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"The Haunted Bookshop" is a so called "bibliomystery" (a mystery story set in the world of books) from 1919. It is the story of the eccentric owner of the Haunted Bookshop, Roger Mifflin, who some readers might remember from "Parnassus on Wheels". This second-hand, Brooklyn bookstore is "haunted by the ghosts of all great literature." It is set around the time of the end of World War I. A young man, Aubrey Gilbert, stops by the shop, trying to sell Mifflin advertising copy. He fails but is intrigued by the proprietor. Later, a certain volume mysteriously disappeared from Mifflin’s shelves. This is a lively and often humorous tale. It is full of intrigues and is generously sprinkled with liberal doses of Mifflin’s unique philosophy on literature and book selling. Christopher Morley (1890–1957) was an American author, poet and journalist from Pennsylvania. His father was a mathematics professor and his mother a violinist. The family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1900 and he later studied modern history at Oxford. After getting his degree, he moved back to America and married Helen Booth Fairchild, with whom he had four children. Morley was a prolific writer and is remembered for novels such as "Parnassus on Wheels" (1917), "The Haunted Bookshop" (1918), "Thunder on the Left" (1925), and "Kitty Foyle" (1939).

"The Fortunate Foundlings" is a picaresque novel from 1744 featuring twins Horatio and Louisa, whose journey in the world differs because of their gender. They were both abandoned in infancy and adopted, but soon leave their carer to go off on their one. Whilst Louisa must fight to preserve her virtue in a man’s world, her brother joins the army. This is an eighteenth century rollercoaster - action packed, passionate, melodramatic, and at times unashamedly sentimental.Eliza Haywood (1693– 1756), née Elizabeth Fowler, was a British author, actress and publisher, who was rediscovered in the 1980s. Little is known about the author, who herself left conflicting information about her life, and was extremely secretive about her personal life. She was a prolific author of romances and other novel’s focusing on women’s point of views, status, and rights. Among her most famous works are "Love in Excess; Or, The Fatal Enquiry" (1720), "Fantomina; Or Love in a Maze" (1725) and "The Anti-Pamela; Or Feign’d Innocence Detected" (1741). Haywood is an important figure of 18th century literature.

"'Oh, this indigent family of ours! I certainly must bestir myself and do something to support it,' said Betty Baird, airily, to her mother, yet looking determined, and straightening herself up among the cushions piled high on the broad window-seat in her room."Betty is back home with her parents on Long Islands, when she discovers her father is struggling to pay back the mortgage. She decides to help. But can a young girl in 1907 earn enough money to make a difference? And does Betty have the spirit and determination to stick with her plans, even when others try to discourage her? The audiobook version of this novel is narrated by Holly Jenson, the author great grand niece.Anna Hamlin Weikel (1864-?) was an American author from Pennsylvania. She who wrote under the pen name Anna Hamlin Weikel. She was married to Henry Wikel, a private school teacher. She made books her career and is mostly remembered today for her "Betty Baird" children’s book series. The character of Betty’s father in these novels was inspired by her own father, the clergyman Benjamin Hamlin.

In "Iconoclastic Memories of the Civil War: Bits of Autobiography," Bierce recounts some of his experiences as a soldier. At the outset of the American Civil War, Bierce enlisted in the Union Army's 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment. In February 1862 he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and served on the staff of General William Babcock Hazen as a topographical engineer, making maps of likely battlefields. Bierce fought at the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862), a terrifying experience that became a source for several later short-stories as well as the memoir, "What I Saw of Shiloh". In June 1864, he sustained a serious head wound at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, and spent the rest of the summer on furlough, returning to active duty in September. He was discharged from the army in January 1865. Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) was an American writer, journalist, critic, poet, and Civil War veteran, best known for "The Devil's Dictionary" (1911). He dominated the horror genre as the preeminent innovator of supernatural storytelling in the period between the death of Edgar Allan Poe and the rise of H.P. Lovecraft. Bierce’s death was as mysterious as his strange stories; sometime around 1914 he left for Mexico, wanting to experience the Mexican Revolution firsthand, and was never to be seen again.

