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13,367 public-domain books, summarised. Page 260 of 279.

Cover of Siwa

Siwa

Belgrave, Charles Dalrymple, Sir

The remote oasis of Siwa stands as a singular, fortified world between the Mediterranean and the deep Sahara. This account captures the stark geography, resilient desert cultures, and complex history of a region long isolated by sand.

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of Stephen Archer, and Other Tales

Stephen Archer, and Other Tales

George MacDonald

A humble London bookseller’s internal transformation mirrors the quiet, profound shifts occurring in the lives of those he encounters. This collection of narratives explores the tension between duty, class, and the awakening of the human spirit.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Stepping Heavenward

Stepping Heavenward

E. (Elizabeth) Prentiss

A woman tracks her lifelong journey toward spiritual maturity, documenting the friction between her impulsive nature and her desire for a quieter, more sanctified life. This intimate diary reveals the private struggles behind the domestic ideal.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of The Book of Fair Women

The Book of Fair Women

Unknown

An elegant, early-twentieth-century exploration of feminine beauty and charm, presented as a global portrait gallery that seeks to define the elusive intersection of physical appearance and spiritual grace.

Art6 min read
Cover of The Book of Susan: A Novel

The Book of Susan: A Novel

Lee Wilson Dodd

The life of an orphan is rarely a fairy tale, but for one young girl, a chance encounter with a lonely man in a New Haven garage marks the beginning of an extraordinary, self-made education.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of The Book of the Bush: Containing Many Truthful Sketches of the Early Colonial Life of Squatters, Whalers, Convicts, Diggers, and Others Who Left Their Native Land and Never Returned

The Book of the Bush: Containing Many Truthful Sketches of the Early Colonial Life of Squatters, Whalers, Convicts, Diggers, and Others Who Left Their Native Land and Never Returned

George Dunderdale

This collection of sketches captures the raw, often brutal reality of early colonial Australia. It serves as a candid record of the pioneers, convicts, and wanderers who carved lives out of a harsh, unforgiving frontier.

History - Other6 min read
Cover of The Characters of Theophrastus: A Translation, with Introduction

The Characters of Theophrastus: A Translation, with Introduction

Theophrastus

A mirror held up to human folly, these ancient sketches capture the timeless, irritating, and often hilarious quirks of character that remain stubbornly unchanged after more than two millennia.

Classics of Literature6 min read
Cover of The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 5, May, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National Policy

The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 5, May, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National Policy

Various

This collection of essays, narratives, and reports captures the urgent anxieties and intellectual fervor of the American North in the spring of 1862. It serves as a vital bridge between historical reflection and the volatile politics of the Civil War.

History - American6 min read
Cover of The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 2 (of 2)

The Devil's Elixir, Vol. 2 (of 2)

E. T. A. (Ernst Theodor Amadeus) Hoffmann

HOOK A monk consumed by a cursed elixir finds himself shadowed by a monstrous, mirror-image double, leading to a frantic descent into crime, madness, and the search for spiritual absolution.

German Literature6 min read
Cover of The Function of the Poet, and Other Essays

The Function of the Poet, and Other Essays

James Russell Lowell

The poet acts as a vital interpreter of human nature, reclaiming the lost innocence of our childhood and transforming the dusty, ordinary path of daily life into a landscape of enduring beauty.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of The great painters' gospel

The great painters' gospel

Henry Turner Bailey

HOOK This guide uses the visual language of master painters to illuminate the life of Jesus, inviting readers to see familiar scriptures through a fresh, contemplative lens.

Art6 min read
Cover of The Houseboat Book: The Log of a Cruise from Chicago to New Orleans

The Houseboat Book: The Log of a Cruise from Chicago to New Orleans

W. F. (William Francis) Waugh

A city-dwelling doctor trades the frantic pace of professional life for the slow, meandering currents of the American interior, seeking rest and renewal on a houseboat cruise from Chicago to New Orleans.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 1, August, 1851

The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 1, August, 1851

Various

This mid-nineteenth-century periodical serves as a vibrant, kaleidoscopic window into the intellectual and social preoccupations of the Victorian era. It captures a world in the midst of rapid expansion, both physical and imaginative.

Art7 min read
Cover of The Living Present

The Living Present

Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton

This firsthand account chronicles how the crucible of the First World War shattered the rigid, sheltered lives of French women, forcing them into a new, independent reality that permanently altered their role in society.

Gender & Sexuality Studies5 min read
Cover of The Man in Lower Ten

The Man in Lower Ten

Mary Roberts Rinehart

A man’s quiet, predictable life is shattered when a gruesome murder occurs in the sleeper car where he is traveling. This classic mystery follows his desperate struggle to prove his innocence against a mounting pile of damning circumstantial evidence.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of The Public Orations of Demosthenes, volume 1

The Public Orations of Demosthenes, volume 1

Demosthenes

The political climate of classical Athens survives in the urgent, stinging prose of a man who watched his city’s independence wither under the rising power of Macedonia. These orations capture a desperate, brilliant attempt to rally a distracted public against a formidable foreign threat.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The shadow kingdom

The shadow kingdom

Robert E. (Robert Ervin) Howard

Kull of Atlantis has seized the throne of Valusia, but he soon discovers that reigning over an ancient, decadent civilization is far more dangerous than the open warfare of his youth.

