Anthologies & Short Stories

Book SynopsisWinner of the 2007 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award'Blisteringly good' GuardianIn her remarkable stories of seemingly ordinary people living extraordinary lives, Miranda July reveals how a single moment can change everything. Whether writing about a middle-aged woman's obsession with Prince William or an aging bachelor who has never been in love, the result is startling, tender and sexy by turns. One of the most acclaimed and successful short-story collections, No One Belongs Here More Than You confirms Miranda July as a spectacularly original, iconic and important voice today.Trade ReviewBlisteringly good * * Guardian * *There's beauty and tenderness here as well as great wit and, like the best stories, a delicious sense of the unexpected * * Metro * *A stunning collection ... from a wonderfully quirky and highly original writer * * Venue * *July's short fiction is quirky and self-consciously postmodern in style ... The best of her stories adds a depth of emotional truth which can persuade you to believe in her most oddball worlds. -- Helen Chappell * * Tribune * *Surprising, amusing and touching ... they'll fill you with a renewed sense of wonder at the world * * Venue * *Magically oddball ... rarely has such a thing been so entertaining * * Time Out * *July's inventive tales swing from laugh-out-loud funny to heart-clenchingly sad * * Daily Telegraph * *These stories are incredibly charming, beautifully written, frequently laugh-out-loud funny, and even, a dozen or so times, profound -- DAVE EGGERSAstonishingly good ... mordantly funny * * Vogue * *Intimate, original and more than a little strange, these are tales about people who are baffled and often overwhelmed by life. * * Daily Mail * *Miranda July's is a beautiful, odd, original voice - seductive, sometimes erotic, and a little creepy too -- DAVID BYRNEWonderful * * Elle * *The stories have a frank, direct tone that makes their loopiness charming ... July delights in revealing the unseen awkwardness of the everyday, and this collection is both resonant and complex * * Financial Times * *July's writing has a whimsical, dreamlike quality ... she has an understanding of human truths and an extraordinary honesty about our wish for acceptance * * Guardian * *Charming and funny * * Daily Telegraph * *Exquisite * * LA Times * *July's stories startle us at every turn, sometimes by their sexual frankness, sometimes by passages of impossibly lush eloquence ... and very often by their inventiveness * * San Francisco Chronicle * *Who will Miranda July's work appeal to? To borrow the name of her lovely first film, Me and You and Everyone We Know * * Entertainment Weekly * *Moving ... this collection features characters laughing, crying and thinking. Read the stories and you'll do the same * * i-D * *A considered and engaging new talent * * Spectator * *

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Book SynopsisOne of Stevenson's most famous and enduringly popular works, the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde describes the mysterious relationship between a respectable and affable doctor and his brutal associate. Set in the grimy streets of Victorian London, this tale of murder, split personality and obscure science, with its chilling final revelation, became an instant horror classic when it was first published in 1886, and has enthralled and terrified generations of readers ever since. This volume also contains seven other Gothic stories by Stevenson - such as 'The Body Snatchers', 'Markheim' and 'Olalla' - showcasing the author's mastery of the horror genre and his interest in both the otherworldly and the strange ways the human brain can distort reality.

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Book SynopsisDOROTHY PARKER MEETS LADY AND THE TRAMP: 3 charming dog stories set in 1920s Jazz Age New York?back in print for the first time in decadesFeaturing illustrations by America?s 1st female editorial cartoonist, whose comics career began before she even had the right to vote!Dogs may be man?s best friend, but every friendship is different. Prepare to revisit the glamorous 1920s Jazz Age of The Great Gatsby and meet Nicholas, a gregarious Airedale Terrier whose arrival in a moneyed Long Island home unleashes complete and total chaos throughout the neighbourhood.Verdun Belle, the lady of the title, is a silky-eared spaniel whose loyalty?and litter of puppies?rallies an entire American regiment fighting on the Western Front during World War I. Then there?s Egon, a very large German Shepherd, accustomed to summering on the Côte d?Azur, and to managing the diaries and daily activities of his human charges, whether they want him to or not. Ranging in tone from urbane irony to poignant sweetness, these are stories to make you smile at the antics of dogs, and guffaw at the even sillier antics of the people who love them.This delightful collection of 3 stories (The Passing of Nicholas, The Story of Verdun Belle, My Friend Egon) by an Algonquin Round Table wit, rediscovered after decades out of print, shows our canine companions in all their guises: comic, heroic, companionable.Don?t miss this delightful Jazz Age celebration of the eternal affection that exists between man and dog?even the naughtiest dog!

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Book SynopsisGorgeous Collector's Edition. Many medieval writers, especially from France and Wales, wrote stories about the great British leader, King Arthur. Legends, folklore and myths from this period come together to paint a picture of who he was with some describing him as a great warrior, defending Britain from its enemies, while others suggest Arthur had magical qualities. Throughout this mystery, King Arthur has become an iconic figure, known for his court and knights and his chivalric adventures. This collection offers a selection of myths, featuring Arthur’s knights of the round table, his love for Queen Guinevere and of course the ultimate betrayal by his most trusted knight, Sir Lancelot. Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction, authors, myths and tales without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new introduction and a Glossary of Terms.

