Downloads and Free Reading Options

1Shepherd of the Hills

By Harold Bell Wright

The story depicts the lives of mountain people living in the Ozarks and the mystery surrounding an old man called 'The Shepherd of the Hills,' who's called Dad Howitt. The backdrop storyline surrounds the pretty Samantha Lane, called Sammy, and her love of Young Matt, Grant Matthews. The shepherd, an elderly, mysterious, learned man, escapes the buzzing restlessness of the city to live in the backwoods neighborhood of Mutton Hollow in the Ozark hills. (Summary by Wikipedia)

2Astounding Stories 09, September 1930

By Miles J. Breuer, Arthur J. Burks, Hugh B. Cave, Ray Cummings, Paul Ernst, Captain S. P. Meek and Sewell Peaslee Wright

This is a collection of short science fiction stories by various writers, circa 1930. Writers include Paul Ernst, Miles Breuer, Ray Cummings, Sewell Wright, and others. Harry Bates, Editor (Summary by BellonaTimes)

3Long Ago

By J. W. Wright

Short memory of boyhood by a little-known American poet based in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California. (Summary by BellonaTimes)

4Early History of the Airplane

By Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright

The Brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air flight, on 17th December 1903. They were not the first to build and fly aircraft, but they invented the controls that were necessary for a pilot to steer the aircraft, which made fixed wing powered flight possible. The Early History of the Airplane consists of three short essays about the beginnings of human flight. The second essay retells the first flight: <em>This flight lasted only 12 seconds, but it was nevertheless the first in the history of the world in which a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, had sailed forward without reduction of speed and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it started.</em> (Introduction by Availle)

5Their Yesterdays

By Harold Bell Wright

The story of a man and a woman, as they experience The Thirteen Truly Great Things of Life: Dreams, Occupation, Knowledge, Ignorance, Religion, Tradition, Temptation, Life, Death, Failure, Success, Love, and Memories.(Introduction by Megan Kunkel)

6Children's Six Minutes

By Bruce S. Wright

This is a nice collection of 52 kid-aimed sermons by missionary Wright while he served in the Philippines in the World War I era. Each offers a slice-of-life reference point, an appropriate Bible verse, and hymn. (Summary by BellonaTimes)

Pleasant non-fiction journey into the backwoods of the New England coastal countryside by the first president of the Connecticut Audubon Society, circa 1900. (Summary by BellonaTimes)

8Eyes Of The World

By Harold Bell Wright

The Eyes of the World was the Best Selling Book for 1914 according to Publisher's Weekly. The novel explores what Harold Bell Wright views as the false world of artists, writers, critics, and their wealthy patrons. Two of the main characters are the famous author, Conrad LaGrange and Aaron King, an aspiring artist. LaGrange regretfully describes his writings as “filthy stories in good English” and feels he has sold his soul to become successful. While in California, recovering from a physical breakdown, he befriends Aaron King whose mother he knew when he was a boy. Lagrange serves as counselor to the young man, for he knows the pitfalls of success from his own experience. (Summary by Tom Weiss)

9Astounding Stories 03, March 1930

By Ray Cummings, A. T. Locke, Captain S. P. Meek, R. J. Robbins, Will Smith and Sewell Peaslee Wright

This is the third issue of the classic science fiction Astounding Magazine. It contains the opening chapters of a 4 part serialized novel by Ray Cummings, and stories by the prolific Capt. S. P. Meek, Will Smith and R. J. Robbins, Sewell Peaslee Wright and A. T. Locke. (Summary by Alan Winterrowd)

10What the Mother of a Deaf Child Ought to Know

By John Dutton Wright

Wright, a pioneer in the education of the deaf, was a strong advocate for acoustic and auricular training. In this little book, he tries to advise the parents of deaf children and reassure them that there can be a successful and happy life for them. (Summary by Rapunzelina)

11Eight Harvard Poets

By E. E. Cummings, S. Foster Damon, Robert Hillyer, R. S. Mitchell, William A. Norris, John Dos Passos, Dudley Poore and Cuthbert Wright

