Social realism and lion-tamers

The Lion Queen, Gibson & Co. Lithographers; Library if Congress, no known rights restrictions; http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2006678343/    

‘Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.’

-Lewis Carroll

It's been a while since we've had a look at the books on Henry Wilkinson's prisoner of war reading list.  These are another five books of a variety of themes.

The Sea Hawk, Rafael Sabatini, published 1915, read 19 August 1918

Beginning in 1588, Sir Oliver Tressilian lives in Cornwall where he is betrothed to Rosamund Goldolphin. His brother, Lionel, kills Rosamund’s brother in a fight over a woman, but circumstances lead people to believe Oliver is the culprit, and Lionel does not correct them. Lionel then has Oliver kidnapped and he ends up a slave on a Spanish ship. When the ship is boarded by buccaneers, Oliver escapes his shackles and joins the men. He eventually makes his name as Sakr-el-Bahr, the Hawk of the Sea. A chance meeting with his original kidnapper gives Oliver the opportunity to take vengeance on his brother and try and win back Rosamund. (Summarised from Wikipedia)

The Star Dreamer, Agnes and Egerton Castle, published 1903, read 23 August 1918

The book begins with a detailed history of the house at the centre of the story, Bindon-Cheveral, in the Wiltshire countryside. The owner of the house, David Cheveral, is a recluse who spends his time watching the stars for his observatory tower. That is until the daughter of an alchemist, also living at the house, arrives and love pulls him from his solitude. (Summarised from The Spectator review)

The Weaker Vessel, EF Benson, published 1913, read 27 August 1918
Harry Whitaker has a talent for writing plays but begins to rely more and more on alcohol to make them great. The book is about the battle between a wife’s love and whisky’s inspiration.

EF [Edward Frederic] Benson wrote many novels but is most well-known for writing the Mapp and Lucia books, which were most recently adapted for television in 2014. He was also the younger brother of Arthur Christopher Benson who wrote the word’s to Land of Hope and Glory.  (Summarised from a review in the Liverpool Echo via www.efbensontheothernovels.blogspot.co.uk)

Simon the Jester, WJ Locke, published 1910, read 29 August 1918

Simon de Gex discovers he is ill and has 6 months to live. He disposes of his time and wealth to charity and good causes but then finds he is not going to die after all. He must once again find a life worth living. Summarised from several good reviews on Good Reads, the book’s other characters include Lola, a lion tamer and horse trainer, a Greek dwarf, and a fiancé of ‘a thousand virtues’.

The book was made into a film in 1915 and Locke had many of his works adapted for stage and screen, including Ladies in Lavender in 2004 starring Judi Dench and Charles Dance.

The Splendid Idle Forties, Gertrude Atherton, published 1902, read 2 September 1918

It is difficult to find anything specifically about this book but it is part of what is known as the author’s California Series. Atherton wrote many of her stories about the social history of her home state of California. She is also considered an early feminist. (Summarised from Wikipedia)

Food for thought

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” 

 - Philip Pullman

Whilst good nourishment might not have been easy to come by in a prisoner of war camp, at least Henry Wilkinson had access to books, even if they weren't the well known works. In this set of books read in July and August of 1918 there are several lesser known stories by popular authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle.  It is not say that these books do not have merit, but it is hard to think that even with the limited range available, a book titled 'Yeast' would be considered of interest if it were not written by Charles Kingsley.

Petticoat Government, Baroness Orczy, published 1910, ready 19 July 1918

Written by the same author as the Scarlet Pimpernel books, Petticoat Government is a story in three parts, The Girl, The Statesman, and The Woman, concerning the French aristocracy and the Madame du Pompadour’s influence over Louis XV of France.

During the First World War, Baroness ‘Emmuska’ Orczy set up the Women of England’s Active Service League, which had 20000 members.  Katie Adie’s book ‘Fighting on the Home Front’ says these women had to pledge “not to be seen in the company of a man ‘who had not answered his country’s call’…” 

A Short History of Our Own Time, J McCarthy, published 1879-1890, read 21 July 1918

This is a history in five volumes subtitled ‘From the accession of Queen Victoria to the general election of 1880’.  It is not indicated whether Wilkinson had access to all five volumes of the book given that the library did not always have a full complement of books in multiple parts. However, the next entry in the book list is dated nine days later as opposed to the usual one or two, so maybe Wilkinson did have access to the majority, if not all, of the volumes.  The book seems to be more often referred to without the ‘short’ in the title.  It is not clear if there is a difference or not.

