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30,104 public-domain books, summarised. Page 408 of 628.

Cover of The Story of the Siren

The Story of the Siren

E. M. (Edward Morgan) Forster

A scholarly quest in a Mediterranean grotto takes a surreal turn when a local boatman shares the haunting, tragic history of his brother’s encounter with a mythological creature.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of The Tickencote Treasure

The Tickencote Treasure

William Le Queux

A humble doctor’s quiet life is upended when a chance encounter at sea reveals a centuries-old maritime mystery and a hidden cache of Spanish gold.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of The Uses of Italic: A Primer of Information Regarding the Origin and Uses of Italic Letters

The Uses of Italic: A Primer of Information Regarding the Origin and Uses of Italic Letters

Frederick W. (Frederick William) Hamilton

Italic type serves as a refined tool for emphasis and distinction in printing. This guide clarifies its origins and establishes the professional standards for its appropriate application in modern composition.

Art6 min read
Cover of The Uttermost Farthing: A Savant's Vendetta

The Uttermost Farthing: A Savant's Vendetta

R. Austin (Richard Austin) Freeman

A brilliant but broken man transforms his scientific expertise into a cold, methodical campaign of vengeance against the criminal who destroyed his life.

Crime, Thrillers and Mystery6 min read
Cover of The Wasted Generation

The Wasted Generation

Owen Johnson

In this intimate, searching chronicle, a soldier finds himself caught between the wreckage of his past and the terrifying, transformative necessity of a nation at war. It is a quiet meditation on the high cost of finding one’s way.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of The Young Franc Tireurs, and Their Adventures in the Franco-Prussian War

The Young Franc Tireurs, and Their Adventures in the Franco-Prussian War

G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

The teenage brothers Ralph and Percy Barclay plunge into the chaos of the Franco-Prussian War, proving that courage and common sense can sometimes outmatch the might of an invading army.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of There is No Death

There is No Death

Florence Marryat

This is a firsthand account of a nineteenth-century novelist’s journey into the world of spiritualism. It chronicles her search for proof that consciousness survives bodily death, documenting the séances, mediums, and apparitions she encountered across two continents.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Three Comedies

Three Comedies

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson

In the theater of late-nineteenth-century Norway, domestic life is a battlefield of hidden histories and stifled desires. These plays peel back the layers of bourgeois respectability to reveal the painful cost of maintaining appearances.

Plays/Films/Dramas6 min read
Cover of Valladolid, Oviedo, Segovia, Zamora, Avila & Zaragoza: An Historical & Descriptive Account

Valladolid, Oviedo, Segovia, Zamora, Avila & Zaragoza: An Historical & Descriptive Account

Albert Frederick Calvert

These six storied cities of Spain, rich in architectural marvels and turbulent history, offer a window into the soul of a nation that has often stood at the crossroads of empire and faith.

Architecture6 min read
Cover of Washo Religion

Washo Religion

James F. Downs

Spiritual life among the Washo persists through a complex weave of ancient myth, personal dream-guidance, and the quiet, enduring authority of the natural world. This study examines how these beliefs remain vibrant and vital in the face of modern change.

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of A history of postal agitation from fifty years ago till the present day

A history of postal agitation from fifty years ago till the present day

H. G. Swift

This account chronicles the decades-long struggle of British postal workers to secure fair wages, reasonable hours, and the right to organize against a rigid, often hostile, government bureaucracy. It serves as a stark, detailed record of labor history within a vital state institution.

History - British6 min read
Cover of A year of prophesying

A year of prophesying

H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

The future belongs to those who dare to imagine a unified world, yet the present remains stubbornly trapped in the cage of competing nationalisms. These essays serve as a bold, urgent wake-up call for an age drifting toward catastrophe.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Agriculture in Virginia, 1607-1699

Agriculture in Virginia, 1607-1699

Lyman Carrier

The story of early Virginia is often told through politics and war, but its survival truly rested on the slow, often desperate, transformation of a wilderness into a landscape of fields and fences.

