European Saga

Oxford, 1900. When her parents die in a tragic accident, Heppie Wildman, homeless and penniless, must find her way alone in the world. A post as governess at Ingelton Hall offers the chance to rebuild her life, and she quickly forms a bond with her eight-year-old charge and a close friendship with the local parson, Meritt Nightingale. Heppie is irresistibly drawn to the handsome and elusive Thomas Egdon, the son of her employer. But life at Ingleton Hall is not as idyllic as it first seems. Who is the mysterious woman who appeared in her bedroom in the middle of the night? What is Thomas ...

Fans of Maeve Binchy will love this entertaining read that transcends time with history repeating itself, proving it’s not our circumstances that define us but the power within to change. A story of life, love, loss and seeking more, three generations of women are all on a journey to change their circumstances and find the life they believe they were destined for . . . revealing a terrible secret that changes it all. In 1960s Ireland, Maggie Treacy has never felt she belongs. Determined to change her life, the transformation doesn’t come without cost, but she isn’t going to let ...

Twenty-year-old Flora Kerner has arrived in Baden-Baden, the “Summer Capital of Europe.” Having spurned the family seed trade, Flora has instead chosen to accept a floristry apprenticeship in the famed German spa town. She is a quick study in the art of flower arranging, but progress is slower in matters of the heart.

In the fourteenth century, opportunities for women are limited to the home. But spirited young Madlen finds her calling as assistant to the city's trusted midwife, Clara. Working alongside Clara, Madlen develops a surprisingly soothing technique and quickly becomes a talented healer. After Clara's tragic death, Madlen alone rushes to assist the birth of a local nobleman's child. But rather than the joy of birth, Madlen walks into an accusation of murder and witchcraft because of her extraordinary gifts. Forced to flee her own town, she establishes a new identity in the home of her aunt.

Que celui qui pourrait écrire un tel livre serait heureux, pensais-je, quel labeur devant lui ! Pour en donner une idée, c'est aux arts les plus élevés et les plus différents qu'il faudrait emprunter les comparaisons ; car cet écrivain, qui d'ailleurs pour chaque caractère en ferait apparaître les faces opposées, pour montrer son volume, devrait préparer son livre, minutieusement, avec de perpétuels regroupements de force, comme une offensive, le supporter comme une fatigue.

Jerusalem, 1947: Judith, a young Jewish woman who survived Dachau concentration camp, arrives in Palestine after a treacherous journey and seeks refuge with her only remaining relative, her uncle. When Judith learns her uncle has died, she tries to take her own life in despair. In Hadassah Hospital, Hana, an Arab nurse, saves Judith’s life by donating her own blood. A fragile bond of friendship develops between the two women, but it will face a harsh test over time.

Pour la première fois, un éditeur propose l'essentiel de l'œuvre de Marcel Proust, en présentant une écoute choisie d'"À la recherche du temps perdu". Frémeaux & Associés met à la disposition du public la quintessence du chef-d'œuvre de Marcel Proust, ici sélectionnée avec soin et finesse par Paul Desalmand puis transmise, avec une justesse et une maîtrise de la langue remarquables, par Daniel Mesguich qui met tout son talent au service de la beauté et du sens du texte.

"Le pépiement matinal des oiseaux semblait insipide à Françoise. Chaque parole des 'bonnes' la faisait sursauter ; incommodée par tous leurs pas, elle s'interrogeait sur eux ; c'est que nous avions déménagé."

Formidable conteur, Marcel Pagnol raconte la vengeance de Manon qui découvre l’existence de la source cherchée en vain par son père, et qui était connue des autres villageois. Bergère, " belle sauvageonne ", Manon est l’héroïne flamboyante de ce roman provençal.

Victoria Caldwell expects one thing from her children – that they live a life that makes them happy. So why, whenever everyone is on the verge of happiness, do things always go wrong? Bella Caldwell has no intention of hiding away because her husband turned out to be a bigamist and their marriage a sham. Every day, she forces herself out of bed to keep up the pretence that she’s enjoying life. But will she allow George Bristow to manipulate her again and drag her into his murky world? How will this damaged young woman cope when she’s faced with evil at a level she’s never before ...

"La décroissance du jour me replongeant par le souvenir dans une atmosphère ancienne et fraîche, je la respirais avec les mêmes délices qu'Orphée l'air subtil, inconnu sur cette terre, des Champs Élysées. Mais déjà la journée finissait et j'étais envahi par la désolation du soir. Regardant machinalement à la pendule combien d'heures se passeraient avant qu'Albertine rentrât, je voyais que j'avais encore le temps de m'habiller."