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Book Synopsis*FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING SLOUGH HOUSE THRILLERS*Mick Herron is 'Britain's finest living thriller writer' (Sunday Express) and author of the bestselling and award-winning Slough House novels. Dolphin Junction captures his trademark tension, humour, and suspense in the form of short fiction, collected here for the first time.When a wife leaves her husband under suspicious circumstances, he sets off in search for her, unprepared for the guilty secrets he's about to drag back into the light.A man is tempted by a luxury apartment with a top-of-the-range kitchen. But there is a heavy price to pay for this glamorous new life.A couple go on a hike through the Derbyshire countryside, to ignore the fact their marriage is on the rocks.And there is a peek into the past of Jackson Lamb, the boss of Slough House, as well as stories featuring the shrewd detective Zoë Boehm and her hapless partner Joe Silvermann.Dolphin Junction displays Herron's craft for deftly plotted storytelling, dark wit, and memorable twists.'Mick Herron is an incredible writer and if you haven't read him yet, you NEED to' Mark Billingham'Mick Herron is one of the finest writers of his generation' Steve CavanaghTrade ReviewNothing in this particular stocking could be described as filler, in fact: every story, whether sweet or dark, is a delicious treat. * Jake Kerridge, The Sunday Telegraph *An early Christmas bonus. * The Times *Definitely one for the Christmas list, Dolphin Junction is both a perfect introduction to the creator of monstrous spymaster Jackson Lamb and a treat for Slough House aficionados. * Guardian *One of our top spy writers proves he can write crime short stories which are as brilliant as his novels. Slough House features but this is an eclectic mix of tales. Herron is a one off. * NB Magazine *What we're reading. * The i *

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Book SynopsisThe story of the English Civil War battle, told from the perspective of the people who witnessed it in short stories by young writers. An informative and accessible history with photographs of the principal locations

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Book Synopsis‘A wonderful, tender evocation of friendship and how its power can help you overcome your worst fears. A pure splash of joy.’ The Daily MailShortlisted for Oscar's Book Prize 2022Duck is not like other ducks. Duck doesn’t like water and is perfectly fine alone, thank you very much. But then, one dark and stormy night, an outgoing, water-loving, and very lost Frog turns up at Duck’s door. Can this odd couple find Frog’s home? And will they find friendship along the way?This endearing, gorgeously illustrated tale marks the author-illustrator debut for Steve Small, illustrator of the highly acclaimed, I’m Sticking with You by Smriti Halls (shortlisted for Oscar's Book Prize 2021 and for Children's Illustrated Book of the Year at the British Book Awards 2021).‘A beautiful book, with a zen-like balance, and full of light and drama, too.’ Be

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Book SynopsisNathaniel Hawthorne’s best-loved tales are now available in a revised Norton Critical Edition.Table of ContentsDownload Contents (pdf)

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Book Synopsis''INTENSE SEXUAL DESIRE IS THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD''A tale of art, sex, blood, junkies and whores in New York''s underground, from cult literary icon Kathy AckerPenguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series, with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary, international flavour. Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin, Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan, New York''s underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space.

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Book SynopsisA chemist by training, the author became one of the witnesses to twentieth-century atrocity. In these haunting reflections inspired by the elements of the periodic table, he ranges from young love to political savagery; from the inert gas argon - and 'inert' relatives like the uncle who stayed in bed for twenty-two years - to life-giving carbon.

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Book SynopsisThe Penguin English Library Edition of The Murders in the Rue Morgue and Other Tales by Edgar Allan Poe''... an agility astounding, a strength superhuman, a ferocity brutal, a butchery without motive, a grotesquerie in horror absolutely alien from humanity...''Horror, madness, violence and the dark forces hidden in humanity abound in this collection of Poe''s brilliant tales, including - among others - the bloody, brutal and baffling murder of a mother and daughter in Paris in ''The Murders in the Rue Morgue'', the creeping insanity of ''The Tell-Tale Heart'', the Gothic nightmare of ''The Masque of the Red Death'', and the terrible doom of ''The Fall of the House of Usher''.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.

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Book SynopsisLittle Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world''s greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-SmithThirteen short tales from one of the most blistering and innovative writers of the twentieth century.The small incidents of life become moments of inner revelation in the luminous writing of Clarice Lispector. A woman contemplating a vase of roses after a nervous breakdown; a tangled mother-daughter relationship; a man''s abandonment of a dog; an animal in a zoo: each one leads to mystery and self-discovery, delight and devastation.

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Book SynopsisBecky Brown is an anthologist, editor and literary agent. Her eclectic work centres around a fascination with forgotten voices and hidden stories. She lives between Bath and London. She has edited a number of short story and poetry anthologies published by Macmillan Collector's Library including Classic Cat Stories, Round about the Christmas Tree and Wedding Poems and Readings.Trade ReviewThis pocket-sized hardback evokes romance and heartbreak, loyalty and betrayal, in a wide-ranging collection of stories by classic writers . . . Ask for this as a present instead of flowers * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''Strangely enough, I mistook it for a gentleman at first. Fortunately I had my spectacles with me so I could see it was really a nose.''With this pair of absurd, comic stories Gogol indulges his imagination and delights readers.Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin''s 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.Nikolay Gogol (1809-1852). Gogol''s works available in Penguin Classics are Dead Souls, Diary of a Madman, The Government Inspector & Selected Stories and The Night Before Christmas.

