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The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) is a tragic novel by English author Thomas Hardy subtitled, The Life and Death of a Man of Character. It is set in the fictional town of Casterbridge (based on the town of Dorchester in Dorset). The book is one of Hardy's Wessex novels, all set in a fictional rustic England. (Wikipedia)A poor, disgruntled, drunken young man sells his wife and child to the highest bidder. When he awakens, sober, the next day he regrets his rash act and vows to give up drink and find his family and bring them home. Eventually he is forced to give up the search and move on with his life. He does this quite successfully until, nearly 20 years later, his past comes back to haunt him. (DebraLynn)...

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Literature, Fiction

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Being a Jew in Russia at the end of the 19th century was not easy at all. Jews were persecuted because of their religion. So the Jews found comfort in their ancient traditions. When Mary Antin's father decided that keeping to his traditions did not suit him anymore, he found no place in Russia. So he emigrated to America with his family. Life was not easy, though as a child, Mary describes life in Boston as almost perfect. A smart and dignified girl, Mary takes the good things in anything and writes her autobiography with a smile. When you listen to Bridget reading this wonderful book, you can almost feel Mary Antin's trials and joys. (Summary by Stav Nisser)...

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Biography

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The continuing story of Katy Carr, recounting the time she spent at boarding school with her sister Clover. (Summary by Karen Savage)

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Children, Teen/Young adult

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Perhaps Edgar Allen Poe's most famous poem, the Raven is a macabre exploration of a man, his memories of Lenore, and the black bird that interrupts his studies on a dark December night, with tap-tap-tapping at his chamber door. (Summary by Hugh)...

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Animals, Poetry

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Dimple, the nine-year-old little girl is accustomed to being always the first. She has Bubbles, a little coloured girl as playmate and servant. One day Dimple’s cousin, Florence comes to visit her and they have a wonderful time together. But then come the rainy days and the two children easily get bored in the house… and that’s how the adventures and troubles begin. (Summary by Diana Majlinger)...

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Children, Fiction

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Children's and Household Tales (German: Kinder- und Hausmärchen) is a collection of German origin fairy tales first published in 1812 by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the Brothers Grimm. The collection is commonly known today as Grimms' Fairy Tales (German: Grimms Märchen). ( Summary by Wikipedia )...

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Children, Fairy tales, Fiction, Fantasy, Teen/Young adult

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The timeless story of the Wizard Of Oz. Follow Dorothy as she leaves Kansas for Oz on a cyclone. She meets many strange, and wonderful people and creatures along the way. Enjoy it again with your children and family. L. Frank Baum's classic story that has made pop culture status. Summary by jhall...

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Children

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Excerpt: Towards the middle of the month of May, in the year 1660, at nine o?clock in the morning, when the sun, already high in the heavens, was fast absorbing the dew from the ramparts of the castle of Blois a little cavalcade, composed of three men and two pages, re-entered the city by the bridge, without producing any other effect upon the passengers of the quay beyond a first movement of the hand to the head, as a salute, and a second movement of the tongue to express, in the purest French then spoken in France: ?There is Monsieur returning from hunting.? And that was all....

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Excerpt: The Tragedie of Richard the Third with the Landing of Earle Richmond, and the Battell at Bosworth Field; Actus Primus -- Scoena Prima -- Enter Richard Duke of Gloster, solus. Now is the Winter of our Discontent, Made glorious Summer by this Son of Yorke: And all the clouds that lowr?d upon our house In the deepe bosome of the Ocean buried. Now are our browes bound with Victorious Wreathes, Our bruised armes hung up for Monuments; Our sterne Alarums chang?d to merry Meetings; Our dreadfull Marches, to delightfull Measures. Grim- visag?d Warre, hath smooth?d his wrinkled Front: And now, in stead of mounting Barbed Steeds, To fright the Soules of fearfull Adversaries, He capers nimbly in a Ladies Chamber, To the lascivious pleasing of a Lute. But I, that am not shap?d for sportive trickes, Nor made to court an amorous Looking- glasse: I, that am Rudely stampt, and want loves Majesty, To strut before a wonton ambling Nymph: I, that am curtail?d of this faire Proportion, Cheated of Feature by dissembling Nature, Deform?d, un finish?d, sent before my time Into this breathing World, scarse halfe made up, And that so lamely and unf...

