myebooksbuy
My Books

The whole shelf

All free summaries — page 185

34,239 public-domain books, summarised. Page 185 of 714.

Cover of The Mediæval Hospitals of England

The Mediæval Hospitals of England

Rotha Mary Clay

The medieval hospital was rarely a place of medical cure, serving instead as a sanctuary for the weary, the aged, and the spiritually burdened. This study uncovers the quiet, compassionate history of these forgotten refuges.

Health & Medicine6 min read
Cover of The Sex Worship and Symbolism of Primitive Races: An Interpretation

The Sex Worship and Symbolism of Primitive Races: An Interpretation

Sanger Brown

The fundamental impulses of early human civilization persist in the shadows of modern life, revealing a history etched in stone, myth, and ritual. By examining the evolution of phallicism and sex worship, this inquiry traces the unconscious origins of religious symbolism and its enduring, often misunderstood,…

Archaeology & Anthropology7 min read
Cover of The travels of Pedro de Cieza de Léon

The travels of Pedro de Cieza de Léon

Pedro de Cieza de León

A firsthand chronicle of a lost civilization, this work captures the rise and eventual dissolution of the Inca Empire through the eyes of a Spanish soldier who arrived shortly after the conquest.

Archaeology & Anthropology6 min read
Cover of A Pagan of the Hills

A Pagan of the Hills

Charles Neville Buck

HOOK A mountain woman rejects the traditional constraints of her gender, navigating a treacherous landscape of floods, outlaws, and rival suitors with the steely independence of a forest deity.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga

A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga

William Walker Atkinson

Discover the hidden architecture of your own consciousness through this practical guide to self-mastery, where ancient meditative techniques meet the rigorous demands of personal development and mental discipline.

Philosophy & Ethics6 min read
Cover of All the Sad Young Men

All the Sad Young Men

F. Scott (Francis Scott) Fitzgerald

This collection of short stories documents the quiet, often devastating friction between youthful ambition and the inevitable hardening of the adult soul. It captures a generation caught between the remnants of an old world and the hollow, shimmering promises of a new one.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of An economic interpretation of the Constitution of the United States

An economic interpretation of the Constitution of the United States

Charles A. (Charles Austin) Beard

A foundational work of American historiography, this investigation moves past political theory to examine the direct financial interests of the men who drafted the United States Constitution.

Economics6 min read
Cover of Becket and other plays

Becket and other plays

Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, Baron

This collection of dramas explores the heavy toll of duty, the volatility of human affection, and the collision between personal conviction and the rigid demands of the state.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History: Designed as a Manual of Instruction

English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History: Designed as a Manual of Instruction

Henry Coppée

English literature is more than a collection of poems and novels; it is a vital, living record of the national spirit across the centuries. This manual maps the essential connection between the written word and the unfolding history of the English people.

British Literature7 min read
Cover of Essays

Essays

Arthur Christopher Benson

A collection of biographical and critical studies, these essays explore the lives and works of writers who possess a subtle, elusive charm. They reflect on the nature of genius, failure, and the dignity of human expression.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Let's Get Together

Let's Get Together

Isaac Asimov

A century of fragile peace rests upon a delicate, global stalemate. When a young, suspicious agent arrives with news that the enemy has infiltrated the nation with humanoid robots, the balance of power teeters on the brink of total annihilation.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Life on a Mediaeval Barony: A Picture of a Typical Feudal Community in the Thirteenth Century

Life on a Mediaeval Barony: A Picture of a Typical Feudal Community in the Thirteenth Century

William Stearns Davis

This study offers a comprehensive, immersive reconstruction of thirteenth-century life, detailing the rigid structures, daily routines, and social hierarchies that defined a typical feudal barony.

History - European7 min read
Cover of Lives of the Founders of the British Museum, Part 1 of 2: With Notices of Its Chief Augmentors and Other Benefactors, 1570-1870

Lives of the Founders of the British Museum, Part 1 of 2: With Notices of Its Chief Augmentors and Other Benefactors, 1570-1870

Edward Edwards

This expansive chronicle offers a meticulous, archival record of the individuals whose private obsessions and social status fueled the creation of one of the world’s greatest repositories of human history. It maps the transition of dispersed, often vulnerable collections into the protected, permanent custody of the…

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Northern Nut Growers Association, Report of the Proceedings at the Third Annual Meeting: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, December 18 and 19, 1912

Northern Nut Growers Association, Report of the Proceedings at the Third Annual Meeting: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, December 18 and 19, 1912

Unknown

A pioneering assembly of early 20th-century horticulturists meets in Pennsylvania to transform the landscape by championing the scientific cultivation of hardy nut-bearing trees.

Reports & Conference Proceedings6 min read
Cover of Pirates from Piperock

Pirates from Piperock

W. C. (Wilbur C.) Tuttle

The high-altitude town of Horse Heaven is a vertical trap of crooked saloons, where law is nonexistent and life is cheap. Two wandering drifters stumble into the mayhem, only to find themselves orchestrating the final, explosive cleanup.

