Author
Ernest Bramah
1868-1942
Ernest Bramah (1868-1942) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
WikipediaSubjects
Books by Ernest Bramah
The eyes of Max Carrados
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Kai Lung's Golden Hours
"Kai Lung's Golden Hours" by Ernest Bramah is a fantasy novel first published in 1922. In ancient China, the wandering storyteller Kai Lung faces treason charges before the Mandarin Shan Tien. His ingenious defense: captivating his judge with enchanting tales, each story postponing his conviction. Through his gem-like narratives filled with wisdom and wit, Kai Lung weaves a path toward freedom while winning the heart of the maiden Hwa-Mei. The novel serves as a vehicle for Bramah's aphorism-laden stories of ancient Chinese life.
Max Carrados
"Max Carrados" by Ernest Bramah is a collection of detective stories first published in 1914. The book introduces Max Carrados, a blind detective who solves mysteries through his extraordinary heightened senses and powers of deduction. Assisted by his friend Mr. Carlyle, a private investigator, Carrados uses his acute hearing, touch, and reasoning to unravel complex cases—from forgeries and disappearances to murders and espionage. George Orwell praised these tales as among the few detective stories worth re-reading since Poe.
The Wallet of Kai Lung
"The Wallet of Kai Lung" by Ernest Bramah is a collection of fantasy stories published in 1900. Set in ancient China, the tales follow Kai Lung, a wandering storyteller who captivates listeners with narratives of transformation, probation, vengeance, and destiny. Each story unfolds as Kai Lung shares these tales during his travels, weaving together accounts of mandarins, picture makers, and charitable souls navigating moral dilemmas and supernatural events. This pioneering work helped shape early fantasy literature with its unique blend of Eastern setting and imaginative storytelling.
The Secret of the League: The Story of a Social War
"The Secret of the League: The Story of a Social War" by Ernest Bramah is a dystopian novel published in 1907. Written after Labour's electoral gains, it imagines a future where the Labour Party wins overwhelming power in Britain. An upper-class cabal secretly plots to overthrow the democratically elected government through economic sabotage and civil war. George Orwell credited the book with predicting the rise of Fascism while revealing the brutal measures the middle classes might condone when threatened with revolution.
The Mirror of Kong Ho
"The Mirror of Kong Ho" by Ernest Bramah is a novel composed of a lively series of letters written during the early 20th century, depicting the observations of a Chinese gentleman named Kong Ho as he navigates Western life in London. The book presents a humorous and critical exploration of Western culture and customs through the eyes of its protagonist, who views Westerners as "barbarians" and finds much to ponder regarding their lifestyle choices. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Kong Ho as he embarks on his journey to London. The first letter chronicles his travels and encounters, marked by his attempts to understand peculiar Western inventions like automobiles and the social dynamics he observes around him. He reflects on the chaotic nature of Western transportation, humorously interpreting it as being influenced by "unlawful demons," while also expressing his disdain for the perceived lack of proper dining etiquette among Westerners. His observations are filled with wit, as he recounts his experiences in tea shops, interacts with merchants like Jones Bob-Jones, and navigates the complexities of social interactions with the local populace, including his budding fascination with a particular maiden. This opening portion sets the tone for a thoughtful, satirical critique of cultural differences and highlights Kong Ho's duality as both an amused outsider and a keen observer of human behavior.
Four Max Carrados Detective Stories
"Four Max Carrados Detective Stories" by Ernest Bramah is a collection of detective stories written during the early 20th century. The book follows the unique and cunning blind detective Max Carrados as he uses his other heightened senses to solve intriguing mysteries, demonstrating that sight is not the only means of perception. The opening of the first story, "The Coin of Dionysius," introduces Mr. Carlyle, a private detective, who seeks the expertise of Mr. Baxter, a coin dealer, to authenticate a rare coin. Carlyle is in a desperate situation, believing the coin to be linked to an arrest that hangs in the balance. He learns about another expert, Wynn Carrados, who has the reputation for exceptional knowledge despite being blind. The exchange between Carlyle and Baxter lays a foundation of urgency and intrigue as Carlyle seeks to find Carrados and navigate through a web of deceit involving an alleged forgery.