http://www.adfreebooks.com - 500 audiobooks, all ad free Although the Sherlock Holmes canon traditionally consists of four novels and 56 short stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle, there are many Sherlock Holmes stories outside the canon. Most of these noncanonical stories were written by authors other than Doyle, but there are four short stories about Holmes written by Doyle that are nonetheless excluded from the canon, for various reasons. This album consists of these four noncanonical stories. The first story, 'The Field Bazaar', was first published in 1896 in a special issue of a University of Edinburgh student newspaper called The Student. Doyle wrote this very brief story to support a fundraising event at the university, his alma mater, but most scholars consider the story to be a parody and therefore not part of the canon. The second and third stories, 'The Lost Special' and 'The Man with the Watches', were both published in The Strand Magazine in 1898 and both feature mysteries involving trains. These two stories are not part of the canon because neither story mentions Holmes by name, although literary scholars have proposed that the unnamed 'amateur reasoner' in 'The Lost Special' and the unnamed 'well-known criminal investigator' in 'The Man with the Watches' are intended to be Holmes, and this theory is accepted for the purposes of this LibriVox album. Doyle wrote the fourth story, 'How Watson Learned the Trick', for a miniature book that was placed in Queen Mary's Dolls' House, a dollhouse built for Queen Mary in the 1920s that housed a tiny library featuring works by several famous authors of the day, the contents of which were published in 1924 for public consumption. Considered a companion piece to 'The Field Bazaar' due to both stories consisting entirely of conversations between Holmes and Watson over breakfast, 'How Watson Learned the Trick' is similarly excluded from the canon on the grounds of being a parody. more

Mystery & suspense stories released dailyTo learn more about our other podcasts check out www.solgood.orgAll Librivox Recordings are in the public domain more

Listen ad free at:  https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Check out our Streaming Service for our full collection;  hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, sounds for sleep/relaxation, and original podcasts - all ad-free!!Binge hundreds of your favorite Science Fiction Stories! more

Fall asleep to classic works of fiction, adapted and narrated to help you relax. Each episode begins with a brief moment of relaxation followed by a quick summary of the prior episode. That way, you can fall asleep whenever you're ready and always stay caught up. Explore our full library of over 30 audiobooks. There is something for everyone!Support our show as a premium member and get access to bonus episodes and ad-free listening. more

Each week, WORDTheatre® shares a brilliant short story performed live in LA, NY or London by a great actor, usually with the author in the room to hear their story being brought to life. Like what you hear? Visit WORDTheatre.org/Membership/ or if you are near the UK, visit WORDTheatreUK.org to enjoy live events and recordings by becoming a Patron or Enthusiast Member! WORDTheatre® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the US and a Dual Charitable Trust in the UK. We are on a mission to make a better world one story at a time. more

Welcome to By Kids For Kids Story Time Podcast! 🎧✨ 👨👩👧👦 Family-Created Audio Adventures: Fun, exciting stories packed with good values from our kids storytelling podcast. 🌍 Performed By Kids Worldwide: Unique listening featuring amazing young voice actors! 📚 Over 200 FREE Episodes : Enjoy fairy tales, myths, legends & original adventures anytime. 👍 Great for Screen-Free Time: Perfect entertainment for car rides. ✨ New Stories Weekly: Always something fresh to capture the imagination! ❤️ Want More Magic? Unlock 100 exclusive bonus stories & perks on Patreon! more

The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a 1905 collection of 13 Sherlock Holmes stories, originally published in 1903 1904, by Arthur Conan Doyle. The stories were published in the Strand Magazine in Britain and Collier's in the United States.View our entire collection of podcasts at www.solgood.orgAll Librivox recordings are in the public domain more

Do you recall your parents saying 'Wise Up?'. This is the BEST way to increase your intellect, grow your vocabulary, and broaden your view of history and culture. Take the 'wise up!' challenge and listen to any 5 of these narrated stories and give your brain a treat! (It works for all ages, including TV-bound seniors). Enjoy listening to well-narrated tales from writers like Jack London, Guy de Maupassant, Edith Wharton, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Ray Bradbury, Hans Christian Anderson, Ambrose Bierce, and many others. These fast-paced stories and captivating tales are chosen for their unique flavor, are suitable for all ages and tastes, and provide a window to a time when writers knew how to tell great stories using descriptive words and phrases.. We now offer new episodes thrice weekly, Sundays at noon ET, Wednesdays at 5PM ET, and 'Best Of's (Listener Favs)' ery early Friday mornings. We are the best 'self-improvement' course you'll ever take, and we are free! First- check out our 'Reviews' here: https://www.bestof1001stories.com/show/1001-classic-short-stories-tales/reviews/ more

A truly enjoyable and growing collection of Sherlock Holmes Adventures and the best stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, one of Britain's greatest storytellers. Narration by master storyteller Jon Hagadorn (1001 Stories Network). more

Boxcar English is a podcast for English learners. It's one of the best and most pleasant ways to learn English. A gentle, slow voice, with simple language, tells stories that deal with everyday life situations in sometimes dreamlike ways, so the listener engages with the meaning, rather than idea of learning English. Listen to episode 050 for instructions on how to use the podcast! The philosophy of the podcast is to provide the good, positive energy needed for learning a new language, with much of the content for free or low cost, and for all of it to be made by a human, and not impersonal AI-based creation. It's based on the language-learning theory of 'Comprehensible and Compelling input,' which says that you should listen and read to a lot of materials that are 1) Easy to understand (you know 95% of the vocabulary), and 2) Interesting to listen to. Boxcar English is designed to be fun, welcoming, & refreshing to different levels of learners. At Boxcar English, there's always room for you! go to boxcarenglish.com for more information and lessons (written and via Signal) Support the podcast and get the transcripts at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast more

Fall asleep with your favorite comfort bedtime stories: the complete Sherlock Holmes in timeline order. In each episode, a section of a Sherlock Holmes story will be read aloud in a soothing text-to-speech voice set to relaxation music, to help you get to sleep. more

Sleep Tight Stories brings joy and comfort to millions of families worldwide with new calming bedtime stories every single week. Each episode is relevant to children's lived experiences, and sparks wonder (without overstimulation) so listeners can easily drift off to sleep. As one young fan eloquently states, 'The stories are very entertaining, but they also are not entertaining enough to make it hard for me to sleep.' Make bedtime the sweetest part of everyone's day with Sleep Tight Stories. When your kids Sleep Tight, you will too. For an ad-free listening experience with bonus bedtime stories, subscribe to Sleep Tight Premium! more

Beautifully read and written audio stories for kids. The original stories podcast, founded in 2005.

Fall asleep with the ultimate comfort bedtime stories: the works of Jane Austen! Each episode we'll read a section of Jane Austen's work aloud in a soothing voice, set to relaxation music, to help you get to sleep. more

Classic stories read for children of all ages.

