World's most popular books to Read by Anna Katharine Green

This combo product is bundled in India but the publishing origin of this title may vary.Publication date of this bundle is the creation date of this bundle; the actual publication date of child items may vary.The early 19th century is the setting for Honore de Balzac's book Eugenie Grandet which takes place in the French town of Saumur. The Grandet family who are both affluent and exceedingly thrifty is the focus of the narrative. Felix Grandet the family patriarch was formerly a cooper who amassed wealth via wise investments. He lives in a large home a representation of his riches and social standing in the community with his wife and daughter Eugenie. Charles Eugenie's cousin who stays with the family adores this lovely and innocent young lady. Felix Grandet who considers Charles to be a possible danger to his fortune opposes the marriage. The reader is exposed to the various personalities in the town as the plot develops; everyone has their own secrets and aspirations. Balzac explores the themes of greed love and the corrupting power of money using the town as a microcosm of French society. The sad conclusion of the book reveals the dark secrets of the Grandet family and the consequences of their greed. As the rest of the village carries on with their activities unconcerned with Eugenie's destiny she is left alone and sad.Honore de Balzac wrote a book titled Father Goriot. The story which takes place in Paris in the early 19th century explores the concepts of love wealth and social status. The protagonist Father Goriot an old widower who has used his fortune to support his two daughters and other people are followed throughout the novel. But the daughters have left him and are now leading lavish lifestyles while disregarding the needs of their father. Eugene de Rastignac a young law student who is lured into Parisian high society is another key figure. One of Father Goriot's daughters Delphine is the object of Rastignac's affection. Delphine meanwhile is already married to a rich ruthless man who is using her to maintain his social status. The novel shows the dramatic difference between middle-class hardship and the lifestyles of the rich elite. Balzac depicts the greed and corruption that often go hand in hand with the chase of money and social prestige. Father Goriot dies in poverty and is left by his daughters at the novel's terrible conclusion and Rastignac realises the full price of his ambitions. Father Goriot is a potent examination of 19th-century French society as well as a timeless look at human nature and the quest for happiness.A book by Honore de Balzac titled Scenes from a Courtesan's Life was part of his massive body of work known as The Human Comedy. Esther van Gobseck a courtesan and the society she lives in are both explored in the book. Esther popularly known as La Torpille overcomes hardships to establish herself as a renowned courtesan in Paris. Several men adore her notably Lucien de Rubempre a young poet who eventually falls in love with her. Esther's past and connections to the criminal underground however complicate her existence. She is also up against rival courtesans who are fighting for the attention of rich and influential men. The intricate network of connections and power structures in 19th-century French society is shown in the book. In addition to examining the corrupting effects of riches and power Balzac also examines the topics of love money and social standing. The book also makes fun of society's hypocritical standards which let males indulge in their wants while penalizing women who do the same. Scenes from a Courtesan's Life provides a compelling and perceptive portrait of French society in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A timeless literary classic Balzac's work vividly captures the human experience via his complex characters and beautifully descriptive prose.Honore de Balzac's book Seraphita is a work of fiction. It tells the story of a young man named Wilfrid who develops a fascination with the enigmatic Seraphitus. Seraphitus is one of a group of supernatural entities who live in the Norwegian highlands. Wilfrid is first captivated to Seraphitus by the purity and beauty of his/her voice but as he immerses himself more into Seraphitus' world he starts to have doubts about his/her own views on love gender and spirituality. As the story goes on Wilfrid develops feelings for Seraphitus but finds it difficult to comprehend their romance due to Seraphitus' uncertain gender. Seraphitus finally discloses that he or she is a manifestation of the divine and that love is a force that is independent of gender and physical appearance. Seraphita is known for exploring topics connected to gender sexuality and spirituality. Balzac utilizes the book as a platform to criticize gender stereotypes and promote a more flexible and inclusive concept of identity.Honore de Balzac wrote a satirical book titled The Physiology of Marriage which was originally published in 1829. The book is a lighthearted investigation of the institution of marriage as well as the interactions between men and women in 19th-century French society. The book is organized as a collection of pieces written by an unidentified narrator who provides commentary and advice on many facets of married life. The narrator explores the difficulties and inconsistencies of marriage as well as the disparities