Just a plain old story told by a superb story teller. „A Marriage Contract” (French: „Le Contrat de marriage”) is an 1835 novel by French author Honoré de Balzac and included in the „Scenes de la vie privée” section of his novel sequence „La Comédie humaine”. Set in Bordeaux, the marriage between an elegant but weak young Parisian gentleman, Paul de Manerville, and the beautiful but spoiled daughter of a Spanish heiress, Natalie Evangélista, is undermined from the beginning...
Autobiographical and exceptionally romantic, „The Lily of the Valley” is an 1835 novel about love and society by French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850) and is one of his personal favorites among his innumerable novels. The creator of the „Human Comedy” brings his creative insight to a portrait of a lady and a love affair set in the Loire valley. It concerns the affection – emotionally vibrant but never consummated – between Felix de Vandenesse and Henri...
This novel opens in the old town of Guerande which still enclosed by mighty walls and possesses moats still full of water. The houses have not changed and the streets are as they were one hundred years in the past. It is the family seat of the de Guenics. The old society of the town gather here to play cards and gossip, often about the younger generations. The son of the house, Calyste, is going to visit one of the main objects of this gossip and we learn of this person’s p...
„Ursula” novel is one of the pillars of the „Scenes of Provincial Life” section of Honoré de Balzac’s story cycle „The Human Comedy”. Through a series of tragedies and coincidences, a kind and pious teenager named Ursula has been taken in by an octogenarian wealthy doctor, Denis Minoret. Inspired by Ursula’s goodness, Minoret decides to make her his chief heir. This incites the ire of his other relatives, and a ruthless war for Minoret’s estate breaks out. In this book Balz...
„Over The Border: A Romance” written by Robert Barr who was a Scottish-Canadian short story writer and novelist. This book was published in 1903. Robert Barr (16 September 1849 – 21 October 1912) wrote more than 20 novels. Among the more estimable are „The victors” (New York, 1901), about metropolitan politics, and „The mutable many” (New York and London, 1896), which focused on an industrial strike. Both had a distinctively realistic basis, and both were written more objec...
Robert Barr (1849–1912) was a Scottish-Canadian short story writer and novelist, born in Glasgow, Scotland who relocated to London in 1881 where he founded the magazine „The Idler” in 1892 in collaboration with Jerome K Jerome. In 1895 he retired from its co-editorship and became a prolific novelist. His famous detective character Eugéne Valmont, fashioned after Sherlock Holmes, is said to be the inspiration behind Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. Some of his works include...
Fans of Romeo and Juliet will delight in the novella „Vendetta”, Honoré de Balzac’s unique take on the timeless theme of star-crossed lovers. This short novel is a story of love and revenge, dealing with the vendetta between two families of Corsican origin, set in early 19th century Paris just after the fall of Napoleon. It relates the tragic fate of Ginevra Piombo, the daughter of proud Corsican immigrants, who has the misfortune of falling in love with another Corsican Lu...
„Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan” is a comic tale about a society woman, a Princess and a Duchess, who attempts to recycle her slightly seedy past by pursuing a minor literary figure of great probity and innocence. The Princess de Cadignan, aka the Duchesse de Maufrigneuse, has consorted with such notable Balzac rakes as Henri de Marsay, Maxime de Trailles, and Eugene de Rastignac, but is disconcerted to find herself being stalked by an unknown but comely young man. Th...
„Lady Eleanor: Lawbreaker” is a love story pure and simple from a British-Canadian short story writer and novelist Robert Barr, born at Glasgow, Scotland but emigrated with his parents to Upper Canada at age four and was educated in Toronto at Toronto Normal School. Here, the heiress conceals the will so that her cousin, the disinherited son of the house, may come to his own. His first thought is to sell the estate to set Richard Sheridan the dramatist up in management. The...
„The Chicago Princess” is a historical novel with a romantic line, written by Robert Barr. Robert Barr (1849-1912) was a British-Canadian short story writer and novelist, who published the first Holmes parody, „The Adventures of Sherlaw Kombs” in 1892. A novel „The Chicago Princess” first published in 1904. After working several years in foreign affairs, and after winning and then losing a fortune, Rupert Tremorne is stranded in Nagasaki, at the end of his wits and in some ...
Forget the erroneous title, the central figure of this particular slice of Balzac’s lifelong gift to literature is a woman of character, Madame Veronique Graslin. Honoré de Balzac (20 May 1799 – 18 August 1850) is considered to be one of the fathers of realism in fiction and has crafted a vivid picture of Europe during the end of the Bourbon Monarchy. The first characters presented are the shopkeeper Sauviat and his family. The daughter, Veronique, is beautiful and charming...
