Albert Savarus

Honoré de Balzac

Wonderful tale set in the provincial town of Besançon, and focusing on the de Watteville family the fiercely religious and independently wealthy wife, the ineffectual husband, who absents himself, spending his days working his lathe and 19-year-old daughter, Rosalie. She falls in love with the mysterious stranger who took up residence a few yards away from her familys home. Through her maid, herself in love with Savaruss butler, Rosalie intercepts Savaruss letters to Paris and learns why this brilliant man established himself in Besançon and what he proposes to achieve. She hopes to escape from the dull marriage her mother is planning for her and instead ride on Savaruss growing success. Will Rosalie help Savarus succeed or will he unwittingly fail unaware of her selfish machinations? Written in 1842, Albert Savarus is a work of a circumstance at the same time a personal testimony. In correspondence since 1832, lovers in 1834, Balzac and Madame Hanska were promised to be married. But the death of the old is Mr. Hanski was waiting.

Ivanhoe. A Romance

Walter Scott

Ivanhoe, the son of a Saxon nobleman, returns to England from the Crusades. Prince John is Regent in the absence of his brother, King Richard the Lionhearted who is imprisoned in Austria. Saxons have not accepted their Norman conquerors and there is much animosity between them. Ivanhoe arrives at court just as a jousting tournament begins and bests the three Norman noblemen who have agreed to take on all comers. Ivanhoe is seriously injured however and is cared for by Isaac of York and his beautiful daughter Rebecca. They are taken prisoner however, along with Ivanhoes father Cedric and his ward Rowena, by the three knights Ivanhoe bested in the tournament. With the assistance of Robin Hood, the mysterious Black Knight attacks the castle of Front-de-Boeuf where the captives are being held. Its left to Ivanhoe to rescue to rescue Rebecca however when she is accused of being a witch.

The Ball and The Cross

G.K. Chesterton

A very good Christian book, which, nevertheless, speaks not so much about Christianity in itself, as about humanity, as the principle of life in general. If there were such a category as social Christian romance, then this book would be one of the most remarkable examples. The book is attractive and not only because of the description of a non-ideal world, but also because of the authors attitude to his characters. There are no heroes in principle, there are only images. Very bright and understandable.

Murder in Piccadilly

Charles Kingston

Murder in Picadilly is a typical so-called Golden Age detective story published in 1936 and set in and around Soho. The story concerns the fortunes of a young man named Bobbie Cheldon. Bobbie has fallen head over heels in love with a nightclub dancer Nancy Curzon at The Frozen Fang nightclub but she is attracted not so much to Bobbie as to the fortune he expects to inherit. Bobbies miserly uncle Massy stands between him and happiness: he will not relinquish the ten thousand a year on which Nancys hopes rest. Worse, Bobbies fallen under the sway of one Nosey Ruslin, Nancys theatrical agent hoping to profit from Bobbies relationship woes and wealthy uncle. And soon, Massys life will end on a crowded platform of the London Underground, the killer pursued by Scotland Yards Inspector Wake...

The Faith of Men and Other Stories

Jack London

This is a situation when a person is faced with the inevitability of a terrible painful death. A choice arises before him, which is worse: to accept a painful end, clinging to life until the last breath, or to die voluntarily. This story is not about mans courage, but about his weakness for money, his passion for profit. And such a passion destroys man in man. And then there is nothing left but money. Money money money... there is nothing in the head but them.

Der Doppelgänger

Fjodor M. Dostojewski

Fjodor Michailowitsch Dostojewski gilt als einer der bedeutendsten russischen Schriftsteller. Der Doppelgänger ist ein früher Höhepunkt von Dostojewskis literarischen Erkundungen der Seele und des Ichs. Ich bin nicht ich, sondern jemand ganz anderer, der mir verblüffend ähnlich ist zu dieser Einsicht gelangt der schüchterne Kanzleibeamte Goljadkin, als er eines Nachts seinem Doppelgänger gegenübersteht. Der verfolgt ihn überall hin und versucht, ihn aus allen Lebensbezirken zu verdrängen. Zwischen beiden beginnt ein grotesker, undurchschaubarer Kampf bis zum Wahnsinn. Da gerät Goljadkins Welt aus den Fugen.

Ask Miss Mott

E. Phillips Oppenheim

Miss Mott quickly rose from the sound of knocking at her office door. She was engaged in the typical task of writing her advice to a young woman whose relationship with the acquisition had been pulled in, and she forgot the flight time. Her typist left, her ambassador was a boy and a shy but very nice young clerk who helped her in various activities. In other words, Miss Mott was alone on the top floor of the building, not far from Adelphi, and she did not wait for the subscriber during an hour that had passed during the working hours.

Der Waldläufer

Karl May

Der Waldläufer von Karl May ist eine Bearbeitung des 1850 erschienenen Romans Le Coureur de Bois des französischen Reiseschriftstellers Gabriel Ferry. Der Graf von Mediana ermordet die Witwe seines Bruders und entführt deren Sohn Fabian, um sich in den Besitz der Grafschaft zu setzen. Das Kind wird gerettet, kommt nach Mexiko und wird dort der berühmte Pferdebändiger Tiburcio Arellano. Auch seine beiden Retter, nunmehr bekannte Waldläufer, und den Mörder seiner Mutter trifft er dort wieder. Von feindlichen Apachen, mexikanischen Banditen und El Mestizo mit seinem Vater gejagt, entkommen sie, unterstützt vom Komanchen Falkenauge, allen Anschlägen. Tiburcio Arellano, der wahre Graf von Mediana, kann seine Mutter rächen und tritt sein Erbe an.