While the story is thematically similar to Candide by Voltaire, also published early in 1759 – both concern young men travelling in the company of honoured teachers, encountering and examining human suffering in an attempt to determine the root of happiness – their root concerns are distinctly different. Voltaire was very directly satirising the widely read philosophical work by Gottfried Leibniz, particularly the Theodicee, in which Leibniz asserts that the world, no matter how we may perceive it, is necessarily the "best of all possible worlds". In contrast the question Rasselas confronts most directly is whether or not humanity is essentially capable of attaining happiness. Writing as a devout Christian, Johnson makes through his characters no blanket attacks on the viability of a religious response to this question, as Voltaire does, and while the story is in places light and humorous, it is not a piece of satire, as is Candide.

This collection assembles four of Blackwood's greatest stories: "The Insanity of Jones," "The Man Who Found Out," "The Glamour of the Snow," and "Sand." ? The son of a preacher, Blackwood had a life-long interest in the supernatural, the occult, and spiritualism, and firmly believed that humans possess latent psychic powers. The autobiography Episodes Before Thirty (1923) tells of his lean years as a journalist in New York. In the late 1940s, Blackwood had a television program on the BBC on which he read . . . ghost stories!

Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady is an epistolary novel by Samuel Richardson, published in 1748. It tells the tragic story of a heroine whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family, and is regarded as the longest novel in the English language (based on estimated word count). It is generally regarded as Richardson's masterpiece. ? Clarissa Harlowe, the tragic heroine of Clarissa, is a beautiful and virtuous young lady whose family has become wealthy only recently and now desires to become part of the aristocracy. Their original plan was to concentrate the wealth and lands of the Harlowes into the possession of Clarissa's brother James Harlowe, whose wealth and political power will lead to his being granted a title. Clarissa's grandfather leaves her a substantial piece of property upon his death, and a new route to the nobility opens through Clarissa marrying Robert Lovelace, heir to an earldom. James's response is to provoke a duel with Lovelace, who is seen thereafter as the family's enemy. James also proposes that Clarissa marry Roger Solmes, who is willing to trade properties with James to concentrate James's holdings and speed his becoming Lord Harlowe. The family agrees and attempts to force Clarissa to marry Solmes, whom she finds physically disgusting as well as boorish.

Prophet Zakariya (Zachariah) was an illustrious Prophet of the Israelites. He was one of the descendants of Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him). The name of his wife was al-Yashbi' who belonged to the family of Prophet Harun (peace be upon him). The Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him) was the patron of Mary, the mother of Prophet Isa (peace be upon him). He was the trustee of Hekal. He worked as a carpenter and earned his livelihood. The Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him) kept the torch of Mosaic law burning. He used to pray devotionally and preach zealously. His wife and he were the symbols of piety and righteousness. Most of his kinsmen lacked in spirit of true faith. ?As they were seduced, they were inclined to doing evil deeds. They were going out of the right path. ?The Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him) was much anxious about this state of affairs. ?He had no offspring and there was no suitable person to hold the office of priesthood of Hekal after his death. ?He was ?desirous of having a son to become his good successor. ?He did not long for a son to satisfy a mere ?human desire for one's progeny. ?He wanted to have a son to maintain the warmth of religious activities. ?One night he stood in prayer in his sanctuary and prayed to Allah to bless him with a good son. ?He was conscious that he was in an advanced age and his wife was barren and unable to raise any issue. ?He had full faith in Allah Who possesses power to do whatever He wills. ?He came to know through his prophetic insight that Allah would grant his request. ?He would be blessed with a good son to act as his heir who could guide the people aright. God in His infinite mercy removed the defect of his wife's barrenness so that she might become mother. ?She gave birth to Prophet Yahya. ?(peace be upon him) who was destined to be honourable, chaste, and a prophet from among the righteous. ?The Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him) felt satisfied as his son grew up and became a symbol of piety. ?He was graced with wisdom, obedience and asceticism. The Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him) continued preaching the religion of Allah even in old age.? Prophet John or Yahya is also honored as a prophet in Islam as Ya?yā ibn Zakarīyā (Arabic: ???? ?? ??????), or "John, son of Zechariah". He is believed by Muslims to have been a witness to the word of God, and a prophet who would herald the coming of Jesus. His father Zechariah was also an Islamic prophet. Islamic tradition maintains that John was one of the prophets whom Muhammad met on the night of the Mi'raj, his ascension through the Seven Heavens. It is said that he met John and Jesus in the second heaven, where Muhammad greeted his two 'brothers' before ascending with archangel Gabriel to the third heaven. John's story was also told to the Abyssinian king during the Muslim refugees' Migration to Abyssinia. According to the Qur'an, John was one on whom God sent peace on the day that he was born and the day that he died. John is also honored highly in Sufism as well as Islamic mysticism, primarily because of the Qur'an's description of John's chastity and kindness. Sufis have frequently applied commentaries on the passages on John in the Qur'an, primarily concerning the God-given gift of "Wisdom" which he acquired in youth as well as his parallels with Jesus. Although several phrases used to describe John and Jesus are virtually identical in the Qur'an, the manner in which they are expressed is different. The Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) was the precursor of Prophet Isa (Jesus Christ). ?He was his cousin and contemporary as well. ?His fidelity to his mission as a preacher soon deprived him of his liberty and subsequently his life.