Written in 1893, „Tekla: A Romance of Love and War” is a novel by Robert Barr. Great fun if you like a bit of chivalry and men in tights. Strongly recommended this book for every teenager who wants to discover the exciting world of reading medieval stories and for their parents! Robert Barr (1849-1912) was a British-Canadian short story writer and novelist, who published the first Holmes parody, „The Adventures of Sherlaw Kombs” in 1892. He relocated to London in 1881 where...
„Cousin Pons” is one of the last and greatest of Balzac’s novels of French urban society: a cynical, pessimistic but never despairing consideration of human nature. The book tells the story of Sylvain Pons, a poor moderately successful musician who is swindled by his wealthy relatives when they learn that his collection of art and antiques is worth a fortune. In contrast to his counterpart Cousin Bette, who seeks revenge against those who have humiliated her, Cousin Pons su...
Depicting the fatal clash between material desires and the liberating power of human passions, Honoré de Balzac’s „Eugénie Grandet” (1833) is one of the earliest and most famous novels in his „Comedie humaine” cycle, which portrays a society consumed by the struggle to amass wealth and achieve power. The Grandet household, oppressed by the exacting miserliness of Grandet himself, is jerked violently out of routine by the sudden arrival of Eugenie’s cousin Charles, recently ...
„The Girl with the Golden Eyes” is the third part of a trilogy. Part one is entitled „Ferragus” and part two is „The Duchesse de Langeais”. The three stories are frequently combined under the title „The Thirteen”. It tells the story of a rich and ruthless young man in nineteenth century Paris caught up in an amorous entanglement with a mysterious beauty. Henri de Marsay, a young dandy who is obsessed with appearances, a physically beautiful but spiritually empty young man w...
Originally published in 1830, here we have perhaps Balzac’s best short work, named simply „Gobseck”. Gobseck is a marvelous sketch of a money-lender and miser in Paris during the early part of the nineteenth century who is a font of psychological insight when it comes to humankind’s greed, vanity and other dark motives. His philosophy of never helping anyone because „adversity is the greatest of all teachers” was well known. He also believed that all the peoples of the worl...
Prior to the twentieth century, philosophy was the driving force behind all literature. Authors used the novel as a means to communicate their ideas on man’s purpose and his place in the universe. With Louis Lambert, however, Balzac takes the idea of the philosophical novel a little too far in giving us this odd, chimerical mashup of philosophical treatise and coming-of-age novel. The novel seems to focus on the life and particularly the thoughts of the genius boy protagoni...
By the French author, who, along with Flaubert, is generally regarded as a founding-father of nineteenth-century realism in European fiction. His large output of works, collectively entitled „The Human Comedy” (La Comedie Humaine), consists of 95 finished works and 48 unfinished works. The novel „A Start in Life” is part of the „Scenes of Private Life” section of Balzac’s masterpiece. In much of Balzac’s work, the aristocracy is portrayed as vain, duplicitous, and greedy. B...
This is the coming of age story of a young sculptor named Sarrasine and the choices he will face on his journey towards his destiny. We follow Sarrasine as he travels from France to Italy to search for his passion and find the love of his life. The story of Sarrasine is intertwined with that of the beautiful La Zambinella, and Italian singer with whom the young sculptor will fall madly, deeply in love with. From that moment, he was no longer the owner of his thoughts. Howev...
Immerse yourself in the inner workings of a quaint French village in this charming novel from Honoré de Balzac, an early master of literary realism. The work was dedicated to Balzac’s brother in law, an engineer in the corps royal des ponts et chaussées, Eugene Midy de la Greneraye Surville. Brimming with finely observed details and Balzac’s trademark insight into human motivations and morality, „An Old Maid”, the first book in „The Jealousies of a Country Town”, follows se...
This is one of the three novelettes that are grouped together as „The History of the Thirteen”, along with „Ferragus: Chief of the Companions of Duty” and „The Girl with the Golden Eyes”. The whole notion is that there is a secret society of wealthy gentlemen in Paris called „The Thirteen” which has powers approaching the supernatural. General Armand de Montriveau, a war hero, is enamored of Duchess Antoinette de Langeais, a coquettish, married noblewoman who invites him to...