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Book SynopsisIntroducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world''s greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Celebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Step into the unsettling world of Shirley Jackson with a collection of her finest, creepiest short stories, revealing the queen of American gothic at her mesmerising best. This selection includes ''The Lottery'', Jackson''s masterpiece and one of the most terrifying and iconic stories of the twentieth century.''An amazing writer ... If you haven''t read her you have missed out on something marvellous'' NeiTrade ReviewAn amazing writer ... if you haven't read any of her short stories ... you have missed out on something marvellous -- Neil GaimanThe world of Shirley Jackson is eerie and unforgettable -- A. M. HomesShirley Jackson is one of those highly idiosyncratic, inimitable writers...whose work exerts an enduring spell -- Joyce Carol Oates

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisAward-winning author Ursula Vernon, writing as T. Kingfisher, presents a terrifying tale of hidden worlds and monstrous creations... When Mouse's dad asks her to clean out her dead grandmother's house, she says yes. After all, how bad could it be? Answer: pretty bad. Grandma was a hoarder, and her house is stuffed with useless rubbish. That would be horrific enough, but there's more-Mouse stumbles across her step-grandfather's journal, which at first seems to be filled with nonsensical rants...until Mouse encounters some of the terrifying things he described for herself. Alone in the woods with her dog, Mouse finds herself face to face with a series of impossible terrors-because sometimes the things that go bump in the night are real, and they're looking for you. And if she doesn't face them head on, she might not survive to tell the tale.Trade ReviewReads so fast and so effortless that you don't realize how in thrall you are to it. It's the sensation of being a little kid who stayed out too long past dinner and sure, you were having fun, but now it's a moonless night and the forest is dark and you are hopelessly lost. This is righteous, folkloric horror, and the devil is waiting in between these pages. - Chuck Wendig, NYT bestselling author of BLACKBIRDS and WANDERERS Innovative, unexpected, and absolutely chilling, T. Kingfisher isn't just breaking into the horror scene, she's breaking it down. With a hammer. - Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Mira Grant A deliciously horrifying read. I adored it. In turns deeply human and uncanny, THE TWISTED ONES reads like the world's most terrifying episode of Hoarders. Don't sleep on it. In fact, be prepared to never sleep again. - Nebula Award-winning author Alyssa Wong A refreshing contemporary voice, classic scare-filled weirdness, and a big delightful dog for company: THE TWISTED ONES is a hugely entertaining read. - Aliya Whiteley Smart, crackling prose, genuine chills, suspense that doesn't let up - oh, and strange things walking in the woods. This book was so gripping I practically inhaled it. Definitely one not to miss, though you may want to read it with all the lights on! - Alison Littlewood THE TWISTED ONES combines with dread of the classic Arthur Machen tale with the poignancy of IT FOLLOWS. A sweet and shivery tale of things best left unseen by one of the genre's rising stars. - Helen Marshall With a remarkable assured new voice, Kingfisher strides into the haunted realm of folk horror, and quite simply mic drops. - Stephen Volk, award-winning writer of GHOSTWATCH and The Dark Masters Trilogy T. Kingfisher's take on Machen's tale is very fine indeed. Clever, gruesome, funny, and downright terrifying. THE TWISTED ONES is a refreshing twist on folk horror best read in daylight. Don't go into the woods ... no, really, just don't. - Angela Slatter THE TWISTED ONES is a weird, shimmering story told with sharpness and grace - somehow both wild fairy tale and quiet, personal horror in equal measure. It's a strange and lovely balance, expertly crafted for daytime laughter or nighttime trembles. - Cherie Priest, author of THE FAMILY PLOT and MAPLECROFT. Read this one with the lights on. - Kirkus Reviews Kingfisher neatly combines modern elements into a combined folktale and horror story that is rich in atmosphere and characterization... - Publishers Weekly Laden with cosmic fright, THE TWISTED ONES connects the foreboding of ancient folklore with the horrors of modern life. But it does so with a sharp, witty voice and a compelling first-person protagonist who finds herself precariously straddling worlds she never knew existed. - NPR BOOKS My favourite thing about the novel ... is the unpredictability of how the story progresses, the subversion of the most common horror tropes. Fear not, we know from early on, given the framing narrative, that the dog survives. - THE BOOK SMUGGLERS A more than worthy homage to Arthur Machen's classic 'The White People', ... a genuinely creepy tale of supernatural horror and cosmic dread in its own right. - James Brogden PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR Refreshingly charming...it is the mark of a great author to bring characters to life so easily - SFF Book Reviews on BRYONY AND ROSES There is nothing I love more than to be taken by surprise by a story that is so unexpectedly great - Kirkus Reviews on THE SEVENTH BRIDE Darkly funny...a fast and entertaining novel - Locus Magazine on CLOCKWORK BOYS Vernon's worldbuilding is magnificently weird - Tor.com on SWORDHEART

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Book Synopsis'Though their house was new, the wall had been there a long time.' In these two stories, which have never before been translated into English, Tsushima shows how memories, dreams and fleeting images describe the borders of our lives. Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series, with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary, international flavour. Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin, Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan, New York's underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for Oscar's Book Prize 2021 Shortlisted for Children's Illustrated Book of the Year at The British Book Awards 2021 'A wonderful, warm bear-hug of a story with sumptuous illustrations. A modern classic.' - Jim Field, illustrator of Oi FrogWherever you're going, I'm going too. Whatever you're doing, I'm sticking with you. It's wonderful to have good friends to see you through the good times and the bad. But sometimes, friends can also be a bit . . . well . . . overbearing. This completely irresistible rhyming text by Smriti Halls is perfectly complemented by artwork from fantastic new picture book illustrator, Steve Small.  

