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All free summaries — page 179

34,239 public-domain books, summarised. Page 179 of 714.

Cover of The Vital Message

The Vital Message

Arthur Conan Doyle

This work serves as a reasoned argument for the existence of an afterlife, positing that modern psychic phenomena provide scientific proof of human survival beyond the physical death of the body.

Philosophy & Ethics6 min read
Cover of A History of Sarawak under Its Two White Rajahs 1839-1908

A History of Sarawak under Its Two White Rajahs 1839-1908

S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould

This account chronicles an extraordinary colonial anomaly: the transformation of a private English adventurer into the sovereign ruler of a thriving Bornean state, sustained by his successors for seven decades.

History - Other7 min read
Cover of Archeological Investigations

Archeological Investigations

Gerard Fowke

HOOK This field report documents the systematic search for evidence of ancient human life within the caves, mounds, and coastal sites of the American Midwest and the Hawaiian Islands.

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of Coral Reefs

Coral Reefs

Charles Darwin

The immense, ring-shaped islands of the Pacific were once believed to be the work of tiny creatures building upon the craters of submerged volcanoes. This book reveals the earth-shaking truth: those reefs are the tombstones of sinking land.

Science - Biology6 min read
Cover of For Every Music Lover: A Series of Practical Essays on Music

For Every Music Lover: A Series of Practical Essays on Music

Aubertine Woodward Moore

Music is not a cloistered study for the elite, but a universal language that reflects the inner life of humanity. This collection of essays serves as a guide for the listener and student to move beyond mere technical display toward a deeper, soulful appreciation of the art.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of George Cruikshank

George Cruikshank

W. H. (Wilfrid Hugh) Chesson

The caricaturing instinct was fundamental to this artist’s life, a talent that transformed simple sketches into sharp social commentary and enduring visual satire.

Art6 min read
Cover of Japan: An Attempt at Interpretation

Japan: An Attempt at Interpretation

Lafcadio Hearn

This investigation offers a profound, scholarly attempt to decode the inner social and religious architecture of Japan. It seeks to explain how an ancient, ghost-haunted culture maintained stability through centuries of profound isolation.

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of Leyte: The Return to the Philippines

Leyte: The Return to the Philippines

M. Hamlin Cannon

The return to the Philippines marks the decisive turning point of the Pacific War, where the strategy of island-hopping gave way to a massive, full-scale campaign to liberate a nation.

History - American8 min read
Cover of Memoirs of General Lafayette: With an Account of His Visit to America and His Reception By the People of the United States

Memoirs of General Lafayette: With an Account of His Visit to America and His Reception By the People of the United States

Samuel L. (Samuel Lorenzo) Knapp

The aging hero returns to the nation he helped forge, met by a people eager to crown his twilight years with the gratitude of a grateful republic.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Parodies of the works of English & American authors, vol. I

Parodies of the works of English & American authors, vol. I

Unknown

This collection assembles the sharpest satirical retorts to the literary giants of the Victorian era. It proves that no poem is too famous to escape the mockery of a clever critic with a pen.

American Literature7 min read
Cover of Studies of Trees

Studies of Trees

Jacob Joshua Levison

A practical manual for the aspiring arboriculturist, this guide bridges the gap between botanical science and the daily stewardship of the trees in our parks, streets, and woodlots. It provides a clear, foundational approach to tree identification, maintenance, and forestry management.

How To ...6 min read
Cover of Tales of the Punjab: Folklore of India

Tales of the Punjab: Folklore of India

Flora Annie Webster Steel

A vibrant collection of oral tradition, these tales capture the wit, magic, and moral complexity of a culture where jackals outsmart crocodiles and kings gamble their lives away on a roll of the dice.

Mythology, Legends & Folklore7 min read
Cover of The Maid of Orleans: A Tragedy

The Maid of Orleans: A Tragedy

Friedrich Schiller

This drama follows the meteoric rise and tragic end of a peasant girl who believes she is divinely summoned to save France from English occupation. It is a work of high intensity, exploring the friction between human love, divine duty, and the cold machinery of war.

Classics of Literature6 min read
Cover of Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Second Series

Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Second Series

William Bottrell

This collection of West Cornish lore preserves the fading echoes of a world where ancient stone circles, hidden fairy folk, and local witches were as real as the salt air and the seasonal harvest.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Arkham House : The first 20 years

Arkham House : The first 20 years

August Derleth

Born from the grief of a lost friend, this record chronicles the unlikely rise of a small-press powerhouse dedicated to preserving the literature of the macabre against all odds.

Encyclopedias/Dictionaries/Reference6 min read
Cover of Butterflies Worth Knowing

Butterflies Worth Knowing

Clarence Moores Weed

Butterflies are not merely garden ornaments; they are complex, living histories awaiting patient observers. This guide invites readers into the fields and forests to decode the intricate biological dramas unfolding on every leaf.

Nature/Gardening/Animals6 min read
Cover of Chess and Checkers

Chess and Checkers

Edward Lasker

Mastering the sixty-four squares requires more than memorizing moves; it demands a disciplined mind capable of long-range foresight and strategic patience. This instructional manual provides a rigorous foundation for those seeking to transform from novice players into tacticians.

