Most Popular Books by Michael Hurley

«In questa spettrale raccolta di racconti, otto autori di bestseller creano l’atmosfera perfetta per la stagione natalizia con una serie di storie di fantasmi che incantano». Buzzfeed Quando le giornate si accorciano e i crepuscoli si fanno lividi, è il momento di raggomitolarsi sul divano, accendere le candele e lasciarsi conquistare da un racconto spettrale. Rese popolari da artisti del calibro di Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins e Henry James, le storie di fantasmi sono ricorrenti nella letteratura fin dall’antichità e sono tradizionalmente legate alle feste natalizie. In questa raccolta alcuni dei più grandi scrittori contemporanei – tutti maestri del terrore – riportano in vita questa antica tradizione con una serie di racconti che fanno venire i brividi. C’è un uomo ossessionato dal gioco degli scacchi che decide di prendere in affitto una singolare casa bianca e nera, con un sobrio giardino all’italiana in cui, disposti su due file, vi sono alberi potati in forme elaborate e familiari: torri, cavalli, alfieri, re e regine, con davanti i lunghi ranghi dei pedoni. Ma, se di giorno quel luogo è pervaso da una pacata quiete, di notte si trasforma nel più spaventoso degli incubi. Una donna in fuga da un marito violento sceglie, come rifugio per sé e suo figlio, la vecchia dimora di famiglia. Dovrebbe sentirsi protetta, tra quelle mura, ma fin dalla prima notte appare chiaro che qualcun altro abita quelle stanze polverose. Il giovane Walter Pemble, fotografo commemorativo di prim’ordine, si presenta nella residenza dei coniugi Wilt per il ritratto della defunta Lily, unica figlia di Rumold e Guinevere Wilt. La casa è sprofondata nel lutto, gli specchi oscurati, gli orologi fermi e le persiane alle finestre chiuse con il batacchio trattenuto con del crespo. Solo Lily Wilt, adagiata nel suo feretro, appare più viva che mai. La giovane Catherine Elizabeth Mary Blake, fresca sposa e signora di Blake Manor, nella campagna dello Shropshire, viene messa al corrente di una storia agghiacciante accaduta a pochi passi dalla sua tenuta. Una storia tanto torbida da lasciarle addosso un segno indelebile. Dalle penne di Bridget Collins, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Andrew Michael Hurley, Jess Kidd, Elizabeth Macneal, Natasha Pulley e Laura Purcell, otto racconti pervasi dal sinistro e dal macabro da leggere tutti d’un fiato. Magari con la luce accesa. «Il rigido clima invernale e l’atmosfera vittoriana accomunano questi otto terrificanti racconti, che piaceranno sia ai lettori di narrativa storica che agli amanti dell’horror». Publishers Weekly

Dory Delano, Charlotte Harris, and Turner Graham have been drifting through life since their days as roommates at Smith College, ten years ago. Dory is resisting taking the reins of her family''s legacy and fortune even as she relishes the fabulous lifestyle it affords her in the fashionable seaside resort of Martha''s Vineyard. She invites her old friends to join her for a summer on the Vineyard in hopes of rediscovering the innocence of old days and healing new wounds. But hidden in their midst and unknown to all but a few, a reclusive--some say dangerous--fisherman wanders alone, fueling wild speculation about his purpose and his past. None of these women can imagine the events their encounter with the fisherman will set in motion, the shadow he will cast over their destinies, or the transformation that awaits the world they know.

In the tradition of Thoreau, author Michael C. Hurley offers insights on life, faith and family as revealed in wilderness journeys. Exquisitely illustrated stories transport readers to canoeing expeditions in the north woods and peaceful afternoons on southern streams. With a quiet wisdom, Hurley evokes universal truths hidden in wild places and invites readers to re-discover those truths for themselves. FAM045000; NAT024000; SPO010000

Unfolding within the narrative of a long-distance ocean voyage, the story begins as Hurley leaves Annapolis, Maryland, aboard an ageing, 32-foot sloop, the Gypsy Moon. After the end of his 25-year marriage, Hurley is short of money, out of a job, and seeking to salvage a life that has foundered. Woven through the compelling prose are gems of insight on such diverse topics as faith and disbelief, life and death, love, marriage and the difference between dreams and delusions. As the voyage brightens in surprising and sometimes humorous ways, the reader is guided to geographic and spiritual harbours that seemed unattainable at the start. This book tells a salty, wave-swept tale in the time-honoured tradition, but it also offers a message of hope that will resonate with anyone who has had to pick up the pieces after failure and loss.