Hosted by Jon Hagadorn, 1001 Stories For The Road is bringing back adventure with stories like 'Treasure Island', 'The Secret Adversary' by Agatha Christie, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', 'Tarzan of the Apes', 'King Solomon's Mines', 'The 39 Steps', 'The Call of the Wild'- and many more. These stories are classic for a reason- they are great! And they are family friendly. We appreciate reviews-thank you! more

Journey with Story is a storytelling podcast for kids ages 3-10. These audio stories are told with a Celtic flavor and calming voice of Scottish author, Kathleen Pelley. She shares fairy tale stories, bedtime stories, classic stories, and her own original children's audio stories. more

We bring you Classic Children's stories of all kinds to keep your young ones entertained, read by a professional voice actress. The themes range from animal stories, to stories that teach, to classic favourites like Tom Thumb, Red Riding Hood and more. Settle in, have a listen and enjoy. Visit us at https://www.ko-fi.com/happythoughts Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/classic-children-s-story-podcast--4219679/support . more

Nighttime Stories by Davidaki are short tales for dreamers of every age. Each story takes the shadows we all carry—sorrow, longing, and mystery—and spins them into light. Together with Elenaki, Davidaki leads you into a world of magic and wonder, where spies and secrets, adventures and strange new worlds, wait to be discovered, more

Two red-headed comedians revisit classic kids' books. Will our childhood treasures stand the test of time? Or will we be forced to make fun of them on a podcast? more

Children's stories whenever you're in the mood for one. Classic tales and poems as well as original works can be found here. Expand your world through the magic of books. more

Learning English is easier with stories! These simple stories repeat common words and phrases to make English learning effective and enjoyable. You can find transcripts of each episode at smalltownspanishteacher.com. more

Learning a language is hard, but Easy Stories in English makes it easy! Ariel Goodbody introduces each story, explaining difficult vocabulary and talking about their life. Thanks to their high energy and clear pronunciation, the stories are entertaining and simple to understand. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate or advanced learner, there's something for everyone. The stories cover a wide range of genres, such as fairy tales, myths and legends, drama, comedy, romance, horror, science fiction and action. There is a balance of children's stories, as well as more mature themes for adults. While listening to the stories, you can read the transcript at EasyStoriesInEnglish.com and get both reading practice and listening practice. With enough time, you'll find that your reading and writing skills improve as well. Ariel Goodbody has a strong background in linguistics and language acquisition, and they base the podcast on Stephen Krashen's theory of comprehensible input. Ariel changes the level of grammar to suit each level, but prioritise comprehension and good storytelling over anything else. Vocabulary is described using paraphrase, cultural references, pictures, intonation and sound effects. British culture, especially English culture, is naturally introduced throughout the episodes. Ariel also has experience in theatre, and treats every episode like an audiobook performance. With character voices, dramatic timing and a range of accents, adults and kids alike will soon forget that they're 'learning' at all! Some of the most well-known stories from the podcast are: the Doggo and Kitty stories, Grimm Brothers' Fairy Tales, The Very Hungry Dragon, Sleeping Beauty, The Perfect Pet, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Why Blood is Red, Saint George and the Dragon and Pioneers of the Continuum. Many stories are adapted from famous authors, such as Edgar Allan Poe, Hans Christian Andersen, Isaac Asimov, Josef Čapek, Margery Williams and Ryuunosuke Akutagawa. Ariel studied linguistics at the University of Cambridge and started teaching in 2018. As a language teacher, they use comprehensible input techniques such as TPRS and story listening. In 2021 they published a series of graded readers. These easy readers allow fans to get their favourite stories in a physical format. Apprendre l'anglais facilement avec des contes de fées et histoires racontés en anglais britannique. Méthode pour étudier les vocabulaires, la prononciation, la grammaire et la lecture en anglais. Les livres audio en anglais pour les niveaux débutant, intermédiaire et avancé. Einfach Britisches Englisch lernen mit Märchen und Geschichten. Methode, um Vokabeln, Aussprache, Grammatik und Lesen auf Englisch zu studieren. Hörbücher auf Englisch für Anfänger und Fortgeschrittene. Imparare l'inglese facilmente con fiabe e storie in inglese britannico. Metodo per studiare vocabolario, pronuncia, grammatica e lettura in inglese. Audiolibri in inglese per i livelli principiante, intermedio e avanzato. Aprender inglés fácilmente con cuentos de hadas e historias en inglés británico. Método para estudiar vocabulario, pronunciación, gramática y lectura en inglés. Audiolibros en inglés para todos los niveles: principiante, intermedio y avanzado. 童話、メルヘン、物語でイギリス英語を学ぶことがやさしくさせるイージー・ストーリーズ・イン・イングリッシュ。アリエル・グッドボディはきれいなブリティッシュイングリッシュの発音で新しい単語を説明して、毎週のストーリーを語る。初級、中級、上級の生徒にむかうオーディオブックで英語文法や英語読書をアップさせる勉強取材。 通过英国英语的童话故事和故事轻松学习英语。学习英语的词汇、发音、语法和阅读。为初学者、中级和高级学生提供英语的有声读物。 Легко изучать английский язык с помощью сказок и историй на британском английском. Методика изучения словарного запаса, произношения, грамматики и чтения на английском языке. Аудиокниги на английском языке для начинающих, студентов среднего уровня и продвинутых студентов. تعلم الإنجليزية بسهولة مع القصص الخرافية والحكايات باللغة الإنجليزية البريطانية. طريقة لدراسة المفردات والنطق والقواعد والقراءة باللغة الإنجليزية. كتب مسموعة باللغة الإنجليزية للمبتدئين والمتوسطين والمتقدمين. more

All for One Stories breathes new life into the radio dramas of old, uniting a medley of voices and sound effects to bring you an immersive experience of brand new fiction, as well as fresh takes on old favorites. Join our full cast of characters, and journey with us through stories like you've never heard them before. more

Enjoy fairy tales, folk tales, foreign tales, faith tales with a tasty sprinkling of poetry mixed in! All students are invited! Charlotte Mason Form I students will especially enjoy these tales hand-picked for them! Sources: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19994/pg19994-images.html#Page_21 https://rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/poems-for-kids-by-robert-louis-stevenson/a-good-play-by-robert-louis-stevenson/ more

A sportsman who doesn't hunt; a poet who doesn't write; a lover with no one to love; all three are devoted to their cheerful and benevolent leader, Mr. Pickwick. Join him and his friends, Winkle, Snodgrass, and Tupman, as they tour the country in search of adventures, knowledge, and stories. Along the way, they have their share of mishaps, and meet plenty of interesting characters, both the good and the not so good. (Mr. Pickwick's dedicated manservant, Sam Weller, is a scene-stealer sure to delight just about everybody.)You may shed a few tears along the way, but usually of the pleasant sort. This is a mostly lighthearted and humorous tale, with a number of subplots woven in, in Dickens' incomparable style.(Introduction by Debra Lynn) more