How To ...6 min read
Cover of How to Tell Stories to Children, and Some Stories to Tell

How to Tell Stories to Children, and Some Stories to Tell

Sara Cone Bryant

This manual serves as a practical guide for those who wish to master the art of storytelling, blending pedagogical wisdom with a curated selection of tales designed to captivate young listeners.

Children & Young Adult Reading6 min read
Cover of Memorials of old Durham

Memorials of old Durham

Unknown

This collection of essays serves as a scholarly yet accessible window into the unique history, architecture, and folklore of the County Palatine of Durham. It captures the essence of a region that once functioned as a self-governing, semi-independent kingdom.

History - British6 min read
Cover of Taxidermy and Zoological Collecting: A Complete Handbook for the Amateur Taxidermist, Collector, Osteologist, Museum-Builder, Sportsman, and Traveller

Taxidermy and Zoological Collecting: A Complete Handbook for the Amateur Taxidermist, Collector, Osteologist, Museum-Builder, Sportsman, and Traveller

William T. (William Temple) Hornaday

Preservation is a race against time, where the steady hand of the naturalist acts as the final safeguard for species vanishing from a rapidly changing world. This comprehensive manual serves as both an urgent plea for conservation and a rigorous technical guide for those dedicated to the meticulous art of mounting…

How To ...6 min read
Cover of The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Volume I

The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Volume I

John Payne

A merchant accidentally kills a genie’s son with a date stone, sparking a cascade of tales where life and death hang by the thread of a well-told story.

Classics of Literature7 min read
Cover of The future of an illusion

The future of an illusion

Sigmund Freud

The future of an illusion examines the origins and necessity of religious belief, arguing that humanity must eventually outgrow these inherited systems to face reality with the aid of science and reason.

Philosophy & Ethics6 min read
Cover of The Inns of Court

The Inns of Court

Cecil Headlam

The legal heart of London beats within ancient, brick-walled enclaves that have quietly shaped the history of English law for centuries. These secluded precincts, where tradition and quietude endure, offer a rare glimpse into the medieval origins of professional life.

History - British6 min read
Cover of The Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 1: With Life, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory Notes

The Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 1: With Life, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory Notes

John Dryden

A towering architect of English verse, this collection chronicles the rise, influence, and ultimate displacement of a poet who defined the sound of the seventeenth century. It reveals a master of satire, translation, and political allegory whose work remains a touchstone for rhetorical power and intellectual…

Biographies6 min read
Cover of The Popol Vuh: The Mythic and Heroic Sagas of the Kichés of Central America

The Popol Vuh: The Mythic and Heroic Sagas of the Kichés of Central America

Lewis Spence

This exploration offers a rare window into the mythic heart of the Kiché people, revealing a foundational narrative of gods, giants, and the arduous struggle for human existence in the pre-Columbian Americas.

Mythology, Legends & Folklore6 min read
Cover of The Principles of Aesthetics

The Principles of Aesthetics

De Witt H. (De Witt Henry) Parker

This inquiry into the philosophy of art bridges the gap between scholarly rigor and the lived experience of beauty. It provides a systematic framework for understanding why human beings create, value, and find meaning in artistic expression.

Art6 min read
Cover of The Shores of the Adriatic: The Austrian Side, The Küstenlande, Istria, and Dalmatia

The Shores of the Adriatic: The Austrian Side, The Küstenlande, Istria, and Dalmatia

F. Hamilton (Frederick Hamilton) Jackson

The Adriatic coast of the Austro-Hungarian Empire serves as a living museum of antiquity, where Roman ruins and medieval goldsmiths' work endure within the daily lives of isolated, tradition-bound maritime communities.

Archaeology & Anthropology7 min read
Cover of The True History of Tom & Jerry

The True History of Tom & Jerry

Pierce Egan

A whirlwind tour of Regency-era London, this narrative tracks the restless pursuit of pleasure through both the gilded parlors of the West End and the desperate, rowdy shadows of the East End.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Theodore Roosevelt and His Times: A Chronicle of the Progressive Movement

Theodore Roosevelt and His Times: A Chronicle of the Progressive Movement

Harold Howland

The life of Theodore Roosevelt serves as an enduring epitaph for a man who met every challenge with a fight. This chronicle charts the rise of the Progressive movement through the lens of its most magnetic, combative figure.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of A Short History of Christianity: Second Edition, Revised, With Additions

A Short History of Christianity: Second Edition, Revised, With Additions

J. M. (John Mackinnon) Robertson

The story of Christianity is not the biography of a single teacher, but the complex evolution of a mythic cult shaped by Roman politics, pagan traditions, and economic necessity. It remains a provocative, rigorous investigation into how belief systems establish institutional power.

History - Religious6 min read
Cover of Ancient Egyptian and Greek Looms

Ancient Egyptian and Greek Looms

H. Ling (Henry Ling) Roth

To understand the origins of the textile industry, one must look past the faded ink of ancient wall paintings to the tangible remnants of thread and clay. This inquiry reconstructs the mechanics of antiquity by testing the physical logic of the loom against the surviving evidence of the Nile and the Aegean.