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Book SynopsisFeatures stories ranging from teenagers coming into awareness of their sexual and artistic powers to humdrum housewives whose lives are shattered by unexpected epiphanies to old people who don't know what to do with themselves.Trade ReviewOne of the hidden geniuses of the twentieth century -- Colm TóibínLispector reads with lively intelligence and is terrifically funny. Language, for her, was the self's light -- Lorrie MooreAn emblematic twentieth-century artist who belongs in the same pantheon as Kafka and Joyce -- Edmund WhiteLispector's Complete Stories is a remarkable book, proof that she was - in the company of Jorge Luis Borges, Juan Rulfo and her 19th-century countryman Machado de Assis - one of the true originals of Latin American literature * New York Times *Plenty of writers inspire fierce devotion in their readers... but no one converts the uninitiated into devout believers as suddenly and as vertiginously as Clarice Lispector, the Latin American visionary, Ukrainian-Jewish mystic, and middle-class housewife and mother so revered by her Brazilian fans that she's known by a single name: "Clarice"... You will not be disappointed if you read The Complete Stories. It might even become your bible * New Republic *Translated beautifully and with a vigorous pulse by Katrina Dodson, The Complete Stories is bound to become a kind of bedside Bible or I Ching for readers of Lispector, both old and new. Wherever one opens the book, there is a slice of life to confront. In one of her later stories Lispector recalls the writer Sergio Porto, her friend, who was once asked by a stewardess on a plane if he wanted coffee. To which he replied: "I'll take everything I have a right to." We can approach this volume in a similar spirit: take everything * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA ghost has no substance, but it has power - and presence - and it can appear in alternative forms. In the metaverse, we are all alternative forms. The Dead will join us.The genre-bending and dazzling new collection of ghost stories from the Sunday Times bestselling Jeanette Winterson'Winterson the artist at her most potent' GUARDIAN'Thought-provoking' DAILY MIRROR'Spine-chillingly good' IOur lives are digital, exposed and always-on. We track our friends and family wherever they go. We have millennia of knowledge at our fingertips.We know everything about our world. But we know nothing about theirs.We have changed, but our ghosts have not. They've simply adapted and innovated, found new channels to reach us. They inhabit our apps and wander the metaverse just as they haunt our homes and our memories, always seeking new ways to connect.To live amongst us.To remind us.To tempt us.To take their revenge.These stories are not ours to tell. They are the stories of the dead - of those we've lost, loved, forgotten... and feared. Some are fiction. But some may not be.Trade ReviewIn the stories Winterson is at her best, unsurprisingly, when doing new things with the form * The Times *A thought-provoking collection of short stories… The theme that runs through all the stories is loss and how it haunts the living * Daily Mirror *Thought-provoking... A captivating and chilling collection examining grief, revenge and how technology can breach the boundary between life and death * Sunday Express *Spine-chillingly good * i *Jeanette Winterson brings the classic gothic literature theme into the 21st century by imagining what happens when the undead have to find modern ways to reach out to us... This collection is as hair-raising and suspenseful as it is witty and thought-provoking * Independent *Winterson the artist at her most potent, melding the viscerally real with the lavishly supernatural * Guardian *I loved Night Side of the River. Jeanette Winterson is one of the wittiest writers around today… I can't think of any other writer who can treat death and horror with such lightheartedness and pragmatic cheerfulness but without losing the cold-yet-cosy frisson that comes with all the best ghost stories. MR James would be very happy! -- Natasha Pulley, author of The Watchmaker of Filigree StreetA collection of ghost stories that range from campfire-level spooks to speculative reflections on the meaning of life.. As challenging and entertaining as anything undertaken by this endlessly ingenious writer * Los Angeles Times *At the height of spooky season, turn off the lights and immerse yourself in the spine-tingling delights of this frighteningly modern ghost story collection. Blurring the lines between nonfiction and campfire tale, this one imagines what would happen if there really was a ghost in the machine * Good Housekeeping *This collection is as hair-raising and suspenseful as it is witty and thought-provoking * UK Press Syndication *

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Book SynopsisA Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition of Steinbeck's brilliant short novelsCollected here for the first time in a deluxe paperback volume are six of John Steinbeck's most widely read and beloved novels. From the tale of commitment, loneliness and hope in Of Mice and Men, to the tough yet charming portrait of people on the margins of society in Cannery Row, to The Pearl's examination of the fallacy of the American dream, Steinbeck stories of realism, that were imbued with energy and resilience.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.Trade ReviewBy the Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMagnificent... Her famous seriousness pervades throughout... What's striking is the astonishing scope, potential and possibility Sontag saw in short fiction * Financial Times *We can't recommend this careful collection enough * Emerald Street *If you are a bibliophile, you need this beautiful hardback in your life... These superb stories show the sheer versatility of one of this century's most inquisitive minds * Book Riot *

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Book SynopsisTalented emerging fiction writers find inspiration in one of the most famous paintings in New York’s Frick Collection: Jean-August-Dominique Ingres’s Comtesse d’Haussonville from 1845.Following the successful literary musings on art at the Frick, The Sleeve Should Be Illegal and Cocktails with a Curator, this anthology of newly commissioned texts from graduate students in New York University’s Creative Writing Program pays homage to one of the institution’s most celebrated paintings.Gathered here are fourteen fictional stories inspired by one of Ingres’s most captivating portrait paintings. A detail of the work—the fine silk dress, a red ribbon, a shawl casually draped over the arm of a chair, the contents of a tabletop, the contemplative pose—is the starting point for each story. The pieces range from gothic tales that take place at the time of the painting in the mid-nineteenth century and stoTrade Review"This anthology collects short fiction written by students in New York University’s graduate creative writing program, all drawing inspiration from Jean-August-Dominique Ingres’s [Comtesse d’Haussonville' (1845)."—THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW"Here is a collection of love stories, of sorts, about one of the most adored portraits in New York’s Frick Collection. The alluring image of the Comtesse d’Haussonville, by Ingres, is the inspiration for 14 fictional stories by talented graduate students in New York University’s Creative Writing Program. You’ll be as entranced by the tales told as you will be by the enduring painting of the woman." —MILIEU MAGAZINE"Comments Xavier F. Salomon, Deputy Director and Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator of the Frick, 'We are so proud to welcome fresh perspectives on works in our collection, and this collaboration with emerging fiction writers from NYU has been a deeply rewarding project. This collection of stories is sure to bring renewed attention to a particularly beloved work in our holdings.' Adds Strauss, 'It’s thrilling to see the great work of an Old Master reinterpreted in adventurous new work by young writers.'" —ARTDAILY.COM"This project underscores the need to continually contextualize Old Master paintings, making art history accessible, intriguing, and meaningful to future generations. These paintings tell critical stories of the past that help guide us through the cultural landscape, and new interpretations and explorations are vital to their legacies. Art history is history. It tells stories of people, rich and poor, famous and unknown beyond their depiction in an artwork, revealing what matters about humanity." —FORBES