An adventurous children's novel, The Story of Doctor Dolittle is the first book in the Doctor Dolittle series. The novel depicts the many adventures of Dr. John Dolittle as he learns the language of animals and takes on various feats including exotic travel, a dangerous encounter with pirates, and a mission to set right from wrong. The novel begins with the introduction of Dr. John Dolittle, an animal lover and respected physician, who lives in the small English town of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh with his unmarried sister. Due to an increase in the number of animals in his home, he loses many of his clients which results in a decline of wealth. Even his sister is repelled from the amount of animals in their home. However, one day Dr. Dolittle learns the secret to speaking with animals from his parrot Polynesia, who teaches him the language of animals. Consequently, he leaves behind his unfulfilling job surrounded by people and instead decides to take up a veterinary practice. This career change proves to be the correct one, as Dr. Dolittle quickly becomes renowned throughout the animal kingdom. Eventually he finds himself on the way to Africa along with his most trusted animal companions to help cure a monkey epidemic. Yet, unfortunate events lead to a shipwreck and Dr. Dolittle and his animal friends are imprisoned by the king of Jolliginki, who is a victim of colonization and for this reason dislikes all Europeans. The protagonist and his escort undergo many adventures in their task to spread kindness and animal awareness throughout. An optimistic and heartwarming novel, The Story of Doctor Dolittle leaves no one feeling indifferent, as Dr. Dolittle risks losing everything including his house, family and wealth for the sake of proper care and love of animal life. Abundant with humor and a fun easy-to- follow plot, Lofting has successfully created a rich fantasy world with vivid portrayals of memorable characters which have entertained generations time after time. more

Is there anything better than being told a good story? Well, yes. Being told one of the truly great stories probably beats it. In this podcast, Trev Downey reads the very best in the genre and discusses them with his guests. more

Bedtime History is a series of educational, relaxing stories for kids and families. Learn about inspirational characters such as Jackie Robinson, Sacajawea, Neil Armstrong, and Maya Angelou. Other topics include space exploration, current events, and great feats of engineering such as The Transcontinental Railroad. more

While they may seem prehistoric, the best children's stories never grow old. Readastorus presents classic tales for kids that have entertained for generations. These are the stories that our parents and grandparents enjoyed and they haven't lost their charm. Let the Readastorus 'read a story to us.' Readastorus is part of Short Storyverses ( shortstoryverses.com ), a growing collection of podcasts devoted to exceptional storytelling. Explore New Tales Told —our companion series of original stories inspired by the tone and spirit of the classics; Season's Readings to brighten your holidays any time of year; FRIGHTLY! for tales of terror; and Litreading for for a variety of classic short stories. Search for all of these titles wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

A Persuasion audiobook performed by 20 actors with gorgeous ambient sounds and an original musical score to bring the story to life. From the director of the Webby Award Honouree podcast of Pride and Prejudice. Presented over 13 beautiful episodes. This dramatised audiobook is produced by the Australian not-for-profit community theatre company, Ballarat National Theatre.  more

Mr. Burns (our cat), Dominic and I read stories aimed at pre-school aged children. Each week, we will be reading from a wide range of books, from Marvel stories to children's classics. And we also update you about our pet's exploits.We hope you join us as we read and talk about some of our favorite books on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever this podcast is available!If you want to suggest a book, please message us at mrburnspodcast@gmail.com more

ABC Story Sisters is a story time podcast from young sisters Alexa, Bristol and Charlotte, who bring classic children's literature to life for the littlest of podcast fans. The whole family will enjoy this fun-filled storytelling adventure! more

'These are stories without pictures. But, if you close your eyes, you can imagine anything you want.' Stories Without Pictures brings fun and engaging audio stories to children everywhere. With simple characters, everyday settings, and immersive soundscapes, each story is designed to spark the imagination and transport young listeners into a world of adventure. Close your eyes, listen closely, and let your mind create the pictures! more

Welcome to Holmes Alone! Here you'll join Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective in his original mystery stories. Read by audiobook narrator Jake Urry, follow Holmes and Watson as they untie the knottiest knots and unpick the lockiest (real word) locks. Each episode features a classic short story or part of a longer one. Light your pipe and grab your oversized magnifying glass, the game's afoot!Find full length classic audiobooks narrated by Jake Urry at www.jakeurry.com more

Classic short stories that introduce American literature to intermediate English learners.

Join the ST & SK Podcast. You will find the best and most beautiful stories from our podcast.

The first of two books that he wrote on golfing themes, The Clicking of Cuthbert by PG Wodehouse sparkles with typical Wodehousian wit, humor and general goofiness! An avid golfer himself, Wodehouse published the ten stories in this volume in 1922. In 1924, an American edition titled Golf Without Tears was published. Since then it has enjoyed undimmed popularity among both Wodehouse fans and golfing enthusiasts. Nine of the stories contained in this book are narrated by the Oldest Member, a character who has become a cult figure among Wodehouse fans. He is a nameless character who is perennially seated on the terrace of a nameless golf club somewhere in England. An Ancient Mariner-like figure, the Oldest Member is ever eager to engage others in conversation and relate a pithy story from his boundless experience. Every story is a gem and peppered with memorably funny characters.What is so delightful about The Clicking of Cuthbert is that you don't really need to be a golfer to appreciate these stories. Of course they are liberally sprinkled with technical terms, but for the uninitiated reader, this is a great opportunity to get familiar with this very popular sport. Terms and jargon may have altered a little since the book was published, but nothing distracts from the humor and hilarity!Three of the stories have been adapted to film and many of them were published in different journals like the Saturday Evening Post, The Strand Magazine and Collier's.Most of the stories concern sentimental dilemmas that the hero/heroine are embroiled in. The tales are couched in some of the most entertaining and enjoyable turns of phrase ever to be found in the English language and you'll often find yourself bursting out aloud into laughter as you read and continuing to smile long after you've put the book down! Fun for the entire family! more

A journalist who undertakes a life threatening mission to impress the woman he loves, a mysterious plateau in South America that none of the locals dare to enter and an adventurous English aristocrat are all charectors you will encounter in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. With Dinosaurs, ape-men, diamonds and secret tunnels the book is filled with enough action, excitement, drama and adventure to go around.For Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts, Conan Doyle's hero in this book Professor Challenger is almost the antithesis of the cerebral sleuth. The squat, feisty, quarrelsome, boastful Challenger with the 'face and beard of an Assyrian Bull' and a 'stunted Hercules' is far removed from the eccentric, intellectual resident of 221B Baker Street with his Stradivarius violin and swirling tobacco mists.The plot of The Lost World was not entirely new even when it was first published in 1912. The theme of an expedition to a remote region of the earth, hitherto undiscovered by civilization, was earlier portrayed in Jules Verne's 1864 novel Journey to the Center of the Earth. However, with The Lost World, Conan Doyle explores several other themes as well. The idea of civilization, theories about the origin of life on earth and the various motives that people who seek adventure may have are some of the interesting concepts encountered here. In this story, Edward Malone is a young journalist who is sent to interview the bizarre claims made by Professor George Edward Challenger, who claims to have made an exciting discovery in South America. Ridiculed and reviled by his fellow scientists, the professor is in no mood to be pleasant. However, as Malone soon finds out, the claims are certainly worth an expedition in spite of the man's nasty temperament and insulting behavior. Malone himself wants to win the admiration of the lovely Gladys Hungerton. What follows is a strange, hazardous and rip-roaring adventure that takes Malone, the professor and a motley crew of adventurers into unknown territory. The Lost World is the first in the series of three novels and two short stories featuring Professor Challenger. They reflect Conan Doyle's deep interest in scientific research and the Victorian preoccupation with adventure and discovery. The megalomaniac professor is reputedly based on one of Conan Doyle's own teachers at Edinburgh.The book holds great appeal for young and older readers and has been extensively adapted for stage, screen, radio and TV. more

