Showing results by narrator "Elliot Fitzpatrick" in All Categories

Major Hesketh Vernon Prichard, DSO MC FRGS FZS was born on the 17th November 1876 in Jhansi, North-Western Provinces, India, then part of the British Empire. His achievements in life, beyond his literary career, are both voluminous and startling. He was an explorer, adventurer, marksman, game hunter and first-class cricketer. In his literary career he wrote short stories, novels, travel pieces and was also a newspaper correspondent.

Jessie Douglas Kerruish was born in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, County Durham in 1884. Her literary career got off to a very bright start in 1917 when she won the Hodder & Stoughton First Novel Prize for ‘Miss Haroun Al-Raschid’. Five years later came her seminal work ‘The Undying Monster’, which today is still regarded as a macabre werewolf classic. Throughout her career she contributed short stories to such popular periodicals as Novel, Lady's and Weekly Tale-Teller. One of the best was ‘The Wonderful Tune’ and whilst the title sounds light and airy her dark imagination riddles the narrative.

José Maria de Eça de Queiroz or Queirós was born in 1845 and has gained his literary reputation as the greatest Portuguese writer in the realist style. He died in 1900.

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore themes and literary avenues that classic authors were so adept at creating.

Twelve months ago, maverick Government Officer Sam Taylor was shot and left for dead while investigating a black-market organization. Now, the shooter—a mysterious and beautiful agent—has been found dead in Amsterdam. Sent to identify the body, Sam is reunited with old acquaintances and introduced to the lead investigator, Interpol agent Karl Vogt, a man with his own agenda. But when the group arrives at the mortuary, they discover the body has vanished…

Sadness can be about so many things from places to people, from thoughts to actions. Our classic authors including Arnold Bennett, James Joyce, Willa Cather, Joseph Conrad, Ivan Turgenev and many others use their pens and stories to demonstrate the many ways this feeling can take a hold of lives and its consequences.

Victor Marie Hugo was born on 26th February 1802, in Besançon, France. There can be no doubt that Hugo is ranked as the greatest of French authors and poets. In ‘Claude Gueux’ one prisoner dares to challenge a system and its cruel Governor who takes away his only friend purely out of spite. The consequences are appalling.

Wilkie Collins was born on 8th January 1824 in Marylebone, London. He pursued his education at Mr Cole’s private boarding school in Highbury, Islington. Here, he began his literary career under unusual circumstances: the school bully would give him no peace until he had been told a bedtime story. This ‘little brute’ helped create one of England’s greatest writers.

Abraham Stoker was born in Dublin, Ireland on the 8th of November 1847, the third of seven children. Strikingly at Trinity College, Dublin his health had returned with such vigour that he was named their University Athlete whilst also achieving a BA in Mathematics with honours. At this time his interest in theatre became a job offer to be the Dublin Evening Mail’s theatre critic, co-owned by Sheridan Le Fanu. He now began to also write short stories and in 1872 ‘The Crystal Cup’ was published. An interest in art developed and he co-founded the Dublin Sketching Club.

Abraham Stoker was born in Dublin, Ireland on the 8th of November 1847, the third of seven children. He began to also write short stories and in 1872 ‘The Crystal Cup’ was published. An interest in art developed and he co-founded the Dublin Sketching Club. Despite this busy life Stoker continued to write and these works paved the way for his most famous creation, published in 1897, ‘Dracula’. It is rightly recognised as one of the greatest horror novels of all time and although not the first with a theme of Vampires, it is undoubtedly the most well-known.

In this story two men strike up a conversation and one reveals that he is, in fact, dead as the result of titanic war in the future. In this bold premise Wells once more reveals a startling and empathetic story.

In this Venetian set story Edwards follows the trail of a man who, after the briefest of meetings, falls in love with a young Jewish girl, who has but one request of him.

On the death of a cruel man, the terms of a secret are demanded from him to no avail. When the facts are finally revealed his true evil has changed everything.

The world since earliest times has always had spies. Information is a valuable commodity and even more so in times of war or tension. Many authors and poets have had real life incarnations as spies from Christopher Marlowe and Aphra Behn to Daniel Defoe. But it’s a dangerous game. Working in a murky, secretive world where any trust given could be at the expense of your life.

In this rural story a man is inspecting schools in the district of an old and now fabulously rich university friend. When they finally meet a dark secret is revealed to both of them.

Being an English author in a new and different culture seems to work its magic when these two are placed together in the same spot with a rich vocabulary; ideas seem more fully formed and characters have another edge to their existence. For the outsider looking in, more can be revealed and shared with ourselves.

For an atheist it’s a great deal, though it does suggest atheism may have a weak point. For those of faith it’s a matter of jam now and purgatory tomorrow. A bargain many artists feel is something they can live with. For agnostics it’s usually a question of can the afterlife really be that bad, would workplace regulations reach all parts of heaven and hell. However, in this volume the terms are agreed and the Devil pays his fees and the character his dues, each happy to wait a few decades for the eternal payback.

There's only one thing harder than sharing office space with Finn Anderson: keeping my mind off him. Weeks ago, he kissed me senseless and walked away. But my best friend's cousin is back—and worse? He's one of the only people I know in Edinburgh. With his seductive Scottish accent and alluring blue eyes, one look from Finn sets my heart racing. Exchanging playful quips at office happy hours and smoldering glances through conference room doors proves that our chemistry is undeniable. Our connection, irrefutable.