 |
| Free US/UK Kindle Classic Caleb Williams Or Things as They Are by William Godwin |
Caleb Williams Or Things as They Are is a 1794 novel by William Godwin. I am not sure where I heard of it, but an Amazon reviewer who liked it found it on a list of 1,001 books to read before you die. (US Edition) (UK Edition)
The book starts conventionally enough:
Mr. Falkland questioned me respecting my learning, and my conceptions of men and things, and listened to my answers with condescension and approbation. This kindness soon restored to me a considerable part of my self-possession, though I still felt restrained by the graceful, but unaltered dignity of his carriage. When Mr. Falkland had satisfied his curiosity, he proceeded to inform me that he was in want of a secretary, that I appeared to him sufficiently qualified for that office, and that, if, in my present change of situation, occasioned by the death of my father, I approved of the employment, he would take me into his family.
OK, we know something strange is going to happen and it does . . .
One day, when I had been about three months in the service of my patron, I went to a closet, or small apartment, which was separated from the library by a narrow gallery that was lighted by a small window near the roof. I had conceived that there was no person in the room, and intended only to put any thing in order that I might find out of its place. As I opened the door, I heard at the same instant a deep groan, expressive of intolerable anguish. The sound of the door in opening seemed to alarm the person within; I heard the lid of a trunk hastily shut, and the noise as of fastening a lock. I conceived that Mr. Falkland was there, and was going instantly to retire; but at that moment a voice, that seemed supernaturally tremendous, exclaimed, Who is there? The voice was Mr. Falkland's. The sound of it thrilled my very vitals. I endeavoured to answer, but my speech failed, and being incapable of any other reply, I instinctively advanced within the door into the room. Mr. Falkland was just risen from the floor upon which he had been sitting or kneeling. His face betrayed strong symptoms of confusion. With a violent effort, however, these symptoms vanished, and instantaneously gave place to a countenance sparkling with rage.
"Villain!" cried he, "what has brought you here?" I hesitated a confused and irresolute answer. "Wretch!" interrupted Mr. Falkland, with uncontrollable impatience, "you want to ruin me. You set yourself as a spy upon my actions; but bitterly shall you repent your insolence. Do you think you shall watch my privacies with impunity?" I attempted to defend myself. "Begone, devil!" rejoined he. "Quit the room, or I will trample you into atoms." Saying this, he advanced towards me. But I was already sufficiently terrified, and vanished in a moment. I heard the door shut after me with violence; and thus ended this extraordinary scene.
But, of course this is 1794 and that is no reason to quit your position! (Besides he gets a nice tip the next morning.) This excerpt actually reminds me a bit of Jane Eyre. Just keep overlooking your employer’s odd behavior . . .
This blog is a guide to the best free and inexpensive
classic literature for the US & UK Kindle. If you enjoy my suggestions,
please tell your friends who read to give my blog a try.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
For a nominal fee of 99 cents/pence, you can subscribe
to this blog and have it automatically download on your Kindle. This
gives you the convenience of being able to download the books directly to your
Kindle, instead of downloading them to your computer and then transferring them
to your Kindle. It also helps support my blog.
UK
readers, go to this
Amazon link to subscribe. (Slightly more than half my readers are
from the UK)
US
readers, go to this Amazon
link
Thank
to all my readers, whether you subscribe on your Kindle or whether you read it
online. I love to get good reviews! Who wouldn't? Should you
care to leave a review, follow these links for UK
readers or US
readers.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.