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3,125 public-domain books, summarised. Page 48 of 66.

Cover of The Idea of a University Defined and Illustrated: In Nine Discourses Delivered to the Catholics of Dublin

The Idea of a University Defined and Illustrated: In Nine Discourses Delivered to the Catholics of Dublin

John Henry Newman

A definitive meditation on the purpose of higher education, this work argues that a university exists to cultivate the intellect and broaden the mind, rather than merely to provide professional training.

Philosophy & Ethics8 min read
Cover of Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Ely: A History and Description of the Building with a Short Account of the Monastery and of the See

Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Ely: A History and Description of the Building with a Short Account of the Monastery and of the See

W. D. (Walter Debenham) Sweeting

This scholarly guide offers a precise, architectural, and historical survey of Ely Cathedral, documenting its evolution from a seventh-century monastery to a masterwork of Norman and Decorated Gothic design.

Architecture6 min read
Cover of Patty's Friends

Patty's Friends

Carolyn Wells

HOOK A young traveler’s sharp wit and penchant for puzzles transform a series of social calls into a high-stakes search for a hidden family inheritance.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of John Baptist Jackson: 18th-Century Master of the Color Woodcut

John Baptist Jackson: 18th-Century Master of the Color Woodcut

Jacob Kainen

John Baptist Jackson was an eighteenth-century printmaker who elevated the woodcut to a refined art form through his pioneering use of chiaroscuro and color. His work remains an essential, if often overlooked, bridge in the history of graphic arts.

Art6 min read
Cover of Hoodie

Hoodie

Mrs. Molesworth

HOOK A headstrong, misunderstood child searches for affection in a world that seems to exclude her, only to discover that the love she craves is often hidden in plain sight.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of A Bird-Lover in the West

A Bird-Lover in the West

Olive Thorne Miller

Seek the hidden lives of winged inhabitants in the untamed spaces of the American West and the lush stillness of the Middle Country. Discover that even the most common birds possess secrets, individual temperaments, and complex dramas rarely noticed by the casual traveler.

Nature/Gardening/Animals7 min read
Cover of Selections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: Texts

Selections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: Texts

Unknown

This scholarly collection captures the raw, evolving spirit of the English language between 1130 and 1250, documenting a pivotal era when the tongue began its transition from Old to Middle English.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of New Atlantis

New Atlantis

Francis Bacon

A weary crew of European sailors discovers a hidden island society that has mastered nature through rigorous scientific inquiry. Their encounter reveals a vision of human potential fueled by reason, piety, and an organized pursuit of discovery.

Classics of Literature7 min read
Cover of The Rover Boys on a Hunt

The Rover Boys on a Hunt

Edward Stratemeyer

A group of spirited schoolboys find their winter hunting trip transformed into a dangerous investigation when they stumble upon a clandestine nest of enemy agents hidden deep in the woods.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Bloom of Cactus

Bloom of Cactus

Robert Ames Bennet

HOOK A desert engineer and a resilient woman navigate a brutal landscape of canyons, bootleggers, and vengeful outlaws to save a young girl from a dark fate.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Eliza

Eliza

Barry Pain

This series of domestic vignettes follows a punctilious, self-important clerk and his patient wife as they navigate the small struggles, social pretensions, and modest triumphs of lower-middle-class London life.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Louis XIV.: Makers of History Series

Louis XIV.: Makers of History Series

John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott

A portrait of absolute power, this narrative traces the life of the Sun King from his precarious youth to his hollow final days, revealing the man behind the gilded mask of Versailles.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of The Battle of New Orleans: including the Previous Engagements between the Americans

The Battle of New Orleans: including the Previous Engagements between the Americans

Z. F. (Zachariah Frederick) Smith

The decisive triumph at the Battle of New Orleans remains a testament to the grit of American frontiersmen against the refined, veteran might of the British Empire. This account chronicles the tactical mastery that secured the American frontier.

History - American6 min read
Cover of The Book of Brave Old Ballads

The Book of Brave Old Ballads

Unknown

The spirit of a bygone England lives in these rhythmic tales of outlaws, wandering kings, and valiant knights. They capture the pulse of a world where justice is settled by the bow and honor is tested by the sword.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Adam Johnstone's Son

Adam Johnstone's Son

F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford

The past is a foreign language, and sometimes the most difficult words to translate are the ones written by the people we think we know best.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Outlines of Greek and Roman Medicine

Outlines of Greek and Roman Medicine

Elliott, James, Sir

The roots of modern medicine lie not in a sudden discovery, but in the slow, circular progression of ancient observation, philosophy, and ritual. This survey traces the evolution of the healing arts from the mythological origins of Greece to the complex, often decadent medical landscape of the Roman Empire.