between men and women in terms of their wishes and expectations using comedy and wit. Balzac explores the social and cultural influences that define the institution of marriage via his humorous and perceptive insights. He criticizes the patriarchal framework of society and the conventional gender stereotypes that cast women in inferior positions. The stinging social critique The Physiology of Marriage questions the dominant beliefs and ideals of 19th-century French society. This work is a timeless examination of the complexity of human relationships with insights that are still applicable to readers today thanks to Balzac's humorous and caustic style.In Honore de Balzac's novella The Village Rector a French village serves as the backdrop. The protagonist of the story is Abbe Francois Birotteau the loved and respected local rector. The dynamics of the village shift with the advent of a new prefect Monsieur de Rastignac. The prefect views Abbe as a hindrance to his ambitions to develop and rehabilitate the community. He starts to circulate misleading stories about Abbe's personality in an effort to undermine him and take over the community. Notwithstanding the malicious accusations Abbe chooses to ignore them and concentrate on his pastoral responsibilities. He loses the support of the locals as they start to distrust him. The themes of power corruption and the resiliency of the human spirit are all explored throughout the novella. In the end Abbe is defended because of the villagers' admiration for his honesty and selflessness. The novella is a celebration of timeless human virtues like kindness and compassion as well as a condemnation of the corrupt political system of the day. It is a moving tale of how people may find courage in their beliefs and the help of their community.Running Water is an adventure novel by the British writer A.E.W.Mason in 1907. The story could be noticeable as mountaineering crime fiction with a romantic turn. A story of danger romance and adventure as mountain-climbers fight to save a climber who has slipped on a huge glacier. The novel combines a love story with a story of adventures under the banner of philosophical views. The heroine of this romance is Sylvia Thesiger a beautiful young woman with an envious mother and love of the Alps. The novel begins with her first climb up the icy black rocks of Col. Silent to the top of Aiguille d'Argentiere in the company of Captain Hilary Chayne. After their first meeting on the Mont Blanc mountain Sylvia goes back to England to live with her father (whom she has never link up). Skinner shows to be a dangerous man with a puzzling past and Sylvia tries with Chayne's help to protect the appointed victim. The final encounter takes place on the lethal Brenva route one of the most adventurous ways to reach the top of Mont Blanc.The Affair at the Semiramis Hotel is a detective novel written by A.E.W. Mason a British author known for his suspenseful and thrilling stories. The book follows the investigation of a murder that takes place at the Semiramis Hotel in Cairo Egypt. The story revolves around an eclectic group of hotel guests including a wealthy businessman a French actress and a British spy. When a murder occurs the guests are thrown into a web of suspicion and intrigue with each one having a possible motive for the crime. The book's protagonist Inspector Hanaud is a masterful detective who uses his deductive skills and intuition to unravel the mystery. Is he going to be successful? Through his investigation Hanaud uncovers a complex web of lies and deception leading to a thrilling and unexpected conclusion. To know the complete story readers should go through the complete story!As soon as he finished reading the documents Fenton who was stationed in Khartum enthusiastically telegraphed the author. When the business in Cairo was over Fenton was to leisurely up the Nile while dressed like a local to ascertain the veracity of some rumors. There had been incidents tiny but unpleasant at Denderah Luxor and other locations. It was heavenly to arrive in a tiny oasis and see the luncheon tent's open front and awning mirrored in the beautiful lagoon with its green palm tree backdrop. Monny and the other members of her party were escorted by the eunuch into a sizable gloomy chamber that they could only see via a screen wall but from which they could also view a tiny grassy court that acted as a garden.Biddy followed me as she gazed intently at the antique home her eyes wide with interest. She was impressed by the enormous hall whose arches led to gloomy perfumed gardens. She was mesmerized by the Sudanese band which consisted of ink-black giants wearing white uniforms and singing wild traditional music under the full moon. They were sandal tread patterns and they led across the floor to something glittering in the center of the room. It had a hazy shape resembling a covered coffin with a high pointed object on top.The Second Latchkey is written by Charles Norris Williamson and his wife Alice Muriel Williamson. The story begins with a young British woman the daughter of a clergyman who has worked as a personal maid and carer to an annoying elderly woman for the past five years in order to support herself and her lifestyle. She responds to a newspaper ad placed by a supposedly wealthy elderly guy looking for a wife out of a need for change. At the restaurant where he told her to meet him but after waiting for him and