The Score, Lucas Malet, published 1909, read 30 July 1918

There are two stories in this book.  The first tells of a successful actress who cares so much for the best interests of her friend and lover that she sacrifices her own marriage and love.  The second story takes place at an Italian convent and looks at the psychology of evil.  (Summarised from the Internet Archive)

Lucas Malet is the pseudonym of Mary St Leger Kingsley, the daughter of Charles Kingsley. 

The Captain of the Pole Star, Arthur Conan Doyle, published 1890, read 2 August 1918

This book has a series of short stories including the title one, in which the crew of a ship hunting for treasure in the north pole begin to doubt the sanity of their captain after they hear a one sided conversation coming from his quarters.  It also contains ‘J. Habakuk Jephson’s Statement’ which is the story of the Marie Celeste.  It popularised the mystery to the point that many commonly held ideas are actually Conan Doyle’s fictional embellishments. 

Arthur Conan Doyle was a popular author in the libraries of prisoner of war camps.  In July 2014, I posted about PHB Lyon reading the Sherlock Holmes story ‘His Last Bow’.

A Fountain Sealed, Walter Besant, published 1897, read 8 August 1918

One of many fictional books written by the novelist and historian Walter Besant, this is a work of historical fiction about the supposed mistress of King George III in the 1700s. 

Hunted Down, Charles Dickens, published 1859, read 12 August 1918

This is a short detective story thought to have been inspired by the alleged poisoner Thomas Wainewright (who also inspired many other writers including Oscar Wilde).  It was published at a time when the London Metropolitan Police was well established and the public had an appetite for crime stories.

Yeast, Charles Kingsley, published 1848 (Fraser’s Magazine), 1851 (book), read 15 August 1918

The second book by Charles Kingsley that Wilkinson read, the Victorian Web describes the novel as telling  “the fate of Lancelot Smith, a wealthy young man, who changes his religious and social views under the influence of Tregarva, a philosophical game-keeper, who acquaints Smith with the social, economic and moral conditions of the rural poor.”

Distant Lands

 “Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”  

Mason Cooley

Author=© Jorge Royan|License=CC-BY-SA-3.0 

Another blog post in the series looking at the books read by Henry Wilkinson whilst a prisoner of war at Stralsund.  As our nights start to draw in, maybe there is something in this group, which includes three books involving travel that takes your fancy.  It is a long held belief that books can transport us to a different place but the idea of reading about distant lands (the South Pacific is about as far removed from the Prussian coastal prison camp as you could get) whilst in captivity must have been bittersweet.

Jupiter Lights, Constance F Woolson, published 1889, read 13 July 1918

Jack Bruce left England to fight in the American Civil War where he has married and had a child.  Jack dies of yellow fever and his wife quickly remarries, to a man who likes to drink and gets violent when he does.  Jack’s sister Eva travels to South Carolina to her retrieve her nephew and take him back to England.  Eva ends up staying in America longer than planned when events take a desperate turn.

(Summarised from reviews on Good Reads and Amazon)

Avenged on Society, HF Wood, published 1893, read 14 July 1918

A satire written in a diary style in which the author inserts himself as a character – it tries to comment on society’s penchant for romanticising criminals who got away with their crimes.

(Summarised from a review in The Spectator 15 April 1893)

A Son of the Sun, Jack London, published 1912, read 16 July 1918

A book of eight short stories about Captain David Grief, a businessman with financial interests in the islands of the South Pacific.  Set at the beginning of the 20^th century, the stories tell of Grief’s adventures, inspired by the authors own experiences sailing in the region. 

(Summarised from Wikipedia)

A New England Nun and Other Stories, University of South Carolina Special Collections

A New England Nun, ME Wilkins, published 1891, read 17 July 1918

Published in a collection of short stories by the same story, the title story is that of Louisa Ellis, a woman who has lived alone for many years and is set in her particular ways.  Fourteen years earlier, she had promised to marry Joe Daggett when he returned from seeking his fortune in Australia.  When Joe returns, Louisa finds it difficult to adapt after such a long time alone but believes a promise is a promise.  However, she finds out that Joe has developed feelings for the woman who has been looking after his mother.  Without telling him the reason, Louisa releases Joe from their engagement. 

