This is one of the later books in the popular Patty Fairfield series of novels for young readers. In this volume, Patty and her chums hole up at a lavish hotel for a weeks-long reunion party. Then the story takes a dramatic turn when a beloved family member falls ill and seeks out Patty to discuss her future.
American poet and writer Carolyn Wells penned a series of mystery novels that are sure to please fans of Agatha Christie and others from the classic era of the genre. In the page-turner The Come Back, supernatural elements ratchet up the psychological suspense even more.
Carolyn Wells is regarded as one of the most influential writers of the Golden Age of mystery novels; she even penned a well-known book on mystery writing techniques. Her unparalleled skill at crafting airtight plots is on full display in In the Onyx Lobby, which recounts the investigation into what seems to be the perfect crime.
Victoria Van Allen (or Vicky Van, as she is known to her friends) is a sophisticated young woman whose cocktail parties and soirees are the talk of the town. When one of her legendary gatherings ends in murder, Vicky's bizarre behavior baffles her friends. This tightly plotted whodunit will keep you guessing until the very end.
Curl up with this classic locked room mystery from author Carolyn Wells. A man has been murdered in his Manhattan home, and only a few people had access to the residence. Unless lawyer Otis Landon and famed detective Fleming Stone can unravel the case, an innocent woman may be wrongly imprisoned for committing the crime.
A wealthy entrepreneur is found murdered in the study of his lavish New Jersey mansion. A young detective tries his hand at cracking the case, but conflicting clues leave him confused and frustrated. It's not until the renowned detective Fleming Stone is called in that the truth is revealed.
Think all poetry is depressing, somber, and difficult to comprehend? If so, The Book of Humorous Verse is here to set you straight. This collection of witty sonnets, odes, and limericks is the perfect way to decompress with a belly laugh or two, even when you have just a few minutes to spare. Whether you're a long-time poetry fan or a newcomer to the genre, you'll come away with a newfound appreciation for sublimely silly verse.
Though today she is best remembered for the dozens of mystery novels she penned in the later stages of her literary career, much of Carolyn Wells' early work was in the humor genre. This witty satire of life in early-twentieth-century America is one of her finest works. Initially published nearly a century ago, her keen observations ring true even today.
The epidemic of lynching that gripped the American South in the decades after the Civil War and the end of slavery has been glossed over and understated in many history books. Activist Ida B. Wells took it upon herself to document this shameful practice and its prevalence throughout the region and, to a lesser extent, the entire country in a series of seminal volumes, including Southern Horrors.
African-American journalist and activist Ida B. Wells played a major role in shedding light on the widespread practice of lynching in the United States. In this gripping account, Wells details the riots that erupted in New Orleans in 1900 following the death of a white police officer at the hands of African-American activist Robert Charles and which eventually resulted in the deaths of nearly 30 people, with hundreds more wounded.
Although some of the social conventions that etiquette expert Samuel R. Wells addressed in the original 1887 version of How to Behave: A Pocket Manual of Etiquette and Correct Personal Habits have gone out of fashion, most of the basic instructions contained in this comprehensive volume remain relevant even today. Common courtesy, decorum, and decency never go out of style! A must-read for etiquette buffs, or for anyone whose social graces could use a little polish.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the literary genre of social realism began to gain traction with the publication of dozens of novels that sought to expose the difficult living and working conditions facing the impoverished of the world. The Underworld adds to that genre with a stirring account of the life of a miner.
Later in her career, Patricia Wentworth created the beloved mystery series featuring stalwart amateur sleuth Miss Silver. In this, her first novel, Wentworth spins a gripping tale about a doomed pair of lovers whose tragic story unfurls against the backdrop of the French Revolution. Whether you're a mystery fan, a lover of historical fiction, or a little bit of both, A Marriage Under the Terror deserves a spot on your must-read list.
In this exciting tale for younger readers, a group of friends who are drawn together by their shared love of speedy automobiles takes a trip through the formidable Sierra mountain range that sprawls across California and Nevada. Along the way, they thwart the plans of a notorious outlaw and stumble across a cache of treasure.
