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Скачивание или чтение онлайн электронных книг.The Story of My Life (The Complete Memoirs of Giacomo Casanova, Volume 3 of 12)
A Venetian adventurer, author, and lifelong womanizer, the name of Casanova has become interchangeable with the art of seduction since the 18th century. In his most notable book, «Story of My Life,» Casanova narrates countless tales of the people with whom he interacted: lovers, European royalty, clergymen, and artists such as Goethe, Voltaire, and Mozart. His writing demonstrates his talent for dialogue, while his life seems an inadvertent testament to skill in plot development. Casanova gambled, spied, translated, dueled, schemed, traveled, and observed people of all levels of society, having been born of two actors and becoming a self-made gentleman. He writes of his life without regret, recalling his adventures, from necromancy to imprisonment, with general honesty and the occasional embellishment, and always with a good humor. In this remarkable celebration of the senses, Casanova proves his talent for storytelling by revealing a refreshingly authentic view of the customs and everyday life of social 18th century Europeans, ultimately proving his claim that «I can say I have lived.» In this edition you will find the third of twelve volumes of «The Complete Memoirs.»
Esther
The 17th century dramatist Jean Racine was considered, along with Molière and Corneille, as one of the three great playwrights of his era. The quality of Racine's poetry has been described as possibly his most important contribution to French literature and his use of the alexandrine poetic line is one of the best examples of such use noted for its harmony, simplicity and elegance. While critics over the centuries have debated the worth of Jean Racine, at present, he is widely considered a literary genius of revolutionary proportions. In this volume of Racine's plays we find «Esther», the penultimate of twelve plays by the author. «Esther» was written at the request of Madame de Maintenon, second wife of King Louis XIV of France, who wished Racine write some more liturgical works to be performed by the pupils of the Maison royale de Saint-Louis, a famous academy for girls. Racine's drama concerns the Biblical character of Esther, Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus, who is commonly thought to be Xerxes I.
Maggie: A Girl of the Streets
"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets", Stephen Crane's first novel, is the story of a beautiful young girl living in the slums of New York in the late 19th Century. «Maggie: A Girl of the Streets» is a shockingly explicit portrait of the brutal conditions that existed in the poverty-stricken slums of New York. Originally refused by all publishers that it was submitted to because of its brutal and sexual realism, «Maggie: A Girl of the Streets» was first published by Stephen Crane at his own expense.
A Century of Dishonor
Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885) was an American writer who most widely became famous as an activist to improve United States government treatment of Native Americans. In 1879 her interests turned to the Native Americans after hearing a lecture in Boston by Standing Bear, the Ponca Chief. He described the forceful removal of the Ponca from their reservation in Nebraska. Moved by the issues presented by Standing Bear, Hunt learned about the government defaulting on treaties, the removal of Indians to reservations, and the Indian Wars. Soon after Standing Bear's speech, she became an activist, investigating and publicizing government misconduct, circulating petitions, raising money, and writing letters to «The New York Times» on behalf of the Ponca. She gained the widest exposure with her novel, «Ramona», dramatizing the ill treatment by the US government of Native Americans in Southern California. «A Century of Dishonor», published in 1881, was a direct response to the adverse effect of government actions towards the Native Americans. A copy was sent to each member of the US Congress.
The Social Contract, A Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, and A Discourse on Political Economy
Jean-Jacques Rousseau writes, «Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.» This statement exemplifies the main idea behind «The Social Contract», in other words that man is essentially free if it weren't for the oppression of political organizations such as government. Rousseau goes on to lay forth the principles that he deems most important for achieving political right amongst people. Contained within this volume are also two discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In «A Discourse on the Origin of Inequality» Rousseau examines the causes of the inequalities that exist among men concluding that it is the natural result of the formation of any civilization. In «A Discourse on Political Economy» Rousseau examines the nature of politics and their effect on people. These three works lay a solid foundation for the political philosophy of Rousseau and are a must read for any student of political science or philosophy.
The Time Machine and The Invisible Man
"The Time Machine", one of the most loved science fiction novels of all time, is H. G. Wells 1895 novel which crafts a vivid and haunting picture of an earth some 800,000 years into the future. The first novel about time travel, «The Time Machine» was written during a period of great technological advancement, the impacts of which were of serious concern to Wells. The author poses the question in the novel; will technology ever go too far? The future world of the 'Eloi', depicted in the novel, warns of the dangerous consequences of unchecked technological advancements. Also included in this edition is another of Wells' most popular works, «The Invisible Man». It is the story of a scientist, Griffen, who discovers a serum that will turn his entire body invisible. The initial excitement over the possibilities quickly dissipates when Griffen, who uses the formula on himself, is unable to turn himself visible again. «The Invisible Man» is a cautionary tale about tampering with the laws of the universe. It is the story of how one scientist's great discovery leads him into a state of madness. Readers will delight in these two cautionary tales about the potential dangers of scientific and technological progress.
The Mill on the Floss
"The Mill on the Floss" is George Eliot's 1860 novel, which tells the story of Tom and Maggie Tulliver, a brother and sister growing up on the river Floss near the village of St. Oggs. Set in the early 1800s over a period of ten to fifteen years, «The Mill on the Floss» follows the two main characters from childhood. Central to the theme of the novel is the struggle of man between spiritual determinism and free will. A classic work of 19th century literature, «The Mill on the Floss» remains a popular and enduring example of George Eliot's impact on English literature.
His Last Bow
"His Last Bow" is a collection of eight detective stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous literary creation, Sherlock Holmes. Contained within this collection are the following tales: The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge, The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, The Adventure of the Red Circle, The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans, The Adventure of the Dying Detective, The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, The Adventure of the Devil's Foot, and His Last Bow.
The Shadow Line
A shining example of Conrad's later literary ability, «The Shadow-Line» is his 1915 autobiographical novella of a young man in his first command as a sea captain. A series of crises prove incredibly difficult for his new authority, for the sea is curiously becalmed and the crew is weakened by feverish malaria. When the first mate's fear convinces many that the ship is haunted and cursed by the malevolent spirit of the previous captain, the young man must cope with their superstition as well as the conspicuous absence of much-needed medicine. A suspenseful sea story of a young man in a defining moment of his life, when the indistinct line separating an inexperienced boy from a mature man becomes perfectly clear, «The Shadow-Line» brims with intense existence, straining responsibility, and threatened principles in a probing study of masculinity.
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
John Bunyan (1628-1688) is most famously known for writing «The Pilgrim's Progress», a two-part allegory of the Christian pilgrimage toward salvation. The wildly popular book was written in Bedford during Bunyan's time in prison—he was sentenced to twelve years for holding unlicensed church services. During this time Bunyan also completed an autobiography recounting the story of his own conversion from a life of sin and impiety to one of virtue and spiritual regeneration. «Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners» illustrates the tenets of Puritanism through what Bunyan saw as God's saving grace in his own life. He reflects on a sinful youth, and how it led him towards an impious adulthood. Those who read the novel are comforted by Bunyan's honest admission to feelings of despair and doubt; even today, many people can identify with his struggles, and find inspiration in his faith and religious conviction.