615 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


    • O: ARTHUR: By the River Thames, 1854 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Arthur had always dreamed of visiting the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, but financial constraints had kept him away. Finally, in 1854, with a shilling in hand, he joined the masses heading toward the Crystal Palace at Sydenham Hill. The grand exhibition, which had already seen millions of visitors since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1851, promised to showcase the achievements of global industries. Arthur, feeling a wave of excitement mixed with nervousness, mentally…
    • O: ARTHUR: By the River Thames, 1854 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Arthur walks through the heart of London in the oppressive heat of August 1854, the air thick with the putrid scent of decay. Factories churn out smoke, mixing with the stench of overflowing cesspools and horse-drawn carriages leaving trails of waste along the cobbled streets. The once-mighty River Thames, now a lifeless ribbon of filth, sluggishly carries the city’s refuse, serving as both a source of drinking water and a breeding ground for disease. Arthur, conscious of the risks, covers his mouth and…
    • O: ARTHUR: By the River Thames, 1853–4 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Arthur finds himself on an unexpected path when he becomes an apprentice at a prestigious printing and publishing house. Initially, he performs menial chores like cleaning and maintaining the workspace, but soon he is entrusted with working on the rotary steam printing press. Despite the apparent dangers of the machinery, Arthur is captivated by the rhythm and precision of the process. He is drawn to the notion of creating identical copies of works, each one a perfect replica of the original, and finds the…
    • O: ARTHUR: By the River Thames, 1853 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Arthur walks alongside his father through the dense fog that envelops London in 1853, the cold mist casting an eerie silence over the city. The air is thick with pollution, and the streets are filled with a sense of decay as they navigate their way through the city. Arthur’s father, once a source of guidance and warmth, has become distant and harsh, the weight of their financial struggles transforming his personality. At just thirteen years old, Arthur has been forced to grow up quickly, taking on menial…
    • O: ARTHUR: By the River Thames, 1852 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Arthur spent his early childhood in the grimy and impoverished districts of London, known as the Sewers and Slums, where the River Thames, once a symbol of life and commerce, now reflected the decay of the city. The thick fog that often blanketed the streets, combined with the stench from the nearby factories and tanneries, created an atmosphere of despair. As a boy of five, Arthur’s keen observational skills allowed him to notice the habits of those around him, from the poor families struggling to make…
    • O: ARTHUR: By the River Thames, 1840 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Arthur was born in the harsh winter of 1840 in London, a city dominated by bitter cold, snow, and the pervasive smog of industrial pollution. The Thames, once known for its clean waters and abundant fish, now flowed dark and murky, tainted by the refuse of factories, industrial waste, and even decaying bodies. This dismal scene was a direct consequence of London’s rapid industrialization, which had led to it becoming the most densely populated city in the world. Amid the filth and despair,…
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      Numbers

      Numbers Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Reinhold von Rumpel receiving a grim medical diagnosis: a throat tumor measuring four centimeters and an unmeasurable intestinal tumor. The doctor gives him three to four months to live, a prognosis that weighs heavily on von Rumpel as he attends a dinner party. Amidst discussions of military retreats and losses in Italy, von Rumpel fixates on the limited time he has left—120 sunrises—while ignoring his meal. His financial and physical decline is underscored by his dwindling…
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      Numbers

      Numbers Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a vivid depiction of wartime chaos as Allied bombs destroy the rail station and German forces disable harbor installations. Etienne, the protagonist, hears rumors of nearby American advances and impending liberation, creating a tense atmosphere. He visits Madame Ruelle’s bakery, where she urgently tasks him with gathering coordinates for German flak batteries to aid the resistance. The urgency of the mission is underscored by the imminent threat of German forces interning all…
    • Number 4 rue Vauborel Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind girl, stands in her bedroom as air raid sirens wail and enemy bombers approach. Despite the urgency to seek shelter in the cellar, she remains fixated on a detailed miniature model of her city, tracing its streets and landmarks with her fingers. The model, a tactile representation of her surroundings, serves as her connection to the world she cannot see. As the bombs draw nearer, the vibrations rattle the windows, heightening the tension, yet Marie-Laure continues her…
    • Number 4 rue Vauborel Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Marie-Laure takes refuge beneath her bed during a violent bombardment, clutching a stone and a miniature house as the building around her collapses. Plaster, brick, and glass rain down, destroying the model city on her table and shaking her mattress above. In her terror, she repeatedly calls for her father, but her voice feels disconnected from her body, as if she’s observing the chaos from a distance. The destruction feels apocalyptic, as though the entire city is being uprooted by an invisible force,…
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