History - American6 min read
Cover of An index to the collected works of William Hazlitt

An index to the collected works of William Hazlitt

William Hazlitt

The ultimate key to a vast literary inheritance, this volume functions as a bridge between the scattered genius of a nineteenth-century essayist and the readers who wish to find their way through his work.

Encyclopedias/Dictionaries/Reference6 min read
Cover of Avatâras: Four lectures delivered at the twenty-fourth anniversary

Avatâras: Four lectures delivered at the twenty-fourth anniversary

Annie Besant

The divine descends into the world of form to guide humanity through its darkest cycles. These lectures explore the nature, purpose, and manifestations of the Avatâra, the singular bridge between the Eternal and the temporal.

Philosophy & Ethics6 min read
Cover of Barren Ground

Barren Ground

Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow

The girl in the orange shawl stands at the threshold of a life defined by the stubborn, broomsedge-choked soil of rural Virginia. She discovers that while love is a fragile spark, the land demands an iron-willed endurance.

American Literature7 min read
Cover of Beggars

Beggars

W. H. (William Henry) Davies

The professional beggar is a craftsman of the road, balancing impudence, wit, and a peculiar brand of freedom against the harsh realities of the lodging-house. This exploration of vagrancy reveals the stark divide between the bold, enterprising American tramp and the timid, struggling English counterpart.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Betty's Happy Year

Betty's Happy Year

Carolyn Wells

The spirited daughter of a formerly impoverished family navigates the social complexities of the well-to-do, balancing her natural, impulsive kindness against the rigid expectations of her wealthy relatives.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Beyond the Old Frontier: Adventures of Indian-Fighters, Hunters, and Fur-Traders

Beyond the Old Frontier: Adventures of Indian-Fighters, Hunters, and Fur-Traders

George Bird Grinnell

The vast, untamed territory between the Mississippi and the Pacific once stood as a formidable, unknown frontier, where survival depended upon the steady aim of a rifle and an intimate knowledge of the land. This collection of historical accounts brings to life the era when fur traders, scouts, and young…

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Bohemia under Hapsburg Misrule: A Study of the Ideals and Aspirations of the Bohemian and Slovak Peoples, as They Relate to and Are Affected by the Great European War

Bohemia under Hapsburg Misrule: A Study of the Ideals and Aspirations of the Bohemian and Slovak Peoples, as They Relate to and Are Affected by the Great European War

Unknown

This historical study examines the long-standing struggle for Bohemian and Slovak sovereignty, framing their national aspirations within the volatile political landscape of the early twentieth century. It serves as a fervent argument for the dissolution of Hapsburg authority in favor of self-determination.

History - European6 min read
Cover of Brain Twister

Brain Twister

Randall Garrett

In this satirical mystery, an FBI agent tasked with finding a telepathic spy discovers that the most powerful mind in the country is trapped in a mental institution under the delusion that she is Queen Elizabeth I.

American Literature5 min read
Cover of Canada West

Canada West

Canada. Department of the Interior

Prospective homesteaders and historical observers alike will find this detailed guide to the Canadian frontier an invaluable window into the early twentieth-century promise of prairie settlement.

History - Modern (1750+)6 min read
Cover of Casa Grande Ruin: Thirteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1891-92, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1896, pages 289-318

Casa Grande Ruin: Thirteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1891-92, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1896, pages 289-318

Cosmos Mindeleff

The Casa Grande ruin stands as a silent sentinel of the Arizona desert, its weathered adobe walls inviting a precise, scientific look at the architecture of a vanished people. This meticulous report dismantles centuries of myth to reveal the human ingenuity behind one of the American Southwest’s most storied landmarks.

