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Look Both Ways: A Novel
by Linwood BarclayInspired by his decades-long love of cars, internationally bestselling author Linwood Barclay envisions a world in which automotive technology outpaces our wildest dreams—and our darkest nightmares—in a gripping new novel of action and suspenseThese headlights are watching you…The media have descended on Garrett Island, a small, isolated community that is the setting of a visionary experiment. All the residents’ cars were sent to the mainland and for the past month the islanders have been “driving” the Arrival, a revolutionary autonomous vehicle. With a simple voice command, an Arrival will take you wherever you want to go and, because the fleet is networked and aware of one another, car travel is now 100% safe. The future, it seems, has arrived.As the excitement reaches a fever pitch, Sandra Montrose—islander, single mom, and public relations executive—prepares for Arrival Inc.’s flashy press event. Sandra is more than ready for this new world. Her husband died after falling asleep at the wheel and she’s relieved that her two teens, Archie and Katie, will never need driver’s licenses.But as the celebratory day gets underway, disaster strikes. A visiting journalist has vanished, possibly murdered. Before long, the Arrivals run amok, no longer taking orders from their passengers. They’re starting to organize. They’re beginning to hunt. And they seem hell-bent on killing any human they encounter.Is this all just a tragic accident, a technological malfunction with deadly consequences? Or were the vehicles programmed to act this way in a cruel act of corporate sabotage? Or could it be that the Arrivals have a mind of their own?Fasten your seatbelts—it’s going to be a bumpy ride
Look Closely
by Laura CaldwellLook CloselyThat’s all the anonymous letter said, but attorney Hailey Sutter understands the meaning behind the well-chosen words. Someone wants her to investigate what happened to her mother, who died when Hailey was only seven.The death was ruled accidental, but Hailey begins having flashbacks that tell a different story: a pounding at the door...her mother struggling to stand...a man with a gold ring that flashed in the night as he held her mother’s lifeless body.Obsessed with uncovering the truth, Hailey can’t trust anyone, especially her father, whose secrecy both unnerves and protects her. Desperate to remember that fatal night, she seeks out the brother and sister who left home after their mother’s death. But they have disappeared. It’s soon clear to Hailey that the answer is right in front of her-all she has to do is find the courage to look closely....
Look Closer
by David Ellis&“Wildly entertaining.&”—New York Times Book ReviewFrom the bestselling and award-winning author comes a wickedly clever and fast-paced novel of greed, revenge, obsession—and quite possibly the perfect murder.Simon and Vicky couldn&’t seem more normal: a wealthy Chicago couple, he a respected law professor, she an advocate for domestic violence victims. A stable, if unexciting marriage. But one thing&’s for sure: absolutely nothing is what it seems. The pair are far from normal, and one of them just may be a killer. When the body of a beautiful socialite is found hanging in a mansion in a nearby suburb, Simon and Vicky&’s secrets begin to unravel. A secret whirlwind affair. A twenty-million-dollar trust fund about to come due. A decades-long grudge and obsession with revenge. These are just a few of the lies that make up the complex web... and they will have devastating consequences. And while both Vicky and Simon are liars, just who exactly is conning who? Part Gone Girl and part Strangers on a Train, Look Closer is a wild rollercoaster of a read that will have you questioning everything you think you know.
Look In the Mirror: A Novel
by Catherine SteadmanFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water comes &“an utter white-knuckle ride that took me into a heart of darkness&” (Lucy Foley, author of The Paris Apartment). &“Addictive, thrilling, intoxicating.&”—Lisa Jewell, author of None of This Is True &“The vacation home of dreams . . . or nightmares? What a ride—I tore through this nail-biting, pacey read.&”—Sarah Pearse, author of The RetreatNina, still grieving from the loss of her father, discovers that she has inherited property in the British Virgin Islands—a vacation home she had no idea existed, until now. The house is extraordinary: state-of-the-art, all glass and marble. How did her sensible father come into enough money for this? Why did he keep it from her? And what else was he hiding?Maria, once an ambitious medical student, is a nanny for the super-rich. The money&’s better, and so are the destinations where her work takes her. Just one more gig, and she&’ll be set. Finally, she&’ll be secure. But when her wards never show, Maria begins to make herself at home, spending her days luxuriating by the pool and in the sauna. There&’s just one rule: Don&’t go in the basement. That room is off-limits. But her curiosity might just get the better of her. And soon, she&’ll wish her only worry was not getting paid.
