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Все книги издательства IngramThe Tragical History of Dr. Faustus - The Original Classic Edition
Not everybody knows Faust(us). But a lot do. Most readers know this tragic personnage who allied himself with the devil and finally paid the price for his betrayal of God from a famous play written by J.W. Goethe. It was him who wrote the most famous version of Fausts history. But he wasnt the only dramatist who considered this lost magician worth a tragedy. Exactly 2 centuries and 1 year before Goethe published his work, a play by the Englishman Christopher Marlowe saw the light of the world. <p> Marlowe and Goethe are different personalities living in completely different times so that its no wonder their plays vary in character. Goethe lived in prosperity and had all his life to think about subjects like human nature, social relationships, history and its influence on the present, love, religion and much more. He was a philosoph, and thats the reason why Goethes Faust is sometimes difficult to understand because you have to dive under the surface of things to understand their true nature. Marlowes work is different: This man was certainly very intelligent and knew a lot about the forces that moved the world, but, unlike Goethe, he didnt have a lifetime to think about one single play. You can imagine that Marlowes Faust became more shallow, but still not shallow enough to be ignored by this imaginary institution we call World Literature. As a compensation, Marlowes work contains more life and action in it, something you cant say about Goethes. Both men were geniuses. <p> As stated above, the play tells the story of a medieval scientist who allies himself with the devil. The latter promises to serve the first in this world, whereas Faust must do the same in hell. The poor doctor doubts his choices because its his soul being sold, still he follows the devil and has the time of his life. Returning to Goethe to show you another important difference between both versions: Whereas Marlowes Faust wants the devil to provide him with fun and all richness of the world (materialism), Goethes alter ego feels the importance to be educated by the devil to get a complete picture of the world. At the end, Marlowes Faust realizes that all experiences werent worth his soul. He begs God to save him, but it is no longer possible. The devil tears his body apart and takes his soul with him to infinite sufferings. <p> The effect this play will have on you is tremedous. Fascinated, youll watch Fausts development. Youll particularly like the 5th act where he realizes that all is finally lost. You can really feel his pain in those scenes; the effect is unbelievable. <p> So, if you want to be touched by human tragedy, I really advise you to read this book. Its done very quickly, so you neednt worry about the time it takes.
A Treatise of Human Nature - The Original Classic Edition
Before he chose to diddle away his later years writing book after book of history, playing house with Rousseau, annoying the religious authorities, and forging a lasting reputation as an all-around good guy, Hume dedicated his youth to writing the this book, which is nothing less than the single greatest work of philosophy in the English language. Indeed, I dont think there are even any other close competitors for that title. Naturally, then, this work was largely ignored during Humes lifetime. <p> Notwithstanding the widely told, and somewhat accurate, standard story of the history of modern philosophy according to which Kants rearguard action in response to Hume is the culmination of the modern period, I think that this book rather than Kants First Critique is where its at. Certainly, no book of modern philosophy compares to this complex, intricately argued, inspiring, maddening, imaginative, iconoclastic, encyclopedic tome when it comes to influence on contemporary philosophers in the Anglo-American analytic tradition. And while its true that Kants system is almost unparalleled in the breadth of its influence, defenders of the traditional story of modern philosophy need to remember that almost. For it seems to me that, among the moderns, Hume got there first. He, and not Kant, is the first modernist whose importance is manifest in all the main areas of philosophy: epistemology (skepticism and the problem of induction), metaphysics (causation, personal identity, etc.), philosophy of mind (action theory, rationality) meta-ethics (meta-ethical subjectivism, proto-noncognitivism, reason vs. emotions, moral psychology, etc.), normative ethics (importance of benevolence, justice as an artificial virtue, etc.). <p> Why is Hume so important? I think there are two reasons, each corresponding to one of the influential interpretations of Humes work as a whole. The first interpretation of Humes corpus sees it as shot through with a radical skepticism about anything and everything, and corresponding to this interpretation is a conception of Humes importance as consisting in his occupying the place of the philosopher opponent of common sense par excellence. Hume, according to this interpretation, takes the empiricism of Locke, which in his hands looks like nothing so much as self-conscious common sense, and wields it as a weapon against more or less everything we tend to believe. That is, we should see Hume as taking up the empiricism of Locke and Berkeley and pushes it to its logical conclusion: a thoroughgoing skepticism. Think you can know there is a mind-independent world of physical objects? Think youre a single person who persists through time? Think things stand in causal relationships to one another? Think you can know whether the sun will explode tomorrow? You should think again, Hume says, and hes happy to show you why empiricism leads to this conclusion. So, if this is right, the importance of Humes project consists in its status as a for rationalists, for non-skeptics of all stripes, and for all ordinary, right-thinking folks. <p> To whom do I recommend this book? The answer, in short, is everyone. If youre even slightly interested in philosophy, you simply cant get by without reading this. If youre at all interested in the history of ideas, you need to read this. If youre the slightest bit curious about our modern worldview and its origin, it would be a good idea for you to read this. If youre interested enough in Hume to have come across this review and read it to this point, youll want to read this.