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of Children's Rights: A Book of Nursery Logic

Children's Rights: A Book of Nursery Logic

Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin

The child is a citizen of the present, not merely a future adult, and deserves a world designed for their stature. True education begins not with books, but with the sanctity of play.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Colouration in Animals and Plants

Colouration in Animals and Plants

Alfred Tylor

Nature’s vibrant palette is rarely arbitrary, acting instead as a biological map of an organism’s interior construction. This study argues that structure dictates decoration, revealing how the hidden mechanics of life manifest upon the skin.

Nature/Gardening/Animals6 min read
Cover of Daisy Brooks

Daisy Brooks

Laura Jean Libbey

This melodrama traces the harrowing plight of a guileless orphan caught in the machinations of a jealous socialite. It remains a quintessential artifact of the 19th-century American dime novel, where high-stakes romance and villainous intrigue collide in a race against fate.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Descriptive Catalogue of Photographs of North American Indians

Descriptive Catalogue of Photographs of North American Indians

William Henry Jackson

A vast gallery of faces and landscapes, this record captures the vanishing traditions of North American Indigenous peoples as the nineteenth century neared its close. It serves as a haunting, meticulous ledger of a world defined by its rapid transformation and loss.

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of Emmy Lou: Her Book and Heart

Emmy Lou: Her Book and Heart

George Madden Martin

The world of a child is a mysterious, rigid, and often baffling place where authority is absolute and logic is rarely what it seems. This quiet, observant chronicle captures the authentic bewilderment of growing up.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Excursions in the mountains of Ronda and Granada, with characteristic sketches of the inhabitants of southern Spain, vol. 1/2

Excursions in the mountains of Ronda and Granada, with characteristic sketches of the inhabitants of southern Spain, vol. 1/2

C. Rochfort‏ (Charles Rochfort) Scott

A restless account of 1830s Andalusia, this travelogue blends precise geographical observations with the gritty, often violent realities of mountain life and partisan warfare during a time of immense political instability in Spain.

History - European6 min read
Cover of Famous Flyers and Their Famous Flights

Famous Flyers and Their Famous Flights

Jack Wright

Two inseparable friends find their lives transformed when an adventurous pilot shares the heroic tales of aviation’s greatest pioneers. Their journey from fearful spectators to capable flyers mirrors the daring progress of the early twentieth century.

Adventure5 min read
Cover of Fifty "Bab" Ballads: Much Sound and Little Sense

Fifty "Bab" Ballads: Much Sound and Little Sense

W. S. (William Schwenck) Gilbert

These verses transform the mundane into the monstrous, finding the absurd hidden within the polite conventions of Victorian life and the grim realities of survival.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of For Luncheon and Supper Guests

For Luncheon and Supper Guests

Alice Bradley

Simple, elegant hospitality defines the heart of this classic collection, proving that the most memorable gatherings rely on thoughtful preparation rather than elaborate, multi-course complexity. By focusing on the refined efficiency of a well-planned menu, the home cook transforms the task of entertaining into an…

Cooking & Drinking6 min read
Cover of Fort Ticonderoga: A Short History

Fort Ticonderoga: A Short History

Stephen H. P. Pell

This is a concise, illustrated chronicle of the strategic fortress that defined the struggle for North America, spanning its construction in the mid-18th century to its meticulous modern restoration.

History - American6 min read
Cover of Henry II

Henry II

L. F. (Louis Francis) Salzman

A formidable king of the twelfth century, Henry II commands a vast empire while struggling to master his own turbulent sons and the defiant traditions of his realm. This historical account captures the intricate machinery of medieval power, where law, finance, and personal ambition collide.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Homo Sum

Homo Sum

Georg Ebers

HOOK A deeply flawed man seeks redemption among the desert anchorites of fourth-century Sinai, only to discover that the heaviest burdens are those we choose to carry for others.

Historical Novels6 min read
Cover of Household Education

Household Education

Harriet Martineau

This Victorian guide argues that the most profound education occurs not in classrooms, but within the daily rhythm and moral atmosphere of the home. It offers a practical philosophy for raising children through careful observation and consistent example.