Novels6 min read
Cover of The Social Work of the Salvation Army

The Social Work of the Salvation Army

Edwin Gifford Lamb

At the dawn of the twentieth century, the Salvation Army launched an ambitious, far-reaching campaign to address the systemic poverty and displacement of the urban masses.

History - American6 min read
Cover of The Star Hyacinths

The Star Hyacinths

James H. Schmitz

A remote, long-abandoned shipwreck holds a fortune in stolen gems and a terrifying, unseen killer. A lone investigator must outwit treacherous partners to claim the salvage before his pursuers arrive.

Novels6 min read
Cover of The Story of Doctor Johnson

The Story of Doctor Johnson

S. C. (Sydney Castle) Roberts

This biographical portrait serves as a bridge into the vast, intimidating world of eighteenth-century literature, offering a gentle invitation to those who find the primary sources of the era daunting. By weaving together narrative threads and key selections from primary accounts, it captures the essence of a…

Biographies6 min read
Cover of The Velvet Glove

The Velvet Glove

Henry Seton Merriman

A young woman caught in the machinations of nineteenth-century Spain must choose between the cold walls of a convent and the dangerous, uncertain life offered by the man she has been forced to marry.

Novels6 min read
Cover of The Visigothic code

The Visigothic code

S. P. (Samuel Parsons) Scott

This collection of ancient legislation offers a stark, unvarnished window into the transition of a nomadic people into a structured, theocratic society governed by the rule of law.

History - European7 min read
Cover of The Works of the Right Honourable John, Earl of Rochester: Consisting of Satires, Songs, Translations, and other Occasional Poems

The Works of the Right Honourable John, Earl of Rochester: Consisting of Satires, Songs, Translations, and other Occasional Poems

Rochester, John Wilmot, Earl of,

A brilliant, biting exploration of human folly, desire, and the fragility of reason, this collection captures the restless energy of a mind unwilling to be tamed by convention.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Torrent of Portyngale

Torrent of Portyngale

Unknown

A knight faces giants, dragons, and the cruel whims of fate to reclaim his lost family. This medieval romance charts a hero’s journey from humble service to the heights of kingly honor.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Triumphs of Invention and Discovery in Art and Science

Triumphs of Invention and Discovery in Art and Science

J. Hamilton (James Hamilton) Fyfe

The path of progress is rarely a straight line; it is a long, winding, and often lonely road forged by individuals who trade comfort for the pursuit of a vision. This volume chronicles the lives and struggles of the pioneers whose inventions and discoveries quietly reshaped the modern world.

Art6 min read
Cover of Venus Equilateral

Venus Equilateral

George O. (George Oliver) Smith

A brilliant engineer and his team maintain the vital communications relay station orbiting between Earth and Venus, navigating corporate espionage, cosmic piracy, and the destabilizing arrival of life-changing technology.

Novels6 min read
Cover of Vision House

Vision House

C. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson

Marriage as a high-stakes transaction leads two unlikely partners into a web of ambition, pride, and hidden motives. Beneath the veneer of British aristocratic society and the dramatic atmosphere of the American West, a young actress and a "bounder" of a soldier fight to redefine their futures.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of With an Ambulance During the Franco-German War: Personal Experiences and Adventures with Both Armies, 1870-1871

With an Ambulance During the Franco-German War: Personal Experiences and Adventures with Both Armies, 1870-1871

Charles Edward Ryan

In the shadow of a continental conflict, a medical volunteer navigates the wreckage of war, witnessing the collision of human suffering and cold military machinery.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of 35 Sonnets

35 Sonnets

Fernando Pessoa

The gap between what we feel and what we can express is the primary tragedy of the human condition. In these verses, the struggle to reconcile the internal soul with the external world reveals that our true selves remain forever inaccessible, even to ourselves.

Poetry6 min read
Cover of A manual of pronunciation

A manual of pronunciation

Otis Ashmore

Speech is the primary vessel of our culture, yet it is fraught with hidden traps. This practical guide serves as an anchor for those seeking to refine their articulation and align their habits with the standard usage of the early twentieth century.

How To ...6 min read
Cover of A Short History of the United States for School Use

A Short History of the United States for School Use

Edward Channing

This survey of American history provides a sober, structured overview of the nation's development from colonial settlement to the brink of the twentieth century. It prioritizes institutional growth and political shifts over colorful anecdotes, focusing on the formation of government, the expansion of territory, and…

History - American6 min read
Cover of A Traveler at Forty

A Traveler at Forty

Theodore Dreiser

An American writer sets out to encounter the Old World, armed only with a notebook, an insatiable curiosity, and a companion who serves as his worldly guide through the intricate, often melancholic landscapes of early 20th-century Europe.

American Literature7 min read
Cover of A treatise on the origin, progress, prevention, and cure of dry rot in timber

A treatise on the origin, progress, prevention, and cure of dry rot in timber

Thomas Allen Britton

A profound, persistent enemy of structural integrity, the silent decay known as dry rot claims timber with a speed that defies expectation. This investigation illuminates the biological mechanics of wood-destroying fungi and the practical strategies for their permanent eradication.