„Ferragus” is an 1833 novel by French author Honoré de Balzac and included in the „Scenes de la vie parisienne” section of his novel sequence „La Comédie humaine”. It is part of his trilogy „Histoire des treize”: „Ferragus” is the first part, the second is „La Duchesse de Langeais” and the third is „The Girl with the Golden Eyes”. A captivating story about human emotions and relations, set in the year 1820. Balzac narrates the tale of a man who suspects his wife of infideli...
Emilie de Fontaine is a spoiled and pround brat. She rejects all suitors her father proposes. Emilie has incredibly high standards for the man she will marry, and at the top of her unreasonable list of criteria is that he absolutely must be a peer of France. Leaving Paris for the summer, as all good families do, they go to Sceaux. At the local ball, Emilie falls in love with a charming, beautifully mannered, elegant young man. Is he noble? Will he bestow a title on his wife...
„Apache Gold, A Story of the Strange Southwest” is a rip-roaring tale of adventure set on the Arizona frontiers of the American Old West written by Joseph Alexander Altsheler (April 29, 1862 – June 5, 1919). He was an American newspaper reporter, editor and author of popular juvenile historical fiction. An abiding classic of western literature, our hero in this tale is Charles Wayne, a young but strong and sharp lad who seeks adventure in the southwesterly desert frontier o...
„Domestic Peace”, a short story by Honoré de Balzac, was originally published in 1831 under the French title of „La Paix du Ménage” and can be found in Scenes from private life (Scenes de la vie privee) in „La Comedie Humaine”. It takes place in November of 1809 at the height of Napoleon’s empire, a time of great splendor and decadence. Everyone who’s anyone in the Parisian aristocracy is gathered at a grand ball at the home of the Comte de Gondreville. Two guys Martial and...
Monsieur Guillaume is a draper in Paris. He owns his shop, „La Maison du Chat-qui-pelote” and took the business over from his master, also marrying the daughter. Guillaume is the very portrait of the successful bourgeois. He has three clerks apprenticed to him, the first of whom, Joseph, is an orphan he intends to marry to his elder daughter Virginie. However, Joseph is in love with the younger daughter Augustine but Augustine is in love with a successful artist Théodore. H...
In 1807 Colonel Chabert, Napoleon’s beloved commander, is severely wounded in the Battle of Eylau. Taken for dead and buried in a mass grave, he manages to escape and wanders in poverty through Europe for 10 years, torn between life and death, oblivion and consciousness. Finally recovering his memories, he sets out for Paris to search for his wife who had been a prostitute before he married her and to reclaim his possessions. In the several years while he had been gone, his...
In 1895, this scandalous book titled „The Woman Who Did” by Grant Allen promulgating certain startling views on marriage and kindred questions, became a bestseller. The book told the story of an independent, young, self-assured middle-class woman who has a child out of wedlock. Herminia Barton, Cambridge-educated daughter of the Dean of Dunwich, is more determined than most to arrange her own life. She accordingly enters into a relationship outside marriage with one of her ...
„The Country Doctor” („Le Médecin de Campagne”), by Honoré de Balzac, belongs to the series known as „Scenes from Country Life”; a part of his great cycle of fiction, „The Comedy of Human Life”. It is one of Balzac’s noblest pieces of fiction, presenting beautiful traits of human nature with sympathy and power. The scene is laid in a village near Grenoble in France, and the story begins with the year 1829. Doctor Benassis is the title character of this novel. He is a compas...
In a dark, narrow street in Paris lives an old widow and her pretty young daughter, sit by the window most days. They share a poor but contented existence, supporting themselves through embroidery work. They see a gentleman in a brown coat pass by in the mornings and return in the evenings. The mother always remarks that he appears either over-worked or in delicate health. The daughter ignores most of her remarks as her mother sees every passer-by as a possible protector fo...
An extremely collectible, sweet little book named for and written in honor of Balzac’s mother. Comtesse Honorine de Bauvan was married to the Comte at nineteen. She leaves him and is later abandoned by her lover when she becomes pregnant. She lives simply and earns money by making artificial flowers. What she doesn’t know is that her husband is paying exorbitant prices for her work, thus supporting her while letting her think she is independent of him. The story is perhaps ...
Originally published in 1900, „Linnet, A Romance” is a classic romance novel by noted author Charles Grant Blairfindie Allen. Two young English tourists come to a little mountain village Tyrol where they find the Tyrolese in all their native simplicity; the young men, with the pride and aspirations of the hunter, who dance wildly and make love fiercely, and the maidens of easy virtue who tend their cows in the summer and serve a master in the village through the long winter...
