Spændingslitteratur

Originally published in October 1919, Night and Day is Virginia Woolf's second novel. It contrasts the daily lives of four major characters while examining the relationships between love, marriage, happiness, and success.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is Joyce¿s first novel, published after the previous success of his short story collection Dubliners. The novel is written in a modernist style, with dialog and narration blending together in a kind of stream-of-consciousness meant to invoke the blurriness of memory.Joyce originally planned writing a realist autobiographical novel of 63 chapters titled Stephen Hero. He abandoned the attempt halfway through, and refocused his efforts on Portrait, a shorter, sharper work in the modernist style. His alter-ego remained Stephen Dedalus, named after Daedalus, the mythological Greek craftsman and father of Icarus. Portrait was written while he was waiting for Dubliners to be published, a process that took eight years and so frustrated Joyce that he once threw the manuscript of Portrait into a fire, causing his family to run to save it.The novel closely traces Joyce¿s early years. Like his alter-ego Stephen, Joyce was born into a middle-class family and lived in Dublin as they descended into poverty; he rebelled against his Irish Catholic upbringing to become a star student at Dublin University, and put aside thoughts of priesthood or medicine, the other careers offered him, to become a writer. Joyce doesn¿t shy away from sensitive topics, presenting the discoveries of youth in all of their physical detail, including Stephen¿s teenage visits to prostitutes (which also mirror Joyce¿s youth, and were how he probably contracted the suspected syphilis that plagued his vision and tortured his health for the rest of his life), and the homosexual explorations of children at a Jesuit school.The writing is in the free indirect style, allowing the narrator to both focus on Stephen and present characters and events through his eyes, until the last chapter, where Stephen¿s first-person diary entries suggest he¿s finally found his voice. As the novel progresses, the syntax and vocabulary also grow in complexity, reflecting Stephen¿s own development.Of Joyce¿s three novels, Portrait is the most straightforward and accessible. But it remains just as rich and complex as any masterpiece, with critics across generations hailing it as work of unique beauty and perception.

Elmer Gantry isn¿t suited to be a lawyer, so he becomes a preacher instead. Although he experiences a variety of failures, and even more successes, Gantry ultimately finds this new career path suits him very well indeed¿despite his drinking and womanizing. Throughout his time as a preacher Gantry progresses through the hierarchies of the Baptist and Methodist churches, dabbles in revivalism and ¿New Thought,¿ and even experiments with politics, all the while emerging from scandals relatively unscathed and ready to move onward and upward once again.Sinclair Lewis published the satirical Elmer Gantry in 1927 much to the dismay of the religious community. It was denounced from the pulpit, banned by many, and even engendered threats of violence. Despite this¿or perhaps because of it¿it went on to become a massive success and the best selling novel of that year.One of the most savage satirical assaults against institutionalized religion and its hypocrisy in American literature, Elmer Gantry continues to be a window into a particularly important aspect of American history.

One of the most well-known and influential autobiographies ever written, The Education of Henry Adams is told in the third person, as if its author were watching his own life unwind. It begins with his early life in Quincy, the family seat outside of Boston, and soon moves on to primary school, Harvard College, and beyond. He learns about the unpredictability of politics from statesmen and diplomats, and the newest discoveries in technology, science, history, and art from some of the most important thinkers and creators of the day. In essentially every case, Adams claims, his education and upbringing let him down, leaving him in the dark.But as the historian David S. Brown puts it, this is a ¿charade¿: The Education¿s ¿greatest irony is its claim to telling the story of its author¿s ignorance, confusion, and misdirection.¿ Instead, Adams uses its ¿vigorous prose and confident assertions¿ to attack ¿the West after 1400.¿ For instance, industrialization and technology make Adams wonder ¿whether the American people knew where they were driving.¿ And in one famous chapter, ¿The Dynamo and the Virgin,¿ he contrasts the rise of electricity and the power it brings with the strength and resilience of religious belief in the Middle Ages.The grandson and great-grandson of two presidents and the son of a politician and diplomat who served under Lincoln as minister to Great Britain, Adams was born into immense privilege, as he knew well: ¿Probably no child, born in the year, held better cards than he.¿ After growing up a Boston Brahmin, he worked as a journalist, historian, and professor, moving in early middle age to Washington.Although Adams distributed a privately printed edition of a hundred copies of The Education for friends and family in 1907, it wasn¿t published more widely until 1918, the year he died. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 1919, and in 1999 a Modern Library panel placed it first on its list of the best nonfiction books published in the twentieth century.

"The Library of Alexandria died in fire. Others fade away with less drama, ignored, forgotten, left to dust. To the athenaeum though, the great library of which all others are echoes, fires are merely a temporary inconvenience. The only true threat to the library's existence is a book--the one Livira wrote. Livira's book also brought her together with Evar, a young man who was raised in the library itself, and they discovered secrets that no one else had uncovered. But now they are separated--and something hunts them both"--

During the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a group of young devil dogs must rely on their training and each other if they are to survive this hostile city.

