The endeavour of small Greek historians to add interest to their work by magnifying the exploits of their countrymen, and piling wonder upon wonder, Lucian first condemned in his Instructions for Writing History , and then caricatured in his True History , wherein is contained the account of a trip to the moon, a piece which must have been enjoyed by Rabelais, which suggested to Cyrano de Bergerac his Voyages to the Moon and to the Sun, and insensibly contributed, perhaps, directly or through Bergerac, to the conception of Gulliver’s Travels . The Icaro-Menippus Dialogue describes another trip to the moon, though its satire is more especially directed against the philosophers. (Summary from the Introduction)...

Adventure, Advice, Epistolary fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Literature, Satire

Set in an English-Scottish border village during the waning days of the Napoleonic era, this adventure story introduces us to Jock Calder, whose quiet way of life is shattered when a mysterious stranger steps ashore near his home. The stranger changes forever the lives of Jock, his cousin Edie, and his best friend Jim, sending the young men into the jaws of the final battle to defeat The Great Shadow that threatens to devour the whole of Europe. Don't look for Sherlock Holmes in this well-written tale, but do expect a wonderful glimpse of life at the end of the Napoleonic era, including an exciting rendition of The Battle of Waterloo. (Introduction by Christine Dufour)...

Fiction, Adventure, Historical Fiction

After The Three Muskateers and Twenty Years After the adventurous story of Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan continues! The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later (French: Le Vicomte de Bragelonne ou Dix ans plus tard ) is the last of the Musketeer novels. It is usually divided into four volumes and this first volume contains chapters 1-75. (Summary by Diana Majlinger)...

Adventure, Historical Fiction, Literature, Romance, Humor

This is the story of Henry Ware, a young boy living in the wilds of the Kentucky frontier of the 1700's. The story follows Henry as he helps to establish a frontier outpost, is captured by an Indian tribe, and ultimately ensures the safety and security of a band of settlers against the warring Shawnee Indians. The Young Trailers is action packed and brings to life the adventures that awaited the early settlers as they traversed into the endless forests of the American frontier. (Summary by Adam E. Maroney)...

Adventure, Children, Historical Fiction, Teen/Young adult

Paul Verne war der Bruder von Jules Verne. Er verfaßte für die Buch Reihe seines Bruders zwei Reiseberichte, die zusammen mit Jules Verne Romanen in Sammelbänden erschienen sind. Der vorliegende Bericht schildert die Mont-Blanc-Besteigung von Paul Verne im Jahr 1871.(Summary by Wassermann)...

Adventure, Travel

Return with us to those thrilling days of yesteryear as Mike Vendetti narrates this early Zane Grey novel of hardy pioneers taming the wild west. Yes, despite the difficult times, romance flourishes and the bad guys are eliminated almost single handedly as our heroes Jonathan Zane and his sidekick Lew “Deathwind” Wetzel fight their way through mud, blood, gore, savage Indians, and despicable outlaws, to make the land safe for pioneer families as they settle the wild west. Summary by Mike Vendetti....

Adventure, Children, Historical Fiction, Westerns

Peter Schlemihl lernt den reichen Kaufmann Thomas John kennen, in dessen Garten er einem eigenartigen grauen Herrn begegnet. Dieser überredet ihn dazu, seinen Schatten für ein Säckel voller Gold zu verkaufen, der wie ein Füllhorn nie versiegt. Sobald die Menschen aber bemerken, dass er keinen Schatten hat, fürchten sie sich und meiden ihn. Er reist deshalb über das Gebirge zu einem Badeort und richtet sich dort mit Hilfe seines treuen Dieners Bendel so ein, dass seine Schattenlosigkeit zunächst nicht bemerkt wird. Hier verliebt er sich in die schöne Mina und sein Geheimnis wird von einem anderen seiner Diener verraten. Nur wenn er seinen Schatten zurück bekommt, erklärt ihm Minas Vater, darf er die Tochter heiraten. Da erscheint der graue Mann wieder. Schlemihl will seinen Schatten zurück, aber die wahre Natur des grauen Mannes offenbart sich ihm: Er ist der Teufel. Dieser ist nur bereit, den Schatten zurückzugeben, wenn Schlemihl ihm dafür seine Seele überlässt. Dieser lehnt den Handel ab und wirft schließlich das Säckchen, welches er mit seinem Schatten bezahlt hatte, in einen Abgrund. Damit kappt er alle Bande zum Teufel. Mit sei...

Adventure, Fiction

There comes a time in the course of battle when a participant casts his fate to the gods of war, and carries on without question, the task at hand. Living, dying, right or wrong, can be contemplated later. The spirit of the bayonet takes over and carries the youth through the crucible of battle to emerge a short time later several ages older. Stephen Cranes classic novel gives us a glimpse into the mind of a young soldier as he passes through the experience he will never be able to forget, and possibly awaken him from his slumber in a sweat and panic for years to come. Narrated by Mike Vendetti, Purple Heart, November 1965...

