*****FANS OF THE EXPLOSIVE BBC TV SERIES 'GUNPOWDER' STARRING KIT HARRINGTON will love the bestselling John Shakespeare series of Tudor spy thrillers from Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award***** '[Clements] does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times ********** When a reluctant John Shakespeare answers a plea for help from Joshua Peace, Searcher of the Dead, a few days before Christmas, he cannot know what lies ahead. A naked man has been found in a snowdrift, a wreath of holly crowning his head and a bullet in his back. But it is no ordinary corpse. Shakespeare recognises him as Giovanni Jesu, a black man from Venice, a close associate - and some say much more - of the disgraced Earl of Oxford. Who would kill such a man and why? As all around him prepare for the festive season, Shakespeare must unravel a complex plot of passion and treachery and confront a cold-blooded murderer who will not hesitate to kill again.
The Edgar Award-winning editor collects sixty of his all-time favorite holiday crime stories—from Arthur Conan Doyle and Thomas Hardy, to Sara Paretsky and Ed McBain. • “Anyone who cares about the best mystery writing of the past century and beyond would be lucky to receive this thick volume during the holidays." —The Washington Post This collection touches on all aspects of the holiday season, and all types of mysteries. They are suspenseful, funny, frightening, and poignant. Included are puzzles by Mary Higgins Clark, Isaac Asimov, and Ngaio Marsh; uncanny tales in the tradition of A Christmas Carol by Peter Lovesey and Max Allan Collins; O. Henry-like stories by Stanley Ellin and Joseph Shearing, stories by pulp icons John D. MacDonald and Damon Runyon; comic gems from Donald E. Westlake and John Mortimer; and many, many more. Almost any kind of mystery you’re in the mood for--suspense, pure detection, humor, cozy, private eye, or police procedural—can be found in these pages. FEATURING: - Unscrupulous Santas - Crimes of Christmases Past and Present - Festive felonies - Deadly puddings - Misdemeanors under the mistletoe - Christmas cases for classic characters including Sherlock Holmes, Brother Cadfael, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Ellery Queen, Rumpole of the Bailey, Inspector Morse, Inspector Ghote, A.J. Raffles, and Nero Wolfe.
*NATIONAL BESTSELLER* *SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER AWARD* A Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year A New York Times Editors’ Choice Pick “Banville sets up and then deftly demolishes the Agatha Christie format…superbly rich and sophisticated.”—New York Times Book Review The incomparable Booker Prize winner’s next great crime novel—the story of a family whose secrets resurface when a parish priest is found murdered in their ancestral home Detective Inspector St. John Strafford has been summoned to County Wexford to investigate a murder. A parish priest has been found dead in Ballyglass House, the family seat of the aristocratic, secretive Osborne family. The year is 1957 and the Catholic Church rules Ireland with an iron fist. Strafford—flinty, visibly Protestant and determined to identify the murderer—faces obstruction at every turn, from the heavily accumulating snow to the culture of silence in the tight-knit community he begins to investigate. As he delves further, he learns the Osbornes are not at all what they seem. And when his own deputy goes missing, Strafford must work to unravel the ever-expanding mystery before the community’s secrets, like the snowfall itself, threaten to obliterate everything. Beautifully crafted, darkly evocative and pulsing with suspense, Snow is “the Irish master” (New Yorker) John Banville at his page-turning best. Don't miss John Banville's next novel, The Lock-up! Other riveting mysteries from John Banville: April in Spain
WHAT IF HITLER HAD SURVIVED? In the gripping new spy thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Hitler's Secret, a Cambridge spy must find the truth behind Hitler's death. But exactly who is the man in the bunker? 'MASTER OF THE WARTIME SPY THRILLER' - FINANCIAL TIMES ________________ Germany, late summer 1945 - The war is over but the country is in ruins. Millions of refugees and holocaust survivors strive to rebuild their lives in displaced persons camps. Millions of German soldiers and SS men are held captive in primitive conditions in open-air detention centres. Everywhere, civilians are desperate for food and shelter. No one admits to having voted Nazi, yet many are unrepentant. Adolf Hitler is said to have killed himself in his Berlin bunker. But no body was found - and many people believe he is alive. Newspapers are full of stories reporting sightings and theories. Even Stalin, whose own troops captured the bunker, has told President Truman he believes the former Führer is not dead. Day by day, American and British intelligence officers subject senior members of the Nazi regime to gruelling interrogation in their quest for their truth. Enter Tom Wilde - the Cambridge professor and spy sent in to find out the truth... Dramatic, intelligent, and brilliantly compelling, THE MAN IN THE BUNKER is Rory's best WWII thriller yet - perfect for readers of Robert Harris, C J Sansom and Joseph Kanon.
