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A Modest Proposal and Other Satirical Works
By Jonathan Swift. 1996
Treasury of five shorter works by the author of Gulliver's Travels offers ample evidence of the great satirist's inspired lampoonery.…
Title piece plus The Battle of the Books, A Meditation Upon a Broom-Stick, A Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit and The Abolishing of Christianity in England.Spider Woman's Granddaughters
By Paula Gunn Allen. 1989
These 24 compelling and bleakly evocative narratives compiled by Allen, a professor of Native American studies at the University of…
California, all stress the theme of loss: loss of identity, loss of culture, loss of personal meaning. By juxtaposing traditional stories with contemporary tales, Allen allows readers to see how the same themes, values and perceptions have endured through the centuries, "testaments to cultural persistence, to a vision and a spiritual reality that will not die." Echoes of the traditional "Oshkikwe's Baby," about an old witch who steals babies, can be found in two stories. In Louise Erdrich's "American Horse," a white social worker separates a boy from his mother for his own "good," to the anguish of mother and son.- Publishers WeeklyThe Ball and the Cross
By G. K. Chesterton. 1995
Like much of G. K. Chesterton's fiction, The Ball and the Cross is both witty and profound, cloaking serious religious…
and philosophical inquiry in sparkling humor and whimsy. Serialized in the British publication The Commonwealth in 1905-06, Chesterton's second novel first appeared in book form in America in 1909, delighting and challenging readers with its heady mixture of fantasy, farce, and theology. The plot of The Ball and the Cross chronicles a hot dispute between two Scotsmen, one a devout but naive Roman Catholic, the other a zealous but naive atheist. Their fanatically held opinions--leading to a duel that is proposed but never fought--inspire a host of comic adventures whose allegorical levels vigorously explore the debate between theism and atheism. Martin Gardner's superb introduction to The Ball and the Cross reveals the real-life debate between Chesterton and a famous atheist that provided inspiration for the story, and it explores some of the novel's possible allegorical meanings. Appraising the book's many intriguing philosophical qualities, Mr. Gardner alerts readers as well to the pleasures of its "colorful style . . . amusing puns and clever paradoxes . . . and the humor and melodrama of its crazy plot."The Gentle Art of Making Enemies
By James M. Whistler. 1967
Whistler's Gentle Art, a classic in the literature of insult and denigration, might well be subtitled "The Autobiography of a…
Hater," for it contains the deadly sarcasm and stinging remarks of one of the wittiest men of the nineteenth century. Whistler not only refused to tolerate misunderstanding by critics and the so-called art-loving public -- but launched vicious counterattacks as well. His celebrated passages-at-arms with Oscar Wilde and Swinburne, the terse and penetrating "letters to the editor," his rebuttals to attacks from critics, and biting marginal notes to contemptuous comments on his paintings and hostile reviews (which are also reprinted) are all part of this record of the artist's vendettas.Whistler's most famous battle began when critic John Ruskin saw one of the artist's "Nocturnes" exhibited in Grosvenor Gallery. "I have seen, and heard," wrote Ruskin, "much of cockney impudence before now; but never expected to hear a coxcomb ask two hundred guineas for flinging a pot of paint in the public's face." Whistler was incensed with this criticism, and initiated the famous libel case "Whistler vs. Ruskin." Extracts from the resultant trial record are among the highlights of this book, with Whistler brilliantly annihilating his Philistine critics, but winning only a farthing in damages.The Gentle Art, designed by Whistler himself, is a highly entertaining account of personal revenges, but it is also an iconoclast's plea for a new and better attitude toward painting. As a historical document, it is the best statement of the new aesthetics versus the old guard academics, and it helped greatly in shaping the modern feeling toward art.Dirty Copper
By Jim Northrup. 2014
In Dirty Copper, Jim Northrup returns to the story of Luke Warmwater, an Anishinaabe man who returns to the Reservation…
after serving in Vietnam. This prequel to Northrup's classic novel Walking the Rez Road deals with the emotions and cultural changes Warmwater struggles with immediately following his service in Vietnam. He becomes a deputy sheriff on the Rez, fighting crime and racism, and is bothered by flashbacks of the war, which are intense at first but gradually become less frequent as time goes on.Jim Northrup is an award-winning journalist, poet, and playwright. His syndicated column, "Fond du Lac Follies," was named Best Column at the 1999 Native American Journalists Association convention, and he holds an honorary doctorate of letters from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. His previous books include Rez Salute: The Real Healer Dealer, which received Honorable Mention from the 2013 Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards, and Walking the Rez Road: Stories, winner of the Midwest Book Achievement Award, Minnesota Book Award, and Northeastern Minnesota Book Award.The Flying Inn
By G. K. Chesterton.
