The story starts in London on Tuesday, October 1, 1872. Fogg is a rich English gentleman and bachelor living in solitude at Number 7 Savile Row, Burlington Gardens. Despite his wealth, which is ?40,000 (roughly ?3,020,000 today), Fogg, whose countenance is described as "repose in action", lives a modest life with habits carried out with mathematical precision. Very little can be said about his social life other than that he is a member of the Reform Club. Having dismissed his former valet, James Foster, for bringing him shaving water at 84 °F (29 °C) instead of 86 °F (30 °C), Fogg hires a Frenchman by the name of Jean Passepartout, who is about 30 years old, as a replacement. Later on that day, in the Reform Club, Fogg gets involved in an argument over an article in The Daily Telegraph, stating that with the opening of a new railway section in India, it is now possible to travel around the world in 80 days. He accepts a wager for ?20,000 (roughly ?1,510,000 today) from his fellow club members, which he will receive if he makes it around the world in 80 days. Accompanied by Passepartout, he leaves London by train at 8:45 P.M. on Wednesday, October 2, 1872, and thus is due back at the Reform Club at the same time 80 days later, Saturday, December 21, 1872. Mr. Phileas Fogg lived, in 1872, at No. 7, Saville Row, Burlington Gardens, the house in which Sheridan died in 1814. He was one of the most noticeable members of the Reform Club, though he seemed always to avoid attracting attention; an enigmatical personage, about whom little was known, except that he was a polished man of the world. People said that he resembled Byron—at least that his head was Byronic; but he was a bearded, tranquil Byron, who might live on a thousand years without growing old. Certainly an Englishman, it was more doubtful whether Phileas Fogg was a Londoner. He was never seen on 'Change, nor at the Bank, nor in the counting-rooms of the "City"; no ships ever came into London docks of which he was the owner; he had no public employment; he had never been entered at any of the Inns of Court, either at the Temple, or Lincoln's Inn, or Gray's Inn; nor had his voice ever resounded in the Court of Chancery, or in the Exchequer, or the Queen's Bench, or the Ecclesiastical Courts. He certainly was not a manufacturer; nor was he a merchant or a gentleman farmer. His name was strange to the scientific and learned societies, and he never was known to take part in the sage deliberations of the Royal Institution or the London Institution, the Artisan's Association, or the Institution of Arts and Sciences. He belonged, in fact, to none of the numerous societies which swarm in the English capital, from the Harmonic to that of the Entomologists, founded mainly for the purpose of abolishing pernicious insects. Phileas Fogg was a member of the Reform, and that was all. The way in which he got admission to this exclusive club was simple enough. He was recommended by the Barings, with whom he had an open credit. His cheques were regularly paid at sight from his account current, which was always flush. Was Phileas Fogg rich? Undoubtedly. But those who knew him best could not imagine how he had made his fortune, and Mr. Fogg was the last person to whom to apply for the information. He was not lavish, nor, on the contrary, avaricious; for, whenever he knew that money was needed for a noble, useful, or benevolent purpose, he supplied it quietly and sometimes anonymously. He was, in short, the least communicative of men. He talked very little, and seemed all the more mysterious for his taciturn manner. His daily habits were quite open to observation; but whatever he did was so exactly the same thing that he had always done before, that the wits of the curious were fairly puzzled. ABOUT AUTHOR: Jules Gabriel Verne (1828 – 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright best known for his adventure novels and his profound influence on the literary genre of science fiction. Born to bourgeois parents in the seaport of Nantes, Verne was trained to follow in his father's footsteps as a lawyer, but quit the profession early in life to write for magazines and the stage. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the Voyages Extraordinaires, a widely popular series of scrupulously researched adventure novels including Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Around the World in Eighty Days.