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Table of Contents: The Tragedie of Richard the Third, 1 -- Actus Primus. Scoena Prima., 1 -- Scena Secunda., 5 -- Scena Tertia., 11 -- Scena Quarta., 19 -- Actus Secundus. Scoena Prima., 25 -- Scena Secunda., 29 -- Scena Tertia., 32 -- Scena Quarta., 34 -- Actus Tertius. Scoena Prima., 35 -- Scena Secunda., 40 -- Scena Tertia., 44 -- Scaena Quarta., 44 -- Actus Quartus. Scena Prima., 55 -- Scena Secunda., 58 -- Scena Tertia., 62 -- Scena Quarta., 75 -- Actus Quintus. Scena Prima., 75 -- Scena Secunda., 76...

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Preface: In which it is proved that, notwithstanding their names? ending in os and is, the heroes of the story which we are about to have the honor to relate to our readers have nothing mythological about them....

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Excerpt: Prefatory Note: The execution of this version of the Iliad has been entrusted to the three Translators in the following three parts: Each Translator is therefore responsible for his own portion; but the whole has been revised by all three Translators, and the rendering of passages or phrases recurring in more than one portion has been determined after deliberation in common. Even in these, however, a certain elasticity has been deemed desirable....

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Excerpt: The Tragedie of King Lear; Actus Primus -- Scoena Prima -- Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmond. Kent. I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany, then Cornwall. Glou. It did alwayes seeme so to us: But now in the division of the Kingdome, it appeares not which of the Dukes hee valewes most, for qualities are so weigh?d, that curiosity in neither, can make choise of eithers moity. Kent. Is not this your Son, my Lord? Glou. His breeding Sir, hath bin at my charge. I have so often blush?d to acknowledge him, that now I am braz?d too?t. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Glou. Sir, this yong Fellowes mother could; where-upon she grew round womb?d, and had indeede (Sir) a Sonne for her Cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it, being so proper. Glou. But I have a Sonne, Sir, by order of Law, some yeere elder then this; who, yet is no deerer in my ac-count, though this Knave came somthing sawcily to the world before he was sent for: yet was his Mother fayre, there was good sport at his making, and the horson must be acknowledged. Doe you know this ...

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Table of Contents: The Tragedie of King Lear, 1 -- Actus Primus. Scoena Prima., 1 -- Scena Secunda., 8 -- Scena Tertia., 12 -- Scena Quarta., 12 -- Scena Quinta., 20 -- Actus Secundus. Scena Prima., 21 -- Scena Secunda., 25 -- Actus Tertius. Scena Prima., 36 -- Scena Secunda., 37 -- Scaena Tertia., 40 -- Scena Quarta., 40 -- Scena Quinta., 45 -- Scena Sexta., 45 -- Scena Septima., 47 -- Actus Quartus. Scena Prima., 49 -- Scena Secunda., 51 -- Scena Tertia., 53 -- Scena Quarta., 54 -- Scena Quinta., 55 -- Scaena Septima., 62 -- Actus Quintus. Scena Prima., 64 -- Scena Secunda., 66 -- Scena Tertia., 67...

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Excerpt: The Life and Death of King John; Actus Primus -- Scaena Prima -- Enter King John, Queene Elinor, Pembroke, Essex, and Salisbury, with the Chattilion of France. King John. Now say Chatillion, what would France with us? Chat. Thus (after greeting) speakes the King of France, In my behaviour to the Majesty, The borrowed Majesty of England heere. Elea. A strange beginning: borrowed Majesty? K. John. Silence (good mother) heare the Embassie. Chat. Philip of France, in right and true behalfe Of thy deceased brother, Geffreyes sonne, Arthur Plantaginet, laies most lawfull claime To this faire Iland, and the Territories: To Ireland, Poyctiers, Aniowe, Torayne, Maine, Desiring thee to lay aside the sword Which swaies usurpingly these severall titles, And put the same into yong Arthurs hand, Thy Nephew, and right royall Soveraigne. K. John. What followes if we disallow of this? Chat. The proud controle of fierce and bloudy warre, To inforce these rights, so forcibly withheld, K. John. Heere have we war for war, & bloud for bloud, Controlement for controlement: so answer France. Chat. Then take my Kings defiance from my mouth, The far...

