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The Unknown Masterpiece by Honoré de Balzac is a profound and visionary novella that explores the consuming nature of artistic genius and the perilous pursuit of perfection. First published in 1831 and later incorporated into La Comedie Humaine, this remarkable work has fascinated readers, writers, and artists for generations with its penetrating insight into creativity, obsession, and the fragile boundary between brilliance and madness.Set in 17th-century Paris, the story revolves around three painters whose lives intersect in a tense and revealing encounter. The young and ambitious Nicolas Poussin seeks recognition and guidance in the competitive world of art. He is introduced to the renowned yet enigmatic master Frenhofer, a reclusive genius who has spent years working in secret on what he believes will be the ultimate paintinga flawless representation of life itself.Frenhofer speaks passionately about capturing not merely the outward appearance of his subject, but the very essence of reality. For him, true art transcends imitation; it must embody breath, spirit, and movement. Yet as he tirelessly refines his canvas, layering detail upon detail, his masterpiece remains unseen by the world.When at last the hidden work is revealed, the outcome is both shocking and tragic. What Frenhofer perceives as perfection appears to others as incomprehensible chaos. The contrast between the artists vision and external judgment exposes the isolation that often accompanies creative ambition. Balzac raises haunting questions: Is genius always understood? Can the pursuit of absolute perfection destroy the very beauty it seeks to create?Through concise yet richly philosophical prose, Balzac examines the psychology of creation. He portrays the artist as both visionary and vulnerable, driven by an internal standard that may be unreachable. The novella also explores themes of rivalry, mentorship, and the tension between innovation and tradition in the artistic world.The Unknown Masterpiece has resonated far beyond its era, influencing modernist and avant-garde thinkers who recognized in Frenhofers struggle a reflection of their own artistic dilemmas. The story anticipates debates about abstraction, realism, and the limits of representation, making it strikingly ahead of its time.Intense, reflective, and intellectually compelling, The Unknown Masterpiece stands as one of Balzacs most enduring explorations of the creative spirit. It is a timeless meditation on art, ambition, and the price of striving for the unattainablea haunting reminder that genius, in its highest form, can be both sublime and solitary.

Madelon Hautville, a young woman in a snowbound New England village, is caught in a passionate love triangle with Burr Gordon and Dorothy Fair. As family expectations and societal pressures clash with desire, her music and emotions reveal inner conflicts. The opening introduces the village, simmering tensions, and Madelons struggles, setting the stage for a story of love, betrayal, and personal ambition against a harsh winter landscape.

Na faculdade, os melhores amigos Javier Báez e Marisol Campos fizeram a promessa de nunca namorar alguém que o outro não aprovasse. Mari sugeriu isso depois de uma série de desilusões, e Javi, que se

A macabre and chilling supernatural gothic horror about a group of teenagers cursed to die on their 18th birthday from the Stoker Award shortlisted author of The Book of the Baku. Perfect for fans of Clay McLeod Chapman, The September House by Carissa Orlando and The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes.Flynn and her friends plan to spend the night in Temple Fall, a mysterious house up on the moors with a strange history, but their planned night of drinking and teenage debauchery twists into a surreal nightmare. Suddenly forced into strange choices and places, the tight-knit group starts to fall apart. And then Jackson falls to his death.In the days that come after, Flynn finds herself trapped, as if she never left the house. Consumed by the lost secrets of her family past, and haunted by the spectre of a Victorian woman, she finds herself losing time and seeing things that arent there.Reeling from the tragedy, Flynn must rebuild her group of friends, and bring them all together to grieve and try to survive on their own. Because while they escaped Temple Fall, the house didnt let them go