Philip and Lucy discover that the city Philip has built using toys, books and household objects, has come alive. This is the account of their incredible adventures in those magical lands, where they meet characters from books and history, mythical beasts, and many other nice (and not so nice) people and creatures. As with all Edith Nesbit's tales, The Magic City has generous helpings of humour, imagination and interesting ideas, as well as the over-arching story of how a boy and girl who have unwillingly become step-brother and sister eventually learn to like each other. A story that works on many levels and will be equally enjoyed by adults and children. more

Set during the Hundred Years' War with France, The White Company tells the story of a young Saxon man who is learning what it is to be a knight. Raised by Cistercian Monks and rejected by a violent elder brother, Alleyn Edricson takes service with one of the foremost knights in the country. When Alleyn falls in love with the knight's daughter, he must prove himself to be a courageous and honourable knight before he can win her hand. Alleyn and his friends set forth with the other men-at-arms to join Prince Edward in Bordeaux, from where they will take part in the Prince's campaign into Spain. It is in Spain that Alleyn and others must prove themselves to be very valiant and hardy cavaliers. more

Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse was an English comic writer who enjoyed enormous popular success for more than seventy years. Best known today for the Jeeves and Blanding Castle novels and short stories, Wodehouse was also a talented playwright and lyricist who was part author and writer of fifteen plays and of 250 lyrics for some thirty musical comedies. more

Wharton's classic story of an aging (by Victorian-era standards) spinster socialite who would rather marry for money than for true love. more

If you've watched and loved Winona Ryder playing the innocent May Welland in the 1993 film adaptation of Edith Wharton's sweeping novel about class-consciousness in nineteenth century America, you will certainly enjoy reading the original. Though Martin Scorcese's brilliant work was certainly true to the spirit of the original novel, no film can reproduce the charm of language and turn of phrase employed by one of America's greatest writers. The Age of Innocence was Edith Wharton's 12th novel and is located in familiar Wharton territory. The genteel snobbery of the upper classes with its underlying cruelty and heartless judgments passed on those who cross the line is wonderfully depicted in The Age of Innocence. The story opens at a glittering music concert, featuring the wonderful opera singer Christine Nilsson singing Faust at the Music Academy in New York. In the high-society club boxes, the leading lights of New York society train their opera glasses on the crowd, occasionally throwing a sniping remark or two. Newland Archer, a young, handsome, wealthy lawyer whose privileged background is matched only by that of his new fiancée, May Welland. As the self satisfied and complacent Archer surveys the crowd in the opera theater, he overhears two men gossiping about a lady who has just entered a nearby opera box. She is Ellen Olenska, the recent widow of a Polish count, who had shocked society a few years earlier by first marrying a complete outsider and then running away from him to live alone in various cities across Europe. For Archer, the issue is complicated by the fact that Ellen is his beloved May's first cousin. What follows has a devastating impact on the lives of everyone who is connected with the cousins. The story traces the roots of social prejudices and is an absolutely frank and fearless look at the hypocrisy, double standards and betrayals that people indulge in, in the name of 'good form.' The Age of Innocence is filled with memorable characters like the elderly gossip Sillerton Jackson, who is not just considered to be an authority on 'families' but also possesses an indelible memory about every single scandal and mystery that has occurred in the claustrophobic Manhattan society of the day. The Age of Innocence won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 and takes its title from a famous eighteenth century English painting by Joshua Reynolds. It was initially serialized in 1920 in the Pictorial Review magazine, but later compiled into a book and published in the following year. As a ruthless and bitter commentary on the social mores of the day, The Age of Innocence is certainly an insightful book to enjoy. more

Sherlock Holmes fans who haven't yet read A Study in Scarlet would be delighted to discover this book in which the iconic detective makes his grand entrance into the world! From hence on, the deer stalker hat, his Stradivarius violin, the occasional descent into cocaine induced hell, the Persian slipper in which he stores his tobacco and of course, his meeting with the eternally loyal Dr. Watson and so many other details become common for generations of enthralled devotees. Strangely enough, Sherlock Holmes' first outing went almost unnoticed in the 1887 Christmas Annual edition of Beeton's Magazine. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was just 27 years old when he wrote the story after giving up a less than successful medical practice. He famously modeled the London sleuth on several people he knew, most notably, one of his medical school professors, Dr. Joseph Bell. Gradually, the story gained popularity and before long, Conan Doyle was commissioned to write a sequel The Sign of the Four. He soon began churning out a stream of short stories featuring Holmes for the Strand Magazine and his fame, fortune and popularity exceeded his wildest dreams. In the decades to follow, Sherlock Holmes came to represent the definitive detective. Scotland Yard and other investigative agencies soon adopted methods employed by the eccentric genius of 221B Baker Street. A Study in Scarlet is set in 1881. It begins with Dr. Watson, a wounded Afghan war veteran who is looking for shared lodgings in London. An old friend recommends that he try 221B Baker Street, which is presently occupied by an eccentric acquaintance, Sherlock Holmes. At their very first meeting, Holmes dazzles the company with his detective skills as he makes a casual remark about Watson's previous experiences. Watson moves in and discovers that Holmes is in fact a consulting detective. Watson accompanies Holmes on a crime scene visit and from here on, the plot takes a series of bizarre twists and turns, leading the reader through flashbacks, across various continents and different periods. We are transported to nineteenth century America, where the Mormons of Salt Lake City, Utah, play a decisive role and watch in amazement as Holmes cracks the puzzle. A Study in Scarlet has remained a firm favorite on radio, stage, television and spawned a host of comics and abridged versions. As the debut of the most famous fictional detective, A Study in Scarlet remains unparalleled and valuable read for any fan of the author's work. more

Mrs. Gaskell as she was popularly known, had a hard and lonely childhood, spent with various aunts and relatives after her mother died and her father left her. The young Elizabeth met and married a clergyman and moved to Manchester with him. It was here that she developed her strong sense of social justice and the themes which form the basis of her writing. Her biography of her dear friend Charlotte Bronte is considered a classic and provides a wonderfully human picture of the Yorkshire genius and her equally talented, tragic family. North and South is set in a fictional town called Milton and located north of England. The heroine Margaret Hale arrives here, having suffered a series of unfortunate events. Her father, a wealthy churchman who lives in the idyllic English countryside suddenly finds himself losing the faith that has sustained him all these years. He leaves the church and moves his family to this preindustrial, ugly and uninspiring city, where poverty, crime and hopelessness dominate. Margaret soon encounters the handsome, but materialistic, cotton mill owner and tycoon, John Thornton. Their values and philosophies are poles apart, leading to an inevitable clash, which forms the basis of the title of the novel, North and South. The book traces the advent of the Industrial Revolution in England, the pathetic condition of workers and the callous, greedy attitude of the mill owners who formed the bedrock of the new rich in the country. She also wrote several very popular ghost stories which were regularly published by Dickens in his magazine, Household Words. However, Mrs. Gaskell's works, though immensely popular in her lifetime, soon faded into obscurity. Today, her works are known chiefly through television adaptations of her novels like Cranford and North and South. Her enduring themes of tradition verses modernity, feminism, the changing nature of relationships and the falsity of first impressions all resonate with the interests of readers today. more

