Indo-European languages

Ana misses Goa. But she finds her new home fascinating. Everything seems so different in noisy Mumbai. In some tall buildings, she sees speakers and showers. Strange! They don’t ever come on until...'Fire! Fire!' is written by Aditi Ghosh. © Pratham Books , 2018. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.'Fire! Fire!' has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books. The development of this story has been supported by CISCO. www.prathambooks.org

How is Rooster able to deceive all the other animals? Should he really be king of all the animals? If anybody can discover his secret, it must be the clever Fox.'Fox and Rooster' is written by Vincent Afeku . © African Storybook Initiative, 2016. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.This book has been published on StoryWeaver by African StoryBook Initiative.

Fati has always been a fast runner, and proves this once again at her school's sports day. When she returns home from school, she helps her mother prepare okro soup. The soup smells delicious and Fati is hungry after running. Find out what happens when Fati helps her mum make the soup. Fati and the Soup Pot is based on the real-life adventures of a girl growing up in northern Ghana.'Fati and the Soup Pot' (English), written by Osu Library Fund, illustrated by Eric Nii Addy, published by Sub-Saharan Publishers (© Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2013) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in

Every day is a new beginning for Fati, a little girl who tries very hard to do as she is told. In this story, Fati finds that climbing trees can lead to trouble. 'Fati and the Honey Tree' is based on the real-life adventures of a girl growing up in northern Ghana.'Fati and the Honey Tree' (English), written by Osu Library Fund, illustrated by Therson Boadu, published by Sub-Saharan Publishers (© Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2002) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in

Every day is a new beginning for Fati, a little girl who tries very hard to do as she is told. In this story, Fati gets a surprise when she is collecting firewood with her father. Fati and the Green Snake is based on the real-life adventures of a girl growing up in northern Ghana.'Fati and the Green Snake' (English), written by Osu Library Fund, illustrated by Therson Boadu, published by Sub-Saharan Publishers (© Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2005) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in

A poem about how a wolf tricked a shepherd and taught him a valuable life lesson.'Shepherd's Folly, An African Folk Tale.' (English), written by Aadhya Shivakumar, (© Aadhya Shivakumar, 2017), illustrated by Olivia Fraser, published under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, but where does it come from? Who had the idea to brew coffee beans instead of eating them? Were humans the first to sample coffee? Learn all this and more in this legendary tale.'The coffee legend' (English), written by Alemu Abebe, CODE Ethiopia, illustrated by Idowu Abayomi Oluwasegun, published by African Storybook Initiative (© African Storybook Initiative, 2018) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in

The birds want a king, but they have difficulty choosing. They decide that the bird that can fly highest will be made king. The African Vulture thinks he has won the contest, but a tiny bird tricks him. Read this African tale to see if the birds get their king.'King of Birds' (English), written by African Storybook Initiative, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager, published by African Storybook Initiative (© African Storybook Initiative, 2015) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in

Pishi was a huge manta ray fish. Normally he would swim in the Indian Ocean, but one day he was caught in a big storm. Wounded and far from home, help came from an unexpected corner. Dive into this book for a dramatic story of the day the storm raged in the Indian Ocean.'Pishi Caught in a Storm' is written by Manisha Chaudhry and Mala Kumar. © Pratham Books, 2015. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.This story has been inspired by an entry to the #6FrameStoryChallenge, an illustration campaign conducted by Pratham Books.

Joy Ogilvie, the lovely young daughter of an American colonel, fancies herself Lady Athlyne while playing make-believe with her friends. She hardly suspects that the real-life Lord Athlyne is a prisoner of war in a South African camp and that the captured Irish nobleman will catch word that an American woman has taken on the role of his would-be wife.Once he is released, Athlyne embarks upon a journey to New York to see the truth for himself. Having just barely escaped death in an accident, he stumbles head-first into Joy and her father. It is love at first sight for Athlyne and Joy, but Lady Fortune does not smile upon them. Not only is the couple faced with ill fortune and unanticipated hazards, but Joy's father is enraged by the love affair and urges Athlyne to a duel to the death. Will the star-crossed lovers survive?Penned by the author of 'Dracula', immortalised in the 1931 cult classic starring Bela Lugosi, 'Lady Athlene' remains one of the most authentic interpretations of mutual and undying love in English literature.-