Look Into My Eyes: Number 67 in Series (The Destroyer #67)
by Warren Murphy Richard SapirBreathlessly action-packed and boasting a winning combination of thrills, humour and mysticism, the Destroyer is one of the bestselling series of all time.
Look Out, Secret Seven: Book 14
by Enid BlytonSolve the mystery with the Secret Seven - everyone's favourite detective club! These timeless stories are perfect for young fans of mystery, adventure or detective series. In book fourteen, Scamper the spaniel discovers an unwanted visitor, then he protects the Secret Seven as they spy on a thief late at night in Bramley Woods! What on earth would the Secret Seven do without their dog?Solve the mystery! Cover and inside illustrations are by the brilliant Tony Ross, illustrator of David Walliams's books. The story was first published in 1962. This edition features the classic text and comes with a Bonus Blyton section at the back with quizzes, puzzles and other bonus extras! Have you read all 15 books in the original Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton? And don't miss these other Secret Seven titles...Mystery of the Skull - a brand-new Secret Seven mystery by prizewinning author Pamela Butchart. Secret Seven Brain Games - a fun and tricky puzzle book ***The Secret Seven ®, Enid Blyton® and Enid Blyton's signature are registered trade marks of Hodder & Stoughton Limited. No trade mark or copyrighted material may be reproduced without the express written permission of the trade mark and copyright owner.
Look Out, Secret Seven: Book 14 (Secret Seven #52)
by Enid BlytonSolve the mystery with the Secret Seven - everyone's favourite detective club! These timeless stories are perfect for young fans of mystery, adventure or detective series. In book fourteen, Scamper the spaniel discovers an unwanted visitor, then he protects the Secret Seven as they spy on a thief late at night in Bramley Woods! What on earth would the Secret Seven do without their dog?Solve the mystery! Cover and inside illustrations are by the brilliant Tony Ross, illustrator of David Walliams's books. The story was first published in 1962. This edition features the classic text and comes with a Bonus Blyton section at the back with quizzes, puzzles and other bonus extras! Have you read all 15 books in the original Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton? And don't miss these other Secret Seven titles...Mystery of the Skull - a brand-new Secret Seven mystery by prizewinning author Pamela Butchart. Secret Seven Brain Games - a fun and tricky puzzle book ***The Secret Seven ®, Enid Blyton® and Enid Blyton's signature are registered trade marks of Hodder & Stoughton Limited. No trade mark or copyrighted material may be reproduced without the express written permission of the trade mark and copyright owner.
Look Out, Secret Seven: Book 14 (Secret Seven #52)
by Enid BlytonSolve the mystery with the Secret Seven - everyone's favourite detective club! These timeless stories are perfect for young fans of mystery, adventure or detective series. In book fourteen, Scamper the spaniel discovers an unwanted visitor, then he protects the Secret Seven as they spy on a thief late at night in Bramley Woods! What on earth would the Secret Seven do without their dog?Solve the mystery! The story was first published in 1962. This recording has been amended since the previous version(2013) to revert to the original text wherever possible.(P) 2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited***Enid Blyton ®, The Secret Seven ® and Enid Blyton's signature are Registered Trademarks of Hodder and Stoughton Limited. No trademark or copyrighted material may be reproduced without the express written permission of the trademark and copyright owner.
Look Past
by Eric DevineSomeone brutally murdered Mary Mathison, daughter of a prominent and very conservative local pastor, and Avery, a transgender boy who loved Mary, is bent on finding her killer. He goes to the crime scene to do some investigating, but is quickly put in harm's way. Reluctantly, Avery must move to the sidelines to wait for the police to do their job.However, following Mary's funeral, Avery receives the first in a series of disturbing text messages that can only come from the killer, revealing that Avery is now a target. The killer claims that Mary's murder was revenge for her relationship with Avery. The killer's demands are simple and horrific: Avery must repent for changing his gender identity, or he will be the next one killed.Now Avery is torn between finding the murderer and protecting himself from a killer who is playing a disturbing cat-and-mouse game. Can Avery deny who he is to catch Mary's killer? Or will sacrificing himself be the ultimate betrayal?
