Showing results by narrator "Mark Bowen" in All Categories

Troilus and Cressida is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1602. It was described by Frederick S. Boas as one of Shakespeare's problem plays. The play ends on a very bleak note with the death of the noble Trojan Hector and destruction of the love between Troilus and Cressida. The work has in recent years "stimulated exceptionally lively critical debate". Throughout the play, the tone lurches wildly between bawdy comedy and tragic gloom, and readers and theatre-goers have frequently found it difficult to understand how one is meant to respond to the characters.

Self-Reliance is an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a prominent American philosopher and essayist from the 19th century. Published in 1841, the essay explores the concept of individualism and the importance of trusting one's own instincts and beliefs. Emerson advocates for the rejection of conformity and societal expectations, encouraging readers to rely on their own intuition and inner convictions. The essay is a powerful call to embrace self-reliance as a means of personal growth and fulfillment, promoting the idea that true wisdom arises from individual experience and authenticity.

Read the best mystery and adventure short stories. Be it cozy, historical, detective or murder mystery stories; our collection includes them all: The Red-Headed League by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Arrow of Heaven by G. K. Chesterton, The Sign of the Broken Sword by G. K. Chesterton, The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe, The Master of Mystery by Jack London.

With a rapidly aging population, we must start planning how we will house and care for the senior population in the future. In 2019, the not-for-profit Senior Living organization, National Senior Campuses, reported only 21,000 Senior Living units across the United States.

Satire, Humor and Irony in some cases have been regarded as the most effective source to understand a society, the oldest form of social study. Contents: The Cop and the Anthem by O. Henry; The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry; What Stumped the Blue Jays by Mark Twain; The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain; The Toys of Peace by Saki (H. H. Munro); The Artful Hussar by Johann Peter Hebel; From The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen by Rudolf Erich Raspe; The Golden Honeymoon by Ring Lardner; When I Was a Witch by Charlotte Perkins Gilman; Micromegas: A Philosophical History by Voltaire.

In Referent, Ray Bradbury crafts a thought-provoking and imaginative short story that delves into the complexities of human memory, identity, and the connections we form with the world around us. Set in a future where technology and human consciousness intertwine in new and unsettling ways, the story explores the idea of "referents"—objects or experiences that serve as anchors for personal memory and identity. Through Bradbury's poetic and vivid prose, Referent touches on themes of nostalgia, loss, and the human need to hold onto the past.

In Irritated People, Ray Bradbury offers a sharp and insightful exploration of human nature, capturing the frustrations, anxieties, and tensions that arise in everyday life. Set in a near-future world that feels both familiar and subtly altered, the story delves into the lives of ordinary individuals who, pushed to their limits by modern pressures, find themselves unraveling in unexpected ways. Through his characteristic blend of poetic prose and keen social observation, Bradbury portrays how minor irritations can escalate into significant conflicts, reflecting larger societal issues.

Lorelei of the Red Mist is a thrilling science fiction novella co-written by Ray Bradbury and Leigh Brackett. The story follows the adventures of Hugh Starke, a notorious space outlaw, who finds himself in an unusual predicament after his death. His mind is transferred into a new, powerful body by a mysterious woman named Rann, who rules a deadly world covered in red mist. With his new form, Starke is thrown into a chaotic struggle for power, involving alien creatures, treachery, and strange forces.

The Challenge from Beyond by Robert E. Howard is a gripping tale of cosmic horror, written as part of a collaborative effort by five prominent writers of weird fiction. Howard's section stands out for its vivid descriptions, action-packed narrative, and themes of survival in the face of incomprehensible, otherworldly forces. The story begins when a group of archaeologists uncovers a strange, alien artifact buried deep in the Earth's surface.

This anthology brings together a selection of thrilling and thought-provoking short stories by Richard Connell, renowned for his mastery in suspense and adventure. Highlighted by The Most Dangerous Game, a gripping tale of a man hunted for sport, the collection also features lesser-known but equally powerful works such as The Sin of Monsieur Pettipon, The Cage Man, Terrible Epps, and The $25,000 Jaw. Each story showcases Connell's unique ability to explore human nature under extreme conditions, blending action with psychological depth.

