Showing titles in Literary History & Criticism

A fascinating and intimate inquiry into the shadowy life and horrifyingly compelling work of Edgar Allan Poe, and why we are drawn to darkness in art Since Edgar Allan Poe’s mysterious death in 1849, his stories and poems have captivated millions of readers around the world. One hundred...

London, 1897. Sebastian Moran has an unusual employer, but you can't really be picky about work in this day and age. Being in the employment of James Moriarty is an exercise in patience - strange requests, jobs no sniper in his right mind would ever take - all without so much as an explanation. He won't have to endure alone much longer, though... Moriarty is assembling a team of the best criminals money can buy: a charismatic thief, an insane ex-murderer, a abomination of science, an utterly godless man, and the world's leading vampire scholar. Anything is possible in a world where one man can...

After a health crisis led Klickmann to leave the bustling city of London for the tranquility of the countryside, she began crafting a delightful series of sketches for The Girls Own Paper. In 1916, she published the first of several beloved books inspired by these sketches. Her charming cottage, affectionately referred to as Rosemary Cottage in her writings, boasted a picturesque garden and breathtaking views of the River Wye and Tintern Abbey. The Flower-Patch Among the Hills quickly became a hit, prompting a reprint within just two weeks. In the years that followed, Klickmann expanded her ...

Nobel Prize winner Han Kang’s first work of nonfiction published in English—an intimate, inspiring collection of writings on the connections between her life and art. What is love? It is the gold thread connecting between our hearts. In this light-filled and multifaceted book, Han Kang draws...

Dogs are not just pets; theyre heroes! This captivating book showcases the incredible stories of eleven remarkable dogs from around the globe who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and loyalty. Join us as we celebrate these furry champions and the incredible bonds they share with their humans. - Summary by Carolin

This program is read by actor and singer-songwriter Maya Hawke, star of Netflix's Stranger Things. "Narrating in a voice as clear and sustaining as a cool glass of water, Hawke’s unflashy approach allows the words to reveal their magic."—The Orange County Register "Didion’s timeless essays...

Dive into G.A. Hentys insightful and humorous exploration of the animal kingdom, where he sheds light on often-overlooked species and challenges the unfair perceptions humans hold about them. While the narrative reflects the era it was penned, it invites listeners to engage thoughtfully with its themes. Please be mindful that the content may not align with contemporary sensibilities, as LibriVox presents works unedited. - Summary by Silas Jackson

Every Thursday morning for two years in the Islamic Republic of Iran, a bold and inspired teacher named Azar Nafisi secretly gathered seven of her most committed female students to read forbidden Western classics. As Islamic morality squads staged arbitrary raids in Tehran, fundamentalists...

Omar Sharif leads an all-Egyptian cast in this three-part drama, recorded entirely in Egypt's capital. Adapted from the novels of Nobel Prize-winning author Naguib Mahfouz, this gripping family saga chronicles the life of a downwardly-mobile middle class family as Egypt emerges from colonialism...

Dr. Creepen's Dungeon is a weekly hour-long podcast presenting the very best in contemporary horror, fantasy and sci-fi fiction. It comes out every Thursday. Catch all the new stories, Mon/Wed/Friday at 6pm EST / Midnight CET on my YouTube channel, Dr. Creepen's Vault!

Classic lit with a modern tone, every other week. From the creators of Myths and Legends, comes an altogether same-but-different podcast set in the world of classic lit. These are the stories of Dracula, The Time Machine, The Three Musketeers. They're stories written by Jane Austen, Shakespeare, and H.P. Lovecraft, but with a casual, modern tone. Listen as Jason and Carissa Weiser breathe new life into the classics and tell the stories of some of the greatest books ever written.

This is perhaps one of the best-loved of all journals. William Wordsworth's sister, Dorothy, began it in May 1800 and resolved to keep it for a short time. She continued it for nearly three years. In it, she brought the Dove Cottage years to vivid and intimate life. She noted the walks and weather, the friends, country neighbours, and travellers on the roads. She set down accounts of the garden, of Wordsworth's marriage, their concern for Coleridge, and the composition of Wordsworth's poetry.

A foundling of mysterious parentage, Tom Jones is brought up by the benevolent and wealthy Squire Allworthy as his own son. Tom falls in love with the beautiful and unattainable Sophia Western, a neighbor’s daughter, whose marriage has already been arranged. When Tom’s sexual misadventures around the countryside get him banished, he sets out to make his fortune and find his true identity.

The hilarious memoir from award-winning comedian Bridget Christie. When Bridget Christie walked into her local bookshop, she thought she'd come out with a book. And maybe a calendar of cute photos of cats (hopefully unlike you've just done). The last thing she thought she'd be leaving with was the need for a new wave of feminism and the start of an incredibly successful career.

From Wilkie Collins to the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the traditional image of the Victorian detective is male. Few people realize that women detectives successfully investigated Victorian Britain, working both with the police and for private agencies, which they sometimes managed themselves. Sara Lodge recovers these forgotten women’s lives. She also reveals the sensational role played by the fantasy female detective in Victorian melodrama and popular fiction, enthralling a public who relished the spectacle of a cross-dressing, fist-swinging heroine.

English novelist Barbara Pym’s career was defined, in many senses, by rejection. Her first novel Some Tame Gazelle was turned down by every publisher she sent it out in 1935, finally published only 15 years later. Though she picked up a publisher from there and received modest praise, the publishing industry grew restless and her sales spiralled downwards. By her seventh novel, she had been dropped. This brilliant biography, brimming with Pym’s private diaries and intimate letters, offers a first full insight into Barbara Pym’s life and how it informed her writing.

Romance, Erotica, a sexy voice, humor and artful storytelling. Everything you need to feel great.

This frank and sometimes controversial diary details one hectic year in the eye of the showbiz storm, cut with a heavy mix of the day-to-day goings-on in Bexhill, where Harry lives at home with his mother, occasional Filipina fiancée Lay Dee and a dog who has a job at the airport. Follow Harry's attempts to become a judge on X Factor and his efforts to meet the Welsh chanteuse Duffy at Warwick Avenue.

Al Murray's Book of British Common Sense helped Great Britain get back on her feet by providing an injection of common sense to counteract all the balls and waffle we've been subjected to in this once great nation of ours. Now he's back, and he's turning his attention to You. The Pub Landlord knows that you, like so many others in Broken Britain, need help to Help Yourselves.

I never meant to fall for my billionaire stepbrother.But he has trapped me behind the kitchen counter, followed me into the girls’ locker room, and snuck into my bedroom when our parents were fast asleep more times than I can count.Basked in the privileges of wealth, fame, and high school football stardom, Jace is everything that I loathe. When our parents take a vacation and force us to spend a week alone, memories of our time together two years ago–before he broke my heart–come flooding back.And I want them all to go away, because…Senior year is supposed to be for staying under the ...