tears, to be reaped by its posterity. At an early age in the annals of Europe its population lost their wits about the Sepulchre of Jesus, and crowded in frenzied multitudes to the Holy Land: another age went mad for fear of the Devil, and offered up hundreds of thousands of victims to the delusion of witchcraft. At another time, the many became crazed on the subject of the Philosopher's Stone, and committed follies till then unheard of in the pursuit. It was once thought a venial offence in very many countries of Europe to destroy an enemy by slow poison. Persons who would have revolted at the idea of stabbing a man to the heart, drugged his pottage without scruple. Ladies of gentle birth and manners caught the contagion of murder, until poisoning, under their auspices, became quite fashionable. Some delusions, though notorious to all the world, have subsisted for ages, flourishing as widely among civilized and polished nations as among the early barbarians with whom they originated, -- that of duelling, for instance, and the belief in omens and divination of the future, which seem to defy the progress of knowledge to eradicate entirely from the popular mind. Money, again, has often been a cause of the delusion of multitudes. Sober nations have all at once become desperate gamblers, and risked almost their existence upon the turn of a piece of paper. To trace the history of the most prominent of these delusions is the object of the present pages. Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.
	The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Andrew Lang wrote - or should we say compiled - eight "Fairy Books". Each is known by a different color. This is the Blue Fairy Book. In this volume you will find stories ranging from Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, to Why the Sea is Salt. It also includes the story of Goldilocks, Red Ridinghood, Beauty and The Beast as well as many more children's classics. Read this book for yourself, but read it to your kids as well.
	The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope "The Prisoner of Zenda" is something of a rarity: a Victorian adventure novel that is as fresh and entertaining to read in this modern jaded age as it was in 1894. If you've ever seen one of the many movie adaptations you already know the story: Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishman vacationing in the tiny European country of Ruritania, meets and befriends the soon-to-be-crowned King Rudolf--his exact and identical double. When the King is kidnapped by the dastardly Black Michael, Rassendyll must impersonate the King in the coronation ceremony...and in the heart of the Queen. Hope's handling of the romance between Rassendyll and Queen Flavia is both a daring and romantic love story and a subtle examination of the meaning of honor and duty to a gentleman. Of course there's plenty of swordplay and derring-do along the way . If Tom Clancy was writing this one, there'd be nuclear weapons instead of swords and email instead of telegrams, but even he couldn't pull off the simple but subtle romantic story and the triumphant but poignant ending. Courtesy: John DiBello
	The Young Forester by Zane Grey Meet Ken, a young man who seems to be more interested in trees than anything else. In his own words he educates his father, "First I'd cut and sell all the matured and dead timber. Then I'd thin out the spreading trees that want all the light, and the saplings that grow too close together. I'd get rid of the beetles, and try to check the spread of caterpillars. For trees grow twice as fast if they are not choked or diseased. Then I'd keep planting seeds and shoots in the open places, taking care to favor the species best adapted to the soil, and cutting those that don't grow well. In this way we'll be keeping our forest while doubling its growth and value, and having a yearly income from it." From this simple statement Ken's future hinges. And he gets his desire, more or less, to spend time with his father's frind Dick Leslie, and to learn the ways of the west as a fire ranger.
	The Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton, volume 2 by Edith Wharton Edit Wharton, well known for her novels was also a writer of short fiction and of verse. Here in this volume you will find both. Everything from A Venetian Night's Entertainment to Botticelli's Madonna In The Louvre. In the story Xingu you will meet the ladies of the Lunch club, and their distinguished guests. Here you will meet the Spirit of Life who asks quesitions and provides the ultimate answer. Or is it?
	Across The Plains by Robert Lewis Stevenson Robert Lewis Stevenson is known for his works such as "Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde", "Treasure Island" and more adventurous books. But he was also a prolific writer of books on travel. Here we read of his experience as he trveled through out the western United States. This is an enjoyable read and will tell you something about the author.
