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Intended for children 11 to 14 years old, The Story of the Middle Ages relates a little known period of history in an interesting and entertaining way. The author terms the Middle Ages as that period in the history of Europe between the fifth and fifteenth centuries. Its beginning is marked by the decline and fall of the mighty Roman Empire and its end is generally thought to be the dawn of the Renaissance or the Age of Discovery. The Middle Ages are also divided by historians into the Early, High and Late Middle Ages. Both the Early and Late periods were characterized by war, outbreaks of diseases and epidemics, breakdown of law and order, civil strife and invasions. However, the High period of the Middle Ages saw the establishment of farming, the growth of trade, technology, intellectual movements and great artistic and architectural innovation. Samuel B Harding divides The Story of the Middle Ages into twenty chapters. Beginning with a brief introduction, the author traces the roots of modern Europe to the mingling of the Germanic people with others like the Slavs, the Gauls and the ancient Romans. He also goes further back in history and refers to the Aryan people as the ancestors of the Germans. Further chapters deal with the wanderings of the Goths and their establishment of civilizations in Spain, Greece and Italy. The early days of Christianity and the growth of the Church are depicted, along with the differences between the western and eastern churches. The rise of the Franks and their conflicts with the Mohammedans and the establishment of the Moorish civilization in Spain are told in an interesting and imaginative fashion. The Crusades, discussions on life in the village, town and monastery and finally the Hundred Years War, which effectively brought the Middle Ages to a close are well recounted. Though historians cannot put a specific date on the conclusion of this important period in Western history, it is generally thought that somewhere towards the end of the 1500s can be termed as the end of the Middle Ages. The rise of nationalism in England and France, the capture of Constantinople by the Turkish Ottoman sultans and the disappearance of the ancient centers of learning brought this period to an end. As both a historical text and an interesting read, The Story of the Middle Ages is a great addition to your bookshelf and will surely appeal to both children and adults.

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Two sisters, one practical and full of commonsense, the other a passionate and emotional creature, an uncaring brother and his avaricious wife, a handsome rake and a faithful gentleman – these are some of the unforgettable characters who make Jane Austen’s first published novel, Sense and Sensibility such a delightful, witty and timeless classic. The novel was published under the pseudonym “A Lady” by its shy and retiring nineteen-year-old author, Jane Austen, in 1811. She was the daughter of a country rector and lived all her life in the circle of her large and loving family in a little village in Hampshire, England. There is very little autobiographical material available about her, as her well-meaning relatives burned and destroyed most of her diaries and letters after her death. Sense and Sensibility is a charming story of two sisters who see life from two very different viewpoints. When their father suddenly dies, leaving his entire estate to their half-brother John, the sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, their mother and youngest sister Margaret are thrown at the financial mercy of John and his mean-minded wife, Fanny. Mrs Dashwood and her daughters soon realize that they are not welcome at their former home Norland Hall. Fanny’s brother Edward Ferrars, who is quite different from his greedy and graceless sister, arrives and begins to form an attachment to Elinor, which is violently opposed by Fanny. Mrs Dashwood is hurt and bewildered, but finally realizes that they have no option but to leave. They move to Devonshire, where Mrs Dashwood’s cousin, Sir John Middleton welcomes them and helps them to find suitable lodgings. While out walking one rainy evening, Marianne suffers a small accident and is rescued by the suave and dashing John Willoughby. She falls passionately in love with him. The story takes several interesting twists and turns, driven by the opposing natures of the two sisters. More than two hundred years after publication, this delightful tale still manages to capture the reader’s imagination as it echoes universal truths of passion, love, social status and ethics. Sense and Sensibility is a coming of age novel, marked by Jane Austen’s deliciously ironic and sharp wit and famously under-stated style that will certainly appeal to modern-day readers. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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Arsène Lupin returns in a wonderful story of disguises, love, and of course treasure. Once again, Lupin crosses paths with the famous Holmlock Shears. But this time Arsène matches wits with Isidore Beautrelet, Sixth-form Schoolboy. Every step that Lupin takes has Beautrelet right on his heels. Has Lupin finally met his match? Will Beautrelet discover the secret of the Hollow Needle? And has the gentleman burglar met another match as well, one who will lead him away from his life of crime forever?

