Cyrano de Bergerac is in possession of a cadet-position in the French Army, a poet's soul and a very, very large nose. He is also in love with Roxane, but believes himself too ugly to be loved by her in turn. When the handsome but unpoetic new cadet Christian falls for the beautiful Roxane himself, he asks Cyrano to help him win her heart...
Raskolnikov is a poor student living in St Petersburg. Desperate to escape his poverty, he kills two people, and flees with a few watches and some jewellery. Although at first nobody suspects him, his own conscience plagues him and it isn't long before an intelligent police detective by the name of Petrovich begins to have his doubts about Raskolnikov's innocence, and is determined to make him confess.
The lives and music of the great composers of classical music unfold in this entertaining account, introduced by singer and presenter Aled Jones. In 1200 years, classical music grew from the chanting of medieval monks through the symphonies of Beethoven and the grand operas of Wagner to the huge orchestral sound-world of the 21st century, with its electronics and its film music. In his easy-going style, Aled Jones paints vivid portraits of over 80 composers, each one illustrated with some of his, or her, most famous music. This all-encompassing introduction to classical music also includes a wealth of biographical and instrumental information on the CD-ROM element: put CD 4 into the computer and up will come pictures, articles, sheet music, quizzes and more, which will inform and fascinate the whole family.
This lively recording is a perfect way to introduce classical music to the entire family. It looks at the music through the lives of the great composers and their environment, from the churches and cathedrals that produced the familiar sound of Gregorian chant, to Johann Sebastian Bach, the family man composing for the glory of God, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the child prodigy, genius and prankster who wrote some of the finest music ever yet was buried in a pauper's grave. The story will be taken to the composers of the twenty-first century. This unusual and special production by the two most important brand names in classical music includes more than 100 musical examples taken from the extensive Naxos catalogue.
This science-fiction classic has been reimagined by Dave Eggers in modern times. Fourteen-year-old Consuelo and the famous oceanographer Pierre Arronax set sail from New York to hunt down a mysterious sea-monster. But they discover an even stranger truth: the 'sea-monster' is in fact a submarine, captained by Nemo! Consuelo and Arronax join Nemo on the submarine, and so begin their exciting adventures...
'The crow crossed the sky, slow-beating her wings. Beat, beat, beat. It was night, not yet morning, and her feathers were so black that she coasted the air invisible above the city wall.'
Thus begins Ali Smith's retelling of Sophocles' tragedy, about a young Theban princess who decides to bury her dishonoured brother Polynices, against King Creon's express orders with heart-breaking consequences.
In The Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit, A bad rabbit steals a carrot from a good rabbit and scratches him in the process. When a hunter mistakes the bad rabbit for a bird, the bad rabbit inadvertently receives his just desserts. The ninth of Beatrix Potter's 22 charmingly illustrated tales of animals in amusing situations, The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit has served as a warning to naughty children since its release in 1906.
Set on Prince Edward Island, this is a story of growing up, families, and love. When Bev and Felix, two city boys, spend the summer on a rural island, they discover a very different world-and a very special person, Sara Stanley, the Story Girl. Their vacation becomes a time for magic and mischief as they spend their days with Sara and the eccentric local people, with a mysterious blue treasure chest and intrepid cat, and experience an ordeal that may cost a friend his life.
Whose was it? His who is gone. Who shall have it? He who will come. Where was the sun? Over the oak. Where was the shadow? Under the elm. It’s time for Holmes to rewrite history. When asked by his old school friend to help track down a missing maid, the genius detective finds himself unravelling a centuries-old mystery, and discovering much more than he expected.
The Baron Munchausen's Narrative of his Marvellous Travels and Campaigns in Russia, or the Startling adventures of Baron Munchausen, is one of the funniest texts ever written. It relates the exploits of a grandiloquent figure, in a series of absurd, impossible and extravagant feats. It is a charming tale of dreamlike adventures, a powerful satire and a personal attack, as it was meant to mock a real Baron known for telling outrageous tall tales based on his military career during the Russo-Turkish war. The adventures of the Baron will have you roar with laughter and unleash your imagination as you witness his cannonball ride or travels to the moon. This beloved text has spawned numerous adaptations, such as movies and plays ; medical syndromes have even been named after this character.
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Miss Julia Stoner of Stoke Moran. The cause of death remains unknown. The mysterious noises last heard around the time of Julia’s death are back, and her sister Helen knows it is simply a matter of time before she suffers the same fate. There is a dark plot afoot and the only way to catch the culprit is to walk into a deadly trap …
In order to provide English learners with extensive reading pleasure, it consists of jewels that span the East and West, from literary works of famous writers such as Aesop's fables, Andersen, Shakespeare, and picture brothers to traditional fairy tales from all over the world.