A collection of three long stories, 'Twixt Land and Sea' explores the troubled life of young captains at sea. Mired by dire circumstances and moral dilemmas, Conrad's characters are no longer consoled by the sea, and their psychological suffering is rendered in a memorable way. The most anthologized story in this collection, 'The Secret Sharer', is a perfect example of a Freudian narrative that discusses human weakness and sinfulness. Joseph Conrad's work went on to influence authors like George Orwell, John le Carre and F. Scott Fitzgerald-

‘The Possessed’ is considered to be one of the four masterpieces written by Dostoevsky after he returned from his Siberian exile. The story takes place in a small Russian town that is thrown into chaos by the arrival of a mystery man, Pyotr Stepanovich. Paranoia grips the town as family and friends betray one another while Pyotr plans a violent political uprising. The novel builds to a brutal and bloody climax, as the town is engulfed by flames and the death toll rises. ‘The Possessed’ displays Dostoevsky’s mastery of tragedy and social satire as the established political and familial norms of the town are uprooted and destroyed by the young revolutionaries. Dostoevsky explores the loss of morality in 19th Century Russia, as a society without a moral grounding tragically turns to nihilism and violence, but its ideas are just as resonant in today’s secular world. Celebrated author Joyce Carol Oates described ‘The Possessed’ as a work of ‘unparalleled genius’ and its epic scope and blend of political intrigue and familial tragedy make it the perfect read for fans of classic Russian or Greek literature.Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) was a famous Russian writer of novels, short stories, and essays. A connoisseur of the troubled human psyche and the relationships between the individuals, Dostoevsky’s oeuvre covers a large area of subjects: politics, religion, social issues, philosophy, and the uncharted realms of the psychological. He is most famous for the novels ‘Crime and Punishment’, ‘The Idiot’, and ‘The Brothers Karamazov’. James Joyce described Dostoevsky as the creator of ‘modern prose’ and his literary legacy is influential to this day as Dostoevsky’s work has been adapted for many movies including ‘The Double’ starring Jesse Eisenberg.

‘A Faint Heart’ is one of Dostoevsky’s earliest short stories and it focuses on the tragedy of Vasya Shumkov, a passionate but naïve young man. The tale begins with Vasya informing his best friend, Arkady, that he is engaged to a woman he courted secretly out of fear that bad luck would befall the relationship. Dostoevsky writes tenderly about the men’s friendship as they find themselves in many hilarious situations while celebrating the engagement, but tragedy soon strikes. In a cruel twist of fate, Vasya’s fear of losing his happiness causes him to fall into a pit of misfortune that he struggles to free himself from. What follows is a gripping and heartbreaking tale as Arkady rushes around the city to find and rescue Vasya before it is too late. This short portrays the combination of irony and tragedy that would define Dostoevsky’s later works and has some of the celebrated author’s most poignant and romantic images. ‘A Faint Heart’ is a must-read for fans of Dostoevsky’s well-known novels such as ‘The Idiot’.Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) was a famous Russian writer of novels, short stories, and essays. A connoisseur of the troubled human psyche and the relationships between the individuals, Dostoevsky’s oeuvre covers a large area of subjects: politics, religion, social issues, philosophy, and the uncharted realms of the psychological. He is most famous for the novels ‘Crime and Punishment’, ‘The Idiot’, and ‘The Brothers Karamazov’. James Joyce described Dostoevsky as the creator of ‘modern prose’ and his literary legacy is influential to this day as Dostoevsky’s work has been adapted for many movies including ‘The Double’ starring Jesse Eisenberg.

This is the historical play on King Richard's life and how he died, tracing his fall from power. As a young man, Richard rises to the throne, although quickly proven to make poor decisions. Instead of spending his time being a worthy monarch of England, he spends his time chasing the latest Italian fashion and increases taxes to fund his wars in Ireland and elsewhere. As Henry returns to England to reclaim his land, will Richard descend the throne or keep fighting till his dying breath? For all historical lovers, this play provides a pertinent perspective on the British monarchy and its magnificent history. Amongst William Shakespeare's many must-reads, this is the classic worth reading next! If you watched and loved a series such as 'the Crown' or a film as 'Mary, Queen of Scots' this book should be on your to-be-read list. -

First published anonymously in 1823, ''Twas The Night Before Christmas' has played a vital role in the tradition of Christmas. The jolly, red-cheeked, gift-bearing Santa Claus that we know (and love) today originates from Clement Clarke Moore's poem. He originally wrote it to share only with his own children on Christmas Eve. This jovial poem is wonderful for all fans of Santa Claus and the presents he delivers, young or old!Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) was an American writer, teacher, and poet. A highly religious man, he attended Columbia University and went on to write about a variety of subjects, including poetry, historical biographies, and translations from French. His most notable work was certainly 'A Visit From St Nicholas' which was originally written as a Christmas Eve gift to his children, and quickly gained fame, being known today as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.'

