#Cate Barratt

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Education and the Good Life

Education and the Good Life By Bertrand Russell Early 20th-century philosopher, mathematician, historian, and social critic Bertrand Russell once again offers a refreshing and insightful look at the way in which we raise and educate our children and the effect it has on the kind of adults they become. Once again Russell demonstrates how timeless and unresolved some issues remain—be they war,…

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The Benson Murder Case

The Benson Murder Case By S.S. Van Dine First published in 1926, The Benson Murder Case relates the murder of a wily womanizer found shot dead in his home, and behind locked doors. Amateur Detective Philo Vance makes his first appearance in this work and assists the New York District Attorney in tracking down the murderer. Vance would go on to feature in a dozen novels by Van Dine throughout…

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The Meaning of Truth

In his book Pragmatism, William James attacked the transcendental, rationalist tradition in philosophy and tried to clear the ground for the doctrine he called radical empiricism. The book caused an uproar; it was greeted with praise, hostility, and ridicule. Determined to clarify the pragmatic conception of truth, James collected nine essays he had written on this subject before he wrote…

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The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism

Bertrand Russell was a firm believer in Communism, noting that the greatest fault of the capitalist system is not the concentration of money, but of power. The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism, written following a trip to Soviet Russia in 1920, reflects his observations of the Bolshevik approach to this ideal. Preface Part I. The Present Condition of Russia Chapter 1—What is Hoped from…

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The Black Mask

By E. W. Hornung Hornung published this second volume of the adventures of genius cracksman A.J. Raffles in 1901. Raffles is always casing rich homes to burgle, and is always accompanied by his trusted friend and confidant ‘Bunny.’ While they generally score, their escapades are never without a certain degree of risk, but Raffles seems always prepared. 1.      No Sinecure 2.      A Jubilee…

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Why Men Fight

Why Men Fight By Bertrand Russell Mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell was prompted to write and publish Why Men Fight (in 1917) as he and the world were experiencing the Great War. Russell shares his thoughts on how to end war—not just between states, but also between classes and individuals. He deals with the following topics in this work: The Principles of GrowthThe StateWar as an…

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Why I Am Not a Christian

Why I Am Not a Christian

Russell once said, “Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.” His views on religion in general, and on Christianity in particular (as in this work), were considered “eccentric” by many of his contemporaries. So were his views on sex, which figures frequently as an example of the misery that Christian leaders and thinkers inflict, and for which he…

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Arsène Lupin

This collaboration between French writer Maurice Leblanc and British writer/translator Edgar Jepson introduces the world to the fictitious French gentleman thief Arsene Lupin. The book was based on a play by Leblanc and was first published in 1909. While the work reflects a young Lupin, listeners will recognize the character of this lovable burglar. The Millionaire’s DaughterThe Coming of the…

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An Ebenezer Gryce Collection - Volume I

An Ebenezer Gryce Collection – Volume I

Anna Katharine Green (1846 – 1935) was one of the crime novelists and paved the way for later female writers of detective novels, like Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Ngaio Marsh. Among her prolific output are 12 novels featuring her main character, detective Ebenezer Gryce of the New York Metropolitan Police Force. This collection contains the first three novels in the series: The…

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The Problem of China

The Problem of China

After teaching as Professor of Philosophy at the University of Beijing for the year 1920, Bertrand Russell penned The Problem of China, in which he describes China’s past and present, opening on the country’s possible future. Written 100 years ago, the work is demonstrative of the philosopher’s insight and analysis of both the West and the East. His cautionary advice and predictions of the…

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The Analysis of Mind

The Analysis of Mind

The Analysis of the Mind by Bertrand Russell is a collection of 15 lectures he delivered in 1920. Russell was a highly reputed philosopher, mathematician, and social critic, and would go on to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. These lectures were based on a wholly new approach to exploring the relation between mind and matter. Lecture I: Recent Criticisms of ‘Consciousness’ Lecture…

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The Complete Original Short Stories Volume XIII

The Complete Original Short Stories Volume XIII

The Complete Original Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant, Volume XIII Guy de Maupassant, France’s gift to the world of short stories, was a prolific writer of this genre. His complete collection numbers are just under 200. Volume XIII contains the following titles: Old JudasThe Little CaskBoitelleA WidowThe Englishman of EtretatMagnetismA Father’s ConfessionA Mother of MonstersAn Uncomfortable…

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The Amelia Butterworth Mysteries

The Amelia Butterworth Mysteries

The Amelia Butterworth Mysteries by Anna Katharine Green Anna Katharine Green (1846-1935) was one of the first writers of detective fiction and a major precursor of more celebrated female crime writers like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. She composed more than 30 major crime novels, her prime detective characters being policemen Ebenezer Gryce and Caleb Sweetwater and amateur sleuths…

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The Complete Original Short Stories, Vol XII

The Complete Original Short Stories, Vol XII

The Complete Original Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant, Volume XII Guy de Maupassant, France’s gift to the world of short stories, was a prolific writer of this genre. His complete collection numbers just under 200. Volume XII contains the following titles: The ChildA Country ExcursionRoseRosalie PrudentRegretA Sister’s ConfessionCocoDead Woman’s SecretA Humble DramaMademoiselle CocotteThe…

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Sam and the Resistance

Sam and the Resistance

Sam and the Resistance by Linda Barrans Sam, the sheep, is having a hard time. He is pining for Ava the fox, and his actor friends are away performing their play without him. Someone has decided to build a Community Center in the next field, and the noise is simply terrible. One of the builders has deeply offended Morag the tabby cat, and she is starting a resistance movement – though why she…

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The Complete Original Short Stories Volume XI

The Complete Original Short Stories Volume XI

The Complete Original Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant, Volume XI Guy de Maupassant, France’s gift to the world of short stories, was a prolific writer of this genre. His complete collection numbers just under 200. Volume XI contains the following titles: 1. The Umbrella 2. Belhomme’s Beast 3. Discovery 4. The Accursed Bread 5. The Dowry 6. The Diary of a Madman 7. The Mask 8. The…