Product Description Abel Lackland has risen from squalid beginnings to become one of the wealthiest surgeons in town. He wants his eldest son, Jonah, to follow in his footsteps, but Jonah decides that the future lies in the world of the arts. Jonah steals away one night to visit the forbidden Haymarket theatre and manages to meet the famous Lilith Lucas. He falls under her spell - a fatal spell that, unknown to him, has haunted Abel for many years. Lilith is aware of Jonah's identity and sees a chance to repay Abel Lackland for the indignity and heartbreak of the past... About the Author Claire Rayner, nurse, agony aunt and author was born in London in 1931. She married in 1957 and it was while her children were young that she began to write. She is also a tireless campaigner on many medical and social issues, including the long term care of the elderly. Her literary output comprises over eighty books including fiction and a broad range of medical matters. She now lives in Harrow with her husband.

Spark chooses Rome, "the motherland of sensation," for the setting of her story about movie star Annabel Christopher (known to her adoring fans as "The English Lady-Tiger"), who has made the fatal mistake of believing in her public image. This error and her embittered husband, and unsuccessful actor, catch up with her. Her final act is only the first shocking climax--further surprises await. Neatly savaging our celebrity culture, Spark rejoices in one of her favorite subjects--the clash between sham and genuine identity--and provides Annabel with an unexpected triumph.

Reproduction of the original: The Malefactor by E. Phillips Oppenheim

The narrator of Early Companions was born in Germany. He tells of his early life there during Nazi times. When he came to New York, he participated in a left-wing movement, so he knows a thing or two about the internal squabbling among the comrades. Finally, he became a professor at a university, where he saw his share of faculty politics.

Reproduction of the original: Notes on The Diplomatic History of The Jewish Question by Lucien Wolf

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.

Edelweiss: A Story , by Berthold Auerbach, is a classic work of 19th-century literature that transports readers to a simpler time and place. Auerbach's narrative is a window into the past, depicting the nuances of village life. This edition allows a new generation to appreciate Auerbach's storytelling. 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 was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. 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. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. 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.

In modern day Mexico City, a young graduate student of anthropology, Stefan Marquez Calle, hears a surprising confession from his dying aunt. Her revelation sends him on a journey of discovery that flings him backwards in time to fifteenth century Spain. He finds his own life entangled with that of Alfonso Calle, an ancestor immersed in a quest for religious survival within the intrigue of an underground world. Stefan is drawn into the terrifying realm of the Spanish Inquisition, of brutal torture and burning at the stake of living human beings. In ancient palaces, where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella rule, black hooded Dominican monks plot murderous schemes in an effort to destroy all vestiges of beleaguered Judaism. Within the same corridors of power, Christopher Columbus, an ambitious explorer, makes harried appeals to the monarchs for help to launch his voyage. How the lives of Stefan and Alfonso, the two central protagonists, are intertwined and the outcome that even today affects many thousands of people, is the essence of this gripping story.

Reproduction of the original: Ambrose Lavendale, Diplomat by E. Phillips Oppenheim

Felix Moscheles was the godson of Felix Mendelssohn. He was a painter, peace activist and keen fan of Esperanto.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.