Helmer doet zijn vader naar boven; het is tijd om schoon schip te maken. Hij haalt de woonkamer en de voormalige ouderlijke slaapkamer leeg, schildert de boel en koopt nieuwe spullen. Ooit had hij een tweelingbroer, Henk, de lieveling van zijn vader, degene die de boerderij zou overnemen. Van de ene op de andere dag werd Helmer tot opvolger gebombardeerd, door vader uit de stad gehaald en onder de koeien gezet. Nu is het grote wachten begonnen, bijna zonder dat hij het zelf in de gaten heeft.

1442. Vlad Dracula is shattered. His life falls apart when he’s exiled from Wallachia’s court. Taken hostage by the Ottomans as a token of his father’s fealty, the child hostage vows to flee or die. A prisoner at the Ottoman Court, Vlad resolves to kill the sultan and escape. But with no one he can trust, not even his brother, Vlad knows his attempt might be his undoing. Can Vlad slay the sultan and liberate Wallachia? Or will his daring undertaking take his life? Den Of Spies is the thrilling first book in The Curse of The Dracula Brothers series of medieval historical fiction with a...

Comme il y a une géométrie dans l'espace, il y a une psychologie dans le temps, où les calculs d'une psychologie plane ne seraient plus exacts parce qu'on n'y tiendrait pas compte du Temps et d'une des formes qu'il revêt, l'oubli.

Viking's were brutal, that is what they were known for; marauders forged in the icy north. Yet, they weren't always looters and thieves. They honored the gods, home, the land, community and friends. Magnus, son of Vargr, wanted to see the world more than anything else, but his dream collided with the ruthless sword of Charlemagne's kingdom. The mythological god's of the north pitted themselves against the Christian God. Both vying for dominance over creation. Both playing themselves out in the lives of men. The heart struggles between battle and love. Magnus had to chose between Romance or ...

Since the tragic loss of her parents, Enid has lived alone in a coastal cottage in Jersey. But this year someone new has come into her life: Fred, who truly gets her, and who knows how to make her happy. The only problem is that Enid has Asperger’s and doesn’t like to leave her comfort zone - and Fred lives in Australia. Like Enid, Fred has survived heartbreak and is searching for a way to start again. Could a stranger on the other side of the world really bring new meaning to his life, or is he just setting himself up for another fall?

"The unknown masterpiece", or "Le chef-d'œuvre inconnu", is a story by the French author Honoré de Balzac. This short text was of tremendous importance in the world of art, for it holds a groundbreaking reflection about artistic creation: what does completion or failure mean, and how is it that technique does not guarantee either. Paul Cézanne famously said "I am Frenhofer", identifying with the old master around which the story revolves. Pablo Picasso himself was absolutely fascinated by the text, so much that he had his studio moved in the Parisian street named in the story; there, he painted his own masterpiece, Guernica.

"The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha", or more simply "Don Quixote", is one of the most influential works of literature from a Spanish author. It is one of the earliest canonical novels, and is regularly cited as the best work of fiction ever published. A nameless hidalgo read so many chivalric romances that he loses his sanity and decides to set out into the world as a knight, to bring justice under the name Don Quixote. The delusional hidalgo then recruits a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, whose unique wit proves a marvelous addition to Don Quixote's idealistic bouts.

Enjoy the short stories of three of the greatest writers of French literature, for the first time assembled together in audiobook and narrated in a lively way. Guy de Maupassant was an absolute master of the short story genre, delighting in clever plotting, concise style, and efficient storytelling, which he used to produce stunning pieces in a very condensed format. He produced more than 300 short stories; we selected for you nine of the most bizarre, influent, humorous or plain shocking.

'Fans of Maeve Binchy and Cathy Kelly will love this.' A story of the aftermath, of picking up the pieces, of finding yourself again and discovering that life isn’t always easy . . . it’s not meant to be, but it can be worth it. Ann Maguire believes that discovering the truth of her past will set her free, but sometimes having all the answers isn’t enough . . . Forced to leave Dublin after her marriage crumbles, Ann returns to her childhood home of Knockmore, to find herself even more isolated than before. Catapulted back to grieving for her parents and the life she once knew, ...