<I>"I will wade out<BR> till my thighs are steeped in burn-<BR> ing flowers<BR> I will take the sun in my mouth<BR> and leap into the ripe air<BR> Alive<BR> with closed eyes<BR> to dash against darkness<BR> in the sleeping curves of my<BR> body<BR> Shall enter fingers of smooth mastery<BR> with chasteness of sea-girls<BR> Will I complete the mystery<BR> of my flesh<BR> I will rise<BR> After a thousand years<BR> lipping<BR> flowers<BR> And set my teeth in the silver of the moon."<BR></I> -- E. Estlin Cummings in Crepuscule<BR><BR> Eight Harvard Poets is a anthology of poetry by E. Estlin Cummings, S. Foster Damon, J. R. Dos Passos, Robert Hillyer, R. S. Mitchell, William A. Norris, Dudley Poole, and Cuthbert Wright. These older poems remain inspiring and timeless. (Summary by Woolly Bee and Wikipedia)

12Astounding Stories 05, May 1930

By Ray Cummings, Murray Leinster, Lilith Lorraine, Victor Rousseau and Sewell Peaslee Wright

The fifth issue of Astounding Stories continues the Ray Cummings serial "Brigands of the Moon", begins a 4 part novel by Murray Leinster, and presents a sequel by Sewell Peaslee Wright to his story in the March issue. Also included are stories by Lilith Lorraine and Victor Rousseau. - Summary by Alan Winterrowd

13Astounding Stories 07, July 1930

By Arthur J. Burks, Tom Curry, Charles Willard Diffin, Murray Leinster, Captain S. P. Meek, Harl Vincent and Sewell Peaslee Wright

Issue seven of this seminal science-fiction magazine - Summary by Annise

14Astounding Stories 13, January 1931

By Charles Willard Diffin, Murray Leinster, H. Thompson Rich, Hal K. Wells and Sewell Peaslee Wright

This issue contains "The Dark Side of Antri" by Sewell Peaslea Wright, "The Sunken Empire" by H. Thompson Rich, "The Gate to Xoran" by Hal K. Wells, "The Eye of Allah" by C. D. Willard, "The Fifth-Dimension Catapult" by Murray Leinster, and "The Pirate Planet[' by Charles W. Diffin. - Summary by Bill Boerst

15Astounding Stories 16, April 1931

By Ray Cummings, Tom Curry, Paul Ernst, Anthony Gilmore, Edmond Hamilton, Jack Williamson and Sewell Peaslee Wright

<b>Contents of this issue :-</b><br>MONSTERS OF MARS EDMOND HAMILTON - Three Martian-Duped Earth-Men Swing Open the Gates of Space That for So Long Had Barred the Greedy Hordes of the Red Planet. (A Complete Novelette.) <br> THE EXILE OF TIME RAY CUMMINGS - From Somewhere Out of Time Come a Swarm of Robots Who Inflict on New York the Awful Vengeance of the Diabolical Cripple Tugh. (Beginning a Four-Part Novel.) <br> HELL'S DIMENSION TOM CURRY - Professor Lambert Deliberately Ventures into a Vibrational Dimension to Join His Fiancée in Its Magnetic Torture-Fields. <br> THE WORLD BEHIND THE MOON PAUL ERNST - Two Intrepid Earth-Men Fight It Out with the Horrific Monsters of Zeud's Frightful Jungles. <br> FOUR MILES WITHIN ANTHONY GILMORE - Far Down into the Earth Goes a Gleaming Metal Sphere Whose Passengers Are Deadly Enemies. (A Complete Novelette.) <br> THE LAKE OF LIGHT JACK WILLIAMSON - In the Frozen Wastes at the Bottom of the World Two Explorers Find a Strange Pool of White Fire—and Have a Strange Adventure. <br> THE GHOST WORLD SEWELL PEASLEE WRIGHT - Commander John Hanson Records Another of His Thrilling Interplanetary Adventures with the Special Patrol Service. <br> THE READERS' CORNER ALL OF US - A Meeting Place for Readers of Astounding Stories.

16Astounding Stories 18, June 1931

By Arthur J. Burks, Ray Cummings, Charles Willard Diffin, R. F. Starzl and Sewell Peaslee Wright

This issue contains<br> The Man from 2072 by Sewell Peaslee Wright ~ Out of the Flow of Time there appears to Commander John Hanson a Man of Mystery from a Forgotten Past<br> Manape the Mighty by Arthur J. Burks~ High in theJungle Swings young Bentley - his human brain imprisoned in a mighty Ape<br> Holocaust by Charles Willard Diffin ~ The Extraordinasy Story of "Paul", Who for Forty Days was Dictator of the World<br> The Earthman's Burden by R.F. Starzl ~ There is Foul Play on Mercury - until Danny Olear of the Interplanetary Fying Police Gets After his Man<br> The Exile of Time by Ray Cummins ~ Larry and George from 1935, Mary from 1777 - All are caught up inthe Treacherous Tugh's Revolt of the Robots in the time World of 2930 (Part 3 of a 4 Part Novel )<br> Listening to Ants - a science fact<br> The Reader's Corner

