Na wzgórzu róż

Stefan Grabiński

Zbiór sześciu nowel z gatunku literatury grozy. Pierwsza z nowel jest zarazem utworem tytułowym. Pewnemu człowiekowi zalecono zażywanie kąpieli słonecznych. Żeby spełnić tę prośbę, szuka on ustronnego miejsca. W końcu znajduje odpowiednie miejsce za miastem. Znajduje się tam tajemniczy mur. Nie ma żadnych widocznych wejść ani otworów, jedyne co się wydostaje przez niego, to woń róż. Nasz bohater oddaje się w jego pobliżu zdrowotnym wpływom promieni słonecznych. Jednak przez woń róż coraz silniej przebija się inny, obcy zapach. Żeby rozwikłać jego zagadkę postanawia przedostać się na drugą stronę muru. Co tam ujrzy? Rozwiązanie czy może nową zagadkę? Lektura krótkiego zbioru opowiadań polskiego Lovecrafta jak nazywany bywa Grabiński potwierdza, że mamy do czynienia z pisarzem bardzo utalentowanym, niesłusznie znanym tylko miłośnikom literatury grozy. Historie z tomu Na wzgórzu róż ciągle robią wrażenie mimo upływu lat. Grabiński umiejętnie tworzy niepokojący klimat, sprawnie buduje napięcie, na ogół przekonująco wprowadza w fabułę elementy nadnaturalne. Jego język gęsty i sugestywny, współgrający z klimatem opowiadanych historii.

The Night Horseman

Max Brand

For all his untamed ways, Whistling Dan Barry has won the love of Kate Cumberland, who struggles to lure him from the call of the wind and the night in the desert country. But Dans mysterious personality leads him into one difficult situation after another, for the path he takes with his wild companions - the stallion Satan and the wolf dog Black Bart - is strewn with desperate enemies and fierce encounters. "The Night Horseman" is part of a trilogy about a mysterious gunslinger who appears to be a Casper Milquetoaste but, in concert with a powerful wolf-dog, and a murderous stallion; is able to overpower seemingly any opposing force.

Glinda of Oz

L. Frank Baum

As this last Oz story from L. Frank Baum opens, Dorothy Gale and Ozma have been dispatched by Glinda on a peacekeeping mission. Dorothy and Ozma discover that a war is brewing in a distant and unexplored part of Oz, between two mysterious races, the Flatheads and the Skeezers, both of whom have come under the power of cruel dictators. They have never heard of either of these people but they worry that people might be harmed in a war. The girls set out to try to prevent the fighting, not knowing what dangers await them. This begins a quick but grand adventure for the two friends, which will eventually involve all of her other friends, and quite an assortment of strange but wonderful beings they are; the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, but also Tik Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and so many others. A rousing tale of suspense, magic, and adventure, Glinda of Oz is the fourteenth and final Oz book and its a grand conclusion to Baums chronicles of Americas favorite fairyland.

La Demeure mystérieuse

Maurice Leblanc

Lapparition sur la scene de lOpéra de la séduisante Régine Aubry, dont la robe est recouverte dune précieuse tunique avec les diamants les plus purs, est la chose la plus intéressante du évenement. Des diamants sont volés un mannequin lors dune présentation de mode et ce mannequin est emmené dans une grande maison de maitre Paris. Quelque temps apres, se passe une étrange répétition des évenements. Le baron Jean dEnneris (Arsene Lupin bien sr!) décide denquter sur laffaire passionnante. Il dénoue, comme toujours, les mailles inextricables du filet dans lequel se trouvent les jolies femmes et les autres personnages de cette histoire.

Emma

Jane Austen

Beautiful, clever and... single. Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegee Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. Emma is often seen as Jane Austens most flawless work.

The Jacob Street Mystery

R. Austin Freeman

R. Austin Freemans mysteries are often divided into two parts, the first dealing with events leading up to a murder, followed by Dr. Thorndykes investigation. In this case, the first part, about a beautiful woman who poses as a serious artist, then disappears, is delightful. It details the friendship between Thomas Pedley and Loretta Schiller. The second part is written in the first person with Jervis, Thorndykes assistant, being the narrator as usual. A peaceful, pleasant afternoon in the woodland scene of Linton Green is disturbed when a brutal murder takes place. But thanks to an unseen witness, the killer may be caught, and the witness turns out to be a blessing in disguise. This is the story of Thomas Pedley, a gifted artist who paints what he sees from memory.

Prodigals of Monte Carlo

E. Phillips Oppenheim

He might be almost forgotten now, but Mr. Oppenheim wrote an amazing 116 novels, including many bestsellers. Several are set amid the glamour of Monte Carlo, including this 1920s romantic thriller. The novel has an intriguing start, as handsome and charming Sir Hargrave Wendever gets a nasty shock from the doctor. Wealthy, handsome, intelligent, single, with the world at his feet suddenly he finds his world crumbling. What will he do? He decides to do some good with his money in the time he has left, and offers a penniless young woman a free holiday at his villa, with no strings attached. The reader is transported from the grey fogs of London to the sunshine of Monte Carlo, where, along with the hero and some new friends, the real adventures begin.

Childhood

Leo Tolstoy

This work is about how black stripes always alternate with white. Oh grief. Oh happiness. On the formation of the child as a person. About the first feelings, sensations and emotions. About first love, about childrens love and just about love. About how a child learns his mind, for the first time experiences one of the most terrible events of his life the death of his mother, about how he first feels one of the most beautiful and bright feelings his first love, about how he feels affection, grief.