"Ellis has written another exquisite contemplation; shelve this alongside her earlier works, books by Anne Lamott, and Barbara Mahanys The Book of Nature (2023)." Booklist Review, December 2025"In this beautiful book, Courtney Ellis brings us along with her on a journey through weather, the seasons, the land, and the inhabitants of this earth we call home. The juxtaposition of story and science, the natural world and spiritual growthI will never tire of works like these. Courtney has written a book that encapsulates all of this beautifully and I cannot commend this work more to you." Lore Ferguson Wilbert, from the foreword If one thing is constant, its change. You may know its coming, or it may be unexpected. It may be a change you anticipate with joy, like a new job, a wedding, or the birth of a baby. Or it may be a shift you fear or even grieve: moving to a new city, changes that come with aging, or a lost or broken relationship. No matter what kind of transition you are facing, change is difficult. How can you find peace and hope even when everything around you is shifting sand? How can your faith help you weather change?Pastor Courtney Ellis has walked alongside countless people facing changes big and small, welcome and dreaded. Shes found that the same two questions come up again and again: Why is change so hard? And where is God amid these changes? Weathering Change invites you to discover how God equips us to navigate lifes inevitable changes. Ellis offers rich spiritual reflections from Gods created world and from Scripture that help you prepare for change and show you how to journey through it with curiosity, adaptability, and resilience.In Weathering Change youll Discover how you can navigate lifes disruptive changes, big or small, with grace and courage, Learn deep lessons from Gods creation about preparing for and adapting to change, Learn how to find hope and peace amid the challenges and hurts of change, and Use the included discussion questions to explore how these principles can be applied to your life in meaningful ways. Ellis brings a unique perspective, blending theology, biblical narratives, personal insights, and stories from nature to illuminate how God remains present through times of transition. Gods "Second Book" of nature provides deep and abiding lessons to sustain us during tough transitionslessons we can learn from nesting bald eagles, metamorphosing monarch caterpillars, migrating Mobula rays, microscopic aeroplankton floating along with the breeze, and more.Though change is often painful, it is also ripe with possibilities for newness, growth, and transformation. Get your copy of Weathering Change today and begin to face change with grace and courage, finding strength in Gods ever-present guidance.

In the smoky underworld of 1860s London, a labyrinth of molly houses, crumbling estates and illicit affairs, this gloriously gothic trans retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray unfurls a twisting tale of love, deceit, and dissolution.This atmospheric reimagining is perfect for fans of Every Exquisite Thing and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth.London, 1867. Dorian Gray is wealthy, beautiful, and miserable. Heir to both the fortune and reputation of their austere, manipulative grandfather, their only moments of joy are snatched by sneaking out to their fathers gallery for secret visits. One night, they meet a sweet, talented young painter named Basil, who immediately recognizes Dorian as his new muse. Dorian is struck by the beauty and depth that Basil paints into their portraitand dares to hope there might be more to life than living as their grandfathers perfect, empty-headed heir.Basil and his friend Henry Wootton introduce Dorian to the heady world of molly houses and drag performers. But Dorians double life is shattered when a police investigation implicates them in "indecent" activities, andterrified of their grandfathers wraththey offer evidence against beloved drag performer Sybil Vane. Fleeing London in shame and disgrace, Dorian sets up a scandalous life in the country as Henrys mistress, throwing extravagant parties and breaking hearts at every turn.As Dorians spiral of self-loathing deepens, something strange happens: the portrait begins to change. Their smile becomes a little sharper, the glint in their eyes a little colder. Dorian will soon have to choose: embrace the wickedness within and become what they were always meant to be, or dare to try for something far more fragile and dangerous: a life of their own making.

A fitting tribute to the greatest county in England DAVID SWIFT, author of Scouse RepublicCotton, coal and canals. Trains, technology and television. Lancashire has shaped the modern world. Liverpool was once the worlds busiest port. Manchester powered the industrial revolution and became a symbol of global free trade. Blackpool invented the working-class seaside resort. All three are situated in the historic county of Lancashire: unique, often misunderstood, sometimes maligned and at the heart of our national story.In Lancashire, travel writer Chris Moss returns after an absence of four decades. As he visits familiar and unknown corners of his home county, he reaches beyond the cliches to trace lines from the deep past through to the present day.

Addiction affects countless lives, leaving individuals and families feeling trapped in a relentless cycle of despair and confusion. Those impacted often appear to be coping or even excelling, and many are high achievers. Yet behind the façade, they may be silently struggling, edging closer to breakdown. What causes addiction? Why do some fall prey to it while others remain untouched? What warning signs should we be looking for before its too late? And, crucially, how can individuals struggling with addiction recognise the problem, break free, and reclaim control of their lives? This insightful and comprehensive guide, created in partnership with Steps Together Addiction Rehabilitation and Wellness Centre, explores the complex, interconnected nature of addiction. It examines the psychological, emotional, and physical factors that drive dependency. Drawing on real-life experiences and expert knowledge, it offers a compassionate understanding of addictions root causes and its profound impact on individuals and their loved ones. By unravelling how addiction begins, why it persists, and the compulsions that sustain it, this book highlights the essential role of support and recovery in long-term wellbeing. Whether youre searching for answers for yourself, concerned about someone close to you, or simply wish to have a deeper understanding of addiction, this guide offers practical advice on recognising the signs, knowing when to act and, most importantly, taking the first steps towards healing.

