FREE/BARGAIN — Fiction (everything else)

[Little.Egret]

Endeavour, free


Great Elephant by Alan Scholefield

Historical novel, first published in 1967 by William Heinemann Ltd

Robert Fraser Black had an unusual upbringing – raised in the heart of Zululand during the reign of King Chaka, The Great Elephant.

Years later, he recalls both the idyllic and horrifying memories of his childhood.

As they head further north, the knowledge that they are heading to Zululand is becoming unbearable – who knows if King Chaka would let them live?

But then a chance encounter saves them.

A dying bull elephant is struggling over to a wounded man. Rescuing him, they are shocked to realise the man is Mgobozi – known as “The Hammer of Chaka”.

They are taken to the Chaka’s royal Kraal at Bulawayo, where they are assured, at least, of safe passage.

What they witness in the Kraal makes the rumours of Chaka’s cruelty sound tame in comparison.

an unflinchingly brutal tale of a frontier family’s struggle to survive and the legendary Chaka Zulu.


Alan Scholefield was born in 1931 in Cape Town, South Africa. Most famous for his Macrae and Silver series, Scholefield has also written other novels, including Venom, which was made into a film in 1981


https://www.amazon.com/Great-Elephan...dp/B071F9KWQ4/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Eleph...dp/B071F9KWQ4/

https://www.amazon.ca/Great-Elephant...dp/B071F9KWQ4/

[ATDrake]

X-link to the SF/Fantasy megathread for a Kurt Vonnegut bargain:

@ $2.99 in the US only: Look at the Birdie: Unpublished Short Fiction, a collection of stories spanning multiple genres, illustrated with line drawings by the late author himself, and an introduction by one of his friends.

Also, bargain @ $1.99 in the US only from some Random Penguin House imprint (price should be the same at all retailers):

Tai-Pan by the late James Clavell (Wikipedia), the 2nd novel in his very enjoyable Asian Saga of thinly-veiled historical fiction with slightly expy versions of major figures and institutions, and basis for the eponymous film co-starring Joan Chen.

It is the early 19th century, when European traders and adventurers first began to penetrate the forbidding Chinese mainland. And it is in this exciting time and exotic place that a giant of an Englishman, Dirk Straun, sets out to turn the desolate island of Hong Kong into an impregnable fortress of British power, and to make himself supreme ruler…Tai-Pan!

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by Little.Egret

Endeavour, free


Great Elephant by Alan Scholefield

Historical novel, first published in 1967 by William Heinemann Ltd

Robert Fraser Black had an unusual upbringing – raised in the heart of Zululand during the reign of King Chaka, The Great Elephant.

Years later, he recalls both the idyllic and horrifying memories of his childhood.

As they head further north, the knowledge that they are heading to Zululand is becoming unbearable – who knows if King Chaka would let them live?

But then a chance encounter saves them.

A dying bull elephant is struggling over to a wounded man. Rescuing him, they are shocked to realise the man is Mgobozi – known as “The Hammer of Chaka”.

They are taken to the Chaka’s royal Kraal at Bulawayo, where they are assured, at least, of safe passage.

What they witness in the Kraal makes the rumours of Chaka’s cruelty sound tame in comparison.

an unflinchingly brutal tale of a frontier family’s struggle to survive and the legendary Chaka Zulu.


Alan Scholefield was born in 1931 in Cape Town, South Africa. Most famous for his Macrae and Silver series, Scholefield has also written other novels, including Venom, which was made into a film in 1981


https://www.amazon.com/Great-Elephan...dp/B071F9KWQ4/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Eleph...dp/B071F9KWQ4/

https://www.amazon.ca/Great-Elephant...dp/B071F9KWQ4/

Sounds fascinating! I've grabbed a copy.

[Little.Egret]

Endeavour reprint, free

The Man Charles Dickens: A Victorian Portrait by Edward Wagenknecht


Charles Dickens is one of Britain’s best loved authors.
But who was the man behind The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist?


Cross post, see

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...36#post3633336

[GtrsRGr8]

Amazon just started a promotion that they are calling "50 books you should read in a lifetime," or something to that effect.

Among the selection is a new (2017) translation of Homer's _The Odyssey_, that very well might end up being the new standard, among English translations, of that classic (read the reviews!). The translator is Emily Wilson.

The price of the Kindle edition during this promo is only $3.99. It appears that Amazon isn't providing, at least at the present time, a "retail price," but they do divulge that the "print price" is $39.95. So, $3.99 seems to be a real bargain.

