Bernard Mayes

Widely referred to as the "Father of History", Greek Historian Herodotus lived during the 5th century BC and "The Histories" is generally accepted as the first work of historical literature in Western Civilization. Departing from the ancient Homeric tradition of treating historical subjects as epically romantic figures, Herodotus instead approached his subjects with a systematic method of investigation. "The Histories" of Herodotus describe the important...

Written almost a century before the daring flights of the astronauts, Jules Verne's prophetic novel of man's race to the stars is a story of rip-roaring action, humor, and wild imagination. With broad satire as well as scientific acumen, From the Earth to the Moon spins a tale set in 1865 about a group of men who decide to build a gun big enough to launch a rocket to the moon.

This vintage book contains a collection of forty-nine essays written by Gilbert Keith Chesterton that deal with the various societal problems of his day. A fascinating and arguably timeless social inquiry, "What's Wrong with the World?" tackles such subjects as role of women in society, education, socialism, capitalism, the family unit, and much more. This volume is highly recommended for those with an interest in early-twentieth century English society...

"Lives" is a series of biographies of famous Greeks and Romans by the ancient Greek historian Plutarch who lived during the first and second century AD. Lives consists of twenty-three paired biographies, one Greek and one Roman, and four unpaired, which explore the influence of character on the lives and destinies of the subjects. Rather than providing strictly historical accounts, Plutarch was most concerned with capturing this issue of character....

In Boswell's 'Life of Samuel Johnson', one of the towering figures of English literature is revealed with unparalleled immediacy and originality. While Johnson's Dictionary remains a monument of scholarship, and his essays and criticism command continuing respect, we owe our knowledge of the man himself to this biography. Through a series of wonderfully detailed anecdotes, Johnson emerges as a sociable figure with a huge appetite for life, crossing...

Rudolf Rassendyll is abruptly transported from his comfortable life in London to fast-moving adventures in Ruritania, a land steeped in political intrigue. Rassendyll bears a striking resemblance to Rudolph Elphberg, who is about to be crowned King of Ruritania. When the rival to the throne, Black Michael of Streslau, attempts to seize power by imprisoning Elphberg in the Castle of Zenda, Rassendyll is obliged to impersonate the King to uphold the...