sitting at the restaurant she met with a man and both of them sat together. As romance goes one thing leads to another and after two days they get married. The man has showered her with gifts clothes and living accommodations beyond her wildest expectations because she is hopelessly in love with him her first love. She eventually discovers that he is not who he initially appeared to be.....Then what will she do with him? What will happen to this man? How will she overcome this shock? The suspense has not been disclosed to read the ending readers should go through the book.American author A. wrote the fantasy book ''The Face in the Abyss.'' by Abraham Merritt. It consists of The Snake Mother the sequel to the novelette of the same name. Horace Liveright published it for the first time in its entirety in 1931. The first publication of the novelette The Face in the Abyss was in the September 8 1923 issue of Argosy All-Story Weekly. Beginning on October 25 1930 The Snake Mother was first published in Argosy as a serial in seven parts. American mining engineer Nicholas Graydon is the subject of the book. In South America he runs upon Suarra the handmaiden of the Snake Mother of Yu-Atlanchi while looking for lost Inca wealth. She takes Graydon to a pit where the Lord of Evil Nimir is held captive in a face of gold. Graydon is spared by Suarra and the Snake Mother joining them in their fight against Nimir while his friends are turned into globules of gold by the face due to their avarice. The most visual novel ever written for the world of fantasy this great narrative is full of strange ideas wonderful prose horror and beauty. A grand book with a grand cast of characters is The Face in the Abyss.Abraham Merritt an American author wrote a fantasy book titled The Metal Monster. It was first published as a serial in 1920's Argosy All-Story Weekly and contains Dr. Goodwin's comeback after first appearing in The Moon Pool. In the foreword of the epic adventure Merritt is given the task of telling the world about Dr. Walter T. Goodwin's extraordinary story of his encounter in the Trans-Himalayan mountains in order to warn everyone about the terrible fate Goodwin's group narrowly avoided and the possibility that there are other monsters like these out there. Dr. Goodwin is in the Himalayas on a botanical expedition. He runs across Dick Drake the son of a former science buddy there. They have seen what appears to be a bizarre purposeful aurora-like effect. They encounter Martin and Ruth Ventnor a brother and sister team of scientists as they venture outside to conduct their investigation. As Darius III commanded the Persians during Alexander of Macedon's more than two thousand-year conquest the two are under siege today. Norhala is gradually converting Ruth to take on her little sister's traits. Her brother Martin attempts to shoot the Metal Emperor who retaliates with a ray blast rendering Martin unconscious.A fantasy book by American author Abraham Merritt is titled The Moon Pool. The original versions of The Moon Pool and its sequel Conquest of the Moon Pool both published in All-Story Weekly in 1918 were both short stories (1919). These were later revised and published as a novel in 1919. Dr. Goodwin the main character will subsequently show again in Merritt's second book The Metal Monster (1920). Merritt continued the tradition of the lost world novel even if he wasn't the first to write one (he followed in the footsteps of Bulwer-Lytton Burroughs Conan Doyle and others). The story revolves around an advanced race that has evolved deep inside the Earth. Their most intellectual individuals eventually have children. It incorporates both immense virtue and great evil yet it gradually drifts away from its creators and toward evil. The Dweller and the Shining One are two names for the entity. Only three members of the original race—known as the Silent Ones—remain. They have been purged of dross and are regarded as being higher nobler and more angelic than humans.A Humble Enterprise written by Ada Cambridge in the late 1890s is a novel that tells the story of the wealthy Anthony who falls in love with Jenny the independent and strong-willed owner of a small tea shop. Despite his family's objections Anthony is determined to pursue a relationship with Jenny leading to a romantic and emotional journey of love and self-discovery. The book is set in Victorian-era Australia and the author's descriptive language and vivid imagery paint a vivid picture of the time and place. The characters are well-developed and relatable each with its own flaws and strengths. The reader can easily sympathize with Jenny's struggles as a woman running a small business in a patriarchal society as well as Anthony's inner turmoil as he grapples with his family's expectations and his own desires. A Humble Enterprise is a beautifully written and engaging love story with a timeless message about the power of love and the importance of following one's heart.Materfamilias is a novel written by Ada Cambridge and written before 1900. The story revolves around the life of Mrs. Melbourne who is the head of the household the materfamilias. She is a woman who is deeply committed to the traditional role of women in the society of her time and she takes great pride in running her household and raising her children. As the story progresses Mrs. Melbourne grapples with various challenges that come her way both within her family and