Look What You Made Me Do
by Elaine MurphyA gripping thriller about a woman who must help cover the tracks of her serial killer sister -- only to discover her sibling isn't the only serial killer in town.Carrie wants a normal life.Carrie Lawrence doesn&’t need a happily ever after. She&’ll just settle for &“after.&” After a decade of helping her sister hide her victims. After a lifetime of lies. She just wants to be safe, boring, and not trekking through the woods at night with a dead body wrapped in a carpet.Becca wants to get away with murder.Becca Lawrence doesn&’t believe in happily ever after because she&’s already happy. She&’s gotten away with murder for a decade and has blackmailed her sister into helping her hide the evidence—what more could a girl want?But first they have to stop a serial killer.When thirteen bodies are discovered in their small town, people are shocked. But not as shocked as Carrie, who thought she knew all the details of Becca&’s sordid pastime. When Becca swears she&’s not behind the grisly new crimes, they realize the town has a second serial killer who has the sisters in his sights, and what he wants is . . . Carrie.
Look What You Made Me Do: The most emotional, gripping gut punch of a thriller of 2021
by Nikki Smith'Creepy and unsettling - a tense, toxic read that will wrong-foot you at every turn' CHARLOTTE DUCKWORTHTwo people can keep a secret . . . if one of them is dead.Sisters Jo and Caroline are used to hiding things from each other. They've never been close - taking it in turns to feel on the outside of their family unit, playing an endless game of favourites.Jo envies Caroline's life - things have always come so easy to her. Then a family inheritance falls entirely to Jo, and suddenly now Caroline wants what Jo has. Needs it, even.But just how far will she go to get it?You'll be riveted by the new psychological suspense from Nikki Smith - a gripping gut-punch of a novel . . .* * * * * *Praise for Look What You Made Me Do:'Gripping and twisty, with real heart' LAURA MARSHALL'Emotional and sinister, with characters that draw you in and a story that keeps you turning the pages' JENNY QUINTANA'Terrifying and compulsive, deeply psychological, with wonderfully drawn characters and a satisfying conclusion' LISA BALLANTYNE'Fantastic - what Nikki's really good at is keeping the reader on the edge of her seat' EMMA CURTIS'I loved it' CHRIS WHITAKER'[One of] those moments where you realise the power of the written word' EMMA CHRISTIE'A deeply accomplished novel that combines razor-sharp characterisation with perfectly-pitched suspense. A fantastic, slow-burn thriller' PHILIPPA EAST
Look What the Stork Brought (Man of the Month)
by Dixie BrowningMR. DECEMBERInstant Father: Former detective Joe Dana had a weakness for beautiful women-not pudgy babies!Earth Mother: Sophie Bayard knew all about natural childbirth-she just didn't expect a handsome stranger to practically deliver her baby in a vegetable garden!Little Miss Fatcheeks: Could this tiny dynamo hook Sophie a husband?Joe planned to hightail it back to Texas once he retrieved an heirloom from the brand-new mother, but before this bachelor knew it, he was strutting around like the proud papa. Uh-oh! And now these designing women were trying to turn this nonmarrying man into Father of the Year!MAN OF THE MONTH: Beneath his tough exterior beats a tender heart.
Look at Me: A Novel
by Jennifer EganAt the start of this edgy and ambitiously multilayered novel, a fashion model named Charlotte Swenson emerges from a car accident in her Illinois hometown with her face so badly shattered that it takes eighty titanium screws to reassemble it. She returns to New York still beautiful but oddly unrecognizable, a virtual stranger in the world she once effortlessly occupied. With the surreal authority of a David Lynch, Jennifer Egan threads Charlotte's narrative with those of other casualties of our infatuation with the image. There's a deceptively plain teenaged girl embarking on a dangerous secret life, an alcoholic private eye, and an enigmatic stranger who changes names and accents as he prepares an apocalyptic blow against American society. As these narratives inexorably converge, Look at Me becomes a coolly mesmerizing intellectual thriller of identity and imposture.