Romeo And Juliet - The Original Classic Edition
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeares most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers. <p> Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. Its plot is based on an Italian tale, translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose in Palace of Pleasure by William Painter in 1582. Shakespeare borrowed heavily from both but, to expand the plot, developed supporting characters, particularly Mercutio and Paris. Believed written between 1591 and 1595, the play was first published in a quarto version in 1597. This text was of poor quality, and later editions corrected it, bringing it more in line with Shakespeares original. <p> Shakespeares use of dramatic structure, especially effects such as switching between comedy and tragedy to heighten tension, his expansion of minor characters, and his use of sub-plots to embellish the story, has been praised as an early sign of his dramatic skill. The play ascribes different poetic forms to different characters, sometimes changing the form as the character develops. Romeo, for example, grows more adept at the sonnet over the course of the play. <p> Romeo and Juliet has been adapted numerous times for stage, film, musical and opera. During the Restoration, it was revived and heavily revised by William Davenant. David Garricks 18th-century version also modified several scenes, removing material then considered indecent, and Georg Bendas operatic adaptation omitted much of the action and added a happy ending. Performances in the 19th century, including Charlotte Cushmans, restored the original text, and focused on greater realism. John Gielguds 1935 version kept very close to Shakespeares text, and used Elizabethan costumes and staging to enhance the drama. In the 20th century the play has been adapted in versions as diverse as MGMs comparatively faithful 1936 film, the 1950s stage musical West Side Story, and 1996s MTV-inspired Romeo + Juliet.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes - The Original Classic Edition
This was the first Holmes collection since 1893, when Holmes had died in The Adventure of the Final Problem. Having published The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1901?1902 (although setting it before Holmes death) Doyle came under intense pressure to revive his famous character. <p> The first story is set in 1894 and has Holmes returning in London end explain the period from 1891-94, a period called The Great Hiatus by Sherlockian enthusiasts. <p> Also of note is Watsons statement in the last story of the cycle that Holmes has retired, and forbids him to publish any more stories. <p> Contents <p> The Adventure of the Empty House (the return of Holmes) <p>The Adventure of the Norwood Builder <p>The Adventure of the Dancing Men <p>The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist <p>The Adventure of the Priory School <p>The Adventure of Black Peter <p>The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton <p>The Adventure of the Six Napoleons <p>The Adventure of the Three Students <p>The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez <p>The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter <p>The Adventure of the Abbey Grange <p>The Adventure of the Second Stain
The Turn of the Screw - The Original Classic Edition
The story starts conventionally enough with friends sharing ghost stories round the fire on Christmas Eve. One of the guests tells about a governess at a country house plagued by supernatural visitors. But in the hands of Henry James, the master of nuance, this little tale of terror is an exquisite gem of sexual and psychological ambiguity. Only the young governess can see the ghosts; only she suspects that the previous governess and her lover are controlling the two orphaned children (a girl and a boy) for some evil purpose. The household staff dont know what shes talking about, the children are evasive when questioned, and the master of the house (the childrens uncle) is absent. Why does the young girl claim not to see a perfectly visible woman standing on the far side of the lake? Are the children being deceptive, or is the governess being paranoid? By leaving the questions unanswered, The Turn of Screw generates spine-tingling anxiety in its mesmerized readers.
Venus in Furs - The Original Classic Edition
If youve ever been curious about where the term masochism comes from, you will find it laden in the pages of Leopold von Sacher-Masochs masterpiece, Venus in Furs, for whom the term was named. Drawn in part from his own life experiences, Sacher-Masochs novel develops an eroticism unlike any other. The books protagonist, Severin, is so infatuated and obsessed with the object of his desire, Wanda, that he asks to be her slave. Although hesitant at first, Wandas treatment of Severin becomes more and more depraved, fueling Severins own desires for cruelty. <p> Venus in Furs (or essentially, The Education of a Young Woman) is novelist and poet von Sacher-Masochs most sublime text on the devotion of masochism-emotional, psychological, sexual-and it is a masterpiece of persuasion. Its protagonist is an educated and devout man given to whips and ideals. Severin von Kusiemskis is an unusual (and mystical) pedagogy and his Ideal is the cruel woman in furs who will allow him to be her slave; for in his rapturous acquiescence, and in his conscious guidance of both his own and his mistress will, Severin will have penetrated into the beating heart of a solitary mans deepest and most profound desires: to merge flesh with spirit, birth with death, Heaven with Hell. This classic late-nineteenth-century novel-surprisingly, rarely if ever made so accessible to English-speaking readers-is not, as popular rumor would have it, simply a lurid tale of obsessive obscenity. Nor is it merely a Victorian dream of antique decadence. <p> It remains a deeply felt, intelligent and powerful morality play of our time, marvelously written, and it leaves one, finally, to question his/her presumptions and ambivalence toward torment, submission, and ecstasy. This edition includes an intriguing selection of letters between von Sacher-Masoch and a young correspondent that illuminates the real-life parallel of von Sacher-Masochs ideals and that of his oeuvre. Venus in Furs and Selected Letters is, in all, a passionate portrayal of one mans indomitable struggle to enlighten and instruct himself and his world in the realm of desire. A timeless volume, highly recommended for bed-sitting aesthetes everywhere.