Colonel Cuthbert Clay is a master of disguise and an ingenious con man who sets his sights on the South African Millionaire, Sir Charles Vandrift, a millionaire owner of diamond mines in Africa. Each chapter brings new cringing on the reader’s part as we realize before Charles does that he is about to be a victim anew. As his South African diamond fortune takes hit after hit from the quick-witted master of disguise, the author leaves even the reader guessing: who can you tr...
The Unwilling Vestalm, written by Edward Lucas White, tells the story of the difficult choice of the main character. Young girl in imperial Rome. She is in love with a young nobleman, but her father insists that she marry another man, Kalvaster, or becomea Vestal virgin. The woman becomes Vestal, one of the six virgin priestesses of the goddess Vesta, whose duty was to protect the sacred flame in the Temple of Vesta. If the flame ever goes out, it will have dire consequence...
On the pages of the works of Lewis Wallace characters lived, fell in love, fought and died, influencing the structure of public affairs. This novel tells about the events that led to the fall of Constantinople. Legendary wandering Jew under the guise of the Prince of India helps save the city. A wandering Jew served as the basis for several stories, and this is one of the best.
A Tale of the Christ – one of the popular novels written by Lewis Wallace. It is considered „the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century”. The novel reflects the themes of betrayal, condemnation and redemption with a plot of revenge that leads to a story of love and compassion. It was the bestselling novel of all time.
The whole story revolves around the Northern Valley, which at the end of the 18th century had a great debt for the state, about 5 million. This noble kingdom, from which the state of Tennessee was to be created, was conquered by the confiscation and rifles of the settlers over the mountains and cost North Carolina neither blood nor money. The republic was too young to develop. This is a historic event for North Carolina. How could she get out of this situation?
Hugh Pendexter was an American author who also wrote under the pseudonyms H. P. and Faunce Rochester. The main character is hiding from a man who does not give him peace of mind. He came to one of the many wildlife homes. He had utilised this unique Shelter more than once when breaking his journey at the junction of the Monongahela and the Cheat.
Spirit of Old Essex draws together Arthur Morrison’s lost treasure of a novel „Cunning Murrell”, a jocular tale of witchcraft, old salts, pugilists, smuggling and country life long lost, together with additional background information on Morrison’s research and inspiration. „Cunning Murrell” is a fictionalized biography of James Murrell, also known as Cunning Murrell, who was an English cunning man, or professional folk magician. In this capacity, he reportedly employed mag...
The romance story of a hearty well-known explorer, who finally, at the age of 62 crosses the Antarctic and the spinster who accompanies him on his journey to the Andes in 1895. Here we have a young Victorian woman’s unconventional romance with a man, who was already married, had various adventures, was disowned by her family, etc. So, what happened in between? Did their romance end when he left for his next expedition? Will his crazy wife ever die so that they can get marri...
1913. „The Devil’s Garden” is a popular classic work by W. B. Maxwell. The main character in this story is William Dale who is Postmaster of Rodhaven. He is introduced as an honest peasant of uncompromising temper, whose rough nature is ever softened by his pretty wife Mavis. Dale’s evening in London is transformed into a catastrophe when he learns a past secret about Mavis that threatens his marriage. Confronted with this secret, Will and Mavis struggle to make their marri...
Jesse James (September 5, 1847 – April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary figure of the Wild West after his death. His exploits inspired the imagination of America, including a whole series of dime novels dedicated to his adventures. This tale was originally published in 1901 and writ...
British novelist William B. Maxwell (1866-1938), the son of novelist Mary Elizabeth Braddon, wrote both plays and novels. He is well known for his drama „The Last Man In” (1910) and the satire „The Naked Truth” (1910). Maxwell wrote almost 40 novels which include „Tudor Green” (1935), „The Ragged Messenger” (1904) and „The Devil’s Garden” (1913). He also enlisted as a lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers at the age of 50, with the outbreak of World War I. Written in 1911, „Mrs...
In this story, readers are introduced to Leonard Outram, a penniless British adventurer in his pocket who is seeking wealth in distant lands, having lost his family lands and estates. He is involved in the rescue of a young Portuguese woman from the largest slave camp in Africa. As a result, the main character discovered a lost race. He will not be easy, because he will face their God.