"The Poisoned Pen" is a collection of twelve of Professor Kennedy's adventures. In these, Reeve uses the newest technologies of the early 1900s, which were nothing short of revolutionary for the time. The title story for example features the use of special inks, some appearing and others disappearing in sunlight, making the pursuit of a murderer incredibly difficult for the professor. Each story offers a fascinating look at life in the early 20th century, as well as being loaded with adventure, action, and mystery. Arthur Benjamin Reeve (1880-1936) was a Brooklyn born mystery author. He studied at Princeton and then went on to New York Law School. He is sometimes referred to as "The American Sherlock Holmes", having created the enduring characters of Professor Craig Kennedy and reporter Walter Jameson. He wrote numerous detective novels, often based on real cases of the time, such as the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and the William Desmond Taylor murder.

Joe Matson has recently moved to Riverside with his family. The wide-awake country boy, who loves baseball, joins the Riverside's local nine and gets the position he wanted — that of pitcher. When not on the diamond, Joe is assisting his father against the foes who are trying to steal Mr. Matson's machinery patents. This is the first volume volume in the "Baseball Joe" series.Howard Roger Garis (1873-1962) was an American author, who wrote many books for the Stratemeyer Syndicate under various pseudonyms. As Victor Appleton, he wrote about the enterprising Tom Swift; as Laura Lee Hope, he is generally credited with writing volumes 4–28 and 41 of the Bobbsey Twins; as Clarence Young, the Motor Boys series; as Lester Chadwick, the Baseball Joe series; and as Marion Davidson, a number of books including several featuring the Camp Fire Girls. He is also remembered for having created the character of the lovable old rabbit, Uncle Wiggily Longears.

This posthumously published autobiography of Andrew Carnegie is a very well written and interesting accounts of the life of one of the wealthiest self-made men in American history. The industrialist and philanthropist lived his life according the following dictum: spend the first third of your life getting all the education you can; spend the next third making all the money you can; and spend the last third giving it all away for worthwhile causes.Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) was a Scottish-American philanthropist and industrialist, who made his fortune expanding the American steel industry. Born in Fife (Scotland), his family was poor and they emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1948, in hope of finding better fortune there. He started working for the railroads at an early age, earning his way up, before leaving that industry to focus on the steel industry after the Civil War. Carnegie was also an author and while he is mostly remembered for his posthumously published autobiography, he contributed to many periodicals, discussing labour issues, and published works such "The Gospel of Wealth" (1889) and "The Empire of Business" (1902).

"Baseball Joe" Matson's great ambition is to go to boarding school and play on the school team. Joe is a wide-awake country boy who loves playing baseball above all. He and his hometown chum Tom Davis enrol in Excelsior Hall and join the school nine. When not on the diamond, Joe is saving lives and assisting his father against the foes who are once trying to steal Mr. Matson's machinery patents. This is the second volume volume in the "Baseball Joe" series.Howard Roger Garis (1873-1962) was an American author, who wrote many books for the Stratemeyer Syndicate under various pseudonyms. As Victor Appleton, he wrote about the enterprising Tom Swift; as Laura Lee Hope, he is generally credited with writing volumes 4–28 and 41 of the Bobbsey Twins; as Clarence Young, the Motor Boys series; as Lester Chadwick, the Baseball Joe series; and as Marion Davidson, a number of books including several featuring the Camp Fire Girls. He is also remembered for having created the character of the lovable old rabbit, Uncle Wiggily Longears.

Perfect for fans of the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn.When Rose’s charming guardian Sir Laurence Melville is ditched by her fiancée, Rose is secretly happy, as she is quite in love with the man herself. When she travels to Rome, nothing and no one can seem to take Rose’s mind off him, not even the gorgeous prince she meets. Then something unexpected happens: she encounters Sir Laurence himself. Too bad he is not alone, for he has the lovely Signora Bardoli as his companion. The memorable love tale from the 20th century is written by Anita Charles, a pseudonym of the beloved romance writer Ida Pollock.A must-read for fans of literary romance and surprising twists of fate.Anita Charles is a pseudonym of Ida Pollock (1908 – 2013), a highly successful British writer of over 125 romance novels translated into numerous languages and published across the world. Ida Pollock has sold millions of copies over her 90-year career. Pollock began writing when she was 10 years old. Ida has travelled widely, living in several different countries. She continues to be popular amongst both her devoted fan base and new readers alike. Pollock has been referred to as the "world's oldest novelist" who was still active at 105 and continued writing until her death. On the occasion of her 105th birthday, Pollock was appointed honorary vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association, having been one of its founding members.Ida Pollock wrote in a wide variety of pseudonyms: Joan M. Allen, Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell.

