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By Upamanyu Chatterjee

English, August: An Indian Story is a thought-provoking novel that delves into the life and experiences of Agastya Sen, a young Indian civil servant posted in a small town. As Agastya navigates the complexities of his new surroundings, he grapples with issues of identity, culture clash, and personal growth. Through a blend of humor, introspection, and sharp social commentary, the book offers a unique insight into contemporary India and the inner world of its protagonist. A classic in Indian literature, English, August is a compelling exploration of tradition, modernity, and the quest for self-discovery.

Rupa. Faber and Faber. 1990. 305p.

By JEFFREY ARCHER

In Jeffrey Archer's gripping novel, "The Eleventh Commandment," the reader is thrust into a world of espionage, betrayal, and high-stakes political intrigue. As CIA agent Connor Fitzgerald navigates the treacherous waters of international espionage, he finds himself caught between duty and conscience, forced to make impossible choices that will shape the fate of nations.

Archer weaves a complex and suspenseful tale, drawing readers into a web of conspiracy that spans continents. With twists and turns at every corner, "The Eleventh Commandment" keeps readers on the edge of their seats, questioning loyalties and unraveling mysteries until the final, shocking revelation.

A master of suspense, Archer delivers a fast-paced thriller that explores the morality of espionage and the cost of loyalty. "The Eleventh Commandment" is a riveting journey into the shadows of power, where nothing is as it seems and trust is a luxury few can afford.

NY. Melbourne. Harper Colins. 1998. 345p.

By J.P. Powell

"The Brisbane Line" by J.P. Powell is a captivating historical fiction novel that delves into the untold story of the controversial defense strategy during World War II. Set in Australia, the novel follows the lives of ordinary individuals caught in extraordinary circumstances as they navigate loyalty, sacrifice, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. Powell masterfully weaves together personal narratives and political intrigue against the backdrop of war-torn landscapes, offering readers a thought-provoking insight into a lesser-known aspect of history. With meticulous research and vivid storytelling, "The Brisbane Line" is a compelling read that sheds light on the complexities of human nature in times of crisis.

Sydney. Brio. 2020. 293p.

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Melissa Manning

"Smokehouse" is a gripping tale that follows the lives of three individuals brought together by a mysterious fire that engulfs a small town. As they navigate through loss, guilt, and secrets buried in the ashes, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways, revealing dark truths and igniting buried desires. Set against the backdrop of a hauntingly beautiful landscape, this novel weaves together elements of suspense, romance, and redemption, leaving readers on the edge of their seats until the final page. "Smokehouse" is a compelling exploration of human nature and the intricate ways in which our past can shape our present.

Brisbane. University of Queensland Press. 2021. 248p.

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By S. A. Jones

"The Fortress" by S.A. Jones is a compelling novel that delves into the complexities of power, desire, and relationships. Set against the backdrop of a secluded estate, the story follows the enigmatic Juliet, a woman who exudes strength and mystery in equal measure. As secrets unravel and tensions rise within the fortress walls, readers are drawn into a world where control and submission blur the lines between love and manipulation. Jones weaves a mesmerizing tale that challenges societal norms and explores the depths of human connection, leaving readers questioning where the true power lies in the dynamics of relationships. "The Fortress" is a thought-provoking read that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

Richmond, Australia. Bonnier Publishing. 2018. 286p.

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By Henry James

"Portrait of a Lady" is a timeless classic written by Henry James that delves into the complexities of societal expectations and personal freedom in the 19th century. The novel follows the journey of Isabel Archer, a spirited and independent young American woman, as she navigates the intricacies of wealth, love, and betrayal while living in Europe. James masterfully crafts a narrative that explores the innermost thoughts and desires of his characters, making "Portrait of a Lady" a compelling exploration of self-discovery and the consequences of one's choices. This novel continues to captivate readers with its insightful commentary on the social norms of the era and the timeless question of what it means to truly be free.

Gutenberg Project. 1881. 340p.

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By Henry James

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a classic gothic novella that delves into the realms of psychological horror and suspense. The story follows a governess who is hired to care for two orphaned children at a remote estate in the English countryside. As she begins her duties, she starts to experience strange and eerie occurrences, convinced that the children are under the influence of malevolent spirits.

