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Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini
“He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad!” The wonderful opening lines of this 1921 novel set the tone for the rest of this delightful story of an adventurer and romantic who dons several roles in his colorful life. Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini is an historical novel set in the turbulent times of the French Revolution. The plot describes Andre-Louis Moreau, a young lawyer adopted by his godfather who cannot reveal his parentage. Moreau inadvertently stumbles into political events and becomes a wanted man based on the evil machinations of a sinister Marquis. He is forced to go underground and joins a group of Commedia dell' Arte traveling players, where he takes on the role of a scheming blackguard, Scaramouche. Here again, he falls foul of powerful aristocrats and escapes being kidnapped and murdered. His next adventures take place in a fencing academy where he develops his own brilliant techniques. He inherits the school on the death of the owner and comes face to face with his nemesis again. The plot takes several more interesting twists and turns before racing to its exciting conclusion. Rafael Sabatini's Italian father and an English mother were both opera singers and gifted music teachers. He was a linguistic genius, proficient in many European languages and deliberately chose to write in English because he felt that the best stories are written in that language. He began writing short stories in the 1890s and quickly graduated to novels. He produced more than 40 full length novels, several short stories, many collections of verse and also several historical novels in his long and successful career. However, Scaramouche remains one of his most well known works and though he attempted a sequel ten years later, it couldn't match the success of the first book. The novel's immortal lines were Other best-sellers include Captain Blood and The Sea-Hawk. Many of his books were adapted to film in the silent film era and though they're lost to viewers today, Sabatini's fame as a writer of racy adventure thrillers remains intact more than half a century after his death. The 1952 film version of Scaramouche remains the most famous one, with Stewart Granger playing the swashbuckling hero. It also holds the record for one of the longest sword fighting scenes ever filmed. Scaramouche is a delightful, exciting read for all ages and is certainly a great addition to your bookshelf!
Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter
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.
The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey
Post-Civil War Texas, the Lone Star state. Buck Duane is a man who was almost born holding a gun in his hand. His father was an infamous outlaw and the young child grew up witnessing scenes of violence and betrayal. When he himself inadvertently kills a man, he is forced to go into hiding and must live with the very men he despises. However, the love of a beautiful young woman is his redemption. He joins the Texas Rangers and helps to rid the state of notorious criminals, hoping to exchange this for his good name and freedom. A thumping good, old fashioned Western, from a master of the genre, published in 1915, The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey is a classic that shouldn't be missed by any fan. If you love tales of the lonely gun-totin' rider, carrying a burden of guilt on his young shoulders, riding through the endless badlands of the Wild West and single-handedly taking on a bunch of no-gooders, then this is indeed the book for you! Zane Grey's critics have often characterized him as a romance writer disguised as a Western writer, but that hardly detracts from the amazing depth of character and plot that he brings to his works. He also tends to give an intensity and inner life to his characters that other writers of Westerns may fail to do since they focus mainly on the plot. Most of Zane Grey's stories were adapted to film and television. More than 100 of his books were transposed to the silver screen, while several of his short stories formed the basis of longstanding television shows. Scores of famous actors and directors have cut their teeth in Zane Grey movies. He also wrote several important historical books that detailed the colorful and eventful history of the West. His own ancestors Ebenezer Zane and daughter Betty Zane were important figures in the American Revolutionary War and pioneers of the West. Zane Grey's first book was titled Betty Zane and is a riveting chronicle of the life and times of this intrepid and heroic young woman who helped to colonize this rugged land. Zane Grey was also one of the first of the millionaire best selling authors whose books were greedily lapped up by an adoring public. His readers enjoyed the mix of adventure, history, romance and action that he provided in all his works. The Lone Star Ranger is indeed a great addition to your collection of Westerns!
The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The novel picks up where Tarzan of the Apes left off. The ape man, feeling rootless in the wake of his noble sacrifice of his prospects of wedding Jane Porter, leaves America for Europe to visit his friend Paul d’Arnot. On the ship he becomes embroiled in the affairs of Countess Olga de Coude, her husband, Count Raoul de Coude, and two shady characters attempting to prey on them, Nikolas Rokoff and his henchman Alexis Paulvitch.