Strange happenings are afoot. Flight enthusiasts discuss possibilities of mastering the skies using lighter-than-air craft. A great inventor claims the opposite that mankind can conquer the world only by using heavier-than-air machines. Jules Verne and his novel "e;Robur the Conqueror"e; takes us on a science fiction journey which introduces us to the concept of air travel and the heated discussions which led to great inventions. How will the brilliant inventor Robur prove the flight club wrong? What will happen when they decide to steal his idea? Does the progress need to be at any cost or can humanity be preserved? Come along on this journey operated by Albatross, Robur's multirotor aircraft, to find out how this exciting story unfolds. -

We all know what it’s like to be in love, but when love is placed within the context of anxieties, desires and beliefs, will it survive?The sisters Bianca and Katherine might be as opposite as chalk and cheese, yet marriage finds its way into both their lives. Prompted by the notion of a love free of idealism, Petruchio is ready to marry Katherine with or without her will. Can she learn to love him? Or will marriage without love always be filled with terror and deception?Although believed to be written in the late 1500s, this classic romance is still very relevant today. Whether you will perceive Katherina and Petruchio’s relationship as romantic and energetic or violent and oppressive, this play unmistakably offers us a perpetual take on the major theme: the battle of the sexes. But unlike most modern day romances emotional desires are put second in this play’s exploration of love, marriage and courtship.If you saw and loved director Gil Junger’s "10 Things I Hate About You", this is the best-seller behind the film.William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is widely considered the world's greatest dramatist and is often referred to as England's national poet or the Bard. Most famous for his timeless plays, he also wrote a multitude of poems and sonnets. Shakespeare was the blockbuster writer of his day, his many works concerning universal themes of life, love, death, revenge, grief, jealousy, murder, magic and mystery. Among some of his most famous are "Macbeth", "Romeo and Juliet", and "Hamlet", but the list is long, and many continue to be studied and performed, both their original form and modern adaptations.

The gun club of "From the Earth to the Moon" and "Around the Moon" returns after a long retirement. "The Purchase of the North Pole" brings back the three explorers who have come up with a new engineering project. If they fire a huge enough cannon, they can achieve displacement of the Earth’s rotation axis. They seem to have a secret motive and we are left to wonder what they expect to achieve.Why are they not willing to give up on their plan? Have they made a huge mistake? Let's hope it's not too late to save the world from the damage one gun club can cause.Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French novelist who mostly wrote adventure fiction inspired by the scientific advances of the 19th century. With the help of editor Pierre-Jules Hetzel he wrote a series of books called "Extraordinary Travels", which includes "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1864), "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" (1870), and "Around the World in Eighty Days" (1873).There have been many film adaptations of Jules Verne’s books with the most notable being "Journey to the Center of The Earth" (2008) starring Brendan Fraser and Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games), "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), and "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" (2012) starring Dwayne Johnson.Widely popular with both children and adults, Verne is one of the most translated authors of all time, and still inspires people the world over.

'Room 13' is the first crime novel in the J. G. Reeder series, featuring a sympathetic and astute civil servant, who is simultaneously a gifted detective. This fast-paced, mystery-ridden and thoroughly readable page-turner from the author of 'King Kong' is set in the 1920s and contains all the essential ingredients of a great British crime novel, from romance to unexpected twists. Setting the scene for subsequent books in the series, we meet Reeder as he untangles a thrilling web of revenge, murder and counterfeits. Nothing is sacred to the perpetrators. Wallace's masterful direct and descriptive style makes 'Room 13' the perfect novel for fans of crime fiction and mystery thrillers alike.-