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Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Maurice Leblanc, MYSTERY, The Hollow Needle: Further Adventures of Arsène Lupin

A poor young boy from the slums of London watches a royal procession pass, with the youthful Prince of Wales riding at its head. He ventures too close and is caught and beaten by the Prince’s guards. However, the young royal stops them and invites the vagrant to the palace. Here the two boys sup alone and are stunned to discover that they bear a startling resemblance to each other. The Prince is Edward, long awaited heir of the monarch, Henry VIII, while the vagrant is Tom Canty, the son of a thief and a beggar. Edward is fascinated by the free and unfettered life that Tom leads, while Tom is overawed by the wealth and luxury of the palace. The boys decide to switch clothes. From here, adventure begins for both of them! First published in 1881, The Prince and The Pauper by Mark Twain is the famous American writer and humorist’s first foray into historical fiction. Set in the sixteenth century Tudor court of Henry VIII, the book is reputedly Mark Twain’s most carefully plotted novel. Great attention has been paid to setting, dialog and character. Early plot devices are carefully constructed to become invaluable features that carry the story along. Several real historical figures appear in the book. It is also a novel of contrasts. The two boys, born on exactly the same day, have completely different destinies. Before they meet, they each have dreams that are very different from their circumstances. Edward longs to be free to roam the streets at will, unhampered by court protocol and conventions. Tom yearns for security, comfort and the certainty of knowing where his next meal will come from. Twain also explores ideas of conventional wisdom that deem “Clothes Maketh a Man” which implies that appearances are everything. Being a voracious reader of history himself, Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens to give his real name) was able to use some of the material he had absorbed in The Prince and The Pauper. He faithfully renders Tudor English that he also displays in the other books Tom Sawyer and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. The thrilling climax of the novel, which takes place just days before Henry VIII’s death, and the coronation of the new king, is one that brings all the threads of this exciting tale together. The Prince and The Pauper has been widely adapted on screen, stage and television. Comics, animated versions, a Mickey Mouse version and many more have continued to explore this very interesting theme of switched identities. Disney films like Parent Trap, a Barbie version, a film version in Hindi, and several musical adaptations have kept this timeless classic alive. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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In Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, philosopher David Hume examines whether belief in God can be rational. The work takes the form of a debate between three characters: Cleanthes, who argues that the existence and nature of God can be empirically verified; Demea, who argues that God is completely beyond human knowledge; and Philo, a philosophical skeptic widely thought to represent Hume’s own beliefs. Much of the debate centers around Cleanthes’ presentation of the analogical argument from design. According to this argument, the complexity and beauty of the universe can only be explained by inferring an intelligent designer, in the same way that one would infer a designer if one came across an intricately complicated machine. Philo presents several objections to this argument, with rejoinders by Cleanthes and occasional interjections by Demea.

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Tags: audio books, audiobook, David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, ebooks, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Non-fiction, Philosophy, religion

Ozma of Oz: A Record of Her Adventures with Dorothy Gale of Kansas, the Yellow Hen, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, Tiktok, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger; Besides Other Good People too Numerous to Mention Faithfully Recorded Herein published on July 30, 1907, was the third book of L. Frank Baum’s Oz series. It was the first in which Baum was clearly intending a series of Oz books.