outside of it. Her daughter is in love with a man who is not considered suitable by society and Mrs. Melbourne has to decide whether to support her daughter's wishes or uphold societal norms. Additionally her husband's financial troubles add to her already overwhelming responsibilities and she has to find a way to manage the situation. How will she get successful to find a way? To get an answer to this question readers should read this book!Sisters is the story of four young women coming of age on a rural property in northern Victoria. But it is also the story of Guthrie Carey a young sailor whose life crosses paths with the sisters at various points. The perils and pitfalls of love and marriage dominate the story. It would seem that Cambridge had a pretty cynical view and very low expectations for happiness within the confines of marriage. We have an unhappy marriage with a power imbalance a domestic goddess whose life is taken up with child bearing and child rearing an adulteress a nursemaid a man still in love with his former wife's ghost and a lonely old man dreaming of a love that will never be!If Sisters is a good representation of her work I'll definitely look for more. She doesn't write as broadly or deeply as Henry Handel Richardson but she does take on women's concerns and class consciousness in a period when this wasn't really the thing to do in writing. The conversation and descriptions in Sisters are fantastic. Particularly well-developed characters like Debbie and Carey will stay with me for a very long time.Thirty Years in Australia is a memoir written by Ada Cambridge a 19th-century Australian writer. The book details her experiences as an Englishwoman settling in Australia with her husband in the late 19th century. The memoir chronicles Cambridge's life in Australia including her struggles with homesickness and isolation in a new country as well as her impressions of Australian society and culture. She also writes about her experiences as a mother raising her children in Australia. Cambridge also touches on broader themes related to Australian society such as colonialism race relations and gender roles. She discusses the treatment of Indigenous Australians by white settlers and the ways in which Australian society was shaped by its colonial past. The book also provides insight into the challenges of establishing a home in a new country including the difficulties of building a house and the challenges of making a living in a new environment.It's probably true that no two people have exactly the same conception of marriage. If any two did and one was a man and the other a woman there would be numerous benefits to their marrying one another to demonstrate harmony—barring the case that they were already wed.The only people who are likely to comprehend what marriage ought to be are those who have experienced it as something other according to cynical life critics. Of course people who would find the same issue with life itself are the ones who make the majority of the ridiculous complaints about marriage. When asked if life was worthwhile one guy said that it depended on the liver. As a result it has been made clear that a marriage can only be as good as the people involved.It is a woman's confession in Revelations of a Wife. A woman's marriage is such a crucial issue that whenever she writes about it she is likely to be sincere. Adele Garrison has paid attention to the nudges coming from inside. She's accomplished more. She had successfully intercepted a man's heart's wireless. And she has given this narrative her all. There is only one type of woman in this narrative just as there is only one type of man. But the awareness will be affected by their experiences. Revelations of A Wife is a good literary work by Adele Garrison pen name of an American author Nana Belle Springer White. From 1915 the story is published in a daily column in several American newspapers the novel was published in 1917. In the story author narrates the ups and downs of the married life of Margaret( Madge) and Richard (Dicky). The beautiful young woman Madge reveals some loving tender moments of her life. Madge is an independent former school teacher and her husband Dicky is an artist. Madge always feels insecure as her father left her mother when she was only four years old. Dicky is a short-tempered fellow who creates issues later repent for it. On one hand author describes troubles of married life like-minded divorce abandonment extra martial affairs. On the other hand he emphasises love affection empathy understanding forgiveness tenderness etc. Life and Lillian Gish by Albert Bigelow Paine is a biography of one of the most iconic actresses of the silent film era Lillian Gish. The book details Gish's life from her birth in Ohio in 1893 to her death in New York in 1993 and chronicles her long and successful career in Hollywood. This biography is based on extensive research including interviews with Gish herself as well as her family and colleagues in the film industry. The book covers Gish's early years in the theater her transition to silent films and her collaborations with legendary director D.W. Griffith in films like The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance. Throughout the biography Paine portrays Gish as a pioneering figure in the film industry and a resilient and compassionate individual who never lost her love for the art of cinema. Moreover Life and Lillian