Showing results for "Man and Nature" in Literature & Fiction

Herrmann "Zeke" Walter's life is falling apart. His father has just died and he has lost his job hosting a hunting show called Zeke Hunts the Big Boys. When he finds a package of letters from his grandfather among his father's belongings, he embarks on a journey to discover his ancestry. What initially starts as a simple mid-life rediscovery, quickly turns into a Pandora's box of murder and secret societies. 

In 1898, the British were building a railway line between Mombasa in Kenya and Uganda. At the Tsavo River in Kenya where a bridge needed to be built, the project was suddenly interrupted by two man-eating lions that targeted the camps of the workers. Over a period of nine months, the lions killed scores of people. These lions were deliberately hunting people, preferring humans over any other prey, and they seemed to have supernatural abilities in evading all attempts to stop them. Colonel J.H. Patterson, the chief engineer in charge of the project, finally managed to eliminate them.

In this semi-autobiographical work, his first novel, John Dos Passos describes the experiences of young Martin Howe as an ambulance driver, on the French front, during the First World War. - Summary by Mark Leder

Delightful tales of charming animals that will enchant young listeners. Join Victoria Bell as she narrates these heartwarming stories that celebrate the beauty of nature and the magic of wildlife.

Dive into the enchanting world of kittens and cats as they embark on a series of delightful adventures! This charming collection is crafted for children, but its sure to captivate the hearts of adults—especially those who adore our feline friends. Join us for a journey filled with fun and imagination! - Summary by Foon

This early novel by James is written in the first person by "James Young", and tells of his early experiences of the deaths of his father and brother, and his enduring love for his childhood companion, Emily. We watch the development of his character, influenced by these early experiences, family, education and enduring love as he becomes a Desultory Man. Unlike James's other works, this is written as a series of sketches, thoughts and poems.(Summary by LynneT)

The story of a biracial man living in the deep south after the reconstruction era. He is young and talented. Yet, in order for him to avoid stigma, he has to pass as white. But would his sense of belonging and solidarity to the black community of the time catch up with him at the end? "It is very likely that the Negroes of the United States have a fairly correct idea of what the white people of the country think of them, for that opinion has for a long time been and is still being constantly stated; but they are themselves more or less a sphinx to the whites. It is curiously interesting and ...

The novel tells the story of a journey to the Moon undertaken by the two protagonists: a businessman narrator, Mr. Bedford; and an eccentric scientist, Mr. Cavor. Bedford and Cavor discover that the Moon is inhabited by a sophisticated extraterrestrial civilisation of insect-like creatures they call "Selenites". - Summary by Cliff Stone

Told with perfect rhythm and unyielding brutality, these stories expose unsuspecting men and women to the realities of nature, the primal instincts of man and the dark humour and heartbreak of our struggle to not only thrive, but survive.

"The Other Man" by Edgar Wallace is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story begins in a foggy London, introducing us to an array of characters entwined in a web of intrigue, including a young street messenger who plays a crucial role in the unfolding drama. The central conflicts revolve around financial schemes, personal relationships, and a tense atmosphere surrounding the mysterious Count Poltavo. The characters are vividly portrayed, with underlying tensions emerging, particularly in the romantic rivalry between the two protagonists, further complicated by Mr. Grayson's ...

Dive into the findings of Galtons intriguing survey that sought to uncover the distinctions and similarities among the eminent men of his era. This podcast features a wealth of biographical details, biometric data, and thought-provoking quotations from these distinguished individuals. Summarized by Niobium.

The results of a survey undertaken by Galton to learn more about individual differences and similarities between the "pre-eminent" men of his time. Brief biographical information, biometric data and extensive quotations have been compiled and presented. Summary by niobium.

In 1898, during the construction of river-crossing bridge for the Uganda Railway at the Tsavo River, as many as 135 railway workers were attacked at night, dragged into the wilderness, and devoured by two male lions. The Man-Eaters of Tsavo is the autobiographical account of Royal Engineer Lt. Col. J.H. Patterson's African adventures. Among them, his hunt for the two man-eaters. This book was the basis for the 1996 film The Ghost and the Darkness. (Summary by James Christopher)

“THE study of history, like the study of a landscape, should begin with the most conspicuous features. Not until these have been fixed in memory will the lesser features fall into their appropriate places and assume their right proportions. The famous men of ancient and modern times are the mountain peaks of history. It is logical then that the study of history should begin with the biographies of these men. Not only is it logical; it is also pedagogical. Experience has proven that in order to attract and hold the child’s attention each conspicuous feature of history presented to him ...

The People Who Wanted To Live in Caves. This little book takes us back to the time when our ancestors lived, or wanted to live, in caves. Unfortunately the caves of that time were mostly used by large animals like the Sabre Toothed Tiger and bears who could easily kill and eat our ancestors. Thus the subtitle of this book is The Age of Combat. This book, aimed at children, tries to show how certain things could have taken place to enable our species to eke out a living alongside the much stronger beasts, such as why we wanted to live in caves; the hazards and rewards of living in caves; the ...

The journal of British naturalist Bruce Frederick Cummings, spanning from his early childhood through to his early death from complications stemming from multiple sclerosis. The diary combines beautiful, lyrical passages concerning the natural world with more introspective ruminations reminiscent of Kafka. Although successful and scandalous upon their publication in 1919, interest in the diaries has faded along with public interest in naturalism and diary writing more generally. However, Cummings' work is very modern is its forthright confessional tone and contains some deeply moving pieces of...

Join the animals of the Green Forest as they try to outsmart a trickster newcomer. Can they outfox him? (Summary by Victoria Bell)

The Adventures of Old Man Coyote is another in the long list of children's books by conservationist Thornton W. Burgess. In this book, the residents of The Green Pasture and The Green Forest are concerned about a strange newcomer, Old Man Coyote. Old Many Coyote matches wits with Old Granny Fox and has encounters with Reddy Fox and Peter Rabbit, and a particularly sharp confrontation with Prickly Porky. - Summary by John Lieder

During the later part of his life Hudson lived in southern England, where he was involved very early on with the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). Birds and Man is a slow moving work where Hudson discusses his love of birds, and the need for better protection of them. - Summary by clarinetcarrot

Scientist, resistance fighter and Holocaust survivor, Primo Levi was one of Italy's greatest writers and an internationally renowned chronicler of human nature. In his masterpiece The Periodic Table, he charts his incredible life story through the medium of chemistry, using the titular list of...