The Arc
1) Nostromo
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"Nostromo, A Tale of the Seaboard" is set in the South American country of Costaguana, and more specifically in that country's Occidental Province and its port city of Sulaco. Though Costaguana is a fictional nation, its geography as described in the book resembles real-life Colombia. Costaguana has a long history of tyranny, revolution and warfare, but has recently experienced a period of stability under the dictator Ribiera. Charles Gould is a native...
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The complex moral ambiguities of seduction and revenge make "Dangerous Liaisons" (1782) one of the most scandalous and controversial novels in European literature. Its prime movers, the Viscount de Valmont and the Marchioness de Merteuil - gifted, wealthy, and bored - form an unholy alliance and turn seduction into a game. And they play this game with such wit and style that it is impossible not to admire them, until they discover mysterious rules...
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In this hard-hitting novel, first published in 1924, the murky personal relationship between an Englishwoman and an Indian doctor mirrors the troubled politics of colonialism. Adela Quested and her fellow British travelers, eager to experience the "real" India, develop a friendship with the urbane Dr. Aziz. While on a group outing, Adela and Dr. Aziz visit the Marabar caves together. As they emerge, Adela accuses the doctor of assaulting her. While...
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"There, in the middle of the broad, bright high-road--there, as if it had that moment sprung out of the earth or dropped from the heaven--stood the figure of a solitary Woman, dressed from head to foot in white garments."
Thus young Walter Hartright first meets the mysterious woman in white in what soon became one of the most popular novels of the nineteenth century. Secrets, mistaken identities, surprise revelations, amnesia, locked rooms and locked...
5) UFO! Roswell
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"The government claimed they had recovered a UFO - they had a press release about it, No other government in the world has said 'We have a spacecraft,' and then the next day there's another press release that says, 'Never mind, it was just a weather balloon',"
Ben Smith, former CIA operative
In 1947, something crashed outside of Roswell, New Mexico and was brought to Roswell Army Air Field by Army officers. Since then, there have been many a discussion...
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Swashbuckling British adventurers find triumph and tragedy in nineteenth-century Afghanistan in this novella J. M. Barrie called "the most audacious thing in fiction." While on tour in India, a British journalist encounters Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan, two foolhardy drifters with a plan. Claiming they've exhausted all the schemes and odd jobs they could find in India, the two are in search of an even greater adventure. They tell the journalist...
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Henrik Ibsen, the renowned Norwegian playwright, is celebrated for his influential contributions to modern theater. Born in 1828, Ibsen's early life was marked by financial struggles and personal hardships. However, his unwavering determination and artistic talent propelled him to become one of the most prominent figures in the world of drama. Ibsen's works, including "A Doll's House," "Hedda Gabler," and "Ghosts," challenged societal conventions,...
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Charles Dickens was an English writer and social critic who lived during the 19th century. He is considered one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era and is known for his vivid portrayals of the social and economic conditions of the time. His works often addressed issues of poverty, social injustice, and class struggle, and he is credited with helping to raise public awareness of these issues. Some of his most famous works include "Oliver...
10) A 1001 Nights
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"A Thousand Nights and a Night," also known as Arabian Nights, is a timeless collection of Middle Eastern folktales and stories that has captivated readers for centuries. Compiled over many centuries, the book features a rich tapestry of narratives, including adventure, romance, magic, and morality tales. The collection is framed by the story of Scheherazade, a clever and resourceful storyteller who uses her wit and storytelling skills to save herself...
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"There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep." - The Odyssey
"Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another." - The Iliad
"Let your spear be your passport." - The Odyssey
Homer is one of the most important figures in ancient Greek literature, believed to have lived in the 8th century BC. He is most famous for his epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, which are considered...
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After Vautrin helps Lucien overcome a mental breakdown, the two men decide to align forces in pursuit of social status and wealth. Operating under an alias, Vautrin offers to help Lucien redeem himself and move back to Paris, with the condition that Lucien follows his orders exactly. Happy to comply, the pair return to the capital city, living in excess and racking up a debt as they pretend they can afford this luxurious lifestyle. With a goal of...
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H.G. Wells, one of the most influential writers of science fiction and speculative fiction, has left an indelible mark on literature with his vast body of work. Wells's books, spanning across various genres, captivate readers with their imaginative narratives, thought-provoking concepts, and insightful social commentary. His novels, such as "The Time Machine," "The War of the Worlds," and "The Invisible Man," have become iconic and have helped shape...
14) Jude the Obscure
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Jude the Obscure, the semi-autobiographical final novel from Thomas Hardy explores notions of surprising candor; within the eponymous protagonist lies the tragic truth of failed ambitions and relationships. In a fierce exploration of the darkness of love and the intellect, this is one of the great tragic novels of English literature.
Jude Fawley, an earnest boy from a rural English village, dreams of a life of academia despite his working-class background....
15) North and south
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From her home ground, her father's comfortably middle-class living in Hampshire and her aunt's establishment in Harley Street, Margaret is exiled to the ugly northern industrial town of Milton. Surprisingly, her social consciousness awakens. It is intensified by a relationship with the local mill-owner, Thornton, that combines passionate attraction with fierce opposition. The novel explores the exploitation of the working class, linking the plight...
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"The Bishop's Apron" is a novel written by W. Somerset Maugham, a British playwright and author, first published in 1906. The book is known for its wit, humor, and exploration of themes related to social class, morality, and the clergy.
The novel is set in the fictional English cathedral town of Polchester and revolves around the lives of the clergy, particularly the Bishop of Polchester, Archdeacon Cuthbert, and the charming and somewhat unconventional...
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Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens in 1835, was a celebrated American author, humorist, and social critic. Twain's life and writings are deeply intertwined with American history, capturing the essence of the 19th century and the spirit of the American West. Through his iconic works such as "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," Twain crafted vivid narratives that examined the complexities of human nature, tackled social...
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Jane Austen's complete works form an enduring literary legacy that has captivated readers for generations. Her novels, characterized by wit, social commentary, and insightful character portrayals, offer a profound exploration of the societal norms and constraints prevalent during the Regency era in England. Austen's keen observations and astute critiques of the limitations imposed on women, particularly in matters of love and marriage, make her works...
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Born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski in 1857 in Poland, Joseph Conrad had a difficult childhood due to his family's involvement in Polish nationalism, which led to their persecution by the Russian authorities. Conrad started his career as a sailor and traveled extensively, which inspired his literary work. In 1895, he published his first novel "Almayer's Folly," which was followed by a string of successful works, including "Heart of Darkness," which...
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Persuasion is a novel by Jane Austen that follows the story of Anne Elliot, an unmarried woman struggling to reconcile her feelings for a man she met and fell in love with eight years earlier, Captain Frederick Wentworth. The fast-paced novel explores themes of love, class, and social expectations in 19th-century England. Austen uses Anne's character to highlight the societal limitations placed upon women during this time. Women were expected to marry...