"BLEAK HOUSE" is a novel by Charles Dickens, published in 20 monthly instalments between March 1852 and September 1853. It is held to be one of Dickens's finest novels, containing one of the most vast, complex and engaging arrays of minor characters and sub-plots in his entire canon. The story is told partly by the novel's heroine, Esther Summerson, and partly by a mostly omniscient narrator. Memorable characters include the menacing lawyer Tulkinghorn, the friendly but depressive John Jarndyce, and the childish and disingenuous Harold Skimpole, as well as the likeable but imprudent Richard Carstone. At the novel's core is long-running litigation in England's Court of Chancery, Jarndyce v Jarndyce, which has far-reaching consequences for all involved. This case revolves around a testator who apparently made several wills. The litigation, which already has taken many years and consumed between 60,000 and 70,000 in court costs, is emblematic of the failure of Chancery. Though Chancery lawyers and judges criticised Dickens's portrait of Chancery as exaggerated and unmerited, his novel helped to spur an ongoing movement that culminated in the enactment of legal reform in the 1870s. In fact, Dickens was writing just as Chancery was reforming itself, with the Six Clerks and Masters mentioned in Chapter One abolished in 1842 and 1852 respectively: the need for further reform was being widely debated. These facts raise an issue as to when Bleak House is actually set. Technically it must be before 1842, and at least some of his readers at the time would have been aware of this. However, there is some question as to whether this timeframe is consistent with the themes of the novel. The English legal historian Sir William Holdsworth set the action in 1827. Characters in Bleak House: As usual, Dickens drew upon many real people and places but imaginatively transformed them in his novel. Hortense is based on the Swiss maid and murderess Maria Manning. The "telescopic philanthropist" Mrs Jellyby, who pursues distant projects at the expense of her duty to her own family, is a criticism of women activists like Caroline Chisholm. The "childlike" but ultimately amoral character Harold Skimpole is commonly regarded as a portrait of Leigh Hunt. "Dickens wrote in a letter of 25 September 1853, 'I suppose he is the most exact portrait that was ever painted in words! ... It is an absolute reproduction of a real man'; and a contemporary critic commented, 'I recognized Skimpole instantaneously; ... and so did every person whom I talked with about it who had ever had Leigh Hunt's acquaintance.'"[2] G. K. Chesterton suggested that Dickens "may never once have had the unfriendly thought, 'Suppose Hunt behaved like a rascal!'; he may have only had the fanciful thought, 'Suppose a rascal behaved like Hunt!'". Mr Jarndyce's friend Mr Boythorn is based on the writer Walter Savage Landor. The novel also includes one of the first detectives in English fiction, Inspector Bucket. This character is probably based on Inspector Charles Frederick Field of the then recently formed Detective Department at Scotland Yard. Dickens wrote several journalistic pieces about the Inspector and the work of the detectives in Household Words, his weekly periodical in which he also published articles attacking the Chancery system. The Jarndyce and Jarndyce case itself has reminded many readers of the thirty-year Chancery case over Charlotte Smith's father-in-law's will. Major characters: Esther Summerson – the heroine of the story, and one of its two narrators (Dickens's only female narrator), raised as an orphan because the identity of her parents is unknown. At first, it seems probable that her guardian, John Jarndyce, is her father because he provides for her. This, however, he disavows shortly after she comes to live under his roof.

Kedves Feln?ttek! ?Ez a k?nyv Nektek készült! T?rténetünk a XXXIV. században játszódik. Egy királyi család nem épp szokványos életén keresztül betekintést nyerhetünk a j?v?be. ??j faj k?rvonalazódik, aminek fejl?dése megállíthatatlan. ?Unalmasnak t?n?, idillikus életüket felváltja a S?tétség er?ivel folytatott harc, aminek kimenetele végleg meghatározza a F?ld bolygó sorsát...

The history of our English translations of "Don Quixote" is instructive. Shelton's, the first in any language, was made, apparently, about 1608, but not published till 1612. This of course was only the First Part. It has been asserted that the Second, published in 1620, is not the work of Shelton, but there is nothing to support the assertion save the fact that it has less spirit, less of what we generally understand by "go," about it than the first, which would be only natural if the first were the work of a young man writing currente calamo, and the second that of a middle-aged man writing for a bookseller. On the other hand, it is closer and more literal, the style is the same, the very same translations, or mistranslations, occur in it, and it is extremely unlikely that a new translator would, by suppressing his name, have allowed Shelton to carry off the credit. In 1687 John Phillips, Milton's nephew, produced a "Don Quixote" "made English," he says, "according to the humour of our modern language." His "Quixote" is not so much a translation as a travesty, and a travesty that for coarseness, vulgarity, and buffoonery is almost unexampled even in the literature of that day. But it is, after all, the humour of "Don Quixote" that distinguishes it from all other books of the romance kind. It is this that makes it, as one of the most judicial-minded of modern critics calls it, "the best novel in the world beyond all comparison." It is its varied humour, ranging from broad farce to comedy as subtle as Shakespeare's or Moliere's that has naturalised it in every country where there are readers, and made it a classic in every language that has a literature.