Acclaimed British author Stanley Weyman rose to acclaim with a series of richly detailed romance novels and well-researched forays into historical fiction. My Lady Rotha combines both of these themes, weaving a heartwarming love story against a backdrop of political and social change. Historical romance fans will not be disappointed.
British writer Stanley J. Weyman is considered to be one of the foremost practitioners of the historical romance genre. He spent years perfecting his craft with short-form tales that were published in the most popular publications of the day, and then moved on to novels and longer vignettes. This collection brings together some of Weyman's most acclaimed works.
Sometimes, a seemingly trivial turn of events can spiral into a huge mess. That's exactly what happens in Stanley J. Weyman's story The Snowball, in which a casually tossed clod of ice and snow sets off an international incident. Packed with political intrigue from start to finish, fans of fast-paced historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy it.
It may be classified as a romance, but the heroine of Stanley J. Weyman's classic novel Sophia is no shrinking violet chomping on bonbons while waiting around to be saved by her Prince Charming. This action-packed story offers readers the best of both worlds: delightful lessons in the dos and don'ts of fashionable London society circa 1742, plus a page-turning series of events and plenty of plot twists.
Get set for a thrill ride of supernatural proportions with Stanley J. Weyman's The House of the Wolf. Though billed as a romance, this suspenseful tale is packed with action and adventure that will appeal to a broad audience. Whether you're in it for the werewolf scenes or the melting looks and passionate embraces of the leading hero and heroine, it's a can't-miss read for fans of classic action-adventure romances.
British author Stanley J. Weyman rose to literary fame with a series of swashbuckling adventure tales. Over time, Weyman bridled against the constraints of that genre and began to explore other settings. The novel Starvecrow Farm is one of a series of domestic dramas that Weyman penned in a mid-career change of direction. Fans of novels about English country life will love this finely wrought rural romance.
Known as one of the foremost writers of historical romances, Stanley J. Weyman began writing at mid-life and quickly ascended to the uppermost heights of literary acclaim. The New Rector is one of his earliest novels, and it amply demonstrates the wit, charm, and penchant for tightly woven plots that are Weyman's trademarks.
Author Stanley J. Weyman gained acclaim as one of the foremost writers of historical romance, and his trademark strengths are on full display in The Abbess of Vlaye. Set in the late sixteenth century, this engrossing novel combines romance, adventure, and political intrigue, plus lots of exhaustively researched historical detail.
The old adage says that money changes everything, and according to the woebegone wealthy featured in the stories in Stanley J. Weyman's collection Laid Up in Lavender, that doesn't always mean change for the better. Romantic entanglements, legal woes, business failure, financial strife, and family drama are all exacerbated by fortune in these stories. It's a satisfying read packed with schadenfreude for the less well-heeled.
This collection of works from master of the historical romance genre Stanley J. Weyman spans a diverse array of settings and situations, ranging from love set against the backdrop of London to an action-adventure story that transpires amidst the peaks of France. From his finely observed characters to his rollicking plots, Weyman is definitely at his best in these tales.
Explore a fascinating period in history with this detailed and engaging historical novel from prominent author Stanley J. Weyman. The novel unfolds against the backdrop of the Panic of 1825, a crash that was caused in part by a massive fraud set in Poyais, a made-up country in Latin America. Weyman masterfully weaves the financial shockwave caused by this series of events into a tale that highlights how the panic impacted real, salt-of-the-earth people.
Set in the region of England where he was born and raised, Shrewsbury puts Stanley Weyman's literary prowess as a master of historic romance on full display. Packed with plenty of romance and adventure, this novel is sure to please even the most discriminating fans of the genre.
Craving some classic action-adventure tales? Dive into The King's Stratagem and Other Stories from acclaimed British author Stanley J. Weyman. Known for inserting strong historical elements into his fiction, Weyman was one of the most popular action-adventure writers of his era. These fast-paced tales are sure to please even the most discerning fans of the genre.
From the author that penned beloved literary classics such as The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth comes The Glimpses of the Moon, the surprisingly funny tale of an unlikely romance that arises between newlyweds on an extended honeymoon who have married for convenience, rather than for love.