An exuberant man as well as a prolific and gifted writer, G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) was a man with very…
strong opinions — and extremely capable of defending them. In this hilarious, satirical romp, Chesterton demonstrates his intense distrust of power and "progressives," railing against Prohibition, vegetarianism, theosophy, and other "dreary and oppressive" forces of modernity.In a spirited response to the government's attempt to curtail alcohol sales, Humphrey Pump (called Hump) — a pub owner in the fishing village of Pebblewick — takes to the road in a donkey cart. Accompanied by Captain Patrick Dalroy, a crimson-haired giant with a tendency to burst into song, Hump provisions the cart with a cask of good rum, a giant round of cheese, and the signpost from his pub, The Flying Inn. Together, the two men extend good cheer to an increasingly restless populace as they attempt to evade Prohibition. In a journey that becomes a rollicking madcap adventure, the two travel round England, encountering revolution, romance, and a cast of memorable characters.Sure to receive an enthusiastic welcome from Chesterton fans, this new edition of an old classic will also appeal to anyone who enjoys a humorous, well-crafted tale.Life, Love, & Laughter: 50 Short Stories
By S. L. Menear, D. M. Littlefield. 2016
“Brilliant short stories by two talented authors—kept me on the edge of my seat anxiously awaiting the imaginative surprise endings.”…
~Richard Brumer, author of The Chemist’s Shop, Meeting Max, and The Last SunriseHumor, Drama, Suspense, Romance and a Touch of the Supernatural in Life, Love and Laughter, a Bag Full of Entertaining Stories by S.L. Menear and D.M. LittlefieldEnjoy exciting and hilarious true stories involving the authors’ adventurous exploits and fictitious stories involving crime-solving dogs, murder mysteries, a creepy story about a haunted house, interesting flight attendant and pilot stories, aerobatic lessons leading to divorce, a terrifying first solo flight, soaring in a glider, hang-gliding over Biscayne Bay, hot-air ballooning, an airliner stranded by an earthquake, a dangerous airline evacuation of Saigon, an emergency landing after total engine failure, flight training in a jet airliner; a thrilling first ocean dive, a terrifying shark attack, diving to 800 feet in a submarine, an exciting ride on a horse named Satan, funny stories about naughty seniors, an endearing love story between two antique cars, an unusual love story based on supernatural events, a murder mystery based on an ancient weapon invented by Merlin, a murder mystery involving disgruntled authors and snotty literary agents, and many stories involving humorous situations.Like a vacation in a book, enjoy this clean and wholesome collection of 50 engaging adult stories. Sure to spirit you away whenever you need an escape and send you home with a smile.“These two women have written a bag full of entertaining short stories, mostly filled with wry humor reminiscent of O. Henry. Very well done, filled with fun characters, and the best part is, you can fill any short waiting period with entertaining reading that ends in just a few pages. Definitely a book worth having close at all times.” —George A. Bernstein, Amazon Top 100 Author of Trapped, A 3rd Time to Die, Death’s Angel, and Born to Die“A fresh and exciting collection of short stories. Humorous and surprising, a real whodunit treat.” —Fred Lichtenberg, author of Deadly Heat at The Cottages: Sex, Murder, and Mayhem, Hunter’s World, Double Trouble, and Retired, Now What?“Authors Littlefield and Menear have once again woven their unique abilities to combine humor and suspense into stories that are sure to please the most discriminating readers. Every minute is a worthwhile investment in reading pleasure.” —Frank E. Lamca, author of The Gypsies and the Devil Hound “The 50 Short Stories are wonderfully creative writings for adult readers of any age. Littlefield’s and Menear’s plots and characters are at times laugh-out-loud funny and goosebumpy at others. Perfect for readers who want to read a short story in one sitting or enjoy hours of entertainment.” —Tina Nicholas, author of Condo Crazies and Affair in AthensSilent ThrillsWhen Time Stood StillDeadly RejectionsSurprised DeliveryThe Golden YearsSky GodsWinter WonderlandThe Magic ButtonMy First Solo FlightSecrets by DMLSleuth HoundsMy First Ocean DiveSleep DeprivedAerobatic LessonsMeadow MuffinsFlowersHoliday GreetingsStuck in an ElevatorCatatonic SnifferitisSibling InsanityGirl TalkThe First PilotEavesdroppingMall CriticsVirtual Sex Flight InstructionChili and HugoExpensive MistakeBetrayedOnce Upon A TimeKiller Scots and Hot CubansOuch! The BoysGuinevere’s LanceClem’s General StoreSide EffectsSink or SwimUnbelievableWhat’s Going On Here? Cruise CapadesMelanieWife WantedSemper FiThe Rattled HunterMonstersMy Unconscious MuseStressed OutThe Fairies’ GodmotherDumpster DivingThe Word ArtistLunar MadnessLady Macbeth of Mtsensk: Selected Stories of Nikolai Leskov (Penguin Classics Ser.)
