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Showing posts from July, 2018

Footprints Without Feet (Herbert George Wells)

About the writer: Herbert George Wells (1866-1946) was born in Kent, England. He is best remem- bered as an author of science-fiction. His best creation is Time-Machine' which is con- sidered as one of the finest pieces of modern literature. About the story:  This is the story of a scientist Griffin, who carried out various experiments to make himself invisible. Finally, he succeeded and his body became transparent. He enjoyed the extra-ordinary things which started to happen after he became invisible and he misused his discovery to steal money and annoy others. STORY: The two boys stared in surprise at the fresh muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet. What was a barefooted man doing on the steps of a house, in the middle of London? And where was the man ? As they gazed, a remarkable sight met their eyes. A fresh footmark appeared from nowhere! Further footprints followed, one after another, descending the steps and progressing down the street. The boys followed fascinated...

The Thief's Story (Ruskin Bond)

About the writer:  Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British decent. The Indian Council for Child Educa-tion has recognized his role in the growth of children's literature. He received the Sahitya Academy' Award in 1992. He was also awarded the 'Padma Shri' in 1999 and Padma Bhushan' in 2014. About the story: This story has a simple plot with an important message. A young boy Hari Singh came to live with Anil in the hope of making a theft. Being a good fellow, Anil wants to teach Hari Singh how to read and write. Gradually, Anil develops trust in Hari Singh. After stealing money from Anil, Hari Singh tries to go away forever but some inner voice stops him from doing so. Thus Anil, who was diverted from the right path realized his mistake. STORY: I was still a thief when I met Anil and though I was only fifteen, I was an experienced and fairly successful hand. Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about twenty-five -- a tall, lean ...

The Last Lesson (Alphonse Daudet)

About the writer:  Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist and a short-story writer and has more than three dozen works of literature to his credit. He is considered to be one of the most iconic names of French Literature. He portrayed human emotions in a very realistic manner. About the story: The Last Lesson' narrates an event about the year 1870 when Prussian forces under Bismarck captured France. The new Prussian rule discontinued the teaching of French in the schools of the two districts- Alsace and Lorraine. The French teachers asked to leave. Now M. Hamel could no longer stay in his old school. Still he gave the last lesson to his students with utmost sincerity. STORY: I started for school very late that morning and was in great dread of a scolding, especially because M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles, and I did not know the first word about them. For a moment I thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was so warm, so bright! ...

Going please (A. R. Barton)

About the writer:  A.R. Barton is a modern writer, who lives in Zurich and writes in English. He has authored many stories that are mainly concerned with the problems and predicaments of the adolescents. About the story:  The story is about unrealistic dreams and how one indulges in them knowing well that they have little possibility of coming true. The story seems to suggest that it is good to dream but one should be grounded in reality. STORY: "When I leave," Sophie said, coming home from school,"I'm going to have a boutique." Janise, linking arms with her along the street, looked doubtful. "Takes money, Soaf, something like that." "I'll find it," Sophie said, staring far down the street. "Take you a long time to save that much." "Well I'll be a manager then -yes, of course -to begin with. Till I've got enough But anyway, I know just how it's all going to look." "They wouldn't m...

1. The Guitar Player 2. Svayamvara (Suniti Namjoshi )

About the writer: Suniti Namjoshi was born in India but left for Canada where she lived for a number of years. Currently, she lives in the U.K. She has published numerous poems, fables articles and reviews. Her books include The Conversations of Cow (1985), Aditi and One Eyed Monkey (1986), The Blue Donkey Fables (1988), Because of India: Selected Poems (1989) and The Mother of Maya Diip (1989).   About the story:T he Guitar Player' and 'Svayamvara' are taken from her book Feminist Fables (1981). In these stories she focuses on the condition of women in a patriarchal society She raises her voice against gender inequality and stresses the fact that women should have their own identity. These stories are very thought-provoking and highly relevant to the contemporary Indian society. The story The Guitar Player' depicts a girl who wants her talents, skills and the art that she possesses, to be greatly valued, recognized and given importance. The story 'Svayamvara...

