Jumat, 27 Mei 2011

A Crown of Violets, by Renee Vivien

A Crown of Violets, by Renee Vivien

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A Crown of Violets, by Renee Vivien

A Crown of Violets, by Renee Vivien



A Crown of Violets, by Renee Vivien

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* Finalist for the Headmistress Press Charlotte Mew Prize Renée Vivien (née Pauline Mary Tarn, 1877-1909) was an English expatriate who made her home in Paris during the Belle Époque. In 1903, Vivien’s collection of translations and adaptations from the Ancient Greek poetry of Sappho became one of the first works of modern European lesbian literature to be published by a lesbian writer under her real name. This courageous act was the death-sentence of her literary career. Parisian critics who had praised the mysterious “R. Vivien” as a young man of poetic genius began to snub at first and then simply ignore the newly un-closeted woman poet. Even in the face of ridicule and disrespect, Vivien continued to write and publish poetry, short stories, translations, plays, epigrams, and a novel based on her real-life romances with Natalie Clifford Barney and the Baroness Hélène van Zuylen van Nyevelt van Haar (née Rothschild). Vivien’s poetry is now available in English translation by Samantha Pious: A Crown of Violets (Headmistress Press, 2015). I think it's very rare to encounter a new lesbian poet through translation and I am very excited to support this collection in its positive obsession and literary innovation alike. If it is that we are encouraged to each become the lover of Renée Vivien through her work, then this translator has succeeded in making the poet's wishes as transparent as an invitation can be: "The nave has been adorned to welcome you aright." Meg Day, Judge of the Charlotte Mew Prize This is an invaluable collection that brings Renée Vivien to life for English-speaking readers. Émigrée and sexual adventurer, Vivien wrote poetry strewn with broken harps and beautiful corpses. Pious’s delicate but fearless translations draw out the bruised passions and troubadour rhythms that make Vivien essential reading for anyone interested in lesbian literature, fin-de-siècle poetics, or the agonies of sensual love. Kate Thomas, author of Postal Pleasures: Sex, Scandal and Victorian Letters

A Crown of Violets, by Renee Vivien

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #2140991 in Books
  • Published on: 2015-10-16
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 9.00" h x .14" w x 6.00" l, .21 pounds
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 58 pages
A Crown of Violets, by Renee Vivien


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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Highly recommended! By Amazon Customer This is an excellent, valuable volume of poetry. Pious's translations of Vivien's poems are lucid, graceful, arresting, and accessible. This text is ideal for university teaching, particularly for those whose courses touch on issues of gender, desire, woman writers, and queer history. Its affordability is an extra bonus. I will be teaching three poems from this volume alongside Sappho's poems of same-sex desire later this semester, and I am looking forward to introducing my students to this understudied poet.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Resurrecting lost lesbian poetry By Ruth Livre I first read these poems in the lesbian journal Adrienne, and was thrilled to find them collected in a volume of poetry. What a fantastic book, and many thanks to translator Samantha Pious for her masterful translations.

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Rabu, 25 Mei 2011

You among the stars (Italian Edition)

You among the stars (Italian Edition)

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You among the stars (Italian Edition)

You among the stars (Italian Edition)



You among the stars (Italian Edition)

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We always miss something. Something we still don't have. Something we will never have. Or something we have just lost. To fell in love... that's amazing. But sometimes to suffer for love is amazing too.

You among the stars (Italian Edition)

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #2639491 in eBooks
  • Published on: 2015-10-03
  • Released on: 2015-10-03
  • Format: Kindle eBook
You among the stars (Italian Edition)


You among the stars (Italian Edition)

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Such a fresh and poetic book, open to interpretation! By Iovenitti Augusto I got the English version ("You among the Stars") for my 10yrs old son, and we both loved it! The author seems to intentionally leave the story open to interpretation, its message to be discovered and re-discovered each time among the innovative drawings and hilarious wording. We laughed a lot together... Simplicity and creativity, warmth and sadness, make this book appropriate for all ages. Awesome, 5 stars!!!

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Selasa, 24 Mei 2011

SRIJANA, by DR. S. CHAKRAVERTY

SRIJANA, by DR. S. CHAKRAVERTY

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SRIJANA, by DR. S. CHAKRAVERTY

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SRIJANA, by DR. S. CHAKRAVERTY

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When a woman’s life needs to be embodied, her essence needs to be defined, we come upon SRIJANA. It is the story of a woman in the true sense of the term “prakriti” or the womb; the creator of beings. But when such creation succumbs to the dark side of existence it is this very creative energy that does not hesitate to destroy its own. Meandering on layered relationships of the modern world and

a woman’s single minded fight Srijana summarises “courage” as we all would like to portray or be a part of her journey through the toughest trek of “life”.

