Ambrosio, the worthy superior of the Capuchins of Madrid, falls to the temptations of Matilda, a fiend-inspired wanton who, disguised as a boy, has entered his monastery as a novice. Ambrosio then falls in love with one of his penitents and finally kills her in order to escape detection. However, he is discovered, tortured by the Inquisition and sentenced to death. Although extravagant in its mixture of the supernatural, the terrible, and the indecent, the book contains scenes of great eff...

This superb anthology offers a lively and indispensable collection of poems and songs from the eighteenth century. Here are the poets who created the literary tradition of vernacular directness which Burns drew upon and shared.Before Burns includes a substantial selection from the work of Allan Ramsay and Robert Ferguson (Burns's 'elder brother in the muse'), as well as a wider selection from the men and women writers whose good-humoured accessibility so characterised the ...

The Delphi Poets Series offers readers the works of literature's finest poets, with superior formatting. This volume presents the complete works of Scotland’s favourite son Robert Burns, with beautiful illustrations, superior indexing and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Burns’ life and works* Concise introduction to Burns and his poetry* The famous TAM O’SHANTER is fully illustrated for your enjoyment...

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a play which, as it were, takes place in the wings of Hamlet, and finds both humour and poignancy in the situation of the ill-fated attendant lords. The National Theatre production in April 1967 made Tom Stoppard's reputation virtually overnight. Its wit, stagecraft and verbal verve remain as exhilarating as they were then and the play has become a contemporary classic.'One of the most original and engaging of post-war plays...

Scottish Fairy and Folk Talesby Sir George DouglasTreasury of fanciful, picturesque narratives—assembled by noted folklorist and recounted in their native vernacular—tell of brownies, kelpies, mermen and other supernatural creatures that assist, annoy and otherwise meddle in the lives of simple Scottish country folk. A delightful collection of imaginative and entertaining nursery and fairy tales, animal fables, witchcraft lore, and stories with a comic twist.IT is on...

Robert Burns (25 January 1759 - 21 July 1796) (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as simply The Bard) was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. Excerpted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Introduce children to the joys of poetry with this intricately illustrated collection of classics a book that will delight both young and old. The carefully selected poems in this anthology open up an enchanting world of rhythm and language, feeling and fantasy. The book features a wide range of well-known writers, including Christina Rossetti, William Shakespeare, Lord Byron, William Blake and John Keats. It includes a compendium of beautiful poems such as Robin Hood, A Thing of Beauty, T...

The author of the Thirty-Nine Steps blends history with fantasy and horror in this tale of a Scottish minister torn between his church and his king.Seventeenth-century Scotland is immersed in a terrifying era. Although his new parishioners are staunch supporters of the National Covenant, moderate young minister David Sempill is not so certain.Then one dark night, Sempill witnesses a demonic ritual performed in the Black Wood of Melanudrigill. What he...

Poetry is a fascinating use of language. With almost a million words at its command it is not surprising that these Isles have produced some of the most beautiful, moving and descriptive verse through the centuries. In this series we look at individual poets who have shaped and influenced their craft and cement their place in our heritage. Many nations have produced outstanding poets who they would gladly have represent their Culture. But can any Nation say they have an equivalent of Robbi...

A collection of court documents from the witchcraft trials in Orkney and Shetland in the 1600s.Written in the local dialect, this volume contains a rare collection of typed court documents recording the trials of men and women accused of witchcraft. Reporting their crimes, their trials, and their punishments, this book details the trivial actions many people were arrested for and states the horrendous executions those found guilty faced.

Taking a unique look at one of the world's most acclaimed and best-loved poets, 'Robert Burns, A Very Peculiar History' provides a fascinating insight into the life and times of Scotland's bard. Take a wee stroll through his romantic yet tragic life, and join him on his journey from underdog to celebrity. With much reference to his most famous works, Fiona Macdonald explores his profound, passionate poetry, as well as his use of the Scots language and his inspirations and influences. Featu...

The greatest of the late medieval Scottish makars, Robert Henryson wrote in Lowland Scots, a distinctive northern version of English. He was profoundly influenced by Chaucer's vision of the frailty and pathos of human life. His greatest poem, and one of the rhetorical masterpieces of the literature of these islands, is the narrative Testament of Cresseid, set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, which completes the story of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde