The doom of the griffiths - elizabeth gaskellová - e-kniha

eBook: 'The Doom of the Griffiths' is a haunting short story by the acclaimed Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell. A long-forgotten curse was placed upon the Griffiths family by the last native Prince of Wales, Owain Glyndŵr, following a betrayal by a member of the Griffiths family. The curse foretells that the Griffiths family line will end 'with the murder of the eighth generation Griffiths by the ninth'. Many years later, will the ominous prophecy upon the condemned family come true? A dark tale of revenge, jealousy, and treachery. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Intertwining fact and story, The Life of Charlotte Brontë takes the reader by one hand and Charlotte Brontë by the other to run rampant through the making of one of the greatest authoresses of all time. Follow Charlotte from her birthplace of Thornton as she sets off for school and later returns to teach her sisters, and come to know the “characteristic kindness of the Brontës.” This unsentimental biography, written by friend and sometimes critic Elizabeth Gaskell, helped launch Charlotte Brontë’s fame and takes you on a journey to see the making of the author of Jane Eyre. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Set in Victorian England, Gaskell's gothic masterpiece weaves the tale of a lonely old woman whose curse upon the murderer of her cherished dog unleashes unintended consequences. The impulse of revenge is turned to contrition after the discovery of an unexpected connection between her and the accursed. Through Ireland to Yorkshire and finally London, a young lawyer discovers a beautiful young woman mysteriously followed by her own demonic doppelganger, and sets out to learn if the curse can be broken. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: A tragic short story from much-loved Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell, 'The Half-Brothers' is a tale of love and rejection. Unloved and spurned by his stepfather, Gregory is treated very differently from his half-brother. When the favoured brother is caught in a dangerous and violent snowstorm as night is falling, Gregory must prove that his brotherly love is great enough to overcome the harsh treatment he has received - but will he be too late? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Set against the backdrop of the Salem witch hunts, Elizabeth Gaskell’s somber novella reveals much about the complicity of mankind. Recently orphaned, Lois is forced to leave the English parsonage that had been her home and sail to America. A God-fearing and honest girl, she has little to concern her in this new life. Yet as she joins her distant family, she finds jealousy and dissension are rife, and her cousins quick to point the finger at the “imposter.” With the whole of Salem gripped by a fear of the supernatural, it seems her new home is where she is in most danger. Lonely and afraid, the words of an old curse return to haunt her. Collaborator and friend of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell is a leading figure in Victorian literature. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Miss Greatorex is invited to join a group of friends who meet weekly at Mrs Dawson's house. When Miss Greatorex asks to hear more about Mrs Dawson's cousin Lady Ludlow, the friends begin to swap stories, starting with 'My Lady Ludlow'. What follows is a collection of five short stories from the hugely popular Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell, including works such as 'The Doom of the Griffiths' about a cursed family; a tale of selfless love in 'The Half-Brothers'; and 'The Poor Clare' in which the lonely Bridget Fitzgerald sets out to avenge the death of her only companion. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: ‘The Old Nurse’s Story and Other Tales’ is a collection of eleven short stories from the much-loved Victorian author, Elizabeth Gaskell. The title story follows the strange and supernatural happenings which have affected four generations of the Furnivall family, who live in a spooky gothic mansion in the midst of a bleak and deserted moorland. A haunting and atmospheric collection of spooky short stories, which fans of Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ and Henry James’ ‘The turn of the Screw’ will also enjoy. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: A young orphan, Ruth Hilton, is seduced and then abandoned by the wealthy Henry Bellingham. She is left to bring up her child in a society that offers her no protection and seems to punish such innocence. Pretending to be a widow, Ruth is taken in by a minister and is given a chance to bring up her son whom she loves above all else. This was a crusading novel when it was published in 1853, and aroused almost as much censure for its shocking scenes as it did sympathy for the heroine. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,Jemné dámy z Cranfordu žijí své poklidné životy, nečekají, že se bude cokoli dít, a dodržují svá poněkud výstřední pravidla. Ale samozřejmě, že život zasahuje těmi nanejvýš neobvyklými způsoby... Cranford je nejznámější a nejkouzelnější z novel Elizabeth Gaskellové, vtipné a dojemné klasické dílo, které si zaslouží být přečteno. Po prvním dílu nazvaném Cranfordské dámy budou následovat příběhy Milady Ludlowová a Zpovědi pana Harrisona. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: The trope of the "fallen woman" has been a constant presence in world literature for centuries. Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell breathes new life into that tired archetype in the engaging short story "Lizzie Leigh," in which love ultimately triumphs even in the face of the most formidable odds. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Author Elizabeth Gaskell's first ever novel 'Mary Barton' was written as a means of distracting herself from her grief over the loss of her young son. Taking inspiration from Manchester, the industrial hub where Elizabeth Gaskell was living at the time, 'Mary Barton' paints a fascinating yet horrifying picture of working-class life in a Victorian city. Young Mary Barton and her trade unionist father are barely getting by, and all around them people are being exploited and abused by the wealthy. While her father pursues a political path to equality, Mary is torn between marrying for love, and marrying above her social situation in order to improve her family's fortunes. A ground-breaking novel for its' time, 'Mary Barton' put the plight of the working classes front and centre – revealing the shocking cycle of poverty, starvation and death which affected so much of the population. - (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,Cranford je nejznámější z novel Elizabeth Gaskellové, vtipné a dojemné klasické dílo, které si zaslouží být přečteno. Po prvním díle vydává NAKLADATELSTVÍ XYZ další část nazvanou Zpovědi pana Harrisona a čtenáři se mohou těšit i na poslední díl Lady Ludlowová. Společné zázemí a podobné zasazení i obrovská popularita a životnost celé trilogie jsou důvodem, proč byl tento materiál tak vhodný ke spojení do jedné – a velmi úspěšné – televizní adaptace natočené BBC pod názvem Cranford. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: A short essay by acclaimed Victorian writer Elizabeth Gaskell, 'An Accursed Race' is a study of the plight of the much-persecuted minority group the Cagots. In her essay, Gaskell explores the reasons behind their persecution in Europe, the commonly held superstitions surrounding them, and describes their ill-treatment in an effort to change the attitude towards this group. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Though she began her literary career as a social realist working in the vein of her mentor Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell took a mid-career turn into the realm of supernatural writing. Curious, If True brings together a collection of Gaskell's most spine-chilling Victorian tales of horror and suspense. It's a must-read for fans of gothic mysteries. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Lady Ludlow is absolute mistress of Handbury Court and a resolulte opponent of anything that might disturb the class system into which she was born. She will keep no servant who can read and write and insists that the lower orders have no rights, but only duties. But the winds of change are blowing through the village of Handbury. The Vicar, Mr. Gray, wishes to start a Sunday school for religious reasons; Mr. Horner wants to educate the citizens for economic reasons. But Lady Ludlow is not as rigid as one may think. An Academy Victoria Classic. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

With an Introduction by David Stuart Davies. 'In the great mirror opposite I saw myself, and right behind, another wicked fearful self, so like me my soul seemed to quiver within me, as though not knowing to which similitude of body it belonged'. Elizabeth Gaskell is better known today for her pioneering social novels such as Mary Barton (1848) but she also wrote some fascinating tales of the supernatural and the macabre, which are collected here in this volume.The real charm of this dark anthology is its variety. Unlike so many writers of this kind of material, Gaskell allows the story to fit the style rather than the other way around and as result there is a charming freshness to each tale. This remarkable author uses different voices, tones and topics to engage her readers and as you turn from one story to the next you cannot be quite sure what to expect. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: In the county town of a certain shire there lived (about forty years ago) one Mr. Wilkins, a conveyancing attorney of considerable standing. The certain shire was but a small county, and the principal town in it contained only about four thousand inhabitants; so in saying that Mr. Wilkins was the principal lawyer in Hamley, I say very little, unless I add that he transacted all the legal business of the gentry for twenty miles round. His grandfather had established the connection; his father had consolidated and strengthened it, and, indeed, by his wise and upright conduct, as well as by his professional skill, had obtained for himself the position of confidential friend to many of the surrounding families of distinction. He visited among them in a way which no mere lawyer had ever done before; dined at their tables-he alone, not accompanied by his wife, be it observed; rode to the meet occasionally as if by accident, although he was as well mounted as any squire among them, and was often persuaded (after a little coquetting about "professional engagements," and "being wanted at the office") to have a run with his clients; nay, once or twice he forgot his usual caution, was first in at the death, and rode home with the brush. But in general he knew his place; as his place was held to be in that aristocratic county, and in those days. Nor let be supposed that he was in any way a toadeater. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,Hlavní hrdinku Margaret Haleovou sledujeme v prvním díle v průběhu přibližně roku mezi jejími osmnáctými a devatenáctými narozeninami. V samém úvodu ještě pobývá u své bohaté tety Shawové v Londýně, kde s přestávkami strávila devět let. Její sestřenice Edith se chystá provdat za kapitána Lennoxe a odjet s ním na Korfu. Jeho bratr Henry se jí zatím snaží dvořit, ale nachází u Margaret jen pramalou odezvu. Tato pohledná a někdy snad až příliš upřímná dívka je už totiž myšlenkami spíše u svých rodičů v jihoanglickém Helstone, kde je její otec pastorem. Uspěchaný a mondénní Londýn tak vymění za poklid venkova. Užívá si ho ovšem jen krátce – pan Hale podlehne dlouhým a mučivým pochybnostem o síle své víry a volí podle svého názoru jediné slušné řešení: vzdává se místa duchovního správce a stěhuje se s manželkou, Margaret a služebnou Dixonovou do Miltonu v severní Anglii. Snad kvůli tomu, že byla vytržena z idylického prostředí domova, pociťuje Margaret odvrácenou stranu anglické průmyslové revoluce o to bolestněji a na lásku nemá zpočátku ani pomyšlení. Henry Lennox ustupuje do pozadí a místo v Margaretině srdci se snaží obsadit miltonský továrník John Thornton, zaujatý Margaretinou živostí a krásou… Román Sever a Jih, který se po celém světě dočkal bezpočtu překladů (a také dvou adaptací BBC) vychází v češtině vůbec poprvé v překladu Jany Srbové. Na první díl navážou ještě v průběhu roku 2012 druhý i třetí. Elizabeth Gaskellová v něm dokazuje, že patří – spolu s Jane Austenovou, George Eliotovou a sestrami Brontëovými – k těm anglickým spisovatelkám 19. století, jejichž dílo fascinuje další a další generace čtenářek. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,Druhý díl slavného románu anglické klasičky je již zcela ponořen do dusné atmosféry průmyslového Miltonu a vzpomínka na slunný Helstone kdesi na Jihu jen občas probleskne v myšlenkách přestěhovavší se rodiny Haleových. Po večeři u Thorntonových je Margaret, co se vztahu k panu Thorntonovi týká, ještě rozpolcenější než dřív. Na jednu stranu ho do jisté míry obdivuje, na druhou ji odpuzuje jeho tvrdost, hraničící s bezohledností. Jak říká otci v pěkné metafoře, je to s ním, jako když člověk jí poprvé olivu: „Nechte mě, ať se šklebím, než ji spolknu.“ Zamilovaný továrník mezitím dokáže zlomit odpor své matky, o to horší je však jeho pád, když z úst své milované uslyší, že on jejím mužem nikdy nebude…Umírající paní Haleová přiměje Margaret, aby napsala svému bratrovi Frederickovi, jenž se nesmí vrátit do Anglie kvůli námořní vzpouře, kterou kdysi vedl. Fred zastihne matku ještě naživu – avšak už jen krátce. On i jeho otec jsou jejím skonem zcela zlomeni a Margaret (spolu s paní Dixonovou) musí být ta, která jim dodává sil. Navíc je třeba, aby Frederick co nejdříve odcestoval, neboť se mu – obrazně řečeno – nad hlavou houpá oprátka. Na scénu tak nepřímo vstupuje i Margaretin zavržený následník Henry Lennox, který mu má pomoci prokázat nevinu. Jenže Haleovi nejsou jediní, kdo ví, že se uprchlý zločinec, jímž Frederick de facto je, vrátil do Anglie, a že je za jeho dopadení vypsaná tučná odměna… Jeho dramatický odjezd z Miltonu, po němž umírá jistý nehodný muž, ještě více zakalí už tak šedou oblohu nad ubohou Margaret, která v zájmu bratrovy záchrany musí lhát. A když se dozví, že je do celé věci zasvěcen i pan Thornton, propadá zoufalství…Román Sever a Jih, který se po celém světě dočkal bezpočtu vydání (a také dvou adaptací BBC), vychází v češtině vůbec poprvé, a to v překladu Jany Srbové. Richard Armitage, představitel Johna Thorntona ze seriálu „North and South“ (BBC 2004), velmi případně řekl, že Elizabeth Gaskellová se – na rozdíl od ostatních viktoriánských autorek – dokáže ponořit nejen do ženské, ale i do mužské duše. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,Do posledního dílu slavného románu Elizabeth Gaskellové vstupujeme v okamžiku, kdy se Margaret vyrovnává nejen se ztrátou matky, ale i s pocitem, že o ní pan Thornton bude smýšlet jako o lhářce. Elizabeth Gaskellová jako by tu pod clonou smyslu pro čest a pravdu a chladného obdivu vůči miltonskému továrníkovi nechávala problesknout první paprsky lásky – avšak ví o nich jen autorka a vnímavá čtenářka, Margaret sama si je zatím neuvědomuje. John Thornton naopak přiměje svou matku, aby vyhledala Margaret – slíbila přece umírající paní Haleové, že jí bude nápomocná v okamžicích, kdy by dívka mohla zakolísat. Stále se totiž vrací k okamžiku, kdy ji u nádraží spatřil s cizím mladým mužem. Ví, že mu Margaret lhala, ale cítí, že se tak nestalo z nízkých pohnutek. Pevné, leč poněkud povýšené zásady paní Thorntonové se však od Margaretiny hrdosti odrazí jako kámen vržený proti skále. Na scénu přichází pan Bell, Margaretin kmotr, oxfordský přítel jejího otce a pronajímatel Thorntonovy továrny v jednom. Laskavý starý tutor si okamžitě získá dívčino srdce. Navíc postřehne, že napětí mezi Margaret Haleovou a Johnem Thorntonem zdaleka nepramení jen z rozdílných názorů na uspořádání společnosti. Se svou domněnkou se svěří panu Haleovi, ten však jen nevěřícně potřásá hlavou. To je také jedna z posledních věcí, které tento nešťastný vdovec a bývalý pastor ještě stačí v životě učinit, neboť záhy nato umírá v oxfordské koleji pana Bella, kam ho přijel navštívit. Margaret je zcela ochromena zármutkem, a vděčně tedy přijímá azyl v londýnském domě