Indian Eye

Project Gutenberg - Bibliophiles, Rejoice!

If you are a bibliophile, you’ve probably read some classics along the way, and wished you’d read more. Growing up, I used to look forward to the vacations as that would mean going to the library or the neighborhood flea shop and hunt for books that looked “old“. Why old? There was a certain magic in the writings and the authors wrote because they were very good at it, not because they wanted to appear in the New York bestseller’s list.

That was then. I haven’t been scavenging for such books since I was 17, blame it on lack of time, or maybe I just grew out of it.

And then, I came across Project Gutenberg www.gutenberg.org. Here is what it’s wiki says

Project Gutenberg …is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive and distribute cultural works…Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books. The project tries to make these as free as possible, in long-lasting, open formats that can be used on almost any computer.

It means some of the best classical works of literature are now available for download for free! Yes, in an era where this is a price to everything, these valuable tomes of knowledge and fantasies are FREE!

So what did I find? Here is a sample list.

The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes
Around the World in 80 days - Jules Vernes
Dracula - Bram Stoker
Kim - Rudyard Kipling
Moonstone - Wilkie Collins
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe
Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas

…I could just go on and on. One is spoiled for choice! Here is the URL again www.gutenberg.org, and happy reading and reminescing

PS: Johannes Gutenberg is credited with having invented printing using movable type in 1450 AD.

Tags: Books, Project Gutenberg

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Books Feast - 5 new books

I returned from Landmark, Chennai with an array of books to keep me occupied this month.

Here are the Books …

Buddha Volume 1 - Kapilavastu. This is the first of the 8 volumes written by Osamu Tezuka, the acclaimed Japanese writer and illustrator (also known as the father of the Manga or Anime). The Buddha series follows the life of Gautama Buddha, in Tezuka’s unique style.

Mapping the Mind - Rick Carter. This book draws on the latest in brain imaging to give extraordinary insights into how the brain works.

AdLand - Mark Tungate. The book takes a global view of the development of advertising, using first-hand accounts from the key players.

Lost in Translation - Charlie Croker. A wonderful collection of outrageous howlers from all over the world.

Himalaya - Michael Palin. A travelogue along the length of the Himalayas, including the Khyber Pass, the hidden valleys of the Hindu Kush, Peshawar, Lahore and the adventures that lie there-in.

Tags: Books, Buddha

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