Books by James Gardner

The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is the ultimate tragic love story. It is perhaps one of the most famous Greek myths, and the greatest artists have composed masterpieces to honour these two great lovers who lost their chance at reunion. The earliest account comes from Ibycus (circa 530 BC), a Greek lyric poet. This short story is a mixture of the various existing versions, presenting the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in all its details, all the way to Orpheus' death at the hands of the Bacchantes.

The myth of Icarus is an ageless story of failure at the hands of pride, similar to that of Phaeton. It is a fundamental part of Greek mythology and of modern culture. This short story is a retelling of the myth from 1914, a year in which it was easy to fear for a son who would soar in the sky with metal wings; the story of Icarus and Daedalus is told in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

Phaeton is the son of Apollo and a mortal woman, and his heart's desire is to be seen but once driving his father's chariot, the one used by the god to make the sun travel in the sky. This myth is an ageless story of failure at the hands of pride, similar to that of Icarus. It is a fundamental part of Greek mythology and of modern culture. This short story is a retelling of the myth in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

Jack and the Beanstalk is an English fairy tale, the best known of the "Jack tales", a series of stories featuring an archetypal English hero. According to scholarly research, this particular tale takes its roots in ancient stories told more than 5000 years ago, in which a boy steals an ogre's treasure. In this tale, Jack is a poor boy sent by his mother to the market to sell their dairy cow. He encounters a bean dealer who sells him magic beans; upon seeing him return with a few beans and no money, his mother is desperate, throws the beans on the ground and sends him to bed without supper. In the morning, they discover the beans have sprouted a fabulous beanstalk that would lead a climber to a land high in the sky... This classic tale is told by Katie Haigh, for the pleasure of children and adults alike.

Peter the Great ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire, leading a cultural revolution based on the Enlightenment, modernizing and rationalizing the Russian social and political system. "All his qualities, indeed, were on a colossal scale. His rage was cyclonic: his hatred rarely stopped short of extermination. His banquets were orgies, his pastimes convulsions. He lived and he loved like one of the giants of old". Discover the life and struggles of one of the most influential rulers through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

Ivan IV the Terrible was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547, then Tsar of All the Russias until his death in 1584. He transformed Russia from a medieval state into an empire, though at immense cost to its people, and its broader, long-term economy. He was described as intelligent and devout, yet given to rages and prone to episodic outbreaks of mental instability that increased with his age. In one such outburst, he killed his son and heir Ivan Ivanovich, which left his younger son, pious but politically ineffectual, to inherit the throne. Discover the life and struggles of this influential ruler through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

The myth of King Midas is a cautionary tale about the dangers of believing that gold should be coveted above all things, and the foolishness of wishing without thinking. It appeared in Ovid's Metamorphosis, and has inspired many works of art and literature through the centuries. This is a retelling of the complete tale of the King with the Golden Touch, from the Gordian knot to the ears of an ass, in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

Tsar Nicholas I was the younger brother of his predecessor, Alexander I. He "came to represent autocracy personified: infinitely majestic, determined and powerful, hard as stone, and relentless as fate". He inherited his brother's throne despite a revolt against him, and went on to become the most reactionary of all Russian leaders, leading an agressive policy involving many expensive wars. Discover the life and struggles of this influential ruler through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

Catherine the Great was Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, the country's longest-ruling female leader. She came to power following a coup d'état when her husband, Peter III, was assassinated. Under her reign, Russia was revitalised; it grew larger and stronger, and was recognised as one of the great powers of Europe. Discover the life and struggles of one of the most influential rulers through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

Elizabeth Petrovna was the Empress of Russia from 1741 until her death. She led the country during the War of Austrian Succession (1740–48) and the Seven Years' War (1756–63), left her mark on the service of nobility, the establishment of the Univeresidy of Moscow and the Imperial Academy of Arts; she remains one of the most popular Russian monarchs due to her strong opposition to Prussian policies and her decision not to execute a single person during her reign. Discover the thrilling history of this exceptional ruler in a clear, precise and accessible presentation, intended to bring history to life in a truthful and enjoyable way.

Here is a collection of ancient Chinese folk stories. These tales for children are as wise as they are humorous, and will be a delightful introduction to Chinese culture for children and adults alike. "The Most Frugal of Men" is a funny story about masters of frugality outperforming each other; "The Moon-Cake" about the dangers of asking for a cake that would resemble the moon; "The Ladle that fell from the Moon" tells about the witty attempt to confound an elderly scammer; "The Young Head of the Family" tells about a father being outwitted by his daughter-in-law, and "A dreadful boar" tells how a poor old woman could defend herself of an elf that met her in the form of a wild Boar, threatening to devour her granddaughter.

King Kojata is a Slavonic fairy tale. A king and a queen had no children. One day, the king was travelling and grew thirsty. He found a spring with a cup floating in it. Trying to grab the cup did not succeed; it always evaded his hands. When he dropped to drink directly, a creature in the well grabbed his beard and would not free him until he promised to give it something he knew nothing about, and which he would find on his return home. As for the Story of King Frost: A daughter-in-law is left to die by her father, because of the wickedness of his new wife. She meets the King of Frost, who makes her colder, and colder, to see whether she can sustain it...