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Book SynopsisGet ready for a rollercoaster ride through twists and turns, light and dark, comedy and tragedy.

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Book SynopsisGorgeous Collector's Edition. From such texts as the Shah Nameh (the Persian Book of Kings), Masnavi-e Ma’navi, the Anvar-i Suhayli fables and works by the great poet Nizāmī, come ancient tales of a civilization that once stretched across the known world. Find here the wonderful stories of the magical bird the Simurgh, the Seven Labours of Rustem, the evil demon onager-giant Akwán Díw and the tragic romance of Laili and Majnun. Persian literature is amongst the most beautiful and inventive of all cultures, offering a joyful read of creation, love and conquest. Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction, authors, myths and tales without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new introduction and a Glossary of Terms.

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Book SynopsisAs a favour to an old friend, Hercule Poirot finds himself at a summer fete in Devon, taking part not in a Treasure Hunt, but a Murder Hunt, in this never-before-published novella version of Dead Man's Folly. Now released for the first time in print in this illustrated collector's edition.Sir George and Lady Stubbs, the hosts of a village fête, hit upon the novel idea of staging a mock murder mystery. In good faith, Ariadne Oliver, the well known crime writer, agrees to organise their murder hunt. But at the last minute Ariadne calls her friend Hercule Poirot for his expert assistance. Instinctively, she senses that something sinister is about to happenIn 1954, Agatha Christie wrote this novella with the intention of donating the proceeds to a fund set up to buy stained glass windows for her local church at Churston Ferrers, and she filled the story with references to local places, including her own home of Greenway. But having completed it, she decided instead to expand the story intoTrade Review‘There are [authors] like Agatha Christie: I read those books and I’m in awe that somebody constructed those plots where they all make sense at the end. Those are like magic tricks to me.’ STEPHEN KING

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Book Synopsis''Everything was dead, everything unreal; the dark mob was made up of stiff lay-figures''One of America''s greatest writers explores mob violence, voyeurism and betrayal in these unforgettable tales of Californian life.Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series, with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary, international flavour. Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin, Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan, New York''s underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space.

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Book SynopsisAn unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young and adult learners of Irish."Olly's top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively. I love his work - and you will too!" - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Short Stories in Irish for Beginners has been written especially for students from high-beginner to low-intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, a feeling of progress and most importantly - enjoyment! Mapped to A1-B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages, these eight captivating stories are designed to give you a sense of achievement and a feeling of progress when reading.The book is written in standard Irish. The audio recording of this standard Irish text is by a native Irish speaker from Connemara.What does this book give you?- Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller - making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary- Controlled language at your level to help you progress confidently- Realistic spoken dialogues to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability- Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way- Pleasure! Research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration - 'It's too hard!' 'I don't understand!'Carefully curated to make learning a new language easy, these stories include key features that will support and consolidate your progress, including: - A glossary for bolded words in each chapter- Full plot summary- A bilingual word list- Comprehension questions after each chapter. As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoying reading, delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language, without ever feeling overwhelmed. From science fiction to fantasy, to crime and thrillers, Short Stories in Irish for Beginners will make learning Irish easy and enjoyable.Use the code inside the book and ebook to access the free bonus story and the discounted audiobook edition on our Language Readers Library site (readers.teachyourself.com) or on the Language Readers app.Trade ReviewAs researchers in language acquisition, we need to study people like you. * Stephen Krashen, Emeritus Professor, University of Southern California *Olly's advice on language learning is the real deal, and I recommend you pay attention to what he has to say! * Benny Lewis, Fluent in 3 Months *When we wanted to create a free online course on how to learn a language we asked Olly to write it with us. * Dr Tita Beaven, The Open University *Learning a language is challenging, but it's one of the best things you can do for your brain and your learning skill set... Olly Richards is doing some seriously incredible work to empower more and more people to rise to the challenge. * Jonathan Levi *Olly bridges the gap between theory and practice by helping you to use scientific principles to get real results with your language learning. * Anthony Metivier, Magnetic Memory Method *Olly's top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively. I love his work - and you will too! * Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers *

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Book SynopsisGuy de Maupassant (Contributor) GUY DE MAUPASSANT (1850-93) was known for his hugely influential short stories and the vivid realism of his novels. He was born in Normandy and served in the Franco-Prussian War, which would become the subject of some of his best-known stories. Maupassant enjoyed financial and critical success before illness led to his death in an asylum at the age of forty-two.Irène Némirovsky (Contributor) Irène Némirovsky was born in Kiev in 1903, the daughter of a successful Jewish banker. In 1918 her family fled the Russian Revolution for France where she became a bestselling novelist, author of David Golder, All Our Worldly Goods, The Dogs and the Wolves and other works published in her lifetime or soon after, such as the posthumously published Suite Française and Fire in the Blood. She was prevented from publishing when the Germans occupied France and moved with her husband and two small daughters from P

