Showing results for "Land Fictions" in History

211 BC: Hannibal's struggle against the Romans in Italy continues, but the Carthaginians have been utterly defeated on Sicily. Fleeing the island to Spain, Hanno and Aurelia are shipwrecked, and taken prisoner by local tribesmen. Unless they escape, a life of slavery and brutal treatment awaits...

The Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 B.C. and continued intermittently for 27 years. It pitted the all-powerful land force of Sparta and its allies against the supremely powerful naval force of Athens. Thucydides actually participated in this conflict, a war that he realized would have a greater influence on the history of Greece than any other. He vividly narrates exciting episodes and carefully describes tactical aspects of the war, and also provides illuminating character profiles.

Soaked in mist and old magic, Storyland tells a history of Britain and the politics of its people through medieval eyes. Grounded in research, related as fiction, it begins before the Great Flood, with a troop of African giants quarrying stones. Later, the first migrants enter the Atlantic...

Bloomsbury presents Daughter of the Otherworld by Shauna Lawless, read by Clara Harte, Kevin Hely, Sam McArdle, Amy McAllister, and Gerry O'Brien. From the author of the Gael Song trilogy, an epic new historical fantasy set in the tumultuous, magical world of medieval Ireland during the time of...

Published during a literary era marked by the ascendance of Black writers such as Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, and Alex Haley, this thinly fictionalized account of Claude Brown’s childhood as a hardened, streetwise criminal trying to survive the toughest streets of Harlem has been heralded as the definitive account of everyday life for the first generation of African Americans raised in the Northern ghettos of the 1940s and 1950s.

Greed and ambition threaten to tear the north apart. War rages between the two kingdoms of Northumbria. Kin is pitted against kin, and friend becomes foe as ambitious kings vie for supremacy. When Beobrand travels south into East Angeln to rescue a friend, he unwittingly tilts the balance of power in the north, setting in motion events that will lead to a climactic confrontation between Oswiu of Bernicia and Oswine of Deira. 

March, 1914. When talented artist Isobel embarks on a journey to Egypt, it's to reunite her best friend, Alice, with her husband, Wilfred—and to use the stunning sights of Cairo as inspiration for her own paintings. A whirlwind romance was the last thing she expected, but when Isobel meets Wilfred's handsome brother, Edward, neither can deny the strong connection between them—especially when unexpected tragedy strikes, leaving them all reeling. Just as they get to grips with their grief, WW1 erupts, and the lovers are forced to separate. 

The Land of Little Rain by Mary Hunter Austin, first published in 1903, contains a series of interrelated essays about the American Southwest. A theme of environmental conservation and a philosophy of regional culture loosely link the narratives. The first essay covers the "Country of Lost Borders," an area between Death Valley and the High Sierras. In "Water Trails of the Ceriso", the author describes the many animals that travel along the trails, including coyotes and quails. "The Scavengers" deals with carrion feeders like buzzards and crows.

Plymouth, Devon, 1501. Luke Kendal, the long-awaited son of Elizabeth and John, grows up under the loving watch of his mother and stepfather, but soon he, too, must face his trials. Irresistibly drawn to the wild Isobel, he risks all in his secret rendezvous with her. Battling with himself, he maintains the romance is only temporary, but any easing of his conscience is shattered by the revelation that Isobel is with child. Luke Kendal must make a decision: desert Isobel and render his child a bastard or defile the family honour.

This is Dreamland, a uniquely fierce and magical tale that delivers both a sweeping chronicle of America at the turn of the century and an intimate, heart-wrenching portrait of the lives of its denizens. Among the thousands of immigrants who arrive in New York harbor is an Eastern European...

Step into the enchanting world of Fairhaven, where a once-wealthy couple from New York City finds themselves stripped of their riches after a devastating financial crash in the early 1900s. As their opulent lifestyle fades away, so does the mans health, leading their physician to suggest a life-changing move to Fairhaven at Cape Cod for recovery. In this idyllic setting, they rediscover the love and connection they thought lost forever. Fairhaven is a heartwarming tale of resilience and romance that will resonate with anyone who believes in the power of love and second chances. I truly enjoyed...

Dive into a world where the lives of three sailing captains unfold, each story revealing the tension between the sea and the land. In A Smile of Fortune, a naive young sea captain finds himself in deep moral trouble after clashing with a cunning ship chandler in Mauritius. Meanwhile, in The Secret Sharer, a newly appointed captain encounters an unexpected challenge when he discovers a mysterious weight on his rope ladder one fateful evening. Lastly, Freya of the Seven Isles tells the tale of Jasper Allen, a captain caught in a romantic whirlwind, blissfully unaware of the rivalry posed by an ...

Join Gordon King, a bold child of the twentieth century, as he ventures into the heart of a mysterious jungle. Unfazed by what many would dismiss as mere superstition, he soon discovers that while a brave spirit can navigate the perilous depths of the wilderness, escaping with his life is an entirely different challenge. - Summary by original Gutenberg text

After a heart-wrenching love affair in England, Lady Bridget OHara seizes the opportunity to escape to colonial Australia as the companion to Lady Rosamund Tallant, the wife of the newly-appointed governor of Leichardts Land. In Leichardts Town, Bridget—affectionately known as Biddy—reunites with her old friend Joan Gildea, a special correspondent for The Imperialist newspaper. It is during this visit that Biddy encounters Colin McKeith, a rugged Scottish-born pioneer and multifaceted man—drover, miner, occasional politician, and magistrate. Drawn together by their contrasting worlds, ...

Dive into No Mans Land, a compelling exploration of life on the Western Front, penned by a decorated British Army officer known by the pseudonym Sapper. With the backing of newspaper magnate Lord Northcliffe, Sapper brings to life the gritty realities of war through a collection of poignant stories. The book is divided into five parts, beginning with The Way To The Land, where the fictional character Clive Draycott journeys across Europe before the war ignites. In The Land, eight gripping tales reveal the everyday struggles of soldiers in the trenches. Seed Time tells the story of a salesman ...

Dive into a captivating collection of ancient tales from the enchanting Western regions of Britain, as recounted by the talented Lyonesse, a pseudonym for George Basil Barham. Experience these timeless stories, once shared along the routes of the GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY, now brought to life with a fresh perspective.

After enduring the ravages of World War I, James Hall and Charles Nordhoff set off on a dreamlike journey through the enchanting South Pacific. Together, they would later co-author the renowned “Mutiny on the Bounty.” This captivating tale weaves together a love story, a travelogue, and an adventure, offering a glimpse into paradise at the dawn of the 20th century. Now that this book has entered the public domain, immerse yourself in its timeless allure. (Summary by Mike Vendetti)

A story from Night in the Front Line, a collection of Second World War short stories. In this lighthearted short story, a farm labourer observes the land girls going about their work and wondering what the future might hold for the farming industry.

Cabeza de Vaca left Spain to explore the New World on a 1527 expedition. He was second in command of nearly 600 men, but only he and three others survived the treacherous weather, exotic diseases, and attacking indigenous people. Cabeza de Vaca survived eight straight years of wandering through the America’s southwest by becoming a medicine man to the natives. In the events of this memoir, he recounts how he helped resuscitate a man, and suddenly “all over the land nothing else was spoken of.”

Immerse yourself in tales of daring heroes and captivating escapades that ignite the imagination. These stories, rich with noble intentions and extraordinary events, inspire noble impulses within us all. This collection, crafted in 1852, promises to be both engaging and enlightening, offering a journey filled with breathtaking incidents and exhilarating adventures that will spark a passion for reading.