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Explore original works, translations, and curated public-domain editions. ARTales is being built as a living library: a place where texts keep their structure, context, editions, and reading layers.

Obálka díla Little Women

Public domain

Little Women

Author: Louisa May Alcott
English

Home is not always a place. Sometimes, it is the people with whom we share our joys, losses, and hopes for the future. Little Women follows four sisters, each searching for her own path while holding on to the bond that connects them. Beneath the quiet rhythm of everyday life lies a story about growing up, family, and the changes time inevitably brings. Readers return to this novel for its warmth, humanity, and gentle reminder that the simplest moments are often the ones we cherish most.

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Obálka díla The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Public domain

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Author: Washington Irving
English

If some stories seem made for autumn evenings, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow surely belongs among them. In a landscape shaped by whispered legends and quiet uncertainty, the line between reality and imagination slowly begins to blur. Some stories do not frighten us outright — they simply make us glance over our shoulder a little longer.

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Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Public domain

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
English

A classic collection of twelve Sherlock Holmes stories showcasing the detective’s sharp intellect, keen observation, and mastery of deduction. From blackmail and stolen treasures to mysterious disappearances, each case reveals a different facet of Victorian London’s secrets. The stories blend suspense, wit, and atmosphere, making this anthology a defining cornerstone of detective fiction.

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Obálka díla Dracula

Public domain

Dracula

Author: Bram Stoker
English

Some books become famous long before we ever open them, and Dracula is often one of them. Yet beyond the story of a mysterious count lies a world of growing unease, unfamiliar places, and tension that builds almost unnoticed. Perhaps that is why it still feels so vivid today — some fears never fade as much as we imagine.

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The Hound of The Baskervilles

Public domain

The Hound of The Baskervilles

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
English

A classic Sherlock Holmes mystery blending eerie folklore with sharp deduction. When a nobleman fears a legendary spectral hound haunting the moors, Holmes and Watson uncover a web of greed, deception, and family secrets. Atmospheric landscapes, rising tension, and a chilling sense of the supernatural make this one of Doyle’s most iconic and compelling investigations.

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The Sign of the Four

Public domain

The Sign of the Four

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
English

A fast‑paced Sherlock Holmes mystery that begins with a cryptic summons and unfolds into a tale of hidden treasure, betrayal, and long‑buried secrets. As Holmes and Watson follow a trail across London’s darker corners, they uncover a complex conspiracy rooted in colonial history. Suspense, deduction, and emotional undercurrents make this one of Doyle’s most engaging adventures.

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The Valey of Fear

Public domain

The Valey of Fear

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
English

A gripping Sherlock Holmes mystery that intertwines a brutal country‑house murder with a hidden past rooted in secret societies and betrayal. As Holmes unravels cryptic clues, the story shifts between England and America, revealing how long‑buried loyalties ignite deadly consequences. A tense, atmospheric novel blending deduction with dark intrigue.

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The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

Public domain

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
English

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of twelve detective stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, following Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they solve a wide range of mysteries. The stories showcase Holmes’s deductive brilliance, explore darker themes, and introduce key figures such as Mycroft Holmes and Professor Moriarty. Cases range from the disappearance of a racehorse in Silver Blaze to ancient family secrets in The Musgrave Ritual, early episodes from Holmes’s youth in The Gloria Scott, and political intrigue in The Naval Treaty. The collection culminates in The Final Problem, where Holmes confronts Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls in what was intended to be the detective’s final appearance

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Obálka díla The Phantom of the Opera

Public domain

The Phantom of the Opera

Author: Gaston Leroux
English

Some love stories are far removed from fairy tales. The Phantom of the Opera unfolds in a world of music, admiration, and mystery, while quietly exploring loneliness, longing, and feelings that struggle to find their place. Perhaps that is why it lingers not only as a tale of suspense, but also with a certain melancholy.

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Metamorphosis

Public domain

Metamorphosis

Author: Franz Kafka
English

Some books stay with us from their very first sentence, and Metamorphosis is certainly one of them. What first appears absurd soon becomes unexpectedly familiar: a story of alienation, family ties, and the quiet feeling of slowly becoming unintelligible to the people around us. A short work carrying far more feeling than its reputation might first suggest.

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The Trial

Public domain

The Trial

Author: Franz Kafka
English

Some stories unsettle us not because of what they show, but because of how little certainty they offer. The Trial begins quietly, yet gradually turns into a world where rules remain unclear and answers seem forever out of reach. A novel both frustrating and strangely compelling — perhaps that is exactly why it lingers in the mind.

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The Mystery of the Blue Train

Public domain

The Mystery of the Blue Train

Author: Agatha Christie
English

Some mysteries draw us in through their secrets; others because of the person determined to uncover them. The Mystery of the Blue Train combines elegant surroundings, carefully hidden truths, and clues that reveal their significance only gradually. Presiding over it all is Hercule Poirot, a detective whose insight into human nature is every bit as compelling as his talent for solving crimes.

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The Scarlet Letter

Public domain

The Scarlet Letter

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
English

Some stories are shaped less by what happened than by how long its consequences endure. The Scarlet Letter follows lives marked by guilt, secrecy, and the judgement of others, without offering easy answers. Beneath the portrait of a strict society lies a deeply human story about dignity, resilience, and the price we sometimes pay for our choices. A novel quieter than its reputation suggests, yet one that often lingers long after the final page.

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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Public domain

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Author: Lyman Frank Baum
English

Sometimes the search for something important begins when the familiar world suddenly turns into something unknown. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz brings together adventure, friendship, and the quiet courage needed to keep moving forward, even without knowing what lies ahead. Beneath its colourful world and unforgettable characters lies a story that speaks surprisingly well to adult readers, too.

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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Public domain

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Author: Lewis Carroll
English

What happens when we decide to follow something that makes very little sense? Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland begins with a fall into a world where size changes without warning, animals speak, and questions often matter more than answers. Beneath its playful absurdity lies a story that can feel both enchanting and disorienting — perhaps that is why readers find something different in it at every stage of life.

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