Nathaniel Hawthorne and his wife

Their Wedding Journey

William Dean Howells

The classic books are worth reading.If you are reader, you should not miss them.You will say "Thanks" to all the classic books.

The Awakening

Kate Chopin

'The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude' When 'The Awakening' was first published in 1899, charges of sordidness and immorality seemed to consign it into obscurity and irreparably damage its author's reputation. But a century after her death, it is widely regarded as Kate Chopin's great achievement. Through careful, subtle changes of style, Chopin shows the transformation of Edna Pontellier, a young wife and mother, who - with tragic consequences - refuses to be caged by married and domestic life, and claims for herself moral and erotic freedom. The Penguin English Library - collectable general readers' editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century to the end of the Second World War.

A Doll's House

Henrik Ibsen

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen portrays Nora, the wife, as a "doll," beautiful, unsophisticated, childlike, well-meaning, but ignorant of the adult world and affairs. All of her friends see her as a doll. Her husband Torvald treats her as one, calling her childish names. He tries to control all of her behavior, not because he is mean, but because he loves her and he realizes that she is unable to do so. IN "A Doll's House, Torvald" tells Nora what to eat so that her teeth will not be spoiled from sugar and how much she should spend because she does not understand much about money. And it is the latter, the money, that gets Nora into trouble. Torvald was sick some years back and needed to travel and stay in a warmer climate for some months, but the couple had no money. She, out of childish but ignorant love, borrowed money from an unscrupulous man who insisted that she have her father countersign the loan. Her father was dying, so she forged his signature on the loan document. She was certain that this was not wrong because her intentions were pure, she wanted to save her husband's life. She did not tell her husband about the loan because she childishly wanted to surprise him someday in the future and show him that she acted wisely and that she, who he thought of as childlike, saved his life. She laughed about her cleverness often when she was alone. Now the unscrupulous lender is demanding something from Nora, or he will reveal the forgery to her husband and his employer, and this will affect her marriage and her husband will lose his job. The tragedy in Henrik Ibsen's "The Doll's House" probably would not have occured if the people would have treated women properly as human beings rather than dolls.

Virginibus puerisque

Robert Louis Stevenson

In *Virginibus Puerisque*, Robert Louis Stevenson offers a collection of essays that explore the complexities of life, love, and human relationships. He muses on the transition from youth to adulthood, the nature of courage and fear, and the societal expectations surrounding marriage and commitment. Through his characteristic wit and insightful prose, Stevenson encourages readers to approach life with both practicality and a touch of romantic idealism.

Man and Wife

Wilkie Collins, Norman Page, Harry A. Webber

Man and Wife was Wilkie Collins' ninth published novel. It is the second of his novels (after No Name) in which social questions provide the main impetus of the plot. Collins increasingly used his novels to explore social abuses, which according to critics] tends to detract from their qualities as fiction. The social issue which drives the plot is the state of Scots marriage law; at the time the novel was written, any couple who were legally entitled to marry and who asserted that they were married before witnesses, or in writing, were regarded in Scotland as being married in law. The novel has a complex plot, common in Collins' work.[3] In a Prologue, a selfish and ambitious man casts off his wife in order to marry a wealthier and better-connected woman, by taking advantage of a loophole in the marriage laws of Ireland.The initial action takes place in the widowed Lady Lundie's house in Scotland. Geoffrey Delamayn has promised marriage to his lover Anne Silvester (governess to Lady Lundie's stepdaughter Blanche), who has incurred the enmity of her employer. The spendthrift Geoffrey is about to be disinherited and wishes to escape from his promise and marry a wealthy wife. Nevertheless, he is obliged to arrange a rendezvous with Anne, in the character of his wife, at an inn, and documents this in an exchange of notes with her. Subsequently, urgent matters force him to send his friend Arnold Brinkworth, Blanche's fiancé, to Anne in his place. To gain access to her, Arnold must ask for "his wife". Although nothing improper passes between them, they appear to the landlady and to Bishopriggs, a waiter, to be man and wife.Thus, both Geoffrey and Arnold might be deemed to be married to Anne, depending on the weight put on the spoken and written evidence. Most of the novel concerns Anne's, Geoffrey's and Arnold's attempts to clarify their marital status:

Married women who love women

Carren Strock

This book is about women in heterosexual marriages who discover or come to terms with their lesbianism or bisexuality. It answers questions such as how women make this discovery, what they do once they realize their same-gender sexuality, how family and friends deal with the situation, and what happens to marriages and families. This second edition contains a new introduction, three new chapters, a glossary of gay-related terms, and a new list of additional reading.

The Development of the Theatre

Allardyce Nicoll

Allardyce Nicoll's comprehensive survey traces the evolution of theatrical performance across Western civilization, from its ancient Greek origins through to the early 20th century. The book meticulously details the changing architectural designs of theaters, the innovations in stagecraft and scenery, and the development of dramatic forms and acting styles. Nicoll provides a rich historical context, demonstrating how societal shifts and cultural influences shaped theatrical presentation and the very nature of dramatic art.

The Pearl

John Steinbeck

The classic novella from Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck explores the secrets of man's nature, the darkest depths of evil, and the luminous possibilities of love. Like his father and grandfather before him, Kino is a poor diver, gathering pearls from the gulf beds that once brought great wealth to the Kings of Spain and now provide Kino, Juana, and their infant son with meager subsistence. Then, on a day like any other, Kino emerges from the sea with a pearl as large as a sea gull's egg, as "perfect as the moon." With the pearl comes hope, the promise of comfort and of security....

The climacteric in perspective

International Congress on the Menopause (4th 1984 Lake Buena Vista, Fla.), M. Notelovitz, P.A. van Keep

The Fourth International Congress on the Menopause was held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA in October - November 1984. It was different from the previous meetings held under the auspices of the International Menopause Society in three respects: the duration of the Congress was extended to five days, plenary sessions were held on each day, and the scope of the subject matter was expanded to provide a total or holistic overview of the subject - hence the theme for the Congress 'Climacteric Medicine and Science: A Societal need. ' In recent years there has been an increased interest in the menopause and middle year aging by scientists and clinicians in fields as diverse as anthropology, urodynamics, nutrition and exercise physiology, while 'newer' issues in clinical medicine, such as osteoporosis prevention and management, attracted specialists in nuclear immaging techniques and internal medicine. Over 120 invited speakers plus numerous contributors to the free communication, special lectures and the poster sessions provided a virtual cornucopia of information on the menopause, that has indeed brought a newer perspective to a subject previously the domain of a single specialty, the gynecologist, and dominated by a single therapy, estrogen replacement.