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10,588 public-domain books, summarised. Page 203 of 221.

Cover of Fruits of Philosophy: A Treatise on the Population Question

Fruits of Philosophy: A Treatise on the Population Question

Charles Knowlton

This treatise navigates the intersection of reproductive biology and social survival, offering a frank, nineteenth-century argument for the necessity of family planning to alleviate poverty and improve human health.

Health & Medicine7 min read
Cover of History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. 2 (of 2)

History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Vol. 2 (of 2)

S. A. (Samuel Astley) Dunham

The Northmen emerge from the mists of legend into a structured, turbulent history, forging empires and identities across the frozen reaches of the Baltic and the icy corners of the North Atlantic.

History - European6 min read
Cover of Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys: Wooden and Cardboard Toys, Mechanical and Electric Toys

Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys: Wooden and Cardboard Toys, Mechanical and Electric Toys

A. Neely (Albert Neely) Hall

Building a toy from scratch transforms a rainy afternoon into an exercise in engineering and imagination. This guide serves as a practical manual for turning common household items into a functional world of play.

Children & Young Adult Reading5 min read
Cover of King's Cutters and Smugglers 1700-1855

King's Cutters and Smugglers 1700-1855

E. Keble (Edward Keble) Chatterton

The war between the English Crown and the professional smuggler was a contest of wits, violence, and nautical skill that shaped the coastlines of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

History - British6 min read
Cover of Robert Burns: How To Know Him

Robert Burns: How To Know Him

William Allan Neilson

The ploughman who became the national voice of Scotland finds his life and art distilled into a resonant, scholarly portrait of genius. This work captures how a farmer’s son transformed the vernacular of his people into timeless literature.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Simla Village Tales

Simla Village Tales

Alice Dracott

These vibrant, often startling accounts of Himalayan life capture the wisdom, wit, and occasional cruelty of village folklore. They preserve the voices of women whose stories might otherwise have vanished into the mountain mists.

Mythology, Legends & Folklore6 min read
Cover of So Big

So Big

Edna Ferber

A young mother transforms a hardscrabble existence on the Illinois prairie into a life of purpose, while her son struggles to find his own measure of success in the opulent, hollow world of Chicago’s elite.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Solomon and Solomonic Literature

Solomon and Solomonic Literature

Moncure Daniel Conway

HOOK This inquiry explores the evolution of the Solomonic legend, tracing how the ancient Hebrew king’s reputation for wisdom and magic became a vessel for evolving religious ideals.

History - Religious6 min read
Cover of The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume 3 (of 3): To Headwaters of the Mississippi River Through Louisiana Territory, and in New Spain, During the Years 1805-6-7

The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume 3 (of 3): To Headwaters of the Mississippi River Through Louisiana Territory, and in New Spain, During the Years 1805-6-7

Zebulon Montgomery Pike

This account documents the rigorous, often perilous exploration of the American frontier and the Spanish borderlands during the pivotal years following the Louisiana Purchase.

History - American6 min read
Cover of Town Life in Australia

Town Life in Australia

Richard Ernest Nowell Twopeny

Australia is a land of paradoxes, where English traditions meet raw, colonial ambition, and a slice of Liverpool has been transplanted to the Antipodes.

History - Other7 min read
Cover of Catalogue of the Gallery of Art of The New York Historical Society

Catalogue of the Gallery of Art of The New York Historical Society

New-York Historical Society

Across canvas, ivory, and marble, an ambitious young nation attempts to assemble a cultural heritage by gathering the scattered artistic treasures of Old Europe alongside its own proud, emerging likenesses.

Art6 min read
Cover of Crowds: A Moving-Picture of Democracy

Crowds: A Moving-Picture of Democracy

Gerald Stanley Lee

The modern world is a vast, mechanical puzzle, yet it is held together by the quiet, defiant pulse of individuals who refuse to be mere cogs in a machine.

