The Bibliophile's Compass

1686 Crusoe leaves the island. - UK 1776  American Crisis by Thomas Paine - US The American Crisis is a pamphlet series by 18th century Enlightenment philosopher and author Thomas Paine, originally published from 1776 to 1783 during the American Revolution. 1843 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - UK First published on December 19, 1843,  A Christmas Carol  was an instant classic: Londoners thronged to hear Dickens read it in person and bought out the first printing in days. Its reception was so ecstatic that it is credited with helping to revive interest among the Victorians in Christmas traditions, including caroling and holiday cards, as well as inciting an unexpected wave of charitable giving from Britain’s Industrial Age robber barons. 1848 The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain by Charles Dickens - UK Redlaw is a teacher of chemistry who often broods over wrongs done him and grief from his past.He is haunted by a spirit, who is not so much a ghost as Re...

1924  Vortex by Noël Coward - UK In The Vortex, Coward explores the darker side of the Cocktail Party set. Emotional blackmail, drug abuse and shattered relationships are minutely observed in this disturbing, early piece from a playwright whose sharp eye was more usually turned towards the light. 2025 Between Good and Evil by Rochelle Alers - US A transporting historical saga about three young men coming-of-age on New York City’s rapidly changing, vibrant, challenging, sometimes heartless Upper West Side as they walk a fine line between right and wrong amid the turbulence and scandals of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. 2025 Crossing the Line by James D. Shipman - CAN In the dark heart of the Krakow Jewish ghetto, three women—each a world apart—are drawn together by an unthinkable twist of fate. The women must navigate a deadly game of survival, risking everything to outsmart the Nazis and save countless lives. Perfect for readers of Pam Jenoff, Kristin Hannah, Joseph Kanon, an...

1925  Easy Virtue by Noël Coward - UK When curtain rises, it is a morning in early April. The hall looks quite gay' with spring flowers, but rain can be seen beating against the windows. 1938 Here Come the Clowns by Philip Barry - US It is an imaginative excursion in search of the truth, and some of it shuffles off this mortal coil. in a glow of haunting beauty.

1644  Areopagitica by John Milton (UK) One of the original, and greatest defenses of free speech, originally published as a written 'speech.' 1926 This Was a Man   by Noël Coward "This Was A Man" A Comedy In Three Acts by Noel Coward is a captivating anthology that delves into the intricate dynamics of relationships in 1920s England, masterfully crafted with Coward's signature wit. 1937  Golden Boy by Clifford Odets 1937  Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck A controversial tale of friendship and tragedy during the Great Depression