Health & Medicine6 min read
Cover of The Secret House

The Secret House

Edgar Wallace

This is a tale of high-stakes blackmail, hidden technology, and a lethal struggle for control within the heart of London’s elite. It stands as a brisk, atmospheric example of early twentieth-century pulp fiction, capturing the era’s fascination with urban anonymity and the dangerous intersection of wealth and…

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Marcia Schuyler

Marcia Schuyler

Grace Livingston Hill

A young woman finds herself thrust into a sudden, unexpected marriage to a man grieving for her runaway sister. This narrative of quiet duty and eventual redemption explores the shifting boundaries between obligation and true affection.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Creative Unity

Creative Unity

Rabindranath Tagore

To perceive the world as a singular, harmonious whole is the highest calling of the human spirit. The capacity to bridge the divide between the individual and the infinite is the ultimate, unifying truth of our existence.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Madcap of the School

The Madcap of the School

Angela Brazil

The gates of the Moated Grange hold more than just classrooms; they conceal secret passages, restless spirits, and enough adolescent mischief to test the patience of any headmistress.

British Literature7 min read
Cover of A Man of Two Countries

A Man of Two Countries

Alice Harriman

In the raw, unsettled expanse of the American Northwest, one man’s quiet integrity battles a rising tide of political corruption and the ghosts of a vanishing frontier.

American Literature7 min read
Cover of Dostoevsky

Dostoevsky

André Gide

Fyodor Dostoevsky was a writer who viewed the human soul as a battlefield of contradictions, a landscape where profound spiritual longing and base, violent impulses coexist. He remains a singular guide for those who dare to look inward.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Northern Lights

Northern Lights

Gilbert Parker

The harsh, untamed spirit of the Canadian frontier gives way to the rigid march of civilization in this collection of stories, where the lonely struggles of early settlers collide with the inevitable arrival of the law.

Historical Novels6 min read
Cover of The Willows

The Willows

Algernon Blackwood

The river’s edge is not merely a boundary of land and water, but a fragile seam between our reality and a vast, indifferent wilderness of ancient, alien intent. Here, the landscape itself begins to watch.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of The English Utilitarians, Volume 1 (of 3)

The English Utilitarians, Volume 1 (of 3)

Leslie Stephen

A meticulous examination of the intellectual landscape that birthed one of the most influential and misunderstood schools of modern political thought. This study traces the transformation of English society and the singular, systematizing mind of Jeremy Bentham.

Biographies7 min read
Cover of The Nibelungenlied: Translated into Rhymed English Verse in the Metre of the Original

The Nibelungenlied: Translated into Rhymed English Verse in the Metre of the Original

G. H. (George Henry) Needler

The strength of an ancient oath and the sharpness of a woman’s grief collide in this brutal, sweeping tragedy of the Germanic Middle Ages. It is a tale where honor is the only currency, and the price of pride is total ruin.

Classics of Literature6 min read
Cover of The Red Cross Girls with the Russian Army

The Red Cross Girls with the Russian Army

Margaret Vandercook

Four young American nurses find their commitment to duty tested as they navigate the shifting, dangerous landscapes of the Russian front during the First World War.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of The Fables of Aesop: Selected, Told Anew, and Their History Traced

The Fables of Aesop: Selected, Told Anew, and Their History Traced

Aesop

These ancient parables strip away the complexities of human ego to reveal the sharp, often uncomfortable truths governing our daily interactions. They remain the world’s most enduring blueprints for navigating the pitfalls of pride, greed, and folly.

Children & Young Adult Reading7 min read
Cover of English Literature and Society in the Eighteenth Century

English Literature and Society in the Eighteenth Century

Leslie Stephen

The eighteenth century in England stands as a period of profound social equilibrium and literary transformation, where the polished wit of the coffee-house gradually gives way to the burgeoning voices of a restless middle class.

History - British6 min read
Cover of Grimm's Fairy Tales

Grimm's Fairy Tales

Jacob Grimm

These storied German folk tales bridge the gap between ancient, dark traditions and the enduring moral lessons that have shaped generations of childhood imaginations. They remain a definitive touchstone for the power of narrative to transform the ordinary into the marvelous.