Skull-Face is a fantasy novella by American writer Robert E. Howard, which appeared as a serial in Weird Tales magazine, beginning in October 1929, and ending in December, 1929. The story stars a character called Stephen Costigan but this is not Howard's recurring character, Sailor Steve Costigan. The story is clearly influenced by Sax Rohmer's opus Fu Manchu but substitutes the main Asian villain with a resuscitated Atlantean necromancer (similar to Kull's bit character Thulsa Doom) sitting at the center of a web of crime and intrigue meant to end White/Western world domination with the help of Asian/Brown/African peoples.

Enter the world of Lahnri for a collection of stories that follow the lives and tribulations of both heroes and villains alike. Follow their fate to learn whether they shall rise or fall. Which way will fate’s wheel turn?

In this collection of well-crafted poems, the listener will find a collection of contemporary new poetry. Variety of style is the main theme in this anthology. Each verse is a gift from the poet to you the listener. The creators of these poems hope you will unwrap each one and discover its meaning. Sometimes the essence of a poem is obvious. However, sometimes you will have to string the words together and ponder before you will be able to find the true message of each poem. Enjoy.

Nate Taylor and the crew of the Vanguard face their greatest challenge yet as they venture into the heart of a mysterious cosmic anomaly—the Enigma Expanse. This uncharted region of space defies all known laws of reality, and its secrets are as dangerous as they are alluring. When an ancient signal pulls them deeper into the Expanse, Nate must navigate fractured realities, confront a rogue robotic entity with a corrupted mission, and grapple with his own doubts and fears.

Embark on an enchanting journey with Lily and Jack in "The Lost Lagoon Kids Stories Book," a captivating tale filled with adventure, mystery, and magical discoveries. When a mysterious map is found hidden in their attic, siblings Lily and Jack, along with their adventurous parents, set sail on an epic quest to uncover the secrets of the Lost Lagoon.

The short story Sis' Becky's Pickaninny of "The Conjure Woman" now follows John as he reproaches McAdoo for all of his superstitious beliefs and how they lack foundation, commenting that these traditions are the reason why Southern Black people are destined for a life of continued acquiescence and little prosperity. This opinion stemmed from McAdoo's assertion that carrying a rabbit foot leads to good luck. John is concerned for Annie's health, since the main reason they moved to the countryside was to improve her health due to her current bouts of depression and anxiety.

Po' Sandy is a second short story from The Conjure Woman, was published in The Atlantic in 1888. It follows the same frame narrative as the previous one with Julius McAdoo advising John against following through with his plans of demolishing a schoolhouse to build a kitchen. In this short story, Sandy is an enslaved man owned by Mars Marrabo McSwayne, who sends Sandy to travel to help friends and families. During one of Sandy's trips, McSwayne sells Sandy's wife and replaces her for another woman named Tenie.

The Goophered Grapevine is the first short story from The Conjure Woman, published in The Atlantic in August 1887, told to the narrator by Julius McAdoo, a former enslaved man who lives on the plantation that the narrator, John, and his wife, Annie, visit one day. Set in Patesville, North Carolina, John and Annie moved there for an improvement in his wife's health and to seek other business opportunities. Knowing that the couple wanted to purchase the property, McAdoo advises them not to do so, informing them that when Dugal McAdoo, the previous master, purchased the property, it was very rich in wine production because of its vineyards.

The Negro Problem is classic collection of essays, edited by Booker T. Washington and with contributions from many of post-Civil War America's other prominent African-American thinkers, sought to redefine the role of Black persons in the new Jim Crow era and beat back white supremacy through racial uplift. Seven essays include Charles Chesnutt's The Disfranchisement of the Negro, W. E. B. DuBois "The Talented Tenth", and Wilford Horace Smith's "The Negro and the Law".

This selection includes Tales and Poems: Tales. The Murders in the Rue Morgue ; The Gold-Bug ; The Black Cat ; The Pit and the Pendulum ; The Tell-Tale Heart ; The Fall of the House of Usher ; The Masque of the Red Death ; The Cask of Amontillado ; The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar ; Hop-Frog ; Ligeia ; Morella ; The Oval Portret. Poems. The Raven ; Al Aaraaf ; Annabel Lee ; The Bells ; The City in the Sea ; The Conqueror Worm ; A Dream Within a Dream ; Eldorado ; Eulalie ; The Haunted Palace ; To Helen ; Lenore ; Tamerlane ; Ulalume.