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The story of a strange, impenetrable, charming woman. Miss Hurd is certainly a very unusual person: „Miss Hurd in the garb of a working woman, and with a working woman’s bundle in her lap, but striking as ever in her appearance – possibly more so, –and as conspicuous among the mass of commonplace people surrounding her as she had ever been when clad in the habiliments of a lady and moving among persons...

Published in 1902, „The Valley of Decision” is Edith Wharton’s first full length novel set in late 18th century Italy. In it, Odo Valsecca, a young Italian raised by peasants, is plucked from poverty and dropped into the lap of luxury as the newly named heir to his cousin, a duke. It is the time leading up to the French revolution, and Europe swirls with conflicting factions and ideologies, some trying...

A hilarious parody of the detective genre – Philo Gubb dreams of becoming a detective like Sherlock Holmes and quitting his job as a wallpaper-hanger. He enrolls in a correspondence course which offers lessons and various disguises. He soon gets involved in several cases and much to his surprise – and those around him – proves to be rather adept at solving crimes. Amazingly, he solves many puzzles...