James masterfully weaves a tale of ambiguity, leaving readers questioning the governess's sanity and the true nature of the entities haunting the children. With its chilling atmosphere, subtle psychological tension, and unsettling ambiguity, The Turn of the Screw is a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate readers with its haunting narrative and enigmatic characters.

NY. Macmillan. Gutenberg Project. 1898. 107p.

By Colin Heston

With an obvious nod to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Colin Heston takes us inside the most mysterious of institutions The University, inhabited by many weird academics and administrators, not to mention students. William Hobson, Thomas Colmes’s trusted assistant, recounts the strange and challenging cases that arose among the inhabitants of the Ivory Tower in which they both reside, their offices deep in its basement. Hobson is not quite a doctor (ABD – All But Dissertation) and Colmes’s past is itself a mystery. But never before have the shenanigans and conundrums of academic life in a university been uncovered with such courage and thoroughness, the hallmarks of Colmes’s brilliance.

NY. Read-Me.Org.

Editors: Christiane Kruse, Birgit Meyer, and Anne-Marie Korte

What makes an image offensive? — This question is addressed in this volume. It explores tensions and debates about offensive images and performative practices in various settings in and beyond Europe. Its basic premise is that a deeper understanding of what is at stake in these tensions and debates calls for a multidisciplinary conversation. The authors focus on images that appear to trigger strongly negative reactions; images that are perceived as insulting or offensive; those subject to taboos and restrictions; or those that are condemned as blasphemous. In light of recurrent acts of violence leveled against images and symbols in the contemporary, globally entangled world, addressing instances of “icono-clash” (Bruno Latour) from a new post-secular, global perspective has become a matter of urgency.

UA. Open. Leiden: Brill - Schöningh and Fink Social Sciences, 2018. 383p.

By Yuanfei Wang

In Writing Pirates, Yuanfei Wang connects Chinese literary production to emerging discourses of pirates and the sea. In the late Ming dynasty, so-called “Japanese pirates” raided southeast coastal China. Hideyoshi invaded Korea. Europeans sailed for overseas territories, and Chinese maritime merchants and emigrants founded diaspora communities in Southeast Asia. Travel writings, histories, and fiction of the period jointly narrate pirates and China’s Orient in maritime Asia. Wang shows that the late Ming discourses of pirates and the sea were fluid, ambivalent, and dialogical; they simultaneously entailed imperialistic and personal narratives of the “other”: foreigners, renegades, migrants, and marginalized authors. At the center of the discourses, early modern concepts of empire, race, and authenticity were intensively negotiated. Connecting late Ming literature to the global maritime world, Writing Pirates expands current discussions of Chinese diaspora and debates on Sinophone language and identity.

Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2021. 227p.

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By Ron Hansen

"Scrupulously researched. Hansen's informed interpretation of events makes convincing, if melancholy, reading." -Boston Sunday Globe

"A novel that reads like history." -Austin American-Statesman,

"A carefully crafted and distinctly macabre work of fiction." -Village Voice

"Hansen has written a convincing novel that is provocative, disturbing, and illuminating." -Raleigh News & Observer

"Hansen is a fearless storyteller. . .. [He] creates a savagely human portrait of Hitler. . .. [Hitler's Niece] reads, like all good books, as a vehicle for the writer's obsession--an intelligent, haunting, an‹ oddly devotional exploration of the unimaginable Hitler in love. -BookForum

NY. Perennial. 1999. 321p.

By Robert Graves

“From The Autobiography Of Tiberius Claudius Born B.C. X Murdered And Deified A.D. Liv.”

NY. Vintage Random House. 1961. 453p.

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By Robert Graves

“The troublesome reign of Tiberius Claudius Caesar, emperor of the Romans (born 10 b.c., died a.d. 54), as described by himself; also his murder at the hands of the notorious agrippin a (mother of the emperor nero) and his subsequent deification, as described by others.”

NY. Vintage Random House. 1962. 584p.

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By Irving Stone

FROM THE COVER: “Set in the days of the deadly Borgias, the warring popes and the mighty Medicis, this is the truly great novel of Michelangelo, his lifelong friendships, his passionate loves and his unquenchable genius. ….

"Irving Stone has painted the portrait of a supreme craftsman, one of the most versatile artists of all time, and he has also laid before us a cyclorama of one of the world's most astounding ages." New York Times

NY. Fontana books. 1970. 786p.

