'A strange and compelling new book from one of America's greatest living authors' Times Literary Supplement 'As cunning and rich as anything Ozick's written' Wall Street Journal 'One of our era's central writers. About a man ensnared by history, Antiquities is at once a warning against the hazards of nostalgia and an invitation to take a longer view of how we got to where we are' The New Yorker 'Ozick's prose urges the breathless reader along, her love of language rolling excitedly through her sentences like an ocean wave' New York Review of Books I remember nothing. I remember everything. I believe everything. I believe nothing. In 1949, Lloyd Wilkinson Petrie returns as a Trustee to the long-defunct boarding school that he attended as a child. There he is preparing a memoir about the subtle anti-Semitism that pervaded the school, about his fascination with the Egyptian archaeological adventures of his distant cousin, about the passions of a boyhood friendship with named Ben-Zion Elefantin, a mystifying older pupil. In this novella, and the three stories published alongside it, one of our most preeminent writers weaves together myth and mania, history and illusion to capture the shifting meanings of the past.

A high-caliber police procedural mystery from the acclaimed author Warren Adler, well-known for the iconic novel turned international box-office hit The War of the Roses. The poison pen of Polly Dearborn, an infamous Washington Post investigative reporter, has gone silent. When Polly is found hanging from her balcony in the Watergate apartments, Washington's elite and powerful rejoice-the Witch of Watergate is dead! But Polly's voice reaches beyond the grave, and her final articles may contain clues to some big secrets. Homicide detective Fiona Fitzgerald, well-versed in the behind-the-scenes dealings of Washington, doesn't buy the suicide angle. But secret alliances between the police, the Post, and the mayor make Fiona's job difficult. What's worse is that her new and unlikable partner, Charleen Evans, seems to be working against Fiona when she takes control of the evidence herself. All challenges aside, Fiona knows the political world and is determined to find the truth. The Witch of Watergate is the fourth book in the Fiona Fitzgerald Mystery series.

A high-caliber police procedural mystery from the acclaimed author Warren Adler, well-known for his iconic novel turned international box-office hit "The War of the Roses." Old money, old secrets. The elderly mother of the Governor of Virginia, an icon of Washington society, is found dead and sexually assaulted in her posh Washington, DC, residence. Metropolitan Police detective Fiona Fitzgerald investigates the horrifying crime. As a senator's daughter, she has the advantage of knowing the world of Washington's privileged. Young Martine, the accused, has no advantages. He was not raised in a family with political leverage and did not understand Washington's politicians' inner workings and secrets. Then there is the devoted servant, the status-hungry daughter-in-law, the drugs, power, and money-but where does the truth lie within this complicated family drama? Through it all, Fiona wrestles with her feelings about marriage as she considers marriage to a former general, who is now mounting a massive offensive for her hand. Will an inside look at one Washington marriage-and all of its dirty little secrets-help her choose? Fiona must battle both privilege and prejudice as she uncovers the inevitable truth behind the political facade. Death of a Washington Madame is the third book in the Fiona Fitzgerald Mystery series.