Little Milly is left an orphan after the death of her mother and she is sent to live with her bachelor uncle, Sir Edward Wentworth. The latter has no use for children, especially of the female variety, but as the days go by he is warmed by his niece’s bright and endearing personality. She loves to tell him stories from her daily life and of her friends the Maxwells, who live in the forest. Milly is also a fierce believer and this makes her uncle realise just how much he has lost touch with his own faith. One of her favourite biblical tales is the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and it takes on a new meaning for the two when the Maxwell’s missing son suddenly returns. Amelia Sophia Le Feuvre (1861-1929) war born in Lee, Kent, the daughter of an H. M. Customs surveyor and granddaughter of a Guernsey reverend. One of seven children, she spent her life writing stories that were published in various magazines, as well as many novels.

"My First Summer in the Sierra" (1911) takes inspiration from Muir’s journals of the months he spent between June and September 1869 as a shepherd in the Sierras. Muir went on to built a cabin along Yosemite Creek, where he lived for two years. He designed it in such a way that a portion of the stream flowed through it, as he wanted to enjoy its music. From French Bar to Mono Lake and the Yosemite Valley, he was awestruck by everything he saw. The antics of the smallest "insect people" amazed him as much as stunted thousand-year old Juniper trees growing with inconceivable tenacity from tiny cracks in the stone. In this novel, he tells of the nature in the Sierra, and of his ascension of Mt. Hoffman and other local peaks.John Muir (1838-1914) was a Scottish-American author and naturalist, who is traditionally considered to be the "Father of the National Parks". Born in Dunbar (East Lothian), he spent his childhood exploring the area, and that is where his love of nature first bloomed. In 1849, his family emigrated to Portage, Wisconsin for religious reasons. At 22, he joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison, from which he never graduated, as he preferred to take a multitude of different classes in the variety of subjects he was interested him, such as chemistry, botany and geology. In 1866, whilst working at an Indianapolis wagon wheel factory, he got into a serious accident and almost lost his sight. When he recovered, he decided to follow his dreams and explore nature. In September 1867, he walked from Kentucky to Florida, later describing the trip in his "A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf." In 1868, he boarded a ship to Cuba, then later on sailed to New York City, from whence he travelled to California. From there, he decided to visit Yosemite, which he had long read about. He was one of the first to infer that the landscape there must have been formed by glaciers, a widely disputed theory at the time. Muir wrote countless essays, books and letters recounting his adventures out in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada, which have been read by millions. He played a vital role in the preservation of natural areas, and the creations of Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, amongst many others.

In "My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard," Elizabeth Cooper offers the reader a translation of two series of letters by Kwei-li, the wife of a high-rank Chinese official.The first series is addressed to her husband whilst he is on a world tour with Prince Chung in the late 19th century. The second series of letters is from 25 years later and are addressed to her mother-in-law. Political intrigue is raging in China and the country is on the verge of a revolution. With these letters, Cooper hoped to "give a faint idea of the life of a Chinese lady," "a woman who had by education and environment exceptional opportunities to learn of the modern world, but who, like every Eastern woman, clings with almost desperate tenacity to the traditions and customs."Elizabeth Cooper, born Eslick (1877-1945) was an America author. Originally born in Homer, Iowa, she spent most of her adult life in Asia, and dedicated much of her work to the depiction of life, especially women’s, in countries such as China, Egypt, Turkey and Japan. Some her work includes: "My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard," "Drusilla With a Million," and "Living up to Billy."