She by H. Rider Haggard
A timeless classic of fantasy literature, She is recognized as the groundwork for the lost world literary sub- genre. First published serially in The Graphic magazine from 1886 to 1887, the novel has reached critical acclaim with approximately 100 million copies sold and is regarded as one of the best-selling books of all time. Exploring themes of imperialism, lost civilization, female authority and psyche, the novel also serves as a mirror to reflect Victorian issues such as gender and race. Written in first person narration, the novel first introduces protagonist Horace Holly when he is visited by a colleague, Vincey, who is convinced that his death is nearing, and continues to tell an unbelievable tale concerning his family’s ancestry. Furthermore, he entrusts Holly with guardianship of his young son Leo, and gives him a mysterious locked iron box, which is not to be opened until Leo reaches the age of 25. Following the man’s death, Holly takes in young Leo and raises him as his very own, fulfilling his final wish. On Leo’s 25th birthday the pair open the inherited iron box in which they discover the ancient “Sherd of Amenartas”, that consequently triggers their journey to exotic Africa. Following the instructions on the potsherd, ape-faced Holly, his handsome ward Leo and their bigot servant Job travel to eastern Africa, where due to shipwreck are forced to continue on blindly through a treacherous and uncharted region of inner Africa. While on the move they are interceded by a group of native savages known as the Amahagger people who then capture them and take them into custody. The captives discover that the savages are ruled by a white queen, who is worshiped as “She-who-must-be-obeyed”, possesses vast knowledge of sorcery and is distinguished by her enchanting beauty. As a result, the group must endure and pass numerous trials in order to accomplish the initial goal of their journey, while simultaneously learning the secrets of the Vincey family. Haggard’s artistic approach throughout the novel, in terms of his language and his level of detail in his description of events, allows readers to relive the unique scenery in their imagination. An enthralling tale of a tenacious trio unearthing an ancient lost world and awakening an ancient fixation, She is the perfect pick for a unique adventure story which as a novel itself has defied the odds of time.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
A heady mix of thrills, mystery, atmosphere and memorable characters, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is a classic adventure story that has enthralled both young and old alike ever since it was first published in 1883. Right from the racy opening chapter where the young hero Jim Hawkins encounters a mysterious guest, Billy Bones, at the Admiral Benbow Inn run by his widowed mother, the tale carries the reader off on an edge-of-the-seat roller-coaster ride of non-stop action and drama. Set in 18th century England and told entirely from Jim Hawkins' youthful perspective, the novel portrays how he is drawn unwittingly into the dark deeds of pirates and buccaneers on the English coast. The excitement begins when he discovers a cryptic treasure map in Billy Bones' chest when the secretive Billy succumbs to a fatal heart attack. Jim takes the strange map to trusted elders in the village, Squire Trelawney and Doctor Livesey, who at once guess that the map marks the location of the lost treasure of an infamous pirate Captain Flint. They decide to immediately set sail in search of the fabled riches with Jim being invited to join them! What more could a young boy want! This is the prelude to a journey that will take young Jim and a band of intrepid seafarers half-way across the world. Traveling as part of the crew, in the guise of a ship's cook, is a sinister yet admirable figure - Long John Silver. This one-legged, ruthless and avaricious man, whose shadowy past hides many a dark and evil secret, is one of the most colorful and remarkable characters in the story. Stevenson endows him with a host of unforgettable qualities – the most famous of which, is of course, the parrot strangely named “Captain Flint” who is constantly on Silver's shoulder. His villainy gradually unfolds as the voyage progresses. The novel has retained its perennial charm for readers over the centuries and is perhaps one of the most adapted adventure stories on TV, film and stage. Recently, a video game has been created based on this eternally appealing tale. Intrigues, duels, escapades and Jim's own transformation into a man, make this the ultimate thrills-spills-'n'-chills fantasy.
Sleep and Relax ASMR
Sleep and Relax ASMR is a weekly podcast that creates audio experiences designed to help people sleep and relax. The show uses various ASMR triggers including whispers, gentle speaking, relaxing background noise, and general ambiance to help people unwind and relax from their busy lives. Our goal is to create the best ASMR content possible. Whether you enjoy the sound of soothing waves, snow crunching on a mountain, a soft spoken ramble, or whispered storytelling, Sleep and Relax ASMR has your ASMR needs covered. Check out Sleep and Relax ASMR and Friends for more ASMR content.
To Let (Vol. 3 of The Forsyte Saga) by John Galsworthy
‘The Forsyte Saga’ is the story of a wealthy London family stretching from the eighteen-eighties until the nineteen-twenties. To Let is the third and final book in the saga (although Galsworthy later published two further trilogies which extend the story). We are now in 1920, about twenty years since Irene married Young Jolyon and gave birth to John and since Soames married Annette, who gave him a daughter, Fleur. The two sides of the family have not met since those times and John and Fleur do not even know of each other’s existence. All the old Forsytes are dead except for Timothy. Val and Holly have returned from South Africa and Val is training racehorses in Sussex. June has opened her gallery near Cork Street. Soames arranges to meet Fleur at June’s gallery and while there, and again later in a patisserie, they see Irene and John. Soames ignores them but Fleur and John are attracted to one another at a distance. As they leave, Fleur drops her handkerchief…
South! The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917 by Ernest Shackleton
The expedition was given the grand title of The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Due to be launched in 1914, two ships were to be employed. The first, the lead vessel, fittingly named the Endurance was to transport the team to the Weddell Sea from where the great explorer Ernest Shackleton and five others would cross the icy wastes of Antarctica on foot. The second ship, the Aurora was to approach the continent from the other side and put down supplies at various points to help the explorers. The nearly 3000 km expedition was funded largely on the strength of Shackleton's formidable reputation. Many private individuals contributed along with some funds from the British government. However, the shadow of war was looming across Europe. The expedition also included more than 70 dogs who were kept in the charge of an experienced veterinary doctor. However, the Endurance soon ran into problems. Within a month of its departure, it hit an ice floe and was completely trapped in frozen ice. It began to drift northwards, dashing Shackleton's hopes of an early culmination. South! The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917 by Ernest Shackleton is a brilliant portrayal of this doomed enterprise told by the leader himself. What makes the book so interesting is Shackleton's own matter of fact courage and his extreme sense of responsibility for his crew. The book which was published long after the actual events took place, was released just a year before Shackleton's death. His physical and mental health were completely broken and the outbreak of war had also taken its toll. Though he suffered from serious ill-health, he insisted on being conscripted and also undertook several diplomatic missions on behalf of the British Government. He was an extremely charismatic figure, worshipped by his crew members and deeply admired by statesmen like Winston Churchill. He died of a heart attack in the South Georgia Islands near South America and he was buried there on the request of his wife. This was indeed a fitting end to his life, “on a island far from civilization, surrounded by stormy tempestuous seas and in the vicinity of one of his great exploits,” as his physician noted in his personal diary. South... is mainly compiled from the logs of the Endurance and the Aurora, with plenty of observations and descriptions by Shackleton himself. The harsh and terrible beauty of the snowy continent are wonderfully and passionately described. For readers who love the drama of an expedition to the least known ends of the earth, led by a figure of such heroic proportions, this is indeed a great read.