Look for Her: A Novel
by Emily WinslowEveryone loves a beautiful missing girl…"Look For Her ratchets up the tension while also offering moments of sheer grace."-Riley Sager, bestselling author of Final Girls"Beautifully written with an expertly twisty, surprising story, this is a must-read!” — Chevy Stevens, New York Times bestselling author of Never Let You GoLilling might seem like an idyllic English village, but it’s home to a dark history. In 1976, a teenage girl named Annalise Wood disappeared, and though her body was later discovered, the culprit was never found. Decades later, Annalise maintains a perverse kind of celebrity, and is still the focus of grief, speculation, and for one young woman, a disturbing, escalating jealousy.When DNA linked to the Annalise murder unexpectedly surfaces, cold case detective Morris Keene and his former partner, Chloe Frohmann, hope to finally bring closure to this traumatized community. But the new evidence instead undoes the case's only certainty: the buried body that had long ago been confidently identified as Annalise may be someone else entirely, and instead of answers, the investigators face only new puzzles.Whose body was unearthed all those years ago, and what happened to the real Annalise? Is someone interfering with the investigation? And is there a link to a present-day drowning with eerie connections? With piercing insight and shocking twists, Emily Winslow explores the dark side of sensationalized crime in this haunting psychological thriller.
Look for Me (A D.D. Warren and Flora Dane Novel)
by Lisa Gardner<P>Detective D. D. Warren and Find Her's Flora Dane return in a race against the clock to either save a young girl's life...or bring her to justice. <P>The home of a family of five is now a crime scene: four of them savagely murdered, one—a sixteen-year-old girl—missing. Was she lucky to have escaped? Or is her absence evidence of something sinister? Detective D. D. Warren is on the case—but so is survivor-turned-avenger Flora Dane. Seeking different types of justice, they must make sense of the clues left behind by a young woman who, whether as victim or suspect, is silently pleading, Look for me. <P><b> A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Look in the Mirror: the addictive new thriller from the author of Something in the Water
by Catherine Steadman'Addictive, thrilling, intoxicating' LISA JEWELL'An utter white-knuckle ride of a plot' LUCY FOLEY'A must-read' SARAH PEARSEIn this paradise you won't like what you see . . . When Nina's father dies, she inherits a gleaming dream vacation home in a balmy tropical paradise - one she had no idea existed. The house is extraordinary: state-of-the-art, all glass and marble. How did her sensible father ever have enough money for this? And why not tell her about it? Desperate to uncover why he hid such a big secret, she decides to visit. Maria, once an ambitious medical student, is now a nanny for the super-rich. The money's better, and so are the destinations - like this new assignment in the British Virgin Islands. But when her wards never show, Maria begins to make herself at home, spending her days luxuriating by the pool. There's just one rule: Don't go in the basement. But her curiosity might just get the better of her. And soon, she'll wish her only worry was not getting paid.As both women's timelines intertwine, dark secrets start to unravel and one thing quickly becomes clear - nothing could have prepared them for what they are about to encounter.'Sinister, stylish and shocking' CHRIS WHITAKER'It will leave you breathless' JANE FALLON'A seductive, expertly plotted page-turner' LOUISE CANDLISH'This book has it all. Irresistible!' WILL DEAN'Smart and spinge-tingling' HARRIET WALKER'Engaging, twisty and highly original' PETER JAMES'Utterly compelling, twisted and original' LUCY CLARKE'An astonishing adrenaline rush of a novel' DANIELLE TRUSSONI'Hypnotic and pulse-pounding . . . a dazzling puzzle-box of a thriller' ANDREA BARTZREADERS LOVE CATHERINE STEADMAN***** 'Love, love, love this book' ***** 'Can't wait for her next one'***** 'Literally couldn't put it down' ***** 'Absolutely gripping' ***** 'So many twists and turns'
Look to the Lady
