Showing results for "Sketches" in Literature & Fiction

This is the autobiographical novel by Harriet Wilson, the first African-American to publish a novel in North America. Originally published in 1859, it was rediscovered in 1982.

This is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories by Washington Irving. Irving lived at the Alhambra Palace while writing some of the material for his book. In 1828, Washington Irving traveled from Madrid, where he had been staying, to Granada, Spain. At first sight, he described it as "a most picturesque and beautiful city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever seen." He immediately asked the then-governor of the historic Alhambra Palace as well as the archbishop of Granada for access to the palace, which was granted because of Irving's celebrity status. ...

In The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon (1820-21), Irving explores the uneasy relationship of an American writer to English literary traditions. In two sketches, he experiments with tales transplanted from Europe, thereby creating the first classic American short stories: "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".

The ‘sketches’ in this... volume are more the substance and length of short stories illustrating the development of the tools of the Masters trade: farce, parody, irony, black humour and wonderful one liners which unerringly hit the mark. The ensuing narrative, however, brings the listener bumpily back to earth with a reminder of the mean and often tragic lives that were being endured in the busy, uncaring metropolis.

Charles Dickens started his literary career as a journalist reporting for ‘The Morning Chronicle,’ a profession which encouraged his observing eye. This collection of essays and short stories was first published in that journal and anticipates, and frequently demonstrates, the genius that was to come.

E. B. White's greatest stories, asides, essays, jokes, and tall tales about the city he arguably saw clearest, loved best, and skewered most mercilessly. Over more than fifty years at the New Yorker, E. B. White came to define a kind of ideal American prose: clear, casual, democratic, and urbane...

Step into the bustling streets of Victorian London with Sketches by Boz: The Complete Collection, which includes Volume 1, 2, and 3 of Sketches by Boz, where Charles Dickens brings the city’s diverse characters, neighborhoods, and daily life to vivid, unforgettable life. From the grimy alleys to the grandest ballrooms, this collection of sketches captures the essence of the people and places Dickens encountered, offering a sharp yet affectionate portrait of a society in flux.

In mid-19th century London, Reuben Sachs is a promising lawyer with political ambitions that steer clear of a conventional marriage to Judith Quixano, the daughter of a respectable yet unremarkable family. For Judith, who finds herself navigating a society that offers her few options—either a loveless marriage or a life of dependency—Reuben’s presence symbolizes a glimmer of hope. Amy Levy, a pioneering feminist, Jew, and lesbian, sheds light on the complexities of Anglo-Jewish cultural norms and the struggle of would-be independent women in Victorian society. In contrast to the ...

Regarded as a gem of Canadian humorous literature, Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town brings to life the charming tales of the fictional town of Mariposa. Author Stephen Leacock drew inspiration from his own experiences at his summer retreat in Orillia, Ontario, crafting stories that celebrate the quirks and characters of small-town life. (Summary by Dick Bourgeois-Doyle)

Immerse yourself in the delightful world of Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, a charming collection of stories by Stephen Leacock, originally published in 1912. Celebrated as a classic of Canadian humorous literature, these tales unfold in the fictional town of Mariposa, nestled along the picturesque shores of Lake Wissanotti. While inspired by Leacocks own experiences in Orillia, Ontario, he cheekily notes in the introduction that Mariposa is not a real town—rather, it embodies countless small towns across Canada, with their familiar square streets, maple trees, and quaint churches and ...

Beyond the well-known tales of Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that catapulted Washington Irving and The Sketch Book into literary fame, this collection features a rich tapestry of stories such as Roscoe, The Broken Heart, The Art of Book-making, A Royal Poet, The Spectre Bridegroom, Westminster Abbey, Little Britain, and John Bull. Drawing inspiration from German folktales—most notably for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow—Irvings narratives range from the poignant reflections found in The Wife and The Widow and Her Son to the lively escapades of Little Britain and the humorous ...

Slices of 19th-century London life from the pen of Charles Dickens. Here are 10 gloriously comic stories from Sketches by Boz, Charles Dickens's earliest collection of short pieces in which he honed his literary genius. Each tale is dramatised with a full cast. Cast and credits: written by Charles Dickens. Directed by Sally Avens. Starring Nicholas Farrell as Boz.

Dive into a captivating collection of enchanting short stories crafted by Q, the intriguing pen name of the renowned and whimsical Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch. Join Amy Gramour as she brings these tales to life, inviting you to explore the rich tapestry of human experience through the lens of masterful storytelling.

Step into the whimsical world of The Mudfog Papers, a delightful collection penned by the illustrious Victorian novelist Charles Dickens. Originally published between 1837 and 1838 in Bentleys Miscellany, which Dickens himself edited, these sketches introduce us to the eccentric Mudfog Society for the Advancement of Everything. This clever parody of the British Association for the Advancement of Science is set against the backdrop of the fictional town of Mudfog, inspired by Dickenss own youthful experiences in Chatham, Kent. Rich with humor and social commentary, the sketches capture the ...

Dive into Square Egg and Other Sketches, a delightful collection of eight humorous short stories by the talented Hector Hugh Munro, better known by his pen name, Saki. Published posthumously in 1924, these sketches blend wit and satire with poignant reflections on the stark realities of trench warfare. Despite being beyond the age of conscription, Saki volunteered to serve, earning the admiration of his fellow soldiers. In an appreciation by Rothay Reynolds, one officer remarked on Sakis unwavering spirit and the deep respect he garnered from his comrades. Join us as we explore the charm and ...

Longlisted for the 2013 Frank O'connor International Short Story Award Malay Sketches is a collection of stories that borrows its name from a book of anecdotes by colonial governor Frank Swettenham, describing Malay life on the Peninsula. In Alfian Sa'at's hands, these sketches are reimagined...

Queen Victoria... and Prince Albert were married in 1840. Dickens uses this event as an ingenious ploy to salute and promote domestic felicity, advising young ladies upon several examples of the different types of male available as partners. There follows a section describing various married couples from whom the young ladies could possibly learn a lesson. The author then entertains with a tale of Nicholas Tulrumble, newly appointed Mayor of Mudfog, with ideas above his station.

In the winter of 1854 Tolstoy, then an officer in the Russian army, arranged to be transferred to the besieged town of Sebastopol. Wishing to see at first hand the action of what would become known as the Crimean War, he was spurred on by a fierce patriotism, but also by an equally fierce desire to alert the authorities to appalling conditions in the army. The three Sebastopol Sketches - 'December', 'May' and 'August' - re-create what happened during different phases of the siege and its effect on the ordinary men around him.

In the winter of 1854 Tolstoy, then an officer in the Russian army, arranged to be transferred to the besieged town of Sebastopol. Wishing to see at first hand the action of what would become known as the Crimean War, he was spurred on by a fierce patriotism, but also by an equally fierce desire to alert the authorities to appalling conditions in the army. Writing with the truth as his utmost aim, he brought home to Russia's entire literate public the atrocities of war. In doing so, he realized his own vocation as a writer and established his literary reputation.

Forbidden love is an art all its own London, 1886 Barkeep Warren Bakshi is happy with the secrets that he keeps—those of the patrons he serves at underground queer club The Curious Fox, and his own. But when Warren’s long-lost brother returns, bringing unexpected wealth to the Bakshi family...