(Summarised from Wikipedia)

Elizabeth Visits America, Elinor Glyn, published 1909, read 18 July 1918

A sequel to Glyn’s 1900 novel The Visits of Elizabeth.  The first book takes the form of the letters Elizabeth sends to her invalid mother in England whilst she travels abroad going to the grand parties of titled relatives.  Elizabeth Visits America takes the same format except that Elizabeth is visiting America with friends and they want to see the real place, ‘the American Americans we don’t meet at home’.

(Summarised from the Edwardian Promenade blog review)

This is an example of what Newcombe and Winston say in their Library Journal article that oftentimes, they might have the sequel to a book without a copy of the original. 

A Woman of No Importance, Oscar Wilde, play first performed 1893, first printed 1894, read 18 July 1918

Oscar Wilde's audacious drama of social scandal centres around the revelation of Mrs Arbuthnot's long-concealed secret. A house party is in full swing at Lady Hunstanton's country home, when it is announced that Gerald Arbuthnot has been appointed secretary to the sophisticated, witty Lord Illingworth. Gerald's mother stands in the way of his appointment, but fears to tellOscar Wilde's [play is an] audacious drama of social scandal centres on the revelation of Mrs Arbuthnot's long-concealed secret. A house party is in full swing at Lady Hunstanton's country home, when it is announced that Gerald Arbuthnot has been appointed secretary to the sophisticated, witty Lord Illingworth. Gerald's mother stands in the way of his appointment, but fears to tell him why, for who will believe Lord Illingworth to be a man of no importance?

(Synospsis from Penguin books)

A princess, great men, and the war

"I have a tale of heroes who sailed away into a distant land, to win themselves renown for ever..."

Charles Kingsley, from the opening to The Argonauts

This run of books, as read by Henry Wilkinson in the prisoner of war camp at Stralsund, include a couple of interesting titles considering his situation. A princess fairytale for one, a book on war written by a German emigrant for another.

The Golden Fleece, drawing from Charles Kinglsey's The Heroes (from Project Gutenberg, http://www.gutenberg.org/files/677/677-h/677-h.htm)

Princess Priscilla’s Fortnight, Elizabeth Von Arnim, published 1905, read 30 June 1918

From the description and reviews of this book, it is perhaps less of a twee fairy tale than the title suggests, and more a cautionary tale.  Princess Priscilla grows tired of her lavish lifestyle and, after receiving a marriage proposal from a respectable prince, flees the castle with her mentor and her chambermaid.  They settle in a small village to live a simple life, but the culture clash proves too much and they upset the locals.  The simple life proves to be far from it.

The War and America, Hugo Munsterberg, published 1914, read 4 July 1918

This book was written on the verge of the outbreak of the First World War by Hugo Munsterberg who was a pioneer of applied psychology.  Born in Danzig, West Prussia (now Gdansk, Poland), Munsterberg went to teach at Harvard in the 1890s.  During his time he strived to create a good relationship between Germany and America.  The Amazon.com description of the book reads “[He] turns his scientific eye on American culture as it was on the precipice of World War I, which he rightly foresaw as a horrific Great War. With the perspective not only of an educated and insightful social observer but also as a German immigrant with torn loyalties, Munsterberg's commentary serves as a unique viewpoint on a storied period of American history.”  These torn loyalties seem to have leaned more in favour of Germany and some people thought the author to be a German spy, to the point that he received death threats.  The stress of this is thought to have contributed to his death in 1916.

Representative Men, Ralph Waldo Emerson, published 1850, read 8 July 1918

This book sees seven lectures by Emerson published in essay form.  The first looks at the role of ‘great men’ in society with the remaining six each about a man Emerson considered great.  These men were: Plato, Emanuel Swedenborg, Michel de Montaigne, William Shakespeare, Napoleon, and Goethe.  

The Heroes, Charles Kingsley, published 1856, read 9 July 1918

A version of the Greek Myths for children focusing on Perseus, The Argonauts, and Theseus.  This was Kingsley’s first foray into writing for children, before publishing one his best known books, The Water Babies, in 1862.