SRIJANA, by DR. S. CHAKRAVERTY

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #3102403 in eBooks
  • Published on: 2015-10-12
  • Released on: 2015-10-12
  • Format: Kindle eBook
SRIJANA, by DR. S. CHAKRAVERTY

About the Author "Dr. S. Chakraverty was born in the scenic hill station of Shillong, Meghalaya. A medicine man by profession, writing was a pursuant passion with plays at the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad at an early age finally staging his own called “Yatra” in Bengali in 1974. Although helping the ill and the less fortunate took precedence, writing and directing as a hobby kept its momentum until finally he self published his first novel “Bollywood Gambit” in Aug 2008, and distributed it through the Brand “DEPOT Self Publishing” promoted by Pantaloon Retail. This is his second attempt at getting published."


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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very good read! By sandi bhatt Very well written book. My father enjoyed reading the book as well. Congratulations on a book well written! It is wonderful that this book was available on Kindle for purchase in the United States.

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Sabtu, 07 Mei 2011

Into The Team, by Rob Damon

Into The Team, by Rob Damon

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Into The Team, by Rob Damon

Into The Team, by Rob Damon



Into The Team, by Rob Damon

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To honor his father, young footballer Todd Mackerson commits to his goal of playing for a professional team. When, at the age of 20, he is offered a place to train with one of England’s biggest clubs, he leaves home convinced his dream is within reach. Being warned by his new team mates of the tough rules and hard training routines, Todd is undeterred. But when he discovers that the player’s way of bonding borders on the sexual, and that he must learn to accept the erotic affections that connect the team together, he wonders how far he can go for his dream. But, after experiencing the care and attention men can give to each other, Todd feels awakened. Learning that each player has a special “partner” on the team, who they play and bond with as intimately as lovers, Todd becomes fascinated with the idea. And when he develops feelings for one player in particular, he discovers how a stronger kind of romance - that between two men - can be pure and powerful enough to bring magic and success on the pitch.

Into The Team, by Rob Damon

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #4776594 in Books
  • Published on: 2015-10-27
  • Original language: English
  • Dimensions: 9.00" h x .79" w x 6.00" l,
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 350 pages
Into The Team, by Rob Damon

About the Author A bachelor of science (Computing), Rob worked as a software developer for over 15 years before turning his full time attention to learning the craft of writing. His love of science drew him into science fiction, but his love of man drew him to the MM genre. With his strategy of thinking differently, he aims to bring something to the market that pushes the boundaries. Rob was born and raised in Manchester, England. Spent seven years living in London, but now lives back in his home city. Interests include: reading, film, weight training, and learning all he can about people – what makes them tick, what motivates them. Into the Team is his first published novel.


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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great new author! By Dan Mitton It seems I’ve found another new author to keep my eye on. Honestly I can’t remember who posted something on Facebook about this book, but after reading the blurb I knew I had to read it. I quickly added it to my read list at Love Bytes before anyone else could, and I’m glad to say it was worth it. Mr. Damon did a great job with the book. His writing style and world building were good and the editing was fine.Todd Mackerson was a promising football player as a kid, and that one year he was chosen to go on to greater things. If only his Dad hadn’t been killed in a bar fight the same week, ending Todd’s dream.As the years in between have passed, people, including his own mother have vaguely discredited his hopes of someday playing professional football, but he has never given up hope. Swearing off the casual drinking and telly watching of his mates, he instead focuses every day on perfecting his body and his game.His life is about to change. He has been approached by a man representing a football team, but he won’t tell him which one. When Todd is whisked away for a tryout and recognizes the player who is handling it, it is beyond his wildest dreams. One of the leading teams in the country, and Todd is trying out?Before he knows it, he will be drawn into a professional football team’s ranks. But what will happen when he discovers the team’s form of bonding is in teams of two, and the bonding borders on sexual? He is straight after all. Just ask his girlfriend!I enjoyed the book and reading the accounts of the games and behind the scenes lives of the team. Although I doubt there is a professional football team like this one in the real world, it would be a great thing if there were! One note, most of the sex in the book is fade to black, so most of it is implied rather than discussed. I thought the book was fine as it was, but it could have used a little more details on some scenes that were implied. I know, I’m never happy. Those of you following my reviews will remember a couple weeks ago I commented on another book that there was too much sex and not enough story. A happy medium would be good!I recommend this book, and I’ll be keeping my eyes open for future books from this author! Oh, and one more thing….fantastic cover!