Gish is a compelling portrait of one of Hollywood's most enduring and influential actresses and offers a unique insight into the early days of cinema and the cultural and social changes that shaped the 20th century.Hannibal was a growing community with a sizable amount of commerce. Being a slave town it was sleepy but not lifeless. The white town drowsing in the brightness of a summer morning was how Mark Twain described it. Hannibal had brought John Clemens varied fortunes and his commercial misfortunes prompted him to sell his slave girl. The majority of the experiences detailed in this book according to Mark Twain actually happened.Original Tom Blankenship a local waif was Huck Finn the Red-Handed. Six o'clock that steamy morning in the middle of June sixty miles below Memphis the Pennsylvania was loading wood when four of its eight boilers suddenly erupted. The house was rather unique compared to other homes at the time; it featured several wings and balconies as well as a large veranda at the back that overlooked the forested hill. Mark Twain was now widely considered as the greatest American novelist he said when asked why he constructed the kitchen toward the street. He was a kind and honorable man who was adored by everyone who knew him.Orion Clemens passed away much as he had lived—a kind dreamer who was constantly hatching new schemes. He was sitting at a table early one morning writing down the specifics of his most recent endeavor using a pencil and paper when he suddenly passed away.The Lucky Piece: A Tale of the North Woods is a short story written by Albert Bigelow Paine. The story is set in the Adirondack Mountains in late September. As the stagecoach comes down the hill it passes by a little girl holding a saucer of berries. One of the passengers a boy in the front seat is struck by her appearance and asks the driver to stop. He gets out and offers to buy the berries but realizes he has no money. Instead he gives her his lucky Spanish silver coin which he hopes will bring her luck. He tells her to keep the coin safe for him until he returns and promises to give her anything she wants in exchange for it. Will he come back? Is he going to get his lucky charm back? The story is a simple and heartwarming tale about a chance encounter between two children from different backgrounds. The story touches on themes of innocence childhood and the power of objects to hold sentimental value. The Lucky Piece is a nostalgic reminder of a simpler time and a heartwarming tale that has endured for over a century.Alfred Russel Wallace was a British naturalist and explorer who independently discovered the theory of evolution through natural selection around the same time as Charles Darwin. In his book Darwinism: An Exposition of the Theory of Natural Selection with Some of Its Applications Wallace explains the key principles of Darwin's theory and their implications for the understanding of life on earth. Wallace argues that the principle of natural selection is the driving force behind the evolution of species with organisms that are better adapted to their environment more likely to survive and reproduce. He also discusses the concept of variation or the idea that individuals within a species exhibit differences that can be inherited by their offspring and that can accumulate over time. Wallace also delves into the social implications of Darwin's theory noting that it challenges traditional religious and philosophical views of human nature and our place in the natural world. He argues that Darwinism offers a more rational and scientific approach to understanding the diversity of life on earth and our own place in the evolutionary process. Overall Wallace's Darwinism provides a clear and concise overview of the theory of natural selection and its applications as well as its broader implications for science philosophy and society.Percival Lowell's theories that intelligent life exists or formerly lived on Mars and constructed the canals are subject to a scientific assessment in the book Is Mars Habitable? Lowell was an amateur astronomer but Wallace is a scientist by profession and applies science to Mars with a little more discipline. An article about the likelihood of biological life existing on Mars is titled Is Mars Habitable. The Welsh town of Llanbadoc is where Alfred Russell Wallace was born on January 8 1823. With the goal of demonstrating that the abundance of novel and fascinating information in Professor Percival Lowell's book Mars and its Canals did not invalidate the conclusion he had reached in 1902 and stated in my book on Man's Place in the Universe that Mars was not habitable this small volume was originally intended to be a review of that work. However the more thorough presentation of the opposing viewpoint in the volume under consideration necessitated a more thorough analysis of the different physical issues involved thus the author decided to take on the task given the topic's high level of popular and scholarly interest.The Malay Archipelago is a two-volume book written by British naturalist and explorer Alfred Russel Wallace. The book recounts Wallace's travels through the Malay Archipelago (present-day Indonesia Malaysia and surrounding areas) between 1854 and 1862. In Volume 1 Wallace describes his journey through the Malay Archipelago documenting the flora and fauna he encountered and the people and cultures he encountered along the way. He provides