Philosophy & Ethics7 min read
Cover of Dangerous Days

Dangerous Days

Mary Roberts Rinehart

A story of middle-aged awakening and wartime sacrifice, where long-standing societal facades crumble under the weight of a world in transition.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Essays in criticism

Essays in criticism

Matthew Arnold

HOOK A series of thoughtful, measured reflections on literature and the spirit of inquiry, championing the pursuit of perfection and the necessity of an open, flexible mind.

Poetry7 min read
Cover of Futuria Fantasia, Spring 1940

Futuria Fantasia, Spring 1940

Various

This brief, vibrant artifact of early fan culture captures the uninhibited spirit of a burgeoning science fiction community before its ideas fully entered the mainstream.

Science-Fiction & Fantasy6 min read
Cover of Letters of Franz Liszt -- Volume 1: from Paris to Rome: Years of Travel as a Virtuoso

Letters of Franz Liszt -- Volume 1: from Paris to Rome: Years of Travel as a Virtuoso

Franz Liszt

A restless genius navigates the intersection of high art and the grueling demands of public performance, documenting his journey from the stages of Europe to the contemplative quiet of Rome.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Life of Daniel Boone, the Great Western Hunter and Pioneer

Life of Daniel Boone, the Great Western Hunter and Pioneer

Cecil B. Hartley

A legendary frontiersman carves a path through the American wilderness, driven by an unwavering sense of destiny to tame the untamed frontier of Kentucky.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Mark Twain's Letters

Mark Twain's Letters

Mark Twain

This collection of correspondence captures a singular American voice as it navigates the twilight of a legendary life, moving between fierce public activism and the private devastation of personal loss. It is a portrait of a mind both relentless in its critique of human folly and tender in its capacity for friendship.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of My Memoirs, Vol. III, 1826 to 1830

My Memoirs, Vol. III, 1826 to 1830

Alexandre Dumas

A young writer navigates the turbulent salons, theatres, and dueling grounds of Paris, capturing the electric, shifting atmosphere of France on the brink of revolution.

Biographies8 min read
Cover of Sister Carrie

Sister Carrie

Theodore Dreiser

The city is a siren song for the restless, promising everything to those who arrive with nothing but a trunk and a dream. Yet, as the lights of the theater dim, the pursuit of beauty often leaves the heart reaching for a horizon that never draws nearer.

American Literature7 min read
Cover of Stromboli and the Guns

Stromboli and the Guns

Francis Henry Gribble

A charismatic, self-proclaimed architect of history recounts a lifetime of narrow escapes and international intrigue. He is a man who treats every crisis as a stage for his own performance, ensuring he always has the final word.

Historical Novels6 min read
Cover of The Admirable Crichton

The Admirable Crichton

J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie

HOOK When a shipwreck strips away the rigid hierarchies of Edwardian society, the natural order of human merit suddenly finds itself at odds with the artificial order of the British class system.

British Literature5 min read
Cover of The Arts and Crafts of Older Spain, Volume 3 (of 3)

The Arts and Crafts of Older Spain, Volume 3 (of 3)

Leonard Williams

Spain’s rich history of textile production reveals the intersection of artistic mastery and the often stifling weight of royal and guild regulation. This final volume serves as both a catalog of exquisite craftsmanship and a somber account of the economic forces that shaped a nation’s decorative legacy.

Art6 min read
Cover of The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 97, November, 1865: A Magazine of Literature, Science, Art, and Politics

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 97, November, 1865: A Magazine of Literature, Science, Art, and Politics

Various

The American Civil War has recently concluded, and this collection captures the fractured, hopeful, and inquisitive spirit of a nation beginning to reckon with its own reflection. It is a kaleidoscopic portrait of a country in transition.

Journals6 min read
Cover of The Book of Friendship: A Little Manual of Comradeship

The Book of Friendship: A Little Manual of Comradeship

Unknown

This collection serves as a quiet meditation on the architecture of human connection, gathering centuries of wisdom to define the rare, sacred bond between true companions.