Short Stories6 min read
Cover of Something New

Something New

P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse

A stolen Egyptian scarab, a bumbling aristocrat, and a pair of resourceful Americans collide in a sprawling English country house, setting off a chain of delightfully chaotic mishaps.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of The Confessions of a Caricaturist, Vol. 1

The Confessions of a Caricaturist, Vol. 1

Harry Furniss

The life of a professional satirist is less about the finished drawing than the relentless observation of the world, a trade where one must learn to see the sublime before twisting it into the ridiculous.

Art6 min read
Cover of The Earliest Arithmetics in English

The Earliest Arithmetics in English

Unknown

The transition from Roman numerals to the Arabic system changed how humanity calculates, and this collection of early English treatises serves as a primary record of that momentous shift. These texts capture the moment when calculation moved from the counting board to the parchment, codifying the rules that…

History - Medieval/Middle Ages6 min read
Cover of The Fairy Ring

The Fairy Ring

Unknown

This collection gathers timeless folktales and moral fables from around the world, weaving together the magic, mischief, and wonder of the oral tradition.

Children & Young Adult Reading7 min read
Cover of The Grateful Dead: The History of a Folk Story

The Grateful Dead: The History of a Folk Story

Gordon Hall Gerould

A long-standing narrative tradition follows a hero who pays to bury a stranger’s remains, only to have that debt repaid by a ghost who shepherds him through impossible trials and marriage.

Mythology, Legends & Folklore5 min read
Cover of The Market-Place

The Market-Place

Harold Frederic

A self-made financier rises from obscurity to the heights of English society, only to find that his hard-won, predatory triumph leaves him adrift in a world of aristocratic manners he does not fully understand.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt

American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt

Edward Stratemeyer

This portrait of a legendary leader captures the relentless drive of a man who transformed his own physical weakness into a symbol of national vitality and purpose. It serves as both a chronicle and a call to action.

Biographies6 min read
Cover of Letters of John Calvin, Volume II: Compiled from the Original Manuscripts and Edited with Historical Notes

Letters of John Calvin, Volume II: Compiled from the Original Manuscripts and Edited with Historical Notes

Jean Calvin

A man of intense intellect and fragile health navigates the fires of sixteenth-century Europe, using the power of the written word to anchor a movement in the face of plague, exile, and theological warfare.

Essays, Letters & Speeches8 min read
Cover of Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise

Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise

P. Gerald (Percy Gerald) Sanford

This technical treatise offers a rigorous, detailed examination of the chemistry and industrial production of nitro-explosives, providing an essential snapshot of late-nineteenth-century chemical engineering. It serves as both a historical record and a comprehensive reference manual.

Engineering & Technology6 min read
Cover of Quotes and Images From The Works of Charles Dudley Warner

Quotes and Images From The Works of Charles Dudley Warner

Charles Dudley Warner

The observant wit of a nineteenth-century essayist meets the quiet frustrations of daily life in this expansive collection. Here, the humdrum of gardening and the absurdity of social conventions are laid bare with sophisticated, gentle humor.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of Richard Steele: Edited, with an Introduction and Notes by G. A. Aitken

Richard Steele: Edited, with an Introduction and Notes by G. A. Aitken

Steele, Richard, Sir

A life lived in the public eye, marked by both literary triumph and financial ruin, defines the enduring legacy of a celebrated eighteenth-century wit and playwright.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Rural Wealth and Welfare: Economic Principles Illustrated and Applied in Farm Life

Rural Wealth and Welfare: Economic Principles Illustrated and Applied in Farm Life

Geo. T. (George Thompson) Fairchild

Economic prosperity is not a matter of chance, but the result of aligning human effort with the unchangeable laws of nature and the steady habits of industry.

Economics6 min read
Cover of Sexual Neuroses

Sexual Neuroses

J. T. (James Tyler) Kent

This clinical monograph examines the physiological and psychological consequences of sexual dysfunction, advocating for a rigorous, non-judgmental approach to treating conditions previously hidden by social modesty. It serves as both a medical guide and a historical document of late 19th-century attitudes toward…

Health & Medicine6 min read
Cover of The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II

The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II

Richard Crashaw

This collection preserves the Latin and Greek verse of a seventeenth-century poet, offering a window into the intellectual and spiritual landscape of a mind caught between two worlds. It serves as a scholarly recovery of a forgotten tradition, gathering the work of a writer who moved from the rigorous Protestantism…

British Literature5 min read
Cover of The Crux: A Novel

The Crux: A Novel

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

A young woman discovers that the man she loves carries a venereal disease, forcing a painful confrontation with the hidden dangers beneath traditional courtship. This narrative serves as a stark, urgent warning about the consequences of social silence.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of The early court of Queen Victoria

The early court of Queen Victoria

Clare Jerrold

A young, isolated princess matures into a queen, navigating the rigid, often hypocritical protocols of a court defined by dynastic maneuvering and personal conflict. This account strips away the hagiography of the Victorian era to reveal the human tensions behind the crown.

History - British6 min read
Cover of The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 07

The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 07

Unknown

This collection presents a sweeping tapestry of the fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, capturing the rise of modern states and the human spirit through the eyes of diverse, renowned scholars. It chronicles the transformative period that bridged the medieval world and the Renaissance.

