Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - The Opera ghost really existed. He was not, as was long believed, a creature of the imagination of the artists, the superstition of the managers, or a product of the absurd and impressionable brains of the young ladies of the ballet, their mothers, the box-keepers, the cloak-room attendants or the concierge. Yes, he existed in flesh and blood, although he assumed the complete appearance of a real phantom; that is to say, of a spectral shade. When I began to ransack the archives of the National Academy of Music I was at once struck by the surprising coincidences between the phenomena ascribed to the "ghost" and the most extraordinary and fantastic tragedy that ever excited the Paris upper classes; and I soon conceived the idea that this tragedy might reasonably be explained by the phenomena in question. The events do not date more than thirty years back; and it would not be difficult to find at the present day, in the foyer of the ballet, old men of the highest respectability, men upon whose word one could absolutely rely, who would remember as though they happened yesterday the mysterious and dramatic conditions that attended the kidnapping of Christine Daae, the disappearance of the Vicomte de Chagny and the death of his elder brother, Count Philippe, whose body was found on the bank of the lake that exists in the lower cellars of the Opera on the Rue-Scribe side. But none of those witnesses had until that day thought that there was any reason for connecting the more or less legendary figure of the Opera ghost with that terrible story.

Far from fading with time, Kenneth Grahame's classic tale of fantasy has attracted a growing audience in each generation. Rat, Mole, Badger and the preposterous Mr Toad (with his 'Poop-poop-poop' road-hogging new motor-car), have brought delight to many through the years with their odd adventures on and by the river, and at the imposing residence of Toad Hall. Grahame's book was later dramatised by A. A. Milne, and became a perennial Christmas favourite, as Toad of Toad Hall. It continues to enchant and, above all perhaps, inspire great affection.

Three fantastic adventures with everyone’s favourite big-hearted elephant!

Horton the Elephant is BIG, big-hearted, and one of Dr. Seuss’s most beloved creations! Join him in this collection of adventures and cheer for Horton as he saves the Whos, hatches the egg, and brings that special Horton kindness to everyone he meets.

Horton Hears a Who!

Horton Hatches the Egg

Horton and the Kwuggerbug

The perfect book for reading aloud with young children, or for more confident readers to tackle on their own.

The hero of the sun-drenched hours, he looks godlike with his golden hair aglow in the sun as he hunts the wild beasts of field and wood. Yet as the light flees at the onset of evening, his self-assurance and bravado fade with the light . . . and he finds himself beset by terrors he cannot reign.

Then he discovers solace, in that terrifying night -- for within the depths of his fears he encounters a strange, beautiful creature who offers him comfort -- a girl, who is as much a creature of the dark hours as he is of sunlit days.

Watching over both their lives is red-haired witch Watho -- who with guilt and malice in her heart first cares for the two youths -- then jealously plots their destruction!

George MacDonald (1824-1905), Scottish author of "Phantastes," here relates the romance of the unusual lovers Photogen and Nycteris, in a land drenched in magic.

Tottie is a loving little wooden doll who lives with her family in a shoebox. The doll family is owned by two sisters, Emily and Charlotte, and they are very happy, except for one thing: they long for a proper home. To their delight, their wish comes true when Emily and Charlotte fix up a Victorian dolls' house - just for them. It's perfect. But then a new arrival starts to wreak havoc in the dolls' house. For Marchpane might be a wonderfully beautiful doll, but she is also terribly cruel. And she always gets her own way . . . First published in 1947, Rumer Godden's classic The Dolls' House has been delighting children for years, and this beautiful edition, illustrated by Jane Ray, will delight future generations for years to come.

THE SILVER SWORD by Ian Serraillier is an unforgettable World War II survival story. Although the silver sword was only a paper knife, it became the symbol of hope and courage which kept the Balicki children and their orphan friend Jan alive through the four years of occupation when they had to fend for themselves. And afterwards it inspired them to keep going on the exhausting and dangerous journey from war-torn Poland to Switzerland, where they hoped to find their parents. Based on true accounts, this is a moving story of life during and after the Second World War.

Adapted and illustrated to introduce children and students to the works of Shakespeare! The Winter's Tale is one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies. The play was first published in 1623, and has since been performed worldwide with great success. It is set in Sicily, and revolves around the main character, King Leontes, who is consumed by doubts about his wife's loyalty. Jealousy drives him to plot his best friend's murder, imprison his wife and disown their unborn child. The play stretches over a period of sixteen long years during which Leontes realises his mistakes, and he is finally reunited with his estranged wife and daughter. Includes a QR code for the FREE audiobook! The easy-to-read narrative and comic-style illustrations are a great way to introduce children and students to the story before approaching the original texts.

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'Fifteen men on the dead man's chest -Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!' Upon finding a map in his parents' inn, young Jim Hawkins joins a crew on route to the Caribbean to find buried treasure. One of his crew, the charming, yet devious Long John Silver is determined to snag the booty for himself and Jim's swashbuckling voyage becomes a mutinous and murderous adventure - where his own bravery is put to the test and he discovers much about friendship, loyalty and betrayal.

Before you start, here are a few tips. To be a good detective you need the same skills as a good card-player. You must consider and examine every detail, not just the obvious ones. You have to observe every change in a person's face, everything they say, everything they do and you must always expect the unexpected. And finally, you must remember it all. In this most strange tale, you'll see a friend of mine at work. He has an astonishingly analytical mind. So, pit your own powers of analysis against his - and against mine. Can you solve the mystery of the murders in the Rue Morgue?