By Nikolai Leskov. 2003
A new collection of the renowned Russian writer's best short work, including a masterful translation of the famous title story.Nikolai…
Leskov is the strangest of the great Russian writers of the nineteenth century. His work is closer to the oral traditions of narrative than that of his contemporaries, and served as the inspiration for Walter Benjamin's great essay "The Storyteller," in which Benjamin contrasts the plotty machinations of the modern novel with the strange, melancholy, but also worldly-wise yarns of an older, slower era that Leskov remained in touch with. The title story is a tale of illicit love and multiple murder that could easily find its way into a Scottish ballad and did go on to become the most popular of Dmitri Shostakovich's operas. The other stories, all but one newly translated, present the most focused and finely rendered collection of this indispensable writer currently available in English.Nikolai Nikolaevich and Camouflage: Two Novels (Russian Library)
By Yuz Aleshkovsky. 2019
Among contemporary Russian writers, Yuz Aleshkovsky stands out for his vivid imagination, his mixing of realism and fantasy, and his…
virtuosic use of the rich tradition of Russian obscene language. These two novels, written in the 1970s, display Aleshkovsky’s linguistic gifts and keen observations of Soviet life.Nikolai Nikolaevich begins when its titular hero, a pickpocket by trade, is released from prison after World War II and finds a job in a Moscow biological laboratory. Starting out as a kind of janitor, he is soon recruited to provide sperm for strange experiments intended to create life in the Andromeda galaxy. The hero finds himself at the center of the 1948 purge of biological science in the Soviet Union, in a transgressive tale that joins science fiction (and science fact) with gulag slang and a love story. The protagonist and narrator of Camouflage is an alcoholic who claims that he and his gang of friends are just one part of a vast camouflaging operation organized by the Party to hide the Soviet Union’s underground military-industrial complex from the CIA’s spy satellites. As they pass their time on the streets and share their alcohol-inspired fantasies, they see the stark reality of the Cold War in Russia in the late seventies. Nikolai Nikolaevich and Camouflage introduces English-speaking readers to a master of the comic first-person narrative.LoveStar: A Novel
By Andri Snaer Magnason, Victoria Cribb. 2002
LoveStar, the enigmatic and obsessively driven founder of the LoveStar corporation, has unlocked the key to transmitting data via birdwaves,…
thus freeing mankind from wires and devices, and allowing consumerism, technology, and science to run rampant over all aspects of daily life. Cordless modern men and women are paid to howl advertisements at unsuspecting passers-by, REGRET machines eliminate doubt over roads not taken, soul mates are identified and brought together (while existing, unscientifically validated relationships are driven remorselessly asunder), and rocketing the dead into the sky becomes both a status symbol and a beautiful, cathartic show for those left behind. Indridi and Sigrid, two blissfully happy young lovers, have their perfect worlds threatened (along with Indridi's sanity) when they are "calculated apart" and are forced to go to extreme lengths to prove their love. Their journey ultimately puts them on a collision course with LoveStar, who is on his own mission to find what might become the last idea in the world. Steeped in influences ranging from Italo Calvino, Jorge Luis Borges, and Kurt Vonnegut to George Orwell, Douglas Adams, and Monty Python, Andri Snær Magnason has created a surreal yet uncomfortably familiar world, where the honey embrace of love does its utmost to survive amid relentless and overpowering controls.Shooting Martha
By David Thewlis. 2021
'A riotously good novel, witty and earnest, brimming with sharply drawn characters and creeping suspense. David Thewlis is a fabulous…
writer' Anna Bailey, Sunday Times bestselling author of Tall BonesCelebrated director Jack Drake can't get through his latest film (his most personal yet) without his wife Martha's support. The only problem is, she's dead...When Jack sees Betty Dean - actress, mother, trainwreck - playing the part of a crazed nun on stage in an indie production of The Devils, he is struck dumb by her resemblance to Martha. Desperate to find a way to complete his masterpiece, he hires her to go and stay in his house in France and resuscitate Martha in the role of 'loving spouse'.But as Betty spends her days roaming the large, sunlit rooms of Jack's mansion - filled to the brim with odd treasures and the occasional crucifix - and her evenings playing the part of Martha over scripted video calls with Jack, she finds her method acting taking her to increasingly dark places. And as Martha comes back to life, she carries with her the truth about her suicide - and the secret she guarded until the end.A darkly funny novel set between a London film set and a villa in the south of France.A mix of Vertigo and Jonathan Coe, written by a master storyteller.PRAISE FOR DAVID THEWLIS'S FICTION 'David Thewlis has written an extraordinarily good novel, which is not only brilliant in its own right, but stands proudly beside his work as an actor, no mean boast' Billy Connolly'Hilarious and horror-filled' Francesca Segal, Observer'A fine study in character disintegration... Very funny' David Baddiel, The Times'Exquisitely written with a warm heart and a wry wit... Stunning' Elle'Queasily entertaining' Financial Times'A sharp ear for dialogue and a scabrously satiric prose style' Daily Mail'Laugh-out-loud, darkly intelligent' Publishers Weekly'This is far more than an actor's vanity project: Thewlis has talent' KirkusEnemy of the People: A Play In Five Acts
By Henrik Ibsen. 2009
Environmentalist, activist, and attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. contributes a foreword to this Skyhorse edition of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen&’s…
renowned 1882 play. Regarded as one of the foremost playwrights of the nineteenth century, Henrik Ibsen tells the story of the idealist Doctor Thomas Stockmann, the medical officer of a recently opened spa in a small town in southern Norway, who finds that the water is seriously contaminated. He notifies members of the community and initially receives support and thanks for the discovery. Threatened by the possible impact of such a revelation, his brother, the town mayor, conspires with local politicians and the newspaper to suppress the story and pressure Dr. Stockmann to retract his statements. At a public meeting, an attempt is made to keep Dr. Stockmann from speaking, but he launches into a tirade condemning the corruption of the town and the tyranny of the majority. Finding his speech offensive, he is shouted down by the masses and reviled as "an enemy of the people." In his foreword, Kennedy alerts readers to the undeniable fact that the persecution of those who tell uncomfortable truths, which Ibsen described over one hundred years ago, continues to this day and is as relevant now as ever. We face environmental deregulation and degradation, politicians in lobbyists&’ pockets, attacks on facts that are agreed upon by reputable scientists, corporate funded and controlled research, and attempts to impede and suppress whistleblowers. The battle continues and Kennedy joins Ibsen on the front lines.Alien Rice
By Ichiro Kawasaki. 1973
American Indian Myths and Legends
By Richard Erdoes, Alfonso Ortiz. 1984
Where Willy Went
By Nicholas Allan. 2004
Never before have the facts of life been presented in such an accessible--or novel--way. Our hero is Willy, a little…
sperm who lives inside Mr. Browne with 300 million friends. Every day Willy practices for the Great Swimming Race. And when the day arrives, he swims faster than his 300 million friends to win the prize--a marvelous egg. Then something wonderful happens, and eventually Mr. and Mrs. Browne have a baby girl who has the same winning smile as Willy and who grows up to be a great swimmer.Hilariously funny, warm, and endearing, this is a picture book that appeals on different levels to both children and grown-ups."Fresh, original, and imaginative. . . . Allan's achievement is in couching fascinating facts within the construct of a gentle, direct narrative. A little knowledge is a wonderful thing, and as the rest of the facts of life fall into place, Allan's readers will look back on this book with a mixture of fondness and wry amusement." --The Guardian (UK)From the Hardcover edition.I Am a Cat
By Natsume Soseki, Aiko Ito, Graeme Wilson. 1972
"A nonchalant string of anecdotes and wisecracks, told by a fellow who doesn't have a name, and has never caught…
a mouse, and isn't much good for anything except watching human beings in action..." --The New YorkerWritten over the course of 1904-1906, Soseki Natsume's comic masterpiece, I Am a Cat, satirizes the foolishness of upper-middle-class Japanese society during the Meiji era. With acerbic wit and sardonic perspective, it follows the whimsical adventures of a world-weary stray kitten who comments on the follies and foibles of the people around him.A classic of Japanese literature, I Am a Cat is one of Soseki's best-known novels. Considered by many as the greatest writer in modern Japanese history, Soseki's I Am a Cat is a classic novel sure to be enjoyed for years to come.Tales of Polynesia: Folktales from Hawai'I, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Samoa
By Yiling Changues. 2023
Explore the enchanting world of Polynesian folklore in this beautifully illustrated collection of traditional stories.A woman falls in love with…