'Little Dorrit' is a highly personal novel by Charles Dickens that many critics state is one of his finest later works. The story revolves around Amy Dorrit, a kind-hearted young woman who resides in Marshalsea prison as her family cannot afford to pay their debts. Amy and her family's fortune changes as Arthur Clennam, a wealthy businessman, takes an interest in her family while attempting to solve a mystery about his lineage. 'Little Dorrit' is a sprawling family saga that involves unrequited love, blackmail, and a timeless rags-to-riches story with a twist. Dickens' celebrated social satire is displayed in this tale as he criticises the cruel prison system of Victorian England which his father spent many years in, unable to work or repay his debts. While this is a darker novel than Dickens' early work, it still entertains through its cast of comical characters and lyrical prose. A thrilling novel that is equally poignant and entertaining, 'Little Dorrit' is still as relevant today as when it was written and is a must-read for fans of Dickens and 'The Shawshank Redemption'.-

'The Nature of a Crime' is the last collaborative work by Conrad and Ford, but most certainly not the least acclaimed. An insightful examination of human psychology that shines a glaring light on the murkiest depths of the psyche. The novel introduces a serene cast of characters that in reality suffer agonizing turmoil just beneath the surface, inundated by insatiable desires. With death and mortality as recurring themes, the characters pose critical and insightful questions to the meaning of life and free will. A fascinating read for those with philosophical interests.Joseph Conrad’s work and realist style went on to influence many noteworthy writers, including George Orwell, John le Carré and F. Scott Fitzgerald.Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) was a Polish-born author who left Poland in his teens to avoid enlistment in the Russian Army. He learned English aboard British ships and started writing in the language after settling in the UK. His most famous novel is ‘Heart of Darkness’ (1899), which was inspired by his experiences on the open sea.

The sands of Egypt carry whispers of rebellion...The much-anticipated third novel in Jonathan Spencer’s best-selling William John Hazzard series.Egypt, September 1798. After tragedy at the Battle of the Nile, Hazzard is possessed by a dark vengeance: with the marines of 9 Company and their Bedouin allies he scours the Nile Delta for his enemy, the French spy-catcher Citizen Derrien.However, among the sacred ibis and ever-shifting sands, Hazzard catches wind of something far more deadly: the stirrings of revolt in Cairo, the outbreak of plague, and the cold hand of Admiralty Intelligence. When riot explodes in the capital, Hazzard fears he is simply too late.Abandoned by the French Government, Napoleon and his army are now trapped in Egypt. When Bonaparte discovers that Al-Djezzar ‘the Butcher’ of Acre is gathering his forces to attack, he accepts the challenge.Riding with the Mamluk and the beautiful Shajar al-Durr, Hazzard engages French cavalry in the shadow of Ozymandias in ancient Thebes – and the Admiralty calls upon him once more as Napoleon launches his bloody crusade on Syria and the Holy Land to become the new Emperor in the East.From flaming battle at sea with the blockade fleet to massacre at the walls of Jaffa and Acre, this is Napoleon’s desperate bid to seize the Orient – and the next explosive chapter of the French occupation of Egypt.Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow and Seth Hunter.In the words of J.D. Davies this is the follow-up to a "Hornblower meets Mission: Impossible" storyline.Jonathan Spencer is from south-east London, the great-grandson of a clipper-ship captain who brought tea from China. He served in the Canadian army, studied ancient and modern history, and has lectured at universities and private associations on the subject of Napoleonic Egypt. He writes historical non-fiction under the name Jonathan Downs, his major work a revised account of the British acquisition of the Rosetta Stone, Discovery at Rosetta, (London 2008; Cairo 2020). He speaks several languages, has trained with the former Russian National fencing coach, and has lived and worked abroad all his life. He currently lives in the Western Cape in South Africa.

Prinz Elias und seine ausschweifenden Feste sind legendär. Jeden Sommer kam er mit seiner gesamten Entourage und mietete die Strandvillen meiner Familie. Und jeden Sommer haben meine Eltern mich weggeschickt. Zuerst ins Sommercamp und später ins Internat - alles, um mich von dem Prinzen fernzuhalten. Und doch gibt es da diese eine unvergessliche Nacht, die wir miteinander verbracht haben ...Ich bin das erste Mal seit Jahren wieder hier, doch alles ist anders: Der Prinz ist zurückgekehrt, aber es gibt keine feiernde Entourage und keine rauschenden Partys. Er reist inkognito. Ich darf nicht mit ihm sprechen oder auch nur in seine Richtung schauen. Aber dieser Mann geht mir unter die Haut, seine Berührungen setzen mich in Flammen. Ich kann ihm nicht widerstehen - und seien wir ehrlich: Wer könnte schon Nein sagen zum zukünftigen König?Eine Nacht, die alles verändert. New-York-Times-Bestseller-Autorin Claire Contreras verzaubert ihre Leserinnen mit dieser mitreißenden Royal Romance.Claire Contreras schreibt Geschichten voller Romantik und Knistern. Sie lebt mit ihrem Mann, zwei Söhnen, drei Bulldoggen und zwei Streunerkatzen im Süden Floridas - auch wenn sie nie zugeben würde, dass ihr die beiden Streuner gehören. Wenn sie nicht selber schreibt, liest sie gern Romane und verliert sich darin.

Professor Garrett Featherstone besitzt einen brillanten Kopf, den Körper eines Athleten und eine ordentliche Portion Arroganz. Kein Wunder, dass ihm die Studentinnen in Oxford zu Füßen liegen.Gefühlsmensch Marina jedoch, die mit ihm zu Sozialstunden verdonnert wurde, beeindruckt sein Superhirn wenig. Sie wirft Garrett an den Kopf, eben diesen zu verherrlichen und in Sachen Bauchgefühl ein Erstklässler zu sein. Eine Frechheit! Garrett wird Marina beweisen, dass er durchaus mit Sinnlichkeit punkten kann! Doch diese Aufgabe erweist sich für den Kontrollfreak kniffliger als der Nobelpreis ...Ein Liebesroman mit Herz und Humor, nicht nur für England-Fans!Karin Koenicke hat einige Jahre lang Kurzgeschichten in Zeitschriften veröffentlicht, schreibt aber inzwischen mit viel Herzblut Liebesromane. Ihre Bücher mit Humor und großem Gefühl sind bei den eBook-Leserinnen so beliebt, dass sie bereits mehrmals die Bestsellerlisten anführten. Die Heldinnen ihrer Romane lässt Karin Koenicke am liebsten auf Männer treffen, die gegensätzlicher nicht sein könnten.Karin selbst ist wie ihre Geschichten - mal aufgedreht, mal melancholisch, mal Chopin, mal Rolling Stones. Ihre große Liebe gilt dem Reisen und der Musik, die oft in ihren Büchern eine Rolle spielt.

Se trata de una fábula infantil de Rosario de Acuña. Este texto breve relata una historia fantástica. El sol decide hacer competir a los insectos para que demuestren cuál de ellos presta mayor utilidad y beneficio al ser humano.Rosario de Acuña (1850-1923) fue una escritora, librepensadora y periodista española. Fue una defensora de la igualdad social entre hombres y mujeres y de los derechos humanos. Colaboró con medios de comunicación como «Las Dominicales del Libre Pensamiento», «El Imparcial» o «El Liberal», sus obras se estrenaron en los principales teatros del país y se convirtió en la primera mujer del Ateneo de Madrid.

«El país del sol» es un relato alegórico de Rosario de Acuña publicado por primera vez en 1907. Tres monstruos —un monstruo caduco y fanático, otro, destructor y ambicioso y un último, canijo y dañino— se han instalado en el país del sol y con sus poderosos tentáculos oprimen al pueblo.Rosario de Acuña (1850-1923) fue una escritora, librepensadora y periodista española. Fue una defensora de la igualdad social entre hombres y mujeres y de los derechos humanos. Colaboró con medios de comunicación como «Las Dominicales del Libre Pensamiento», «El Imparcial» o «El Liberal», sus obras se estrenaron en los principales teatros del país y se convirtió en la primera mujer del Ateneo de Madrid.

Why would the Captain jump into a volcano crater? And will he make it back out alive?"The Desert of Ice" is the second part of Jules Verne’s novel "The Adventures of Captain Hatteras" from 1864. Captain Hatteras and his crew who have survived the long winter on island "New America" continue their expedition to the North Pole. They discover an island with an active volcano and it turns out that the exact location of the pole is in the crater.Is this the end to the long, difficult and dangerous expedition? If nobody survives how will the rest of the world learn about it? Is it possible that the Captain survives, and is the information he gained more important and valuable than his own health and well being?Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French novelist who mostly wrote adventure fiction inspired by the scientific advances of the 19th century. With the help of editor Pierre-Jules Hetzel he wrote a series of books called "Extraordinary Travels", which includes "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1864), "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" (1870), and "Around the World in Eighty Days" (1873).There have been many film adaptations of Jules Verne’s books with the most notable being "Journey to the Center of The Earth" (2008) starring Brendan Fraser and Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games), "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), and "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" (2012) starring Dwayne Johnson.Widely popular with both children and adults, Verne is one of the most translated authors of all time, and still inspires people the world over.