Little Nell Trent's childhood is over. Her grandfather's mind is failing, his dark secret makes him sad and distracted, and he has nobody to care for him but Nell. The grotesque Daniel Quilp is out to cause trouble. What plans does he hatch with the dreadful Sampson and Sally Brass? What use can he hope to make of the foolish Dick Swiveller? Is Nell's one true friend, Kit, a match for Quilp's villainous mind? Nell and her grandfather must disappear or be separated forever, and so they begin their lives as beggars. When a mysterious gentleman arrives in London, determined to track them down, it becomes a race against time and against the evil of Quilp. Can Little Nell keep her grandfather safe? Who will protect Nell? Will the mysterious gentleman find them before it is too late?

This giftable box set contains paperback editions of the Newbery Honor-winning Charlotte's Web, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal-winning Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan—three beloved, timeless classics by E. B. White, with black-and-white illustrations by Garth Williams and Fred Marcellino.

Charlotte's Web
Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, family, and adventure.

Stuart Little
Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his family. But when Stuart's best friend goes missing, he's determined to leave home and take an epic journey to find his friend.

The Trumpet of the Swan
Louis is a trumpeter swan, but unlike the rest of his family, he can't make a sound. And since he can't trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays no attention to him. But when his father steals him a real brass trumpet, Louis has to find out if it's the key to what he's wanted all along. E. B. White's classic book is a tender novel of overcoming the odds and learning to do things on your own terms.

'The Little White Horse was my favourite childhood book. I absolutely adored it. It had a cracking plot. It was scary and romantic in parts and had a feisty heroine.' - JK Rowling - The Bookseller Winner of the Carnegie Medal in 1946 and J.K. Rowling's favourite childhood book. This bestselling favourite fantasy classic is 'one of the most of the most magical stories in the world.' - The Independent. This is the story of a thirteen-year-old orphan, a Moon Princess, and a mysterious white horse. Maria Merryweather, a plain London orphan, is sent to Moonacre Manor to live with her only surviving relative, Sir Benjamin. Her initial sense of comfort starts to crumble when she learns an ancient mystery haunts Moonacre Manor and all who live in Moonacre Valley. With the help of her new friend Robin, can Maria right the wrongs of her ancestors and finally restore the peace to Moonacre Valley before it's too late? Beautiful, thrilling, and magical, The Little White Horse is a timeless classic.

A stylish foiled picture book adaptation - celebrating 90 years of E. H. Shepard's iconic original illustrations! A stylish foiled picture book adaptation - celebrating 90 years of E. H. Shepard's iconic original illustrations! "Don't you know?" grinned Rat. "Oh, Mole! There is nothing half so much fun as simply messing about in boats!" A world of wonders awaits Mole as he emerges from his little underground home one spring day. He discovers the sights and delights of the river aboard Rat's rowing boat. He ventures into the Wild Wood, home to kindly Badger. In the company of fun-loving Toad, he feels the thrill of the open road. But Mole soon learns that where there is Toad, there is trouble. Toad has a dangerous new hobby, and Mole and his friends must use all their wits and courage to keep him from disaster! Kenneth Grahame's delightful characters, Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad, have entertained generations of children. This stunning anniversary picture book, adapted by bestselling author Timothy Knapman, introduces their famous adventures to readers aged 4+, with timeless illustrations from E. H. Shepard, the artist who created the world-famous images of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Nick Carraway's mysterious neighbour Gatsby gazes across the dark bay at a distant green light.

A fresh, funny and accessible retelling of Jane Austen's best-known story, with witty black and white illustrations throughout. Elizabeth Bennet is the second eldest in a family of five daughters. Although their mother is very keen to see them all married to wealthy men, Elizabeth is determined that she will only ever marry for love. At a ball, Elizabeth meets Mr Darcy, who at first she believes is proud and haughty. But perhaps there is more to him than first meets the eye... Katherine Woodfine is best known for her historical series, The Sinclair Mysteries, which includes The Clockwork Sparrow. A huge fan of Jane Austen from a young age, she's perfectly placed to bring the Bennet sisters to a new audience. Eglantine Ceulemans captures all of Austen's satire and wit, bringing her colourful casts to life with warm and funny black and white illustrations. Illustrated and retold editions are also available for: Emma, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey. The perfect way to discover Austen for the first time, this bright and bold collection features some of the most inspiring and famous heroines in English literature. For readers aged eight and up.

"It's such a happiness when good people get together." Rich and confident Emma is perfectly happy with her life the way it is. That doesn't stop her from enjoying a good love story though - as long as it's not her own. But as she blunders through a scheme to find a suitable husband for her new friend Harriet, Emma begins to realise that her judgement is not as good as she thought.

A visit to the cafe has never been so much fun in this hilarious illustrated story! Join Little Miss Chatterbox and her friends at Chatterbox Cafe where there will be food, fun and chatter! Little Miss Bossy is in charge in the kitchen and Mr Happy brings service with a smile, but who will pop in today and what will they choose? The Mr Men and Little Miss Every Day series takes Roger Hargreaves' beloved characters on trips and activities that children will recognise from their own lives. All the Every Day Adventures have a 'Where's Walter' feature with Walter the worm hiding in every story making for a fun and interactive reading experience for children aged 2 years and up.

A Christmas Carol, by Dickens, Charles - Akasha Classics, AkashaPublishing.Com - A Christmas Carol, one of Dickens, Charles most enduring works, is the story of a truly remarkable transformation. Christmas is pointless - there is no profit in it. Money is the only thing that matters, and it is to be saved, not spent on such trifles as heating, a decent salary for your clerk, or frivolous celebrations. This is the attitude that Ebenezer Scrooge goes to sleep with on December 24th. Before the night is over, however, he will be visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. Can these spirits help him see the error of his ways? Discover for yourself one of the all-time classics of the holiday season.