Essays, Letters & Speeches5 min read
Cover of The Life of Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross (Vol. 1 of 2)

The Life of Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross (Vol. 1 of 2)

William E. (William Eleazar) Barton

A lifetime of profound empathy forged a legend, transforming a timid child into a battlefield nurse who dared to bring relief directly to the front lines of the American Civil War.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of The Silesian Horseherd - Questions of the Hour

The Silesian Horseherd - Questions of the Hour

F. Max (Friedrich Max) Müller

A celebrated scholar engages in a spirited, thoughtful correspondence with a blunt, self-taught emigrant, resulting in an accessible defense of faith, language, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

Philosophy & Ethics6 min read
Cover of Thoughts on Man, His Nature, Productions and Discoveries: Interspersed with Some Particulars Respecting the Author

Thoughts on Man, His Nature, Productions and Discoveries: Interspersed with Some Particulars Respecting the Author

William Godwin

This collection of essays serves as a meditative bridge between early Enlightenment optimism and the realities of human nature. It offers a candid, accessible exploration of how individuals navigate the tension between their private aspirations and their public lives.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of True Stories of the Great War, Volume 6 (of 6): Tales of Adventure--Heroic Deeds--Exploits Told by the Soldiers, Officers, Nurses, Diplomats, Eye Witnesses

True Stories of the Great War, Volume 6 (of 6): Tales of Adventure--Heroic Deeds--Exploits Told by the Soldiers, Officers, Nurses, Diplomats, Eye Witnesses

Unknown

These firsthand accounts from the front lines of the Great War capture the grim reality, sudden humor, and profound sacrifices of soldiers, nurses, and civilians caught in the crossfire of a global catastrophe.

History - Modern (1750+)6 min read
Cover of Art in Shell of the Ancient Americans: Second annual report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1880-81, pages 179-306

Art in Shell of the Ancient Americans: Second annual report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1880-81, pages 179-306

William Henry Holmes

This foundational study reveals the sophisticated craftsmanship of ancient North American peoples through the enduring medium of shell, documenting how natural materials were transformed into essential tools, currency, and sacred art.

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of Autobiography of Mother Jones

Autobiography of Mother Jones

Mother Jones

A fiery, uncompromising voice from the front lines of the American labor movement recounts a lifetime spent battling industrial tyranny to secure dignity for the working class.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Captain Ted: A Boy's Adventures Among Hiding Slackers in the Great Georgia Swamp

Captain Ted: A Boy's Adventures Among Hiding Slackers in the Great Georgia Swamp

Louis Pendleton

A young boy’s Christmas errand turns into a harrowing survival story within the dense, uncharted reaches of the Okefinokee Swamp. Armed with little more than courage, he encounters the dangerous reality of men hiding from the draft during the First World War.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of De Amicitia, Scipio's Dream

De Amicitia, Scipio's Dream

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Friendship is not merely a social comfort but the highest expression of human virtue, while the soul’s true home lies in the contemplation of the eternal. These two classic meditations offer a timeless map for living with integrity.

Classics of Literature6 min read
Cover of Dorothea Beale: Principal of the Cheltenham Ladies' College, 1858-1906

Dorothea Beale: Principal of the Cheltenham Ladies' College, 1858-1906

Elizabeth Helen Shillito

A pioneering educator transforms the landscape of women’s schooling in nineteenth-century England, driven by an unyielding sense of duty and a vision of teaching as a spiritual vocation.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Following the color line

Following the color line

Unknown

The racial divide in early twentieth-century America is a complex reality, deeply rooted in historical injustice and ongoing economic struggle. This investigative work remains a vital document for understanding the tensions that shaped the nation’s social landscape.