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Book SynopsisAddictively strange and disturbing, Flowers From the Void is a collection of delectably uncanny tales. A reaper readies herself for her next gruesome assignment and a bereaved African witch prepares for a showdown with a rigidly traditional white Salem coven while an outcast teenage boy is lured into a pact with a schoolfriend that will cost him far more than he ever imagined. Hauntingly macabre and piercingly insightful about loss and loneliness, these gothic short stories lead us into a labyrinth of other possible worlds, each one darker than the last and yet all fearfully close to our own. Living dolls serve as imperfect replacements for the deceased, a girl without a shadow finds her soulmate and spurned lovers' bodies begin falling to pieces. In this scintillating debut collection Gianni Washington explores the limit of intimacy and empathy with the vivid intensity of your worst nightmare.

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Book SynopsisIn this beautiful book of classic fairy tales, award-winning author Philip Pullman has chosen his fifty favourite stories from the Brothers Grimm and presents them in a''clear as water'' retelling, in his unique and brilliant voice. From the quests and romance of classics such as ''Rapunzel'', ''Snow White'' and ''Cinderella'' to the danger and wit of such lesser-known tales as ''The Three Snake Leaves'', ''Hans-my-Hedgehog'' and ''Godfather Death'', Pullman brings the heart of each timeless tale to the fore, following with a brief but fascinating commentary on the story''s background and history. In his introduction, he discusses how these stories have lasted so long, and become part of our collective storytelling imagination. These new versions show the adventures at their most lucid and engaging yet. Pullman''s Grimm Tales of wicked wives, brave children and villainous kings will have you reading, reading aloud and rereading them for many years to come.Trade ReviewNever putting a foot wrong, the result is a magical complexity-in-simplicity that is sure to become a classic in its own right -- Adam Lively * Sunday Times *Philip Pullman has radically reworked the Grimm tales for all ages -- Nicolette Jones * Telegraph *One of Pullman's most useful additions is the vastly improved poems and jingles...his freer versions are catchy and authentic * Guardian *I've admired Philip Pullman since his early fantasy Galatea on through the splendid trilogy His Dark Materials. All of his gifts, including his prose eloquence, and his endless high Romantic imagination, are manifested in this marvelous retelling of Grimm -- Harold Bloom

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Book Synopsis'One of the best science fiction short stories to be published in the 21st century so far' SFX Review ‘Saunders is funny and kind as ever, and his narrative virtuosity puts him up there with the best’ Anne Enright, Guardian ‘A triumph of storytelling’ i paper ‘A joy. 'Effortlessly stylish, funny and smart’ Daily Mail ____________ The first short story collection in ten years from the Man Booker Prize-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Lincoln in the Bardo MacArthur genius and Booker Prize-winner George Saunders returns with a collection of short stories that make sense of our increasingly troubled world, his first since the New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist Tenth of December The 'best short story writer in English' (Time) is back with a masterful collection that explores ideas of power, ethics, and justice, and cuts to the very heart of what it means to live in community with our fellow humans. With his trademark prose - wickedly funny, unsentimental, and perfectly tuned - Saunders continues to challenge and surprise: here is a collection of prismatic, deeply resonant stories that encompass joy and despair, oppression and revolution, bizarre fantasy and brutal reality. 'Love Letter' is a tender missive from grandfather to grandson, in the midst of a dystopian political situation in the not-too-distant future, that reminds us of our obligations to our ideals, ourselves, and each other. 'Ghoul' is set in a Hell-themed section of an underground amusement park in Colorado, and follows the exploits of a lonely, morally complex character named Brian, who comes to question everything he takes for granted about his 'reality.' In 'Mother’s Day', two women who loved the same man come to an existential reckoning in the middle of a hailstorm. And in 'Elliott Spencer', our eighty-nine-year-old protagonist finds himself brainwashed - his memory 'scraped' - a victim of a scheme in which poor, vulnerable people are reprogrammed and deployed as political protesters. Together, these nine subversive, profound, and essential stories coalesce into a case for viewing the world with the same generosity and clear-eyed attention as Saunders does, even in the most absurd of circumstances. ____________ 'The only way to experience Saunders’s oblique, farcical, tragic world is to dive right in. It will take the top of your head off, but it’s worth it’ The Times 'The world’s best short story writer … Liberation Day is great art' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewThe world’s best short story writer … Liberation Day is great art * DAILY TELEGRAPH *This is the joy of Saunders: he encapsulates human experience, while always hitting the punchline * FINANCIAL TIMES *Saunders is funny and kind as ever, and his narrative virtuosity puts him up there with the best -- ANNE ENRIGHT * GUARDIAN *The Alan Bennett of small-town America … These stories are not only perfectly pitched; they come with enough comedy to have you grinning and enough empathy to suddenly stop you in your tracks * OBSERVER *A joy. Effortlessly stylish, funny and smart, they come spangled with sadness and a melancholic malaise as Saunders casts an eye over a country teetering towards wreckage * DAILY MAIL *A triumph of storytelling * I PAPER *The Tom Hanks of American letters … A master of the short story … His art speaks to the dreadful present; his open-handed style, his skill as an educator, offer hope by encouraging each individual voice to find courage to speak * NEW STATESMAN *A writer known as much for his formal inventiveness as the sharpness of his satirical wit * INDEPENDENT.CO.UK *A compelling satire of modern America * PROSPECT *In describing the stories, even quoting them, we lose something valuable. That in itself is a measure of great writing. The only way to experience Saunders’s oblique, farcical, tragic world is to dive right in. It will take the top of your head off, but it’s worth it * THE TIMES *George Saunders is that rare contemporary author who is as original as he is beloved … Readers can be assured that all the hallmarks of Saunders’ writing that electrified them from the beginning are present in his new collection, Liberation Day: bold original humor, the blurred view of American life, and the sweet humanity that pierces through it all * TIME *Virtuosic ... The nine stories in Liberation Day are by turn exhilarating, sad, mind-bendingly bizarre and wickedly funny … Perfect * SUNDAY TIMES *Leaves you in awe of his craft * FOYLES *The titan of the modern story returns with a collection of wickedly funny, perceptive and subversive miniatures * WATERSTONES *An exquisite work from a writer whose reach is galactic * OPRAH QUARTERLY *Masterful * I PAPER *Triumphant * BUZZ MAGAZINE *So good it makes you wonder why anyone else bothers * VOGUE *Saunders’ words smell like Hunter S. Thompson, Stephen King, Raymond Carver and David Lynch sharing a spliff in Joni Mitchell’s parking lot * THE WORD FACTORY *A morally passionate, serious writer ... He will be read long after these times have passed -- ZADIE SMITHSaunders has revealed himself to be nothing less than an American Gogol: funny, pointed, full of nuance, and always writing with a moral heart. This, his first book of short fiction in nearly a decade, only cements the validity of such a point of view. The nine pieces here are smart and funny, speculative yet at the same time written on a human scale, narratives full of love and loss and longing and the necessity of trying to connect … A tour de force collection that showcases all of Saunders’ many skills * KIRKUS *George Saunders makes you feel as though you are reading fiction for the first time -- KHALED HOSSEINIWhat warm, kindhearted and radical writing. Such delicacy, such serious wit. I love it -- MAX PORTERHe makes the all-but-impossible look effortless. We're lucky to have him -- JONATHAN FRANZENA luminous feat of generosity and humanism -- COLSON WHITEHEADSaunders is a true original - restlessly inventive, yet deeply humane -- JENNIFER EGANFunny, poignant – in flashes, deeply moving – light as a feather and consistently weird -- HARI KUNZRU

