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Public-domain books — and room for your own
资治通鉴
司马光主编,二百九十四卷,编年记载战国到五代一千三百六十二年的事。它是给皇帝看的,选的是和治乱有关的部分,不是一部通史。
太平广记
宋初奉敕编的类书,五百卷,把汉到宋初的小说笔记按神仙、妖怪、报应等九十二类抄录。许多原书早已失传,只靠这里留下一鳞半爪。
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare" by William Shakespeare is a comprehensive collection containing all of Shakespeare's plays and poems. This standard volume gathers the playwright's entire output, including histories, tragedies, and comedies that have shaped literature for centuries. Some editions feature collaborative works with other writers, though their authorship remains debated. Published by numerous academic presses and major publishers, these collected editions have become prized possessions for book collectors, often released in luxurious leather-bound formats that preserve Shakespeare's timeless literary legacy. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
水浒传
北宋末年,一百零八个人分头被逼上梁山,聚齐之后受招安,再去征方腊,死伤殆尽。前七十回是一个个人怎么走上这条路,林冲、武松、鲁智深各自成篇。这里收的一百二十回本比七十回本多出征田虎、王庆两段。
夷坚志
洪迈用六十年搜集的宋代传闻,原有四百二十卷,今存约一半。是了解宋人日常和信仰的一大宗材料。
红楼梦
贾府从盛到衰的一段家事。宝玉、黛玉、宝钗三个人的婚事是一条线,大观园里几十个女子各自的结局是另一条。前八十回是曹雪芹的稿子,通行的一百二十回本后四十回出自程伟元、高鹗整理,是不是原作至今没有定论。
醒世姻缘传
两世姻缘的因果:前世射死一只狐,今世妻子变本加厉地报复回来。写山东乡间和小官人家的日常,方言词极多。
西游记
唐僧带三个徒弟去西天取经,路上九九八十一难。前七回单写孙悟空的出身和大闹天宫,和后面的取经是两副笔墨。
史记
司马迁写从黄帝到汉武帝的三千年,分本纪、表、书、世家、列传五体,共一百三十篇。列传是后世传记的源头。
Les Misérables
"Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo is a French epic historical novel published in 1862. Beginning in 1815 and culminating in the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris, it follows ex-convict Jean Valjean's struggle for redemption. The novel explores the nature of law and grace, examining themes of justice, poverty, and love through the lives of interconnected characters in nineteenth-century France. Considered one of the greatest novels of its century, it depicts society's most downtrodden members and their fight for dignity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
东周列国志
从西周末年讲到秦统一,五百多年的列国兴亡。按编年把《左传》《国语》《战国策》和《史记》的材料连成一部书。
官场现形记
晚清官场的连缀短篇:捐官、行贿、见上司、办交涉,一个官员的故事引出下一个。没有主角,也没有收束的结局。
隋唐演义
隋炀帝到唐玄宗,一百多年。前半是隋末群雄和瓦岗寨,秦琼、程咬金、单雄信都在这一段;后半转入唐宫。
徐霞客游记
徐弘祖三十多年的旅行日记,走遍今天的十几个省。逐日记地形、水源、岩洞,对喀斯特地貌的记载在当时最详。
歧路灯
一个官家子弟谭绍闻怎么被赌博和帮闲带坏,又怎么回头。用河南话写,家教是全书的题目。
封神演义
商周易代的故事,用神仙斗法的方式讲。姜子牙辅周伐纣,两边各请门派助阵,战死的人最后一并封神。哪吒、杨戬、雷震子出自这里。
三国演义
从桃园结义到三国归晋,近百年的战与和。取材于《三国志》和民间说书,立场上尊刘抑曹,赤壁借东风、空城计这些最有名的段落多半不是史实。
二十年目睹之怪现状
以「九死一生」的自述串起来,记他二十年间见到的荒唐事,从商场到官场到自家亲戚。第一人称,一件一件往下记。
醒世恒言
冯梦龙编的第三部,四十篇,明人拟作的比例最高。卖油郎独占花魁出自这里。
今古奇观
从「三言二拍」里选出四十篇的合集。清代「三言」原书久已难见,很多人读到的其实是这一部。
聊斋志异
蒲松龄写的文言短篇近五百篇,狐、鬼、花妖与人往来。篇末常有一段「异史氏曰」的评语。
二刻拍案惊奇
凌濛初的第二部,同样四十卷,末一卷是杂剧。
说岳全传
岳飞从出生到风波亭。前半打金兵,后半是被害和后人复仇,后二十回属于虚构的续笔。
镜花缘
前半部写唐敖等人出海,经过女儿国、君子国、两面国等三十多个国家;后半部写一百个才女应试,内容转向音韵、算学、酒令、灯谜。作者李汝珍本行是音韵学。
初刻拍案惊奇
凌濛初编写的话本集,四十卷。和「三言」不同,大部分是他自己据笔记改写的,不是旧本。
Middlemarch
"Middlemarch" by George Eliot is a novel published in 1871-1872. Set in a fictional English Midlands town from 1829 to 1832, it weaves together multiple intersecting stories exploring the status of women, marriage, idealism, and political reform. The narrative follows Dorothea Brooke's search for purpose, Dr. Lydgate's medical ambitions, and several other inhabitants navigating love, debt, scandal, and social change against the backdrop of the approaching Reform Act of 1832. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
警世通言
冯梦龙编的第二部,四十篇。杜十娘怒沉百宝箱、白娘子永镇雷峰塔出自这里。
阅微草堂笔记
纪昀晚年记的狐鬼见闻,一千二百多条。文字简省,不铺陈情节——他不赞成《聊斋》那种写法。
喻世明言
冯梦龙编的话本集,四十篇,原名《古今小说》。宋元旧话本和明人拟作各占一部分,写的是市井里的婚姻、财货和公案。
战国策
战国游说之士的说辞和谋划,西汉刘向编定,三十三卷按国分。鹬蚌相争、狐假虎威出自这里。
The Book of Mormon
"The Book of Mormon: an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates…" is a religious text first published in 1830 by Joseph Smith. According to Smith, the book was translated from golden plates revealed by an angel, chronicling ancient peoples led from Jerusalem to the Americas. The text centers on an appearance of Jesus Christ in the Americas after his resurrection, containing teachings on atonement, baptism, and priesthood authority. Its origins remain contested between faith-based and scholarly interpretations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