This is another of Haggard’s eternal love stories. This novel tells of intersecting fates, the triangle: scholarly Morris Monk, inventor; his first cousin, Mary Porson; and the daughter of the new church rector, Stella Fregelius. The story at one point plays with the idea that love cannot exist between man and woman without lust, which implies a rare power to Morris and Stella’s bond. The moral of this story is: love that lives after death, and that spiritual connection is ...
Haggard wrote the story „Red Eve” in six months. In it, we meet Sir Hugh de Cressi, the son of a merchant who is in love with Eve. She, too, is in love with him, but a traitor knight Sir Edmund Acour is caring for her. He realizes that he cannot conquer her feelings and gives her a potion. The result is that she did marry him. But how long will this potion act? Unlike other stories, where events are developing in Africa, here readers will be able to travel around Europe....
Pearl Maiden is an intriguing and exciting story, especially for those who love historical fiction. The story of Miriam, who was born immediately after the first persecution of Christians soon after the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Although her parents do not survive, she becomes a Christian and is an observer of the fall of Jerusalem to Rome. Historical accuracy is clearly and clearly described: from the Jewish faith to the order
Queen of the Dawn is an ancient Egyptian fantasy. The beginning of the story is very rapidly developing, from the very beginning the pharaon dies. And the daughter of Pharaoh is forced to hide. She meets and falls in love with the usurper’s disguised son. The end is full of adventures and bright battles.
Nada the Lily is a historical novel. It tells about the origins of Umslopogaas, the illegitimate son of the Zulu king in the 19th century. Parts of the story are inspired by the real historical events and fairy tales that Haggard heard during his time in South Africa. Haggard portrays the Zulus as real people–people with hopes and dreams, as well as flaws.
Belshazzar is the latest novel by Henry Rider Haggard. He wrote it shortly before his death. All events revolve around Ramose, a descendant of the Egyptian pharaoh and the Greek. He decides to radically change his life and go on adventures. As a result, this decision leads to the fall of Babylon at the hand of the Persian Empire under Cyrus.
Historical novel during the reign of King Henry VII. The story of Peter Brom, who kills a soldier of the Spanish ambassador. The only thing Peter wants is to be with Margaret. This brings them into contact with the powerful Spanish marquis Aguilar, who falls in love with Margaret and plays conspiracies and secret kidnappings, and sends her to Spain to convince her to marry him. Margaret with all her heart loves Peter, who, together with her father, pursues them to Spain in ...
Georg Ebers is famous for his historical novels. At the heart of the Serapis novel, Christians are going to rally against the god Serapis. „This army of the Saviour whose very essence was gentleness and whose spirit was love, seemed indeed to have deserted from his standard of light and grace to the blood-stained banner of murderous hatred”. However, all this happens very poetic and calm.
Georg Ebers was one of the first who decided to popularize Egyptian knowledge through historical novels. So, for example, the Historical novel „Homo sum” is dedicated to the birth of the institution of monasticism in the depths of the Christian communities of Egypt and Syria. Unlike other novels of Georg Ebers, in this we find the life and customs of the Egyptian people. This novel is not inferior to others, even surpasses the knowledge of the people of Egypt.
A nineteenth-century novel from a German Egyptologist and novelist who discovered the Egyptian medical papyrus in Luxor. Georg Ebers wanted to familiarize the public with the discoveries of Egyptologists. The novel really describes the hard life of Egypt in the 19th century. An unusual theme for the novel was chosen, but really interesting and exciting.
No manly boy ever grows tired of sea stories – there is an irresistible fascination about them, and they are a recreation to the mind. A tale of being adrift on the Pacific Ocean, with Dave discovering a mysterious cave. Full of startling incident, clever dialogue, admirable descriptions of sky and water in all their aspects, and plenty of fun. Originally written for young men, this adventure tale is great reading for the whole family. The four-volume „Deep Sea” series was ...
Europa, niewielki obszar w skali świata, stworzyła cywilizację, której kultura, nauka, gospodarka i polityka osiągnęły bogactwo nigdzie indziej niespotykane. Po dziś dzień wraz ze swą córką Ameryką wywiera dominujący wpływ na cały świat. Początek tej wielkiej przyszłości europejskiej to V wiek, spotkanie Germanów i chylącego się ku upadkowi antycznego świata, germańskiego instynktu państwowo- i prawotwórczego ze schrystianizowaną już tradycją Grecji i Rzymu. Także chrześ...
