Showing results by narrator "Mark Bowen" in All Categories

The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism (Russian:  Три источника и три составных части марксизма) is an article written by the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin and published in 1913. The article was dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of Karl Marx's death.

God Sees the Truth, But Waits is a short story by Russian author Leo Tolstoy first published in 1872. The story, about a man sent to prison for a murder he did not commit, takes the form of a parable of forgiveness. English translations were also published under titles "The Confessed Crime", "Exiled to Siberia", and "The Long Exile". The concept of the story of a man wrongfully accused of murder and banished to Siberia also appears in one of Tolstoy's previous works, War and Peace, during a philosophical discussion between two characters who relate the story and argue how the protagonist of their story deals with injustice and fate.

The Purloined Letter is a short story by American author Edgar Allan Poe. It is the third of his three detective stories featuring the fictional C. Auguste Dupin, the other two being "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt". These stories are considered to be important early forerunners of the modern detective story. It first appeared in the literary annual The Gift for 1845 (1844) and soon was reprinted in numerous journals and newspapers.

In Square Pegs, Ray Bradbury explores the lives of individuals who don't quite fit into society's conventional molds. Set in a world where conformity is prized above all, the story centers on those who are seen as "square pegs" in a world of round holes—people who dare to think differently, dream wildly, and challenge the status quo. With his signature lyrical prose, Bradbury crafts a tale that celebrates the uniqueness of the human spirit while examining the pressures to conform.

In Referent, Ray Bradbury crafts a thought-provoking and imaginative short story that delves into the complexities of human memory, identity, and the connections we form with the world around us. Set in a future where technology and human consciousness intertwine in new and unsettling ways, the story explores the idea of "referents"—objects or experiences that serve as anchors for personal memory and identity. Through Bradbury's poetic and vivid prose, Referent touches on themes of nostalgia, loss, and the human need to hold onto the past.

In Irritated People, Ray Bradbury offers a sharp and insightful exploration of human nature, capturing the frustrations, anxieties, and tensions that arise in everyday life. Set in a near-future world that feels both familiar and subtly altered, the story delves into the lives of ordinary individuals who, pushed to their limits by modern pressures, find themselves unraveling in unexpected ways. Through his characteristic blend of poetic prose and keen social observation, Bradbury portrays how minor irritations can escalate into significant conflicts, reflecting larger societal issues.

The Challenge from Beyond by Robert E. Howard is a gripping tale of cosmic horror, written as part of a collaborative effort by five prominent writers of weird fiction. Howard's section stands out for its vivid descriptions, action-packed narrative, and themes of survival in the face of incomprehensible, otherworldly forces. The story begins when a group of archaeologists uncovers a strange, alien artifact buried deep in the Earth's surface.

The Haunter of the Ring by Robert E. Howard is a supernatural horror story steeped in dark magic, occultism, and the perilous consequences of meddling with ancient forces. The narrative follows John Kirowan, a recurring character in Howard's mythos, who is drawn into a sinister plot involving a cursed ring and a malevolent spirit. The story begins when Kirowan's friend, John Conrad, reaches out to him in desperation. Conrad's wife, Evelyn, has been behaving strangely, seemingly under the influence of a powerful, malevolent force.

Dig Me No Grave by Robert E. Howard is a dark and chilling tale of supernatural horror, exploring themes of occultism, fate, and the consequences of dabbling in forbidden knowledge. The story is narrated by John Conrad, who recounts a terrifying experience he shared with his friend, John Grimlan.

The Thing on the Roof by Robert E. Howard is a chilling tale rooted in the dark mythos of ancient civilizations, exploring themes of human greed, forbidden knowledge, and the consequences of disturbing things best left forgotten. The story follows the first-person narration of an unnamed scholar, who recounts the events surrounding a dangerous expedition undertaken by his associate, Tussmann, an arrogant archaeologist driven by ambition.

The Black Stone is a short story by Robert E. Howard, first published in 1931, and is a classic example of cosmic horror. The story follows an unnamed narrator, an antiquarian and scholar, who becomes obsessed with an ancient monolith called the Black Stone after reading references to it in historical documents. The Black Stone is located in a remote region of Hungary, where strange and disturbing events have been associated with it for centuries. Intrigued, the narrator embarks on a journey to investigate the mysterious artifact.