One concern that I have is that the book describes itself (very prominently!) as the "First Edition." _Sometimes_, it seems to me, that this is a subtle admission by the author that their work is somehow flawed or incomplete in one or more ways, but that they intend to fix it in a "Second Edition." If you're paranoid like me, you might wish to wait around and spring for that "Second Edition," if indeed there be one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKNHGN1...30_recs_reftag

[bfisher]

On sale today at Amazon.ca
All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren for $CAD 2.99

https://www.amazon.ca/All-Kings-Robe.../dp/B00A1TEZA6

[rguion]

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford, a novel of old New York (published in 2017 and had some very good reviews) is on sale for $1.99 today.

https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Hill-N.../dp/B01M4QECC2

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by rguion

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford, a novel of old New York (published in 2017 and had some very good reviews) is on sale for $1.99 today.

https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Hill-N.../dp/B01M4QECC2

£0.99 in UK from Faber & Faber

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Hill...dp/B01FQVWXPW/

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Amazon just started a promotion that they are calling "50 books you should read in a lifetime," or something to that effect.

Among the selection is a new (2017) translation of Homer's _The Odyssey_, that very well might end up being the new standard, among English translations, of that classic (read the reviews!). The translator is Emily Wilson.

The price of the Kindle edition during this promo is only $3.99. It appears that Amazon isn't providing, at least at the present time, a "retail price," but they do divulge that the "print price" is $39.95. So, $3.99 seems to be a real bargain.

One concern that I have is that the book describes itself (very prominently!) as the "First Edition." _Sometimes_, it seems to me, that this is a subtle admission by the author that their work is somehow flawed or incomplete in one or more ways, but that they intend to fix it in a "Second Edition." If you're paranoid like me, you might wish to wait around and spring for that "Second Edition," if indeed there be one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKNHGN1...30_recs_reftag

First, an apology . . . . I think that my post was the first one of the new year on this thread. If so, I think that I was supposed to start a new thread for 2018, and make an O.P. to that effect. Sorry.

But, since this is a followup to my post on the old thread yesterday, I will give this update: the
price on the book is now $19.24.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

First, an apology . . . . I think that my post was the first one of the new year on this thread. If so, I think that I was supposed to start a new thread for 2018, and make an O.P. to that effect. Sorry.

We no longer start new threads for the new year; it didn't serve a purpose. So you're fine.

[Acataloger]

Thanks for yesterday's post, GtrsRGr8! I bought at $3.99, feeling it was worth the risk. I also have the Richmond Lattimore translation that I studied in college.

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Amazon just started a promotion that they are calling "50 books you should read in a lifetime," or something to that effect.

Among the selection is a new (2017) translation of Homer's _The Odyssey_, that very well might end up being the new standard, among English translations, of that classic (read the reviews!). The translator is Emily Wilson.

The price of the Kindle edition during this promo is only $3.99. It appears that Amazon isn't providing, at least at the present time, a "retail price," but they do divulge that the "print price" is $39.95. So, $3.99 seems to be a real bargain.

I was going to buy this from Kobo and price match it, and Kobo was selling it for over $25, but they wouldn't take any of the 3 credit cards I tried, so I ended up getting it at Amazon.

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Amazon just started a promotion that they are calling "50 books you should read in a lifetime," or something to that effect.

Among the selection is a new (2017) translation of Homer's _The Odyssey_, that very well might end up being the new standard, among English translations, of that classic (read the reviews!). The translator is Emily Wilson.

The price of the Kindle edition during this promo is only $3.99. It appears that Amazon isn't providing, at least at the present time, a "retail price," but they do divulge that the "print price" is $39.95. So, $3.99 seems to be a real bargain.

One concern that I have is that the book describes itself (very prominently!) as the "First Edition." _Sometimes_, it seems to me, that this is a subtle admission by the author that their work is somehow flawed or incomplete in one or more ways, but that they intend to fix it in a "Second Edition." If you're paranoid like me, you might wish to wait around and spring for that "Second Edition," if indeed there be one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKNHGN1...30_recs_reftag

I haven't read it all, and knew nothing about the website, but an article at
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox...-woman-english looks like it might be a good one. The author's focus is upon the fact that the translator, Emily Wilson, is the first _woman_ to translate The Odyssey into English, and muses upon the significance of that fact.

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by issybird

We no longer start new threads for the new year; it didn't serve a purpose. So you're fine.

Issy, while you are discussing this thread and policy, and while I have your attention, why is this thread entitled "General and Historical Fiction and Literature?" Why do the mods not call it simply "Fiction" or "Non-Genre Fiction?"

[issybird]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Issy, while you are discussing this thread and policy, and while I have your attention, why is this thread entitled "General and Historical Fiction and Literature?" Why do the mods not call it simply "Fiction" or "Non-Genre Fiction?"

It's a good question. It's because the thread was created, it merged two or three other threads and elements of all of them were incorporated into the title so people would know. However, it's long served its purpose and I think your suggestion of Non-Genre Fiction is excellent; I'll tweak it to Fiction (Non-Genre) if you don't mind and make the change forthwith.