The Black Tulip |
Alexandre Dumas (1802 - 1870) |
Historical fiction novel. The story begins with an actual historical tragedy - the 1672 lynching of the Dutch Grand Pensionary (roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister) Johan de Witt and his brother Cornelis, by a wild mob of their own countrymen - one of the most painful episodes in Dutch history, described by Dumas with a dramatic intensity. |
Download this book (193 KBytes) Search at Barnes & Noble ... |
| Others who downloaded this book also downloaded ... |
|
The Call of the Wild |
Jack London (1876 - 1916) |
Call of the Wild is London's most read book. The protagonist is a dog, but the themes and action are quite dark as it tells of the misadventures of 'Buck' and the breakdown of his domestication after he is kidnapped and sold as a sled dog. |
Download this book (91 KBytes) Search at Barnes & Noble ... |
| Others who downloaded this book also downloaded ... |
|
The Golden Ass |
Lucius Apuleius (123BC - 180BC) |
The Golden Ass relates the ludicrous adventures of Lucius, a virile young man obsessed with magic. In his enthusiasm to see the use of magic he is accidentally transformed into an ass and thus forced to witness and experience the lives of slaves and the destitute. This is the only surviving work of Greco-Roman literature to give a first person perspective of the abhorrent condition of the lower classes. T. E. Lawrence carried a small copy of the book in his saddlebags throughout the Arab Revolt. |
Download this book (206 KBytes) Search at Barnes & Noble ... |
| Others who downloaded this book also downloaded ... |
|
The Idiot |
Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881) |
Prince Myshkin is a simple and inherently good person but his naivety earns him the title of "idiot". Captivated by Nastasya, he ends up in a web of deceit, blackmail, betrayal and ultimately, murder. In this novel, Dostoyevsky wishes to portray a truly good person, one with beauty within his soul, untouched by the ways of the world. But can he remain untouched or does he ultimately find himself a victim of society? |
Download this book (558 KBytes) Search at Barnes & Noble ... |
| Others who downloaded this book also downloaded ... |
|
The Republic |
Plato (427BC - 348BC) |
Presented in the form of Socratic dialogue, Plato's The Republic was written in 360 B.C. Widely regarded as a foundation piece of work in Western philosophy it is also influential in political theory. What is justice? What is knowledge? What is Goodness? What is Truth? These are just some of the philosophic issues that Plato writes about in The Republic. |
Download this book (260 KBytes) Search at Barnes & Noble ... |
| Others who downloaded this book also downloaded ... |
|
The Time Machine |
H. G. Wells (1866 - 1946) |
Journey forward into time, to 802,701 A.D. into a peaceful land of four feet tall humans who call themselves the Eloi. These happy, simple people know no disease, poverty, war, or wanton destruction. They have no need for technology or any more improvements to their lives. The Time Traveller discovers that these people are in fact descendants of man, the remainder of what was a once-great culture. Are they living the ideal life? Or is their peace and happiness the downside of an unimaginative culture? |
Download this book (95 KBytes) Search at Barnes & Noble ... |
| Others who downloaded this book also downloaded ... |
|
The Younger Edda |
Snorre (1178 - 1241) |
The Edda Contains many stories of Norse Mythology is the best-known work of Scandinavian literature. It details the Norse creation myths and the struggles of Gods, Giants, and Dwarves. Perhaps the most compelling theme is the Gods' realization that there will be a final unavoidable battle, Ragnarok, between Gods and Giants that must result in the end of the world The Edda can be credited with inspiring innumerable works including those of Wagner, Tolkien, and Marvel comics. |
Download this book (170 KBytes) Search at Barnes & Noble ... |
| Others who downloaded this book also downloaded ... |
| <<1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 >> |