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisAn all-new collection of autumn-themed mysteries from the master of the genre.

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Book SynopsisIsaac Bashevis Singer''s work explores humanity in all of its guises. This collection of forty-seven short stories, selected by Singer himself from across the whole of his career, brings together the best of his writing. From the supernatural ''Taibele and Her Demon'' to the poignant ''The Unseen'', and from gentle humour in ''Gimpel the Fool'' to tragedy with ''Yentl the Yeshiva Boy'', these tales explore good and evil, passion and restraint, religious fervour and personal failings, within the traditional shtetls of pre-war Eastern Europe and post-war America.Trade ReviewThere are whole fistfuls of masterpieces in this one volume: a cornucopia of invention... The Collected Stories, when all is said and done, is an American Master's 'Book of Creation'. * The New York Times Book Review *Sparkling and triumphant, Isaac Bashevis Singer's stories are filled with wonder, gratitude, humour, irony and a wry eroticism that manages to exalt the pleasures of the flesh and the soul at the same time * Washington Post Book World *

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Book SynopsisA captivating selection of short stories in the original Japanese alongside their English translationsThis new dual-language edition of ten stories selected from The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories celebrates some of the very best Japanese literature from the past hundred years. Each story appears in the original Japanese alongside an expert English translation, providing unique cultural insight and literary inspiration for language learners. Ranging from a witty send-up of modern social graces to a powerful evocation of the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, this remarkable collection includes works from beloved authors Abe Akira, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Betsuyaku Minoru, Hoshi Shin''ichi, Kawakami Mieko, Kono Taeko, Murakami Haruki, Oba Minako, Ota Yoko and Uchida Hyakken.

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Book SynopsisDeft and disquieting, oscillating between the real and the fantastical,The Accidentalsis the brilliant new short story collection from International Booker-shortlisted duo Guadalupe Nettel and Rosalind Harvey.

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Book SynopsisAn unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young adult and adult intermediate learners of Korean."Olly's top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively. I love his work - and you will too!" - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Short Stories in Korean for Intermediate Learners has been written especially for students from low-mid intermediate (ACTFL) level of Korean. Mapped to B1 and approaching B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference, these eight captivating stories are designed to give you a sense of achievement and a feeling of progress when reading, and most importantly - enjoyment!What does this book give you?- Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller - making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary- Controlled language at your level, including the 1000 most frequent words, to help you progress confidently- Authentic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability- Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way- Beautiful illustrations accompanying each story, to set the scene and support your understanding- Pleasure! Research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration - 'It's too hard!' 'I don't understand!'With intriguing plots that will spark your imagination and keep you reading, Short Stories in Korean for Intermediate Learners will take your grasp of Korean to the next level with key features to support and consolidate your progress, including: -A glossary for bolded words in each text -Full plot summary-A bilingual word list-Comprehension questions after each chapter. As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoying reading, delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language, without ever feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. From science fiction to fantasy, to crime and thrillers, Short Stories in Korean for Intermediate Learners uses reading as the perfect tool to not only delight in learning Korean, but to accelerate your journey towards fluency.Use the codes inside the book and ebook to access a bonus story for free and the discounted audiobook on our Language Readers Library site or in the Language Readers app.Trade ReviewAs researchers in language acquisition, we need to study people like you. * Stephen Krashen, Emeritus Professor, University of Southern California *Olly's advice on language learning is the real deal, and I recommend you pay attention to what he has to say! * Benny Lewis, Fluent in 3 Months *When we wanted to create a free online course on how to learn a language we asked Olly to write it with us. * Dr Tita Beaven, The Open University *Learning a language is challenging, but it's one of the best things you can do for your brain and your learning skill set... Olly Richards is doing some seriously incredible work to empower more and more people to rise to the challenge. * Jonathan Levi *Olly bridges the gap between theory and practice by helping you to use scientific principles to get real results with your language learning. * Anthony Metivier, Magnetic Memory Method *