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Well Written Interesting, Sensual LGBT New Adult Book By Kazza - On Top Down Under Book Reviews I'll start by saying that I REALLY don't like English football/soccer and I would have passed this book by but for a friend who said to me. "Get it. read it." Well... okay. Yes, sir. I shall. :) I'm glad he was so damn bossy because I would have missed out on a very good read otherwise.Into the Team is incredibly sensual. It has some good characters and it has some terrific descriptions of soccer, which did not bore me in the slightest - and, once again, I do NOT like soccer. I think I've made a point on that. The charity match between the Manford Reds and Eastend United was as clear as being at any big sports match. Rod Damon did a great job describing the atmosphere, the play on the pitch, and the wonder of a twenty year old playing in his first big game.This is a very good (debut) novel by Rob Damon. Is it perfect? No. The use of 'ok' instead of 'okay' bugged me. There could have been a bit more depth injected into Todd's mum and sister for extra emotional pull. You also have to suspend belief with the whole football team being sexually fluid. But I suspend belief every time I read a paranormal or UF book. Different world, same principal. I also read this book in one sitting and I can't tell you how often I do that now. Oh wait. Yes, I can. Next to never nowadays.So why 5 stars?Into the Team has interesting characters who made me laugh and connect. I felt for Todd losing his dad so young. I tapped into that young boy whose dad meant so much to him that he kept Todd's passion for football ignited as he grew into a young man. I was emotionally invested. I loved the use of English language and terms - the lads, bollocks.... I'm an Aussie so it's nice to have a break from Americanisms. It's definitely homoerotic, but it isn't erotica, rather it's a team sport oriented New Adult read with some romance and a HFN. It's a little different and we certainly need that in LGBT romance. I'd best describe the book as a wishful fantasy of being in a locker room/communal house with all these physically healthy specimens who will get you off and also support you as a friend should, complete with no petty jealousies. Who'll also help you make the dream of playing pro sport a reality. Yes, it is the Thebes of the contemporary soccer world, but it's incredibly easy to read and incredibly entertaining. 'The flow' is strong with this book.I write in depth reviews at On Top Down Under Book Reviews

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Only the strongest bonds will win!! By KathyMac Reviews Into the Team, by Rob Damon is his debut novel about a small boy, who lost his father at a very young age, growing into a man and fulfilling, both, their dreams of playing football. For those of us who live in America, we call it soccer, but it doesn’t change the dynamics of what the book is about, and that is team companionship/spirit/support/connections to your fellow team member.Todd has dreamed of playing football since he was a small boy. He’s now twenty and it looks like his dream is coming true. He has practiced hard for this chance and he has a good head on his shoulders. As he is driven to an undisclosed location, by a football scout, he hates to get his hopes up for what this could mean. He soon finds out that he is being offered a spot on one of England’s biggest clubs and he is ecstatic.In the locker room, Todd sees two players in the shower together and this really confuses him. He’s pretty sure they were touching each other in a sexual way, but why isn’t anyone saying anything? The more he learns about team dynamics and bonding the more questions play havoc with his head. When the boss notices Todd’s concern he pulls him into the office for a talk. His theory has proven that by partnering up with another team member, one that you connect with strongly, makes the flow of your skill on the field much better.Todd doesn’t deny that knowing your team members and being able to anticipate their moves on the field works great but he is not sure about the intimacy he witnesses.I really enjoyed this story and I liked the author’s writing style. I wasn’t sure how the story was going to play out, but I was intrigued enough to stay with it and basically read it in one sitting.I wouldn’t consider this a romance, at all, more like a bro-mance. There isn’t any sex in the book, to speak of, however, there is touching and kissing. Most is handled off page allowing the reader to use their imagination.With that said, there are moments of intimacy between the players that was very realistic and sweet, bordering on hot and sensual. The more comfortable Todd becomes the more he is at ease with expressing his feelings. At first, he’s very reserved and almost bashful, but he soon gives in wanting that connection with his teammate“Nothing feels as good as letting yourself go with a teammate. When you’re at your most intimate, that’s when you’re at your most trusting, at your most real.”— Jason - Manford Reds playerHe does start to question his sexuality, however, and wonders if he is gay or at least bi. His partner on the team is Daryl, who is very shy and keeps more to himself. He has never clicked with anyone on the team until Todd came along. These two have a history together that I was really hoping would bring them closer off the field, as well as on.The story flows along at a nice pace and the author spends most of his focus on the field or locker rooms where the players are learning to trust and form connections. There were some phrases that I was not familiar with since this happens in England but I wasn’t thrown from the story. At one point, I was completely under the author’s spell, when the guys were on the field and the author narrated the game, play by play.I actually felt as though I was on the field watching, holding my breath, willing the ball to go into the net. It was intense and I think I held my breath through the whole game. Great job by the author with his detailed descriptive narrative.The author, in my opinion, leaves the story open for the reader to form their own opinion as far as the HEA or HFN. I choose to believe that Todd and Daryl, both, have their happy ever after and I would love to see more about them in the future to see if I am right.I would definitely recommend this story to other readers who like a story with heart. There is a scene where I had tears pouring down my face as Todd faces some of his past about his dad. It was a beautiful and heartfelt moment and the author had my undivided attention. Then, there were moments that had me smiling from ear to ear celebrating their joy with them. Overall, the story was very moving and I would definitely read more from this author.

