Caesar's Commentaries:
On the Gallic War and
On the Civil War
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 Pandora's Box - A Tragedy in Three Acts “Pandora’s Box” (1904) (Die Büchse der Pandora) is a play by the German dramatist Frank Wedekind. With “Earth Spirit” (1895), it forms the second part of his pairing of ‘Lulu’ plays. Both plays depict a society “riven by the demands of lust and greed”.
In the original manuscript, dating from 1894, the ‘Lulu’ drama was in five acts and subtitled ‘A Monster Tragedy’. Wedekind subsequently divided the work into two plays: “Earth Spirit” and “Pandora’s Box”.
It is now customary in theatre performances to run the two plays together, in abridged form, under the title Lulu. Wedekind is known to have taken his inspiration from at least two sources: the pantomime Lulu by Félicien Champsaur, which he saw in Paris in the early 1890s, and the sex murders of Jack the Ripper in London in 1888.
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Kindle: Earth Spirit, Pandora’s Box: Tragedies by Frank Wedekind
 Playing a traditional zither Confucius not only said interesting things, he sang them and accompanied himself on a kind of zither. The Smithsonian Institution’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery has frequent shows of musical instruments from Confucius’ time, 2,500 years ago. A collection of his lyrics (there are no melodies preserved) is one of the first pieces of Chinese literature handed down through the centuries.
“It is said that Confucius accompanied himself on a ‘qin’ while singing the odes of the Shi Jing, or the ‘Classic of Poetry,’” says cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a guide to the exhibit. “We don’t know what Confucius’ qin may have looked like, but in popular accounts of his life, the image of the philosopher-musician became firmly established.” The qin is a kind of zither. Today’s Chinese musicians still use one kind. Ma is an American of Chinese ancestry, one of today’s leading cellists playing classical western music.
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Confucius Not Only Said It… He Brought It
 Excerpted from The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition According to the 2nd century BC biography written by Sima Qian, Sun Tzu was born in Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722–481 BC), and became a heroic general for the king of Wu, Helü. Historians place the writing of the text in the Warring States Period (476–221 BC), based on its description of warfare. The period was a time of constant conflict between seven nations (Zhao, Qi, Qin, Chu, Han, Wei and Yan) seeking to control all of China.
It is said that the king of Wu tested Sun Tzu’s skills in military tactics by commanding him to train several hundred concubines into soldiers. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, and placed one of the King’s favorite concubines at the head of each. He then bade them all take spears in their hands, and addressed them thus: “I presume you know the difference between front and back, right hand and left hand?” The girls replied: Yes. Sun Tzu went on: “When I say “Eyes front,” you must look straight ahead. When I say “Left turn,” you must face towards your left hand.
 Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Sun Tzu and The Army of Concubines
 Piper in the Woods - A Collection of Science Fiction Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments, and altered states.
In his later works, Dick’s thematic focus strongly reflected his personal interest in metaphysics and theology. He often drew upon his own life experiences and addressed the nature of drug abuse, paranoia and schizophrenia, and transcendental experiences in both his short fiction and novels.
This collection brings together 11 rare short stories and novellas culled from premier editions of such classic magazines as “Amazing Stories,” “If,” “Galaxy” and “Planets.” This Kindle edition contains a linked table of contents for easy searching.
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… New on Kindle: Piper in the Wood: Classic Science Fiction Stories by Philip K. Dick
ELPNPress announced the release of a new series on Kindle. Know Your Government, Volumes 1 and 2 are now available for immediate download.
Volume 1 contains the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, The Bill of Rights, and all amendments to the U.S. Constitution. This edition contains a linked table of contents to each section [...]
This special edition brings together three classic works by Western scholars of ancient Chinese texts. The men were family friends and colleagues, and were all living in Shanghai during the late 19th century. Much of their combined transcription became shaped into the book we know today as the “Tao Te Ching.”
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 Marriage at Sea William Clark Russell was a master at telling sea stories, producing engrossing stories that were sometimes humorous, sometimes horrific, and sometimes, just raucously adventurous.
Perhaps best known for “The Wreck of the Grosvenor,” Russell is known internationally as the classic master of tales of the high seas.
Back in print for the first time in three decades, “Marriage at Sea – Special Edition” is reasonably priced at $3.99 to make a classic and distinctive addition to everyone’s Kindle library.
Also available: “The Frozen Pirate” by William Clark Russell, another classic example of nautical fiction at its finest.
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Now available on Kindle: Marriage at Sea – Special Edition by William Clark Russell
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Lady Chatterley's Lover
Restored Modern Edition
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Special Edition
Tao - The Way
Special Edition
Now on Kindle
The Samurai Series
Now On Kindle
Factoid Xenophon's tale of high adventure, Anabasis: The March Up Country (or sometimes called "The Persian Expedition") has a direct tie to modern times.
In addition to being required reading for most classical literature students, it inspired the Sol Yurik novel, The Warriors, which was later made into a cult classic movie, and more recently adapted into a video game by Rockstar.
This time instead of the Greeks vs the Spartans in Persia, The Warriors retells the story of a group of modern street gangs brawling through Coney Island.
Anabasis: The March Up Country
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