With Essex in Ireland, Emily Lawless, published 1890, read 10 July 1918

A historical novel written by Emily Lawless concerning the 1599 Irish Campaign of Robert Devereux, second Earl of Essex.  It is written as though Lawless has edited an original diary kept by Devereux’s secretary, Henry Harvey, but is in fact a work of fiction based on historical facts.With Essex in Ireland being extracts from a diary kept in Ireland during the year 1599 by Mr. Henry Harvey, sometime secretary to Robert Devereux, earl of Essex. This book, "With Essex in Ireland," by Emily Lawless, is a replication of a book originally published before 1890. It has been restored by human beings, page by page, so that you may enjoy it in a form as close toA historical novel wirA

Ivanhoe, Sit Walter Scott, published 1820, read 11 July 1918

Ivanhoe is set in England in 1194 and tells the story of Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a member of one of the few remain Saxon noble families, and at odds with his father as Wilfred supports the Norman king, Richard I.  The book also features Richard’s brother, Prince John, and a character called Locksley who has a band of men.  It is in part from this book that we get our modern day idea of Robin Hood.

Tragedy or Comedy?

“Actors are so fortunate. They can choose whether they will appear in tragedy or in comedy, whether they will suffer or make merry, laugh or shed tears. But in real life it is different.” – Oscar Wilde, Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime

Tragedy and Comedy

This week’s set of books read by Henry Wilkinson whilst in the POW camp at Stralsund are a varied lot, from historical to racy yet tragic romance by way of Oscar Wilde. 

Under the Red Robe, Stanley J Weyman, published 1894, read 25 June 1918

A historical romance novel set during the 17^th Century rise of Cardinal Richelieu.  It covers the events in which Richelieu’s enemies mistakenly thought they had convinced King Louis XIII to dismiss him from power (known as the Day of Dupes).  It was made into a silent film in 1923, and remade in 1937.  (Summarised from Wikipedia)

Half a Hero, Anthony Hope, published 1893, read 26 June 1918

It has proven difficult to find anything specifically about the plot of this book.  It is written by the same author as The Prisoner of Zenda.  An Amazon review mentions that it features the same sort of damaged hero as Hope’s other books. 

In 1918, Anthony Hope was knighted for his contribution to propaganda during the First World War.

De Profundis, Oscar Wilde, written 1897, read 26 June 1918

The Ballad of Reading Gaol, Oscar Wilde, published 1897, read 27 June 1918

Written across January and March 1897, De Profundis [out of the depths] is a 50000 word letter from Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas.  Douglas was Oscar Wilde's lover and the letter was written while Wilde was in prison for gross indecency because of their relationship.  The letter covers the time they were together and Wilde’s time in prison with reflection on his own life and work.  It goes on to talk about other’s work and has a great focus on Christ and religion.  Wilde was not allowed to send the letter whilst still a prisoner but was able to take it with him upon his release.  He went to France and there wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol.  It tells of the execution that occurred during his incarceration, of a 30 year old trooper with the Royal Horse Guards who had been convicted of killing his wife.  (Summarised from Wikipedia and the originals found on Project Gutenberg)

Cover of the Penguin Little Black Classics edition of Lord Arthur Savile's Crime (2015)

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, Oscar Wilde, published 1887 (literary magazine), 1891 (as a book with other short stories), read 28 June 1918

I have recently read this one myself.  I had already bought Penguin’s 80^th anniversary Little Black Classics edition when I realised it was on Wilkinson’s list, so I bumped it to the top of my list.  It tells the story of Lord Arthur Savile, a high society man whose mind is cast into turmoil after an encounter with a chiromantist (palm reader) at a party.  Savile is told that he is destined to commit a murder.  After recovering from the initial shock, instead of endeavouring to lead a good and virtuous life as one might expect, Savile decides to take a more practical approach.  Soon to be married, Lord Savile resolves to get the murder out of the way so that he can live the rest of his life without wondering when it will happen.  The rest of the story recounts his attempt to do so.

