The Box-Car Children [eBook]

The Box-Car Children
By Gertrude Chandler Warner
Illustrations by Dorothy Lake Gregory

This classic children’s story by Gertrude Chandler Warner has captivated young readers for generations. The book follows the adventures of four orphaned siblings—Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden—who, after losing their parents, decide to make their way in the world independently. Fearing separation in foster care, they find refuge in an abandoned boxcar they discover in the woods. The boxcar becomes their makeshift home, where they transform their surroundings into a cozy living space. They gather food, make furniture from scraps, and support each other as a loving family, showing resilience and resourcefulness in their quest for independence. Continue reading “The Box-Car Children [eBook]”

The Poor Count’s Christmas [eBook]

The Poor Count’s Christmas
by Frank R. Stockton

A charming Christmas story that captures the spirit of generosity and kindness. Set in a small European town, it follows the story of Count Cormo, a once-wealthy nobleman who has fallen on hard times. Despite his humble circumstances, the count remains dignified and kind-hearted, determined to uphold his traditional values and provide his annual Christmas celebration for the town’s children, even if he himself has very little.

The tale takes an unexpected turn when a young giant, Feldar, strolls into the area seeking his fortune, accompanied by his friend, a kind and wise little fairy. Feldar hopes to secure his share of a large inheritance.

Christmas arrives at last, and brings with it a series of surprises, demonstrating the true meaning of Christmas through selflessness and compassion and the joy that comes with indulging the spirit of giving. Continue reading “The Poor Count’s Christmas [eBook]”

George Eliot: A Luminary of Victorian Era Literature

In the history of English literature, few names loom larger than that of George Eliot. Born Mary Ann Evans on November 22, 1819, in rural Warwickshire, England, she transcended the limitations of her time to become one of the most acclaimed novelists of the Victorian era. Her life, marked by intellectual fervor, personal upheavals, and literary triumphs, is a testament to the power of intellect, empathy, and perseverance.

Early Years and Education

Mary Ann Evans was the third child of Robert Evans, a land agent, and his second wife, Christiana Pearson. Her upbringing in the rural countryside of England instilled in her a deep love for nature, which later found its expression in her writings. Despite modest beginnings, Evans exhibited exceptional intellectual curiosity from an early age. She devoured literature voraciously, demonstrating a precocious intellect that set her apart from her peers. Continue reading “George Eliot: A Luminary of Victorian Era Literature”

A Room With a View

A Room With a View
Unabridged Original Classic Edition
by E. M. Forster

One of Forster’s earlier works, A Room with a View (1908) has demonstrated enduring popularity arising from the vivid cast of characters, humorous dialogue, and comedic commentary on the restrained culture of Edwardian-era England and fixation on “propriety” among the minor gentry. Set in Italy and England, the story is both a romance and a humorous critique of English society at the beginning of the 20th century.

The novel opens in Florence with Miss Lucy Honeychurch, touring Italy with her spinster cousin and chaperone, Miss Charlotte Bartlett complaining about their rooms at the Pensione Bertolini, where they were promised rooms with a view of the River Arno but are instead given rooms overlooking a drab courtyard. Another guest, Mr. Emerson, offers to swap rooms, as he and his son, George, have rooms with views of the river. Charlotte rejects the offer, offended by Mr. Emerson’s lack of tact and propriety and fearing they would be placed under an “unseemly obligation”. Another guest, Mr. Beebe, an Anglican clergyman, persuades Charlotte to accept the offer. Continue reading “A Room With a View”

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle eBook Collection – The Complete Sherlock Holmes

Sir Arthur Conan DoyleCollection includes all four novels and five short story collections, representing the complete Sherlock Holmes canon by revered author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Novels:
A Study In Scarlet (1887)
The Sign Of The Four (1890)
The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1902)
The Valley Of Fear (1915)

Short Story Collections:
The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes (1894)
The Return Of Sherlock Holmes (1905)
His Last Bow (1917)
The Casebook Of Sherlock Holmes (1927) Continue reading “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle eBook Collection – The Complete Sherlock Holmes”

The Great Gatsby

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
Unabridged Original Classic Edition
by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This unabridged edition is not an electronic scan or reproduction. The original classic text has been formatted and edited by human editors. We have used a non-serif font, spacing between paragraphs, and no justification on the right margin in keeping with the current guidelines for readability in print books. We have used a 12-point font size to make reading this volume much easier on the eyes than typical “trade” paperback editions. Additionally, we have not inserted blank pages or large whitespaces before chapter headings to reduce the consumption of resources.

Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City, “The Great Gatsby” (1925) depicts the interactions of first-person narrator Nick Carraway with mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and Gatsby’s obsessive pursuit of a reunion with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. Continue reading “The Great Gatsby”

J.S. Fletcher eBook Collection – Twelve Very British Mysteries

J S FletcherJoseph Smith “J. S.” Fletcher (1863-1935) was one of the most popular English authors of the “Golden Age of Mysteries” and a prolific writer who published a total of 237 books, 120 of them mystery and detective novels. As a young journalist Fletcher reported on numerous police court and coroner’s inquest proceedings and became an authority on the old Yorkshire dialect and the many villages and towns of Northern England, publishing a history of Halifax and a six-voulme history of Yorkshire. Later, working in London, Fletcher immersed himself in the daily affairs of the various social classes and institutions of the city. This background gave Fletcher’s many novels a uniquely detailed and colorful depiction of the varied settings and local characters in his stories, which were characterized by intricate plots with unexpected but plausible twists and a sprinkling of red herrings. Continue reading “J.S. Fletcher eBook Collection – Twelve Very British Mysteries”

The Woman in White [Large Print]

The Woman in White, Large PrintThe Woman in White
Unabridged Large Print Edition
by Wilkie Collins

Widely regarded as the first mystery novel in the English language and a forerunner of modern detective fiction, The Woman in White, published in 1860, opens with a chance encounter on a moonlit country road in England between a mysterious woman dressed in white and Walter Hartright, on his way to Limmeridge House, the country mansion where the eccentric Frederick Fairlie has arranged for Hartright to teach drawing to his nieces, the half-sisters Marian and Laura Fairlie.

At the approach of a carriage the woman vanishes into the darkness and Hartright accepts a ride the rest of the way to Limmeridge House. Hartright falls in love with Laura, a wealthy heiress with an uncanny resemblance to the mysterious woman he encountered on the road. But Laura has pledged to marry Sir Percival Glyde. Hartright departs Limmeridge, the wedding takes place, and the mystery deepens when Laura returns from the honeymoon, moody, morose and melancholy. The enigmatic Count Fosco, a friend of Sir Percival, casts a sinister shadow as secrets unravel and the truth is revealed, and Hartright returns in an attempt to save the sisters and expose the dark mystery surrounding Limmeridge House. Continue reading “The Woman in White [Large Print]”

The Jungle [Large Print]

The Jungle
Unabridged Large Print Edition
by Upton Sinclair

In 1905, the socialist weekly journal “Appeal to Reason” sent muckraker author Upton Sinclair undercover to investigate conditions in the Chicago stockyards. The result of his seven-week investigation was “The Jungle”, first published in serial form by Appeal to Reason in 1905 and then as a book in 1906.

The story follows the fortunes of Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant who arrives in Chicago’s stockyards seeking the American Dream, his teenaged wife, and their extended family. He soon discovers a ruthless system that degrades and impoverishes him and ultimately destroys his family. Sinclair portrays their mistreatment by Rudkus’ employers and the wealthier elements of society. The meatpacking industry, where he finds employment, subjects workers to harsh conditions, lack of social support, and hopelessness. Sinclair’s depiction contrasts the working-class poverty with the deeply rooted corruption of those in power. Continue reading “The Jungle [Large Print]”

Effective AI Prompts For Small Business Marketing and Management

Effective AI Prompts
For Small Business
Marketing and Management
by Apex Legal Publishing

[Available in both print and eBook editions; see details below.]

One key aspect of AI that often goes unnoticed is prompt design, the art of crafting effective instructions that harness the true potential of AI systems. Prompts serve as the blueprint for AI systems, determining their behavior and shaping the quality of their outputs. Crafting effective prompts is critical to achieving optimal performance and efficiency in AI systems.

Effective AI Prompts for Small Business Marketing and Management is over 300 pages of actionable, professional-level content intended to quickly teach the user best practices in crafting effective prompts by presenting detailed tutorials with specific, ready-to-go examples relating to marketing concepts and practices commonly used in modern small business activity. Continue reading “Effective AI Prompts For Small Business Marketing and Management”