Power is not owned.It is curated, testedand revoked.In The Fetish Syndicate, the fifth installment of the POWER PLAYS series, Cassian Ward explores an underground network where desire is audited, submission is engineered, and intimacy is reduced to controlled transactions.Across eight interlinked stories, invitations arrive without names, obedience is assessed like a resume, voices are collected as instruments of control, and bodies are treated as assetstemporary, replaceable, and meticulously observed. Here, power does not seduce. It structures. It listens. It waits.This is erotic fiction stripped of romance and spectacle, focused instead on psychological dominance, ritualized consent, and the quiet violence of systems that promise experience but deny belonging.The Fetish Syndicate is a cold, deliberate descent into modern control fantasieswhere submission is not a gift, but a qualification.For readers of slow-burn erotic power dynamics, psychological BDSM fiction, and ritual-driven intimacy.

Muito antes da história ser escrita, os celtas já narravam suas origens por meio de mitos, lendas e rituais sagrados que atravessaram séculos e continuam a fascinar o mundo moderno. Neste livro, o leitor e convidado a mergulhar no universo da mitologia celta, conhecendo seus deuses poderosos, herois lendarios, crenças espirituais e ritos ancestrais que moldaram a cultura da antiga Europa. Das florestas sagradas as batalhas epicas, cada capitulo revela simbolos, historias e tradiçes que ajudaram a construir uma das mitologias mais ricas e misteriosas da humanidade. Com uma abordagem acessivel e ao mesmo tempo aprofundada, a obra reune pesquisa historica, interpretaço mitologica e narrativa envolvente, tornando-se ideal tanto para iniciantes quanto para leitores apaixonados por mitologia, historia, espiritualidade e culturas antigas. Um livro essencial para quem deseja compreender os segredos, a magia e o legado dos povos celtas.

Money laundering is as old as money itself and yet the laws designed to prevent it are as ineffective as they ever have been.Todays anti-money laundering (AML) regulations were designed to eliminate profits from drug trafficking and combat tax evasion, terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. However, the modern laws have done little to stop crime and have instead significantly increased the regulatory burden on legitimate businesses and consumers. As one banker at an AML conference quipped, This does not stop money laundering; it just enables those in the know to charge more.Indeed, AML laws have laid the foundations for massive and sophisticated criminal enterprise support services that help criminals evade detection.How to Launder Money: A guide for law enforcement, prosecutors and policymakers offers a peek behind the veil to see the bent levers of finance and how they are pulled. It also examines how many who have pulled them, including one of the authors, have ended up behind bars. While acknowledging the challenges faced by law enforcement in a borderless world, it also provides concrete recommendations on how to reduce the crime associated with money laundering.The criminals already know how to launder money; this is, in part, their inside story. This book is for the rest of us, who want to know how the laws that are supposed to protect us from crime are in reality doing more damage than ever before.

Dos ventos gelados do Norte europeu surgiram histórias que atravessaram séculos e ainda hoje influenciam livros, filmes, séries e jogos. A mitologia nórdica é um universo marcado por deuses poderosos, herois corajosos, criaturas lendarias e profecias sobre o fim do mundo. Neste livro, o leitor e conduzido por uma jornada epica atraves dos mitos e lendas dos povos nordicos, conhecendo figuras iconicas como Odin, Thor, Loki, Freya e Tyr, alem das historias que envolvem gigantes, anes, drages e o temido Ragnarok. Cada narrativa revela valores como honra, coragem, destino e sacrificio, fundamentais para a cultura viking. Com uma linguagem acessivel e envolvente, a obra combina pesquisa historica e narrativa mitologica, tornando-se ideal tanto para quem esta tendo o primeiro contato com a mitologia nordica quanto para leitores que desejam aprofundar seus conhecimentos. Uma leitura indispensavel para amantes de mitologia, historia antiga e do fascinante mundo dos vikings.