Uncle Tom's Cabin - The Original Classic Edition
Uncle Toms Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War, according to Will Kaufman. <p> Stowe, a Connecticut-born teacher at the Hartford Female Academy and an active abolitionist, featured the character of Uncle Tom, a long-suffering black slave around whom the stories of other characters?both fellow slaves and slave owners?revolve. The sentimental novel depicts the reality of slavery while also asserting that Christian love can overcome something as destructive as enslavement of fellow human beings. <p> Uncle Toms Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century, and the second best-selling book of that century, following the Bible. It is credited with helping fuel the abolitionist cause in the 1850s. In the first year after it was published, 300,000 copies of the book were sold in the United States alone. In 1855, three years after it was published, it was called the most popular novel of our day. One million copies of the book were sold in Great Britain. The impact attributed to the book is great, reinforced by a story that when Abraham Lincoln met Stowe at the start of the Civil War, Lincoln declared, So this is the little lady who started this great war. The quote is apocryphal; it did not appear in print until 1896, and it has been argued that The long-term durability of Lincolns greeting as an anecdote in literary studies and Stowe scholarship can perhaps be explained in part by the desire among many contemporary intellectuals … to affirm the role of literature as an agent of social change. <p> The book, and the plays it inspired, also helped popularize a number of stereotypes about black people, many of which endure to this day. These include the affectionate, dark-skinned mammy; the pickaninny stereotype of black children; and the Uncle Tom, or dutiful, long-suffering servant faithful to his white master or mistress. In recent years, the negative associations with Uncle Toms Cabin have, to an extent, overshadowed the historical impact of the book as a vital antislavery tool.
Best Russian Short Stories - The Original Classic Edition
At first all the stories are just depressing. Some memorably so, others humorously so, others still just morosely so. Many are about poverty, vices, the lusts of money, fear of the cold, or loneliness, oppression, and cruelty, but each of them seems to focus very strongly on the crappiness of life. They stay with you, and they keep pulling you along. Best of all, they can be taken in at length- most short stories collections get tiring after three or four stories, here its possible to read them all in a sitting and enjoy every one of them. <p> At first you are depressed, being hammered with these themes, but about 60% of the way through these very well written pieces you realize that these Russians understand something our modern Western culture doesnt: people are rotten; and somehow this formerly depressing literature becomes a masterpiece of art. They are painting you a picture of life that you dont want to hear, the truth that when the veneer of life is stripped away people are just no good, even down to the smallest child we are one and alike worthless. Counter-intuitively, its very refreshing to see the honest truth, and as a consequence you will remember these stories for the rest of your life. These Russian writers, they *get* it, they make it hit home in a way that doesnt happen very often from new books or television or movies. <p> Alas, by in large the writers are a post Christian bunch, so instead of celebrating their brokenness and the kindness of God they are left with a void, but unlike Camus who decides to fill his philosophy with nonsense words the Russian masters quietly abstain in favor of just showing you life through their eyes. They just stare at the void in humanity. They dont explain it, nor mourn it, nor fantasize on what might make it go away, nor do they really accept it, they just show you to it. They show you real life, a life without redemption, without long term goals, and its frankly brilliant. <p> Really it is. <p> This is a high quality book of the original classic edition. <p> This is a freshly published edition of this culturally important work, which is now, at last, again available to you.
The Oedipus Trilogy - The Original Classic Edition
Oedipus, the banished king of Greek mythology who killed his father and married his mother, is the subject of Sophocles Oedipus Trilogy, a series of three tragedies that tell a connected story. Despite their antiquity, these timeless works bring up questions that remain relevant in our society, and their exciting, colorful stories have a universal appeal that still captivates readers. <p> This is a high quality book of the original classic edition. <p> This is a freshly published edition of this culturally important work, which is now, at last, again available to you. <p> Enjoy this classic work. These few paragraphs distill the contents and give you a quick look inside: <p>
To Laius, King of Thebes, an oracle foretold that the child born to him by his queen Jocasta would slay his father and wed his mother. So when in time a son was born the infants feet were riveted together and he was left to die on Mount Cithaeron. … Children were born to them and Thebes prospered under his rule, but again a grievous plague fell upon the city. … The closing scene reveals Jocasta slain by her own hand and Oedipus blinded by his own act and praying for death or exile.
…No sooner has he gone than Creon enters with an armed guard who seize Antigone and carry her off (Ismene, the other sister, they have already captured) and he is about to lay hands on Oedipus, when Theseus, who has heard the tumult, hurries up and, upbraiding Creon for his lawless act, threatens to detain him till he has shown where the captives are and restored them.