War stories, Adventure

Twelve short stories of real girls who have influenced the history of their times. (Summary by Carmen H)

Adventure, Children, Biography, Short stories, History

Hurricane! Volcano eruptions and fire! Leprosy! Nothing deterred Father Damien from doing the work to which he had been called. Outstandingly big and strong as a boy, he was notably kind as a young man. He needed all his strength and kindness when he went to live at the leper colony of Molokai. This children’s biography of Father Damien of Molokai was written by Eva K. Betz, a prolific Catholic writer of history and biography books for children. (Introduction from an original dust jacket and Maria Therese)...

Adventure, Biography, History

Red Shadows is the first of a series of stories featuring Howard's puritan avenger, Solomon Kane. Kane tracks his prey over land and sea, enters the jungles of Africa, and even faces dark Gods and evil magic -- all to avenge a woman he'd never met before. (Summary by Paul Siegel)...

Adventure, Horror/Ghost stories, Historical Fiction

A Voyage to the South Sea, undertaken by command of His Majesty, for the purpose of conveying the Bread-fruit tree to the West Indies, in His Majesty’s ship The Bounty, commanded by Lieutenant William Bligh. Including an account of the Mutiny on board the said ship, and the subsequent voyage of part of the crew, in the ship’s boat, from Tofoa, one of the Friendly Islands, to Timor, a Dutch settlement in the East Indies. (Summary is the full title)...

Adventure, History, Sea stories

In 1859, officers of the Hudson's Bay Company are given the mission to found a fort at 70 degrees north of the polar circle. At some point, an earthquake occurs, and from then on, laws of physics seem altered (a total eclipse happens to be only partial; tides are not perceived anymore). They eventually realise that they are not where they are supposed to be. (wikipedia)...

Adventure, Historical Fiction

A tale written for children in 1885. It tells of a child of noble birth whose parents have fallen foul of the current royalty. He is placed in hiding and grows up with a bowyer and then apprenticed to an armourer just outside the gates of the City of London. He becomes accomplished in arms and joins the campaign in France where we see the battles of Crecy and Poitiers through his eyes. A tale of heroism and 14th century viciousness. Great fun.(summary by jimmowatt)...

Adventure, Children, Historical Fiction

This book tells the story of the American war of Independence from the side of the British. The old flag mentioned in the title is the flag of England. This is a book for young readers, but - as a good book should be - everybody can enjoy it. (Summary by Stav Nisser)...

Historical Fiction, Adventure, Teen/Young adult

Fenris isn't a hell planet, but it's nobody's bargain. With 2,000-hour days and an 8,000-hour year, it alternates blazing heat with killing cold. A planet like that tends to breed a special kind of person: tough enough to stay alive and smart enough to make the best of it. When that kind of person discovers he's being cheated of wealth he's risked his life for, that kind of planet is ripe for revolution. (Introduction from the Gutenberg text)...

Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Science fiction

At the age of 16 Ballantyne went to Canada and was six years in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company. His rule in writing, being in every case, was to write as far as possible from personal knowledge of the scenes he described.In this book he details the lives of the crew as they must overwinter in the frozen north including their meetings with Eskimos and bears and their struggles with disease. This is a realistic account of what life was like for the explorers of the Arctic. (summary by Esther, adapted from wikipedia)...

Adventure, Sea stories, Historical Fiction, Nature, Teen/Young adult

The story follows an ancient feud between two frontier families that is inflamed when one of the families takes up cattle rustling. The ranchers are led by Jean Isbel and, on the other side, Lee Jorth and his band of cattle rustlers. In the grip of a relentless code of loyalty to their own people, they fight the war of the Tonto Basin, desperately, doggedly, to the last man, neither side seeing the futility of it until it is too late. And in this volatile environment, young Jean finds himself hopelessly in love with a girl from whom he is separated by an impassable barrier....

Adventure, Fiction, Romance, Westerns

Follows the fortunes of the son of a noble Saxon family in Norman England as he woos his lady, disobeys his father, and is loved by another. Set in late 12C England and in Palestine with Richard Cœur-de-Lion at the Crusades, it's another ripping historical yarn by Scott (summary by annise)...

Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance

Karl Wilhelm Salice-Contessa war ein schlesischer Dichter der Romantik. Er war einer der Serapionsbrüder um E. T. A. Hoffmann. Seine Stoffe nahm er oft aus den Sagen des Vorlands des Riesengebirges. Der junge Raimund lebt abgeschieden auf einer Burg im Gebirge. Als eines Tages ein Wanderer in der Burg übernachtet und von dem furchtbaren Schicksal des Königs berichtet, dessen Herz jede Nach von Schlangen benagt wird, sich jeden Tag wieder regeneriert um nachts erneut benagt zu werden, beschließt er, dem König Hilfe und Rettung zu bringen, was keinem Ritter bisher gelungen ist. Auf seiner Fahrt kommt er an seltsame Orte und trifft merkwürdige Wesen. Als er schließlich am Schloss des Königs ankommt, steht ihm ein schwerer Kampf bevor. (Zusammenfassung von Hokuspokus)...

Adventure, Fairy tales, Fantasy