History - American6 min read
Cover of Harper's New Monthly Magazine: No. XVI.—September, 1851—Vol. III

Harper's New Monthly Magazine: No. XVI.—September, 1851—Vol. III

Various

This volume serves as a time capsule, capturing the restless energy, political turbulence, and cultural preoccupations of the mid-nineteenth century through a diverse blend of journalism, fiction, and historical narrative.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of History of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 5 (of 12)

History of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 5 (of 12)

G. (Gaston) Maspero

This sweeping chronicle maps the rise and eventual internal struggle of Egypt’s great imperial age. It documents the transition from military expansionism to the radical religious shifts of the Amarna period, ending with the uneasy stability of the later dynasties.

History - Ancient6 min read
Cover of Marquise De Ganges: Celebrated Crimes

Marquise De Ganges: Celebrated Crimes

Alexandre Dumas

The haunting story of a woman trapped by her husband’s monstrous brothers, this account traverses the dark intersection of greed, obsession, and the fragility of human goodness. It is a chronicle of a fatal marriage and the enduring, destructive legacy of a cursed noble line.

French Literature6 min read
Cover of Old Picture Books, With Other Essays on Bookish Subjects

Old Picture Books, With Other Essays on Bookish Subjects

Alfred W. (Alfred William) Pollard

A collection of scholarly investigations into the early history of printing, these essays reveal the intricate artistry and social life preserved within the pages of antique books.

Art7 min read
Cover of Sadhana

Sadhana

Rabindranath Tagore

This collection of philosophical reflections invites readers to bridge the perceived gap between the finite human experience and the infinite nature of the divine. It argues that true fulfillment lies in realizing one’s unity with the universe rather than attempting to conquer it.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: 1838

The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: 1838

James Gillman

A portrait of a brilliant, fragmented mind, this intimate biography chronicles a poet's lifelong search for faith, the shadow of addiction, and the evolution of a genius through the eyes of his closest friend.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days

The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days

Andy Adams

A young man joins a trail drive from Texas to Montana, discovering that the true measure of a cowboy lies not in heroics, but in the grueling, rhythmic labor of moving a herd across a wild continent.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh

The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh

William Makepeace Thackeray

This collection of observations captures a young writer’s witty, cynical, and affectionate immersion in the French capital. It serves as a sharp-eyed record of a society in flux, balancing travelogue, art criticism, and social commentary.

British Literature7 min read
Cover of The Priest and the Acolyte: With an Introductory Protest by Stuart Mason

The Priest and the Acolyte: With an Introductory Protest by Stuart Mason

John Francis Bloxam

This story of a forbidden attachment between a young clergyman and a choir boy serves as a poignant, if controversial, artifact of late-Victorian aestheticism. It remains a notable document for its defiant rejection of conventional morality and its tragic exploration of social alienation.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Tommy and Grizel

Tommy and Grizel

J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie

A man who prefers the romance of his own imagination to the messy realities of human connection finds himself caught between the woman who truly knows him and the hollow fame he has built for himself.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Aesthetical and philosophical essays

Aesthetical and philosophical essays

Friedrich Schiller

The human spirit is a complex architecture of sensuous desire and rational law, caught in a perpetual struggle for wholeness. Beauty is the bridge that allows us to walk between these two worlds.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of Among Cannibals: An Account of Four Years' Travels in Australia and of Camp Life With the Aborigines of Queensland

Among Cannibals: An Account of Four Years' Travels in Australia and of Camp Life With the Aborigines of Queensland

Carl Lumholtz

This account of late 19th-century exploration captures a vanishing world through the eyes of a naturalist obsessed with the intersection of colonial expansion and indigenous survival. It stands as a complex, often troubling window into a bygone era of anthropological inquiry.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Balthasar and Other Works - 1909

Balthasar and Other Works - 1909

Anatole France

HOOK This collection of stories weaves together the ancient and the modern, exploring how the weight of history, the sting of desire, and the mystery of faith collide in human lives.

French Literature6 min read
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