FIRE MOUNTAIN IS "A THRILLING SEA STORY BY "NORMAN SPRINGER", AUTHOR OF "THE BLOOD SHIP" Years. Bright, aslant eyes, and a suave and ever-ready smile that broke immediately Martin met his gaze. "You will be so good as to inform the honorable that Dr. Ichi is here?" he asked in precise and stilted voice. Ever the same—the noiseless entry, the quietly spoken request for the lawyer. Martin repressed a flash of irritation; the little Japanese, with his uncanny soft-footedness and stereotyped address, got upon his nerves. However, his orders were explicit; Mr. Smatt would see Dr. Ichi without delay or preliminary, whenever Dr. Ichi favored the office with a visit. It was already the third visit that day, but orders were orders. So, Martin inclined his head toward the door of Smatt's private office. The Japanese crossed the room. He bowed to Martin, as stately a bow as if Martin were also an "honorable," instead of a poor devil of a law clerk; then, noiselessly as he had entered the outer office, Dr. Ichi disappeared within Smatt's sanctum. Martin turned to his window again. But his bright day dream was fled, and he could not conjure it back again. The view was without charm. His thoughts, despite himself, persisted in centering upon the dapper little figure now closeted with his employer. The dandified Jap aroused Martin's interest. What manner of client was this Dr. Ichi? Martin had not seen a single scrap of paper, nor had Smatt dropped a single hint, concerning the case. It was mysterious! Martin was not an overly curious chap, but he was human. It was another of Smatt's secret cases, thought Martin. Another token of those hidden activities of the old vulture, which he sensed, but did not know about. For, though Martin attended to the routine work, though his duties were responsible—Smatt specialized and was prominent in maritime law—still Martin knew he did not enjoy his employer's complete confidence. Much of Smatt's time was taken up with cases Martin knew nothing about, with clients who appeared to shun the daylight of the courts. The Nippon Trading Company, for instance! Martin knew Smatt was interested in a company of that name—a strange company, that apparently conducted business without using the mails. And there was business between Ichi and Smatt—money, or Smatt would have nothing to do with it. The mystery aroused Martin's dormant curiosity. But all his speculation was pointless. Martin bethought himself of the marine affidavit lying uncompleted upon his desk. He turned from the window with the intention of applying himself to that task—and he discovered the office to have a second visitor. Another unusual figure who possessed the penchant for surreptitious entry. He observed the fellow in the very act of closing the office door.

– Itt Zachary Horner beszél! Miben segíthetek? – Jó estét kívánunk Zachary James Horner! A Brit Szerencsejáték Sz?vetség ?r?mmel értesíti ?nt, hogy megnyerte a British Bonus f?nyereményét, azaz nyolcvan?tmillió fontot. – A rohadt élet! – d?bbent meg a fiatalember a hír hallatán, majd felülve az ágyán, nagy ?r?mmel folytatta – Ez most azt jelenti, hogy eltalálták mind a négy számot, amit megjátszottam? – Igen, tisztelt uram! Ez a legmagasabb ?sszeg, amit ember eddig valaha nyert. Nyereményét bármikor átveheti a londoni k?zpontunkban is személyesen, de akár bankszámlára is elutalhatjuk ?nnek.

A háború el?szele már mindenütt érezhet?: az utakat másfajúak renegát csapatai tartják rettegésben, a városok utcáin rejtélyes halálesetek t?rténnek. A királyok nem bíznak t?bbé a varázslókban, akik azt képzelik, varázshatalmuk feljogosítja ?ket, hogy beleártsák magukat a politikába. Némelyikük a szabad országok javáért cselekszik, mások ?n?s érdekb?l, de a varázslók álságos mosolya és felszínes csevegése m?g?tt sorsd?nt? játszmák zajlanak. Ríviai Geralt mindig is büszke volt semlegességére. A vaják korábban úgy gondolta, elegend?, hogy a saját sorsáról d?nts?n… csakhogy akkor még nem kellett mások miatt aggódnia. Egyedül k?nny? semlegesnek maradni, de ha egy kislány élete a tét, már nem annyira. Geralt igyekszik mindent megtenni Ciri védelmében.  