Alfred John Church (1829-1912) was an English classical scholar. He was born in London and was educated at King’s College, London and Lincoln College, Oxford. From 1880 until 1888 he was professor of Latin at University College, London. While at University College in partnership with William Jackson Brodribb, he translated Tacitus and edited Pliny’s Letters. Church also wrote a number of stories in English re-telling of classical tales and legends for young people. He was a...
Alfred J. Church was a 19th century historian best known for his comprehensive histories on different periods of the Roman Empire, including this one. „Life in the Days of Cicero” is a fascinating look at the life of one of the most influential men in the ancient world: Marcus Tullius Cicero. It portraits of various characters provide a description of life and manners in first century B.C. Rome. Philosopher, politician, lawyer, Cicero made his name with his famous orations ...
Alfred J. Church was a 19th century historian best known for his comprehensive histories on different periods of the Roman Empire, including this one. Vivid story of Rome in the days of Nero, beginning with the burning of the city, seemingly ordered by Nero himself. The narrative revolves around a set of characters who suffer acutely in the cruel persecutions of the Christians, set in motion by Nero after the fire to deflect blame for the conflagration from himself and fast...
Alfred John Church (1829-1912) was an English classical scholar. He was born in London and was educated at King’s College London, and Lincoln College, Oxford, he took holy orders and was an assistant-master at Merchant Taylors’ School for many years. Church wrote a number of stories in English re-telling of classical tales and legends for young people. „Lucius Adventures of a Roman Boy”, follows Lucius as he talks with Cicero, meets Spartacus, falls in love, is kidnapped by...
„The Story of the Last Days of Jerusalem” is a history that covers the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of the Roman Empire, the culmination of centuries of conflict in the region between the Romans and Jewish inhabitants. Recounts the events leading up to the opening of the war with the Romans, Josephus’s brave defense of Jotapata, its final capture and his escape from death, and finally the siege of Jerusalem, the burning of the temple, and the razing of the city. Alfred J....
„Stories From Livy” is a great collection of stories about important events and people in Roman history. Tales of early Roman history drawn from the greatest of Roman historians, and admirably retold by Alfred J. Church. Features stories of the founding of Rome, the expulsion of kings, and the early days of the republic. It covers the period from the founding of Rome through the Samnite Wars (about 750 to 300 B.C.). Famous stories of the Roman kings, and such early heroes a...
The hero of this book is a Greek enemy of Rome, who vainly tries to resist the all-conquering Romans. During the course of his trials he befriends Hasdrubal, the Carthaginian general, Polybius, the great historian of the Punic Wars, and Scipio the Younger, the general who conquers Carthage. During the course of his struggle, he begins to understand the weaknesses of the Greek and Punic civilizations, and why they are unable to resist the domination of Rome. Originally publi...
So little is known from history about the last years of the Roman occupation that the writer of fiction has almost a free hand. In this story a novel, but, it is hoped, not an improbable, view is taken in an important event – the withdrawal of the legions. This is commonly assigned to the year 410, when the Emperor Honorius formally withdrew the Imperial protection from Britain. But the usurper Constantine had actually removed the British army two years before; and, as he w...
Fascinating short history of the life and legends of Romulus and the foundation of Rome and the Roman empire. There is political intrigue, social foundation and mystery/magic in this telling of this long distant time in history. It is a fitting way to encounter the stories of Romulus. This book will not leave indifferent those who love the history of ancient mythology.
This book covers the whole history of England after the death of Richard 1. Great emphasis is placed on the coming to power of Richard 2. His overthrow and death are also described in detail by the author. Jacob Abbott offers a more complete picture as is possible, within such limits, of the ideas and principles, the manners and customs.
This book takes you inside the life and times of one of the most notoriously monstrous emperors of history. This story helps to expand your knowledge of history. Easy-to-read story about an ominous leader. We all hear some of the horror stories about Nero, but this provided a better look in the situations around him at the time.
What Jacob Abbott really appreciates is his ability to uncover and animate well-known characters. So, for example, he did with Peter the Great. Most of the story is dedicated to the achievements of the great leader. But at the same moment he can describe the cruelty that lives in Peter the Great. What was particularly interesting in this book was Peter’s conflict with his son Alexis; it was an emotionally powerful narrative.