The House of Mirth is an uncompromising depiction of 19th-century New York society. Lily Bart is a society lady who is unwilling to marry for love, but equally unwilling to marry as society dictates. She sabotages every advantageous opportunity she receives, until her society friends begin to hasten her downfall for their own ends.
Though best remembered for her novels The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton's 1912 novel The Reef ranks among her most critically acclaimed works. The book offers a piercingly insightful look into a complicated family dynamic that stems from the intertwined relationships of several generations of star-crossed lovers.
A young girl from a rural New England town longs to escape her small community, but is unable to move beyond social restrictions and her own weaknesses of character. She meets a man by chance, who encourages the awakening of her sexuality. The ramifications of their relationship begin to unfold against a background of class and moral standards.
The Age of Innocence is an intimate portrayal of East Coast American society in the 19th century—and the human lives that came into conflict with it. Newland Archer is heir to one of New York City's first families, and his bride-to-be is everything he ever hoped. Then his fiancee's older cousin leaves her European husband and appears in New York, where she refuses to conform to society and her family's wishes. Archer is at first angered and then intrigued by her. Their passionate relationship challenges everything he believes and ultimately suffers at the hands of society and family obligation.
The novel won the Pulitzer Prize; Wharton was the first woman to win it.
Stephen Glennard is in desperate need of money; his career is in ruins and he wants to marry his beautiful fiancee. He unearths the passionate love-letters written to him by the famous, now-deceased author Margaret Aubyn, and sells them, erasing only his name. He makes a fortune from the betrayal and begins his marriage from it.
The Touchstone was Edith Wharton's first published novella.
Can't get enough of the Gilded Age fast talkers, débutantes, and social climbers who populate Edith Wharton's exquisitely wrought novels? Fans of The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence will love The Custom of the Country, which details country girl Undine Spragg's attempt to take a bite out of Big Apple high society.
In novels like The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton demonstrated a remarkable talent for exposing the dark underbelly of American high society. In Sanctuary, the tale of doomed marriage propped up by the protagonist's altruism, Wharton further explores the question of whether it is our nature or our upbringing that determines one's character and moral fiber.
American novelist and designer Edith Wharton traveled to Morocco after the end of World War I. Morocco is her account of her time there as the guest of General Hubert Lyautey. Her account praises Lyautey and his wife and also the French administration of the country.
In her own lifetime, Edith Wharton's talents were often pigeonholed and downplayed as appealing to only a small audience of upper-crust society doyennes. Today, however, critics regard her as one of the most important writers of the early twentieth century, rivaling even luminaries such as Henry James in literary significance. In this novel, the author of such masterworks as The Age of Innocence takes aim at issues of religious dogmatism against the backdrop of 18th-century Italy.
Brimming with romance and important social questions, Edith Wharton's novel The Fruit of the Tree offers something for everyone. The story expertly weaves themes of workers' rights, medical ethics, and end-of-life care into the framework of a conventional—but pulse-pounding—romantic entanglement.
In the fictional New England town of Starkfield, an unnamed narrator is forced to stay at the home of Ethan Frome during a winter storm. He relates his encounter with Frome, "the most striking figure in Starkfield, he was but the ruin of a man, with a careless powerful look - in spite of a lameness checking each step like the jerk of a chain". When the beautiful cousin of Frome's bitter wife comes to help with housekeeping, Frome's attraction to her does not go unnoticed.
Though best known for having written novels such as The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth, American author Edith Wharton was also a master of the short story format. Regarded by many critics as her most accomplished collection of short tales, Crucial Instances brings together seven gripping and nuanced stories of the American upper glass in the Gilded Age.
Born in Russia to British parents, Fred Whishaw's family returned to England soon after his birth. However, at age 16, Whishaw decided to reacquaint himself with his country of origin and struck out for St. Petersburg on his own. This immersion in Russian culture and politics proved to be enormously influential. As Whishaw continued to develop as a writer, many of his novels were set in Russia. Moscow is a fictionalized account of the French incursion into Russia in 1812, which proved to be a definitive tipping point in the Napoleonic campaigns.