Bertram and his three friends have formed a small gang of thieves called The Ravens. He lives alone with his mom, who works as a waitress. He doesn´t remember his father much, as the latter was arrested for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment when Bertram was only seven years old. One day, Bertram steals an expensive "Schott Made in USA" leather jacket from a restaurant, which will have fatal consequences, and not just for Bertram. Rolando Benito, an investigator at the Police Complaints Authority, and his colleague are sent out to question two police officers. A prison guard has jumped out of his window on the fourth floor, just as the two officers were pulling up, after a noise complaint had been made for loud music coming out of his apartment. As the prison guard is the father of Rolando grandchild's school friend, he hears a rumour that a prisoner has died in the prison the man worked in, and that the prison guard had felt threated and persecuted. Is it in fact not a suicide case at all? Anne Larsen, a journalist for TV2 East Jutland, is also on the case. Everyone seems to be connected to one prisoner, the murderer Patrick Asp, who killed his own infant baby and is a prisoner in the jail the prison guard worked at. As more mysterious deaths pile up, and a Supreme Court judge disappears without a trace, Rolando Benito and Anne Larsen team up in search of a connection. That link turns out to be Bertram and the theft of the jacket, and now Anne's head in on the line as well. Inger Gammelgaard Madsen (b. 1960) is a Danish writer. Inger Gammelgaard Madsen has a background as a graphical designer. She debuted with the crime "Dukkebarnet" in 2008. Later she has written several books in the crime genre. Amongst others "Drab efter begæring" (2009), "Slangers gift" (2014), "Dommer og bøddel" (2015) and "Blodregn" (2016).

"The Lady of the Lake" (1810) is a narrative poem set in the vicinity of Loch Katrine, in the Trossach region of Scotland. It is made up of six cantos, each focusing on one day. There’s three main plots to this poem: a competition between three men for the love of one Ellen Douglas, a feud between James Douglas and King James V, and a war between lowland and highland Scots. This poem was incredibly influential at the time of its publication and inspired the Highland Revival movement.Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) was a Scottish writer, poet, and historian. A jurist by formation, he was also judge, and an active member of the Highland Society, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He also played a major role in bringing the Sturm und Drang literary movement to the United Kingdom, both through translations, but also through his own creations. He wrote numerous well-known historical novels, including "Waverley," "Rob Roy," and "Ivanhoe," which have inspired countless authors ever since.

In early March 1867, Muir was injured while working at a wagon wheels factory: a tool he was using slipped and struck him in the eye. This accident changed the course of his life. He was confined to a darkened room for six weeks, worried he’d lost his sight forever. When he did recover, the world looked completely different and life had taken on a new meaning for him. Muir later said, "This affliction has driven me to the sweet fields. God has to nearly kill us sometimes, to teach us lessons." From that point on, he determined to "be true to myself" and follow his dream of exploring and studying plants.A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf recounts Muir's walk of approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Indiana to Florida. He did not follow a specific route, only going by the "wildest, leafiest, and least trodden way I could find." This journal is the earliest of Muir's writings and autobiographically bridges the period between "The Story of my Boyhood and Youth" and "My First Summer in the Sierra."John Muir (1838-1914) was a Scottish-American author and naturalist, who is traditionally considered to be the "Father of the National Parks". Born in Dunbar (East Lothian), he spent his childhood exploring the area, and that is where his love of nature first bloomed. In 1849, his family emigrated to Portage, Wisconsin for religious reasons. At 22, he joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison, from which he never graduated, as he preferred to take a multitude of different classes in the variety of subjects he was interested him, such as chemistry, botany and geology. In 1866, whilst working at an Indianapolis wagon wheel factory, he got into a serious accident and almost lost his sight. When he recovered, he decided to follow his dreams and explore nature. In September 1867, he walked from Kentucky to Florida, later describing the trip in his "A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf." In 1868, he boarded a ship to Cuba, then later on sailed to New York City, from whence he travelled to California. From there, he decided to visit Yosemite, which he had long read about. He was one of the first to infer that the landscape there must have been formed by glaciers, a widely disputed theory at the time. Muir wrote countless essays, books and letters recounting his adventures out in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada, which have been read by millions. He played a vital role in the preservation of natural areas, and the creations of Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, amongst many others.