A young gambler is found shot dead in a closed room. Dr. Watson, who still mourns the disappearance of his famous friend is intrigued enough to step out of his house and take a look at the crime scene. A crowd has gathered there, curiously gazing up at the room where the crime is supposed to have taken place. Watson inadvertently jostles against an elderly, deformed man and knocks a stack of books from the fellow's hand. The man curses Watson vilely and disappears into the throng. It suddenly occurs to Watson that one of the books that he had helped the stranger pick up had seemed familiar... Thus begins the first thrilling story, The Adventure of the Empty House, in The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which was published after what Holmes enthusiasts call the Great Hiatus.The Return of Sherlock Holmes was published in 1905. In 1891, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was completely exasperated by the seemingly endless appetite of readers who welcomed each new Sherlock Holmes story with the greatest delight. He wrote to his mother confessing that he was 'thinking of slaying Holmes... He takes my mind from better things.' His mother's famous reply, 'You won't, you can't, you mustn't!' only echoed the voice of his readers. However, in 1893, Conan Doyle did the unthinkable; he finished off Holmes in the Reichenbach Falls in The Final Problem and thought he had done with the man for good.He hadn't reckoned with his readers. There was a flood of protest. Letters to the editors of newspapers, a stream of mail to his publishers and himself, all demanding that Holmes be kept alive. Finally, he gave in and The Return of Sherlock Holmes was greeted with huge delight. Though The Hound of the Baskervilles came out in 1902, it was set in a time before Holmes' 'death.' The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of 13 stories. Among them are The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, a tale of a reclusive old bachelor who suddenly vanishes, The Adventure of the Dancing Men, a delightful puzzle involving a mysterious message that contains a series of stick figures, The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist in which a lovely young governess is being stalked by a man on a bicycle, and many others. The last story, The Adventure of the Second Stain has Watson revealing that Holmes is now completely retired and would not like Watson to write any more stories about him!The Return of Sherlock Holmes is indeed a delightful continuation of the Holmes saga and a great addition to your repertoire! more

This unique tale is narrated by a lovely, gentle horse named Black Beauty and has remained a children's classic since it was first published in 1877. It earned eternal name and fame for its author Anna Sewell, an invalid who died within a few months of publication. more

Over twenty consecutive months, Charles Dickens enthralled readers with his monthly installments of the novel Bleak House, a complex and compelling portrayal of the English judicial system. Serialized in his own magazine, Household Words, between 1852 and 1853, the book is deemed to be his finest work and is his ninth novel. Using an innovative literary technique known as 'free indirect discourse,' where the narrator himself speaks through the medium of one of his main characters, Dickens uses the heroine Esther Summerson and an unidentified narrator as the vehicle for his story. Esther Summerson is a young woman who is brought up under mysterious circumstances by several people, including an aunt who hates her, a Chancery lawyer and finally another lawyer John Jarndyce, a wealthy, extremely kind and compassionate man. After completing her education, she moves into the Jarndyce residence, appropriately named Bleak House, where two other wards of his also live. Secrets begin to tumble out of many cupboards as one of the wards, Richard Carstone, begins investigating a century old case, Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce. It concerns a complicated and huge inheritance case which has been going on for generations. In fact, the phrase 'jarndyce and jarndyce' has entered the English language as a metaphor for interminable court proceedings. Almost all the major characters in the book are connected in some way to this case. There are plenty of wonderfully named, extremely memorable characters in the convoluted structure of plots and subplots, masterfully constructed by a writer working at his peak. Many of them are based on real people Dickens knew while the accounts of the legal system are based on his real-life experiences as a court clerk. The portraits of scheming lawyers like Mr. Tulkington and the merciless moneylender Grandfather Smallweed and an almost bewildering host of minor characters make Bleak House one of the most interesting and entertaining novels. Dickens' magnum opus focuses extensively on the ills of the English judicial system, but it is also a brilliant detective story. Inspector Bucket, a police detective, is put in charge of the murder of Mr. Tulkington and this leads to the unraveling of a deep and secret plot. A mysterious note written by a dead man known only as 'Nemo,' an aristocratic lady with secrets of her own, her suspicious husband, her disappearance and Esther's romance with a country doctor are some of the elements that make up the sweeping panorama of Bleak House.Whether you're reading it for the first time, or it's an old favorite, Bleak House is indeed an invaluable addition to your bookshelf. more

The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, The Real Princess and a host of other wonderful tales which form so much a part of childhood are part of Andersen's Fairy Tales, by Hans Christian Andersen.This volume contains eighteen selected stories. Some of them are old familiar friends, while others maybe new to some readers, but all of them equally enchanting and enthralling. Today, these stories are known almost everywhere in the world and have been translated into hundreds of languages. Their appeal is not just for children or young readers. As folktales and typical Scandinavian legends, they are a fascinating glimpse into the myths and legends, culture and ethos of the Northern Lands. Since their publication in 1835, they have continued to inspire and delight generations of children and adults. Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author whose work included plays, poetry, travelogues, novels and stories. Born in a noble Danish family, he was inspired to transcribe the tales he had heard as a child from people around him. The stories he selected were interesting, imaginative and unique. Some of them like The Little Mermaid were poignant and were not strictly just for a young audience. In fact, the story went on to capture public imagination to such an extent that today one of the most iconic monuments of Copenhagen is the statue of the Little Mermaid on the Langeline Promenade, which draws thousands of visitors every year. Andersen's first foray into writing fairytales did not meet with much success because translating them from the original Danish was quite difficult and it had only restricted readership. However, in 1845, he reached out to the rest of the world through a brilliant translation of The Little Mermaid in Bentley's Miscellany magazine. Great success followed as his stories began appearing in various English magazines and journals and a whole generation of young English speaking children discovered the treasures of Scandinavia.The stories have continued to enthrall people in many fields. Music, opera, art, literature, drama, film and television have become richer by the addition of various versions of Andersen's tales and his name has become a byword for the genre. He also inspired hundreds of other writers to come out with folktales and stories designed to captivate the imagination of young and old. Stories like The Tinder-Box convey a feeling of mystery and awe, while The Nightingale provides pathos and beauty. As an invaluable addition to any library shelf, Andersen's Fairy Tales can provide hours of reading pleasure to both young and old. more

