A Set of Six

Joseph Conrad

A set of six amazing short stories by Joseph Conrad. However, these six stories are not in the same vein, they differ: themes and ideas. These stories do not so much illuminate anything as they tell an interesting story. The professor, a character from an earlier novel, appears briefly and tells us about his possible fate.

Murder at Monte Carlo

E. Phillips Oppenheim

One of many great works by E. Phillips Oppenheim, who styled himself as the prince of storytellers, and is credited with creating the rogue male genre of adventure thrillers and was one of the earliest writers of spy fiction from the late 19th and early 20th Century England. The hero in this one is Roger Sloane, a well-off American bon vivant who decides to blow the whistle on a gang of transplanted American gangsters who have abandoned New York and set up a sophisticated crime syndicate on the French Riviera and in Monaco. Robbery, murder, secret hideouts, fast cars, and beautiful women all figure in this tale of roaring 20s. Roger meets a wild and beautiful child of the hills, Jeannine, who reappears as the protege of his Aunt, and the belle of the casino.

Black Vulmeas Vengeance

Robert E. Howard

Pulp adventure, seemingly a bit crude and dashed off quickly, but good storytelling none the less. Pirates and lost cities a bit of Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones rolled into one, but also with echoes of one of Howards best known tales of piracy, the Conan story Queen of the Black Coast a superior story. The writing here is okay, entertaining enough, and even manages a little character exposition, but Howard could do and did do better work.

The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt

L. Frank Baum

Writing under a pseudonym, the prolific Wizard of Oz author created a series of far-flung adventure tales starring Sam Steele, a resourceful young sailor. In this story of mystery, deceit, and murder, Sam and his companions seek the legendary wealth of Karnak a 2,000-year-old treasure buried in the desert sands. The adventure begins when Sam rescues an escaped cabin boy from a sinking dinghy in Boston Harbor. Runaway Joe Herring, along with pampered aristocrat Archie Ackley, accompany Sam to Alexandria, Egypt. There, the trio learn of the legendary lost riches of Karnak and Luxor a wealth of pearls, gold, precious gems, and historic papyrus rolls, all hidden from invading Persians. Relying upon their pluck, luck, and quick wits, the American boys follow an ancient caravan route to uncover a secret from beyond the grave. Unusually for Baum, the tale of The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt is told in the first person, by the title character.

Ta trzecia

Henryk Sienkiewicz

Ta trzecia to satyra na środowisko burżuazji oraz interesująca charakterystyka przedstawicieli cyganerii artystycznej. Magórski jest ubogim artystą malarzem. Zaręczył się z panną z dobrego domu. Został jednak odrzucony z powodu ekscentrycznego zachowania. Jego życie zmienia się, kiedy jeden z jego obrazów Żydzi nad rzekami Babilonu otrzymuje nagrodę w konkursie paryskim. Nagroda przynosi malarzowi sławę i pieniądze, a także powodzenie u kobiet. Ostatecznie artysta znajduje szczęście w małżeństwie z zakochaną w nim od dawna uroczą aktorką.

Monte-Criston kreivi

Alexandre Dumas

Monte-Criston kreivi on klassinen Alexandre Dumas vanhemman kirjoittama historiallinen seikkailuromaani. Sitä pidetään usein Dumasn parhaimpiin kuuluvana teoksena ja se esiintyy usein myös kaikkien aikojen parhaimpien romaanien listoilla. Tarinan paikkana ovat Ranska, Italia ja Välimeren saaret vuosina 18141838. Seikkailuromaanin tyyliin kirjoitetun tarinan teemoja ovat oikeus, kosto, armeliaisuus ja anteeksianto.

Roughing It

Mark Twain

The novel "Roughing It" is a book of memoirs by Mark Twain about the years of vagrancy in the Far West during the "silver rush". The book begins with Mark Twain embarking on a journey to the West with his brother, Orion Clemens, who received the post of Secretary of the Nevada Territory. Further, the author tells about the subsequent events of his own life.

The Trimmed Lamp and Other Stories of the Four Million

O. Henry

The Trimmed Lamp follows The Four Million and provides another series of twenty-five short stories that take place in New York City in the early years of the 20th century and are representative of the surprise endings that popularized O. Henrys work. Contents: A Madison Square Arabian Night, The Rubaiyat of a Scotch Highball, The Pendulum, Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen, The Assessor of Success and others. Stories of the lives of blue collar workers and middle class with endings that can turn the whole story on its ear. Born in 1862 and died in 1910, O. Henrys birth name is William Sydney Porter; however, he adopted the pen name O. Henry while in prison. He published 10 collections and over 600 short stories during his lifetime. The Trimmed Lamp by O. Henry is a classic by one of Americas most loved and respected authors, a great addition to the collection.