Scorned by the lovely May Heredale, an imposter cooks up a vile scheme designed to bring about the utter devastation of the Heredale family, exploiting the patriarch's weakness for betting on horse races. Will his nefarious plot be revealed before the clan spirals into destitution?
Businessman Samuel Flower has made it to the upper echelons of his profession — and he's racked up a vast fortune along the way. Eager to show off his newly accumulated wealth, Flower has spared no expense when it comes to decorating his mansion. But in the aftermath of an attempted burglary that badly frightens Flower's niece, Beatrice Galloway, a dark secret is revealed.
Settle in for a wild, thrill-a-minute ride with Fred M. White's The Mystery of the Four Fingers. Far underground in a gold mine in Mexico, a death occurs under very unusual circumstances. A group of amateur detectives decides to try their hand at solving the case—unwittingly putting their own lives at risk. Will this interlocking set of crimes ever be solved?
Fans of detective fiction featuring amateur sleuths will enjoy Fred White's cleverly plotted novel The Crimson Blind. A trio of charming and wily young girls band together to crack a beguiling case featuring a down-on-its-luck family that's been ripped apart by decades of infighting.
Fans of golden-era mysteries will relish Fred M. White's The Slave of Silence. Beautiful Beatrice Darryll is betrothed and in the final stages of her pre-wedding preparations when she suddenly finds herself thrust into a beguiling—and potentially dangerous—imbroglio.
Kidnappings, orphans, foundlings, and mistaken identities abound in this thrilling book. Will the infant abandoned on a couple's grand touring boat find a loving family? Will the kidnapped twins of the governor ever find their way home? Grace Miller White's tightly plotted From the Valley of the Missing is a maelstrom of drama and intrigue that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
The gripping novel Tess of the Storm Country was a very popular bestseller that inspired no fewer than four film versions. The story centers on Tess Skinner, a beautiful but impoverished young woman from the wrong side of the tracks. The book offers a gritty look at poverty and social mores in turn-of-the-twentieth-century America, but this note of realism is nicely balanced out by the against-all-odds romance that blossoms between Tess and the man of her dreams.
The young and pretty Rose is about to turn eighteen years old—and her whole world is about to change. Soon to be the recipient of a vast inheritance, she's immersed in a roiling maelstrom of male attention. Which of these suitors and guardians are worthy of her trust? Will her wealth be a blessing or a curse? Read Rose O' Paradise to find out.
In the sequel to the popular novel Tess of the Storm Country, readers find out about the struggle that the star-crossed lovers are forced to face after the first blush of romance wears off. From opposite sides of the socioeconomic tracks, Tess and her beloved Frederick elope in secret and vow to start their life together—until a downward spiral of unforeseen consequences threatens to overtake them both.
Leaves of Grass is a collection of poems by Walt Whitman originally published in 1855 at the poet's own expense. Criticized when first released for Whitman's use of free verse and his rather racy depictions of sexual love and the senses, Leaves of Grass is a celebration of the human form, the material world and nature.
Whether you're a first-time reader of the novel or someone returning to an old childhood favorite, you'll love the optimism and charm that Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm epitomizes. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable array of trials and tribulations, the endlessly cheery title character confronts them all—and ultimately triumphs—with nothing more than a smile and relentless good will. Introduce it to a special child in your life, or re-read it whenever you need an uplifting dose of perspective.
The Soul of Man under Socialism is an 1891 essay by Oscar Wilde. Wilde puts forth the argument that within a capitalist system "the majority of people spoil their lives by an unhealthy and exaggerated altruism - are forced, indeed, so to spoil them" - that the necessity of solving the problems that capitalism creates draws away the talent that could otherwise be used to fulfill one's potential. In taking the the cause of this away, "Socialism itself will be of value simply because it will lead to individualism."
While Oscar Wilde is now strongly associated with the tone of whimsy that imbues his breezy, effortlessly witty epigrams and essays, the Irish writer and playwright was also a serious thinker who, having been sentenced to two years of hard labor as a punishment for his homosexuality, was deeply engaged with the social issues of his day. This essay, penned as a letter to a newspaper soon after Wilde's release from prison, takes up the moral issue of penal sentences for juveniles, a question that still has great relevance today.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900) is remembered best for his sharp wit, his comedic plays and for his contribution to aestheticism and decadence. In this collection of essays, however, Wilde writes predominantly on socialism, anarchy and libertarianism. He believed in these passionately and was influenced among others by William Morris and John Ruskin.
