Showing results by author "Charles Reade" in All Categories

"The Box Tunnel" tells the story of a bet between two soldiers, travelling on a train across Britain, in the spring of 1847, that one of them will not manage to kiss one of the two other ladies travelling in the carriage. One of these ladies is pretty, the other rather unattractive. The young soldier takes up the bet, and when the train reaches the box tunnel, just after Swindon, he commits the outrage on the delicious young Miss Haythorne. This ungentlemanly conduct cannot be allowed to go unpunished....

A wonderful collection of classic stories on the theme of love. A must-listen for the incurable romantic.

Written in 1861 but taking place in the fifteenth century, this picturesque historical novel by Charles Reade follows the story of a young scribe and illuminator named Gerard Eliason. In order to escape persecution, Gerard sets out on a journey from Holland to Rome, leaving behind the woman he loves, Margaret. Along the road Gerard meets a colorful cast of characters—including various historical figures—and explores the conflict between a person’s obligation to family versus the church. 

Ships at anchor reared their tall masts, here and there; and the broad stream was enlivened and colored by junks and boats of all sizes and vivid hues, propelled on the screw principle by a great scull at the stern, with projecting handles for the crew to work; and at times a gorgeous mandarin boat, with two great glaring eyes set in the bows, came flying, rowed with forty paddles by an armed crew, whose shields hung on the gunwale and flashed fire in the sunbeams.