“I was always happy to see first light.By first light it was over . . . for a while.”–from Down SouthThere were a lot of ways to get killed in Vietnam. You could get “zapped,” “dinged,” “burned,” “popped,” “smoked,” or “wasted.” Marine 2nd Lt. William H. Hardwick was familiar with all of them because, unlike most USMC artillery officers–who waged their war from bunkers inside protected compounds–Hardwick as a forward observer fought ...

In the mystical kingdom of Ardentia, where ancient legends intertwine with the whispers of magic, a gripping tale unfolds—a tale of bravery, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of hope in the face of darkness.Picture a world where towering mountains scrape the heavens, their peaks shrouded in mist and mystery. Imagine dense forests where ancient trees whisper secrets of times long past, and sprawling plains where the wind carries the promise of adventure on its breath.In...

"Whispers in the Shadows" is a captivating tale set in the mystical town of Everwood, where whispers of ancient curses and supernatural phenomena weave through the fabric of daily life. The story follows Detective Eleanor Hayes as she is drawn into a chilling mystery when a series of unexplained disappearances plague the town.As the moonlight bathes the cobblestone streets of Everwood, Detective Hayes finds herself at the epicenter of a chilling investigation. With each passing day...

William Wordsworth was amongst the greatest of English Poets. Included here are selections that put into perspective his great talent. The works are brought beautifully to life by Sir Cedric Hardwicke.

William Wordsworth was amongst the greatest of English Poets and this wonderful recording is now available for the first time as a digital download.William Wordsworth was amongst the greatest of English Poets. Included here are selections that put into perspective his great talent. The works are brought beautifully to life by Sir Cedric Hardwicke

Long hailed as a seminal work of modernism in the tradition of Joyce and Kafka, and now available in a supple new English translation, Italo Svevo’s charming and splendidly idiosyncratic novel conducts readers deep into one hilariously hyperactive and endlessly self-deluding mind. The mind in question belongs to Zeno Cosini, a neurotic Italian businessman who is writing his confessions at the behest of his psychiatrist. Here are Zeno’s interminable attempts to quit smoking, his courtship o...

In "The Vocation of Man," Johann Gottlieb Fichte presents a profound exploration of philosophical idealism, intertwining metaphysical inquiry with moral imperatives. Fichte employs a dialectical style that bridges the gap between the self and the cosmos, asserting that human purpose is intrinsically linked to the act of self-consciousness and the pursuit of a moral life. Written during the early 19th century, a period marked by the birth of German idealism, the work embodies an urgent enga...

In "The Vocation of the Scholar," Johann Gottlieb Fichte articulates a profound philosophical treatise that investigates the essential role of scholars in society. Written in 1806, during the height of the German Idealism movement, Fichte's work combines rigorous argumentation with a passionate plea for intellectual integrity and moral responsibility. He emphasizes the interdependence of scholarship and societal progression, asserting that scholars bear the obligation to elevate human thou...

A thoughtful, reflective narrative of a reluctant soldier that captures the rhythms of life in war as well as the boredom and chaos of Vietnam.At the height of the Vietnam War, Charles Carr left graduate school to serve in the army in Southeast Asia, knowing that if he didn't, another man would go—and possibly die—in his place. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 47th Infantry (Mechanized) in the northern Mekong Delta for a tour of forcing himself through r...

Excerpt: "I watched two point men take a 50-caliber machine gun bullet to the head, and watched the third being grabbed and taken behind enemy lines. Two of the enemy soldiers, which we often referred to as gooks, quickly came after me. As I quickly mowed them down with my automatic rifle, I crawled backwards away from the enemy gunfire, using my helmet to push sand in front of me as I went, which made it possible to look behind me. But as I looked back, I realized that my safety net was n...

WHEN YOU'RE IN THE DEATH BUSINESS,EACH DAWN COULD BE YOUR LAST.Raw, straightforward, and powerful, Ed Kugler's account of his two years as a Marine scout-sniper in Vietnam vividly captures his experiences there--the good, the bad, and the ugly. After enlisting in the Marines at seventeen, then being wounded in Santo Domingo during the Dominican crisis, Kugler arrived in Vietnam in early 1966.As a new sniper with the 4th Marines, Kugler picked up bush skills while att...

A candid memoir of being sent to Vietnam at age nineteen, witnessing the carnage of Hamburger Hill, and returning to an America in turmoil.Arthur Wiknik was a teenager from New England when he was drafted into the US Army in 1968, shipping out to Vietnam early the following year. Shortly after his arrival on the far side of the world, he was assigned to Camp Evans near the northern village of Phong Dien, only thirty miles from Laos and North Vietnam. On his first j...