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A young gambler is found shot dead in a closed room. Dr. Watson, who still mourns the disappearance of his famous friend is intrigued enough to step out of his house and take a look at the crime scene. A crowd has gathered there, curiously gazing up at the room where the crime is supposed to have taken place. Watson inadvertently jostles against an elderly, deformed man and knocks a stack of books from the fellow’s hand. The man curses Watson vilely and disappears into the throng. It suddenly occurs to Watson that one of the books that he had helped the stranger pick up had seemed familiar… Thus begins the first thrilling story, The Adventure of the Empty House, in The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which was published after what Holmes enthusiasts call the Great Hiatus. The Return of Sherlock Holmes was published in 1905. In 1891, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was completely exasperated by the seemingly endless appetite of readers who welcomed each new Sherlock Holmes story with the greatest delight. He wrote to his mother confessing that he was “thinking of slaying Holmes… He takes my mind from better things.” His mother’s famous reply, “You won’t, you can’t, you mustn’t!” only echoed the voice of his readers. However, in 1893, Conan Doyle did the unthinkable; he finished off Holmes in the Reichenbach Falls in The Final Problem and thought he had done with the man for good. He hadn’t reckoned with his readers. There was a flood of protest. Letters to the editors of newspapers, a stream of mail to his publishers and himself, all demanding that Holmes be kept alive. Finally, he gave in and The Return of Sherlock Holmes was greeted with huge delight. Though The Hound of the Baskervilles came out in 1902, it was set in a time before Holmes’ “death.” The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of 13 stories. Among them are The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, a tale of a reclusive old bachelor who suddenly vanishes, The Adventure of the Dancing Men, a delightful puzzle involving a mysterious message that contains a series of stick figures, The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist in which a lovely young governess is being stalked by a man on a bicycle, and many others. The last story, The Adventure of the Second Stain has Watson revealing that Holmes is now completely retired and would not like Watson to write any more stories about him! The Return of Sherlock Holmes is indeed a delightful continuation of the Holmes saga and a great addition to your repertoire! More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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Tags: Adventure, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, MYSTERY, Short stories, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Return of Sherlock Holmes

Famous Men of Greece is a series of biographical sketches written for the purpose of making the study of history lively and interesting by giving insight into the men who lived during this time. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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A jolly romp, which could be perhaps be described as Gulliver’s Travels Through Our Solar System and Beyond, as written by a great admirer of C. S. Lewis, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, after one too many mugs of cocoa. Includes some thought on alien philosophies and how to apply them to moral and social problems here on Planet Earth.

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Tags: Adventure, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fantasy, fiction, free audio books, Life in a Thousand Worlds, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Politics, science-fiction, Teen/Young adult, William Shuler Harris

On December 31 1787, the HMS Bounty, a small sailing vessel embarked from Spithead Harbor, England bound for Tahiti. Her mission was sponsored by the Royal Society in London and aimed at picking up breadfruit plants and fruit from Tahiti and conveying them to the West Indies, where it was hoped they would take root and become a commercial crop. The Bounty was an old ship with a young captain and 46 young officers. The captain’s cabin was converted into a potting shed for the expected breadfruit cargo. He was quartered in a cramped cabin next to the men. In Tahiti, the crew suddenly found themselves transported into an exotic land, rich with strange and delicious fruits and food, country made liquor and beautiful women. The easy and relaxed lifestyle enticed the Englishmen. As the date of departure neared in 1789, the crew seemed reluctant to leave. Tensions increased as the relationship between the captain and crew began to break down. What followed became one of the most sensational events in seafaring history. The Eventful History of the Mutiny and Piratical Seizure of HMS Bounty by Sir John Barrow is deemed as the definitive account of the entire horrific episode. It follows the entire case as it happened, starting with the Bounty sailing from Spithead, and includes detailed descriptions of Tahiti, the events on board the ship as recounted by survivors, the trial of the mutineers in 1792 and narratives provided by others who escaped to Pitcairn Island. Original documents and papers are the mainstay of this book and they provide riveting reading. Captain Bligh’s epic voyage with a handful of loyal crew in an open raft across the East Timor Sea to the Dutch East Indies, where he sought help and then traveled back to England also makes fascinating reading. Captain Bligh was meticulous in maintaining accurate records of every event that happened. The mission logs are perfect down to the last detail. Interestingly, the wreck of the Bounty was discovered in 1957 off Pitcairn Island, by Luis Marden, an American photographer and diver who worked with National Geographic. Several films and books on the subject have ensured that the tragic history of the Bounty remains fresh in people’s memories, generation after generation. The 1962 Hollywood film Mutiny on the Bounty is perhaps the best known, with Marlon Brando cast as Fletcher Christian who led the mutineers. The Eventful History of the Mutiny and Piratical Seizure of HMS Bounty recounts a fascinating piece of history and is a great experience to read.