The Importance of Being Earnest is the last play Oscar Wilde ever wrote, and remains his most enduringly popular. It makes fun of social graces in the late Victorian era. Two seemingly unrelated parties are thrown into ridiculous entanglement when their fake identities, maintained in order to escape social responsibilities, grow ever more complicated to uphold.
Oscar Wilde was one of the most successful playwrights of the Victorian era. He was also a notorious supporter of the decadence and aesthetic movements, eventually jailed for having a young male lover. His name remains a by-word for social commentary by sharp wit. Intentions is a collection of critical essays by Wilde including The Critic as artist, The Decay of Lying, Pen, Pencil and Poison and The Truth of Masks.
Lady Windermere's Fan: A Play About a Good Woman is a play by Oscar Wilde, who uses his sharp wit to satirize Victorian ideals about marriage. Lady Windemere suspects her husband of infidelity and retaliates by taking a lover. Her husband's suspected lover follows her, begging her to return to Lord Windemere. The lover sacrifices her own reputation for that of Lady Windemere, in order to save that lady's marriage.
Salome is a tragic play written by Oscar Wilde, which tells the biblical story of Salome. Salome dances the Dance of the Seven Veils so well that she receives a boon from her stepfather Herod Antipas. Much to his dismay and her mother's delight she requests the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. Though John is a favorite of Herod and under his protection, Herod cannot rescind his boon.
Wilde originally wrote the play in French, and it was translated three years later into English.
Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince and Other Tales is a collection of stories for children each of which is so poignant and exquisite that they are as treasured by adults as they are by children. The stories included in this collection are The Happy Prince, The Nightingale and the Rose, The Selfish Giant, The Devoted Friend and The Remarkable Rocket.
A beautiful young man, Dorian Gray, sits for a portrait. In the garden of the artist's house he falls into conversation with Lord Wotton, who convinces him that only beauty is worth pursuing. Gray wishes that his portrait, and not himself, might age and show the effects of time. His wish comes true, and wild, hedonistic pursuits horribly disfigure the portrait. This Faustian story caused much controversy when it was first published, as it discusses decadent art and culture, and homosexuality. It is now considered one of the great pieces of modern Western literature.
In 1895, Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor as punishment for having engaged in homosexual acts. While serving out his sentence at Reading Gaol in Berkshire, Wilde witnessed the execution by hanging of a young soldier who had murdered his wife by slashing her throat. Profoundly shaken by the execution and the crime that preceded it, Wilde composed this elegiac poem centered on the haunting refrain, "Yet each man kills the thing he loves."
Oscar Wilde's play An Ideal Husband is a comedy about politics, blackmail and corruption. The action takes place over three days in London, and it questions ideas of public and private honor. It is a play about the past catching up with one in the present.
Though he is now best remembered for his fiction, famed wit and bon vivant Oscar Wilde also dabbled in drama over the course of his long and varied literary career. A Woman of No Importance is a darkly comedic play about a group of aristocrats whose prim adherence to decorum hides a bevy of scandalous secrets.
This 1865 volume offers a surprisingly sympathetic view of witchcraft, tracing its roots through several thousand years and pointing out similarities and parallels with the major world religions. Though dense and scholarly at times, The Superstitions of Witchcraft is a rewarding read for those with an interest in the history of the practice.
Get set for a thrilling trip back in time with this charming historical romance from beloved author Alice Muriel Williamson. Packed with royal intrigue and court gamesmanship, the story follows the indomitable Princess Sylvia in her quest to enchant and wed a powerful king.
Whether used as a research tool or as an artifact of a past era of financial governance, Samuel Williston's Commercial Law is an indispensable reference on the subject. Prepared under the auspices of the American Institute of Banking by an esteemed Harvard Law School professor, this volume is the authoritative guide to commercial law up to and including the early twentieth century.
