Metamorphosis (German: Die Verwandlung) is a novella written by Franz Kafka which was first published in 1915. One of Kafka's best-known works, Metamorphosis tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a huge insect (German: ungeheueres Ungeziefer, lit. "monstrous vermin") and subsequently struggles to adjust to this new condition. The novella has been widely discussed among literary critics, with differing interpretations being offered. In popular culture and adaptations of the novella, the insect is commonly depicted as a cockroach.With a length of about 70 printed pages over three chapters, it is the longest of the stories Kafka considered complete and published during his lifetime. The text was first published in 1915 in the October issue of the journal Die weißen Blätter under the editorship of René Schickele. The first edition in book form appeared in December 1915 in the series Der jüngste Tag, edited by Kurt Wolff. Read more

A snapshot in time holds secrets waiting to be revealed.Berlin, 1938. Samuel Weiss and Max von Hofmannsthal were best friends until the cruel antisemitism of Nazi Germany seeped into Berlin and tore their friendship apart. As Max rises in the ranks of the Nazi SS, Sam and his Jewish family find themselves simply struggling to survive.And when Max and Sam’s paths cross once again among the bleak barracks of Auschwitz-Birkenau, their fates will intertwine in ways neither of them could ever have expected.Pittsburgh, present day. Becky’s father, Sam, has never liked to talk about his time in the Holocaust. A sad and withdrawn man, all she knows is that her brave father survived the hell on earth that was Auschwitz.But when Becky stumbles upon an old notebook of her mother’s, she starts to realize that there may be far more to her father’s story than she’d thought. And when an old photograph from 1944 Auschwitz surfaces suddenly, she is drawn into a shattering discovery that will tear apart everything she’s ever believed to be true.The Auschwitz Photograph is a captivating story of friendship, hope, survival, and betrayal in World War II.Previously published as The Dead Are Resting. Read more

From USA Today Bestselling author Kathryn Gauci comes a thrilling and emotional story of bravery and self-sacrifice, heartbreak, and revenge, set in one of the most dangerous and difficult of WWII escape routes.A compelling portrait of life, love, courage, and retribution.“A beautiful dark-haired woman dressed in the latest Parisian fashion stepped onto the platform. She was holding a small boy in one arm and her small suitcase and false documents in the other. A girl, about six years old, stood by her side clinging to her mother’s skirt and clutching a doll with blonde curly hair. Justine felt a surge of pity. They didn’t look strong enough for the journey ahead of them.”When France declares war on Germany, the villagers of the sleepy village of Mont-Saint-Jean have no idea how much their lives will be impacted. At first they find themselves helping a trickle of British soldiers and airmen heading into Spain, but within months, that trickle has turned into a never-ending flow. Desperate French and foreign Jews, together with ordinary men and women evading Vichy’s harsh laws in search of freedom, either attempt to flee and join de Gaulle’s Secret Army in North Africa, or hide and regroup in readiness for D-Day. Before they know it, they are drawn into the shadowy world of escape networks in one of France’s harshest and most dangerous mountainous terrains, where at every turn they face deportation or death if caught.Rich in detail and based on true events in Occupied France, In the Shadow of the Pyrenees weaves together a powerful and vivid tableau of characters, a tortured love affair, and the heroism of countless helpers. It is a story that conjures up the voices of the past and will take you on a journey in which the ensuing upheavals continue to resonate in the villagers’ lives long after the war has ended."A remarkable and moving story of true courage" — JJ Toner, author of The Black Orchestra."Gauci's beautiful, poetic prose drew me into the story from page one. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Beyond a moving, wonderful tale, In the Shadow of the Pyrenees brings WWII fiction lovers to yet another region of the world impacted by the war. Thoroughly researched and told through the eyes of memorable characters, this book is a satisfying MUST-READ!" — Alexa Kang, USA Today bestselling author of the Rose of Anzio series."In the Shadow of the Pyrenees by Kathryn Gauci is an extraordinary tale of bravery, love, and sacrifice heightened by the historical backdrop of World War II. Using first-person eyewitness accounts by some major characters to describe key events, the author keeps the reader focused on how extraordinary events affect the actions and motivations of ordinary people. You care about Justine, the daughter of Armand, who risks her life to help the many seeking escape through an arduous and dangerous route through the Pyrenees to avoid Nazi troops. The writing is crisp and clear and keeps the reader engaged. In the Shadow of the Pyrenees is historical fiction at its best." - Editorial Review. Reader's Favourite"The characters in this novel experience horrors that stand in stark contrast to the picturesque snow-capped mountain ranges, rivers, and forests. Many are fleeing from the worst of humanity, but nature only adds to their struggle. Despite the fear of being discovered & the treacherous his novel remains grounded in historical fact. Gauci's ability to bring history back to life is remarkable, & despite being fiction, this story holds numerous truths, resulting in a captivating and thought-provoking read. It will captivate your heart and earn a cherished place on your bookshelf. I Highly Recommend." - Review by Mary Anne Yarde, The Coffee Pot Book ClubSHORTLISTED for the CIBA 2023 Chanticleer Hemingway Award for 20th century Wartime History. Read more

Germany’s most celebrated writer deserves a place in the digital library of all lovers of classical literature. This eBook presents the most comprehensive collection of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s works available, with beautiful illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version: 1)* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Goethe's life and works* Concise introductions to the novels, plays and other works* ALL the novels and 12 plays, including rare dramas appearing for the first time in digital print* Images of how the books were first printed, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts* Excellent formatting of the texts* Features Abraham Hayward’s 30 beautiful illustrations for FAUST* Includes the rare and often missed-out-of-collections Part Two of FAUST* Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the poetry* Easily locate the poems you want to read* Non-fiction works, including the famous THEORY OF COLOUR* Special criticism section, with essays by writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Sir Walter Scott, as evaluating Goethe’s contribution to literature* Features an autobiography and a bonus biography - discover Goethe's literary life* Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genresCONTENTS:The NovelsTHE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHERWILHELM MEISTER’S APPRENTICESHIPELECTIVE AFFINITIESWILHELM MEISTER’S JOURNEYMAN YEARSThe Short StoriesA TALETHE GOOD WOMENThe PlaysTHE WAYWARD LOVERTHE FELLOW CULPRITSGOETZ VON BERLICHINGENCLAVIGOEGMONTTHE BROTHER AND SISTERSTELLAIPHIGENIA IN TAURISTORQUATO TASSOFAUST: PART ONETHE NATURAL DAUGHTERFAUST: PART TWOThe PoetryTHE POEMS OF GOETHELIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDERLIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDERThe Non-FictionTHEORY OF COLOURSMAXIMS AND REFLECTIONSThe CriticismGOETHE – THE WRITER by Ralph Waldo EmersonGOETHE by C. E. VaughanGOETHE by John Cowper PowysGOETHE’S FAUST by George SantayanaSHAKESPEARE AND GOETHE by David MassonGOETHE’S THEORY OF COLORS by John TyndallEXTRACTS OF CORRESPONDENCE by Sir Walter ScottThe AutobiographyTRUTH AND FICTION RELATING TO MY LIFEThe BiographyTHE LIFE OF GOETHE by Calvin Thomas Read more

This book contains the complete novels of Franz Kafka in the chronological order of their original publication.- The TrialWritten in 1914, The Trial is the terrifying tale of Josef K., a respectable bank officer who is suddenly and inexplicably arrested and must defend himself against a charge about which he can get no information. Whether read as an existential tale, a parable, or a prophecy of the excesses of modern bureaucracy wedded to the madness of totalitarianism, Kafka's nightmare has resonated with chilling truth for generations of readers.- The CastleLeft unfinished by Kafka in 1922 and not published until 1926, two years after his death, The Castle is the haunting tale of K.’s relentless, unavailing struggle with an inscrutable authority in order to gain access to the Castle. - AmerikaHere is the story of young Karl Rossman, who, following an incident involving a housemaid, is banished by his parents to America. With unquenchable optimism and in the company of two comic-sinister companions, he throws himself into misadventure, eventually heading towards Oklahoma, where a career in the theater beckons. Read more