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The Imitation of Christ is widely considered one of the greatest manuals of devotion in Christianity. The life of Christ is presented as the highest study possible to a mortal, as Jesus’ teachings far excel all the teachings of the saints. The book gives counsel to read the scriptures, statements about the uses of adversity, advice for submission to authority, warnings against temptation and how to resist it, reflections about death and the judgment, meditations upon the oblation of Christ, and admonitions to flee the vanities of the world. A recording of a Dutch translation of this work is also available (Thomas a Kempis was Dutch but wrote in Latin of course). More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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As wealthy financier, Hugh Mainwaring dictates his last will and testament to his private secretary, it would be impossible for him to imagine the shocking chain of events that he is about to set into motion. This best-selling mystery novel was first published in 1901 and remains an entertaining mix of detective work, courtroom drama and family intrigue.

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Tags: Anna Maynard Barbour, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, MYSTERY, That Mainwaring Affair

The Book of Tea was written by Okakura Kakuzo in the early 20th century. It was first published in 1906, and has since been republished many times. – In the book, Kakuzo introduces the term Teaism and how Tea has affected nearly every aspect of Japanese culture, thought, and life. The book is noted to be accessibile to Western audiences because though Kakuzo was born and raised Japanese, he was trained from a young age to speak English; and would speak it all his life, becoming proficient at communicating his thoughts in the Western Mind. In his book he elucidates such topics as Zen and Taoism, but also the secular aspects of Tea and Japanese life. The book emphasises how Teaism taught the Japanese many things; most importantly, simplicity. Kakuzo argues that this tea-induced simplicity affected art and architecture, and he was a long-time student of the visual arts. He ends the book with a chapter on Tea Masters, and spends some time talking about Sen no Rikyu and his contribution to the Japanese Tea Ceremony.

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Set in the heart of Central America, the adventure novel accounts an enthralling tale marked by zealous adventure, discovery of a lost civilization, and unconditional love. Published in 1895, Heart of the World presents a fusion of suspense, foreshadowing, legend, unforeseen twists, and endearing characters to create a piece highly valuable in the world of fiction. Narrated by an elderly Ignatio on his deathbed, the novel recounts his great escapade alongside Englishman James Strickland as they venture off in search of a lost civilization. The novel opens with the introduction of Don Ignatio, a lineal descendant of the last Aztec emperor, who has been driven throughout his life by the single desire to overthrow the Spanish rule and unite his fellow people. However, his hopeful plans to witness the reestablishment and fortification of the once great empire do not go quite as expected, as he is left bereft of his carefully acquired treasure. Subsequently, he is acquainted with James Strickland, an adventurous English miner. Although their motives may differ, both men share a passion for adventure, which is additionally spurred when they hear of a secret city that is believed to be home to a great treasure. Believing the city holds the key to achieving his life-long goal of reviving his empire, Ignatio and James begin a journey marked by exciting events. Later, they are also joined by Zibalbay, a man who claims to be the head priest and ruler of the secret city, and his beautiful daughter Maya. As the group embarks on the treacherous journey in search of the lost city, they come face to face with numerous dangers, which threaten not just the completion of Ignatio’s objective, but also jeopardize their wellbeing and ultimately their happiness. Haggard effectively combines imagery and descriptive language to present a vivid portrayal of the mystical lost city and its astounding treasure, while also depicting the details of life including religion, customs, and legends. Needless to say, Heart of the World presents a tale that will most certainly encourage readers to take a look at Haggard’s other novels, as his masterful depiction of a lost and secret civilization is truly compelling.