The body count is rising, and so is Nel's temper.Archaeologist Dr. Nel Bently has spent her life avoiding clingy exes, but she never dreamed she'd be escaping across the stars. Now she and a fleet of refugees are hunted at every turn by the only woman she ever made the mistake of loving. And Nel, used to outrunning everything, just lost a leg.Facing her life's new trajectory is hard enough, but when Nel starts hearing the deadly signal they tracked on Earth, she is forced to team up with the two men who were once her greatest enemies. Then, a grisly discovery on an abandoned hauler sheds horrific light on the voices in Nel's head-and what, exactly, Lin is after.Their hold is full of bodies, their plans are full of holes, and bad-tempered Dr. Nel Bently, avoidant-extraordinaire, is sick of running.

The next novel in R. A. Salvatore’s Second DemonWars saga, Transcendence is an extraordinary adventure that introduces a remarkable new hero—and explores the mysteries of enlightenment and the art of war in a dazzling epic of the imagination.

Years have passed since the great miracle atop Mount Aida and Corona is a different place. Yet threat looms, one Jilseponie could never have anticipated. For the child that she lost never died--as she believes--but was stolen away by the queen of the elves.

#1 New York Times bestselling author R. A. Salvatore is the modern master of fantasy adventure. After creating the spectacular DemonWars trilogy--an imaginative tour de force hailed by critics and readers as his finest work yet--Salvatore has surpassed himself once again in Mortalis, the stunning first volume in a brilliant new DemonWars quartet.

John Ruskin¿s essay Unto This Last quickly made him a household name in Victorian England, and marked a shift in his work away from art criticism and towards social issues. The title comes from Jesus¿ parable of the workers in the vineyard, wherein a landowner agrees to pay all his workers the same amount, regardless of how much work they actually did. Though the parable is an allegory about religious conversions, Ruskin analyzed it from a literal, economic point of view.Ruskin strongly criticizes the 19th century economic orthodoxy, in particular the works of David Ricardo and John Stuart Mill. He argues that their view of economics is flawed due to an implicit assumption that wealth can only be measured in money and material goods. Any policy or set of ethics that accepts this definition of wealth therefore neglects any non-measurable kind of value. The pursuit of this kind of wealth leads people to accept (or more often ignore) human suffering as a necessary part of the economy.Unto This Last remains a highly influential and often-criticized book. It was an inspiration to many prominent people, including Mahatma Gandhi, who published his own paraphrased Gujarati translation in 1908.

"The Pied Piper of Hamelin and Other Poems" is a collection of enchanting and timeless poems written by Robert Browning. The book includes the famous narrative poem "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," along with several other captivating works that showcase Browning's literary genius.The collection opens with "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," a narrative poem that tells the tale of a small town in Germany plagued by a rat infestation. When the townspeople refuse to pay the piper for his services, he exacts a terrible revenge by luring all the children away with his magical pipe. This classic poem is beloved for its engaging storytelling, vivid imagery, and thought-provoking themes.Among the other poems in the collection, readers will find "Home-Thoughts, from Abroad," a beautiful tribute to nature and the longing for home, and "The Lost Leader," a stirring political poem that reflects Browning's views on leadership and betrayal. "Meeting at Night" and "Parting at Morning" are a pair of romantic poems that capture the emotions of love and longing.Another gem in the collection is "My Last Duchess," a dramatic monologue in which a duke reveals his dark and possessive nature while discussing a portrait of his deceased wife. The poem delves into themes of power, jealousy, and control, and remains one of Browning's most celebrated works.Browning's poems are characterized by their rich language, complex narrative structures, and exploration of human psychology and emotions. His mastery of dramatic monologues, in particular, allows readers to step into the minds of various characters and gain insight into their motivations and struggles."The Pied Piper of Hamelin and Other Poems" is a treasure trove of literary gems that showcases Browning's versatility and poetic brilliance. Each poem offers a unique perspective on life, love, and human nature, making the collection a delightful and thought-provoking read for readers of all ages.

The gripping new Bear & Mandy Logan thriller from Wall Street Journal bestselling author L.T. Ryan and K.M. RoughtWhen the bus Bear & Mandy Logan are traveling in breaks down, they find refuge with a mysterious traveler in a small Illinois town. A place to stay for a few days while waiting for a ride out.Amid the peaceful surroundings lies a dark secret. One which has left members of the community shaken, unable to go about their daily lives without fear of retribution.Bear wants to remain uninvolved. But when Mandy witnesses a murder, the duo has a target firmly planted on their back, and a decision must be made. Cut and run? Or stay in place and help the community?Both choices have possible long-term effects for all involved, especially him and Mandy. And when the situation grows dire, Bear does the one thing he knows best...

" In "Dooryard Stories" by Clara Dillingham Pierson, enter a charming world where nature comes alive through a collection of delightful tales. This enchanting book invites readers to explore the wonders of the dooryard, the area near the house, where small creatures and fascinating plants capture the imagination.Through a series of captivating stories, Clara Dillingham Pierson introduces readers to the fascinating lives of animals, insects, and plants found in the dooryard. From curious rabbits to industrious ants and beautiful flowers, each story offers valuable lessons about resilience, friendship, and the interconnectedness of all living things.Pierson's storytelling paints vivid pictures of the dooryard, creating a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world. Through her narratives, readers are encouraged to observe and appreciate the beauty and intricacies of the creatures and plants that surround us every day.Join Clara Dillingham Pierson on a journey through the dooryard, where you'll encounter heartwarming tales, delightful characters, and a deeper understanding of the wonders of nature."