Charles Dickens is one of the most appreciated Victorian writers, his novels gaining worldwide recognition by both critics and readers. First published in 1850, David Copperfield begins with avid the tragedy of David's brother dying when David is just a boy. After this episode he is sent by his step-father to work in London for a wine merchant. When conditions worsen he decides to run away and embarks on a journey by foot from London to Dover. On his arrival he finds his eccentric aunt, Betsey Trotwood who becomes his new guardian. Being witness to the formation of David's character is quite fascinating. David begins as a strong child whose only aspiration is a better life. On the way to his adulthood, David sees how people enter and leave his life. Romanticism takes its place in David's life as he gets married to Dora Spenlow who is not long for this world. Will David ever find stability and happyness? And what of his wife? Dickens proves to be a master in creating an autobiographical work that is a captivating page-turner. more

If you're encountering the zany Bertie Wooster and his exceptionally astute Man Friday, Jeeves, for the first time, be assured that you're embarking on a lifetime of fun and laughter! On the other hand, for eternal Wodehouse fans, Right Ho Jeeves provides more glimpses of the delightful world created by one of the best loved English writers. It is the second in the series of Bertie Wooster and Jeeves novels and features some of the regular characters of Brinkley Court, the country seat ruled over by Bertie's much-loved Aunt Dahlia. The absolutely entertaining plot concerns the doings of Bertie's old school chum, newt breeder and member of the infamous Drones Club, Gussie Fink-Nottle, who is described as a 'teetotal bachelor with a face like a fish.' Gussie falls irrevocably in love with the mushy, sentimental but gorgeous blonde Madeleine Basset but his shyness prevents him from revealing his feelings. Her father, a cantankerous specimen if ever there was one, is the local magistrate and lives with his extensive collection of antique silver in Totleigh Towers. Bertie arrives at Brinkley ostensibly to comfort his cousin Angela, who has just broken her engagement with Tuppy Glossop. Added to this delectable setup you'll find an eccentric chef, an annual prize-giving at the local Market Snodsbury Grammar School, Aunt Dahlia's gambling worries and Bertie's well intentioned meddling and everything brought to a satisfactory conclusion by the genius of that consummate Gentleman's Gentleman, Jeeves—and what you have is classic Wodehousian humor at its best!Contrary to appearances, Wodehouse took immense pains with his plots and characters. He paid minute attention to detail and construction, with some masterly touches of timing, characterization and the use of imaginative prose. For anyone who wants examples of superb English writing, a Wodehouse novel provides a great learning experience along with all the fun. Right Ho Jeeves was adapted in part in the long running and very popular TV series, Jeeves and Wooster. It was also greatly admired by such great novelists as John Le Carre who declared that no library, however humble should be without a well-thumbed copy of this charming book. It appeals to readers of all ages and whether you burst into a quiet chuckle or a full-throated laugh as you follow the crazy adventures of Wooster & Co, these few hours would certainly take you away from the stresses and strains of your workaday world! more

Robbery, murder and treason. Strange happenings in quiet English villages. A book critic who happens to find a corpse with its head crushed, an Irish freedom fighter framed for a crime, the disappearance of a valuable coin, a strange dispute over a property claim and a host of other intriguing situations make up the contents of G K Chesterton's collection of short stories The Man Who Knew Too Much.For fans of Chesterton's immortal clerical sleuth, Father Brown, these stories are equally delightful and intricately wrought. The man who knows too much is in fact, the protagonist, Horne Fisher, who is doomed to solve mysteries, but faces a moral dilemma each time he arrives at the solution. He is connected by blood and friendship to all the leading political figures of the country and a wrong move on his part could bring the government down. Hence, in all these stories, Horne Fisher's intelligence allows him to unravel the most complex of enigmas and then discover that things are not as simple as they seem. Often the victims deserve their fate and are in fact more criminal than their killers. Fisher is accompanied in his investigations by a young reporter, Harold March, with whom he engages in long philosophical conversations. These are another attractive feature of the stories. Apart from the mystery element the stories provide deep insights into the murky world of politics and the darker side of human nature. They have continued to delight readers since they first appeared in 1922. The stories are also brilliant examples of Chesterton's craft. His mastery over the language, brilliant style and deeply humanitarian outlook make these stories a delight for readers of any age. Gilbert Keith Chesterton was a multitalented English genius. He was a poet, biographer (he wrote a detailed biography of Charles Dickens) theologian, playwright, hymn writer, novelist, art and music critic and political philosopher. He authored more than eighty books, thousands of essays, hundreds of poems and contributed extensively to several newspapers. As the contemporary of Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw and Hilaire Belloc, G K Chesterton often engaged in public and deeply philosophical debates with many of them. For modern day readers, The Man Who Knew Too Much provides valuable insights into the workings of both Edwardian and present day governments. It can be read on several levels and above all, certainly appeals to mystery story fans of any age! more

Originally published in monthly installments between 1855 and 1857, the novel focuses on the various forms of imprisonment, both physical and psychological, while also concentrating on dysfunctional family ties. Accordingly, Dickens avidly criticizes the social deficiencies of the time including injustice, social hypocrisy, the austerity of the Marshalsea debtors' prison, and bureaucratic inefficiency.The novel kicks off with the introduction of William Dorrit, the oldest prisoner in the Marshalsea prison, who is also referred to as The Father of the Marshalsea. His imprisonment is owed to poor business decisions, which have secured him a place in the debtors' prison in London. Here he shares accommodation with his wife and children Fanny and Tip, and later the Dorrits welcome their second daughter Amy, who is born inside the prison and is incidentally the Dorrit of the title. The eponymous Little Dorrit grows to become a meek and benevolent young woman who despite her poor financial state, unselfishly takes care of her whole family without the slightest complaint. At the same time the novel welcomes Arthur Clennam, a somewhat idle man in his forties, who has just returned to London following his father's death after years abroad on family business. Returning to see his mother, a cold and bitter woman, Arthur intends to discuss some details concerning their family business. Troubled by his family's past, Arthur is determined to uncover the truth behind their fortune. Later, he becomes acquainted with Amy Dorrit, and a special friendship develops between the two, as Arthur sees it as his duty to take the young woman under his protection and unravel the mysterious past surrounding both their families. Consequently, the novel observes the mysterious intertwinement between the two families, as their carefully kept secrets slowly come to light.Nevertheless, Little Dorrit offers a colorful set of characters, a gripping central plot, and several subplots which essentially bring about the notion of redemption. Moreover, it serves as a vivid example to support the idea that anyone is able to reverse their fortune and bring down the invisible walls that seem to confine one to their self-condemned imprisonment. A classic tale depicting Victorian England with its bleak shortcomings and enduring hope, Little Dorrit enthralls with its convoluted relationships, twists and a plethora of characters and subplots, which essentially makes the lengthy novel a pleasure to devour. more