A riveting novella set in Elizabethan England—perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and The Tudors. Just a few days before Christmas, a reluctant John Shakespeare—brother of a rising playwright—answers a plea for help from Joshua Peace, Searcher of the Dead, but he has no idea the kind of menace he will face. A naked man has been found in a snowdrift, a wreath of holly crowning his head and a bullet in his back. As all around him prepare for the festive season, Shakespeare must unravel a complex plot of passion and treachery and confront a cold-blooded murderer who will not hesitate to kill again.
The 'Christmas Collection: 400+ Novels, Stories, Poems, Carols & Legends (Illustrated)' stands as an unparalleled anthology, weaving together an extraordinary tapestry of festive narratives, literary styles, and historical epochs. It encompasses a breathtaking range of works from the whimsical to the solemn, reflecting the vast panorama of Christmas traditions and sentiments across cultures and centuries. Noteworthy for its diversity and depth, the collection brings together revered classics and less-known gems, offering readers an enriched understanding of the Christmas spirit as depicted in literature. This anthology illuminates the multifaceted nature of Christmas, exploring themes of love, loss, joy, and reflection through a variety of literary lenses, from the poetic to the prosaic, the fantastical to the realistic. The contributing authors and editors, ranging from canonical figures such as Charles Dickens and Leo Tolstoy to children's favorites like Beatrix Potter and L. Frank Baum, offer a testament to the anthology's rich, cross-cultural tapestry. Their collective works, embodying the essence of their eras and individual philosophies, converge in this collection to celebrate the universal human experience of Christmas. The wide historical span of the collection, from the Renaissance wit of William Shakespeare to the poignant realism of Fyodor Dostoevsky, aligns with various literary movements, showcasing the evolving narrative of Christmas through the ages while retaining a timeless appeal. This anthology is an indispensable addition to the library of any reader seeking to immerse themselves in the literary celebration of Christmas. It promises not only a journey through a kaleidoscope of Christmas tales, carols, and poems but also an opportunity to engage with the works of some of the most influential figures in literature. Whether one is drawn to the nostalgic charm of Victorian Christmas tales or the introspective verse of Emily Dickinson, this collection offers a unique window into the ways Christmas has been celebrated, contemplated, and cherished through literature. It invites readers to explore, reflect, and revel in the rich literary heritage and collective human experience encapsulated within its pages.
This holiday, we are offering to you our own Christmas box - filled up to the top with the best Christmas novels, classics to read during holidays, magical Christmas tales, legends, most famous carols and the unique poetry of the giants of literature dedicated to this one and only holiday: The Gift of the Magi (O. Henry) The Holy Night (Selma Lagerlöf) A Merry Christmas & Other Christmas Stories (Louisa May Alcott) A Letter from Santa Claus (Mark Twain) Silent Night The Night After Christmas The Child Born at Bethlehem The Adoration of the Shepherds The Visit of the Wise Men As Joseph Was A-Walking The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter) Where Love Is, God Is (Leo Tolstoy) The Three Kings (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) A Christmas Carol (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (L. Frank Baum) Christmas At Sea (Robert Louis Stevenson) The Savior Must Have Been A Docile Gentleman (Emily Dickinson) The Heavenly Christmas Tree (Fyodor Dostoevsky) The Little City of Hope (F. Marion Crawford) The First Christmas Of New England (Harriet Beecher Stowe) Christmas in the Olden Time (Walter Scott) Christmas In India (Rudyard Kipling) A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) The Twelve Days of Christmas The Wonderful Wizard of OZ (L. Frank Baum) Ring Out, Wild Bells (Alfred Lord Tennyson) Little Lord Fauntleroy (Frances Hodgson Burnett) Black Beauty (Anna Sewell) The Christmas Child (Hesba Stretton) Granny's Wonderful Chair (Frances Browne) The Romance of a Christmas Card (Kate Douglas Wiggin) Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame) The Wonderful Life - Story of the life and death of our Lord (Hesba Stretton) The Christmas Angel (A. Brown) Christmas at Thompson Hall (Anthony Trollope) Christmas Every Day (William Dean Howells) The Lost Word (Henry van Dyke) The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (E. T. A. Hoffmann) The Little Match Girl The Elves and the Shoemaker Mother Holle The Star Talers Snow-White...