Three Weeks, Elinor Glyn, published 1907, read 29 June 1918

A change of genre from the previous reads, Three Weeks was scandalous in its release.  It sees a young English nobleman, Paul Verdayne, sent to France, then Switzerland, after he is caught with the parson’s daughter.  He enters into a three week physical affair with someone referred to only as ‘The Lady’.  Verdayne returns to England upset after The Lady leaves.  He endeavours to uncover her identity and finds out that she has given birth to their son.  He also discovers that she is the Queen of a Russian dependency and her husband, the King, is abusive towards her.  Before he can see her again, she has been killed by her husband.  The book continues as Verdayne decides to try and meet his son.  (Summarised from Wikipiedia)

The book was made into a film in 1914, and again in 1924, the latter being directed by the same person as the 1923 film of Under the Red Robe.

A refuge

“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.”

W. Somerset Maugham

Those words would have rung true for Henry Wilkinson in the prisoner of war camp at Stralsund.

Silas finds a child, from George Eliot's Silas Marner, image published by The Jenson Society, NY (http://archive.org/details/worksofgeorgeeli11elio) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The following are the next seven books on Wilkinson's reading list.  Whilst I had only heard of one of the books, with George Eliot and Mark Twain, there seems to be an increase in the quality of reading available.  

The Devil and the Deep Sea, Rhoda Broughton, published 1910, read 19 June 1918

The story of Miss Susan Field who falls for a man whom she had discovered to be a liar and a swindler.  The story focuses on the chance meeting of two people at a Riviera hotel and the slow growth of feelings between them.  It also features another three characters in Mrs. Pattison, her son, and his fiancée Miss Jessica Bodger.  (Summarised from a review in The Bookman, December 1910, http://www.unz.org/Pub/BookmanUK-1910dec-00166?View=PDF)

Rhoda Broughton was the niece of the Irish gothic writer Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu. 

Pudd’nhead Wilson, Mark Twain, published 1894, read 19 June 1918

In Missouri, Roxy is a slave who fears for her life and that of her infant son.  She also has the charge of her master’s son who is about the same age.  As her son is very light skinned, she swaps the boys so that her son will grow up with privilege and freedom.  After the boys have grown up, the book takes a turn after a murder is committed.  There is an investigation and court room drama in which the swapped identities are revealed.  The book is said to be funny and through this denounces racial prejudice and slavery.  (Summarised from Good Reads and Wikipedia

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/682793.Pudd_nhead_Wilson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pudd'nhead_Wilson).

The Pit, Frank Norris, published 1903, read 20 June 1918

A story of love and speculation in turn of the century Chicago.  Laura Dearborn has three suitors and after a period of time eventually decides to marry Curtis Jadwin.  They are happy for a few years until Jadwin begins speculating on wheat stock in the Pit at the Chicago Board of Trade.  (Summarised from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pit_(Norris_novel))

The book was made into a film in 1917.

The Card, Arnold Bennett, published 1911, read 21 June 1918

This novel tells the the life of Edward Henry Machin, known as Denry, and the ventures that repeatedly earn him the reputation of being a ‘card’ (as in character). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Card)

During the First World War, Arnold Bennett was appointed the Director of Propaganda for France at the British Government’s Ministry of Information.  In 1952, The Card was made into a film starring Alec Guinness and Petula Clark

Title page for the Tauchnitz edition of Percival Keene, it is possible that his was the version read by Wilkinson, image from Google books

Percival Keene, Captain Frederick Marryat, published 1842, read 23 June 1918

Percival Keene grows up with his mother and aunt whilst his father is at sea.  A prankster who nearly burns down his school, Percival is offered a position on the HMS Calliope by Captain Delmar who is close to the family.  At this point, Percival learns of scandalous circumstance surrounding his birth.  His time with the Navy is the making of him, especially the time spent as a kidnapped cabin boy of a group of pirates.  (Summarised from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Keene)

Frederick Marryat is also known for his developing a system of maritime signalling.

The Motor Maniacs, Lloyd Osbourne, published 1906, read 23 June 1918

This is a book of little stories on exchanges founded on the mania for motorcars. Motorists will feel a certain pleasure in seeing the language of sentiment translated into the language of petrol. The book is full of humour and energy.  (Summarised from The Spectator, October 1906 http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/6th-october-1906/37/motor-maniacs-by-lloyd-osbourne-chatto-and-windus-)

At 12 years old, Lloyd Osbourne became the stepson of Robert Louis Stevenson, the family travelled together.  Between 1889 and 1894 Osbourne and Stevenson collaborated on three books.