	The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang In continuing with Andrew Lang's series of fairy books we pick up with the Crimson Fairy Book. Here you will meet the Lovely Ilonka, who was intended to be the bride of a prince until evil intervened. Or you can read the story of Peter, who received as his wages only a nut. But what was he to do with it? Read this story and you will see. All in all this is a book that you will enjoy, but please don't forget the children, for that's why it was written.
	Tarzan The Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs Lieutenant Obergatz had fled in terror from the seeking vengeance of Tarzan of the Apes. And with him, by force, he had taken Tarzan's beloved mate, Jane. Now the ape-man was following the faint spoor of their flight, into a region no man had ever penetrated. The trail led across seemingly impassable marshes into Pal-ul-don -- a savage land where primitive Waz-don and Ho-don fought fiercely, wielding knives with their long, prehensile tails -- and where mighty triceratops still survived from the dim dawn of time . . . And far behind, relentlessly pursuing, came Korak the Killer. NOTE This book contains a glosasary at the end. Users of Microsoft Reader versin 1.x may not be able to access the glossary on the Pocket PC,
	Don Rodriguez: Chronicles Of Shadow Valley by Lord Dunsany Lord Dunsany's first novel, "Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley conveys its young disinherited protagonist through a fantasized Spain, gifting him with a Sancho Panza companion, good luck with magicians, and a castle" [The Encyclopedia of Fantasy]. It is a landmark tale for Dunsany, beginning his move from the otherworldly short stories for which his reputation is justly famous to novels, such as the follow-up The King of Elfland's Daughter and The Charwoman's Shadow. L. Sprague de Camp has said: "Dunsany was the second writer (William Morris in the 1880s being the first) fully to exploit the possibilities of . . . adventurous fantasy laid in imaginary lands, with gods, witches, spirits, and magic, like children?
	Flappers And Philosophers by F. Scott Fitzgerald Fitzgerald's first anthology contains eight stories of jazz-age youth, those whom the author called "romantic egoists." Notably present—the still popular "Bernice Bobs Her Hair," the superbly written "Ice Palace," and "The Off-Shore Pirate. Fitzgerald can paint a story onto the pages of his novels so well. His detailed descriptions give the reader the feeling of being there.He has defined the Jazz Age as no one else can. This book really takes its readers to another time.
	The Skin Game by John Galsworthy A Tragi-Comedy in three acts. A rich family, the Hillcrests, is fighting against the speculator, Hornblower, who sends away poor farmers to build factories on their lands. When Mrs. Hillcrest finds out that Chloe Hornblower was a prostitute, she uses this secret to blackmail the speculator and force him to stop his business.
	Stories From The Old Attic by Robert Harris This delightful book will be a treasure to be cherished and to be read time after time. It is composed of vignettes, parables, and very short stories. Most - but not all - have a moral. the reader will meet him or herself over and over and yet will laugh or smile at what is read. Sometimes a story will go straight to the heart but not cause pain, but introspection. This is a book that makes the reader tink and laugh - both at the same time. Copyright 1992 by Robert Harris
	Black Beauty by Anna Sewell In a story that takes place in 19th century England, a gorgeous glossy black colt, who comes to be known as Black Beauty, is born into a life of comfort and kindness. His life is a kind of horsey paradise, until the fortunes of his owners turn...and Black Beauty is sold. Sold to a cruel owner as a cab horse, Beauty is now treated as so many hapless animals were in his day...he is virtually tortured. He is in constant pain. His knees are sore. He is made to wear a "check rein," a device that no longer exists It was a type of rein that forced the horse to keep his head up extremely high at an unnatural angle, the more to look "elegant." The pain that this rein inflicts upon Beauty is heartbreaking. Along the way, Beauty meets other horses, and keeps a lifelong friend, Ginger, who also suffers. Everything comes out alright in the end, in a story that is so tender and yet meaningful at the same time, that it is a shame it is relegated by reputation to the backwaters of so-called "children's literature." It was pure muckracking, in the style of the great American muckrakers who came shortly thereafter. If you have a particularly sensitive or thoughtful child, please warn him or her that Black Beauty is mistreated in the story, but that because of the book, and others like it, such mistreatment of animals no longer exists. And then let your child enjoy the sheer wealth of detail in what really is, in the end, a beautiful story. Courtesy: Calyndula
	By The Ionian Sea by George Gissing This book is a travelogue of southern Italy. It brings to life places that we may have never heard of as well as places that do have meaning to us. Written after the turn of the century it is a bit "old" but never the less an enjoyable read.
