The Precipice considered Goncharov's best work where he was able to realize his artistic ambition to the full. Dreams and aspirations of Raisky sounding like a sonorous chord, praising a Woman, Motherland, God and love.

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.

The story takes place at sea, near the Gulf of Siam. The young captain is unfamiliar with both his ship and his crew, having only joined their company a fortnight earlier. He soon encounters a naked swimmer holding onto the side ladder of the ship while he is alone at night on look-out duty. He helps the mysterious swimmer onto the boat and hides him in his cabin without the rest of the crew's knowledge.

American Fairy Tales is the title of a collection of twelve fantasy stories by L. Frank Baum, published in 1901 by the George M. Hill Company, the firm that issued The Wonderful Wizard of Oz the previous year. ? L. Frank Baum was doing well in 1901, better than ever before in his life. He had written two popular books, Father Goose: His Book and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and was determined to capitalize on this success. In addition to American Fairy Tales, Baum's Dot and Tot of Merryland and The Master Key appeared in 1901. ? Publisher George M. Hill sold the serialization rights to the twelve stories in AFT to five major newspapers, the Pittsburgh Dispatch, the Boston Post, the Cincinnati Enquirer, the St. Louis Republic, and The Chicago Chronicle. The stories appeared between March 3 and May 19, 1901; the book followed in October. The first three papers used or adapted the book's illustrations for their publications of the stories, while the Chronicle and the Republic had their own staff artists do separate pictures.

When young cat Simon is smuggled on board a ship, his quiet little life soon becomes an adventure fit for heroes.With new friend Peggy, the ship’s dog, he bravely fights King Rat and his gang, rescues the crew from their problems, and shows the joy an animal can bring to our lives.Winning the hearts of the sailors and people across the world, Seacat Simon’s inspiring and moving true tale of love, friendship and adventure is sure to enthrall a new generation of children."Action packed read, rich in detail, harrowing in places, heart-warming in others, and with a beautiful ending." - Sheila Jeffries, author of Solomon's Tale.NOTE: Children's version contains bonus quiz material.VERSION FOR ADULTS: Able Seacat Simon’s story is also available as Simon Ships Out: How one brave, stray cat became a worldwide hero in ebook, paperback and audio formats.VERSION FOR SMALL CHILDREN: Able Seacat Simon’s story will soon be available as Seacat Simon: An illustrated picture book in ebook and paperback formats.

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.

Long essay that begins: "There is nothing more disenchanting to man than to be shown the springs and mechanism of any art. All our arts and occupations lie wholly on the surface; it is on the surface that we perceive their beauty, fitness, and significance; and to pry below is to be appalled by their emptiness and shocked by the coarseness of the strings and pulleys. In a similar way, psychology itself, when pushed to any nicety, discovers an abhorrent baldness, but rather from the fault of our analysis than from any poverty native to the mind."

Long humorous story. According to Wikipedia: "Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 - April 21, 1910), better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was a humorist, satirist, lecturer and writer from the United States of America. Twain is most noted for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which has since been called the Great American Novel, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. He is also known for his quotations. During his lifetime, Twain became a friend to presidents, artists, leading industrialists and European royalty. Twain enjoyed immense public popularity, and his keen wit and incisive satire earned him praise from both critics and peers. American author William Faulkner called Twain 'the father of American literature.'"

Long stories/novellas including: The Beach at Falsea, The Bottle Imp, and The Isle of Voices According to Wikipedia: "Robert Louis (Balfour) Stevenson ( 1850 - 1894), was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, and a leading representative of Neo-romanticism in English literature. He was the man who "seemed to pick the right word up on the point of his pen, like a man playing spillikins", as G. K. Chesterton put it. He was also greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling, Vladimir Nabokov, and J. M. Barrie. Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their definition of modernism. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the canon."

Popular collection of children's stories, first published in 1884. According to Wikipedia: "Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women and its sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys. Little Women was set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868. "

Medieval collections of Jewish biblical lore and legend. From Volume 4 of The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East. This volulme includes the Tanhuma Midrash, poems of Judah Halevi, the Book Cusari, Commentaries of Rabbi Ben Ezra, Advice of Maimonides, and The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela.

Mercy Warren wrote early drafts of this 1300+ page book near the time of the events described. Mercy writes in the third person even when dealing with events involving her immediate family. James Otis (early advocate of the rights of the colonies) was her brother, and James Warren (speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives) was her husband. She was a close friend of John Adams, but differed sharply with his policies as President. In the wake of the French Revolution, Adams lost faith in democracy, while Mercy remained a staunch supporter of democracy, despite the risks. According to Wikipedia: "Warren, Mercy (1728-1814), American writer, sister of James Otis, was born at Barnstable, Mass., and in 1754 married James Warren (1726-1808) of Plymouth, Mass., a college friend of her brother. Her literary inclinations were fostered by both these men, and she began early to write poems and prose essays. As member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1766-1774) and its speaker (1776-1777 and 1787-1788), member (1774 and 1775) and president (1775) of the Provincial Congress, and paymaster-general in 1775, James Warren took a leading part in the events of the American revolutionary period, and his wife followed its progress with keen interest...In 1805 she published a History of the American Revolution, which was colored by somewhat outspoken personal criticism and was bitterly resented by John Adams..."