Architecture6 min read
Cover of Allopathy and Homoeopathy Before the Judgment of Common Sense!

Allopathy and Homoeopathy Before the Judgment of Common Sense!

Frederick Hiller

The medical landscape of the nineteenth century serves as a battlefield where the established, traditional practices of Allopathy collide with the rising, controversial, and systematic approach of Homoeopathy. This polemical work serves as both a biography and a manifesto, arguing that the medical profession must…

Drugs/Alcohol/Pharmacology7 min read
Cover of Bunch Grass: A Chronicle of Life on a Cattle Ranch

Bunch Grass: A Chronicle of Life on a Cattle Ranch

Horace Annesley Vachell

HOOK This collection captures the vanishing spirit of the California frontier, where the law was often a matter of personal resolve and the landscape itself demanded a brutal kind of survival.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Cecil Rhodes, Man and Empire-Maker

Cecil Rhodes, Man and Empire-Maker

Radziwill, Catherine, Princess

This account traces the decline of an empire-builder, charting how personal hubris and political miscalculation dismantled the influence of a man once considered the uncrowned king of Southern Africa.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Child Whispers

Child Whispers

Enid Blyton

A collection of whimsical verse that captures the fleeting, imaginative world of childhood, where fairies dwell in teacups and common household frustrations bloom into magical, sometimes naughty, adventures.

Children & Young Adult Reading6 min read
Cover of Count Luckner, the Sea Devil

Count Luckner, the Sea Devil

Luckner, Felix, Graf von

A charismatic German aristocrat turns to piracy during the First World War, outfoxing the British navy with a blend of audacious deception and old-fashioned seamanship. This account captures the singular exploits of a man who treated global warfare as a grand, gentlemanly adventure.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Explanation of Catholic Morals: A Concise, Reasoned, and Popular Exposition of Catholic Morals

Explanation of Catholic Morals: A Concise, Reasoned, and Popular Exposition of Catholic Morals

John H. (John Henry) Stapleton

A systematic guide to the complexities of ethical life, this work offers a clear, structured framework for navigating the moral demands of faith in a secularizing world.

Philosophy & Ethics5 min read
Cover of Field, Forest and Farm: Things interesting to young nature-lovers, including some matters of moment to gardeners and fruit-growers

Field, Forest and Farm: Things interesting to young nature-lovers, including some matters of moment to gardeners and fruit-growers

Jean-Henri Fabre

The natural world is an intricate machine of interconnected lives, where every insect, bird, and blade of grass serves a purpose in the farmer’s harvest and the earth’s own renewal.

Nature/Gardening/Animals6 min read
Cover of Food Poisoning

Food Poisoning

Edwin O. (Edwin Oakes) Jordan

This technical overview examines the diverse biological and chemical origins of food-borne illness. It serves as a foundational study of the pathogens, toxins, and dietary imbalances that threaten human health.

Health & Medicine6 min read
Cover of Frondes Agrestes: Readings in 'Modern Painters'

Frondes Agrestes: Readings in 'Modern Painters'

John Ruskin

To see nature clearly is an act of moral and spiritual awakening, transforming the way we perceive the world around us. This curated collection of meditations invites the reader to look beyond mere surface appearances, finding instead the divine architecture hidden in the clouds, mountains, and flowers.

Art6 min read
Cover of Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Volume VIII, No 25: May 21, 1887

Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Volume VIII, No 25: May 21, 1887

Various

The Victorian era spoke to its children through a vibrant, bustling marketplace of morality, wonder, and mechanical ingenuity. This surviving fragment offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the curated imagination of the late nineteenth century.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Isaac Watts

These hymns invite the reader into a devotional landscape of fervent theology, where the weight of human frailty meets the overwhelming promise of divine grace. They remain a foundational pillar of English hymnody, enduring through their blend of rigorous biblical scholarship and deeply personal, lyrical intensity.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of In good company

In good company

Coulson Kernahan

This collection of personal recollections offers a warm, intimate window into the lives of notable literary and historical figures at the turn of the twentieth century. It serves as a bridge to a bygone era of English intellectual life.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Jack Haydon's Quest

Jack Haydon's Quest

John Finnemore

HOOK A young athlete’s routine life is upended by a mysterious threat, launching an international hunt that takes him from the English countryside to the perilous, hidden depths of the Burmese jungle.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin

Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin

Robert Louis Stevenson

This portrait of a Victorian polymath captures a man of intense intellectual vigor, unwavering moral conviction, and persistent curiosity. It is a thoughtful exploration of a life defined by professional innovation and the commerce of friendship.

Biographies7 min read
Cover of Narrative of a Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America in the years 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814 or the First American Settlement on the Pacific

Narrative of a Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America in the years 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814 or the First American Settlement on the Pacific

Gabriel Franchère

A journey to the edge of the world, this chronicle recounts the birth and collapse of the first American outpost on the Pacific, charting a course through survival, corporate ambition, and the wild frontier of the early 1800s.

Adventure6 min read
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