Fanciful stories is a collection of folk-tales, fairy tales and delightful poetry to encourage children to dream and connect their imagination with the tales of old. Learn about the mystery of the house-elves, dance with the fairies and breathe the air of the legendary forests with these fantastic short stories for children. The collection: White Magic; The Brownies, by Juliana Horatia Ewing; The Story of Peter Pan; Sir Lark and King Sun, by George MacDonald; The Imps in the heavenly meadow, by Kate E. Bunce; The birthday honors of the Fairy Queen, by Hapgood Moore.

Here is a collection of the most beloved English poems, from century-old anonymous nursery rhymes to delightful texts from Edward Lear to Lewis Carroll and Robert Stevenson. Rediscover the classics that have been passed from parents to children for generations: The Owl and the Pussy-Cat, Kindness to Animals, How doth the little busy bee, Twinkle twinkle little star, and 20 more timeless jewels, read by Katie Haigh.

The myth of Echo and Narcissus appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses, a Latin mythological epic from the Augustan Age. It is one of the most touching stories ever written, and has inspired countless works of art through the centuries. The nymph Echo angers Hera, queen of the gods, who curses her: henceforth, Echo will only be able to repeat the last words that struck her ears. One day, the beautiful Narcissus, son of a nymph and a river god, passes through the forest...

Have you ever been to a King Lear performance with the impression of not having understood everything? It's normal. Shakespeare's plays are the most beautiful of the theatrical repertoire, but you can not go to a Shakespeare play if you do not have a minimum prepared this show: understand the issues, characters, context, cultural references or historical is indispensable. The same is true if you intend to read a play by William Shakespeare: our summaries will help you better understand what you have read. The list of the 9 Shakespeare masterpieces with summaries to listen : Hamlet, Prince of Denmark ; Romeo and Juliet ; King Lear ; The Merchant of Venice ; Macbeth ; Othello ; As you like it ; The Tempest ; Midsummer nights dream. Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's best dramatist. His plays have been translated into every major language, and are the most performed ever. His work contains stunningly modern insight, witty jokes and soaring passion; it is an endless source of amazement and inspiration.

Alexander II was the Emperor of Russia from 2 March 1855 until his assassination on 13 March 1881. He is remembered as Alexander the Liberator, as he led the emancipation of Russia's serfs; during his reign, he kept seeking peace, although the context of the surrounding countries was proving more and more difficult. Although he went down in history as a reformer, his actions were too little too late for the revolutionaries of late imperial Russia, who managed to assassinate him in 1881. This concise presentation will help you understand this part of Russian history and the particular struggles this careful pacifist had to put up with in a troubled land.

Alexander III was Emperor of Russia from 1881 until his death in 1894. He was highly conservative and reverse some of the liberal reforms of his father, Alexander II. He was a pacifist, focused on the protection of his people; mostly seen as lacking refinement and elegance, he rather relished the idea of being of the same rough texture as some of his subjects. Discover the life and struggles of this influential ruler through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506) was an Italian explorer, navigator, and colonizer. Born in the Republic of Genoa, under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. Those voyages and his efforts to establish settlements on the island of Hispaniola, initiated the permanent European colonization of the New World. At a time when European kingdoms were beginning to establish new trade routes and colonies, motivated by imperialism and economic competition, Columbus proposed to reach the East Indies (South and Southeast Asia) by sailing westward. This eventually received the support of the Spanish Crown, which saw a chance to enter the spice trade with Asia through this new route. During his first voyage in 1492, he reached the New World instead of arriving in Japan as he had intended, landing on an island in the Bahamas archipelago that he named San Salvador. Over the course of three more voyages, he visited the Greater and Lesser Antilles, as well as the Caribbean coast of Venezuela and Central America, claiming all of it for the Crown of Castile. This story of Christopher Columbus for little children is meant to be suggestive to the parent or teacher of the types of stories that can be told to children to inspire them to grow in goodness.

Tsar Alexander I was the grandson of Catherine the Great. He became Tsar after his father Paul I was murdered and ruled Russia during chaotic period of the Napoleonic Wars. In Russian history, he is known as "Alexander the Blessed." A legendary ruler, he led his country to one of her greatest triumphs, against Napoleon, although he was often viewed as an enigma by his contemporaries. Discover the life and struggles of one of the most influential rulers through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

The death of Adonis is a fundamental part of Greek mythology and one of its most touching stories. Accidentally wounded by one of Eros' arrows, the goddess Aphrodite desperately falls in love with the handsome Adonis, son of a King and a beauty among mortals. Yet his only passion is hunting, and he refuses to take her warnings seriously when he hears about a great boar he would love to slay. There is something of the idea of coming of age in this tale, when the moment of realisation brings forth the understanding of what could have been and where the real beauty lays. This short story is a retelling of the ancient myth, in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

These Tales for Tiny Tots are ageless and varied very short stories, aimed at those who are just nascent at reading, to provide them with delight and inch them towards a broader understanding of the world. Each tale contains a wise moral brought forth by colorful imagery: there you will find the Tale of Peter Rabbitt, by Beatrix Potter, Little Red Hen, Dolly Dimple, The visit to Santa Claus Land, and many more read by Katie Haigh.

