The Necklace and Other Stories
Guy de Maupassant published ‘The Necklace’ on 17th February 1884 in a newspaper. It was an immediate success. The story revolves around a selfish lady named Matilda who is unsatisfied with her middle-class life and desires to enter high-class society. One day, Matilda and her husband are invited to a party at the minister’s house. […]
The Importance of Being Earnest
‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ is the most renowned of Oscar Wilde’s comedies. It’s the story of two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, who create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. […]
The Picture of Dorian Grey
‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ is the story of one beautiful, innocent young man’s seduction, moral corruption, and eventual downfall. The story begins in the art studio of Basil Hallward, who is discussing a current painting with his witty friend Lord Henry Wotton. Henry thinks that the painting, a portrait of an extraordinarily beautiful young […]
The Best of Saki
The best of Saki is a collection of short stories by Hector Hugh Munro. Hector Hugh Munro was a witty British author who published under the pen name SAKI or H.H. Munro. The inspiration for the pen name “Saki” is unknown, it may be based upon a character in a poem or on a South […]
Sherlock Holmes Series I-IV
Sherlock Holmes, a mastermind detective, first appeared in Conan Doyle’s ‘A Study in Scarlet’, published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual of 1887. As the world’s first and only “consulting detective,” he pursued criminals throughout Victorian and Edwardian London, the south of England, and continental Europe. Although the fictional detective had been anticipated by Edgar Allan Poe […]
Saint Joan & Pygmalion
‘Saint Joan’ , first staged in 1923, is a dramatization of the life of 15th-century French military icon and religious martyr Joan of Arc, based on the historical records of her trial in 1431. Saint Joan has become one of Shaw’s most popular plays; a film adaptation starring Jean Seberg was produced in 1957, and […]
Regret and Other Stories
‘Regret’ by Guy de Maupassant, tells a story of an old bachelor, Monsieur Saval, who is about to celebrate his 62nd birthday. The story starts with descriptions of Monsieur Saval’s life which has been rather sad and empty. Although Monsieur Saval has had a number of great opportunities, he has unknowingly let them go. The story then […]
Pride & Prejudice
‘Pride and Prejudice’, a novel by Jane Austen, was published anonymously in three volumes in 1813. A classic of English literature, written with incisive wit and superb character delineation, it centers on the Bennet family. The novel follows the romantic entanglements of the Bennet sisters, includes themes of love, class, and, as one might […]
O.Henry Collection of Short Stories Part I – Part III
The following publication presents a three-volume collection of short stories by O. Henry. Henry’s rich canon of work is distinctive for its witticism, clever wordplay, and unexpected twist endings. His stories are full of coincidence, humor, grim and irony, and often have surprise endings, a device that became identified with his name and cost him […]
Heartbreak House & Major Barbara
‘Heartbreak House’ is a play by George Bernard Shaw. Published in 1919, it first played at Garrick Theater in 1920. The play begins as Ellie Dunn, her father, and her fiancé are invited to one of Hesion Hushabye’s infamous dinner parties. The party is being held at the house of her eccentric father, Captain Shotover, […]