Drought (Sarat Chandra Chatterjee)

About the writer: Sarat Chandra Chatterjee was a prominent Bengali novelist and short story writer of the early twentieth century. Most of his works deal with the lifestyle, tragedy, struggle of the village people and the contemporary social practices that prevailed in Bengal. About the story: In Drought', the writer has drawn a graphic picture of drought. Drought takes theform of a natural calamity in many parts of India, in Rajasthan frequently. In the presentstory, Gafur, the main character, is under stress. The writer has successfully depicted social and psychological aspects of human nature under stress. STORY: The village was called Kashipur. It was a small village, its Zamindar was smaller still. Yet his tenants dared not stand up to him. He was so ruthless. It was the birthday of his youngest son. It was noon. Tarkaratna, the priest, was on his way home from the landlord's house, where he had been offering prayers. It was nearing the end of May, but not a patch of ...

Trouble in Bohemia (Arthur Conan Doyle)

About the writer: Arthur Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer most noted for creating the legendary world famous fictional character Sherlock Holmes' and his loyal assistant Dr. Watson. He wrote more than sixty 'Sherlock Holmes' mystery stories, which attracted the readers all over the world. Some of his notable Sherlock Holmes' works include The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Hound of Baskervilles The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes and Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. He also wrote many non-fictional books, works of fantasy, secience fiction, historical novels and poetry and also created the fictional character named Professor Challenger and wrote a series of novels based on him. About the story: The story Trouble in Bohemia is about Sherlock Holmes and Miss Irene Adler both fictional characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle. The story narrates how the king of Bohemia hires the famous detective Sherlock Holmes to get some letters and photog...

The Gift of the Magi (O.Henry)

About the writer: William Sydney Porter (1862- 1910) wrote under the pen name O. Henry. He is a short story writer of the United States of America. He has written six hundred stories, noted for their blending of humour and pathos, O.Henry's stories are remarkable for the ingenious twist of a surprise ending. He is regarded as one of the grandmasters of modern short stories. About the story: 'The Gift of the Magi' is one of the writer's most celebrated stories. It narrates a strange incident in the life of a poor young couple who sacrificed their most precious possessions for each other's joy on the eve of Christmas. STORY: One dollar and eighty seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty sev...

The Portrait of a Lady (Khushwant singh)

About the writer:  Khushwant Singh is one of the most celebrated authors of India. Apart from being a writer, he has been a lawyer, a public relations officer, and the editor of The illustrated Weekly of India. Two of his most famous novels are Train to Pakistan (1956) and i Shall Not Hear the Nightingale (1961). Story: My grandmother, like everybody's grandmother, was an old woman. She had been old and wrinkled for the twenty years that I had known her. People said that she had once been young and pretty and had even had a husband, but that was hard to believe. My grandfather's portrait hung above the mantelpiece in the drawing-room. He wore a big turban and loose-fitting clothes. His long, white beard covered the best part of his chest and he looked at least a hundred years old. He did not look the sort of person who would have a wife or children. He looked as if he could only have lots and lots of grandchildren. As for my grandmother being young and pretty, the thought ...

The Tiger King (kalki)

About the writer: Ramaswami lyer Krishnamurthy, better known by his pen name Kalki, was a Tamil writer, journalist, poet, critic and an Indian independence activist. He derived his pen name Kalki from the suffixes ofhis wife's name Kalyani and his name Krishnamurthy His writings include a large number of short stories, five novels, editorial and political writings, film and music reviews. Story: The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the hero of this story. He may be identified as His Highness Jamedar-General, Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari, Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, M.A.D., A.C.T.C or C.R.С.К. But this name is often shortened to the Tiger King. I have come forward to tell you why he came to be known as Tiger King. I have no intention of pretending to advance only to end in a strategic withdrawal. Even the threat of a Stuka bomber will not throw me off track. The Stuka, if it likes, can beat a hasty retreat from my story. Right at...