the king of the sharks. Two powerful sorcerers compete in a battle of magical wits. The king of Maui's fastest messenger races to bring a young woman back from the dead. In these traditional tales, the borders blur between life and death, reality and magic, and land and sea.This volume includes legends from Hawai'i, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Samoa, showcasing the rich narrative tradition of the Polynesian islands. You'll encounter awe-inspiring warriors, tricky magicians, and fearsome creatures of the deep. Each tale is paired with evocative contemporary art, creating a special illustrated edition to read, share, and treasure across generations. POPULAR SERIES: The Tales series gives new life to traditional stories. Celebrating the richness of folklore around the world, and featuring the work of beloved contemporary illustrators, these books are treasured by adults and teens alike.TALES THAT TRANSPORT YOU: These folktales are deeply rooted in the landscape of the Polynesian islands. Dramatic mountain peaks, secluded valleys, and mesmerizing ocean vistas offer striking settings for timeless stories of magic.GORGEOUS SPECIAL EDITION: With a mesmerizing full-page illustration for each story, as well as creamy paper, a ribbon page marker, and a handsome hardcover design, this edition is perfect for gifting and display.Perfect for:Adult, young adult, and teen fans of fairy tales, folklore, myths, legends, and historyReaders with Polynesian heritage or interested in Polynesian cultureIllustration and art loversCollectors of illustrated classics and such popular mythology books as D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths or Bulfinch's MythologyFans of MoanaFans of the illustrator Yiling ChanguesCarving Space: A collection of prose and poetry from emerging Indigenous writers in lands claimed by Canada
By Jordan Abel, Carleigh Baker, Madeleine Reddon. 2016
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Indigenous Voices Awards, an anthology consisting of selected works by finalists over the…
past five years, edited by Jordan Abel, Carleigh Baker, and Madeleine Reddon.Established in 2017, the Indigenous Voices Awards honour the sovereignty of Indigenous creative voices and nurture the work of emerging Indigenous writers in lands claimed by Canada.Through generous support from hundreds of Canadians and organizations such as Penguin Random House Canada, Scholastic Canada, Douglas & McIntyre, Pamela Dillon and Family Gift Fund, the awards have ushered in a new and dynamic generation of Indigenous writers. Past IVAs recipients include Billy-Ray Belcourt, Tanya Tagaq, and Jesse Thistle. The IVAs also promote the works of unpublished writers, helping to launch the careers of Smokii Sumac, Cody Caetano, and Samantha Martin-Bird. This anthology gathers together a selection of the finalists over the past five years, highlighting some of the most pathbreaking Indigenous writing across poetry, prose, and theatre in English, French, and Indigenous languages. Curated by award-winning and critically acclaimed writers Jordan Abel (Nisga&’a) and Carleigh Baker (Métis), and scholar Madeleine Reddon (Métis), this anthology is a celebration of Indigenous storytelling that both introduces readers to emerging luminaries and returns them to treasured favourites.Sentimental Tales (Russian Library)
By Mikhail Zoshchenko. 2018
&“Dralyuk&’s new translation of Sentimental Tales, a collection of Zoshchenko&’s stories from the 1920s, is a delight that brings the author&’s…
wit to life.&”—The EconomistMikhail Zoshchenko&’s Sentimental Tales are satirical portraits of small-town characters on the fringes of Soviet society in the first decade of Bolshevik rule. The tales are narrated by one Kolenkorov, a writer not very good at his job, who takes credit for editing the tales in a series of comic prefaces. Yet beneath Kolenkorov&’s intrusive narration and sublime blathering, the stories are genuinely moving. They tell tales of unrequited love and amorous misadventures among down-on-their-luck musicians, provincial damsels, aspiring poets, and liberal aristocrats hopelessly out of place in the new Russia, against a backdrop of overcrowded apartments, scheming, and daydreaming. Zoshchenko&’s deadpan style and sly ventriloquy mask a biting critique of Soviet life—and perhaps life in general. An original perspective on Soviet society in the 1920s and simply uproariously funny, Sentimental Tales at last shows Anglophone readers why Zoshchenko is considered among the greatest humorists of the Soviet era. &“A book that would make Gogol guffaw.&”—Kirkus Reviews &“If you find Chekhov a bit tame and want a more bite to your fiction, then you need a dose of Zoshchenko, the premier Russian satirist of the twentieth century . . . Snap up this thin volume and enjoy.&”—Russian Life &“Mikhail Zoshchenko masterfully exhibits a playful seriousness. . . . Juxtaposing joyful wit with the bleakness of Soviet Russia, Sentimental Tales is a potent antidote for Russian literature&’s dour reputation.&”—Foreword Reviews &“Superb.&”—Los Angeles Review of Books