Subject
Adventure and adventurers -- Fiction Books
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Alexandre Dumas
The three musketeers
"The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet" is a historical adventure novel written and published in 1844. Set in 1625 France, it follows young d'Artagnan who travels to Paris hoping to join the elite Musketeers of the Guard. Though unable to join immediately, he befriends three legendary musketeers—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—and becomes entangled in dangerous affairs of state involving Cardinal Richelieu, Queen Anne, and the Duke of Buckingham. This swashbuckling tale of heroic swordsmen fighting for justice launched Dumas's celebrated d'Artagnan Romances.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Kidnapped
"Kidnapped" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a historical fiction adventure novel first published in 1886. Seventeen-year-old David Balfour's life takes a dark turn when his uncle betrays him, leading to his kidnapping and forced voyage to colonial servitude. After a shipwreck reunites him with Alan Breck Stewart, a fugitive Jacobite, the two become unlikely companions fleeing through the dangerous Scottish Highlands. Set against the turbulent backdrop of 18th-century Scotland, their journey intertwines with real historical events, including a notorious murder that threatens both their lives.
Alexandre Dumas
Les trois mousquetaires
"Les trois mousquetaires" by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet is a French historical adventure novel written and published in 1844. Young d'Artagnan leaves home for Paris, hoping to join the elite Musketeers of the Guard. Though initially unable to join, he befriends three legendary musketeers—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—and becomes entangled in dangerous affairs of state and court intrigue. Set between 1625 and 1628, this swashbuckling tale follows heroic swordsmen fighting for justice amid political conspiracies and forbidden romance in a turbulent France.
Alexandre Dumas
The Man in the Iron Mask
"The Man in the Iron Mask" by Alexandre Dumas is a novel published between 1847 and 1850. This thrilling conclusion to the d'Artagnan Romances follows the aging musketeers during Louis XIV's early reign in 1660s France. As d'Artagnan becomes Captain of the King's Musketeers, political intrigue swirls around the ambitious Nicolas Fouquet. Meanwhile, Aramis discovers a mysterious prisoner in the Bastille who bears an uncanny resemblance to the king himself—a secret that could reshape the fate of France and test the musketeers' loyalty forever.
Abraham Merritt
The Metal Monster
"The Metal Monster" by Abraham Merritt is a fantasy novel first serialized in 1920. Dr. Goodwin ventures into the Trans-Himalayan mountains on a botanical expedition, where he and his companions encounter a mysterious woman named Norhala who commands living metal creatures—sentient geometric forms capable of combining into colossal shapes wielding devastating weapons. Trapped between this alien metal civilization and an army of ancient Persians in a hidden valley, the group must find escape while one of their own slowly transforms into something inhuman.
Joseph Conrad
A Set of Six
"A Set of Six" by Joseph Conrad is a collection of short fiction published in 1908. Unlike Conrad's earlier psychological explorations, these six stories prioritize action and entertainment over analysis. Set in diverse locations and featuring incidents ranging from duels to anarchists, the collection marks a departure from Conrad's autobiographical work. Written explicitly to "raise money quickly," these tales emphasize dramatic incident, love, and humor—elements Conrad believed essential for popular fiction—while largely abandoning the moral conflicts that defined his previous short stories.
Hector Malot
Nobody's Boy Sans Famille
"Nobody's Boy" by Hector Malot is a novel published in 1878. When eight-year-old Rémi is sold to a traveling street performer, he leaves the only home he's known to journey across France with a troupe of performing animals. Along the way, he encounters wealthy strangers who hint at mysteries in his past, faces harsh winters and cruel masters, and discovers both the brutality and kindness of the world. This tale of survival follows a boy searching for belonging in a world that seems determined to deny him one.
Alexandre Dumas
Ten Years Later
"Ten Years Later" by Alexandre Dumas is a novel published between 1847 and 1850. The third and final installment of The d'Artagnan Romances follows the legendary musketeers during the 1660s as young King Louis XIV transforms from uncertain monarch to the Sun King. D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis navigate political intrigue, dangerous secrets, and romantic entanglements at the French court. The story weaves together power struggles between ambitious ministers, forbidden love affairs, and a mysterious prisoner who bears an uncanny resemblance to the king himself.
Hector Malot
Nobody's Girl (En Famille)
"Nobody's Girl" by Hector Malot is a novel published in 1893. Thirteen-year-old Perrine arrives in Paris with her ill mother, possessing almost nothing but a donkey and a cart. When her mother dies, Perrine becomes an orphan and journeys to Maraucourt to find her relatives. Hiding her true identity under a false name, she seeks work at the local factories owned by the wealthy Mr. Vulfran Paindavoine. As Perrine grows closer to this man, a secret connection between them waits to be revealed.
Jack London
The Night-Born
"The Night-Born" by Jack London is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. The stories delve into themes of human nature, survival, and the primal instincts that emerge in the face of adversity. The opening story introduces Trefethan, an old man reminiscing about his youth as he reflects on the ideals and experiences that have shaped his life, hinting at explorations of love, loss, and the raw essence of human experience. The beginning of "The Night-Born" sets the stage in a lively San Francisco bar, where characters engage in deep discussions surrounding society's corruption and the recent death of a young boxer, O'Brien. Trefethan recounts a pivotal moment from his youth when he encountered an extraordinary woman, Lucy, among Native American tribes in an untouched valley. His narrative evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for the vigor and romance of youth while contrasting it with his current state of being. The tension builds as he reveals the contrasting worlds of the "day-born" and the "night-born," setting the thematic tone for the stories within the collection. This exploration of duality and the character's introspection captivates the reader, inviting them to reflect on the complexities of their own existence.
Joanot Martorell
The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc
"The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc" by Joanot Martorell and Martí Joan de Galba is a chivalric romance published in 1490. This tale follows Tirant, a knight from Brittany, as he embarks on adventures across Europe before the Byzantine Emperor summons him to defend Constantinople against Ottoman invaders. Praised by Cervantes as a "treasure of enjoyment," the novel stands apart from typical romances with its earthy realism, sensuous characters, and satirical edge—perhaps even rewriting history to reverse Byzantium's tragic fall.
George Meredith
The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete
"The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete" by George Meredith is a romance published between 1870-1871. Young Harry Richmond is caught between two worlds: his eccentric, scheming father Roy who whisks him away on adventures, and his wealthy grandfather who offers stability and fortune. As Harry grows up, he pursues a German princess with his father's help, but their elaborate plans lead to unexpected consequences. This partly autobiographical novel blends picaresque adventure with melodrama, following Harry's journey toward discovering what he truly values.
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