A simple tale of love and friendship to warm your heart Award-winning author and designer Shaila Abdullah teams up with her 10-year-old daughter Aanyah to bring you this heartwarming tale of a little girl who forms a close bond with a child with cerebral palsy. The girl finds that through her art, she can reach her special friend Suhana. "My Friend Suhana is a delightful read for a children's book. Very well illustrated with respect, friendship, and advocacy all in mind at the same time." --Dawn Cruzan, President, Camp Craig Allen for all abilities "This is the story of a seven-year-old's first attempt at unconditional love. Tough but tender, inspirational yet utterly real, this is a small gem of a tale. Highly recommended for anyone in the position of mentoring a beloved child through the hard places of life." --Paula Huston, author of A Season of Mystery and A Land Without Sin "My Friend Suhana is a charming and perceptive book that will draw its readers into empathy while allowing them to enjoy this heartwarming story of two uncommon friends." --Chitra Divakaruni, author of Grandma and the Great Gourd Learn more at www.MyFriendSuhana.com From the Growing With Love Series at www.LHPress.com

The famous Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti was also a celebrated poet, scholar and translator, whose works influenced the European Symbolists, serving as a precursor of the Aesthetic movement. His early poetry was influenced by John Keats, whilst his later verses were characterised by the complex interlinking of thought and feeling, as demonstrated by his masterpiece, the sonnet sequence, ‘The House of Life’. This volume of the bestselling Delphi Poets Series presents the complete written works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, with beautiful illustrations, rare works and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Rossetti's life and works * Brief introduction to the poet and his work * Excellent formatting of the poems * Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the poetry * The rare translations of Italian poets, including the complete translation of Dante Alighieri's LA VITA NUOVA * Easily locate the poems you want to read * Includes Rossetti's rare prose works, including the scarce short story – first time in digital print * Features three biographies - discover Rossetti's literary life * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles CONTENTS: The Poetry of Dante Gabriel Rossetti BRIEF INTRODUCTION: DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI The Poems LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER The Prose HAND AND SOUL THE STEALTHY SCHOOL OF CRITICISM The Biographies ROSSETTI by Lucien Pissarro RECOLLECTIONS OF DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI by T. Hall Caine Extract from ‘FIGURES OF SEVERAL CENTURIES’ by Arthur Symons Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, was a poet and courtier of King Charles II's Restoration court, whose rakish lifestyle, biting satires and obscene verses established his name as one of the greatest wits of his time. The Delphi Poets Series offers readers the works of literature's finest poets, with superior formatting. This volume presents the complete works of Rochester, with beautiful illustrations and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Rochester's life and works * Concise introduction to the poet and his works * Excellent formatting of the poems * Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the poetry * Rare poems often missed out of collections * Easily locate the poems you want to read * Includes Rochester's rare play LUCINA’S RAPE * Features two bonus biographies, including Gilbert Burnet’s seminal study – immerse yourself in Rochester's literary life * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles CONTENTS: The Poetry Collections BRIEF INTRODUCTION: EARL OF ROCHESTER The Poems LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER The Play LUCINA’S RAPE The Biographies THE LIFE OF THE EARL OF ROCHESTER by Dr. Johnson SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JOHN WILMOT, EARL OF ROCHESTER by Gilbert Burnet Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘Lord Jim’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Joseph Conrad’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Conrad includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘Lord Jim’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Conrad’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘Typhoon’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Joseph Conrad’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Conrad includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘Typhoon’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Conrad’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘The Rescue’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Joseph Conrad’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Conrad includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘The Rescue’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Conrad’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘Last Essays’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Joseph Conrad’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Conrad includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘Last Essays’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Conrad’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘Netochka Nezvanova’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Dostoyevsky includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily. eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘Netochka Nezvanova’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Dostoyevsky’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘The Gambler’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Dostoyevsky includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily. eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘The Gambler’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Dostoyevsky’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘Dostoyevsky’s Journal’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Dostoyevsky includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily. eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘Dostoyevsky’s Journal’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Dostoyevsky’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘In the Days of the Comet’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of H. G. Wells’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Wells includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘In the Days of the Comet’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Wells’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘Ann Veronica’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of H. G. Wells’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Wells includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘Ann Veronica’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Wells’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘The History of Mr. Polly’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of H. G. Wells’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Wells includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘The History of Mr. Polly’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Wells’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘Boon’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of H. G. Wells’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Wells includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘Boon’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Wells’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘The Secret Places of the Heart’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of H. G. Wells’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Wells includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘The Secret Places of the Heart’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Wells’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘The World of William Clissold’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of H. G. Wells’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Wells includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘The World of William Clissold’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Wells’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘Meanwhile’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of H. G. Wells’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Wells includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.eBook features:* The complete unabridged text of ‘Meanwhile’* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Wells’s works* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles