Bryan Matthews
1) Pragmatism
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"A number of tendencies that have always existed in philosophy have all at once become conscious of themselves collectively, and of their combined mission; and this has occurred in so many countries, and from so many different points of view, that much unconcerted
statement has resulted. I have sought to unify the picture as it presents itself to my own eyes, dealing in broad strokes, and avoiding minute controversy. Much futile controversy
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First published in English by Edward Fitzgerald in 1859 from its original Farsi, "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" is a collection of quatrains attributed to Omar Khayyam, a Persian astronomer and mathematician born in the later part of the 11th century. Omar Khayyam's poetry, which received very little international notoriety in its own day, achieved classic status when it was discovered and rendered into English verse by Edward Fitzgerald over seven...
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Ferdinand Lopez aspires to marry into respectability and wealth and join the ranks of British society. One of the nineteenth century's most memorable outsiders, Lopez's story is set against that of the ultimate insider, Plantagenet Palliser, Duke of Omnium, who reluctantly accepts the highest office of state, becoming "the greatest man in the greatest country in the world." The Prime Minister is the fifth in Trollope's six-volume Palliser series and...
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"Jonathan Swift's 1729 pamphlet is at once a denunciation of the mistreatment of Ireland's poor and a daringly inventive comic rhapsody. Still shocking in its defiance of good taste and unrivalled in its evisceration of political hypocrisy, this is one of the greatest satires ever written."--from publisher.
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In "The Premature Burial", the first-person unnamed narrator describes his struggle with things such as "attacks of the singular disorder which physicians have agreed to term catalepsy," a condition where he randomly falls into a death-like trance. This leads to his fear of being buried alive ("The true wretchedness," he says, is "to be buried while alive."). He emphasizes his fear by mentioning several people who have been buried alive. In the first...
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"Set in 1867, The Innocents Abroad is a travel book that follows a group of Americans from New York City to the renowned Holy Land. Throughout the journey, author Mark Twain uses humor and wit to make astute observations about the diverse people and legendary locales. Described as the 'Great Pleasure Excursion,' Twain and his traveling companions visit some of the most illustrious cities in the world. They make stops in Italy, France, and Greece as...
8) Martin Eden
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The semiautobiographical story of an impoverished seaman who pursues, obsessively and aggressively, dreams of education and literary fame.
9) Njal's Saga
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Considered to be one of the finest of the Icelandic sagas, "Njal's Saga" (or "The Story of Burnt Njal") was written sometime in the thirteenth century by an unknown author and is the longest and most developed of the sagas. The source material for the saga was historical but probably drawn largely from oral tradition. The story relates events that took place between 960 and 1020, involving blood feuds in the Icelandic Commonwealth. It features memorable...
10) Tamerlane
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Tamerlane is part of Edgar Allan Poe's debut collection, showcasing his early poetic style, heavily influenced by Romantic poets like Lord Byron. The title poem, "Tamerlane," is a dramatic monologue by the historical conqueror, reflecting on his life of war and conquest.
12) Phineas Finn
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Phineas Finn, the only son of a successful doctor in County Clare, Ireland, is sent to London to study law. Encouraged by his friend Laurence Fitzgibbon, he becomes interested in politics and is elected as a Whig MP for Loughshane, a pocket borough controlled by Tory Lord Tulla. Although he has no salary, he decides to pursue a political career on his father's modest allowance.In London, Phineas quickly becomes enamored with Lady Laura Standish, the...
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The Prisoner of Zenda is an adventure novel by Anthony Hope. The king of the fictional country of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces are such that in order for the king to retain his crown his coronation must go forward. An English gentleman on holiday who fortuitously resembles the monarch, is persuaded to act as his political decoy in an attempt to save the situation.
On...
On...
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Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) is one of America's greatest and most dark and mysterious writers. The circumstances surrounding his untimely death are still unknown, as is what made him tick. Part of the American Romantic Movement, Poe is best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, and he was one of the first Americans to master the art of the short story. Long before Sherlock Holmes became famous, Poe invented the genre of detective...
15) Forewarned
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Alethia Debchance, a sheltered young woman from a remote hamlet, embarks on a journey to visit her cousin Robert Bludward after the death of her aunt. Having lived a life of isolation and limited social interaction, Alethia is both excited and apprehensive about this new adventure. As she travels by train, she overhears local farmers discussing Robert's unscrupulous character and his controversial political ambitions, which heightens her anxiety.
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In the secluded hamlet of Toad-Water, two neighboring families, the Cricks and the Saunderses, find their peaceful coexistence shattered by a petty dispute over a stray hen. The Cricks, known for their poultry, and the Saunderses, renowned for their gardening, engage in a bitter feud fueled by resentment and historical grievances.
17) The Blind Spot
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Sir Lulworth and his nephew Egbert engage in a conversation following the funeral of Egbert's great-aunt, Adelaide. As they sit down for lunch, Egbert reveals that he has become the executor of Adelaide's estate, which includes sorting through her papers. Among the mundane family correspondence, he discovers a letter from Adelaide's brother, Canon Peter, written shortly before his mysterious death. The letter hints at a troubling relationship with...
18) The Lumber Room
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The Lumber Room by Saki, also known as H.H. Munro, is a short story that centers around a clever and mischievous boy named Nicholas. Punished by his strict aunt for his rebellious behavior, he is forbidden from joining his cousins on a trip to the beach and is instead confined to the house. As part of his punishment, he is also barred from entering the gooseberry garden.While his aunt focuses her attention on guarding the garden, believing Nicholas...
19) The secret agent
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Adolf Verloc is working as a spy in London, when he's recruited to commit a terrorist act that could endanger the lives of countless citizens. It's a professional decision that has an unexpected impact on his personal life. Adolf Verloc lives in London and runs a shop where he sells underground books and materials. He's considered a member of a local anarchist group but is also a spy for a foreign government. His handler, Mr. Vladimir, instructs him...
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"The Masque of the Red Death", originally published as "The Mask of the Red Death" (1842), is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. The story follows Prince Prospero's attempts to avoid a dangerous plague known as the Red Death by hiding in his abbey. He, along with many other wealthy nobles, has a masquerade ball within seven rooms of his abbey, each decorated with a different color. In the midst of their revelry, a mysterious figure disguised as a Red...