People of the Dark is a short story by Robert E. Howard, first published in 1932. The tale blends elements of fantasy, horror, and adventure, set within the dark and mysterious world of ancient races and reincarnation. The protagonist, John O'Brien, experiences strange dreams in which he finds himself in a past life as a warrior named Conan. Through these visions, he discovers a lost civilization and becomes entangled in an ancient conflict. The story is notable for its exploration of themes such as the cyclical nature of time, the struggle for power, and the primal instincts buried deep within human nature.

The Children of the Night is a short story written by Robert E. Howard, first published in 1931. The tale is a blend of horror, dark fantasy, and the supernatural, typical of Howard's style. It centers around a group of scholars and intellectuals who gather to discuss ancient history and the occult. One of the central characters, John O'Donnell, finds himself inexplicably drawn to an ancient skull during their conversation.

The Breaking of the Chain is a historical adventure story by Robert E. Howard, best known for his creation of Conan the Barbarian and other iconic characters of pulp fiction. In this short tale, Howard delves into a more grounded, historical setting, evoking themes of rebellion, freedom, and the relentless struggle against oppression. The story is set during an unspecified time of turmoil, featuring a protagonist who rises against the chains of tyranny. True to Howard's signature style, the narrative is rich with vivid descriptions of battle, grit, and human resilience.

The short story Sis' Becky's Pickaninny of "The Conjure Woman" now follows John as he reproaches McAdoo for all of his superstitious beliefs and how they lack foundation, commenting that these traditions are the reason why Southern Black people are destined for a life of continued acquiescence and little prosperity. This opinion stemmed from McAdoo's assertion that carrying a rabbit foot leads to good luck. John is concerned for Annie's health, since the main reason they moved to the countryside was to improve her health due to her current bouts of depression and anxiety.

The Beggar Boy at Christ's Christmas Tree is a Christmas-time short story written by Fyodor Dostoevsky in 1876. It was first published in A Writer's Diary, January 1876. This story is also known as "The Heavenly Christmas Tree". The author begins by telling us he has made this story up, but that even so, he thinks it must have actually happened—on Christmas Eve, in a great town, at a time of terrible frost. The boy of the title, "six years old or younger," awakens in a frigid cellar, reaches for his mother, and finds she is "as cold as the wall." He makes his way outside.

Po' Sandy is a second short story from The Conjure Woman, was published in The Atlantic in 1888. It follows the same frame narrative as the previous one with Julius McAdoo advising John against following through with his plans of demolishing a schoolhouse to build a kitchen. In this short story, Sandy is an enslaved man owned by Mars Marrabo McSwayne, who sends Sandy to travel to help friends and families. During one of Sandy's trips, McSwayne sells Sandy's wife and replaces her for another woman named Tenie.

Charles Chesnutt's The Doll is a story of seeking truth, facing discrimination, and making bold choices for the sake of one's own livelihood. The Doll, depicts the African American barber as a human character by showing him struggle with and simply show human thoughts and emotions. The story takes place during a time of huge racial prejudice, a time in which some people did not even consider African Americans to be human

The Wife of His Youth is a short story by American author Charles W. Chesnutt, first published in July 1898. It later served as the title story of the collection The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories of the Color-Line. That book was first published in 1899, the same year Chesnutt published his short story collection The Conjure Woman. The Wife of His Youth features an upwardly mobile, light-skinned mulatto man who is a respected member of the Blue Veins Society in a Midwestern city.

The Goophered Grapevine is the first short story from The Conjure Woman, published in The Atlantic in August 1887, told to the narrator by Julius McAdoo, a former enslaved man who lives on the plantation that the narrator, John, and his wife, Annie, visit one day. Set in Patesville, North Carolina, John and Annie moved there for an improvement in his wife's health and to seek other business opportunities. Knowing that the couple wanted to purchase the property, McAdoo advises them not to do so, informing them that when Dugal McAdoo, the previous master, purchased the property, it was very rich in wine production because of its vineyards.