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By Max Byrd

FROM THE COVER: “It is 1784, and Jefferson, the newly appointed American ambassador to the court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, has just arrived in Paris-a city adrift in intrigue, upheaval, and temptation that will challenge his principles, incite his passions, and change Thomas Jefferson forever.... Through the eyes of his impressionable young secretary, William Short, we watch as the future president builds his dream of an America with fellow patriots John Adams and Ben Franklin, and as he struggles between political ambition and an unexpected crisis of the heart with a woman who has the power to destroy him. And we discover-behind the face the complex Virginian shows the world -an enigmatic statesman who fights for individual liberty even as he keeps slaves, who champions free will even as he denies it to his daughters, and who holds men to the highest standards of honor-even as he embarks on a shadowy double life of his own.”

"A Novel To Be Admired And Enjoyed,The Best Fictionalized Life Of Jefferson Yet!' -Jack McLaughlin,

NY. Bantam. 1994. 470p.

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By E. E. Reynolds

FROM THE PREFACE: “The yarns in this book are all narratives of actual experiences. It is not usually difficult to get the books written by famous explorers, such as Livingstone, and their achievements are also recorded in biographies; but there have been a great many men who have travelled in the lesser known parts of the world without becoming famous. Many of the stories that follow are drawn from the adventures ofsuch minor explorers. One group. of the yarns is about early settlers in the Dominions; these men and women had to endure much hardship while creating new homes, but unfortunately few of themrecorded their experiences.

Oxford University Press. 1953. 160p.

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By Hilary Mantel

FROM CHAPTER 1:

“So now get up."

Felled, dazed, silent, he has fallen; knocked full length on the cobbles of the yard. His head turns sideways; his eyes are turned toward the gate, as if someone might arrive to help him out. One blow, properly placed, could i kill him now. Blood from the gash on his head--which was his father's first effort is trickling across his face. Add to this, his left eye is blinded; but if he squints sideways, with his right eye he can see that the stitching of his father's boot is unraveling. The twine has sprung clear of the leather, and a hard knot in it has caught his eyebrow and opened another cut.”

NY. Henry Holt and Company. 2009. 548p.

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By Captain W. E. Johns

FROPM THE COVER: “While the Battle of Britain is still at its height Squadron Leader Bigglesworth, D.S.O., D.F.C., is appointed to Number 666 Fighter Squadron. He soon finds that his new Com- mand is likely to be something of a handful, for the Squadron has been formed for the special purpose of accommodating a collection of bril- liant but unstable types whose capacities as fighter pilots are in inverse ratio to their amenity to discipline and the normal routine of a station.”

Oxford University Press. 1951. 252p.

By Colin Heston

In this collection of short stories, follow the exploits of supreme psychiatrist and criminologist  Franco Ferrapotti as he weaves a web of intrigue in the labyrinths of the United Nations and the surreal world of Italian politics, big money, and of course, the Vatican. Other stories of high achievement explore the ancient origin of the animal species and gendered humans, the exciting zoo of enlightenment installed on the island that once housed Alcatraz, making it into the dream University of the Chosen, or if you prefer, getting elected the new Secretary General of the United Nations. But that’s not all. Get a brief glimpse of the future where precision doctors edit who you are or who you want to be. These stories originally appeared as part of the poipular Friday Story series offered free by Read-Me.Org on its web site during 2022-2023.

NY & Philadelphia. Read-Me.Org. Paperback. 2023. 147p. All proceeds go to Read-Me.org

By Colin Heston. Illustrations by Graeme Newman

29 short stories inspired by the vicissitudes of punishment in all its forms, its deliverers and recipients. Its universality across cultures and at every level of social life from the kitchen to the battlefield never ceases to amaze. The stories unveil the diverse motives and excuses for punishment that paradoxically form the foundation of that great shibboleth of humanity:  justice. The stories range through childhood spats to military encounters, , family discourse and dysfunction, to the puzzle of how criminal justice manages to match a punishment to its respective crime (it can't). Taken together, the stories ask one seemingly silly question of human history: which came first, the crime or the punishment? The stories first appeared in the popular Friday Stories series published every other Friday on Read-Me.Org beginning in 2021 and continuing through 2022.

NY and Philadelphia. Read-Me.Org. 2023. 283p. Paperback. All proceeds donated to Read-Me.Org.