Ebooki to książki, których treść została zapisana w formie elektronicznej. Są nazywane również e-książkami, publikacjami elektronicznymi czy książkami elektronicznymi. Ebooki można odczytywać na komputerach i laptopach, ale są one przeznaczone głównie do czytania na urządzeniach przenośnych takich jak smartfony, tablety i przede wszystkim czytniki książek elektronicznych. Ebooki posiadające swoje pierwowzory w formie papierowej są jej odwzorowaniem. Posiadają wszystkie elementy obecne w „tradycyjnej” wersji, takie jak okładkę, ilustracje, spis treści, przypisy itp.
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Jest formatem ebooków wykorzystywanym przez czytniki firmy Amazon – Kindle (oraz na innych urządzeniach i programach dostępnych na rynku). Publikacje MOBI są zapisane w formacie Mobipocket, można więc pobrać je na dowolny sprzęt elektroniczny posiadający oprogramowanie umożliwiające odczytanie plików MOBI. Format ten jest oparty na języku HTML, dlatego jego wyświetlanie jest możliwe na urządzeniach mobilnych.
To format zapewniający taki sam wygląd strony jak w wersji papierowej – w tym formacie podział na strony jest sztywny. PDF służy do długoterminowego archiwizowania elektronicznych danych i może być odczytywany na większości komputerów, laptopów, smartfonów, czytników czy tabletów.
Czytanie powieści historycznych stało się w ostatnim czasie popularne na całym świecie niewątpliwie za sprawą serii powieści o rodzinie Bridgertonów Julii Quinn - co jednak przesądza o ich popularności?
W księgarni Woblink w tej kategorii znajdziecie powieści o wielkich władcach (jak słynna seria "Królowie przeklęci" Maurice'a Druona), mitycznych bohaterach (jak na przykład liczne powieści o królu Arturze i Rycerzach Okrągłego Stołu) czy powieści historyczno-fantastyczne (twórcą tego terminu jest Teodor Parnicki, autor między innymi dzieła "Srebrne orły"). Odkryjcie tajemnice powieści historycznej, sięgając po książki papierowe, audiobooki lub ebooki dostępne na Woblink!
W powieściach historycznych, na tle wydarzeń historycznych pojawiają się zarówno postaci fikcyjne, jak i postaci historyczne, przeżywając różnego typu przygody, rozterki i radości. Książki wchodzące w skład tej kategorii przedstawiają różne epoki i okresy historyczne. Akcja powieści historycznej może rozgrywać się od starożytności, jak na przykład "Quo Vadis" Henryka Sienkiewicza, przez średniowiecze, dziewiętnasty wiek aż do czasów I i II wojny światowej.
Znaleźć tu możemy utwory wchodzące w skład kanonu literatury polskiej i europejskiej, jak Trylogia Henryka Sienkiewicza, a więc jego "Ogniem i mieczem", "Potop" oraz "Pan Wołodyjowski" czy „Trzej muszkieterowie” Aleksandra Dumasa, a także zbeletryzowane biografie takich osób jak genialny malarz postimpresjonistyczny Vincent van Gogh („Pasja życia” Irvinga Stone’a) czy zapomniana przez świat nauki Mileva Marić („Pani Einstein” Marie Benedict).
Do popularnych podgatunków powieści historycznej należy także z pewnością zaliczyć romans historyczny - opowieść, w której punktem centralnym jest uczucie pomiędzy dwojgiem ludzi. By je obronić, muszą oni mierzyć się z przeciwnościami losu spowodowanymi m.in. rozgrywającymi się w tle wydarzeniami historycznymi. To często równocześnie książki wojenne - należy do nich na przykład cykl "Lwowska odyseja" Magdaleny Kawki. Składają się na niego powieści: "Pora westchnień, pora burz", "Powrót z piekła", "Nowy początek" oraz "Trudna radość", które na Woblink dostępne są jako audiobooki oraz ebooki.
W serwisie Woblink.com znajdują się także opowieści o starożytności, (np. trzytomowy cykl Roberta Harrisa – „Cycero”, „Spisek”, „Dyktator” – o starożytnym Rzymie, którego bohaterem jest wybitny mówca i polityk Marek Tulliusz Cyceron), legendach arturiańskich („Trylogia arturiańska” Bernarda Cornwella) czy II wojnie światowej i obozach zagłady (bestsellerowa powieść „Tatuażysta z Auschwitz” Heather Morris), a także kryminały („W cieniu prawa” Remigiusza Mroza) i romanse historyczne („Nieproszona miłość” Julii Justiss).