Is there any scientific basis to occultism? That's what author Beckles Willson set out to discover, and the results of each of his experiments are set forth in the series of thoughtful essays collected in Occultism and Common-Sense. Whether you're a cynical skeptic or a true-blue mystic, you'll be drawn in by Willson's open-mindedness and generosity of spirit.
Sacred Books of the East Selections from the Vedic Hymns, Zend-Avesta, Dhammapada, Upanishads, the Koran, and the Life of Buddha Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
Sacred Books of the East includes selections from the Vedic Hymns, Zend-Avesta, Dhammapada, Upanishads, the Koran, and the Life of Buddha, with critical and biographical sketches by Epiphanius Wilson
Originally this was published by the author (1784-1849), a former governor of South Carolina, as a 22-page booklet, in 1838. Before his death he added an appendix of the 1777 Irish duelling code, but this second edition was not printed until 1858, as a 46-page small book, still sized to fit in the case with one's duelling pistols. This code is far less blood-thirsty than many might suppose, but built on a closed social caste and standards of behavior quite alien to today.
The figure of Satan has been one of the most compelling and polarizing aspects of Christian theology for millennia. This volume delves into the mystery of the devil, approaching the issue from a number of different angles, including doctrinal views, folklore accounts, and even scientific explanations.
This groundbreaking novel is considered by many to be one of the most important early entries in the western genre. Recounting in rich detail the daily life of a foreman on a vast ranch in Wyoming, this gripping tale has sparked imaginations for more than a century, inspiring at least six film and television versions.
Greedy robber baron Benjamin Scobell has hatched what he believes to be a can't-fail scheme to bolster his bank account even further. But his plans to build a gambler's paradise on a little-visited Mediterranean island go horribly awry when it's discovered that his beloved niece Betty has a history of romantic entanglement with the heir to the country's throne. Disaster—and hilarity—ensues.
Although P.G. Wodehouse's woebegone protagonists are usually young men, in Jill the Reckless the master of British humor turns his attention to the fairer sex. Jill Mariner's young adulthood is beset by an array of mishaps and misfortunes—but will she work her way out of the wreckage and find true love? If you're already a Wodehouse fan, you can probably guess the correct answer, but dip into Jill the Reckless to hear the tale told as only he can tell it.
What would you do if you found out that a long-ago acquaintance left you the equivalent of millions of dollars in his will? That's exactly what happens to down-on-his-luck Lord Dawlish in P. G. Wodehouse's Uneasy Money. Although the funds are a much-needed financial blessing, Dawlish isn't entirely comfortable with the inheritance and sets off on a quest to put things right—with plenty of stops along the way to indulge his love of golf, theater, and the opposite sex.
Regarded as one of the most skilled humor writers ever to write in English, Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse's works of fiction usually pillory the British upper classes that represented the social milieu into which he was born. In The Adventures of Sally, Wodehouse turned his attention to a young American heiress whose sudden wealth brings with it an array of unforeseen problems.
Also published under the title A Gentleman of Leisure, The Intrusion of Jimmy plumbs the depths of misbegotten romantic entanglements with a level of skill and virtuosity that only famed British humorist P.G. Wodehouse could pull off without a hitch. After falling in love with a comely fellow passenger on a sea voyage, wealthy gadabout Jimmy Pitt is sucked into a downward spiral of unfortunate events and bad decisions while trying to woo his beloved.
Wodehouse does it again with Piccadilly Jim, a novel that picks up the story of overbearing gold-digger Nesta and her spoiled brat of a son, Ogden. In this caper tale, a scheme is hatched to fake Ogden's kidnapping. Will Nesta's nephew, the roustabout Jimmy Crocker, be able to pull off this nefarious plot?
When you're in the mood for classic humor writing, nothing can hold a candle to the work of P.G. Wodehouse. This novel fallows the madcap adventures of a young family who have recently welcomed their first child. Any parent who has attempted to navigate the pitfalls of childrearing will appreciate this hilarious and all-too-accurate depiction.
A remarkable writer and intellectual in her own right, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley first encountered the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley when she was only a teenager. After fathering three of her children, Shelley drowned during a storm. In this volume of essays and annotations, Mary Shelley provides unique insight into Shelley's body of poetic work.
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