An original, illuminating history of the northern European Renaissance in art, science, and philosophy, which often rivaled its Italian counterpart.It is generally accepted that the European Renaissance began in Italy.However, a historical transformation of similar magnitude also took place in northern Europe at the same time. This "Other Renaissance" was initially centered on the city of Bruges in Flanders (modern Belgium), but its influence was soon being...

When the respected businessman and widower Roger Ackroyd is found dead in his own home, no one in the tranquil village of King's Abbot is free from suspicion. Gossip and secrets swirl among the townspeople, and suspicion falls on everyone—from Ackroyd's household staff to his closest confidants. Amid whispers of betrayal and greed, the brilliant Hercule Poirot steps in to expose the truth.With masterful plotting and a revelation that changed the face of mystery fiction, 'The Murder...

Unpublished at the time of her death, The Professor is the first novel written by Charlotte Brontë, and the seed of her later books, Jane Eyre and Villette. The narrator of the tale, William Crimsworth, tells a story of courage and ambition among jealousy and envy: orphaned from a young age, William rejects life in the clergy, and then as a tradesman, to the chagrin of his cruel uncles and elder brother. Instead he pursues a career in education and ends up in Brussels, where he meets stude...

Blending fact and fiction, this trilogy by a very young Tolstoy centres on the inner life of Nikolai as he navigates the universal challenge of growing up. In relating his thoughts and feelings, his self-awareness and embarrassing mistakes, the work is timeless: regardless of era, location and environment, we are given an unvarnished portrait of one boy both self-important and self-deprecating as he tries to find his place in the world. The sense of nostalgia, with its strange blend of sad...

From the Stone Age to the 21st century, The History of Britain chronicles the epic story of this small but turbulent kingdom.Listen to the incredible events of the Norman invasions, the execution of Charles I, the uprisings in Dark Age Wales, the birth of tabloid newspapers in Victorian Britain and much more. Fully revised and updated to include the latest political developments, this fascinating audiobook helps readers to navigate this vast and enthrallin...

In this timeless Russian classic, the charismatic but aloof Eugene Onegin rejects love, friendship, and opportunity in favor of cynicism and self-isolation. When he returns to his rural estate, he crosses paths with the idealistic Tatyana, who falls deeply in love with him. But Onegin's cold dismissal of her leads to a tragic sequence of events that changes all their lives.With sharp wit and vivid characters, Eugene Onegin is a rich exploration of love, regret, and the cons...

The first five volumes from the landmark BBC radio series This Sceptred Isle. Christopher Lee's epic history tells the story of Britain from the Romans to the death of Victoria. This collection includes the original first five volumes:55BC-1087: Julius Caesar to William the Conqueror From Britannia under the Romans to the Dark Ages and the invasions of Angles, Saxons, Danes, and Norwegians.1087-1327: The Making of the Nation The Crusades, Welsh and Scottish rebellions and t...

Beautifully written by Carnegie and Costa Award-winning author Sally Gardner, and filled with heart, humour and imagination, What To Do, Pernickety Boo is the magical sequel to Pernickety Boo – the story of a very unusual umbrellaSometimes in life, you have to believe in the impossible – especially when the impossible is Pernickety Boo.Pernickety Boo, the well-educated umbrella with unexplored magical powers, is very happy in his ...

A comprehensive collection of classic works from some of Ireland’s finest authors, adapted as full-cast BBC radio dramasIreland has a long tradition of storytelling, from ancient myths and mediaeval folk tales to 21st century bestsellers, Nobel Prize laureates and Booker Prize winners. Though small in size, the country has produced an extraordinary array of influential, groundbreaking writers who have shaped the literary landscape worldwide.This extensive a...

'I cannot make you understand. I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even explain it to myself.'One of the most significant novellas of the twentieth century, Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis is a deeply haunting exploration of identity, isolation and the existential shadows that follow the human experience.Gregor Samsa, a seemingly average salesman and cloth merchant, awakes one morning to find himself transformed into a monstrou...

Collins brings the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, to English language learners.Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time and in any language. Now Collins has adapted her famous detective novels for English language learners. These carefully abridged versions are shorter with the language targeted at learners of English.Strange items have disappeared from the student hostel on Hickory Road and Mrs Hubbard, the warden, is becoming suspicious.De...

A rollicking tour of the English country home after World War II, when swinging London collided with aristocratic valuesAs the sun set slowly on the British Empire, its mansions fell and rose. Ancient families were reduced to demolishing the parts of their stately homes they could no longer afford, dukes and duchesses desperately clung to their ancestral seats, and a new class of homeowners bought their way into country life. A delicious romp, Noble Ambitions