From USA TODAY Bestselling author, Kathryn Gauci, comes a powerful and unforgettable story of one woman’s incredible will to survive and protect those she loves against insurmountable odds.“In the half-light of a new day, the city resembled a macabre scene from hell. The gay Vienna of her youth had disappeared – vanished as utterly as if it had never existed.”Vienna 1938: Austria’s leading couturier, Christina Lehmann, sits at the pinnacle of Viennese society. Her lover, the renowned painter, Max Hauser, is at the height of his career. But Max harbours a secret, and it is only a matter of time before the Gestapo finds out. The situation takes a dramatic turn on Kristallnacht, when the pogrom against the Austrian Jews escalates and one of Christina’s Jewish seamstresses is brutally murdered.In order to protect both Max and her couture house, Christina begins a double life, plunging her into the shadowy world of Nazi oppression, fear, and mistrust fuelled by ancient hatreds.As Vienna descends into chaos, hunger and disillusionment, will her deception be enough to save Max – or will it end in tragedy?Based on actual events, this is an epic story of courage and resilience. It is the kind of book that wraps around your soul and leaves an impression.FIRST PLACE WINNER 2022 HEMINGWAY Book Awards for 20th c. Wartime Fiction, a division of the CIBAs.“Brilliant and moving, The Viennese Dressmaker is a compelling and vivid portrait of wartime Vienna; a story of human relationships, and the will to survive under the shadow of the most evil power the world has ever known.” – JJ Toner, author of The Black Orchestra"Filled with suspense from the first chapter to the last, The Viennese Dressmaker is a nail-biting story masterfully crafted to show the oppressive reality of life in Vienna during the dark days of WWII. I feared for Christina at every turn as she confronted threats and dangers lurking in every corner to help the victims and those she loved. For WWII resistance fiction fans, Gauci never disappoints.” — Alexa Kang, USA Today bestselling author of the Rose of Anzio series.“Triumphs, defeats, and loss. Kathryn Gauci’s characters bleed from the pages in this perfectly paced novel set in Vienna. This great historical novel transported me to Austria and allowed me to see, smell and feel the streets beneath my feet as I walked alongside the characters.” – Jana Petken, the #I bestselling author of “The German Half-Bloods Trilogy.”“With The Viennese Dressmaker, Kathryn has once again created a page-turning story based on well-researched historical detail. Searing and heart-breaking, Christina’s story will stay with you long after you finish the final page. I loved it.” – Eoin Dempsey, bestselling author of White Rose, Black Forest and The Longest Echo.“The Viennese Dressmaker is a WWII novel in all the best traditions of the genre. Deeply touching and captivating, this is a powerful tale of courage and self-sacrifice under the pressure of unrelenting terror. The brilliantly portrayed characters, breathtaking twists of fate, and a surprise ending will take you on a journey you won’t soon forget.” – Marina Osipova, multi-award-winning historical fiction author of How Dare the Birds Sing. Read more

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"The American Candidate does not disappoint! Full of history, adventure, action and mystery! Fabulous read! Highly recommended." Amy C. In her most dangerous case yet, Jayne Sinclair investigates the family history of a candidate to be President of the United States of America. When the politician who commissioned the genealogical research is shot dead, Jayne is forced to flee for her life. Why was he killed? And who is trying to stop the Candidate’s past from being revealed? Jayne Sinclair is caught in a deadly race against time to discover the truth, armed only with her own wits and the ability to discover secrets hidden in the past.This is the third Jayne Sinclair Genealogical adventure, but it can be read as a stand-alone mystery. Read more

A CULTURE MASTERPIECE: BY THE SUSPICIOUS AUTHOR WHO SERVED AS A MODEL FOR THE HERO OF ROBERTO BOLAO'S 2666, THIS ADVENTURE NOVEL INSPIRED JOHN HUSTON'S CLASSIC FILMAbout B. Traven, little is known for sure. According to the available information, Otto Feige was born in Schlewsig-Holstein and managed to avoid execution for his participation in the anarchist underground in Bavaria. Traven spent the majority of his adult life in Mexico, where he wrote several best-selling books under different pen names and was a vocal supporter of the rights of the indigenous population there. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, first published in 1935, is Traven's most well-known and enduring book. It tells the dark, brutally ironic, and captivating tale of three destitute Americans searching for treasure in Sonora. Read more

From USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Kathryn Gauci, comes an unforgettable story of love, hope and betrayal, and of the power of human endurance during history’s darkest days. Inspired by true events, “Sometime during the early hours of the morning, he awoke again, this time with a start. He was sure he heard a noise outside. It sounded like a twig snapping. Under normal circumstances it would have meant nothing, but in the silence of the forest every sound was magnified. There it was again. This time it was closer and his instinct told him it wasn’t the wolves. He reached for his gun and quietly looked out through the window. The moon was on the wane, wrapped in the soft gauze of snowfall and it wasn’t easy to see. Maybe it was a fox, or even a deer. Then he heard it again, right outside the door. He cocked his gun, pressed his body flat against the wall next to the door, and waited. The room was in total darkness and his senses were heightened. After a few minutes, he heard the soft click of the door latch.” February 1944. Preparations for the D-Day invasion are well advanced. When contact with Belvedere, one of the Resistance networks in the Jura region of Eastern France, is lost, Elizabeth Maxwell, is sent back to the region to find the head of the network, her husband Guy Maxwell. It soon becomes clear that the network has been betrayed. An RAF airdrop of supplies was ambushed by the Gestapo, and many members of the Resistance have been killed. Surrounded on all sides by the brutal Gestapo and the French Milice, and under constant danger of betrayal, Elizabeth must unmask the traitor in their midst, find her husband, and help him to rebuild Belvedere in time for SOE operations in support of D-Day.The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac is a gripping and emotional portrait of wartime France... a true-page-turner. "Dripping with suspense on every page" — JJ Toner Read more

The Dark Monk is the second book in Hangman’s Daughter, the million-copy bestselling series.1660: Winter has settled thick over a sleepy village in the Bavarian Alps, ensuring every farmer and servant is indoors on the night a parish priest discovers he’s been poisoned. As numbness creeps up his body, he summons the last of his strength to scratch a cryptic sign in the frost.Following a trail of riddles, hangman Jakob Kuisl, his headstrong daughter, Magdalena, and the town physician’s son team up with the priest’s aristocratic sister to investigate. What they uncover will lead them back to the Crusades, unlocking a troubled history of internal church politics and sending them on a chase for a treasure of the Knights Templar.But they’re not the only ones after the legendary fortune. A team of dangerous and mysterious monks is always close behind, tracking their every move, speaking Latin in the shadows, giving off a strange, intoxicating scent. And to throw the hangman off their trail, they have ensured he is tasked with capturing a band of thieves roving the countryside attacking solitary travelers and spreading panic.Delivering on the promise of the international bestseller The Hangman’s Daughter, Oliver Pötzsch takes us on a whirlwind tour through the occult hiding places of Bavaria’s ancient monasteries. Once again based on prodigious historical research into Pötzsch’s family tree, The Dark Monk brings to life an unforgettable, compassionate hangman and his tenacious daughter, painting a robust tableau of seventeenth-century Bavaria and quickening our pulses with a gripping, mesmerizing mystery. Read more

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It's 1962...Nine months on from the division of Berlin and some steadfastly refuse to accept the new status quo. Incidents occur at the border on a daily basis; the lucky escape, the unlucky are shot in the attempt, or are betrayed before they can try. Gerd Braun, deeply embroiled in West Berlin’s Fluchthelfer community, is desperate to help his girlfriend, Miriam Hirsch, escape from East Berlin. Even though she daydreams of the “bright lights” of the West, Miriam agonises over the decision to flee; can she leave her mother, Hannah Hirsch, herself a strong believer in the GDR? Hans Erdmann, NVA Colonel, rues his failure to defect the previous August. The East German authorities paint him as a hero, while some know the reality, and are keen to remind him. Hans returns to work but yearns for another opportunity to leave the GDR, whilst knowing he is being watched. To reinforce his unease, Hans is curiously asked by his boss to meet Professor Hannah Hirsch and address her students on the measure at the border. Why, and what does the Professor know? When a tunnel escape is betrayed to the East Germans, Gerd Braun is pushed out from his circle of associates in a flurry of accusations. He is forced to adopt desperate tactics in order to keep the possibility of Miriam's escape alive. Meanwhile, Hans Erdmann starts to fall for the brilliant Hannah Hirsch and becomes embroiled in Hannah's struggle with daughter Miriam. Is this his final chance of happiness after his tragic past? Is it conceivable they can all escape to the West together? Coercion seethes with mistrust and intrigue alike which the security services are keen to extenuate and profit from. Ultimately, this is no typical escape story... Read more

