Shakespeare's Sonnets is the title of a collection of 154 sonnets accredited to William Shakespeare which cover themes such as the passage of time, love, beauty and mortality. It was first published in a 1609 quarto with the full stylised title: SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS. Never before imprinted. (although sonnets 138 and 144 had...

The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and skilful manipulation. He conjures...

Overruled (1912) is a comic one-act play written during by George Bernard Shaw. In Shaw's words, it is about "how polygamy occurs among quite ordinary people innocent of all unconventional views concerning it." The play concerns two couples who desire to switch partners, but are prevented from doing so by various considerations and end up negotiating an ambiguous set of...

Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same. Never resist temptation: prove all things: hold fast that which is good. Do not love your neighbor as yourself. If you are on good terms with yourself it is an impertinence: if on bad, an injury. The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.

The forenoon of the first of April, 1911. General Mitchener is at his writing table in the War Office, opening letters. On his left is the fireplace, with a fire burning. On his right, against the opposite wall is a standing desk with an office stool. The door is in the wall behind him, half way between the table and the desk. The table is not quite in the middle of the room: it is nearer to the...

Why not give Christianity a trial? The question seems a hopeless one after 2000 years of resolute adherence to the old cry of "Not this man, but Barabbas." Yet it is beginning to look as if Barabbas was a failure, in spite of his strong right hand, his victories, his empires, his millions of money, and his moralities and churches and political constitutions. "This man" has not been a failure...

Misalliance is a play written in 1909–1910 by George Bernard Shaw. The play takes place entirely on a single Saturday afternoon in the conservatory of a large country house in Hindhead, Surrey in Edwardian era England.  It is a continuation of some of the ideas on marriage that he expressed in 1908 in his play, Getting Married. It was...

Major Barbara is a three act play by George Bernard Shaw, written and premiered in 1905 and first published in1907. The story involves an idealistic young woman, Barbara Undershaft, who is engaged in helping the poor as an official (a Major) in the Salvation Army in London. For many years Barbara and her siblings have been estranged from their father, Andrew Undershaft, who...

A Legend of Montrose is an historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, set in Scotland in the 1640s during the Civil War. It forms, along with The Bride of Lammermoor, the 3rd series of Scott's Tales of My Landlord. The two novels were published together in 1819. Earl of Montrose The story takes place during the Earl of Montrose's 1644-5 Highland campaign on behalf of King Charles I against the...

Quentin Durward is a historical novel by Walter Scott, first published in 1823. The story concerns a Scottish archer in the service of the French King Louis XI (1423–1483). The age of feudalism and chivalry was passing away, and the King of France was inciting the wealthy citizens of Flanders against his own rebellious vassal the Duke of Burgundy. Quentin Durward had come to Tours, where...

Marmion is an epic poem by Walter Scott about the Battle of Flodden (1513). It was published in 1808. Scott started writing Marmion, his second major work, in November 1806. When Archibald Constable, the publisher, learnt of this, he offered a thousand guineas for the copyright unseen. William Miller and John Murray each agreed to take a 25% share in the project. Murray observed: "We both view...

Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft is a series of essays by Sir Walter Scott on the subject of the witch-craze, demonology, and other occult topics. It is an early review of the literature that others such as Murray would be analyzing in the next century. Scott has an antiquarian mind, and obviously relishes exposing the reader to the grotesque and the unusual.

Old Mortality is a novel by Sir Walter Scott set in the period 1679–89 in south west Scotland. It forms, along with The Black Dwarf, the 1st series of Scott's Tales of My Landlord. The two novels were published together in 1816. Old Mortality is considered one of Scott's best novels. It was originally titled The Tale of Old Mortality, but is generally shortened in most references. After...

Rob Roy (1817) is a historical novel by Walter Scott. It is narrated by Frank Osbaldistone, the son of an English merchant who travels first to the North of England, and subsequently to the Scottish Highlands, to collect a debt stolen from his father. On the way he encounters the larger-than-life title character, Rob Roy MacGregor. Though Rob Roy is not the lead character (in fact, the narrative...

The Lady of the Lake is a narrative poem by Sir Walter Scott, first published in 1810. Set in the Trossachs region of Scotland, it is composed of six cantos, each of which concerns the action of a single day. The poem has three main plots: the contest among three men, Roderick Dhu, James Fitz-James, and Malcolm Graeme, to win the love of Ellen Douglas; the feud and reconciliation of King James V...

East of Suez: A Play in Seven Scenes is a popular book by William Somerset Maugham, consists of 7 parts: A street in peking A small verandah on an upper storey of the british american tobacco company's premises The temple of fidelity and virtuous inclination The sitting-room in the andersons' apartments The courtyard in the andersons' part of the temple A small room in a chinese...

This play was produced at the Royalty Theatre, on March 27th, 1919, with the following cast: Sir Arthur Little - C. Aubrey Smith. Ronald Parry- George Relph. Henry Pritchard - V. Sutton Vane. George Appleby - Townsend Whitling. Osman Pasha - George C. Desplas. Violet - Fay Compton. Mrs. Etheridge - Eva Moore. Mrs. Pritchard - Helen Haye. Mrs. Appleby - Mrs. Robert Brough.

The Hero is a little known masterpiece of W Somerset Maugham. It is much more clinical and less romantic than his two great novels, “The Moon and Sixpence” and “The Razor’s Edge”, the latter having foretold of the mass interest in Eastern religions and metaphysics that would follow. The Hero is essentially an acerbic look at the roots of English society at...

Contents Chapter: The Spirit of Andalusia The Churches of Ronda Ronda The Swineherd Medinat Az-Zahra The Mosque The Court of Oranges Cordova The Bridge of Calahorra Puerta del Puente Seville The Alcazar Calle de las Sierpes Characteristics Don Juan Tenorio Women of Andalusia The Dance A Feast Day The Giralda The Cathedral of Seville The Hospital of Charity Gaol Before...

Orientations by William Somerset Maugham, author of Liza of Lambeth, The Making of a Saint. Table of Content: The Punctiliousness of Don Sebastian A bad example De Amicitia Faith The choice of amyntas Daisy