Jak napisać dobrą powieść osadzoną na tle wydarzeń z przeszłości? Wiedzą to najlepiej autorzy powieści historycznych, tacy jak wspomniani już Henryk Sienkiewicz czy Teodor Parnicki. Znane polskie powieści z tego gatunku tworzył jednak rzecz jasna nie tylko Sienkiewicz - dość wspomnieć Karola Bunsha i jego wielotomowy cykl znany jako "Powieści piastowskie". Współczesnym czytelnikom znana jest również zapewne twórczość Jacka Komudy (poprzez na przykład jego "Samozwańca. Polacy na Kremlu") czy Elżbiety Cherezińskiej, pisarki specjalizującej się w powieściach dotyczących historii Polski w różnych okresach dziejowych. W ofercie księgarni Woblink znajdziecie książki Cherezińskiej o zjeździe gnieźnieńskim („Gra w kości”), rozbiciu dzielnicowym („Korona śniegu i krwi”), II wojnie światowej („Legion”), a nawet o wikingach (saga „Północna droga”).
Nie sposób nie wspomnieć także o innych twórcach tworzących wyjątkowy świat powieści historycznej, takich jak Ken Follett i jego "Świat bez końca", Umberto Eco i "Cień róży" czy Julian Fellowes i jego "Belgravia". Warto czytać powieści historyczne i dzięki nim dowiadywać się wielu ciekawych rzeczy o historii oraz życiu osób w dawnych czasach
Szczególną odmianą powieści historycznej jest powieść biograficzna, skupiająca się na życiu jednej bądź kilku postaci (wtedy ich losy przedstawiane są równolegle). Historia tego gatunku literackiego sięga starożytności i żywotów sławnych ludzi tworzonych przez Plutarcha czy Swetoniusza, a także średniowiecznych hagiografii. Powieść biograficzna opiera się z reguły na istniejącej dokumentacji i potwierdzonych śladach życia osoby lub osób, które są jej podmiotem. Tam, gdzie brak faktów najczęściej pojawiają się hipotezy i fikcja literacka. Takie elementy znajdziecie chociażby w powieści biograficznej "Pasja życia" Irvinga Stone'a - historii życia Vincentego van Gogha - czy w "Hrabinie Cosel" Józefa Ignacego Kraszewskiego.
W Polsce w ostatnich latach pojawiło się wiele ciekawych dzieł z tego gatunku. Polecamy m.in. "Ja, Tamara. Powieść o Tamarze Łempickiej" Grzegorza Musiała, powieść "Lenin" Ferdynanda Antoniego Ossendowskiego czy autobiograficzne dzieło Elizy Kąckiej "Wczoraj byłaś zła na zielono", dostępne na Woblink także jako ebooki.
Ważne miejsce w historycznej literaturze polskiej zajmuje powieść wojenna, a więc skupiająca się na losach postaci, które muszą mierzyć się z rzeczywistością konfliktu zbrojnego. Do popularnych współczesnych polskich powieści historycznych tego typu należą m.in. dzieła Ałbeny Grabowskiej (takie jak "Stulecie winnych" czy "Najważniejsze to przeżyć") oraz Joanny Jax (seria "Na obcej ziemi" czy powieści takie jak "Nadzieja w spiżarni ukryta"). Książki te dotykają z reguły tematów trudnych i opowiadają o wydarzeniach, o których niejednokrotnie chciałoby się zapomnieć. Bogdan Bartnikowski napisał książkę pod tytułem "Nocą przychodzi śmierć", opowiadającą o zapomnianej historii z małego miasteczka na Podlasiu, która miała miejsce w trakcie II wojny światowej. Z kolei "Kobiety" Kristin Hannah rozgrywają się w czasie wojny w Wietnamie.
Z pewnością trudno mówić o obszernej literaturze historycznej bez wspomnienia o wielu książkach skupiających się na Królu Arturze, w tym dziele "Excalibur Trylogia arturiańska" Bernarda Cornwella. Postaci historyczne często same dostarczają niezwykle bogatego materiału, na którym opierają się najsłynniejsze powieści historyczne. Liczne ich przykłady znajdziecie zarówno w literaturze polskiej, jak i zagranicznej.
Wśród szerokiej oferty współczesnych powieści historycznych również kryją się perełki. Polecamy sięgnąć po "Dżentelmena w Moskwie" Amora Towlesa czy "Złodziejkę książek" Markusa Zusaka.
Wejdźcie w świat powieści rozgrywających się w przeszłości - na Woblink szeroko otwieramy jego bramy, wybierajcie spośród wielu książek papierowych, audiobooków lub ebooków.