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of Astounding Stories of Super-Science, October, 1930

Astounding Stories of Super-Science, October, 1930

Various

This collection gathers five distinct tales of speculative invention, capturing the dawn of an era where scientific marvels—from invisibility and mind control to subatomic travel—threaten to outpace the moral readiness of humanity.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of Cenci: Celebrated Crimes

Cenci: Celebrated Crimes

Alexandre Dumas

A noble Roman family descends into madness, betrayal, and state-sanctioned slaughter under the shadow of the Renaissance papacy. This unflinching account of the Cenci tragedy exposes the lethal intersection of unchecked power and domestic horror.

Historical Novels6 min read
Cover of Chinese pottery and porcelain

Chinese pottery and porcelain

R. L. (Robert Lockhart) Hobson

A comprehensive and scholarly survey, this work traces the evolution of Chinese ceramic craft from the earliest earthen vessels to the sophisticated porcelain centers of the later dynasties. It serves as a foundational guide for understanding the materials, artistic influences, and historical development of a…

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of Historical Manual of English Prosody

Historical Manual of English Prosody

George Saintsbury

This authoritative guide decodes the mechanical heart of English poetry, mapping the evolution of verse from the rhythmic experiments of the thirteenth century to the sophisticated music of the Victorian masters. It provides a technical foundation for understanding how the language creates harmony.

Language & Communication7 min read
Cover of History of Spanish and Portuguese Literature (Vol 1 of 2)

History of Spanish and Portuguese Literature (Vol 1 of 2)

Friedrich Bouterwek

The cultural landscape of Spain and Portugal reveals itself through the evolution of its poetry and prose, from the medieval era to the sophisticated literary movements of the eighteenth century. This scholarly survey maps the changing national identity of two nations by tracing the voices of their most influential…

History - European7 min read
Cover of Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A comprehensive collection of American literary history, this catalog preserves the rhythmic verse, epic translations, and narrative storytelling that defined a century of poetic achievement.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Initial Studies in American Letters

Initial Studies in American Letters

Henry A. (Henry Augustin) Beers

Tracing the evolution of a national voice, this survey maps the transformation of American writing from colonial theological tracts to the diverse regional and political voices of the nineteenth century.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Letters of Two Brides

Letters of Two Brides

Honoré de Balzac

Two women navigate the divergent paths of marriage and motherhood through a lifelong correspondence that reveals the hidden emotional costs of their societal roles.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Life and Letters of Thomas Cromwell, Vol. 1 of 2: Life, Letters to 1535

Life and Letters of Thomas Cromwell, Vol. 1 of 2: Life, Letters to 1535

Roger Bigelow Merriman

A master of administrative detail and ruthless political strategy, this statesman navigated the treacherous waters of the Henrician court to reshape the English state. His life reveals the calculated machinery behind a monumental era.

Biographies7 min read
Cover of Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions

Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions

Charles Mackay

Humanity is perpetually susceptible to collective madness, as groups often abandon reason in favor of shared, groundless obsessions. This chronicle maps the recurrent cycles of these delusions, showing how intellect offers no immunity against the contagion of folly.

History - Other6 min read
Cover of Old Taverns of New York

Old Taverns of New York

W. Harrison (William Harrison) Bayles

These pages recover the lost world of colonial New York, where history was written in the froth of ale and the smoke of coffee houses.

History - American6 min read
Cover of The Bay State Monthly

The Bay State Monthly

Various

A historical and cultural window into post-Civil War New England, this collection preserves the aspirations, commerce, and internal debates of a rapidly industrializing society. It serves as a living record of how a region defined its own identity through local history, individual success stories, and intellectual…

History - American6 min read
Cover of The Friars in the Philippines

The Friars in the Philippines

Ambrose Coleman

This work provides a rigorous, contemporary defense of the Spanish religious orders against the political and social upheavals that accompanied the end of the nineteenth century in the Philippines.

History - Modern (1750+)6 min read
Cover of The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. VIII, 1909

The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. VIII, 1909

Various

This chronicle captures a moment of early twentieth-century American civic life, documenting the aspirations and collective memory of a society dedicated to tracing the Irish influence on the American national fabric. It serves as a time capsule of cultural identity and professional achievement.

History - American6 min read
Cover of The Papers and Writings of Abraham Lincoln

The Papers and Writings of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

These documents trace the emergence of a crisis in American governance, revealing the steady, deliberate evolution of a leader facing an unprecedented national dissolution. Through private letters, official proclamations, and public addresses, the internal and external pressures of a fracturing Union come into…

Biographies7 min read
Cover of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898

Unknown

This collection of primary sources documents the administrative, religious, and logistical struggles of the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines during the early 1590s. It provides an unvarnished look at the friction between imperial ambition and the realities of a remote, resource-strained frontier.

History - Other7 min read
Cover of The Rescue: A Romance of the Shallows

The Rescue: A Romance of the Shallows

Joseph Conrad

A solitary, masterful sea captain finds his carefully ordered life of adventure and influence shattered when he becomes entangled with the occupants of a stranded luxury yacht.

Adventure6 min read
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