"An Editor's Tales" describes a series of encounters between various magazine editors and those who wish to have their works published. While containing some amusing bits, the tales are relatively grim compared to most Trollope stories. In "The Turkish Bath", an editor, upon visiting a Turkish bath, is accosted by an Irish stranger, who, after some conversation, requests to submit a manuscript to the magazine. The editor's reactions to the solicitation and subsequent familiarity with the writer's circumstances forms the frame of the story. Humor arises about the Turkish bath situation and the reluctance of editors to make themselves available to amateur writers."Mary Gresley" is the rather sad tale of a young girl's giving up her writing career to satisfy the deathbed wish of the curate she was engaged to. The editor in this tale (and also in the next) becomes rather involved emotionally with the girl and wishes her to continue writing."Josephine de Montmorenci" is actually the proposed pen name of a disabled young lady, who only becomes acquainted with the editor because her attractive sister-in law-initially pretends to be that author."The Panjandrum" (meaning "appearing to be important") is a magazine proposed by a group of literate but incompatible, inexperienced, would-be writers. The clash of personalities brings about the demise of the venture."The Spotted Dog" is the story of a writer down on his luck. He and his wife drink excessively. He's well educated and the editor offers him the task of indexing the work of a third person, but his drunken wife destroys the manuscript."Mrs. Brumby" is the most amusing of the tales. In this one the editor encounters a poor writer who is, unfortunately for him, also a remarkably aggressive and ambitious woman.Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) was one of most succesful British authors of the Victorian era. He has written more than forty novels, as well as many short stories and travelogues. Trollope was also an editor and an active member of the London literary scene. Among his most notable works is the series "The Chronicles of Barsetshire", a series of six novels set in fictional Barsetshire.

"During the daylight hours of several autumn Saturdays there had been severe outbreaks of cavalry in the Schofield neighbourhood. The sabres were of wood; the steeds were imaginary, and both were employed in a game.""Penrod and Sam" (1916) is the sequel to "Penrod" (1914). Set before World War One, it focuses on Penrod Schofield and his best friend Sam Williams as they go on hilarious adventures.Booth Tarkington (1869-1946) was an American novelist and dramatist. Originally from Indianapolis, he attended both Purdue University and Princeton, as well as getting an honorary doctorate from Columbia. His family was well-off, though they lost some of their wealth in the Panic of 1873 (the Great Depression). He won the Pulitzer Prize twice, for "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1918) and "Alice Adams" (1921), making him one of only three to win it more than once, putting him alongside William Faulkner and John Updike. Whilst he is less known today, he was considered to be America's greatest living author during the early 20th century.

Solomon has hated the Calico Cat ever since he bought the house in Ellmington and he has tried his very best to drive her away, but with no luck. As he tries once more to get rid of the cat, he triggers a vicious series of events that ends with lies, the arrest of a boy, and a guilty conscience.Charles Miner Thompson (1864-1941) was an American author and journalist, who worked as an editor at the Youth’s Companion, a children’s magazine that ran from 1827 to 1929. Thompson is mostly remembered for his "The Calico Cat," but he also wrote other novels such as "The Nimble Dollar," "An Army Mule," and "Miss Wilkins: An Idealist in Masquerade."

Perfect for fans of the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn. Gay is living a luxurious life in Istanbul but wants to escape what has become a caged life. She turns to Charles Villers, a fellow countryman she hardly knows, to help her leave. What follows is an adventure beyond her imagination set in romantic and exciting surroundings. The thrilling tale of love dates back to the 20th century and was written by Pamela Kent, a pseudonym of the beloved romance writer Ida Pollock.A must-read for fans of literary romance and surprising twists of fate.Pamela Kent is a pseudonym of Ida Pollock (1908 – 2013), a highly successful British writer of over 125 romance novels translated into numerous languages and published across the world. Ida Pollock has sold millions of copies over her 90-year career. Pollock began writing when she was 10 years old. Ida has travelled widely, living in several different countries. She continues to be popular amongst both her devoted fan base and new readers alike. Pollock has been referred to as the "world's oldest novelist" who was still active at 105 and continued writing until her death. On the occasion of her 105th birthday, Pollock was appointed honorary vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association, having been one of its founding members.Ida Pollock wrote in a wide variety of pseudonyms: Joan M. Allen, Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell.

"Fighting the Flying Circus" is fighter ace Eddie Rickenbacker WWI memoir. He fought in and eventually became commander of the 94th "Hat-in-the-Ring" Squadron, which ended the war with the highest number of air victories of any American squadron. The circus mentioned in the title refers to the German squadron commanded by the famous Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen.Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973) was an American World War I pilot. He was the most successful fighter ace in that war and received the Medal of Honor. After the war, he was as a car designer, driver, and worked as a military consultant for the government. He was also an air transportation pioneer, as worked as a head of the Eastern Air Lines company for many years.

