Showing results by publisher "Saga Egmont" in Classics

On the death of his father, who was a rich merchant, the son inherited a vast fortune, which he quickly spent. He found himself alone with nothing except the dressing gown on his back and the slippers on his feet. A friend offered him a trunk and advised him to leave. But, this was a special trunk - it could fly! So, the young man decided to go to Turkey, where his dress would not be noticed, but that was just the beginning of his adventure. - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

"I tell you there's nothing the public likes as much as convictions - they'll always follow a man who believes in his own ideas. And this book is just on the line of popular interest." Professor Linyard is a man of science. And when he writes a book to great acclaim in which he takes the side of religion, he fully expects the satire to be understood. But when it's taken at face value, he goes along with it to better provide for his family.

A family of toads lived in a very deep well: it was so deep that, from the top, you could not even see the surface of the water.

A governess is hired by a bachelor to take care of his nephew and niece. She has barely arrives at the house that she starts seeing ghosts and having other supernatural visions. She decides to share her frightening experience with the maid of the house, Mrs. Grose. The maid, however, is not surprised and tells the governess that the ghosts are those of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel.

Is there anyone more associated with a raven than the writer Edgar Allan Poe, the master of the macabre? His famous poem "The Raven", published in 1845, presents us with a speaking bird and numerous mythological references. Edgar Allan Poe's poetry is known for its dark romanticism, gothic tones and anti-heroes. A selection of these classics is now brought to life for the listener's enjoyment by the versatile sounds of B.J. Harrison. A fair warning: not for the faint hearted or seekers of happy endings. B. J.

Mr. Cave is an antique shop owner with some curious items in his collection. One of these if an extraordinary crystal egg, which he comes across one evening. Indeed, the egg seems to be a gateway to the planet Mars. This science fiction short story by H. G. Wells dating back to the late 19th century has inspired numerous other literary pieces, as well as radio and television adaptations. "The Crystal Egg" is considered to be a precursor to H. G. Wells' famous science fiction novel "The War of the Worlds" from 1898. B. J.

Jabez Wilson, a London pawnbroker with ginger hair, pays a visit to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. He tells them about his young assistant, Vincent Spaulding, who has advised Wilson to respond to an urgent job advertisement in the local newspaper. The very next morning the pawnbroker is interviewed and hired. Everything goes well, until one morning he sees an announcement which says that "The red-headed league is dissolved". Wilson is extremely dissatisfied and goes to meet the landlord but does not receive any help.

In the city of Florence is a bronze statue of a boar, from who’s mouth runs the water that is collected by the people of Florence. One evening, a poor boy came to drink and found a little lettuce and a few chestnuts on the ground, which became his supper. He then fell asleep on the animal’s back, but when midnight sounded, the animal came to life. And so their adventure began! - Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist.

A woman is suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and her husband takes her to a colonial mansion where they can spend the summer. The woman is however closed and isolated in a single room where her nervous depression gets worse with the time. The only thing she sees all day long is a yellow wallpaper which she studies in so many details that she finally finds a creeping woman behind the pattern. The summer is over and the family is about to go home. The husband opens the door to his wife’s room.

Dmitri Gurov is a nearly forty-year-old man, who is married and has three children. He is unhappy with his marriage and regrets this big mistake every single day. While on a vacation, Dmitri meets Anna Sergeyevna - a young lady, who just like him is unhappily married. Very soon a love affair enfolds between the two and they start secretly meeting at different places. Unfortunately, Anna must go back to Moscow because her husband is having some health issues.

Miles Standish and Priscilla Mullins immigrate to America, where they meet a scholar and poet named John Alden. The two men become good friends, but they also both fall in love with Priscilla and a love triangle develops between the three of them. Miles Standish is a soldier, athletic and muscular, whilst John Alden is his complete opposite. Alden struggles, wondering whether he should listen to his heart and chose love over friendship. On the other hand, Standish has lost his wife and looks forward to proposing to Priscilla Mullins.

"Rip Van Winkle" is a short story by Washington Irving about a man who drinks some liquor then falls asleep for 20 years amidst the hills. Having missed the American Revolution, Rip Van Winke returns home but finds it completely changed. What he notices is really important, as they possess social and political messages that Irving wanted to stress.

"He wondered idly whether she was a poor conversationalist because she got no attention or got no attention because she was a poor conversationalist." Bernice is having a difficult summer trying to fit in with her popular cousin Marjorie and her friends. But when Marjorie helps her become a society girl and she wins the affections of a certain young man, a battle of wits and wills ensues between the two cousins. In classic 90s makeover movie style, 'Bernice Bobs Her Hair' is the 1920s equivalent of 'She's All That'.

B. J. Harrison reads "She," a fantasy adventure novel by H. Rider Haggard from the late 19th century. Horace Holly and his ward Leo Vincey are traveling to Eastern Africa. On their way, they are shipwrecked and end up in an unchartered area of the African inland, where they are captured and taken to the feared white queen, Ayesha. The events take a turn to the strange when the queen becomes convinced that one of the unfortunate travellers is the reincarnation of the lover she has been waiting for. "She" is part of the Ayesha series.

B. J. Harrison reads P. G. Wodehouse's second full-length novel featuring the beloved characters Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves. Bertie returns from a trip to find his friend seeking advice from Jeeves. Insulted, Bertie attempts to provide counsel of his own to those around him, but with utterly disastrous effects. The novel Right Ho, Jeeves dates back to the early 20th century and features classic Wodehouse twists of humor to amuse readers of all tastes. Not to be missed by friends of situational aristocratic comedy. B. J.

The Edgar Allan Poe Collection features a selection of works from the pioneering 19th-century poet and writer Edgar Allan Poe. Poe's works include the dramatic short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" to his perhaps most famous poem "The Raven". This collection promises some of the finest from the master of mystery, horror and the imagination. With the riveting B.J. Harrison as the reader, these words and tales are not to be missed by fans of gothic settings and eerie atmospheres. B. J.

In "My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard," Elizabeth Cooper offers the reader a translation of two series of letters by Kwei-li, the wife of a high-rank Chinese official. The first series is addressed to her husband whilst he is on a world tour with Prince Chung in the late 19th century. The second series of letters is from 25 years later and are addressed to her mother-in-law. Political intrigue is raging in China and the country is on the verge of a revolution.

For a very long time Monsieur de Merret has been suspecting his wife of infidelity. One night he comes home earlier than usual and knocks on the door of his wife’s chamber. Right before he enters the room, he hears the door of her closet squeak. Initially, Merret thinks that this is their maid Rosalie, but he is perplexed when the maid enters the room right after him. Merret desires to open the closet so he can once and for all find out the truth about his wife.

After a passionate affair with Agnes Keith-Wessington, Jack Pansay wearies of her and becomes engaged to Miss Kitty Mannering. However, Wessington refuses to accept the rejection and reappears in Jack’s life, trying to make him reconsider. But to her greatest regret, Pansay continues to respond curtly and brutally. Not so long after, Agnes dies of a broken heart. From this moment on, Jack's life will never be the same again.

Apart from the ubiquitous presence of the authors who work in the short story tradition, the Second Season introduces poems and novellas. The romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge is here with his haunting and supernatural sea adventure "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", while Rudyard Kipling tests the human condition with his famous poem "If". Perhaps the most potent addition in this second part is Joseph Conrad’s timeless novella "The Heart of Darkness", exploring the darkest recesses of the human soul. B. J.