své tety, v němž strávila dětství – paní Shawová i její dcera Edith s rodinou se vracejí z Korfu. Zahálčivý život, zpestřený jen krátkou návštěvou Helstone, která Margaret stejně spíš roztrpčí, než uchlácholí, ji pohříchu příliš neuspokojuje. Myšlenky na pana Thorntona i na ty, kteří ji opustili, stále trápí její srdce. Pan Bell – ani tomuto gentlemanovi není dáno dožít se konce románu – z ní učiní bohatou dědičku, Margaret však cítí pouze vděčnost, nikoli štěstí. Kdesi daleko, na průmyslovém Severu, zatím John Thornton svádí předem prohranou bitvu o záchranu své továrny. Jeho noční rozhovor s matkou je jedním z nejsilnějších momentů celé knihy a jako by nasměroval zbývající text ke zrychlenému, vášnivému rozuzlení. Dokáže se pokořený továrník znovu narovnat? Bude právník Henry Lennox, jenž byl už kdysi dávno ve slunném Helstone odmítnut, napodruhé úspěšný? A od koho nakonec Margaret přijme ten nejkrásnější zásnubní dar – uschlé růže, jež vykvetly právě tam? Z anglického originálu North and South přeložila (vůbec poprvé do češtiny) Jana Srbová. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: First published in 1855 'Half a Lifetime Ago' by much-loved author Elizabeth Gaskell recounts the events which have befallen the now pessimistic and solitary Susan Dixon, shaping her personality and outlook on life. Set against a bleak, rural backdrop, it is a tale of love and loss and of hope and disappointment as she looks back on the moments which have moulded her. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,Susan Dixonová je pohledná mladá dívka, jež strávila svůj dosavadní život na farmě Yew Nook v anglickém Westmorelandu. Smrt matky ji sice zasáhne, ale na truchlení nemá příliš mnoho času – musí zvládat péči o domácnost i nepříliš inteligentního mladšího bratra Willieho… a čas si najde i na lásku. Její svazek s pohledným, byť poněkud povrchním farmářským synkem Michaelem Hurstem se zdá být tou nejpřirozenější i nejsladší věcí na světě…Ovšem pak do její rodiny vtrhne zákeřná nemoc. Ona sama ji překoná bez následků, ale otec umírá a z Willieho se stává nesvéprávná přítěž. Susan se ho nechce vzdát, vždyť dala umírající matce slib, že ho nikdy neopustí. Avšak Michael má jiné představy o společném životě, a čím víc na Susan tlačí, tím víc se v jejích očích odcizuje.Susan, zmítaná mezi láskou k Michaelovi a smyslem pro pokrevní povinnost, si nakonec volí to druhé. Své rozdrásané srdce se snaží zahojit každodenní tvrdou prací. Leč ani smutné dny s šíleným a občas agresivním bratrem na osamělé farmě nejsou tou poslední ranou, která ji má v životě potkat. A tak se kdysi krásná dívka mění ve hrdou a zklamanou ženu, zoufale bránící to poslední, co jí v životě zbylo. Dočká se ještě lásky? A bude její oběť jednou odměněna?Odpovědi vetkla slavná anglická autorka Elizabeth Gaskellová do této rozsahem nevelké, ale emocemi překypující novely, do níž se můžete – díky citlivému překladu Jany Srbové – vůbec poprvé začíst i ve svém rodném jazyce. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: A killer riff that hits a deadly note.When a member of rock star Brendan Phelan's road crew turns up dead, all fingers point to the colourful cast of characters on stage - including front man Phelan. With guns, whips, and a trail of suspects, DI Angela Costello and her team must race against time to catch the killer before the show's over for good. But with a web of secrets to unravel, the truth may be harder to find than a backstage pass... (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: In 1901, the author – the real Elizabeth – went on a trip to the Baltic island of Rügen with her maid, a chauffeur, a friend, and a carriage piled high with their luggage. From this, she weaves a captivating tale of her encounters in this semi-autobiographical novel. A snobbish bishop’s wife and her handsome son, a dressmaker, and a long-lost cousin Charlotte form the basis of this story, as Charlotte tries to evade the pursuit of her husband. Elizabeth von Arnim\'s humorous novel ‘The Adventures of Elizabeth in Rügen’ will be enjoyed by fans of Thomas Hardy’s ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’. Elizabeth von Arnim was an English novelist – a cousin of the New Zealand-born writer Katherine Mansfield – born as Mary Annette Beauchamp in Australia in 1866. She married a German aristocrat and her earliest written works are set in Germany. Von Arnim launched her career as a writer with her satirical and semi-autobiographical work ‘Elizabeth and Her German Garden’, published anonymously in 1898. Although she was known by the name May in her early life, when she began writing, her success as ‘Elizabeth’ meant that her writings were ascribed to the name Elizabeth von Arnim. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Plakát 61x91,5cm The Lord of the Rings - Mount Doom (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: \'Behind the Scenes\' (1868) was written by American civil activist and author, Elizabeth Keckley, who is best known as the confidante of the First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln. Her astonishing life story is told in this autobiographical book which traces her eventful life, from enslavement in Virginia and thirty years as a slave to her eventual freedom and time working in the White House. This enthralling, poignant book is an extraordinary piece of American history that will delight anyone interested in slave narratives, such as Frederick Douglass\' ´Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass´. - (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Orphan Anna’s life is changed for the better when she inherits an estate from her maternal uncle. Kind and intelligent, Anna decides to pass on some of her wealth by setting up a home for twelve women who have been mistreated throughout their life. These twelve women will be freed from financial worries, and will therefore not need to marry. Instead, they will be able to live in a place of natural beauty, forming a group of friends. Her goal is to make the women happy but achieving that may be harder than imagined... ‘The Benefactress’ by Elizabeth von Arnim is a humorous historical fiction classic that will be enjoyed by fans of ‘Great Expectations’. Elizabeth von Arnim was an English novelist – a cousin of the New Zealand-born writer Katherine Mansfield – born as Mary Annette Beauchamp in Australia in 1866. She married a German aristocrat and her earliest written works are set in Germany. Von Arnim launched her career as a writer with her satirical and semi-autobiographical work ‘Elizabeth and Her German Garden’, published anonymously in 1898. Although she was known by the name May in her early life, when she began writing, her success as ‘Elizabeth’ meant that her writings were ascribed to the name Elizabeth von Arnim. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,Kniha se věnuje kulturním procesům vyjednávání symbolických hranic přináležení v českém imigračním kontextu. Na základě kvalitativní analýzy biografických rozhovorů s přistěhovalci z Běloruska, Ukrajiny a Ruska žijících v České republice autorka zjišťuje, jak se utvářejí symbolické hranice přináležení skrze stigma v každodenních interakcích v sociálním a kulturním kontextu imigrace. Kniha si všímá rozporuplné kulturní reprezentace této skupiny migrantů v českém prostoru etnizovaných vztahů – zvláštního napětí mezi pozicí ‚Druhého‘ (‚Other) a ‚Bratra‘ (‚Brother‘) ve vztahu k Čechům. Toto napětí odráží minulé i současné procesy vytváření národa ve střední a východní Evropě, historické politické vztahy mezi socialistickým Československem a Sovětským svazem a migrační procesy v období po roce 1989. Kniha nabízí nový vhled do kulturního repertoáru českého imigračního kontextu a vyjednávání hranic češství. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,This book targets the problems of emergence and stabilization of the earliest state bodies in the pristine statehood foci of the Old World - Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China. Charvát takes his readers through the essential economic, political and intellectual transformations induced in those societies by their transformations into early states. The author also provides a comprehensive view over the entire range of the discussed problems, attempting to perceive the process of establishment of the earliest states of the Old World in its complexity. The book gives the word to ancient statesmen, as well as to men of religion and letters of yore, voicing their alarm in crisis situations of their states, when they feared collapse of what they understood as "civilized society". Addressing their admonitions to kings, managers, generals and, where possible, the widest circles of society, such thinkers urged their contemporaries to defend the ideals on which their civilizations wer e built. The book is addressed to all those interested in the emergence and development of humankind´s earliest states including university students of humanity disciplines. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: La Fortune des Rougon (The Fortune of the Rougons), originally published in 1871, is the first novel in Émile Zola's monumental twenty-volume series Les Rougon-Macquart. The novel is partly an origin story, with a large cast of characters - many of whom become the central figures of later novels in the series - and partly an account of the December 1851 coup d´etat that created the French Second Empire under Napoleon III. The events are experienced through the eyes of a large provincial town in southern France. The title refers not only to the "fortune" chased by protagonists Pierre and Felicité Rougon, but also to the fortunes of the various disparate family members Zola introduces, whose lives are of central importance to later books in the series. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: This novel, although not as well-known as Radcliffe's later works, is thought to represent her work at its best. More than just a work of suspense and mystery, it is a work of ideas--a discussion of the contrasts between hedonistic doctrines and a system of education and values. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Archibald Hunter arrives at Cruden Bay for his yearly seaside vacation, looking for nothing more than peace and quiet. Then all of a sudden his life becomes plagued by intimidating visions and omens of impending disaster. What are these creepy ghosts trying to tell him? And what is the mystery behind the strange cipher that has inexplicably fallen into his lap?A mystery novel at first but transforms into an exciting adventure full of intrigue, romance and treasure hunting. 'The Mystery of The Sea' is a stark but refreshing contrast to Bram Stoker's well-known horror classic 'Dracula', famously portrayed by film star Bela Lugosi. Highly recommended for avid fans of H.P. Lovecraft's supernatural stories, and its HBO adaptation 'Lovecraft Country'. Also a perfect fit for 'Robinson Crusoe' fans seeking a sinister adventure story about a lone man taking on the malignant forces of nature.