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Table of Contents: The life and death of King John, 1 -- Actus Primus, Scaena Prima., 1 -- Scaena Secunda., 7 -- Actus Secundus, 21 -- Actus Tertius, Scaena prima., 23 -- Scoena Secunda., 29 -- Scaena Tertia., 31 -- Actus Quartus, Scaena prima., 35 -- Scena Secunda., 39 -- Scoena Tertia., 45 -- Actus Quartus, Scaena prima., 49 -- Scoena Secunda., 51 -- Scaena Tertia., 55 -- Scena Quarta., 55 -- Scena Quinta., 57 -- Scena Sexta., 57 -- Scena Septima., 59 -- The life and death of King Iohn., 62...

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The Count of Monte Cristo (French: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo ) is an adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. It is often considered, along with The Three Musketeers , as Dumas's most popular work. The writing of the work was completed in 1844. Like many of his novels, it is expanded from the plot outlines suggested by his collaborating ghostwriter Auguste Maquet.The story takes place in France, Italy, islands in the Mediterranean and the Levant during the historical events of 1815–1838 (from just before the Hundred Days through the reign of Louis-Philippe of France). The historical setting is a fundamental element of the book. It is primarily concerned with themes of justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness, and is told in the style of an adventure story. (Summary from Wikipedia)...

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Romance, Adventure

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The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century (two of them in prose, the rest in verse). The tales, some of which are originals and others not, are contained inside a frame tale and told by a group of pilgrims on their way from Southwark to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The themes of the tales vary, and include topics such as courtly love, treachery, and avarice. The genres also vary, and include romance, Breton lai, sermon, beast fable, and fabliau. The characters, introduced in the General Prologue of the book, tell tales of great cultural relevance. The version read here was edited by D. Laing Purves “for popular perusal” and the language is mostly updated. ( Gesine)...

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Historical Fiction

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Excerpt: A Scandal in Bohemia; TO SHERLOCK HOLMES she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the veil from men?s motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubio...

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Table of Contents: A Scandal in Bohemia, 1 -- I, 1 -- II, 9 -- III, 18 -- The Red-headed League, 21 -- A Case of Identity, 41 -- The Boscombe Valley Mystery, 56 -- The Five Orange Pips, 77 -- The Man with the Twisted Lip, 93 -- The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, 113 -- The Adventure of the Speckled Band, 131 -- The Adventure of the Engineer?s Thumb, 152 -- The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor, 170 -- The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet, 189 -- The Adventure of the Copper Beeches, 210...

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Excerpt: Parmenides by Plato, translated by Benjamin Jowett.

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Real men don't take guff from snotty kids. Neither does Disko Troop, skipper of the We're Here, a fishing schooner out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, when his crew fishes Harvey Cheyne out of the Atlantic. There's no place on the Grand Banks for bystanders, so Harvey is press-ganged into service as a replacement for a man lost overboard and drowned. Harvey is heir to a vast fortune, but his rescuers believe none of what he tells them of his background. Disko won't take the boat to port until it is full of fish, so Harvey must settle in for a season at sea. Hard, dangerous work and performing it alongside a grab-bag of characters in close quarters is a life-changing experience. And when Harvey at last is reunited with his parents, who have thought him dead for months, he must face the hard decisions of how he will allow his experience to change his life. (Summary Mark F. Smith)...

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Fiction

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Excerpt: Statesman by Plato, translated by Benjamin Jowett.

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Karl Marx und Friedrich Engels schrieben ihr Manifest im Dezember 1847, als Leitfaden fuer die grundsaetzlichen Prinzipien und Praktiken des Kommunismus. Das Manifest sagte ausserdem den Untergang des Kapitalistismus’ voraus. (Zusammenfassung von Gesine)...

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Politics