Five famous English historical figures, five controversial characters of almost legendary proportions, that have to be well-known and understood if one is interested in knowing about the English spirit and history. Sir Francis Drake was a sea captain and a privateer of the Elizabethan era; his exploits made him a hero to the English, but his privateering led the Spanish to brand him a pirate. Henry VIII was King in a time of extreme religious unrest, and became such a bloody monster that he was eventually called the "English Nero". Richard III is one of the most divisive and enigmatic figures in British history. His real tragedy was both personal and political; his story, replete with intrigue, murder, war, and treachery. Son of a thug, Thomas Cromwell rose up from the back alleys of rural Putney to be Henry VIII's right hand man, and was destroyed in the moment of his greatest triumph, ending up on the scaffold; he was the mastermind behind Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The King wanted to marry Anne Boleyn, and so used Cromwell to begin the breaking of the Catholic Church's power in England; the divorce was eventually pronounced, Anne married the King, and it all ended with her beheading. Discover the tumultuous and bloody history behind all of these fundamental characters.

The Goose Girl is a German fairy tale in which a widowed queen sends her daugther to her bridegroom in a faraway land, only accompanied by a waiting maid and a magical talking horse. But the evil maid rebels and forces the princess into trading clothes with her and swearing secrecy, effectively taking her place until they arrive at a foreign palace. There, the princess is made into a common goose girl while the maid is wooed as a princess herself. Bound by secrecy, the real princess seems helpless, unless magical powers come at her aid. This lesser-known tale from the collection of the Brothers Grimm is read by Katie Haigh.

Bring together the inner happiness brought by meditation and the external pleasure of ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response). We specify that the interpretation of this title is intentionally whispered, to correspond to the principles of the ASMR. This album of meditation and relaxation techniques is read by Katie Haigh in a soft whisper that will ensure to trigger the frisson of ASMR and its healing properties, so that you feel perfectly relaxed, brain-thrillingly good, and finally let go of stress and anxieties. ASMR and meditation have both been linked to decrease in anxiety, sleeping disorders and panic attacks; the six meditation techniques presented in this bundle will teach you to de-stress the mind and body while experimenting the tingling, "braingasmic" sensation of ASMR. Let yourself be guided by her soft, feminine whisper through meditation techniques for beginners, a calming color relaxation visualization, a guided sleep relaxation, a special visualization where you achieve total relaxation by floating on a cloud, and a sleep countdown relaxation technique for long-lasting enhancing effects on your sleep.

The Twelve Labours of Hercules are a series of feats ordered by the gods carried out by Heracles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, whose name was later Romanised as Hercules. The legend was first written whole, as a fixed cycle of twelve labours, in an epic Greek poem now lost, in about 600BC; as they survive in the original source, the labours are not all recounted in a single place, but must be reassembled from many sources. This short story is a retelling of Hercules' legend with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike: why Hercules came to be ordered these twelve tasks by the gods and the treachery surrounding them, what seemingly impossible trials he had to go through and the clever solutions he found each time.

The Russian Empire was the third largest empire in world history, stretching over three continents. It played a major role in 1812–1814 in defeating Napoleon's ambitions to control Europe and expanded to the west and south. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian Empire extended from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea in the south, from the Baltic Sea on the west to the Pacific Ocean, and (until 1867) into Alaska in North America on the east. Its wide disparities bred dissidence and rebellions; along with its enormous size, this made it a challenge to govern for each one of its successive rulers. Learn about the history of the Russian Empire through the careful portrait of its ten greatest emperors, which led it through troubled times until its collapse during the February Revolution.

Meditation is a practice, a state of mind, a way of life, a means and an end. These 200 quotes selected among the sayings of great spiritual masters will inspire you on your journey and accompany you in your habit of living your life consciously.

Ten mythological heroes and stories from Greek mythology, for a delightful overview of the fundamentals of our culture. This is a selection of the most touching and inspiring stories from Ancient Greece; they have all inspired countless works of art through the centuries, often come from even more ancient myths, and are here retold in a detailed and lively manner. This selection contains: The myth of Apollo and Daphne, about the revenge of the cruel god Eros on Apollo; Atalanta, the story of the swiftest runner who ever was; Echo and Narcissus, about a nymph who angered a god; Endymion, a shepherd whose beauty made the goddess Diana fall in love; Icarus, this ageless story of failure at the hands of pride; King Midas, the famous cautionary tale; Orpheus and Eurydice, the ultimate tragic love story and one of the most famous Greek myths; Phaeton, a similar story to that of Icarus about the pride of wanting to be like a god; Pygmalion, a sculptor so skilled he fell in love with one of his creations; and the death of Adonis, one of Greece's most touching stories, in which a goddess hopelessly falls in love with a man whose sole passion is hunting.