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Senin, 02 Mei 2011

Our Mutual Friend, Volume 1, by Charles Dickens

Our Mutual Friend, Volume 1, by Charles Dickens

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Our Mutual Friend, Volume 1, by Charles Dickens

Our Mutual Friend, Volume 1, by Charles Dickens



Our Mutual Friend, Volume 1, by Charles Dickens

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Our Mutual Friend, Volume 1, by Charles Dickens

  • Published on: 2015-10-20
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 9.21" h x 1.44" w x 6.14" l, 2.44 pounds
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 670 pages
Our Mutual Friend, Volume 1, by Charles Dickens

About the Author Arguably one of the greatest writers of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens is the author of such literary masterpieces as A Tale of Two Cities (1859), A Christmas Carol (1843), David Copperfield (1850), and The Adventures of Oliver Twist (1839), among many others. Dickens s indelible characters and timeless stories continue to resonate with readers around the world more than 130 years after his death. Dickens was born in 1812 and died in 1870.


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111 of 117 people found the following review helpful. Worth every effort to read. By frumiousb I think that it may be hard for the modern reader to find the time to read _Our Mutual Friend_. It's length makes it undeniably difficult to fit easily into the daily allotment of reading time. Weighing in at over 900 pages, it was originally published as a twenty-part monthly serial. There are also a number of situations and details that while very familiar to the Victorians, will be almost wholly incomprehensible to the reader of today (for instance the role of dust and dustmen and the mounds in the yard of the old house).It's also clearly not Dickens' sunniest work. At the time of its release already, people spoke nostalgically about the more gentle nature of _David Copperfield_ or _Oliver Twist_ . While the farce that constitutes such an important element in Dickens' works is present, it's tainted with a note of bitterness that conveys a feeling of pervasive sadness throughout this great novel.Dickens was working on this book when he was caught in the Staplehurst rail disaster and narrowly escaped death when his car was the only one of the first-class cars not to plunge from a bridge into a river bed. He was one of the people who climbed down the side to do what he could for the dead and dying. Dickens himself mentions the accident in his afterword, and at the risk of reading too much into the incident, it's hard not to read this book from the perspective of an aging man who narrowly avoids death himself. The nature of death, and the idea of escaping it by a hand's length, is one of the themes that comes back over and over again in _Our Mutual Friend_The plot hinges around a disputed inheritance and mistaken identity, with a meditation about love as societal coin. The characterizations and situations in this novel are among his best-- particularly worth mentioning are Rogue Riderhood and his resurrection, the insane love of Bradley Headstone, the crippled doll-maker Jenny Wren, and the loyal Mr. Sloppy.I'm not sure that I can call this my favorite Dickens, _Little Dorrit_ still has a strong claim on that position, but it's certainly one of the strongest reading experiences that I've had in a while.

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful. Jane Smiley Had it Right By Eric P. Neff I hadn't read Dickens in quite a while. Ten years had passed since I closed the cover of Bleak House and put it back on my bookshelf. But then I happened upon a recent biography of Dickens written by Jane Smiley (of all people). Being a huge fan of both author and subject, I picked it up. I won't review Ms. Smiley's book here (it's excellent, read it), but I was surprised to hear her heap such praise and adoration on this book. I'd heard of it and I knew it was one of Dickens' last works. But that was about all I knew, having limited my exposure to his "better known" works. Did "Our Mutual Friend" belong in the hallowed ranks of Dickens' best? I figured, a Pulitzer Prize winning author must know what she's talking about, right?Well, she does. "Our Mutual Friend" is like a great meal at a fine restaurant. Chew slowly. Savor each bite. The beauty of this book is in its extraodinary and wonderful style of writing, delightful similes, vivid and uncanny character development (Dickens is the master, but he outdoes even himself in this work) and that odd sense you get when you close a masterpiece that you just had a once in a lifetime experience. The man can write!Make no mistake, this is a tougher read than the earlier, more "Dickens-y" novels. But the characters are more rich, complex and interesting than in any other of his work. If you don't feel a sincere sense of mourning for Mr. Boffin's decline into miserism, and joy for...(well, I won't spoil the plot for you), then I can't help you. The caustically satiric language may be a shock to those used to the milder styles of Copperfield and Pickwick, but it is brilliant and I believe it is his best work. The grim story line is far from the lilting plot of a Nickleby, but it is gripping. I don't think I could name my "favorite" Dickens book. "Bleak House" and "Great Expectations" are up there. But "Our Mutual Friend" would certainly be a prime candidate.