Whether you're a parent or a child, a young reader or an older one, the Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter is indeed just that a treasure chest of delightful, charming little stories full of animals and people. Beatrix Potter today has spawned a whole industry of merchandise, games and theme parks, but the stories remain as fresh and sparkling as they were when they first came out in 1901.The Great Big Treasury contains three collections compiled into one enchanting volume - The Giant Treasury of Peter Rabbit, Further Tales of Peter Rabbit and The Giant Treasury of Beatrix Potter. It contains nineteen tales featuring a troop of unforgettable characters. Peter Rabbit, the mischievous and rebellious young fellow, is the hero of many a tale, along with his goody-goody sisters Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail. Their long-suffering mother strives to keep Peter out of mischief and Mr. McGregor's tempting garden filled with luscious fruits and vegetables. The stories sparkle with Beatrix Potter's amusing lines which have old Mrs. Rabbit cautioning her children against trespassing into the garden, 'Your father had an accident there. He was put into a pie!' Other memorable characters include Squirrel Nutkin, who is a most impertinent fellow, Peter Rabbit's cousin Benjamin Bunny, two bad mice, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Tailor Simpkin, a frog called Mr. Jeremy Fisher and many more. The stories are a mixture of moral fables and fascinating descriptions of nature and Victorian childhood naughtiness. Peter Rabbit's stories have been translated into nearly forty languages and adapted for stage, film and television, converted into animated cartoons and toys, children's room accessories, furnishings and wall-paper. In fact, Beatrix Potter herself was the first person to realize the commercial value of merchandising. Her illustrations for the stories show her as a gifted artist and nature conservationist who lived in the picturesque Lake District in England. The stories are distinctive in the way they connect directly with childhood imagination and the writing style is particularly suited to being read aloud an activity which has been enjoyed by generations of both parents and children the world over. more

Written originally for his own children, Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories have continued to delight generations of youngsters since they were first published in 1902. The thirteen stories collected in this book are meant for very young children, but they engage older kids and adults too with their charming conversational style and simple plot lines.These stories are typical examples of the 'origin' story, where children are provided with imaginative rather than practical explanations for the 'why' 'what' 'how' 'where' 'who' 'when' questions of childhood. The Just So Stories were tales that Kipling would tell his own daughter who tragically died in infancy of pneumonia.An early forerunner of these stories can be found in The Second Jungle Book in the chapter, 'How Fear Came' where the story of how the tiger got its stripes is narrated to Mowgli. All the fables in the Just So Stories follow a similar theme. They relate how a particular creature is altered from an original form into its present appearance either by a magical spirit or a human being. So the reader encounters wonderful and fantastical reasons why The Whale Got Its Throat, The Camel Got Its Hump, The Rhinoceros Got Its Skin, How the Alphabet was Made, and so on.Written in a pretend grand style, as though the narrator was recounting a great and important myth, the stories are studded with fabulous made up words and turns of phrase that catch the reader's attention. Comic exaggeration, wordplay, lots of spontaneous, funny poems, juxtapositions of everyday events with the fantastical tales, amusing and entertaining 'explanations' and a short poem at the beginning of each story serve to highlight Kipling's prodigious story telling talents.The reader is always called 'Best Beloved' which adds to the personal touch, reminding us of the original listeners of these stories, who were Kipling's own children. Some of the stories may seem politically incorrect to modern day readers, but they must be read in the context in which they were written and could in fact become a starting point for discussions on such issues as race, gender etc. with your own children. more

Regarded as the pride and joy of American literature, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a picturesque novel depicting Huck's epic journey from boyhood to manhood and the struggles he must face living in a corrupt society. The novel serves as a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, another famous work by Mark Twain. The plot unfolds in several locations sometime before the Civil War.The book opens with a description of Huck's new life as he undergoes a process of 'civilization' while living with the Widow Douglas and her sister Miss Watson. Although he dislikes the strict regime of education, manners, church and rigid clothing, which are a necessity to fit into society, Huck prefers anything to his previous life with his drunkard father Pap. However, just as things begin to stabilize, Pap returns to the picture and demands Huck give him the money that he had previously attained during an adventure with his best friend Tom Sawyer. Huck's refusal to do so only infuriates Pap. Just when things are improving for Huck, he is kidnapped and mistreated by his no-good father. After faking his own death and on the run, he meets Jim who is a runaway slave with a bounty to his name. Huck must decide whether to trust his gut feeling and help an innocent flee slavery, or view the poor man simply as property. Caught up between ethics and legality, Huck must make a decision. The two set out together on a raft, both in search of freedom and experience many challenges on the way whilst at the same time an emotional bond is developed. Twain's vibrant description of the places and people along the Mississippi River is one of the jewels of the novel, as well as the use of vernacular language and the presence of dialects. Moral and ethics, racism and slavery, and hypocritical society are just some of the targeted issues presented in the novel.Celebrated throughout generations, the slanted tale of adventure does not seize to spark appreciation although simultaneously stirring controversy. more

If ever there was a story written based unabashedly on adventure and trouble, this is it.There are treasure hunts and murderers on the run in this book that will keep you spellbound. Tom and his half-brother, Sid, lived with their aunt, Polly. Tom was a boisterous young fellow who constantly found himself in rather awkward situations that landed him into trouble. These situations were however exceedingly hilarious.On one occasion, Tom dirtied his clothes in a fight and his punishment was to whitewash the fence the following day. He cunningly got his friends to not only beg to do the work for him but also to pay him for the privilege!Tom and his friend, Huckleberry Finn visited the graveyard one night and witnessed the murder of Dr. Robinson. In fear they ran away to an island but soon came back home when they learned that their parents thought they were dead. But what became of the murderer on the run?Tom Sawyer is a story told in such an engaging manner that you'll want to read it all in one sitting. The characters are vibrant and alive and the language simple, fun and engaging. If you have the stomach for such a story full of humor and horror, this book will not disappoint. more

One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children's literature, The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911. The plot centers round Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having suffered the immense trauma by losing both her parents in a cholera epidemic. However, her memories of her parents are not pleasant, as they were a selfish, neglectful and pleasure-seeking couple. Mary is given to the care of her uncle Archibald Craven, whom she has never met. She travels to his home, Misselthwaite Manor located in the gloomy Yorkshire, a vast change from the sunny and warm climate she was used to. When she arrives, she is a rude, stubborn and given to stormy temper tantrums. However, her nature undergoes a gradual transformation when she learns of the tragedies that have befallen her strict and disciplinarian uncle whom she earlier feared and despised. Once when he's away from home, Mary discovers a charming walled garden which is always kept locked. The mystery deepens when she hears sounds of sobbing from somewhere within her uncle's vast mansion. The kindly servants ignore her queries or pretend they haven't heard, spiking Mary's curiosity. The Secret Garden appeals to both young and old alike. It has wonderful elements of mystery, spirituality, charming characters and an authentic rendering of childhood emotions and experiences. Commonsense, truth and kindness, compassion and a belief in the essential goodness of human beings lie at the heart of this unforgettable story. It is the best known of Frances Hodgson Burnett's works, though most of us have definitely heard of, if not read, her other novel Little Lord Fauntleroy. The book has been adapted extensively on stage, film and television and translated into all the world's major languages. In 1991, a Japanese anime version was launched for television in Japan. It remains a popular and beloved story of a child's journey into maturity, and a must-read for every child, parent, teacher and anyone who would enjoy this fascinating glimpse of childhood. more