Four very different women, all wanting to escape cold and dreary London for different reasons, come together to share a month's holiday in an Italian medieval castle. There’s timid Lotty Wilkins, terrified of her domineering husband; sober and religious Rose Arbuthnot; rigid and judgemental Mrs Fisher; and the breathtakingly beautiful but disillusioned and unhappy Lady Caroline Dester. They are lured to the castle by the advertised 'wisteria and sunshine', but they end up finding there so much more than they had bargained for. The place transforms them and their lives are unexpectedly changed. Von Arnim's story of their metamorphosis under the Italian sun is warm, witty, intelligent, and as enchanting as the title suggests.Elizabeth von Arnim (1866–1941), née Mary Annette Beauchamp, was a British novelist. Born in Australia, her family returned to England when she was three years old; and she was Katherine Mansfield’s cousin. She was first married to a Prussian aristocrat, the Graf von Arnim-Schlagenthin, and later to the philosopher Bertrand Russel’s older brother, Frank, whom she left a year later. She then had an affair with the publisher Alexander Reeves, a man thirty years her junior, and with H.G. Wells. Von Arnim moved a lot, living alternatively in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, before dying of influenza in South Carolina during the Second War. Elizabeth von Arnim was an active member of the European literary scene, and entertained many of her contemporaries in her Chalet Soleil in Switzerland. She even hired E. M. Forster and Hugh Walpole as tutors for her five children. She is famous for her half-autobiographical, satirical novel "Elizabeth and her German Garden" (1898), as well as for "Vera" (1921), and "The Enchanted April" (1922).

"Seventeen: A Tale of Youth and Summer Time and the Baxter Family Especially William" is a 1917 novel about 17-year-old William Sylvanus Baxter. It takes place in the Midwest just before World War I and satirises first love. "Seventeen" was first published in part in the Metropolitan Magazine, before coming out as a collected volume, and becoming a bestselling novel in the United States. Booth Tarkington (1869-1946) was an American novelist and dramatist. Originally from Indianapolis, he attended both Purdue University and Princeton, as well as getting an honorary doctorate from Columbia. His family was well-off, though they lost some of their wealth in the Panic of 1873 (the Great Depression). He won the Pulitzer Prize twice, for "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1918) and "Alice Adams" (1921), making him one of only three to win it more than once, putting him alongside William Faulkner and John Updike. Whilst he is less known today, he was considered to be America's greatest living author during the early 20th century.

"The Magnificent Ambersons" is the 1918 novel by Booth Tarkington which won the 1919 Pulitzer Prize. It is the second novel in "The Growth Trilogy," which includes "The Turmoil"(1915) and "The Midlander" (1923). In 1942, Orson Welles directed a film version of it, also titled "The Magnificent Ambersons" and starring Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, and Anne Baxter. The novel and trilogy traces the growth of the United States through the declining fortunes of three generations of the aristocratic Amberson family. It is set in a fictional Mid-Western town, between the end of the Civil War and the early part of the 20th century, a period of rapid industrialisation and socio-economic change. The decline of the Ambersons is contrasted with the rising fortunes of industrial tycoons and other new-money, self-made families.Booth Tarkington (1869-1946) was an American novelist and dramatist. Originally from Indianapolis, he attended both Purdue University and Princeton, as well as getting an honorary doctorate from Columbia. His family was well-off, though they lost some of their wealth in the Panic of 1873 (the Great Depression). He won the Pulitzer Prize twice, for "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1918) and "Alice Adams" (1921), making him one of only three to win it more than once, putting him alongside William Faulkner and John Updike. Whilst he is less known today, he was considered to be America's greatest living author during the early 20th century.

"The Silent Bullet" contains twelve of Professor Kennedy's adventures. Reeve uses the newest technologies of the early 1900s, which were nothing short of revolutionary for the time. In the title story, for example, everyone is wondering how somebody could have been killed by a bullet without anyone having heard the detonation. In "The Deadly Tube" an evil doctors hurts his patients using x-rays. "The Terror in the Air" follows the development of the gyroscope for aeroplanes. Each story offers a fascinating look at life in the early 20th century, as well as being loaded with adventure, action, and mystery.Arthur Benjamin Reeve (1880-1936) was a Brooklyn born mystery author. He studied at Princeton and then went on to New York Law School. He is sometimes referred to as "The American Sherlock Holmes", having created the enduring characters of Professor Craig Kennedy and reporter Walter Jameson. He wrote numerous detective novels, often based on real cases of the time, such as the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and the William Desmond Taylor murder.