This meticulously edited and unique Christmas collection is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents: The Gift of the Magi (O. Henry) The Holy Night (Selma Lagerlöf) A Merry Christmas & Other Christmas Stories (Louisa May Alcott) A Letter from Santa Claus (Mark Twain) Silent Night The Night After Christmas The Child Born at Bethlehem The Adoration of the Shepherds The Visit of the Wise Men As Joseph Was A-Walking The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter) Where Love Is, God Is (Leo Tolstoy) The Three Kings (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) A Christmas Carol (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (L. Frank Baum) Christmas At Sea (Robert Louis Stevenson) The Savior Must Have Been A Docile Gentleman (Emily Dickinson) The Heavenly Christmas Tree (Fyodor Dostoevsky) The Little City of Hope (F. Marion Crawford) The First Christmas Of New England (Harriet Beecher Stowe) Christmas in the Olden Time (Walter Scott) Christmas In India (Rudyard Kipling) A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) The Twelve Days of Christmas The Wonderful Wizard of OZ (L. Frank Baum) Ring Out, Wild Bells (Alfred Lord Tennyson) Little Lord Fauntleroy (Frances Hodgson Burnett) Black Beauty (Anna Sewell) The Christmas Child (Hesba Stretton) Granny's Wonderful Chair (Frances Browne) The Romance of a Christmas Card (Kate Douglas Wiggin) Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame) The Wonderful Life - Story of the life and death of our Lord (Hesba Stretton) The Christmas Angel (A. Brown) Christmas at Thompson Hall (Anthony Trollope) Christmas Every Day (William Dean Howells) The Lost Word (Henry van Dyke) The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (E. T. A. Hoffmann) The Little Match Girl The Elves and the Shoemaker Mother Holle The Star Talers Snow-White…
Santa's Christmas Library: 400+ Christmas Novels, Stories, Poems, Carols & Legends, Illustrated Edition, represents an unparalleled assembly of literary voices, offering a diverse and comprehensive celebration of Christmas. Spanning a wide range of literary styles from the evocative and lyrical to the humorous and satirical, this collection encapsulates the myriad ways Christmas has been depicted in literature. The anthology seamlessly weaves together the works of classical authors, from the haunting prose of Dickens to the poignant verses of Longfellow, offering readers a rich palette of Christmas narratives. This carefully curated selection not only highlights celebrated works but also introduces lesser-known gems, providing a nuanced exploration of Christmas's cultural and historical significance across different periods and settings. The contributing authors and editors bring together a remarkable breadth of experiences and backgrounds, reflecting the anthology's global and temporal span. These literary figures, ranging from eminent poets like William Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson to iconic storytellers such as Mark Twain and Leo Tolstoy, collectively contribute to the collection's thematic richness. Their works, rooted in various eras and cultures, resonate with the timeless spirit of Christmas, while also engaging with the nuances of their specific contexts. This convergence of diverse voices fosters a multidimensional understanding of Christmas traditions, values, and themes, highlighting the festival's universal appeal and its capacity to inspire across generations and geographies. For those seeking to immerse themselves in the Christmas spirit through the lens of literature, Santa's Christmas Library offers an incomparable journey. This anthology not only serves as a celebration of Christmas through an array of literary forms but also as an educational resource, illuminating the evolution of Christmas narratives and traditions over centuries. Readers are invited to explore the depth and breadth of Christmas literature, discovering along the way how these stories, poems, and songs reflect, challenge, and enrich our understanding of Christmas itself. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of literature to capture the essence of human experiences and traditions, making it an essential addition to any holiday collection.
Santa's Library: 400+ Christmas Novels, Stories, Poems, Carols & Legends presents an unparalleled collection that traverses the vast landscapes of Christmas literature, encapsulating the essence of the season through a remarkable diversity of perspectives and literary styles. From the poignant tales of Charles Dickens and the lyrical verses of William Wordsworth to the imaginative creations of L. Frank Baum and the folkloric compilations by the Brothers Grimm, this anthology offers a comprehensive exploration of Christmas narratives. These works, varying from the profoundly religious to the whimsically secular, collectively highlight the multifaceted nature of the holiday and its universal appeal across cultures and generations, weaving a rich tapestry of festivity, reflection, joy, and unity. The editors have meticulously curated works from an impressive array of authors, each contributing their unique voice to the overarching theme of Christmas. The collection spans several centuries, featuring seminal figures in literature such as Shakespeare and Chekhov, alongside influential cultural icons like Booker T. Washington and Hans Christian Andersen. This blend of literary giants, rooted in diverse historical, cultural, and social milieus, significantly enriches the anthologys exploration of Christmas, allowing for a multifarious examination of its customs, its ethos, and its impact on human empathy and moral values. Through this historic and cultural lens, readers gain a deeper appreciation for the holiday's role in shaping literary and societal narratives. Santa's Library offers readers an exceptional opportunity to delve into the Christmas spirit as envisioned by over a hundred of the worlds most beloved writers. It opens a window to the holiday's universal themes of hope, generosity, and peace, celebrated through a multitude of voices and styles. Enthusiasts of literature and Christmas alike will find in this expansive anthology a treasure trove of Christmas cheer, historical insight, and literary excellence. It's an invitation to explore the depth and breadth of the Christmas experience, making it an essential addition to any bookshelf for both its educational value and its capacity to inspire and unite through the power of storytelling.