Fiction, Adventure, General Road Trip, Cross Country, Self Discovery

A dazzling triumph from the bestselling author of 'The War of the Roses' - a sweeping and ambitious novel spanning across two eras and the city at the center of it all. A mother's deathbed confession. A son's life spins out of control. And now Osiris has one mission; to find his long lost sister, Isis. Osiris embarks upon a journey to his ancestral home in Egypt. The winding streets of the City of the Dead conceal many dangers. His mother's enemies are everywhere and will not hesitate to kill to keep their secrets hidden. Cryptic clues left by his mother slowly begin to unravel, and with it, a trail of cold bodies in Osiris' wake. But he is not the only one searching for Isis. And this predator is not looking for a happy reunion but something much more sinister. This bitter and incredibly deadly enemy is hot on Osiris' scent; he's hunter that triggers a heart-stopping chase with utterly fatal consequences. Follow Osiris in this edge-of-your-seat roller-coaster ride of daring maneuvers and nerve-wracking action as they try to find Isis before they both end up in just another Egyptian tomb. Readers thrilled about this edge of your seat novel: "Mother Nile is an utterly engrossing story." - Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Mr. Adler’s writing is remarkable; his use of language erudite and energized." - Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Mr. Adler is a masterful storyteller..." - Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This story is so skillfully drawn to pull us in from the start and keep us captive till the very end." - Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "What a lovely gift inside a nitty-gritty novel that cannot be easily classified.. It is as tender as as it is cruel." - Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The story line itself makes the book worthwhile, but the detailed look at life in the recent past makes the book exceptional." - Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When the daughter of prominent human rights activist, Sarah Raab, is kidnapped by what may be a terrorist organization, her life is put into turmoil. Told not to seek out the police, she turns to a former high-level CIA operative, Carl Helman: an anti-terrorist expert she has only recently met. She must battle with her conscience and her strongly held beliefs while working with a man who embodies everything she despises. When she discovers that a member of her own inner circle could be involved, Sarah must make the horrific choice of allowing Helman to use his "advanced interrogation techniques" on them or risk losing her daughter. How could this happen? Why would a terrorist group target her family? And how far against her own values is Sarah willing to go when the threat of loss becomes devastatingly personal?

"An extravaganza . . . fertile invention and forceful style . . . Mr. Kersh's many admirers will undoubtedly devour this highly flavoured hotch-potch with avidity." - Julian Maclaren-Ross, Sunday Times "[F]irst-rate Kersh, richly peopled with the odd bit roles he sketches so well and written with style and individuality." - Anthony Boucher, New York Herald Tribune "Sometimes funny, sometimes nightmarish, always first-class entertainment." - Basil Davenport, New York Times Journalist George Oaks and his friend Albert Kemp, a mystery novelist, are on their way to meet their friend, the celebrated philosopher Dr. Monacelli. But when a clerical mix-up leads to their meeting the American gangster Monty Cello instead, Oaks and Kemp quickly find themselves caught up in a bizarre and dangerous plot involving a murdered reporter, a missing scientist, and a group of powerful madmen with a plan to destroy the world as we know it. It's a race against time as Oaks and Kemp must infiltrate the villains' stronghold and save humanity before it's too late! Equal parts hard-boiled crime novel and apocalyptic science fiction tale, The Great Wash (1953) is one of the most exciting novels by Gerald Kersh (1911-1968), who is best known for his classics Night and the City (1938) and Fowlers End (1957). Fowlers End and four volumes of Kersh's strange and brilliant short fiction are also available from Valancourt.

One of Sherlock Holmes's greatest rivals, a female detective who solves cases using her abilities in lip-reading and ju-jitsu, returns to print in this first-ever annotated, illustrated edition The incredible popularity of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories led to an explosion in tales featuring fictional detectives, but few of them were as original or interesting as Richard Marsh's Judith Lee, whose stories appeared alongside Doyle's in Strand Magazine from 1911-1916. "My name is Judith Lee. I am a teacher of the deaf and dumb. I teach them by what is called the oral system​ - that is, the lip--reading system. I suppose I must have a special sort of knack in that direction, because I do not remember a time when, by merely watching people speaking at a distance, I did not know what they were saying. This knack of mine, in a way, is almost equivalent to another sense. It has led me into the most singular situations, and it has been the cause of many really extraordinary adventures." Thus opens the first of Marsh's charming stories featuring Judith Lee, who thwarts murderers, robbers, burglars, con-men, and spies using her remarkable ability to read lips in multiple languages, along with her quick wits, innate intelligence, and skills in disguise and martial arts. Best known today for his horror fiction, including The Beetle (1897), a Gothic thriller that initially outsold Bram Stoker's Dracula , Richard Marsh (1857-1915) is receiving increased attention in recent years for his other works, including the twenty-two Judith Lee stories, reprinted in full in this volume, along with the original illustrations from Strand Magazine and a new scholarly introduction and annotations by Minna Vuohelainen.