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Anne’s House of Dreams is the fifth book in the Anne of Green Gables series, which features the culmination of an epic love story. The installment chronicles the lives of Anne and Gilbert as they experience life as a newlywed couple and build the foundation of their future together. A tale uniting the much-loved characters also brings a farewell to Anne Shirley and officially welcomes Anne Blythe. The novel begins with the preparations for the wedding between Anne and her one true love Gilbert Blythe, who is finally a qualified doctor. The highly anticipated wedding is held in the Green Gables orchard, and among the guests are Marilla and childhood friend Diana. After the wedding, the couple moves to Four Winds Harbor where Gilbert will take over his uncle’s medical practice. There they settle into their new home by the shore which Anne refers to as their “house of dreams”. The new surroundings bring a colorful new array of characters including Captain Jim, Miss Cornelia Bryant, and the piteous neighbor Leslie. Unfortunately, the honeymoon stage comes to an end, as their marriage must endure its first hardships. The limelight is partially taken off Anne and instead is focused on the tragic life of Leslie. The Blythe’s find themselves in a clash of emotions and ethics, given their emotional attachment and different approaches to various issues. Montgomery’s fifth installment changes its perception of Anne adding a new tone of sadness to the series which differs from that of the previous books. Portrayed as more mature, Anne still tries to maintain her passionate and dreamy nature. Sorrow, tragedy, trouble in marriage, and moral duty are just some of the themes explored throughout its pages. Anne’s House of Dreams signifies the new chapter in the life of Anne as she takes on the role of wife, neighbor, friend and mother. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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This autobiographical work describes the author’s harrowing experience caught on a small drifting piece of ice, while crossing a frozen bay by dog team on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland.

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When you dive into Mark Twain’s (Samuel Clemens’) The Innocents Abroad, you have to be ready to learn more about the unadorned, ungilded reality of 19th century “touring” than you might think you want to learn. This is a tough, literary journey. It was tough for Twain and his fellow “pilgrims”, both religious and otherwise. They set out, on a June day in 1867, to visit major tourist sites in Europe and the near east, including Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, “the Holy Land”, and Egypt. What Twain records, in often humorous, sometimes grotesque but always fascinating detail, are the day-to-day ups and downs of discovering the truth about people and places. The truths they learn are often far different than their education and rumor have made them preconceive. This is a voyage of discovery. It’s long and, in places, tiresome. But it’s revelatory about so much. As with some of his other works, Twain includes popular prejudices of his time, which are today considered socially unacceptable. His references to “Indians”, “Negroes” and “infidels” come to mind. Beyond the lows, though, there are the highs of Twain’s cutting wit and insight as he guides us along the bumpy and often dangerous voyage. No need to buckle up. Just take it slow, and steady…like the journey itself.

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A secret shared by four convicts and two prison guards, a daughter in search of her missing father, a strange gift of a single pearl received every year, a fabulous treasure buried in the ancient Agra Fort in India, an eccentric detective being consulted to solve a deadly puzzle. All these events are set against the turbulent backdrop of the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857 in the second Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of the Four. Mary Morstan, a lovely young woman, comes to the Baker Street lodgings shared by Holmes and Dr Watson. Her mother died when she was very little and her father, an army Captain stationed in India, sent the child back to England to live in a boarding house. She had never seen her father, but ten years earlier, when she was seventeen she received a letter from him saying he had retired, was on his way home and asking her to meet him at the Langham Hotel in London. However, at the Langham, she discovers that her father stepped out the previous evening and never returned. Since then, every year, on her birthday she has been receiving a present from an anonymous giver. It is a very expensive, lustrous, single pearl. And now, she has received a mysterious letter asking her to come to the Lyceum Theater at seven in the evening, bringing two friends with her. For Sherlock Holmes, this is an enigma that’s simply crying out to be solved! Added to this are masterly touches that provide more insights into Holmes’ unconventional persona. His uncanny ways of tracking through sight, sound and smell, his knowledge of diverse subjects and his fondness for obscure quotations in foreign languages are all aspects that went into the creation of the immortal detective. Following the publication of The Sign of the Four, Doyle began concentrating on the short story format featuring Holmes and Watson. This met with immediate success and led to a revived interest in the novels and the rest, as they say, became literary history. The Sign of the Four has been adapted extensively on stage, screen, TV and radio. In fact, more than eighteen different film versions have been made since 1913-2013, marking a century of perennial interest in the maverick sleuth and his faithful assistant!

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