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Book Synopsis'A solid gold treat from top to tail. A tremendous set of stories by the great Irish playwright' John Self, The Observer A fake! A quack! A charlatan! Get a grip on yourself, woman! We'll say another rosary and then I'll leave you home.'Stories of Ireland is a brilliant, colourful compendium of mid-century Irish experience from one of Ireland's greatest ever writers, Brian Friel. Demonstrating all of Friel's peerless instinct for voice, scene, and the uncanny mystery found in the everyday, these tales tell of beauty, struggle and discovery: from the drowning of a man in the bog-black waters of Lough Keeragh, to the camaraderie of teenage potato gathers in County Tyrone, and from the careful work of the German War Graves Commission in Glenn na fuiseog, to trawlermen's talk of sunken gold off the coast of Donegal. Selected by Friel himself, and introduced by acclaimed author Louise Kennedy, this charming, heartful collection truly offers some of the best stories ever written. 'Some of the best stories ever written. They are everything short stories should be deft, skilfully written, funny and quite often breathlessly sad' Edna O'Brien

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Book SynopsisFaber Stories, a landmark series of individual volumes, presents masters of the short story form at work in a range of genres and styles. Lips the colour of blood, the sun an unprecedented orange, train wheels that sound like guilt, and guilt, and guilt': these are just some of the things Mary Ventura begins to notice on her journey to the ninth kingdom.But what is the ninth kingdom?' she asks a kind-seeming lady in her carriage. It is the kingdom of the frozen will,' comes the reply. There is no going back.'Sylvia Plath's strange, dark tale of independence over infanticide, written not long after she herself left home, grapples with mortality in motion.Bringing together past, present and future in our ninetieth year, Faber Stories is a celebratory compendium of collectable work.

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Book SynopsisBest British Short Stories invites you to judge a book by its cover or more accurately, by its title. This new series aims to reprint the best short stories published in the previous calendar year by British writers, whether based in the UK or elsewhere.

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Book SynopsisA brand new omnibus of 55 short stories, presented for the first time in chronological order.Described by her friend Dolly Bantry as the typical old maid of fiction', Miss Marple has lived almost her entire life in the sleepy hamlet of St Mary Mead. Yet, by observing village life she has gained an unparalleled insight into human nature and used it to devasting effect. As her friend Sir Henry Clithering, the ex-Commissioner of Scotland Yard has been heard to say: She's just the finest detective God ever made.' and many Agatha Christie fans would agree.Appearing for the first time in The Murder at The Vicarage (1930) her crime-fighting career spanned over forty years when she solved her final case in 1977 in Sleeping Murder. With every tale flawlessly plotted by the Queen of Crime herself, these short stories provide a feast for hardened Agatha Christie addicts as well as those who have grown to love the detective through her many film and television appearances.Here, for the first tiTrade Review‘The plots are so good that one marvels… most of them would have made a full length thriller.’ Daily Mirror

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Book SynopsisA collection of masterful short stories in Julio Cortazar's sophistocated, powerful and gripping style.'Julio Cortázar is truly a sorcerer and the best of him is here, in these hilariously fraught and almost eerily affecting stories' Kevin BarryA grieving family home becomes the site of a terrifying invasion. A frustrated love triangle, brought together by a plundered Aztec idol, spills over into brutality. A lodger’s inability to stop vomiting bunny rabbits inspires a personal confession. As dream melds into reality, and reality melts into nightmare, one constant remains throughout these thirty-five stories: the singular brilliance of Julio Cortazar’s imagination.WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY KEVIN BARRY ‘Anyone who doesn't read Cortázar is doomed’ Pablo NerudaTrade ReviewA fecund mixture of surrealism, symbolism, nouveau roman experimentation and Borgesian fantasy, Cortázar enthusiastically seeds his realistic settings – for the most part split between Buenos Aires and Paris – with impossible invasions of the fantastical and supernatural. The effect is often a refined philosophical take on the "uncanny tales" strand of speculative fiction * Guardian *Cortázar is one of the most distinctive voices in Latin American literature * Newsday *Original...circuitous and powerful... Cortázar's method is to keep tight control over a world in which, just below the surface of charming, sophisticated social life, lies the unfaceable and unmentionable * Financial Times *Cortázar can induce the kind of chilling unease that strikes like a sound in the night * Time *A first-class literary imagination at work * The New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisA dual-language edition of Japanese stories—many appearing in English for the first time   This volume of eight short stories, with parallel translations, offers students at all levels the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of contemporary literature without having constantly to refer back to a dictionary.   The stories—many of which appear here in English for the first time—are by well-known writers like Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto, as well as emerging voices like Abe Kazushige, Ishii Shinji, and Kawakami Hiromi. From the orthodox to the cutting-edge, they represent a range of styles and themes, showcasing the diversity of Japanese fiction over the past few decades in a collection that is equally rewarding for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students of English or Japanese.   Complete with notes, the stories make excellent reading in either language.

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