‘Anyuta’ is a short story that portrays the key aspects of Chekhov’s writings: dry humour, disillusionment, and a realistic depiction of social issues. The story revolves around Anyuta, a poor woman living with a medical student, Stepan, who has little time for her. Stepan dreams of a better life and is torn between following his aspirations alone or resigning himself to destitution with Anyuta. Chekhov criticises the social standing of men and women as many male students have gone on to achieve greatness, while Anyuta’s life remains static. These feminist messages made the story controversial at the time and they are still significant today. ‘Anyuta’ is a poignant and compassionate tale about the difference between dreams and reality that depicts Chekov’s ability to find small moments of humour in melancholy moments and features striking portrayals of poverty. This short is recommended for avid Russian literature readers and its feminist aspects make it suitable for fans of novels such as ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’.A prolific writer of seven plays, a novel and hundreds of short stories, Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) is considered one of the best practitioners of the short story genre in literature. True to life and painfully morbid with his miserable and realistic depictions of Russian everyday life, Chekhov’s characters drift between humour, melancholy, artistic ambition, and death. Some of his best-known works include the plays 'Uncle Vanya', 'The Seagull', and 'The Cherry Orchard', where Chekhov dramatizes and portrays social and existential problems. His short stories unearth the mysterious beneath the ordinary situations, the failure and horror present in everyday life.

Mutiny, shipwrecks, cold, hunger and even polar bears are a part of this exciting adventure."The English at the North Pole" is the first part of Jules Verne’s novel "The Adventures of Captain Hatteras" from 1864. It tells the story of the ambitious and determined captain who will do whatever it takes to get to the North Pole. The journey is however not that easy and many obstacles are in the way. The sea around the pole turns out to be frozen so the captain and a part of his crew are forced to spend a long winter on the island "New America".Will they survive the freezing weather and possible attacks? Will the captain’s strength, perseverance and determination be able to oppose the obstacles? Find out in this exciting adventure novel.Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French novelist who mostly wrote adventure fiction inspired by the scientific advances of the 19th century. With the help of editor Pierre-Jules Hetzel he wrote a series of books called "Extraordinary Travels", which includes "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1864), "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" (1870), and "Around the World in Eighty Days" (1873).There have been many film adaptations of Jules Verne’s books with the most notable being "Journey to the Center of The Earth" (2008) starring Brendan Fraser and Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games), "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), and "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" (2012) starring Dwayne Johnson.Widely popular with both children and adults, Verne is one of the most translated authors of all time, and still inspires people the world over.

‘Beauties’ is a short story by Chekhov that tells the tale of a young schoolboy travelling through the countryside with his grandfather on a sweltering summer day. The boy is uninterested in his dreary dustbowl surroundings until they arrive at the house of an old friend and the boy becomes transfixed by an astonishingly beautiful young woman. ‘Beauties’ is a perfect encapsulation of Chekhov’s critically acclaimed writing style as the plot is minimal but his lyrical prose evokes a sense of enchantment and awe. Vivid imagery portrays the stunning beauty of both the young woman and the setting that will stay with the reader for as long as it stays with the mesmerised schoolboy. This short story’s meditation on the lasting impression of beauty makes it a perfect read for fans of ‘The Great Gatsby’ and Samuel Beckett, whose readers will also enjoy Chekhov’s realist writing style.A prolific writer of seven plays, a novel and hundreds of short stories, Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) is considered one of the best practitioners of the short story genre in literature. True to life and painfully morbid with his miserable and realistic depictions of Russian everyday life, Chekhov’s characters drift between humour, melancholy, artistic ambition, and death. Some of his best-known works include the plays 'Uncle Vanya', 'The Seagull', and 'The Cherry Orchard', where Chekhov dramatizes and portrays social and existential problems. His short stories unearth the mysterious beneath the ordinary situations, the failure and horror present in everyday life.