Az Uralom Koronája egy ?si, egyedülálló varázser?vel rendelkez? elveszett ereklye. A civilizációtól távol, az elhagyatott Felejtés-sivataggal k?rülvett, misztikus Piramisf?ld?n nyugszik titkos rejtekhelyén. A legendák szerint megszerz?je Erabon világának urává válhat. A tolvajfiú Antor, tanítványa Morghan, a varázslón? Kyranda, a szerencsevadász Monteris és az íjászn? Elvana kapják azt az életveszélyes kényszerfeladatot, hogy megszerezzék ezt a fenséges varázstárgyat a rettegett Birodalom császárának. A k?z?s cél a viszontagságokkal teli utazás során elszánt és lelkes csapattá kovácsolja ?ket ?ssze. Egy ármányos és velejéig romlott rosszakaró, valamint a fondorlatos alvilág jelenléte miatt azonban a folytonos kihívások mellett ellenségekb?l sincs hiány. A konfliktusok során szerepet kap a hagyományos küzdelem, a kül?nféle harcm?vészetek, a mágia szinte minden iskolája és formája, továbbá a pusztán beavatottak által használt titokzatos kozmikus er?. A megpróbáltatások folyamán el?térbe kerülnek birodalmak, népek, kultúrák, vallások, világi és titkos rendek, szokások és kivételes világcsodák; mindek?zben változatos helyszíneken igaz barátságok és szenvedélyes szerelmek születnek. Az igazi meglepetéseket mégis az ismert világ peremvidékén túli, lakatlannak vélt vidék tartogatja. Vajon képes lesz-e a csapat megküzdeni minden nehézséggel? A k?nyvben ?tv?z?dik a páratlan részletességgel kidolgozott háttérvilág a rendkívül precíz ?sszefonódású, egymásra utaló eseményekkel, és mindezt életh?en színes leírások, filmszer? jelenetek, valamint hangulatos párbeszédek tarkítják. Nem mindennapi terjedelmét, színvonalas tartalmát és kimagasló mélységét tekintve e m? egyike a valaha megírt legnagyobb eredeti alkotásoknak. www.aholdsarlofenye.hu

Cirilla, a cintrai trón?r?k?s a Fecske-toronyban elt?nik saját világáról, és olyan útra indul, ahová sem védelmez?je, a fehér hajú vaják, sem mentora, a fekete hajú varázslón? nem k?vetheti. Olyan útra, amelynek a végén a végzet várja – az a végzet, amelyr?l már oly sok látomás kísértette. Minden a helyére kerül, a kígyó a saját farkába harap, valami véget ér, és valami elkezd?dik… A Vaják-saga befejez? k?tetében Sapkowski még magához képest is elképeszt? bravúrral ábrázol nagyszabású háborút és ugyanakkor az egyes ember drámai sorsát. Képzeletének és érzékletes leírásainak hatására megelevenednek el?ttünk az országok, városok és falvak, a t?le megszokott néz?pontváltások pedig gondoskodnak róla, hogy a sorssz?tte t?rténet végét a lehet? legalaposabb, legmélyebb módon kapjuk meg. A sagát átsz?v? fekete humor pedig tükr?t tart nemcsak a társadalom, de az egyes ember kicsinyessége és nagysága elé. ??