儒林外史
一批读书人围着科举打转的众生相。没有贯穿全书的主角,一段接一段,人物交替登场。范进中举、严监生临死伸着两根指头都出自这里。
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages)
"Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages)" by Noah Webster is a comprehensive reference work that provides definitions and etymology for a wide variety of English words. The book was probably written in the early 19th century, a period marked by a fascination with language and education in America. The likely topic of this work is the clarification and standardization of English language, presenting insights into not only individual words but also their meanings, uses, and historical context. The opening of this reference book presents a series of entries from the dictionary, illustrating the format and style in which Webster lays out the definitions. Each entry includes the word's pronunciation, part of speech, meaning, and examples of usage, reflecting Webster’s meticulous attention to detail and intention to enhance the reader's understanding of the English language. This beginning gives insight into the breadth of vocabulary covered in the dictionary, as well as Webster's commitment to educating readers on language and its complexities. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
海上花列传
上海租界里的长三堂子,妓女和客人的日常来往。叙事有意平淡,对话全部用吴语——这是第一部这么做的长篇小说。张爱玲晚年把它译成了国语。
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1st 100 Pages)
"Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1st 100 Pages)" by Noah Webster is a reference book written during the early 19th century. This work focuses on the English language, providing detailed definitions, pronunciations, and etymologies of various words and letters starting from the alphabet A. It serves as a comprehensive guide for scholars, students, and general readers seeking to understand the intricacies of English vocabulary and grammar. The opening of the dictionary elaborates on the letter "A," discussing its origins from the Phoenician and Greek alphabets, as well as its various pronunciations and uses in both music and language. It explains the historical significance and evolution of the letter, detailing how it functions as an indefinite article and its grammatical usage in sentences. Overall, this introduction provides insights into the foundational aspects of the English language, setting the stage for a thorough exploration of words and their meanings that follows in subsequent pages. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
The Well at the World's End: A Tale
"The Well at the World's End: A Tale" by William Morris is a high fantasy novel first published in 1896. Ralph, the youngest son of a king, defies his father's wishes and embarks on a quest for adventure. His journey leads him through perilous encounters, forbidden love, and the pursuit of a legendary well whose waters grant extraordinary powers. Accompanied by the maiden Ursula, Ralph must navigate treachery, battle evil lords, and ultimately fight to reclaim his homeland and secure his destiny. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
子不语
袁枚记的怪事,书名取自「子不语怪力乱神」。不讲教训,只当奇闻记下来。
孽海花
以状元金雯青和名妓傅彩云为线索,写同治到甲午三十年间的官场与外交。书中人物大多有实指,洪钧和赛金花的影子在里面。
韩非子
五十五篇,法家的集大成。除了说理还收了大量故事 —— 守株待兔、自相矛盾都出自这里;《说难》《孤愤》是名篇。
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
"Moby-Dick; or, The Whale" by Herman Melville is an epic novel published in 1851. Sailor Ishmael narrates the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab, who commands the whaling ship Pequod in pursuit of Moby Dick, the white whale that destroyed his leg. Driven by vengeance, Ahab leads his diverse crew across the world's oceans, hunting the legendary creature. This tale of obsession explores themes of good and evil, fate, and humanity's struggle against nature's overwhelming power. (This is an automatically generated summary.)