A mitologia japonesa é um universo fascinante onde deuses, espíritos e forças da natureza coexistem com o mundo humano, revelando uma visão única sobre a vida, a morte e o sagrado. Nesta obra, o leit

Seleço de versos nascidos entre 1998 e 2022, soletrados principalmente em noites cujas imperfeiçes, em meio a escurido, conseguiram se camuflar com duvidosa eficiencia e nas quais as rimas se conheceram aos tropeços, impunes e desavergonhadas. E fato que algumas tardes intrometidas colaboraram; guardanapos rascunhados em mesinhas de bar com o velho papo de sempre: tempo, saudade, paixo, amor, todos esses elementos com os quais os versos costumam sonhar. E aos quais nos, pobres criaturas sentimentais, nos submetemos com indevida, mas necessaria, intensidade como se no houvesse amanh.

A grieving detective on the edge. A missing woman. And a serial killer hunting in the shadows of Stockholms cobbled alleys.Criminal investigator Thomas Ravnsholdt known as Ravn is adrift after the brutal murder of his wife. Once a relentless detective in Copenhagens special crime unit, he is now forced on leave, living in self-imposed exile on his neglected boat, with his grumpy Old English Bulldog.But when a friend pleads for help finding a missing young woman, Ravn is pulled back into a grim world he swore hed abandoned. His search crosses the cold waters between Denmark and Sweden, leading him to the stark and forbidding scrapyards of Stockholm, where victims are preserved like grotesque trophies. As the body count rises, Ravn must confront his own haunted past to deliver justice and perhaps find a path to redemption.Dark and moody, "The Reckoning" is a Nordic noir thriller perfect for fans of Netflixs "The Chestnut Man", and brooding Harry Bosch-like detectives such as Jo Nesbos Harry Hole and Jussi Adler-Olsens Carl Mrck in "Department Q".Previously published as "Derailed".Praise for Michael Katz Krefelds INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER "Darkness Calls":"An intricate police procedural, taut with intrigue that explodes into terrifying violence." Kirkus Reviews"If you like fast-paced thrillers with unpredictable plot lines that pit good versus evilwith some of that Nordic noir atmospherethen Michael is certainly the author read." Crime Fiction Lover"For those who take their Nordic noir extra bleak" Kirkus Reviews

Em meio à caótica cidade de São Paulo, o detetive Clark persegue um assassino em série impiedoso, responsável por transformar mulheres em vítimas silenciosas.Sua esposa, Silvia, convive com um transt

Uma jovem ruiva de invulgar beleza é encontrada morta em uma luxuosa residência. O principal suspeito, um respeitável senhor de provecta idade, retorna ao local do crime e acaba morto em confronto co

"Quando tu te encontrares, sentirás o que procuravas."Durante nossa árdua jornada em busca de uma profissão, desejos, convivência familiar, amigos, amores ou aquele único amor que desejamos ter sempr

"With Pictures and Maps"My Disillusionment in Russia is a famous book by Emma Goldman. The book was based on a much longer manuscript entitled "My Two Years in Russia" which was an eyewitness account of events in Russia from 1920 to 1921 that ensued in the wake of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and which culminated in the Kronstadt rebellion.Long-concerned about developments with the Bolsheviks, Goldman described the rebellion as the "final wrench. I saw before me the Bolshevik State, formidable, crushing every constructive revolutionary effort, suppressing, debasing, and disintegrating everything".Much to Goldmans dismay, only upon receiving the first printed copies of the book did she become aware that the publisher had changed the title; and the last twelve chapters were entirely missing, including an Afterword which Goldman felt was "the most vital part" of the book. Sympathetic to the initial Russian Revolution, the (complete) book is nonetheless a strong and impassioned left critique of the Bolshevik Revolution as well as Vladimir Lenins New Economic Policy-an "all-powerful, centralized Government with State Capitalism as its economic expression".

"Winner of the Pulitzer Prize"So Big is a 1924 novel written by Edna Ferber. The book was inspired by the life of Antje Paarlberg in the Dutch community of South Holland, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. It won the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel in 1925.The story follows the life of a young woman, Selina Peake De Jong, who decides to be a school teacher in farming country. During her stay on the Pool family farm, she encourages the young Roelf Pool to follow his interests, which include art. Upon his mothers death, Roelf runs away to France. Meanwhile, Selina marries a Dutch farmer named Pervus. They have a child together, Dirk, whom she nicknames "So Big," from the common question and answer "How big is baby? ""So-o-o-o big!".Pervus becomes ill and dies, and Selina is forced to take over working on the farm to give Dirk a future. As Dirk gets older, he works as an architect but is more interested in making money than creating buildings and becomes a stock broker, much to his mothers disappointment. His love interest, Dallas OMara, an acclaimed artist, echoes this sentiment by trying to convince Dirk that there is more to life than money.