	The Human Drift by Jack London Jack London tells stories in this book that are both fiction and non fiction. As there are drifts in the seas of the world, as he explains in the first story, there are also drifts in humanity. And as we drift we perceive changes in the world. If we look closely we will perceive changes in our selves. Here, then, are stories of the Human Drift, by Jack London.
	The Lilac Fairy Book by Andrew Lang In continuing with Andrew Lang's series of fairy books we continue with the Liliac Fairy Book. Here you will meet Lars, but because he was so little he was called Little Lasse. He builds a fleet of boats - er ships - from pea pods. You will also meet the girl with one hand. It is a sad and tragic tale with a happy ending. Children will love it. And in between you will find more wonderful stories that Lang has collected. All in all this is a book that you will enjoy, but please don't forget the children, for that's why it was written.
	Benita: An African Romance by H. Rider Haggard Haggard believes that the basis of this story is true, though he can not prove it. The basis is tor story of buried treasure, adventure, romance, danger and the suernatural. Putting all those ingredients together will insure another page turning adventure.
	The Frozen Deep by Wilkie Collins The date is between twenty and thirty years ago. The place is an English sea-port. The time is night. And the business of the moment is--dancing. The Mayor and Corporation of the town are giving a grand ball, in celebration of the departure of an Arctic expedition from their port. The ships of the expedition are two in number--the Wanderer and the Sea-mew. They are to sail (in search of the Northwest Passage) on the next day, with the morning tide. Honor to the Mayor and Corporation! It is a brilliant ball. The band is complete. The room is spacious. The large conservatory opening out of it is pleasantly lighted with Chinese lanterns, and beautifully decorated with shrubs and flowers. All officers of the army and navy who are present wear their uniforms in honor of the occasion. Among the ladies, the display of dresses (a subject which the men don't understand) is bewildering--and the average of beauty (a subject which the men do understand) is the highest average attainable, in all parts of the room.
	Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne Someone must warn the Governor-General of Siberia at once: Ivan Ogareff has allied himself with the fierce and ambitious Feofar-Khan. At their instigation, the Tartar chiefs are pouring their men into Siberia and fomenting rebellion. Should they succeed, the Siberian provinces will be wrestled away from Russian Imperial control. Only one of the Czar's couriers is capable of handling this dangerous mission--Michael Strogoff. Nothing except death will prevent Michael Strogoff from fulfilling his duties.
	The Orange Fairy Book by Andrew Lang In continuing with Andrew Lang's series of fairy books we continue with the Orange Fairy Book. In this book you will find The Ugly Duckling, a story we all know so well. Here, as well, are found stories such as The Owl and the Eagle - an unlikely pair who set out to find brides. Or the tale of the Stalos and how they were tricked. Thre are many wonderful stories in this volume and you will enjoy them all, but please don't forget the children, for that's why it was written.
	The Barrier by Rex Beach Many men were in debt to the trader at Flambeau, and many counted him as a friend. The latter never reasoned why, except that he had done them favors, and in the North that counts for much. Perhaps they built likewise upon the fact that he was ever the same to all, and that, in days of plenty or in times of famine, his store was open to every man, and all received the same measure. Nor did he raise his prices when the boats were late. They recalled one bleak and blustery autumn when the steamer sank at the Lower Ramparts, taking with her all their winter's food, how he eked out his scanty stock, dealing to each and every one his portion, month by month. They remembered well the bitter winter that followed, when the spectre of famine haunted their cabins, and when for endless periods they cinched their belts, and cursed and went hungry to sleep, accepting, day by day, the rations doled out to them by the grim, gray man at the log store. Some of them had money-belts weighted low with gold washed from the bars at Forty Mile, and there were others who had wandered in from the Koyukuk with the first frosts, foot sore and dragging, the legs of their skin boots eaten to the ankle, and the taste of dog meat still in their mouths. Broken and dispirited, these had fared as well through that desperate winter as their brothers from up-river, and received pound for pound of musty flour, strip for strip of rusty bacon, lump for lump of precious sugar. Moreover, the price of no single thing had risen throughout the famine.