"The Parenticide Club" features four short-stories about a family murder, as seen from the eye of its most innocent member, who just might be the murderer himself. Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) was an American writer, journalist, critic, poet, and Civil War veteran, best known for The Devil's Dictionary (1911). He dominated the horror genre as the preeminent innovator of supernatural storytelling in the period between the death of Edgar Allan Poe and the rise of H.P. Lovecraft. Bierce’s death was as mysterious as his strange stories; sometime around 1914 he left for Mexico, wanting to experience the Mexican Revolution firsthand, and was never to be seen again.

"In American Notes", the Anglo-Indian Rudyard Kipling visits the USA, and the travel-diary that came out of it offers an interesting view of the America of the 1880's.Kipling affects a wide-eyed innocence and expresses astonishment at features of American life that differ from his own, not least the freedom (and attraction) of American women. However, he scorns the political machines that make a mockery of American democracy, and whilst exhibiting the racist attitude that has made him controversial since he was first published, he does conclude that it not easy being different in the land of the free. Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was an India-born British author, journalist, poet, and novelist. His most famous work is "The Jungle Book" (1894), which has inspired two Disney adaptations: the 1967 animated feature and the 2016 live-action film starring Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, and Lupita Nyong’o. In 1941, he became the first English-language writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

"The Warden" is the first novel in "The Chronicles of Barsetshire" series and was also Trollope’s first breakthrough novel. It is the story of a devoted priest, beloved by all who know him, and who is racked by fear that he is accepting money to which he is not entitled. His antagonist is his prospective son-in-law John Bol, whilst his (somewhat unwelcome) ally is the characterful Archdeacon of Barchester, Dr. Theophilus Grantly.Based on real events that rocked the mid-nineteenth century and the Church of England, Trollope uses these historical events as a background to explore love, relationships, and morality.Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) was one of most succesful British authors of the Victorian era. He has written more than forty novels, as well as many short stories and travelogues. Trollope was also an editor and an active member of the London literary scene. Among his most notable works is the series "The Chronicles of Barsetshire", a series of six novels set in fictional Barsetshire.

Sixteen-year-old Leslie has come to the New Jersey shore as a companion to her ailing Aunt Marcia, whose doctor has sent her there for some quiet rest and recuperation. While the beach is lovely in October, Leslie quickly finds herself getting lonely with no one her own age to talk to. But one day, her dog digs up a metal box with an engraved dragon on it. This will lead Leslie not only to a mystery but also to a new friend. Augusta Huiell Seaman (1879-1950) was a prolific American author of children's literature from New York City, and wrote "The Sapphire Signet," "The Boarded-Up House," "The Slipper-Point Mystery," "The Girl Next Door," writing over 40 historical fiction and mystery novels for older children.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "Alice Adams" chronicles the attempts of a lower-middle class American, midwestern family, the Adams, to climb the social ladder at the turn of the 20th century. Alice, despite her faults, is generally agreed to be a lovable young woman, and she hopes for a better place in society and a better life. Booth Tarkington (1869-1946) was an American novelist and dramatist. Originally from Indianapolis, he attended both Purdue University and Princeton, as well as getting an honorary doctorate from Columbia. His family was well-off, though they lost some of their wealth in the Panic of 1873 (the Great Depression). He won the Pulitzer Prize twice, for "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1918) and "Alice Adams" (1921), making him one of only three to win it more than once, putting him alongside William Faulkner and John Updike. Whilst he is less known today, he was considered to be America's greatest living author during the early 20th century.

"The Man Who Would Be King" (1888) is inspired by the real-life actions of James Brook, a British soldier who made himself Rajah of Sarawak (Borneo). In this short story, Kipling tells of two crook characters, Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan, through a third character, an Indian journalist, who is acquainted with the men. Their plan is simple: they will leave India and go to Kafiristan, a remote part of Afghanistan, and set themselves up as kings there by force. Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was an India-born British author, journalist, poet, and novelist. His most famous work is "The Jungle Book" (1894), which has inspired two Disney adaptations: the 1967 animated feature and the 2016 live-action film starring Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, and Lupita Nyong’o. In 1941, he became the first English-language writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.