A young girl named Fanny Price comes to live with her wealthy uncle and aunt, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram. Fanny's family is quite poor; her mother, unlike her sister Lady Bertram, married beneath her, and Fanny's father, a sailor, is disabled and drinks heavily. Fanny is abused by her other aunt, Mrs. Norris, a busybody who runs things at Mansfield Park, the Bertrams' estate. The Bertram daughters, Maria and Julia, are shallow, rather cruel girls, intent on marrying well and being fashionable. The elder son, Tom, is a roustabout and a drunk. Fanny finds solace only in the friendship of the younger son, Edmund, who is planning to be a clergyman. Fanny grows up shy and deferential, caught as she typically is between members of the Bertram family. Sir Thomas leaves Mansfield Park for Antigua, where he owns plantations. In his absence, two new figures arrive at Mansfield: Henry and Mary Crawford, the brother and sister of the local minister's wife. Henry and Mary are attractive and cheerful, and they soon become indispensable members of the Mansfield circle. Henry flirts extensively with Maria, who is engaged to marry the boring but wealthy Rushworth. He also flirts with Julia when it suits his purposes. At first, Mary is interested in Tom, the older son and heir, but she soon realizes that he is boring and not really interested in her. She finds herself increasingly attracted to Edmund, although the prospect of marrying a clergyman does not appeal to her, and she is often cruel to him on this account. In the meantime, Fanny has innocently fallen in love with Edmund, although she does not even admit this to herself. Yates, a visiting friend of Tom's, proposes that the group should put on a play. His idea is eagerly received by all except for Edmund and Fanny, who are horrified at the idea of acting. The play goes on anyways, however; Maria and Henry, as well as Mary and Edmund (who has been prevailed upon to take a role to avoid bringing in an outsider to play it), get to play some rather racy scenes with one another. When one of the women cannot make a rehearsal, Fanny is pressured to take a role. She is almost forced to give in when Sir Thomas makes a sudden entrance, having arrived from Antigua. Sir Thomas is unhappy about the play and quickly puts a stop to the improprieties. Since Henry has not declared his love, Maria is married to Rushworth. She and Julia leave Mansfield Park for London. Relationships between the Crawfords and the Bertrams intensify. Edmund nearly proposes to Mary several times, but her condescension and amorality always stop him at the last minute. He confides his feelings to Fanny, who is secretly upset by them. In the meantime, on a lark, Henry has decided to woo Fanny. He is surprised to find himself sincerely in love with her. Fanny has become indispensable as a companion to her aunt and uncle, and on the occasion of her brother William's visit, they give a ball in her honor. Some time after the ball, Henry helps William get a promotion in the Navy. Using this as leverage, he proposes to Fanny, who is mortified and refuses. He continues to pursue her. Her uncle is disappointed that she has refused such a wealthy man, and, as an indirect result, she is sent to stay with her parents in their filthy house. Meanwhile, Edmund has been ordained and continues to debate over his relationship with Mary, to Fanny's dismay. Henry comes to see Fanny at her parents' and renews his suit. He then leaves to take care of business on his estate. Fanny continues to receive letters from Mary encouraging her to take Henry's proposal. A series of events then happen in rapid succession: Tom Bertram falls dangerously ill as a result of his partying and nearly dies; Henry, who has gone not to his estate but to see friends, has run off with the married Maria; Julia, upset over her sister's rash act, elopes with Yates, Tom's friend. Julia and Yates are reconciled to the family. Edmund finally comes and marries Fanny

A few years ago, while visiting or, rather, rummaging about Notre-Dame, the author of this book found, in an obscure nook of one of the towers, the following word, engraved by hand upon the wall:— ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ANArKH. These Greek capitals, black with age, and quite deeply graven in the stone, with I know not what signs peculiar to Gothic caligraphy imprinted upon their forms and upon their attitudes, as though with the purpose of revealing that it had been a hand of the Middle Ages which had inscribed them there, and especially the fatal and melancholy meaning contained in them, struck the author deeply. He questioned himself; he sought to divine who could have been that soul in torment which had not been willing to quit this world without leaving this stigma of crime or unhappiness upon the brow of the ancient church. Afterwards, the wall was whitewashed or scraped down, I know not which, and the inscription disappeared. For it is thus that people have been in the habit of proceeding with the marvellous churches of the Middle Ages for the last two hundred years. Mutilations come to them from every quarter, from within as well as from without. The priest whitewashes them, the archdeacon scrapes them down; then the populace arrives and demolishes them. Thus, with the exception of the fragile memory which the author of this book here consecrates to it, there remains to-day nothing whatever of the mysterious word engraved within the gloomy tower of Notre-Dame,—nothing of the destiny which it so sadly summed up. The man who wrote that word upon the wall disappeared from the midst of the generations of man many centuries ago; the word, in its turn, has been effaced from the wall of the church; the church will, perhaps, itself soon disappear from the face of the earth. It is upon this word that this book is founded.

Janka a csinos, 31 éves pincérn? legh?bb vágya, hogy belépjen életébe a nagy szerelem. Amikor megismerkedik Dáviddal, a híres énekessel, úgy érzi, benne megtalálta azt, akit mindig is keresett. Kapcsolatuk mégsem alakul felh?tlenül, bármilyen szenvedélyesen szerelmes is a popsztárba. Ahogy egyre jobban megismeri Dávidot, kiderül a férfi s?tét oldala. Janka azonban nem tud t?le elszakadni... A regény?arra keresi a választ, hogy milyen egy bántalmazó férfi és egy bántalmazói kapcsolat. Hogyan lehet egy ilyen kapcsolaton túljutni és ?nmagunkra találni annak ellenére, hogy képtelennek érezzük magunkat az elszakadásra? Hogyan lehet egy fájdalmas kapcsolaton túl is újra boldognak lenni?