Step into the halcyon world of pre-war England through the eyes of George Sherston, the fictionalized alter ego of poet and war hero Siegfried Sassoon. In "Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man", Sassoon masterfully captures the innocence of youth, the thrill of the hunt, and the deep, abiding connection to a countryside untouched by the horrors of the Great War. Through Sherston’s adventures—on horseback and off—readers are immersed in the gentle rhythms of country life, the camaraderie of the hunting field, and the quiet introspections of a young man coming of age. Yet beneath the light-hearted tales and sporting escapades lies an undercurrent of change, as the encroaching reality of war looms over this idyllic existence. Sassoon’s prose is at once nostalgic and sharply observant, offering a portrait of an era and a generation on the cusp of irrevocable transformation. Whether you are a lover of classic literature, historical fiction, or poignant coming-of-age stories, this evocative narrative offers both a window into a vanished world and a powerful commentary on the innocence lost to war.

Relates the fictional adventures of Nesthäkchen, German girl, during the social and economic upheavals in Weimar Germany just after World War I. This volume describes Annemarie's college days, courtship and marriage.

This tale follows the adventures of John of Gamala during the years of Roman occupation, political infighting, and lawlessness that resulted in the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. It puts the reader at the heart of the conflict between Rome and the greedy political groups and robber bands of Palestine. Although fighting a losing struggle, John keeps his integrity and honor intact, even overcoming slavery and eventually becoming a procurator after the struggle. Solomon Joseph Solomon RA (16 September 1860 - 27 July 1927) was a British painter, a founding member of the New English Art Club and member of the Royal Academy.Solomon's family was Jewish, and his sister, Lily Delissa Joseph (née Solomon), was also a painter.He made an important contribution to the development of camouflage in the First World War, working in particular on tree observation posts and arguing tirelessly for camouflage netting.... George Alfred Henty (8 December 1832 - 16 November 1902) was a prolific English novelist and war correspondent.He is best known for his historical adventure stories that were popular in the late 19th century. His works include The Dragon & The Raven (1886), For The Temple (1888), Under Drake's Flag (1883) and In Freedom's Cause (1885).G. A. Henty was born in Trumpington, near Cambridge. He was a sickly child who had to spend long periods in bed. During his frequent illnesses he became an avid reader and developed a wide range of interests which he carried into adulthood. He attended Westminster School, London, and later Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he was a keen sportsman. He left the university early without completing his degree to volunteer for the Army Hospital Commissariat when the Crimean War began. He was sent to the Crimea and while there he witnessed the appalling conditions under which the British soldier had to fight. His letters home were filled with vivid descriptions of what he saw. His father was impressed by his letters and sent them to The Morning Advertiser newspaper which printed them. This initial writing success was a factor in Henty's later decision to accept the offer to become a special correspondent, the early name for journalists now better known as war correspondents.Shortly before resigning from the army as a captain in 1859 he married Elizabeth Finucane. The couple had four children. Elizabeth died in 1865 after a long illness and shortly after her death Henty began writing articles for the Standard newspaper. In 1866 the newspaper sent him as their special correspondent to report on the Austro-Italian War where he met Giuseppe Garibaldi. He went on to cover the 1868 British punitive expedition to Abyssinia, the Franco-Prussian War, the Ashanti War, the Carlist Rebellion in Spain and the Turco-Serbian War. ........