	Christopher Columbus by Filson Young As children in America we all grow up knowing who Christopher Columbus was. It was he who "discovered" America - or at least the New World. Of course he wasn't trying to prove the world was round. that was already a pretty well accepted theory at that time. Instead he was seeking a short route to the Asian continent, encompassing what we today know as China, Viet Nam, Indonesia (The Dutch East Indies and more.) But, of course we all know what happened. But after that we really don't know much about what happened to Columbus. What little history we learn in elementary school is romanticized and does not go deeply into Columbus' life beyond the basics. Well at the turn of the century, Filson Young wrote an eight book biography of Columbus. A veryt ambitious project, and well worth the work. For example it was Young who grieved deeply at the state of the Admiral's mental health and lamented about the "Libro de las profecias," Good Heavens! In what an entirely dark and sordid stupor is our Christopher now sunk--a veritable slough and quag of stupor out of which, if he does not manage to flounder himself, no human hand can pull him. Now here in one volume is everything you ever wanted to know about christopher and a whole lot more. You may be surprised!
	Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan is returning to Opar, a forgotten city, with vaults filled with gold destined for the lost continent of Atlantis. Waiting for Tarzan is Lia, who had tried to sacrifice him on the altar of the Flaming God. Her priests are waiting for Tarzan's return and he is ready to meet them when an earthquake strikes. He is left in the vaults with nothing but his memory of the wild apes who raised him.
	The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Here in the Red Fairy Book you will find some familiar characters and stories - and some that are not at all familiar. Stories that you think you know may surprise you, such as the story we all know and love as "Snow White". Another is the Ratcatcher. But you will find familiar titles such as Jack and the Beanstalk or Rapunzel. But again, just because the titles are familiar don't assume that you know the stories. You will be surprised. And remember, it is worth reading many of these to your children.
	Wildfire by Zane Grey Saving the life of a man who was injured while capturing a wild horse, Lucy Bostil finds herself the object of Lin Slone's affections, until a rival for the lady's heart and Slone's horse seeks to destroy their happiness.
	The Time Machine by H.G. Wells The Time Machine is actually more of a novella than a novel it's a fun and fast paced read. The most surprising thing about the story is that it was written in the late 1800's and yet it reads like it could have been written in the present. The prose is crisp and direct and doesn't lose the reader. The ideas are even more impressive considering they are over 100 years old and still hold up better than many other time-travel books. It is a great adventure with a surprisingly sharp ending twist. The story surrounds the first-person narrative of a man who builds a time-machine and travels into the distant (800,000 AD) future where man has evolved into two races: the gentle Eloi and the hostile Morlocks. Beyond exciting adventure (trips into deep caverns, the loss of the time machine, battles in burning forests) the story does make general comments on the society we live in and how it may change around us...subtlely and dangerously.
	Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy At the beginning of the novel, Bathsheba Everdene is a beautiful young woman without a fortune. She meets Gabriel Oak , a young farmer, and saves his life one evening. He asks her to marry him, but she refuses because she does not love him. Upon inheriting her uncle's prosperous farm she moves away to the town of Weatherbury. A disaster befalls Gabriel's farm and he loses his sheep; he is forced to give up farming. He goes looking for work, and in his travels finds himself in Weatherbury. After rescuing a local farm from fire he asks the mistress if she needs a shepherd. It is Bathsheba, and she hires him. As Bathsheba learns to manage her farm she becomes acquainted with her neighbor, Mr. Boldwood, and on a whim sends him a valentine with the words "Marry me." Boldwood becomes obsessed with her and becomes her second suitor. Rich and handsome, he has been sought after by many women. Bathsheba refuses him because she does not love him, but she then agrees to reconsider her decision. That very night, Bathsheba meets a handsome soldier, Sergeant Troy. Unbeknownst to Bathsheba, he has recently impregnated a local girl, Fanny Robin, and almost married her. Troy falls in love with Bathsheba, enraging Boldwood. Bathsheba travels to Bath to warn Troy of Boldwood's anger, and while she is there, Troy convinces her to marry him. Gabriel has remained her friend throughout and does not approve of the marriage. A few weeks after his marriage to Bathsheba, Troy sees Fanny, poor and sick; she later dies giving birth to her child. Bathsheba discovers that Troy is the father. Grief-stricken at Fanny's death and riddled with shame, Troy runs away and is thought to have drowned. With Troy supposedly dead, Boldwood becomes more and more emphatic about Bathsheba marrying him. Troy sees Bathsheba at a fair and decides to return to her. Boldwood holds a Christmas, to which he invites Bathsheba and again proposes marriage; just after she has agreed, Troy arrives to claim her. Bathsheba screams, and Boldwood shoots Troy dead. He is sentenced to life in prison. A few months later, Bathsheba marries Gabriel, now a prosperous bailiff.
	A Journey To The Center Of The Earth by Jules Verne Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth is definitely a must read for science fiction aficionados and classic fiction lovers alike. Verne's sense of humor and incredible imagination make for a mostly credible, and quite enjoyable tale of a young man who accompanies his uncle on the journey of a lifetime. For the time in which it was written, it was groundbreaking in citing evolution. Darwin had only published his Origin of the Species 7 years prior to this novel's publication 1867. Verne embraces the theories presented in Origin of the Species, as well as drawing in other discoveries made in scientific circles of the time that support such theories. Verne also takes care to describe and explain many of the other scientific theories and ideas of the age presented in the book in such a way that he ensured Journey to the Center of the Earth will remain a classic for years to come. A wonderful work definitely worth a read. Note: There is some question regarding the validity of this translation. This translation is probably based on the British newspaper serial. The original French translation has the professor named Lidenbrock and not Hardwigg. Other names differ as well. The opening chapter is not the same as the original. Never the less it is a great read.
	Dangerous Days by Mary Roberts Rinehart The darkening storm of the first World War threatens to tear apart the lives of a group of friends. At the eye of the storm is Clayton Spencer, an ambitious businessman, who must risk everything to be with the woman he loves.
	The Music of Eric Zann by H.P. Lovecraft Of all the writers of the horror genre, none can come close to H.P. Lovecraft. This collection of tales is guaranteed to send more than a tingle down your spine. They might cause you to turn on a light before you go to bed. Do you know what lies Beyond The Walls Of Sleep? Do you want to know? Here are some of the best tales of horror for your reading pleasure. Just remember what I said about the light. Oh, you might also want to cover your ears. You don't want to know why Erich Zann played so madly all through the night.
	Where There's A Will by Mary Roberts Rinehart One of Mary Roberts Reinhart's great mysteries Where There's A Will brings the most interesting set of people together under the most interesting circumstances with surprising results. This one will keep you guessing.
	The Fathers of the Constitution by Max Farrand Here is a look at John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Ben Franklin and all the other men who forged the new nation of America. This is their story, their vision and their work. Without them and their work this world would be a different place today.
	The Gods Of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter remains the perfect Virginian gentleman, upon returning to his beloved Barsoom, respecting women, seeking no unfair advantage, while fighting plants, animals and multiple races of Martians. He must struggle to overcome them all, if he is to set free his beloved Dejah Thoris from a nested series of "Heavens within Heavens." If he wins, what will happen to religion on Mars? And If he loses...
	The Survivors Of The Chancellor by Jules Verne Mr. Kazallon thought that booking passage on a cargo ship from Charleston to Liverpool would be a charming way to return to his English homeland. If only he knew! A crazed sea captain, a disaster in the hold, storms, oppressive heat, sharks and starvation are just some of the many travails that will beset both passengers and crew. Will any of them survive the wreck of the Chancellor? Every disaster that could possibly happen to a ship and crew seems to be heaped upon these unhappy voyagers. Verne brings the characters through the depths of suffering, shame and agony as they struggle to survive each new calamity.