17Gadsby

By Ernest Vincent Wright

Fifty-year-old John Gadsby is alarmed by the decline of his hometown, Branton Hills, and rallies the city's young people to form an "Organization of Youth" to build civic spirit and improve living standards. Gadsby and his youthful army, despite some opposition, transform Branton Hills from a stagnant municipality into a bustling, thriving city. The story begins around 1906 and continues through World War I, Prohibition, and President Warren G. Harding's administration.<br><br> "Gadsby" is a lipogram - a whole novel of some 50.000 words without a single instance of the letter E. When it first appeared in 1939 it was hardly noticed by the general public, but a modern reviewer called it "probably the most ambitious work ever attempted in this genre". Hardcopies of the book are extremely rare and sell for thousands of dollars. (Summary by Availle and Wikipedia)

Ernest Vincent Wright was an American author known for his book Gadsby, a 50,000-word novel which, except for the introduction and a note at the end, did not use the letter "e". The biographical details of his life are unclear. A 2002 article in the Village Voice by Ed Park said he might have been English by birth but was more probably American. The article said he might have served in the navy and that he has been incorrectly called a graduate of MIT. The article says that he attended a vocational high school attached to MIT in 1888 but there is no record that he graduated. Park said rumors that Wright died within hours of Gadsby being published are untrue. - Summary by Wikipedia

This study, published in 1923, examines the views regarding women's place in Ancient Greek society based especially on the writings of Homer, Euripides, Aristophanes, Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. As the author offers his opinion and judgement, that at times reflect views on women, homosexuality and other social groups and themes that might be considered controversial now, he leaves an interesting picture of the state of Classical scholarship in the early 20th century.<br> "There is a question sometimes put to scholars, a doubt often latent in scholars' minds — How was it that Greek civilisation, with all its high ideals and achievements, fell so easily before what seems at first sight an altogether inferior culture? The fact is — and it is as well to state it plainly — that the Greek world perished from one main cause, a low ideal of womanhood and a degradation of women which found expression both in literature and in social life. The position of women and the position of slaves — for the two classes went together — were the canker-spots which, left unhealed, brought about the decay first of Athens and then of Greece." (From Introduction)

20Medley of Weather Lore

By M. E. S. Wright

A Medley of Weatherlore is a compilation of poems, sayings, and bits of folklore for each month of the year. - Summary by A. Gramour

The Fundamentals: A Testimony To The Truth (generally referred to simply as The Fundamentals) is a set of ninety essays published between 1910 and 1915 by the Testimony Publishing Company of Chicago. According to its foreword, the publication was designed to be "a new statement of the fundamentals of Christianity." However, its contents reflect a concern with certain theological innovations related to liberal Christianity, especially biblical higher criticism. It is widely considered to be the foundation of modern Christian fundamentalism. The essays were written by sixty-four different authors, representing most of the major Protestant Christian denominations. It was mailed free of charge to ministers, missionaries, professors of theology, YMCA and YWCA secretaries, Sunday school superintendents, and other Protestant religious workers in the United States and other English-speaking countries. Over three million volumes (250,000 sets) were sent out. (Summary from Wikipedia)<br><br><strong>Books in this series:</strong><br> <a href="https://librivox.org/the-fundamentals-volume-1-by-various/">The Fundamentals Volume 1</a> <a href="https://librivox.org/the-fundamentals-volume-3-by-various/">The Fundamentals Volume 3</a><br>

22Great White North

By Helen S. Wright

Sketches of those who braved the 'Great White North' in exploration and adventure. - Summary by KevinS

23Greek Athletics

By Frederick Adam Wright

The history of Greek athletics as it pertains to the Olympics. Describes various activities such as boxing, wrestling, etc. and accounts from witnesses, the Iliad, etc. as they pertain to famous Greeks and events. He discusses Greek views of physical appearance and fitness as they pertain to the games and society and also how and why individual city-states chose to participate (or not) in the Olympics. (Summary by Heather Eney)

24Mine with the Iron Door

By Harold Bell Wright

Of all the stirring tales of this picturesque region of the Santa Catalinas, of all the romantic legends and traditions that have come down to us from its shadowy past, none is more filled with the essence of human life and love and hopes and dreams than is the tale of the Mine with the Iron Door. - Summary by The Author