The most accurate and poetic translation of the world's greatest epic, which is now a film by Academy Award winner Christopher Nolan! “This may be the best translation of The Odyssey yet."—Edith Hall, The Telegraph A magnificent feat of translation, hailed by classicists and poets alike as a “momentous achievement”: “thrilling,” “rich and rhythmical,” “superb,” “mesmerizing,” “searingly faithful—yet absolutely original.” With this edition of Homer’s Odyssey, the celebrated author, critic, and classicist Daniel Mendelsohn brings the great epic to vividly poetic new life. Widely known for his essays on classical literature and culture in The New Yorker and many other publications, Mendelsohn gives us a line-for-line rendering of The Odyssey that is both engrossing as poetry and true to its source. Rejecting the streamlining and modernizing approach of many recent translations, he artfully reproduces the epic’s formal qualities—meter, enjambment, alliteration, assonance—and in so doing restores to Homer’s masterwork its archaic grandeur. Mendelsohn’s expansive six-beat line, far closer to the original than that of other recent translations, allows him to capture each of Homer’s dense verses without sacrificing the amplitude and shadings of the original. The result is the richest, most ample, most precise, and most musical Odyssey in English, conveying the beauty of its poetry, the excitement of its hero’s adventures, and the profundity of its insights. Supported by an extensive introduction and the fullest notes and commentary currently available, Daniel Mendelsohn’s Odyssey is poised to become the authoritative version of this magnificent and enduringly influential masterpiece.

Spy thriller fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder 'The men who work for you, General', he observed, 'should rid themselves of any fear of death'. Rome, 1934. Martin Fawley leaves the American secret service and is recruited by General Berati, the most feared man in fascist Italy, as a spy. After a brief encounter with a glamorous yet murderous Italian princess, Fawley's mission takes him undercover to Monaco. Suave and worldly, Fawley is quite at home in the casinos and golf courses of Monte Carlo--but he is soon entangled in a game with higher stakes. As the nations of Europe vie for power, Fawley discovers the secret weapon that will determine the outcome of the looming war. This classic thriller--undoubtedly an influence on Ian Fleming's James Bond novels--is now republished for the first time since the 1930s. With its yachts and cocktail parties, its steely hero and brutal assassins, and its cinematic range across the cities of Europe, this is a gripping and sophisticated tale of a spy who saves the world.

Casanovas Heimfahrt

Bret Harte was an American author and poet, best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California. Harte moved to California in 1853, later working there in a number of capacities, including miner, teacher, messenger, and journalist. His story, "The Luck of Roaring Camp," appearing in The Overland Monthly magazine, propelled Harte to nationwide fame. The Argonauts of North Liberty is a longer tale by Harte. Taking place in a staunchly reserved Presbyterian society, it illustrates in its heroine the revolt of an unruly and unregenerate nature against a Puritan society. North Liberty is a Connecticut town, and the "Argonauts" are a man and woman who migrate to California to begin life again, escaping the strictures of their earlier life, like the "Blue Law" setting of the opening. Once in California, Harte's feel for the time and setting can take full flower.

Step into the surreal world of Feodor Sologub, a mystical and masterful storyteller. In this collection of tales, readers will encounter witches, wizards, and other fantastical creatures unlike anything they have seen before. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Enoch Strone is a book-loving rustic loner who lives in a remote hand-built cabin. He works as a mechanical engineer in the industrial town of Gascester. One evening he meets a poor factory girl, Milly, who has been abandoned by her friends during a walk in the woods. On the same day he is accosted by the Reverand Martinghoe who introduces Strone to his beautiful, widowed, wealthy sister Lady Malingcourt. Strone is bewitched by her lovely singing and the seductive manners of the jaded upper class widow.

Oppenheim featured on the cover of Time magazine on September 12, 1927, he was the self-styled "prince of storytellers." He composed some one hundred and fifty novels, mainly of the suspense and international intrigue nature, but including romances, comedies, and parables of everyday life. He was the earliest writer of spy fiction as understood today, and invented the "Rogue Male" school of adventure thrillers that was later exploited by John Buchan and Geoffrey Household.

Edward Phillips Oppenheim (1866 - 1946) was an English novelist, in his lifetime a major and successful writer of genre fiction including thrillers. Oppenheim featured on the cover of Time magazine on September 12, 1927. He was the self-styled "prince of storytellers." He composed some one hundred and fifty novels, mainly of the suspense and international intrigue nature, but including romances, comedies, and parables of everyday life. He was the earliest writer of spy fiction as understood today, and invented the "Rogue Male" school of adventure thrillers that was later exploited by John Buchan and Geoffrey Household.