71 of 77 people found the following review helpful. Murky Educations by the Thames By mp Charles Dickens's 1865 novel, his last completed novel, "Our Mutual Friend" is an extraordinarily dark and convoluted work. Featuring such unforgettable figures as Mr. Boffin, Mr. Podsnap, Bradley Headstone, Jenny Wren, and Silas Wegg, Dickens continues, or rather concludes his artistic legacy with a work rich in well written and compelling characters. Exploring, as do many of Dickens's works, the intricacies of inheritance, "Our Mutual Friend" is also deeply concerned with families and the things that hold them together or rip them apart. Interesting and fraught emphases on education, upholding particularly English interests in the face of the still rising British Empire, and concerns about the absolute uncertainties about life and death, this is quite a way to come at a last complete novel."Our Mutual Friend" begins with Lizzie and her father Gaffer Hexam patrolling the river in the dark of night. Pulling a body out of the river for the potential reward money, the novel jumps right into the action with a bang. The body is presumed to be that of young John Harmon, just returned from South Africa to claim a huge inheritance from his recently deceased, hateful and miserly father. The only heir dead, the elder Harmon's loyal employees, Mr. and Mrs. Boffin stand next in the will to inherit everything. This causes a stir in Society, where Mortimer Lightwood, the legal executor of the will, and his friend Eugene Wrayburn are called in to view the body and question Gaffer Hexam. This causes two others to be drawn into the plot - Lizzie Hexam, an uneducated, but prescient young woman, who immediately catches Wrayburn's eye, and Miss Bella Wilfer, a sprightly young woman whose marriage to young John Harmon was the sole condition for that gentleman to come into his inheritance prevented by his untimely death. The novel tries over the next 700 pages to work out the personal ramifications of the murder, the will, and the fates of these two young women.So many of Dickens's novels deal with the lives and educations (scholastically, socially, or both) of young people, and "Our Mutual Friend" is no different. Gaffer Hexam, the boatman, is opposed to book-learning, and refuses to allow either Lizzie or his younger son Charley, to learn even to read. Lizzie arranges, though, for Charley to remove himself from the cycle of riverside drudgery by facilitating his escape to a school, where he excels under the tutelage of one of Dickens's most intense characters, Bradley Headstone. Elsewhere, the Boffins, now in a state of financial ease, seek to improve their cultural understandings, hiring a literary man "with a wooden leg," the well-versed Silas Wegg, and even buy the mansion that Wegg works in front of. Other characters, like the mercenary Bella Wilfer, the absolutely indolent Wrayburn, and the articulator of bones, Mr. Venus, all seem to be in sore need of social and moral educations.Just to kind of continue this theme, one may be particularly interested in the kinds of literary funds that Dickens draws on in "Our Mutual Friend": His debt to 18th century literature is heavy indeed, with the works of the poet James Thomson and the historian Edward Gibbon coursing through the novel like the very Thames itself, laying the groundwork for literary and historical commentary on the nature of Empire and particularly British Imperial interests, and how those interests reach from the international into the lives of individuals. Another important predecessor in this line is the infamous Mr. Podsnap, a very dark descendant of Laurence Sterne's Corporal Trim from "Tristram Shandy." Trim's famous flourish, in Podsnap's hands acquires the power to annihilate entire nations. Dickens also reveals heavy debts to fairy tales and nursery rhymes that continue and complicate the novel's emphasis on children's educations, how they are managed, and the impact that they can have on the world as it will become.If you aren't interested in reading "Our Mutual Friend" yet, you should be! Clearly, my interests lay in the national and educational strains of the novel, but there's obviously so much more. Now, my knowledge of Dickens may be limited to the five or six novels I've read so far, but you will be hard pressed anywhere in Dickens, (or anywhere else for that matter), to find a more frenetic villain than Mr. Bradley Headstone - to see him in action alone makes this novel worth reading. He ranks right up there with "David Copperfield"s Uriah Heep in terms of Dickens's most insistently horrifying creations. Ok. Enough from me, go, read "Our Mutual Friend." What are you waiting for! Go, now!

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Our Mutual Friend, Volume 1, by Charles Dickens