History - European7 min read
Cover of The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 02

The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 02

Unknown

Across mountain passes and river valleys, ancient peoples forge empires through blood, devotion, and cold political strategy.

History - Ancient10 min read
Cover of The Life of David Belasco

The Life of David Belasco

William Winter

A meticulous chronicler of the American stage captures the life of a seminal theatrical pioneer, detailing a relentless pursuit of art across the shifting landscapes of nineteenth-century drama.

American Literature6 min read
Cover of The Skirts of the Great City

The Skirts of the Great City

N. D'Anvers

London is not merely a city of stone and mortar, but a sprawling, living tapestry of neighborhoods. This guide traces the hidden histories, artistic legacies, and royal footprints scattered across the quiet villages and green spaces that ring the capital.

History - British6 min read
Cover of The Treasury of Ancient Egypt: Miscellaneous Chapters on Ancient Egyptian History and Archaeology

The Treasury of Ancient Egypt: Miscellaneous Chapters on Ancient Egyptian History and Archaeology

Arthur E. P. Brome (Arthur Edward Pearse Brome) Weigall

This collection of essays offers an intimate, atmospheric window into the early twentieth-century world of Egyptian archaeology. Written by a dedicated inspector of antiquities, it explores the enduring connection between the sun-drenched landscapes of the Nile and the ancient civilization that once thrived there.

Archaeology & Anthropology7 min read
Cover of The Tree-Dwellers

The Tree-Dwellers

Katharine Elizabeth Dopp

Survival in a world of giants requires more than just claws and teeth; it demands the slow, steady spark of human ingenuity.

Adventure6 min read
Cover of The True History of the State Prisoner, commonly called the Iron Mask: Extracted from Documents in the French Archives

The True History of the State Prisoner, commonly called the Iron Mask: Extracted from Documents in the French Archives

Dover, George Agar Ellis, Baron

A minister’s betrayal, a king’s quiet fury, and decades of hidden imprisonment dissolve one of history’s most romanticized legends into the plain reality of political revenge.

History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)6 min read
Cover of Yorkshire

Yorkshire

Gordon Home

The moors of Northern England hold an ancient, rugged beauty that defies the march of time. This guide explores a landscape where Roman history, medieval abbeys, and wild, wind-swept geography converge in quiet, enduring harmony.

History - British6 min read
Cover of America's Munitions 1917-1918

America's Munitions 1917-1918

United States. War Department

An immense industrial engine awakens as a nation transforms its civil factories into a single, coordinated arsenal to equip millions of overseas combatants.

History - American22 min read
Cover of An Apologie for the Royal Party (1659)

An Apologie for the Royal Party (1659)

John Evelyn

A desperate plea for political stability and a triumphant celebration of the monarchy define these two pivotal texts from the mid-seventeenth century. They capture the raw, emotional transition from the chaos of revolutionary rule to the promise of a restored kingdom.

History - British6 min read
Cover of Anthology of Russian literature from the earliest period to the present time, volume 1 (of 2)

Anthology of Russian literature from the earliest period to the present time, volume 1 (of 2)

Leo Wiener

This collection offers a rare, panoramic view of the Russian soul, spanning from ancient, earth-bound folk wisdom to the sophisticated literary salons of the eighteenth century.

Classics of Literature7 min read
Cover of Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady

Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady

Samuel Richardson

A virtuous young woman is ensnared in a web of sophisticated cruelty, struggling to preserve her integrity against a relentless libertine who views her very resistance as a challenge to his own mastery.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of Genius in Sunshine and Shadow

Genius in Sunshine and Shadow

Maturin M. (Maturin Murray) Ballou

The lives of history’s most brilliant minds often reveal a striking paradox: those who illuminate the world with their genius frequently dwell in the deepest shadows of personal suffering, poverty, or eccentricity.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Gods of Modern Grub Street: Impressions of Contemporary Authors

Gods of Modern Grub Street: Impressions of Contemporary Authors

Arthur St. John Adcock

These profiles capture the essence of a generation, mapping the creative lives of the authors who defined the early twentieth-century literary landscape.

British Literature6 min read
Cover of History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)

History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)

Robert Southey

The Peninsular War stands as a watershed of the nineteenth century, marking the violent, often treacherous intersection of Napoleonic ambition and the fierce, unyielding spirit of national independence.

History - European6 min read
Cover of Illustrated Catalogue of Locomotives

Illustrated Catalogue of Locomotives

Baldwin Locomotive Works

This is a technical chronicle of the rise of steam-powered transit in America, detailing the evolution of locomotive engineering from a jeweler’s basement project into a global industrial force.

Engineering & Technology6 min read
Cover of La Légende des Siècles

La Légende des Siècles

Victor Hugo

This monumental collection of verse charts the rise of humanity from the dawn of time, tracing the human spirit’s arduous, mythic struggle toward enlightenment and progress. It is a vast, panoramic vision of history reimagined through poetry.

French Literature6 min read
Advertisement