LITMIR.BIZ

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was an enthusiastic proponent of British imperialism and writer of poetry, short stories and novels. He was also the first English-language author to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. Born in Bombay, India, Kipling was taken by his family to England when he was five years old. These contrasting environments preserved in the author nostalgia for the Eden-like setting of India, where he recalled family and friendly local servants doting upon him, and which set the stage for his popular tales like «The Jungle Book». Written while he was living in the lush, unspoiled countryside of Sussex in 1906, «Puck of Pook's Hill» tells a series of stories on the history of England through the voice of the Shakespearean elf, Puck. Puck appears to two children – Dan and Una – as they are playing in a meadow near their home, and recounts tales from the past 2000 years, much to the children's delight.

Подробнее

Written during the early Qing Dynasty, «Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio» is a collection of nearly 500 mostly supernatural tales by Chinese author Pu Songling. The work, which was published posthumously sometime between 1740 and 1766, is comprised of stories varying in length. While the main characters of this book apparently are ghosts, foxes, immortals and demons, Pu Songling is more focused on the real life of commoners. Four main themes run throughout the book. The first is the author's complaint with the existing feudal system, which he finds to be unjust and skewed towards the elite. Secondly the author is concerned with the corruption that exists in the Imperial examination system. Thirdly the author shows his admiration of pure, faithful love between poor scholars and powerless women. And lastly is the overarching theme of morality for which Pu Songling intended «Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio» to be instructive towards bettering. This work of classical Chinese literature is translated here by Herbert A. Giles.

Подробнее

Henry James (1843-1916) was an America-born writer whose novels, short stories and letters established the foundation of the modernist movement in twentieth century fiction and poetry. His career, one of the most significant and influential in English literature, spanned over five decades and resulted in a body of work that has had a profound impact on generations of writers. Born in New York, but educated in France, Germany, England and Switzerland, James often explored the cultural discord between the Old World (Europe) and the New World (United States) in his writings. Included in this fifth volume of «The Complete Tales of Henry James» are his works published between 1883 and 1884: «The Siege of London,» «The Impressions of a Cousin,» Lady Barberina," «The Author of 'Beltraffio',» and «Pandora.»

Подробнее

"In a Glass Darkly", which was first published in 1872, collects together five classic gothic horror and mystery short stories by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. In «Green Tea» we have the story of Jennings, a clergyman who believes he is being followed by a demon in the form of a monkey. In «The Familiar» we have the tale of a sea captain who is stalked by 'the watcher'. «Mr. Justice Harbottle», the third installment of the work, relates the plight of Elijah Harbottle, who finds himself under attack by vengeful spirits. «The Room in the Dragon Volant» tells of a naive young Englishman in France who attempts to save a mysterious countess from her intolerable situation. And finally in «Carmilla» Le Fanu crafts a tale of a female vampire. Fans of gothic and horror stories will delight in this classic collection from one of the greatest writers of the genre.

Подробнее

Leo Tolstoy's «Walk in the Light and Twenty-Three Tales» contains the religious parable «Walk in the Light While Ye Have Light», a story set in the ancient Roman Empire which tells the story of Pamphylius and his conversion to Christianity, as well as twenty-three other short stories by the author. Those twenty-three tales include the following: God Sees the Truth, but Waits; A Prisoner in the Caucasus; The Bear-Hunt; What Men Live By; A Spark Neglected Burns the House; Two Old Men; Where Love is, God is; The Story of Iván the Fool; Evil Allures, but Good Endures; Little Girls Wiser Than Men; Ilyás; The Three Hermits; The Imp and the Crust; How Much Land Does a Man Need?; A Grain as Big as a Hen's Egg; The Godson; The Repentant Sinner; The Empty Drum; The Coffee House of Surat; Too Dear; Esarhaddon, King of Assyria; Work, Death and Sickness; and Three questions.

Подробнее

"The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories" is a collection of short stories that includes «The Invaders» (or «The Raid»),"The Wood-Cutting Expedition," «Three Deaths,» «Polikushka,» «The Death of Ivan Ilyich,» «After the Ball,» and «The Forged Coupon.» The most famous and superbly written of these is «The Death of Ivan Ilyich,» which Tolstoy wrote later in his life. It tells a tale revolving around a man in his 40s who has spent his entire life climbing the social ladder in Russia. Barely tolerant of his wife and generally indifferent to the other people around him, Ivan has a minor accident hanging curtains in a new apartment that proves to be a terminal injury. As his life slowly and painfully spirals inexorably toward death, Ivan struggles immensely against what he perceives to be an unfair fate. Only in the end does he see how he might have lived differently and authentically. In this and the other short stories by Tolstoy, the themes of loss and death are deeply explored and developed by a brilliant and immortalized writer.

Подробнее

"Best Ghost Stories of Algernon Blackwood" is a collection of supernatural stories by one of the greatest writers of such stories to have ever lived. This collection contains the story, «Ancient Sorceries», which is the tale of a tourist who becomes enchanted by a strange French town and the ancient secrets that are hidden there. Also included in this collection is one of Blackwood's most celebrated stories, «The Willows», the story of two campers who pick the wrong place to sleep for the night, as well as the following eleven tales: «Secret Worship», «The Glamour of the Snow», «The Wendigo», «The Other Wing», «The Transfer», «Ancient Lights», «The Listener», «The Empty House», «Accessory Before the Fact», «Keeping His Promise», and «Max Hensig».

Подробнее

American writer Stephen Crane is best known for his classic depiction of the American Civil War in his novel «The Red Badge of Courage». It is the story of a 19-year-old boy named Henry Fleming who struggles to overcome his fear in battle. «The Red Badge of Courage» is widely regarded for its realistic depiction of a young man in battle and of the true meaning of courage. In addition to this classic novel several other of Crane's more popular shorter works have been added. These stories include the following: «The Veteran», «The Open Boat», «The Bride comes to Yellow Sky», «The Blue Hotel», «A Self-Made Man», «A Mystery of Heroism», «A Gray Sleeve», «Three Miraculous Soldiers», «The Little Regiment», «An Indiana Campaign», and «An Episode of War».

Подробнее

After a brief military career, the illustrious Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky quickly turned to writing as a profession with the publication of his first novel, Poor Folk, in 1846. This novel sparked a literary career that would eventually cement Dostoyevsky's reputation as one of the greatest novelists of the nineteenth century. Early participation in a literary/political group landed the writer in exile in Siberia for nearly a decade, an experience which had a profound influence on Dostoyevsky's understanding of fate, the suffering of human beings, and resulted in a powerful religious conversion experience. Dostoyevsky's works are marked by his penetrating exploration of psychology and morality, which are today cited as highly 'existentialist.' This edition contains White Nights, one of Dostoyevsky's best-known short stories and an excellent introduction to his works. Also included are the following stories: Notes From Underground, A Faint Heart, A Christmas Tree and a Wedding, Polzunkov, A Little Hero, and Mr. Prohartchin.

Подробнее

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1891) made her name as an abolitionist and author most noted for her 1832 breakout novel «Uncle Tom's Cabin.» Here are collected three of Beecher's most treasured short stories. In «Betty's Bright Idea,» a sweet young girl forms a bond with a poor family and is determined to help them make a better life for themselves. In «Deacon Pitkin's farm,» a young boy whose family can no longer afford payments on their house chooses to forego schooling in order to help make money for his struggling kin. Lastly, «The First Christmas in New England» documents the first Christmas celebration of the pilgrims from the Mayflower, a truly joyous and heartwarming tale. All three stories create a special portrait of American life as seen by the less fortunate.

Подробнее