First published in 1920. According to the Foreword: "Although successful heavier-than-air flight is less than two decades old, and successful dirigible propulsion antedates it by a very short period, the mass of experiment and accomplishment renders any one-volume history of the subject a matter of selection. In addition to the restrictions imposed by space limits, the material for compilation is fragmentary, and, in many cases, scattered through periodical and other publications. Hitherto, there has been no attempt at furnishing a detailed account of how the aeroplane and the dirigible of to-day came to being, but each author who has treated the subject has devoted his attention to some special phase or section. The principal exception to this rule--Hildebrandt--wrote in 1906, and a good many of his statements are inaccurate, especially with regard to heavier-than-air experiment."

Novel by the author of Moby Dick. "Being the Sailor Boy Confessions and Reminiscences of the Son-of-a Gentleman in the Merchant Navy." According to Wikipedia: "Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist and poet. His first two books gained much attention, though they were not bestsellers, and his popularity declined precipitously after only a few years. By the time of his death he had been almost completely forgotten, but his longest novel, Moby-Dick — largely considered a failure during his lifetime, and most responsible for Melville's fall from favor with the reading public — was recognized in the 20th century as one of the chief literary masterpieces of both American and world literature."

This file includes "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman and all three series of poems by Emily Dickinson. According to Wikipedia: Leaves of Grass is: "...a poetry collection by the American poet Walt Whitman. Among the poems in the collection are "Song of Myself," "I Sing the Body Electric," "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking," and Whitman's elegy to the assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd." Whitman spent his entire life writing Leaves of Grass, revising it in several editions until his death." This edition of Dickinson's poems is based on on the first published collection, edited by Mabel Loomis Todd and T.W. Higginson, which was released in three "series", the first of which appeared in 1890. Hence includes the edits made by Todd and Higginson and is missing some poems that were first published much later.

First published in 1887. Acording to the Preface: "The rise and meridian of the Moghul Empire have been related in Elphinstone's " History of India: the Hindu and Mahometan Period; " and a Special Study of the subject will Also be found in the " Sketch of the History of Hindustan" published by the present writer in 1885. Neither of those works, however, undertakes to give a detailed account of the great Anarchy that marked the conclusion of the eighteenth century, the dark time that came before the dawn of British power in the land of the Moghul. Nor is there is any other complete English book on the Subject."

Novel for children. According to Wikipedia: "Kate Douglas Wiggin ( 1856 - 1923) was an American children's author and educator. Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin was born in Philadelphia, and was of Welsh descent. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878 (the Silver Street Free Kindergarten). With her sister in the 1880s she also established a training school for kindergarten teachers. She was also a writer of children's books, the best known being The Birds' Christmas Carol (1887) and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1903)."

Classic collection of stories, first published early in the 20th century. According to Wikipedia: "Gilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) was an English writer. His prolific and diverse output included philosophy, ontology, poetry, plays, journalism, public lectures and debates, literary and art criticism, biography, Christian apologetics, and fiction, including fantasy and detective fiction. Chesterton has been called the "prince of paradox". Time magazine, in a review of a biography of Chesterton, observed of his writing style: "Whenever possible Chesterton made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories—first carefully turning them inside out." For example, Chesterton wrote "Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect it.

Classic novel, first published early in the 20th century. According to Wikipedia: "Gilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) was an English writer. His prolific and diverse output included philosophy, ontology, poetry, plays, journalism, public lectures and debates, literary and art criticism, biography, Christian apologetics, and fiction, including fantasy and detective fiction. Chesterton has been called the "prince of paradox". Time magazine, in a review of a biography of Chesterton, observed of his writing style: "Whenever possible Chesterton made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories—first carefully turning them inside out." For example, Chesterton wrote "Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect it.

Novel from the Five Little Peppers series. According to Wikipedia: "Margaret Sidney was the pseudonym of Harriett Mulford Stone ( 1844– 1924). She was an American author, born in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1878, at the age of 34, she began sending short stories to Wide Awake, a children's magazine in Boston. Two of her stories, "Polly Pepper's Chicken Pie" and "Phronsie Pepper's New Shoes", proved to be very popular with readers. Daniel Lothrop, the editor of the magazine, requested that Stone write more. The success of Harriett's short stories prompted her to write the now-famous Five Little Peppers series. This series was first published in 1881, the year that Stone married Daniel Lothrop. Daniel had founded the D. Lothrop Company of Boston, who published Harriett's books under her pseudonym, Margaret Sidney. Harriett and Daniel may have both had an interest in history and in famous authors. In 1883, they purchased the house in which both Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne lived. Nicknamed The Wayside, the house is located in Concord, Massachusetts."

Novel from the Five Little Peppers series. According to Wikipedia: "The Five Little Peppers book series was created by Margaret Sidney from 1881 to 1916. It covers the lives of the five children of Mamsie and the late Mister Pepper who are born into poverty in a rural "little brown house." The series begins with the Peppers in their native state and develops with their rescue by a wealthy gentleman who takes an interest in the family."