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Twilight of the Idols presents a vivid, compressed overview of many of Nietzsche’s mature ideas, including his attack on Plato’s Socrates and on the Platonic legacy in Western philosophy and culture. Polt provides a trustworthy rendering of Nietzsche’s text in contemporary American English, complete with notes prepared by the translator and Tracy Strong. An authoritative Introduction by Strong makes this an outstanding edition. Select Bibliography and Index. Read more

This ebook compiles Franz Kafka's greatest writings, including novels, novellas, short stories and parables such as "Amerika", "The Trial", "The Metamorphosis", "The Castle", "In the Penal Colony", "A Hunger Artist" and "The Great Wall of China". This edition has been professionally formatted and contains several tables of contents. The first table of contents (at the very beginning of the ebook) lists the titles of all novels included in this volume. By clicking on one of those titles you will be redirected to the beginning of that work, where you'll find a new TOC that lists all the chapters and sub-chapters of that specific work. Read more

Walter Bendix Schoenflies Benjamin (1892-1940 in Portbou) war ein deutscher Philosoph, Kulturkritiker und Übersetzer der Werke von Honoré de Balzac, Charles Baudelaire und Marcel Proust. Als undogmatisch positionierter Denker wird er durch die enge Freundschaft zu Theodor W. Adorno zum assoziierten Wirkungskreis der Frankfurter Schule gerechnet. Diese neue überarbeitete Gesamtausgabe, beinhaltet Walter Bejamins sämtliche Werke.INHALTSVERZEICHNIS:--ABHANDLUNGENDer Begriff der Kunstkritik in der deutschen RomantikGoethes WahlverwandtschaftenUrsprung des deutschen TrauerspielsDas Kunstwerk im Zeitalter seiner technischen ReproduzierbarkeitCharles Baudelaire Ein Lyriker im Zeitalter des HochkapitalismusÜber den Begriff der GeschichteAnhang--AUFSÄTZE, ESSAYS, VORTRÄGEFrühe Arbeiten zur Bildungs- und KulturkritikMetaphysisch-geschichtsphilosophische StudienLiterarische und ästhetische EssaysLiterarische RundfunkvorträgeÄsthetische FragmenteVorträge und RedenEnzyklopädieartikelKulturpolitische Artikel und AufsätzeAnhang--KRITIKEN UND REZENSIONEN1912192419261927192819291930193119321933193419351936193719381939/40--BAUDELAIRE-ÜBERTRAGUNGENCharles Baudelaire. Tableaux parisiensÜbertragungen aus anderen Teilen der »Fleurs du mal«--KLEINE PROSAEinbahnstraßeDeutsche MenschenBerliner Kindheit um NeunzehnhundertDenkbilderSatiren, Polemiken, GlossenBerichteIllustrierte AufsätzeHörmodelleDas kalte HerzRundfunkgeschichten für KinderGeschichten und NovellistischesGeschichten und RätselSonetteMiszellen--DAS PASSAGEN-WERKExposés Paris, die Hauptstadt des XIX. JahrhundertsParis, Capitale du XIXeme siecle ExposéAufzeichnungen und MaterialienErste Notizen Pariser Passagen 〈I〉Frühe Entwürfe--FRAGMENTE VERMISCHTEN INHALTSZur Sprachphilosophie und ErkenntniskritikZur Moral und AnthropologieZur Geschichtsphilosophie, Historik und PolitikZur ÄsthetikCharakteristiken und KritikenZur LiteraturkritikZu GrenzgebietenBetrachtungen und Notizen--AUTOBIOGRAPHISCHE SCHRIFTENLebensläufeAufzeichnungen 1906–1932Berliner ChronikAufzeichnungen 1933-1939Anhang--ÜBERSETZUNGENKleinere ÜbersetzungenMarcel Proust: Im Schatten der jungen MädchenMarcel Proust: Die Herzogin von Guermantes. Read more