Its immortal opening lines, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' set the stage for a sweeping narrative that combines drama, glory, honor, history, romance, brutality, sacrifice and resurrection.A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is one of the most widely read and famous works of historical fiction in the English language. Dickens had recently launched his magazine All the Year Round in 1859. In the same year, he began featuring A Tale of Two Cities in 31 weekly installments in his new magazine. The book was eventually combined into a single copy and split into three major sections as it is presented today.In this epic tale of love and tragedy set during the turbulent times of the French Revolution in 1789, the motif of two's appears constantly as opposing sides of the same coin. London and Paris are the two cities, Sidney Carton and Charles Darnay are the two heroes, Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge are the pure and evil women respectively, and these along with shadows and darkness, sacrifice and dishonor, brutality and spirituality form the recurring dual motifs in the novel.Sidney Carton, a young, debauched and dissolute English barrister defends a young French aristocrat Charles Darnay accused of treason in London. The two bear a striking resemblance to each other. Lucie Manette, a lovely young French girl and her father Dr. Manette, who had suffered under the atrocities of the nobility in France, now live a quiet life in London. Charles and Lucie are in love, but Sidney Carton also falls in love with her. Meanwhile in France, the storm of revolution is about to break. A wine store owner and Dr. Manette's former servant, Monsieur Defarge, leads the revolutionaries. His wife, Madame Defarge is a vicious woman who revels in cruelty. She too has suffered under the aristocratic regime and now seeks to destroy all those who persecuted her. Charles Darnay returns to Paris to rescue an old servant of his who has been captured by the revolutionaries. He is captured by the rebels and condemned to be executed by guillotine. The story then takes several dramatic twists and turns before reaching its final and most unexpected conclusion.As one of the most exciting and deeply moving stories penned by a brilliant and gifted story teller, A Tale of Two Cities is indeed a riveting and unforgettable experience for readers of all ages. more

A secret shared by four convicts and two prison guards, a daughter in search of her missing father, a strange gift of a single pearl received every year, a fabulous treasure buried in the ancient Agra Fort in India, an eccentric detective being consulted to solve a deadly puzzle. All these events are set against the turbulent backdrop of the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857 in the second Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of the Four. Mary Morstan, a lovely young woman, comes to the Baker Street lodgings shared by Holmes and Dr Watson. Her mother died when she was very little and her father, an army Captain stationed in India, sent the child back to England to live in a boarding house. She had never seen her father, but ten years earlier, when she was seventeen she received a letter from him saying he had retired, was on his way home and asking her to meet him at the Langham Hotel in London. However, at the Langham, she discovers that her father stepped out the previous evening and never returned. Since then, every year, on her birthday she has been receiving a present from an anonymous giver. It is a very expensive, lustrous, single pearl. And now, she has received a mysterious letter asking her to come to the Lyceum Theater at seven in the evening, bringing two friends with her. For Sherlock Holmes, this is an enigma that's simply crying out to be solved!Added to this are masterly touches that provide more insights into Holmes' unconventional persona. His uncanny ways of tracking through sight, sound and smell, his knowledge of diverse subjects and his fondness for obscure quotations in foreign languages are all aspects that went into the creation of the immortal detective. Following the publication of The Sign of the Four, Doyle began concentrating on the short story format featuring Holmes and Watson. This met with immediate success and led to a revived interest in the novels and the rest, as they say, became literary history. The Sign of the Four has been adapted extensively on stage, screen, TV and radio. In fact, more than eighteen different film versions have been made since 1913-2013, marking a century of perennial interest in the maverick sleuth and his faithful assistant! more

First published in 1719, Robinson Crusoe is a book that marks the beginning of realistic fiction writing in English. Its simple, linear narrative style and the semblance of being a true account and autobiographical in nature led to its great popularity when it first came out.Its original title The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York: Mariner, Who Lived Eight and Twenty Years all alone in an Uninhabited Island on the Coast of America, Near the Mouth of the Great River of Ooronoque, Having Been Cast Ashore By Shipwreck, Wherein All the Men Perished But Himself; With an Account How He Was At Last Strangely Deliver'd By Pyrates pretty much sums up the entire plot!Daniel Defoe the author is said to have been greatly inspired by the newspaper and journal accounts he had read about the explorer Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish seaman who was marooned on a Pacific Island. Other scholars identify the root of the story in various other sources, but whatever its origin, Robinson Crusoe became a runaway best seller and continues to remain one of the most popular and widely read adventure stories in English.The story tells of young Crusoe who is passionate about a career on board a ship. He runs away from home and after a couple of false starts, joins an expedition to transport slaves from Africa and South America. Following a storm that destroys the ship and all its crew except Crusoe, he swims to safety to a desert island. His adventures on the island and how he survives, using the meager tools and resources available to him, form the rest of the plot.Defoe himself was a man of many talents. He was a writer, trader and also a spy! He was also a prolific producer of thousands of pamphlets on the topic of the day, apart from some 500 books, most of which are unknown to modern readers today. However, Robinson Crusoe has rendered him immortal and generations of readers have read the novel, enthralled and captivated by the amazing adventure story. In fact, the footprint scene is one that's truly worthy of goose bumps and writers like Robert Louis Stevenson have called it one of the four most unforgettable scenes in English literature.In this edition created especially for children, there are plenty of illustrations and the text has been adapted to suit younger readers. more

The Children's Book of Christmas Stories by Asa Don Dickinson and Ada M. Skinner is a heartwarming anthology that captures the magic, joy, and traditions of the holiday season. Originally published in 1913, this timeless collection features 35 enchanting tales that bring the spirit of Christmas alive for readers of all ages. The book includes stories from renowned authors like Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen, alongside festive gems by other talented writers.From the bustling charm of 'Christmas at Fezziwig's Warehouse' to the poignant beauty of 'Why the Chimes Rang,' each story weaves themes of love, generosity, and the holiday spirit into captivating narratives. Whether it's the magical adventures in 'The Christmas Masquerade' or the heartwarming lessons in 'Toinette and the Elves,' these stories promise to inspire wonder and warmth during the festive season.Perfect for families, educators, and holiday enthusiasts, this anthology is a delightful way to celebrate the joys of Christmas. Its universal appeal ensures that every listener will find a story that resonates deeply.Discover the joy of Christmas through these timeless tales on Audio Pitara! Listen now and relive the magic. Download the Audio Pitara app today for an unforgettable holiday experience! This audiobook is Narrated using AI voice from ElevenLabs. more

This podcast is brought to you by LingQ.com where you can learn languages from the best podcasts on the web. This is a classic and wonderful adventure story set in early twentieth-century Britain. The story features a cast lovable woodland animal characters named Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. The animals talk, squabble, giggle and tease just like human characters; and that is what makes this clever and endearing novel such an exceptional joy to read! more

A podcast to help stressed adults relax or sleep in these 'Trying Times'. A satire title, a sincere podcast. Find us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/RSITTT more

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: John Stanley - Dr. Watson: Alfred Shirley