Silas Marner, George Eliot, published 1861, read 24 June 1918

Silas Marner is a weaver living in a small community in a big city.  When he is (falsely) accused of of theft from the church, he leaves the area and settles near the village of Raveloe.  He only works to save his money but it is stolen by the younger son of the town’s leading land owner.  The son disappears.  His older brother has a secret and estranged wife because of her opium use.  She makes her way to the village but dies from the cold, her young daughter finding her way into Silas’ house.  Silas decided to look after her naming her Eppie.  The girl’s true father helps out financially but does not admit to his relationship with the girl.  The story continues with Silas’ newfound purpose in life of raising Eppie.  (Summarised from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silas_Marner)

All these books are available on Project Gutenberg.

’86 books in 218 days!’

“The imagination is a muscle.  If it is not exercised, it atrophies.” 

– Neil Gaiman

D/DLI 7/773/4 Layout of the library at Stralsund Camp, reprinted from The Library Association Record, vol. XXI, September 1919

One of the recent additions to Durham at War is the story of Captain Henry Wilkinson, 8^th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, who wrote a diary of his time as a prisoner of war in 1918.  The camp had a library that had been set up by two fellow prisoners of war, L. Newcombe and J.H.E. Winston. They were both officers in the Yorkshire Regiment and librarians in civilian life.  At the end of Wilkinson’s diary is a list of all the books he read during his imprisonment ’86 books in 218 days!’

One of our Durham at War volunteers has been doing some research into this book list (some were easier to find out about than others) to see what type of thing Henry Wilkinson was reading.  The result is quite the mixture!  That said, the library was not brimming with choice, at least not to begin with.  In a journal article written by Newcombe and Winston they say early on that

‘… many of the books were odd volumes or had pages missing, or if they happened to escape these drawbacks their subject matter was often of a very trashy description that the actual readable material was lamentably small.’

The library was later able to obtain technical and instructional books as well as better quality fiction.  POWs were also able to order their own books. 

The list will be explored in Wilkinson’s order of reading so we begin with the first five books on his list.

A Noble Life, Dinah Maria Mulcock Craik, published 1866, read 15 June 1918.

Charles Montgomerie, an earl who is confined to a wheelchair but seeks to improve the lives of those around him by building schools and churches.  He makes his close friend, Helen, and any children she may have, heir to his property.  On discovering this, a gold-digging relative marries Helen and abuses her.  He dies first however, and their son grows up under the guidance of Earl Montgomerie and learns his compassionate ways.  (Summarised from http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/craik/mitchell/4.html ). 

The Human Interest: A Study in Incompatibilities, Violet Hunt, published 1899, read 16 June 1918.

A shallow and unhappy wife from Newcastle throws herself at London’s artistic circles and ends in farcical desperation by taking what she thinks is poison. (Summarised from ‘Henry James: A Life in Letters’, Philip Horne’s editorial notes)

Violet Hunt was born in 29 Old Elvet, Durham though moved to London at the age of 3.  She better known for her involvement in literary circles than for her actual writing.

Snow Bound at Eagle’s, Bret Harte, publish date unknown, read 17 June 1918.

Six passengers on a stage are bushwhacked by three road agents as they try to make it through Eagles Pass before the snow closes it for the winter. This holiday story has a romantic angle as well.  (Summarised from various booksellers)

The World Set Free, HG Wells, published 1914, read 18 June 1918.

The book is based on the notion of nuclear weapons of a more destructive sort than the world had yet seen. It first appeared as a serial with a different ending as A Prophetic Trilogy, consisting of three books: A Trap to Catch the Sun, The Last War in the World and The World Set Free.  It begins ‘The history of mankind is the history of the attainment of external power. Man is the tool-using, fire-making animal…’ (summarised from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Set_Free )

Cover of Ship's Company by WW Jacobs, Project Gutenberg

Ship’s Company, WW Jacobs, published 1911, read 18 June 1918.

Ginger, Pete and Sam are a group of sailors whose exploits unfold in a tale narrated by the redoubtable night watchman. (Summarised from an Amazon.com review)

All the books except for Violet Hunt’s The Human Interest can be found on the Project Gutenberg website.  If you have read any of these, or feel inspired to do so let us know and give a review!