Romance

Angela Carter: The Kiss

Angela Carter: The Kiss

The Kiss is a story by Angela Carter, published in 1985 in the collection Black Venus. Set in the magical city of Samarkand, the story intertwines myth and history to narrate an episode in the life of Tamerlane’s wife. Against a backdrop of vivid colors and exotic landscapes, the wife tries to surprise the famous warrior, returning from his conquests, by erecting a mosque in his honor. However, the cunning architect sets an unexpected condition for finishing the job on time.

Edgar Allan Poe: Eleonora

Edgar Allan Poe - Eleonora

Eleonora is a gothic tale by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1841. It tells the story of a young man who lives in a paradisiacal valley with his cousin Eleonora. In this haven of beauty and isolation, the two share an existence of pure love and simple harmony, surrounded by dreamy landscapes and the silent flow of a magical river. However, a shadow threatens to break their idyllic life, forcing them to confront the fragility of happiness and the strength of the ties that bind them together.

O. Henry: The Gift of the Magi

O. Henry: The Gift of the Magi

The Gift of the Magi is a short story by O. Henry, first published in The New York Sunday World on 10 December 1905. The narrative revolves around Delia and Jim, a young couple residing in a modest apartment. On Christmas Eve, with only a meagre sum of barely a dollar and eighty-seven cents to her name, Delia finds herself in a desperate situation, striving to procure a suitable gift for her husband. Driven by a profound sense of affection, she makes a decision that entails significant personal deprivation. The poignant and straightforward account illuminates the value of altruistic love and the sacrifices one is willing to make for those they hold most dear.

Mary Shelley: The Invisible Girl

Mary Shelley: The Invisible Girl

Mary Shelley’s short story “The Invisible Girl” tells the adventure of a traveler who, disoriented during a storm, finds refuge in a seemingly abandoned and ruined tower. Inside, he discovers a surprisingly cozy atmosphere and an enigmatic portrait of a young woman called “The Invisible Girl.” Intrigued by the place, the man asks a local woman for more information about it. The woman reveals a story of love, pain, and mystery, which connects a series of characters and explains the reason for such a peculiar construction. “The Invisible Girl” is a work in which the author of Frankenstein mixes the gothic with the romantic to deliver a tragic and moving story.