A falcon for a queen

Sample

Amin Maalouf

Les jardins de Lumière, c'est l'histoire de Mani, un personnage oublié, mais dont le nom est encore, paradoxalement, sur toutes les lèvres. Lorsqu'on parle de "manichéen", de "manichéisme", on songe rarement à cet homme de Mésopotamie, peintre, médecin et prophète, qui proposait, au IIIe siècle de notre ère, une nouvelle vision du monde, profondément humaniste, et si audacieuse qu'elle allait faire l'objet d'une persécution inlassable de la part de toutes les religions et de tous les empires. Pourquoi un tel acharnement? Quelles barrières sacrées Mani avait-il bousculées? Quels interdits avait-il, pour faire retenir un cri à travers le monde". Plus que jamais, en cette époque déroutante qui est la nôtre, son cri mérite d'être entendu. Et son visage redécouvert. C'est à Mani que ce livre est dédié, c'est sa vie qu'il raconte. Sa vie, ou ce qu'on peut en deviner encore après tant de siècles de mensonge et d'oubli.

Sample

Christina Nicholson

Abducted by a titled adventurer, she was sold to the Dey of Algiers for his carnal amusement. Ravished by her own husband, the sanctity of her marriage became still another kind of sin. Loved by a man she could not have, she crossed burning sands and years of shame to reach his heart.

Sample

Barbara Cartland

Chandra Wardell, daughter of a world-renowned Sanskrit scholar, learns that her father has been commissioned to journey to Nepal to search for an ancient manuscript. Chandra is thrilled--till she discovers that the invitation, extended by staunch woman-hater Lord Frome, does not include her. When Chandra's father suffers a mild heart attack, Chandra, who knows every aspect of her father's work, decided to take his place! She endures the difficult mountain journey... proves her scholarly proficiency... and ultimately falls in love! Chandra heard Lord Frome's footsteps and the light came nearer as he moved down the dark passageway. He put first the candlem then the pistol back on the table and without warning, pulled her roughly against him. his lips came down on hers and helf her captive. Suddenly Chandra felt a wild rapture that was inexpressible, rising up through her body from her breast into her lips. "This is love, she thought, "love as I always knew it would be... Yet how? Lord Frome despised her. "I have hated women for so long," he whispered, "that I did not know how different you were, how very, very different, my precious one. I have been fighting frantically against admitting it... even to myself... but I have loved you for a long time!"

Sample

Barbara Cartland

The Prince of Wales buys for Carlton House an exquisitely painted 15th century picture of "The Virgin of the Lilies" by Stefan Lochner. Both he and his close friend the Marquis of Fane are entranced by it. They are, however, stunned when the dealer brings them a picture by Van Dyke painted a hundred and fifty years later, and the Madonna in it has the same beautiful face as the Lochner. How the Marquis is determined to track down the forger. How he discovers Cyrilla and how their love for each other brings them both misery and frustration until eventually they find happiness. About a girl who forges art and gets caught. The Marquis put his arm around her, kissing her passionately, possessively, until she turned her face away. "I will not frighten you," he said, imploring, "but, my darling, you are not only divine and ethereal, but also human. Let me take you away -- find a house -- we will be alone!" He kissed her once again and departed. It was then she gave a cry that seemed to come from the very depths of her being, "I love him," she sobbed, "I love him. But... I am not a... I cannot do... what he asks!"