Children & Young Adult Reading5 min read
Cover of Essays

Essays

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The human spirit is a vast, unmapped territory waiting to be claimed by the individual. These observations serve as a map for anyone seeking to live with authenticity in an age of imitation.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 03 (of 12)

The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 03 (of 12)

Edmund Burke

The power of oratory lies in its capacity to hold authority to account, transforming the dry mechanics of governance into a searing, moral struggle for the soul of a nation.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of Frank Merriwell's Cruise

Frank Merriwell's Cruise

Burt L. Standish

The allure of the open sea and the thrill of a summer escapade define this classic tale of adventure. It captures the quintessential spirit of turn-of-the-century youth, where every horizon promises a mystery waiting to be solved.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of The Astral Plane: Its Scenery, Inhabitants and Phenomena

The Astral Plane: Its Scenery, Inhabitants and Phenomena

C. W. (Charles Webster) Leadbeater

The astral plane exists as a vast, unseen geography just beyond our physical perception, teeming with inhabitants and forces that dictate the hidden mechanics of human life and death.

Religion/Spirituality6 min read
Cover of South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 8): From the Commencement of the War to the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899

South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 8): From the Commencement of the War to the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899

Louis Creswicke

This chronicle captures the frantic, early months of the South African War, documenting the transition from colonial confidence to the grim reality of a protracted struggle against a determined and tactically elusive opponent.

History - British6 min read
Cover of The National Nursery Book: With 120 illustrations

The National Nursery Book: With 120 illustrations

Unknown

A compendium of classic folklore, verse, and animal lore, this collection preserves the foundational stories and songs that have shaped childhood imaginations for generations. It serves as a comprehensive anthology of the cultural touchstones once ubiquitous in every home nursery.

Children & Young Adult Reading6 min read
Cover of Tabitha at Ivy Hall

Tabitha at Ivy Hall

Ruth Brown MacArthur

HOOK A headstrong girl with a flair for poetry and a heavy burden of family resentment finds her own strength when sent away to a boarding school that feels like a second home.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of A Voyage with Captain Dynamite

A Voyage with Captain Dynamite

Charles Edward Rich

After their small yacht is accidentally struck by a mysterious steamer, three boys are swept into a dangerous, high-stakes mission to liberate a captive in Cuba during the height of the Spanish-American tensions.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Aunt Jo's scrap-bag, Volume 5

Aunt Jo's scrap-bag, Volume 5

Louisa May Alcott

This collection offers a series of vignettes centered on the lives of children and animals, blending lighthearted mischief with quiet lessons in character and sympathy. It serves as a warm, episodic window into the moral sensibilities of the nineteenth century.

Children & Young Adult Reading7 min read
Cover of The Fighting Edge

The Fighting Edge

William MacLeod Raine

The courage to face a bully is not always found in the fist, but in the slow, agonizing mastery of one's own fear. A young man’s journey from self-doubt to self-possession unfolds against a backdrop of lawless frontiers and hard-won redemption.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of The Young Alaskans

The Young Alaskans

Emerson Hough

HOOK Three boys navigate the raw, unforgiving Alaskan coastline after drifting off course, relying on their wits and an unlikely native guide to survive the wilderness.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of All Adrift

All Adrift

Oliver Optic

A talented, restless boy navigates the treacherous waters of Lake Champlain while evading a mysterious pursuer and his own troubled reputation. This nautical adventure chronicles a young man's quest for independence and moral character.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice

William Shakespeare

This play explores the collision of love, law, and prejudice in Venice, centering on a high-stakes debt between a merchant and a moneylender. It is a work of sharp contrasts, where lighthearted romance and severe, life-threatening legalism sit side-by-side.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of The United States Constitution

The United States Constitution

United States

This foundational charter outlines the essential architecture of a self-governing republic, establishing the distribution of power and the core responsibilities of a nascent federal authority.

History - American6 min read
Cover of Pollyanna

Pollyanna

Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter

A young orphan arrives in a stern New England town and transforms the lives of its weary inhabitants by teaching them a simple, insistent game of finding reasons to be glad. This enduring story explores the power of perspective to heal deep-seated bitterness.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, December 1878

Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, December 1878

Various

The December 1878 issue of Lippincott’s Magazine offers a varied collection of travelogues, cultural criticism, and fiction, capturing the global curiosity and social preoccupations of the late nineteenth century.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Chester Rand

Chester Rand

Alger, Horatio, Jr.

A hardworking country youth pursues his dream of becoming a successful artist in New York, proving that talent and integrity can overcome both poverty and the schemes of dishonest men.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Dracula's Guest

Dracula's Guest

Bram Stoker

The terrors of the supernatural do not always announce themselves with fangs or screams; sometimes they arrive in the quietest, most unsettling of forms. This collection of stories maps the fragility of the human mind when confronted by the inexplicable, the obsessive, and the inevitably doomed.

British Literature6 min read
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