Scriitorul George Colpit a publicat pan? in prezent cinci romane, un volum de reportaje ?i eseuri publicistice, un volum de poezii ?i prezenta culegere de nuvele.Cartea de fa?? demonstreaz? c? deosebitul talent ale romancierului de a da via?? unor personaje vii, pregnante, cu o prezen?? aproape material?, palpabil?, ?n situa?ii cotidiene veridice, duce, ?i ?n cazul ?n care scrie proz? scurt?, la realizarea unor mini-capodopere literare, dovedind un talent deosebit.V? invit?m s? citi?i ?i celelalte opere ale acestui talentat scriitor: Judecata de pe urm?. Despre Opera?iunea Psi ?i Laboratorul Psihotronic. Roman; Nebunul. Roman; Dorina tranzi?iei. Roman erotic interzis minorilor; Legionarul communist. Roman; Partidele coliba?ului. O saga arge?ean?. Roman; Articole din pia?a politic?. Despre oportuni?tii de forma?ie intelectual?. Publicistic?; Oglinda retrovizoare. Poezii

Júlia el?tt két út áll: szerelem nélküli, elrendezett házasság vagy lázadás. Az éles esz? lány, aki nemcsak rajongója Dante romantikus k?ltészetének, de maga is verseket ír, nem hajlandó fejet hajtani a hagyományok el?tt, és belet?r?dni a szül?k akaratába, mint imádott barátn?je, Lucrezia. Júlia sorsa ?r?kre megpecsétel?dik, amikor egy álarcosbálon megismeri a családjával viszálykodó Monticecco család fiát, Rómeót. Robin Maxwell, az angol t?rténelmi regények népszer? szerz?je nem kevesebbre vállalkozott, mint hogy újraírja Shakespeare egyik legnépszer?bb drámáját, a Rómeó és Júliá-t. Az írón? ezúttal is t?rténelmileg hiteles regényt írt: a halhatatlan szerelmesek t?rténete Verona helyett a reneszánsz Firenzében játszódik. Mik?zben megismerhetjük a nyüzsg? város hétk?znapjait, kibontakozik el?ttünk egy ifjú pár szerelmi t?rténete, amely nem kevésbé drámai és szívszorító, mint a nagy k?lt?é, ám ezúttal azt is láthatjuk, mi zajlik a kulisszák m?g?tt.

avagy a szeretet, a megbocsátás és a szabadság ereje T?rténet egy anyáról, akinek szívéhez k?zelebb állt egyik fia, mint a másik, és b?ntudata halála után sem hagyta nyugodni. T?rténet egy fiúról, akit édesanyja nem akart a világra hozni, akinek a magány volt a legh?ségesebb társa, s akinek szíve k?vé dermedt a háború borzalmaiban. T?rténet egy lányról, aki tudta, mekkora er?vel bír a szeretet, és tudta, hogyan kell megszelídíteni, újrahangolni egy elgy?t?rt szívet. T?rténet egy n?r?l, aki háta m?g?tt hagyta a nyugati világot, hogy megtalálja, ami a legfontosabb az életben: ?nmagát. Az egymásba fonódó t?rténetekb?l egyetlen regény kerekedik, mely izgalmas emberi sorsokról mesél, mik?zben bemutatja Burma babonákkal, ugyanakkor b?lcsességgel átsz?tt kultúráját, és felnyitja szemünket egy olyan világra, melyben a szeretet, a megbocsátás és a szabadság jelentik az igazi hatalmat.

