The morning was as dark and cold as city snow could make it--a
dingy whirl at the window; a read more

The morning was as dark and cold as city snow could make it--a
dingy whirl at the window; a smoky gust through the fire-place; a
shadow black as a bear's cave under the table. Nothing in all
the cavernous room, loomed really warm or familiar except a glass
of stale water, and a vapid, half-eaten grape-fruit.

According to the tapes, my father, then about as run-of-the-mill
as Joe Blow himself, didn't want to see the read more

According to the tapes, my father, then about as run-of-the-mill
as Joe Blow himself, didn't want to see the thing.

We are talking now of summer evenings in Knoxville, Tennessee in
the time that I lived there so successfully read more

We are talking now of summer evenings in Knoxville, Tennessee in
the time that I lived there so successfully disguised to myself
as a child.

"Please, sir, is this Plumfield?" asked a ragged boy of the man
who opened the great gate at which read more

"Please, sir, is this Plumfield?" asked a ragged boy of the man
who opened the great gate at which the omnibus left him.

On the 10th of July 1553, about two hours after noon, a loud
discharge of ordnance burst from the read more

On the 10th of July 1553, about two hours after noon, a loud
discharge of ordnance burst from the turrets of Durham House,
then the residence of the Duke of Northumberland, grandmaster of
the realm, and occupying the site of the modern range of
buildings known as the Adelphi; and at the signal, which was
immediately answered from every point along the river where a
bombard or culverin could be planted-- . . .

Early one morning I, Vadim Maslennikov, set off for school (I was
going on seventeen at the time) having read more

Early one morning I, Vadim Maslennikov, set off for school (I was
going on seventeen at the time) having forgotten the envelope
with the first-semester fees Mother had left me in the dining
room the day before.

It was a cold winter Sunday afternoon.

It was a cold winter Sunday afternoon.

Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of
the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies read more

Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of
the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded
yellow sun.

The primroses were over.

The primroses were over.