Harold Whetstone Johnston’s The Private Life of the Romans offers a detailed exploration of everyday life in ancient Rome during the later Republic and early Empire. Focusing on key aspects such as family structure, marriage, education, and social customs, the book provides a thorough insight into Roman domestic life. Designed to be accessible to a […]
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Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal is a masterful work of 18th-century political satire, addressing the severe poverty and overpopulation affecting Ireland. In this provocative essay, Swift offers a shocking solution: impoverished families could alleviate their struggles by selling their children as food for the wealthy. Written in a calm and reasoned tone, the essay methodically
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L. M. Montgomery’s The Blue Castle tells the story of Valancy Stirling, a nearly thirty-year-old woman trapped in a stifling existence within a family that dismisses her worth. Unmarried and burdened by societal expectations, Valancy feels her life is devoid of meaning or joy. The novel begins with Valancy waking on her birthday, disheartened by
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Leo Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina’, written in the late 19th century, examines themes of love, family, and infidelity within the rigid structure of Russian society. The novel opens with a crisis in the Oblonsky household, where Stepan Arkadyevitch (Stiva) has been unfaithful to his wife, Darya Alexandrovna. Darya, devastated by her husband’s affair with their governess,
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Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’ is a Victorian-era novel that follows the journey of Philip “Pip” Pirrip, an orphan navigating the complexities of social class, ambition, and personal growth. The story begins with a pivotal encounter in a desolate churchyard, where young Pip is confronted by an escaped convict who demands food and a file. This
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Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” is a sweeping epic set during the Napoleonic Wars, delving into the lives of Russian aristocrats as they navigate the intersecting realms of love, power, and conflict. The novel opens in 1805 with a soirée hosted by Anna Pavlovna, a prominent maid of honor, where members of Petersburg’s high society
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Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” is a historical novel set during the French Revolution, exploring themes of resurrection, sacrifice, and the struggle between oppression and liberty. The story begins with Mr. Jarvis Lorry traveling to France on a mission to rescue Dr. Alexandre Manette, a former prisoner who has endured years of suffering
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‘A Christmas Carol in Prose; Being a Ghost Story of Christmas’ by Charles Dickens is a timeless novella from the early 19th century that tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man whose life is transformed through a series of ghostly encounters. Scrooge’s journey begins when he is visited by the ghost of
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William Shakespeare’s *Romeo and Juliet*, a tragedy from the late 16th century, tells the story of two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, whose romance unfolds against the backdrop of their families’ deep-seated feud. Their love, both intense and forbidden, is challenged by the animosity surrounding them, leading to a series of tragic events.
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Daniel Defoe’s *The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe* is a classic tale of adventure and survival from the early 18th century. The novel follows Robinson Crusoe, a young man driven by a restless desire for exploration, who defies his father’s wishes to pursue a life at sea. His quest for adventure soon leads to
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