Ocho destacados escritores contemporáneos reinterpretan las clásicas historias de fantasmas en esta inquietante colección de relatos ambientados en las localizaciones más misteriosas de las islas británicas. Inglaterra es por excelencia la tierra de las apariciones y los lugares encantados. Para este libro, ocho prominentes novelistas británicos tuvieron la oportunidad de elegir un edificio perteneciente al English Heritage —una institución pública que protege y promueve el patrimonio histórico inglés— y permanecer en él después del horario de visita habitual. Inmersos en la historia, la atmósfera y las leyendas sobre esos emplazamientos, canalizaron la parte más oscura de su fantasía para crear las extraordinarias historias de fantasmas contemporáneas recogidas en este volumen. La mansión jacobea de Audley, el fuerte romano de Housesteads, los castillos de Dover, Kenilworth, Pendennis y Carlisle, el palacio de Eltham y un búnker de la Guerra Fría situado en York. Entre los muros de estos famosos lugares encantados, cada autor encontró la inspiración necesaria para reinterpretar a su manera las clásicas ghost stories, que llevan aterrorizando desde hace generaciones a cuantos lectores se acercan a ellas.

Readers will learn more about soccer and especially attacking play as well as reading about some of the great names in this sport.

Eine Sammlung mit winterlichen Schauergeschichten in der Tradition von Charles Dickens – der perfekte Begleiter für lange Abende: spannend, atmosphärisch und very british! Schaurige Nächte Lange, kalte Winternächte: Zeit, um den Kamin zu entzünden, Zeit für Geistergeschichten. Ob in den wilden Mooren von Yorkshire, auf dem verschneiten Gelände eines Spukhauses oder auf dem belebten Londoner Weihnachtsmarkt – diese Geschichten, die von Gespenstern vergangener Tage erzählen, jagen den Lesenden die köstlichsten Schauer über den Rücken. So herrlich britisch wie ein Yorkshire Pudding, so stimmungsvoll und gruselig wie ›Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte‹ von Charles Dickens und so spannend, dass man dieses Buch kaum aus den Händen legen kann. ›Schaurige Nächte‹ vereint acht Erzählungen ausgewiesener Gruselexpert*innen, die eine alte Tradition neu beleben: Als Meister*innen des Unheimlichen und Makabren bescheren sie uns den köstlichsten Nervenkitzel. Wintergeister Die Tradition, zur kalten Jahreszeit Spukgeschichten zu lesen, hat sich über die Jahrhunderte hinweg bewährt. Denn was gibt es Schöneres, als es sich an langen, dunklen Winterabenden bei Kerzenlicht mit Geistergeschichten gemütlich zu machen? In ›Wintergeister‹ hauchen sechs hochgelobte Autor*innen und Expert*innen des unheimlichen Erzählens der Tradition des Schauermärchens neues Leben ein. Ein heimgesuchtes Herrenhaus, ein unheilvolles Theaterstück und eine Geisterbeschwörung zaubern eine wohlige Gänsehaut und bescheren Fans von Charles Dickens, Edgar Allen Poe oder ›Downton Abbey‹ ein fesselndes Lesevergnügen. Diese atmosphärischen Spukgeschichten sind der perfekte Begleiter für frostige Nächte!

Readers will learn more about soccer and especially goalkeeping as well as reading about some of the great names in this sport.

Alongside biographies of famous international players at each of these potitions, Football Files looks at fitness, techniques, and nutrition. This high interest recreational read will engage readers by looking at the history and skills of some of their favourite players, whilst giving them great tips om how to play like their heroes.

Describes how to both practically and mentally prepare for different types of disasters.

Are you interested in motor sports? Then this is the book for you! Discover some of the most fascinating and unusual facts about the sport. With facts about Formula 1, World Rally, NASCAR, and MotoGP this book reveals the fastest vehicles, unusual racers, the trouble a kangaroo can cause, great male and female drivers, and more! Themed boxes, captions and labels make the text in this book easy to read and absorb. The engaging design will draw readers in and keep them hooked.

The core of this book is a five-night series of meetings for parishioners who are interested in meeting together for faith-sharing -- expressing and developing their faith by prayer, reflection on the scriptures, listening to and then sharing with each other on a teaching arising from the scripture reading. At the end of the meetings, an option is offered to the participants to create a support structure for themselves in the form of parish cell groups. The development of these parish cell groups has revolutionized parishes where they have been set up. They offer maximum involvement for the parishioners in the mission of the church, mutual support in prayer, scripture reflection and faith development, and minimal extra work for the pastor.

Wheel Sports shows readers different extreme wheel sports from around the world.

An exciting, high-interest Olympic series designed to tie-in perfectly with the London Olympics in 2012. The series offers up-to-date and comprehensive information specific to the games in 2012 and a detailed look at new technologies that are making a huge impact in the world of sports today. Other titles examine the scale, history, and huge popularity of the event up to the present day.