The Head of the House of Coombe follows the relationships between a group of pre-World War One English nobles and commoners. It also offers both some interesting editorial commentary on the political system in prewar Europe that Burnett feels bears some responsibility for the war and some surprisingly pointed social commentary.

The Head of the House of Coombe is a 1922 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The Head of the House of Coombe follows the relationships between a group of pre-World War One English nobles and commoners. It also offers editorial commentary on the political system in prewar Europe that Burnett feels bears some responsibility for the war, and some pointed social commentary

The much-loved tale that has been read by generations of children is now annotated and includes more than 100 stunning illustrations.

Lord Coombe is considered to be the best-dressed man in London. He is also a man whose public reputation, despite his formidable intellect and observant eye, is one of unmitigated wickedness. During one of his social forays, he meets a selfish young woman named 'Feather' with the face of an angel. Fascinated by her, he slowly drifts into her circle. When her husband dies unexpectedly, leaving her alone and desolate in London, he ends up taking her under his wing.Feather has a daughter named Robin, of whom she takes little notice. She treats Robin with shocking neglect and once Coombe takes over responsibility for the household's finances, Feather readily abandons poor Robin to the less-than-kindly ministrations of her nurse. In fact, Robin doesn't even know Feather is her mother for her first six years, calling her 'The Lady Downstairs'. Robin also hates Coombe, having heard a conversation that blamed him for the loss of her first friend. This was a little boy named Donal who was in fact Coombe's heir. Donal's mother disapproves both of Coombe and Feather and when she discovers that her son has been playing with Robin, she whisks him away, leaving Robin heartbroken. However, Coombe does not return this dislike and in fact makes a point of serving as her guardian, albeit without Robin's knowledge. As Robin grows, he builds her a set of rooms, engages a loving nurse for her, and eventually secures a reputable governess for her. While her mother continues to behave with the selfish freedom of a wanton child.As Robin grows, she becomes a lovely and intelligent though innocent, girl. Feather's circle includes some unsavory characters, one of whom, a German nobleman, tries to make Robin into his plaything. This caricature of Imperial German stereotypes uses Robin's desire to support herself to trap her in a house of ill repute. His plan fails mainly through the actions of Coombe, but the after-effects leave Robin crushed.One of Coombe's few true confidants is a dowager Duchess - a woman of both great intellect and great understanding who has recently lost her long-time lady companion. After Robin's experiences with the German, Coombe suggests Robin as a suitable replacement. The Duchess is the one person who knows the secret of Coombe's determination to watch over Robin and why he is willing to tolerate the activities of her mother. This secret is finally communicated to the reader as well during one of Coombe's talks with the Duchess. The Duchess does indeed take in Robin and befriends her. Robin is introduced to the Duchess' children and their friends and finally sponsors a small dance for Robin. At the dance, Robin meets Donal again as Coombe and the Duchess learn that an Austrian Archduke has just been assassinated in Serbia.

The Head of the House of Coombe is a 1922 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The Head of the House of Coombe follows the relationships between a group of pre-World War One English nobles and commoners. It also offers editorial commentary on the political system in prewar Europe that Burnett feels bears some responsibility for the war, and some pointed social commentary.

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821–1890) was a British explorer, geographer, translator and diplomat. Burton's best-known achievements include a well-documented journey to Mecca, in disguise; an unexpurgated translation of One Thousand and One Nights; the publication of the Kama Sutra in English and an expedition with J. H. Spake to discover the source of Nile. E-artnow present his greatest works as an author, translator and explorer. His works and the works about his life act as the true legacy of his untamed travel spirit and eternal curiosity. _x000D_ Content_x000D_ Translations:_x000D_ Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana_x000D_ Book of Thousand Nights and A Night (Complete Edition)_x000D_ The Perfumed Garden of the Cheikh Nefzaoui_x000D_ Ananga Ranga_x000D_ Vikram and the Vampire_x000D_ Travel Writings:_x000D_ First Footsteps in East Africa_x000D_ Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah _x000D_ To the Gold Coast for Gold_x000D_ Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo_x000D_ Unexplored Syria _x000D_ Historical Research:_x000D_ A New System of Sword Exercise for Infantry_x000D_ The Sentiment of the Sword: A Country-House Dialogue_x000D_ Poetry:_x000D_ The Kasîdah of Hâjî Abdû El-Yezdî_x000D_ The Gulistan of Sa'di_x000D_ Priapeia_x000D_ Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus_x000D_ Poem to His Wife_x000D_ Alma Minha Gentil, Que Te Partiste_x000D_ Em Quanto Quiz Fortuna Que Tivesse_x000D_ Eu Cantarei De Amor Tao Docemente_x000D_ No Mundo Poucos Annos, E Cansados_x000D_ Que Levas, Cruel Morte? Hum Claro Dia_x000D_ Ah! Minha Dinamene! Assim Deixaste_x000D_ Biography and Further Readings:_x000D_ Life of Sir Richard Burton by Thomas Wright_x000D_ Romance of Isabel Lady Burton: The Story of Her Life_x000D_ Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile by J. H. Speke_x000D_ What Led to the Discovery of the Nile by J. H. Speke_x000D_ Arabian Society in the Middle Ages_x000D_ Behind the Veil in Persia and Turkish Arabia

The four classic novels of Sherlock Holmes, heavily illustrated and annotated with extensive scholarly commentary, in an attractive and elegant slipcase. The publication of Leslie S. Klinger's brilliant new annotations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's four classic Holmes novels in 2005 created a Holmes sensation. Klinger reassembles Doyle's four seminal novels in their original order, with over 1,000 notes, 350 illustrations and period photographs, and tantalizing new Sherlockian theories. Inside, readers will find: A Study in Scarlet (1887)—a tale of murder and revenge that tells of Holmes and Dr. Watson's first meeting; The Sign of Four (1889)—a chilling tale of lost treasure...and of how Watson met his wife; The Hound of the Baskervilles (1901)—hailed as the greatest mystery novel of all time; and The Valley of Fear (1914)—a fresh murder scene that leads Holmes to solve a long-forgotten mystery. Whether as a stand-alone volume or as a companion to the short stories, this classic work illuminates the timeless genius of Conan Doyle for an entirely new generation.