detailed accounts of his adventures including his encounters with orangutans his travels along the rivers of Borneo and his interactions with the indigenous peoples of the region. Are you interested in learning about the flora and fauna of Malay? One of the key themes of the book is Wallace's observations on the distribution of animal species across the region. The author observed that there were distinct regions with their own unique animal populations which he called zoological provinces. Throughout the book Wallace also reflects on the impact of colonialism and the exploitation of natural resources in the region and offers insights into the social and cultural practices of the indigenous peoples he encountered.The Malay Archipelago is a two-volume book written by British naturalist and explorer Alfred Russel Wallace. The second volume of the book recounts Wallace's travels through the Malay Archipelago (present-day Indonesia Malaysia and surrounding areas) between 1854 and 1862. In Volume 2 Wallace continues his exploration of the region documenting his experiences in New Guinea the Moluccas and the Philippines. He describes the diverse flora and fauna he encountered including rare and exotic species such as the bird-of-paradise and the giant Rafflesia flower. One of the key themes of the book is Wallace's observations on the biogeography of the region which he saw as a laboratory for the study of evolution. Throughout the book Wallace also reflects on the impact of colonialism and the exploitation of natural resources in the region and offers insights into the social and cultural practices of the indigenous peoples he encountered.Day and Night Stories is a collection of short stories by Algernon Blackwood a British author known for his supernatural and horror fiction. The collection contains 15 stories that explore various themes related to the supernatural the unknown and the mysterious. Many of the stories in the collection involve encounters between humans and otherworldly beings or forces such as ghosts spirits and elemental forces. For example The Occupant of the Room tells the story of a man who rents a room in a haunted house while The Transfer explores the idea of soul transference between humans and animals. Other stories in the collection delve into psychological and philosophical themes such as the nature of consciousness the limits of human knowledge and the search for meaning in a chaotic and mysterious world. The Wings of Horus tells the story of an Egyptologist who becomes obsessed with a mysterious artifact that seems to grant its possessor supernatural powers while An Egyptian Hornet explores the idea of ancestral memory and its impact on human behavior. Overall Day and Night Stories is a fascinating and thought-provoking collection of tales that offer a unique and unsettling perspective on the human experience and the mysteries of the universe.The first story The Regeneration of Lord Ernie follows the titular character as he journeys to the East in search of spiritual enlightenment. Along the way he meets a wise old man who teaches him about the interconnectedness of all things and the power of the universe. The second novella The Sacrifice takes place in a remote village in Russia. A young man Simon is caught in a web of superstition and fear as the villagers believe he is responsible for a series of strange and deadly events. The third novella The Damned follows a group of friends who embark on a trip to a remote mountain valley. There they encounter an ancient evil force that begins to consume them one by one. The first short story A Descent into Egypt tells the tale of a man who takes a perilous journey into the depths of an Egyptian tomb in search of treasure. The second short story Wayfarers is about a man who stumbles upon a mysterious house in the countryside where he encounters a strange and otherworldly woman. Overall Incredible Adventures is a collection of eerie and mystical stories that explore the mysteries of the universe and the human psyche.John Silence: Physician Extraordinary is a collection of stories written by Algernon Blackwood. The book revolves around a character named John Silence who is a doctor with extraordinary psychic abilities. He is known for his ability to investigate and solve paranormal mysteries that cannot be explained by conventional science. The book comprises six stories that feature John Silence as the main character. In the first story A Psychical Invasion John Silence investigates a case of a woman who is being haunted by an evil spirit. In the second story Ancient Sorceries he travels to a remote French village to investigate the strange behavior of its inhabitants. In the third story The Nemesis of Fire John Silence investigates a case of spontaneous human combustion. In the fourth story Secret Worship he travels to a remote English village to investigate a cult that is performing human sacrifices. In the fifth story The Camp of the Dog John Silence investigates a case of a haunted tent in the Scottish Highlands. Overall John Silence: Physician Extraordinary is a collection of eerie and supernatural stories that showcase the extraordinary abilities of the titular character.Julius LeVallon: An Episode is a novel written by Algernon Blackwood. The book follows the life of the titular character Julius LeVallon from his birth in a remote English cottage to his eventual enlightenment in the mystical city of Starn