25Vampires of Space

By Sewell Peaslee Wright

Commander John Hanson recounts his harrowing adventure with the Electites of space. Beings of Ether who don't want your blood, they want your soul and eat your entire ship along with it. Listen as Commander Hanson and his men face certain death but battle their way out as only the men of the intrepid Space Patrol can. - Summary by phil chenevert

26Winning of Barbara Worth

By Harold Bell Wright

This is a fairly substantial western, written in 1911 by Harold Bell Wright, then a major bestselling author. (His best-known novel is “The Shepherd of the Hills”) Strangely, the winning of Barbara Worth is a small part of the story, though she is one of the main characters. She was a foundling, discovered with her dying mother in the desert. She takes the name of her adopted father, Jefferson Worth. He is perhaps the main character; he is a capitalist, with very humanitarian qualities. He is pitted against other capitalists, ones with little concern for the good of the settlers attracted to the desert they are developing. The story concerns the efforts to reclaim the desert (Jaquinn Valley), by diverting waters of the Colorado River into canals that will make the land suitable for crops and cities. (Wright could not possibly have imagined the low water level of the Colorado River of today.) Wright wrote about capitalism vs. labor in several of his novels, and he does here. He often showed biased support for labor; however, he also showed a real effort to understand the role of each. In his time there were almost no regulations on capitalists, and there was, in fact, great abuses by the barons. This conflict is the heart of the story. But it is also a story of the loyalty of several employees of Jefferson Worth–loyalty, and love toward Worth, and also toward his adopted daughter. (A silent film of the book was Gary Cooper’s first movie.). There are many exciting elements in the story: floods, betrayals, business chicanery, and romance. All things considered; the book holds up well.(Summary by Bob Rollins)

27Helen of the Old House

By Harold Bell Wright

Helen is not the main character; it is the mill, in this small town in the first half of the 20th century. This is a story of labor strife, class inequity and warfare, poverty and wealth, socialism vs. capitalism, and love and hatred. It centers on two families; each family includes a father and a son and a daughter. In their childhood years, they were all very close. Over time, Helen ‘s family becomes very wealthy, the other family less so. By questionable means, Helen’s father becomes the owner of the mill. He represents corporate greed at its worst. A labor organizer named Jake Vodell creates major strife. He is described as a communist and a “foreigner”. A central character is an old, injured and retired worker called the Interpreter. He attempts to make the town realize that the real enemy is neither labor nor capital; it is the extremes of capital greed and labor socialism. Such class conflict is a major backdrop in most of Harold Bell Wright’s novels. He was a best-selling author of his time. His books show how much progress we have made in technology; human behavior seems little changed - Summary by Bob Rollins

Botany, The Story of Plant Life, is a charming book explaining plant life. The author chose the format of a chapter for each month to discuss the aspects and stages that plants are in throughout the year. - Summary by A. Gramour

Savage Holiday is an unforgettable story--a high tension drama that throbs with suspense and shows the reader what it's like to be Erskine Fowler--a fine upstanding citizen whom everyone likes but no one knows . . . until too late. (Summary from inside cover)

30Re-creation of Brian Kent

By Harold Bell Wright

Brian Kent is a bank clerk who is driven by a variety of circumstances to commit a series of thefts from his employer. Remorseful, drunk, suicidal and on the run, Brian steals a boat and pushes himself into the fast current of a nearby river to bring about an almost certain death. But he washes up in Ozark country and is found by the mountain girl Judy and her friend, the trusting former teacher at the one-room school who is known by everyone as Auntie Sue. Auntie Sue nurses him back to health and gives him a chance to start anew with honest, clean living in the mountains. But Brian’s past soon catches up with him. The Re-creation of Brian Kent is a story of falling, redemption and love interwoven with strong female characters and an inspirational philosophy of life. It was among the top 10 best-selling novels for the years 1919 and 1920. - Summary by Warren Kati

31When a Man's a Man

By Harold Bell Wright

When a Man's a Man is a novel written by Harold Bell Wright, an author who was quite popular in the first decades of the 20th Century. This engaging story, somewhat melodramatic in its unfolding, begins with the introduction of a stranger to the still untamed Arizona landscape and to its life and people. The novel explores the contrast between the modern, civilized life of the cities with that found in the West, with its physical demands and, the author would assert, its more sincere and wholesome lifestyle. The novel's central theme may very well be an exploration of what makes a man a 'true man.' - Summary by KevinS