1588-ban vagyunk. A spanyol Armada megtámadni készül Angliát, a nemrégiben megkoronázott Erzsébet királyn? maga mellé veszi kegyencét, Robert Dudleyt, gyerekkori szerelmét, akit?l gyermeke fogan. A trón?r?k?s, Arthur Dudley, egy viharos éjszakán, titokban j?n a világra, majd egy vadászmajorban nevelkedik, anélkül, hogy sejtelme lenne arról, kicsoda is ? valójában. Nevel?apja csak halálos ágyánál árulja el igazi származását. Arthur Dudley harcol a holland-spanyol háborúban, megismeri az igaz szerelem boldogságát és szenvedéseit, a halálát várja a spanyol inkvizíció b?rt?nében, míg végül sikerül megmenekülnie és eljutnia gyerekkori példaképéhez, Robin Dudleyhoz és imádott királyn?jéhez, I. Erzsébethez, akiknek be kell bizonyítania, hogy a vérszerinti fiuk. A t?rténészeket régóta foglalkoztatja az a kérdés, hogy vajon I. Erzsébet és Robert Dudley hosszú éveken át tartó szerelmi kapcsolatából született-e gyermek. Bizonyos források emlegetnek egy Arthur Dudley nev? fiatalembert, aki csak feln?tt korában bukkant fel az angol királyi udvarban.

Az iráni írón? els? regénye máris 14 nyelven jelent meg világszerte. A t?rténet az iszlám forradalom utáni Iránban játszódik, ahol egy n? csak fejkend?ben léphet ki az utcára, és b?nnek számít, ha valaki amerikai zenét hallgat. Egy kis iráni faluban nevelkedik a kis Szába és ikertestvére, Mahtab. Szába élete egy csapásra megváltozik, amikor anyja és testvére számára felfoghatatlanul elt?nnek az életéb?l. A kislány meg van gy?z?dve róla, hogy Amerikába emigráltak nélküle.

A velencei bába népszer? szerz?je új k?nyvében a 16. századi Konstantinápolyba repíti az olvasót. Hanna és Izsák sok-sok akadályt küzdenek le, hogy új életet kezdjenek az oszmán birodalomban. Izsák selyemkészítésbe kezd, Hanna pedig, aki hamar elnyeri a f?város legjobb bábája elismerést, a szultán fény?z? háremében kap megbízatást. Egy éjszaka Hannát a szultán palotájába hívatják. Ekkor találkozik el?sz?r a gy?ny?r? Leával, akit elraboltak, hogy a szultán ágyasa legyen. ?m a lány súlyos titkot cipel magával. Ha fény derül rá, Leára sz?rny? sors vár. Hanna mindent elk?vet, hogy segítsen a lánynak, ám ezzel nem csak a saját, de a családja életét is kockára teszi. Mindennek tetejébe házukba egy elb?v?l? idegen n? állít be váratlanul, és kis híján romba d?nti Hanna családi boldogságát. Nem kevesebbet akar, mint a férjét és a szemük fényét, a kis Matteót.

A k?tet Poe fantasztikus elbeszéléseit-novelláit gy?jti egybe, olyan klasszikus és ?r?k darabokat, mint A kút és az inga, a Metzengerstein, vagy a T?rténet a Rongyos Hegyekb?l. Valamennyit Babits Mihály m?gonddal és szép magyar nyelvre ültetett értelmezésében adjuk k?zre.

Iubire ?n singur?tate. Care va fi pedeapsa unei mame care, urm?ndu-?i pasiunile nebune, ??i neglijeaz? fiul? Jon ?i mama sa, Vibeke, tr?iesc ?ntr-o mic? localitate norvegian?, cu nop?i lungi ?i reci, care-i aduc copilului groaznice co?maruri ?i-i alimenteaz? femeii fantasmele erotice. Urm?ndu-?i setea de iubire, Vibeke ignor? dragostea propriului fiu, care va ajunge s? r?t?ceasc?, la propriu ?i la figurat prin gerurile Norvegiei. O poveste cu suspans, despre compromis, singur?tate ?i nevoia puternic? de iubire.

S? mori ?n momentul cel mai nepotrivit. Ce poate fi mai r?u dec?t ca amanta al?turi de care vrei s? petreci o noapte s?-?i moar? ?n bra?e? Nimic, ar zice un cititor care nu-l cunoa?te pe Javier Marías. Scriitorul spaniol ?tie ?ns? ce poate fi mai r?u. Ca ?n apartamentul unde se ?nt?mpl? totul s? se afle chiar copilul ei. ?i de aici ?ncepe povestea. Deciziile incredibil de grele pe care b?rbatul trebuie s? le ia, remu?c?rile ce-l urm?resc apoi, r?sturn?rile neprev?zute de situa?ie, interven?ia regelui Spaniei ?i farsele pe care destinul pare s? le joace personajelor sunt ingrediente marca Marías, care te vor l?sa cu gura c?scat?.