- (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Business magnate Roger Melton has passed on, leaving behind one of the grandest fortunes of his time. To the family's astonishment, Roger has bequeathed his vast estate to the black sheep of the family, his young nephew Rupert Sent Leger. But Rupert's inheritance involves the most extraordinary conditions, including one stating that he must reside in the ancient castle of Vissarion in the Land of the Blue Mountains. Rupert travels to Vissarion with his Aunt Janet, who possesses the occult power of Second Sight. But despite all the precautions Rupert is visited by a mysterious woman veiled in a burial shroud. Beguiled by her otherworldly and ethereal beauty, Rupert ponders whether she is a vampire, a ghost, or another sort of mystic creature altogether. Determined to find out for himself, but has no idea of what dangers he has to face. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Is there anything wrong with a man that wants to change the world? What happens when he goes a little too far against the wishes of his family? All Dr. Mark wants to do is help, but is this possible?An idealistic physician, shaped by his reformist mother, decides to practice medicine in a cold area in the far north of Norway among the Sami people. He returns home with his stylish new wife and sets about looking into the social factors that contribute to illness. This leads him into difficulty not least from his jealous wife.Will Dr. Mark\'s epiphany for social justice outweigh his ability to function rationally in his role as physician and husband? An insightful novel from Northern Norway at the turn of the 20th century (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Dangerous storms, treacherous waters and friends who sometimes turn out to be enemies. The life of the Norwegian fishermen was never easy. If you love \'The Vikings\' series on Netflix, you will love this book!Set against the harsh beauty of the Lofoten Islands, \'The Last of the Vikings\' is a stirring depiction, both of man\'s perseverance and of the end of an era. Its action centres upon a single fishing season, when the Norwegian peasantry, descendants of the Vikings, make their annual voyage to the islands.For the people at home, fishing was just as hard, but in a different way. The knowledge that your husband, son or father was away for months, risking his life, wore on those staying at home. The main character\'s wife is described as hating the sea - she never saw God in the sea. He just existed back at her childhood farm.This is a tale of the poor and their ongoing struggle to live and provide for their families. Full of adventures and tales, though quite sad in places, this classic book makes for an interesting read and is one of those stories that should be read at least once in a lifetime! (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Do you like Stieg Larsson\'s \'Millennium\', James Bond and dystopian dramas like \'The Man in the High Castle\'? The 1903 spy thriller \'The Riddle of the Sands\' has elements of all three - and then some. Ken Follett, author of \'The Pillars of the Earth\', called \'The Riddle of the Sands\' the \"first modern thriller\". It centres on a suspected plot by the German Empire to invade Britain. The plot proved to be almost prophetic, bearing in mind what was to follow in the First World War and the Second World War in the coming decades. Minor civil servant Carruthers and his friend, Davies are the men investigating the plot while on a yachting holiday in the Baltic Sea. They are drawn into an intricate story that includes secret treasure, a British traitor and a race against time to save Britain from the grip of the Kaiser. In 1979 \'The Riddle of the Sands\' was made into a spy thriller movie, starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter and Simon MacCorkindale. Childers\' technique of including a great deal of detail that could be verified was later used by authors including: John Buchan, who wrote \'The Thirty-Nine Steps\'; \'James Bond\' author Ian Fleming and John Le Carré. Erskine Childers (1870-1922) was an Anglo-Irish writer whose only true literary success came with \'The Riddle of the Sands\'. Instead, he found infamy through his political activism. Having been a prospective Liberal parliamentary candidate, he left the party and took up the cause of Irish Republicanism. He smuggled guns into Ireland on his yacht, but was executed during the Irish Civil War. His son, Erskine Hamilton Childers, became the 4th president of Ireland. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: "I hate every wave of the ocean," the seasick Charles Darwin wrote to his family during his five-year voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle. It was this world-wide journey, however, that launched the scientist’s career.The Voyage of the Beagle is Darwin's fascinating account of his trip - of his biological and geological observations and collection activities, of his speculations about the causes and theories behind scientific phenomena, of his interactions with various native peoples, of his beautiful descriptions of the lands he visited, and of his amazing discoveries in the Galapagos archipelago. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: ‘The Castaways of the Flag’ is the sequel to ‘Their Island Home’ and the 47th book of the ‘Extraordinary Voyages’ series. A huge fan of ‘The Swiss Family Robinson,’ by Johann David Wyss, Verne decided to pick up the thread and, with the addition of ‘Their Island Home,’ turn one story into an unofficial trilogy. This, the final instalment, follows the fortunes of the family, as they finally leave the island and head for home. However, will its shores prove too difficult to escape from forever? A fitting finale to Wyss’ original tale, this book is for lovers of Verne and Wyss, alike. Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French novelist who became known as the ‘Father of Science Fiction.’ He wrote more than 60 novels, including ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ (1864), ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’ (1870) which was also released as a film, starring James Mason, and ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ (1873), which has been released as a TV drama, featuring former Dr Who star, David Tennant. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Considered wildly controversial at the time of its release, \'The Fruit of the Tree\' is a departure from the norm for Edith Wharton. While her trademark eye for social detail and psychological insights are present and correct, this novel deals with more melancholic themes, such as divorce, addiction, euthanasia, poor working conditions, and extravagance. It follows the story of George Amhurst, the assistant manager of a textile mill in New England. While his heart might be in the right place, when he marries the widow of a mill owner, he might be forced to compromise in his ideals. A striking book from the pen that wrote \'The Age of Innocence,\' which became a film, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (April 1, 1875 – February 10, 1932) was an English crime writer, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and numerous articles in newspapers and journals. Over 160 films have been made of his novels. In the 1920s, one of Wallace\'s publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him. He is most famous today as the co-creator of King Kong, writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story \"King Kong\" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, The Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime. (wikipedia.org) THE PEOPLE OF THE RIVER is set in Colonial Africa, British colonial official Sanders fights for British power and to protect his colonial charges set against the backdrop of mostly-unexplored Africa. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: For those interested in a more philosphical aspect of war, \'The Meaning of the War\' by Henri Bergson is a short non-fiction work that explores \'Life & Matter in Conflict\', as the subtitle of the book tells us. A renowned French philosopher, Bergson delves into the history and politics of war, specifically examining Germany during World War I. This book criticizes the ideology that might is right. A policy that has been fatal for regions that neighbour Germany.To further get insight into the philosophical aspect of war, Sigmund Freud\'s essay ´Reflections on War and Death´ provides a great perspective on the modern mental state of people during WWI. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: In Elizabeth von Arnim’s humourous novel, \"The Pastor\'s Wife\", the main character Ingeborg Bullivant goes on a spontaneous trip to Lucerne and returns engaged to a Prussian pastor. However, her new life as a wife is restrictive, and when the dashing artist Ingram comes into her life and indulges her with musings about Italy, wanderlust temps Ingeborg for a second time. This warm and witty novel is based on von Arnim’s own first marriage and will be enjoyed by fans of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. Elizabeth von Arnim was an English novelist – a cousin of the New Zealand-born writer Katherine Mansfield – born as Mary Annette Beauchamp in Australia in 1866. She married a German aristocrat and her earliest written works are set in Germany. Von Arnim launched her career as a writer with her satirical and semi-autobiographical work ‘Elizabeth and Her German Garden’, published anonymously in 1898. Although she was known by the name May in her early life, when she began writing, her success as ‘Elizabeth’ meant that her writings were ascribed to the name Elizabeth von Arnim. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: \"Last night after dinner, when we were in the garden, I said, \"I want to be alone for a whole summer, and get to the very dregs of life. I want to be as idle as I can, so that my soul may have time to grow.\" This witty tale of a rejuvenating summer is a semi-autobiographical tale told in the form of diary entries from a nameless narrator. In it, a woman spends her summer in her garden, away from the social world that she was trained to reside in with all its rules and conventions. Despite the name of the book, the nameless female narrator does not spend her entire summer alone but is instead joined by her daughters and husband – the latter of which she has nicknamed ‘The Man of Wrath’. A sequel to her famous début ‘Elizabeth and Her German Garden’, ‘The Solitary Summer’ will delight fans of ‘Downton Abbey’ and ´Bridgerton\', whose narratives feature the same social world our heroine is trying to escape. Elizabeth von Arnim was an English novelist – a cousin of the New Zealand-born writer Katherine Mansfield – born as Mary Annette Beauchamp in Australia in 1866. She married a German aristocrat and her earliest written works are set in Germany. Von Arnim launched her career as a writer with her satirical and semi-autobiographical work ‘Elizabeth and Her German Garden’, published anonymously in 1898. Although she was known by the name May in her early life, when she began writing, her success as ‘Elizabeth’ meant that her writings were ascribed to the name Elizabeth von Arnim. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: The story is written in first person as a journal. Our narrator is a tired English woman who, after WWI, escapes ambiguous personal troubles in London and seeks refuge at her chalet among the Swiss Alps. As she starts to gain strength, two English women, also of ambiguous personal circumstances, show up literally on her doorstep. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Often referred to as the sequel to \'The Two Dianas,\' \'The Page of the Duke of Savoy\' tells the story of the Duke of Savoy and his mysterious page. The Duke decides to fight the French at the Battle of St. Quentin, with potentially disastrous consequences. In typical Dumas style, this story is rife with political intrigue, double identities, and swashbuckling swordplay.However, at its heart, this is a historical romance which shows the lengths people will go to for love. A real page-turner for fans of Dumas and those who want an introduction to his work. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,This book describes fascinating natural landscapes of south Moravia and river Dyje (the area partially protected by UNESCO). It talks about people and yearly events in the region. The stories are characteristic of its poetics, style and beautiful language. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Written just eight years before the Wright brothers made their first powered flight, ‘The Argonauts of the Air’ follows the fortunes of eccentric millionaire, Monson. Monson is determined to build the world’s first flying machine. However, with his fortune dwindling and time against him, will he be successful in his mission? Another example of Wells’ extraordinary prescience, ‘The Argonauts of the Air’ is a thought-provoking and taut read, and possibly the only book to put London’s Worcester Park on the literary map. H.G. Wells (1866 – 1946) was a prolific writer and the author of more than 50 novels. Additionally, he wrote more than 60 short stories, alongside various scientific papers. Many of his most famous works have been adapted for film and television, including ‘The Time Machine,’ starring Guy Pearce, ‘War of the Worlds,’ starring Tom Cruise, and ‘The Invisible Man,’ starring Elizabeth Moss. Because of his various works exploring futuristic themes, Wells is regarded as one of the ‘Fathers of Science Fiction. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: J.M. Synge’s ‘The Well of the Saints’ is a three-act darkly comedic play that explores themes of myth, vision and journeys. Two blind beggars, Martin and Mary Doul, are cured of their blindness by a passing saint. Unable to reckon with the ugliness of a world they have never seen, their relationship is torn apart by their new gift. Now able to integrate into society, they try and live as they have always wanted to, only to be met with cruelty at every turn. ‘The Well of the Saints’ is a hilarious and thought-provoking play that will enrapture fans of Irish literature or comedy. A cross between ‘Waiting for Godot’ and ‘Trading Places’, ‘The Well of the Saints’ is a dark delight to be enjoyed by all. Edmund John Millington Synge (1871 – 1909) was an Irish poet, playwright, and defining figure of the Irish Literary Revival. Born in County Dublin to upper-middle-class Protestants, Synge suffered from Hodgkin’s disease which led to his home-schooling. Soon after graduating from Trinity College Dublin, Synge became a renowned poet and playwright, but his success was short-lived as he passed away from cancer at 37. He is best remembered for his play ‘The Playboy of the Western World’, an incredibly controversial work at the time of its publication and performance. Regarded by Yeats as ‘the greatest dramatic genius of Ireland’, Synge has had a lasting legacy, being a key influence for acclaimed Irish playwright Samuel Beckett and the subject of Joseph O’Connor’s novel ‘Ghost Light’ (2010). (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Best known as the author of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ series of children’s stories, L. Frank Baum also worked as a poultry farmer before he found literary fame. ‘The Book of the Hamburgs’ is a short informative guide to the Hamburg breed of chicken, one of his favourites. This book explores characteristics, the history of the breed, and information for those looking to exhibit their Hamburgs. A charming guide to one of the author’s little-known passions. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: First published in 1882 ‘The Giant of the North’ is an imaginative children’s adventure tale from prolific Scottish author R.M. Ballantyne. Captain Vane, along with his son Benjamin and nephews Leo and Alf are on an adventure, searching for the elusive North Pole. When their ship runs aground, the group must venture out across the icy expanse to find help, and along the way they find themselves caught up in a series of mishaps and escapades as they navigate this unfamiliar terrain. (knihydobrovsky.cz)