Parenthood & Family Relations6 min read
Cover of How to fence : Containing full instruction for fencing and the use of the broadsword

How to fence : Containing full instruction for fencing and the use of the broadsword

Aaron A. Warford

A practical guide for the aspiring nineteenth-century gentleman, this manual details the precise mechanics of swordsmanship, archery, and field athletics. It serves as a window into the era's emphasis on physical refinement and disciplined recreation.

How To ...6 min read
Cover of Hymnological Studies

Hymnological Studies

Matthew Nathanael Lundquist

This brief volume serves as a guide for organists and choir directors to understand the historical development, theological foundations, and liturgical purpose of the Lutheran hymn. It offers a structured survey of how sacred song has shaped the life of the Church over centuries.

History - Religious6 min read
Cover of In Times of Peril: A Tale of India

In Times of Peril: A Tale of India

G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

In the sweltering, unstable environment of colonial India, two brothers endure the harrowing violence of the 1857 Sepoy Rebellion. Their survival through siege and skirmish becomes a test of grit, loyalty, and the endurance of the British spirit.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of John Marsh's Millions

John Marsh's Millions

Charles Klein

Inheritance and the predatory reach of the law collide in this dramatic tale of a young woman fighting to reclaim her fortune from corrupt guardians. It is a story of moral awakening, set against the backdrop of New York’s gilded social circles and the harsh realities of institutional power.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of John Smith's Funny Adventures on a Crutch: Or The Remarkable Peregrinations of a One-legged Soldier after the War

John Smith's Funny Adventures on a Crutch: Or The Remarkable Peregrinations of a One-legged Soldier after the War

A. F. (Ashbel Fairchild) Hill

A one-legged Civil War veteran wanders post-war America, navigating the awkward collision of his own sardonic humor, his physical disability, and a public that alternates between profound generosity and baffling insensitivity.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Junior

Junior

Robert Abernathy

The generational divide takes a literal, evolutionary turn when a rebellious adolescent refuses to accept the constraints of his stationary, deep-sea society.

Humour6 min read
Cover of Keep Your Shape

Keep Your Shape

Robert Sheckley

The fate of an empire hinges on a single pilot, but the allure of a new world proves stronger than the rigid, ancestral duty he was born to uphold.

Science-Fiction & Fantasy6 min read
Cover of Life in Morocco and Glimpses Beyond

Life in Morocco and Glimpses Beyond

Budgett Meakin

This observant travelogue peels back the curtain on a turn-of-the-century Morocco defined by tradition, rigid social hierarchies, and the encroaching influence of European power. It captures a society at a crossroads, where ancient customs collide with modern diplomatic pressures.

Travel Writing6 min read
Cover of Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 15, No. 90, June, 1875

Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 15, No. 90, June, 1875

Various

This collection offers a vibrant cross-section of nineteenth-century intellectual life, blending travel narratives, literary criticism, and fiction into a singular snapshot of the Victorian era’s diverse interests.

Journals6 min read
Cover of List of post offices in Canada, with the names of the postmasters ... 1870

List of post offices in Canada, with the names of the postmasters ... 1870

Canada. Post Office Department

This administrative directory preserves the vital infrastructure of 1870 Canada, mapping the precise reach of a national postal network that connected burgeoning settlements across a vast and rugged landscape.

General6 min read
Cover of Little Rivers: A Book of Essays in Profitable Idleness

Little Rivers: A Book of Essays in Profitable Idleness

Henry Van Dyke

This collection of essays serves as an extended invitation to step away from the relentless pace of modern life and find restoration through the quiet, deliberate practice of angling in the world’s hidden waterways.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of Lures of Life

Lures of Life

Joseph Lucas

Lures of Life is a collection of meditations on the essential experiences that pull at the human spirit, from the simple joys of gardening and the beauty of language to the enduring mystery of faith. It serves as a gentle, reflective guide to finding meaning in the ordinary and extraordinary alike.

Philosophy & Ethics6 min read
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