Пиковая Дама (Dama pikowa)

Aleksander Puszkin

Повесть, которая отличается своей таинственностью и мистичностью. Молодой, амбициозный и достаточно беспринципный инженер Герман хочет разбогатеть. Игра в карты кажется ему подходящим, но слишком рискованным средством. Герман готов играть, но только зная беспроигрышный вариант. В обществе ходят слухи о том, что некая старая графиня знает особый секрет... Загадки судьбы и секрет трех мистических карт, которые приносят выигрыш. История о том, как неожиданно может обернуться жизнь 2013 о том что фарт непредсказуем, как в любви, так и в игре.

The Borough Treasurer

Joseph Smith Fletcher

The Borough Treasurer (1921) by J.S. Fletcher is a tale of blackmail, murder and a secret quarry. He has quite a large cast of interesting characters in this one, and manages to bring them all to life with great detail. This novel tales place in an obscure small town by the Yorkshire moors an ideal spot for two ex-cons to start life over. Messrs. Mallalieu and Cotherstone were outsiders who had built a prosperous business in Highmarket and even been elected as Mayor and Treasurer of the borough. But when an ex-detective moves to town, 30 years of respectability is suddenly threatened by revelations from the past. How far will two upstanding citizens go to keep their past a secret?

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz

L. Frank Baum

Originally published in 1908, while Baum was resident in Coronado, California, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is considered one of the darker of the Oz tales. However, it also is enlivened by Baums considerable wit, penchant for puns, and dry social commentary. This fourth Oz novel sees Kansas farm-girl Dorothy Gale once again transported to magical lands, this time thanks to a California earthquake, during which our heroine falls into the depths of the earth, together with a boy name Zeb, his carriage-horse Jim, and Dorothys mischievous kitten, Eureka. Deep beneath the earth, Dorothy is reunited with her old friend the Wizard of Oz and his troupe of nine tiny piglets. Together, they embark on an adventure through the earth dealing with angry vegetables, invisible people and bears, and wooden gargoyles. Eventually, after confronting a cave full of dragonettes, the travelers are rescued by Ozma of Oz, who transports them to the Emerald City. Here Dorothy and Wizard meet many old friends, while Eureka meets trouble...

Am Rio de la Plata

Karl May

Karl May war einer der produktivsten Autoren von Abenteuerromanen. Er zählt seit mehr als 100 Jahren zu den meistgelesenen Schriftstellern der Welt und der deutschen Sprache. Am Rio de la Plata beginnt für den Erzähler das Südamerika-Abenteuer. In einem von Revolutionen zerrissenen Land bringt ihm seine Ähnlichkeit mit einem dortigen Parteigänger prompt erste Verwicklungen. Ein Geheimnis zieht ihn ins Landesinnere von Argentinien, wo er dem Revolutionär Lopez Jordan begegnet. Die vorliegende Erzählung spielt Anfang der 70er-Jahre des 19. Jahrhunderts. Am Rio de la Plata wird fortgesetzt in Band 13 In den Kordilleren. Ein typischer Karl May!

Romulus

Jacob Abbott

Fascinating short history of the life and legends of Romulus and the foundation of Rome and the Roman empire. There is political intrigue, social foundation and mystery/magic in this telling of this long distant time in history. It is a fitting way to encounter the stories of Romulus. This book will not leave indifferent those who love the history of ancient mythology.

Just So Stories

Rudyard Kipling

Just So Stories are usually devoted to how a particular animal changed its initial appearance as a result of the actions of a person or a fairy creature. For example, Keith cannot swallow a person because he once swallowed a Sailor, who secured a wooden lattice inside, which prevents him from swallowing other people. The camel acquired a hump as a punishment from Gene, Lord of All Deserts, for refusing to work. Ethiop painted Leopard spots. Powerful hind legs, a long tail and a jumping manner of movement appeared at the Kangaroo after he had been running away from Dingo all day.

The Illustrious Prince

E. Phillips Oppenheim

Written in 1910, The Illustrious Prince is set in England some time after the Russian-Japanese War which ended in victory for the Japanese in 1905. The Emperor of Japan, suspecting an ulterior motive in the world cruise of the American battleship fleet, dispatches his cousin, Prince Maiyo, on a mission to learn the secret if one existed. Two American spies are murdered, an intrepid detective from Scotland Yard is hard on the trail of clues that will lead him to the killer. As Scotland Yard races to solve the mystery of the murders, several highborn ladies (one of them is Penelope Morse who becomes both wary and fascinated by him) and gentlemen from the British aristocracy befriend the charming Prince and get caught up in the intrigue.

The Mutable Many

Robert Barr

First published in 1896 and considered one of Robert Barrs best works, this historical novel set in London at the beginning of the 20th century and centering on an industrial strike and a love triangle. The men in Monkton and Hopes factory strike. Sartwell, their manager, refuses to compromise with them, but discusses the situation with Marsten, one of their number, who clings to his own order, at the same time that he avows his love for Sartwells daughter Edna. Sartwell forbids him to speak to her. The strike is crushed, Marsten is dismissed, and becomes secretary to the Labor Union. He sees Edna several times, she becomes interested in him, and her father sends her away to school... A great read, The Mutable Many is thoroughly recommended for inclusion on the bookshelf of any home and for lovers of historical novels.