by Margery AllinghamSome objects just cry out to be stolen, and an obliging ring of international thieves stands ready to heed the cry. Their current target is the Gyrth Chalice, a priceless goblet that the Gyrth family has for centuries held in trust for the British Crown. Kept in a windowless chapel, and protected by a fearsome curse, the Chalice should be impervious to thievery. But this is 1930, and the crooks have all the advantages of the modern world. Chief among these is the craving for publicity, to which at least one member of the Gyrth clan has succumbed. Her careless chatter about the Chalice seems to have called up all manner of misfortunes - of which larceny is just the beginning -- and the vague, bespectacled Albert Campion doesn't look like he'll be much help against them. But looks can be deceptive. Wonderfully plotted . . . a marvelous mixture of witchcraft, sacred relics, and ancient oaths. Allingham was a rare and precious talent - Washington Post
Look to the Lady (The Albert Campion Mysteries)
by Margery Allingham&“Wonderfully plotted . . . A marvelous mixture of witchcraft, sacred relics and ancient oaths. [Allingham was a] rare and precious talent.&” —The Washington Post Estranged from his father, young Percival St. John Wykes Gyrth wanders the streets of London, penniless and homeless, until he&’s lured to the house of gentleman sleuth Albert Campion. An underground ring of the most powerful and wealthy art collectors in the world have turned their attention to the Gyrth Chalice, a state treasure guarded by the family for centuries. To stop its theft, Campion and Val head back to the family seat in Suffolk, where folklore and ancient superstitions abound—and where, in its supposedly haunted woods, Val&’s aunt is found literally scared to death. With Val&’s coming-of-age ritual approaching—in which he is initiated into the secret of the Chalice—Campion must sort through new religion followers, landed gentry, suspicious villagers, and a cast of London&’s ne&’er-do-wells for suspects, all while putting his own life on the line. Praise for Margery Allingham &“Margery Allingham stands out like a shining light.&” —Agatha Christie &“The best of mystery writers.&” —The New Yorker &“Don&’t start reading these books unless you are confident that you can handle addiction.&” —The Independent &“One of the finest Golden-Age crime novelists.&” —The Sunday Telegraph &“Spending an evening with Campion is one of life&’s pure pleasures.&” —The Sunday Times
Look-Alike
by Meredith FletcherThey looked alike, fought alike...but when it came to spy games, Samantha St. John and Elle Petrenko had different codes. Upstanding CIA agent Sam played by the rules. Russian spy Elle had more colorful ways of getting the job done. Ways that put her at odds with her newfound sister--and in the path of one dangerous male.Sam's loyalties lay with her former classmates, the women of Athena Academy who'd asked her to find a link between a blackmailer and her parents' deaths. But Sam needed Elle and her mystery man to succeed. Could the sisters' newly formed bond survive this personal mission, the heart of which might reveal a devastating truth about their past?
Looker
by Michael KilianAfter a murder at the Plaza, a society columnist races to save a model’s life A daytime fashion show at the Plaza Hotel attracts the most beautiful, cynical, and useless people that New York society has to offer. Swimming among them is A. C. James, who has been making enemies on the Upper East Side ever since trading in his life as a war correspondent to become the most vicious society columnist in the city. A notorious flirt, James spends the fashion show eying Camilla Santee, a stunning blonde. He is walking with her down the Plaza steps when a motorcyclist stops, draws a gun, and fires. Camilla survives. The model behind her does not. The bullet was intended for Camilla—not to kill her, but to warn her. The gunman is her stepbrother, just one of her mad relations who is desperate to get her out of the way. To save this beauty from her family, James must risk everything he has.
Looker: 'A slim novel that has maximum drama'
by Laura Sims'Dazzlingly creepy storytelling, reminiscent of NOTES ON A SCANDAL' Grazia 'A short, bracing shock of a novel, easily gulped down in one sitting' Metro'Written with a precise, sinister elegance, this is a gripping portrait of one woman's descent into madness' HeatThe Professor lives in Brooklyn; her partner Nathan left her when she couldn't have a baby. All she has now is her dead-end teaching job, her ramshackle apartment, and Nathan's old moggy, Cat. Who she doesn't even like.The Actress lives a few doors down. She's famous and beautiful, with auburn hair, perfect skin, a lovely smile. She's got children - a baby, even. And a husband who seems to adore her. She leaves her windows open, even at night.There's no harm, the Professor thinks, in looking in through the illuminated glass at that shiny, happy family, fantasizing about them, drawing ever closer to the actress herself. Or is there?'Unsettling and compelling' Tammy Cohen'Laura Sims has pulled off the high-wire act of making bitterness delicious' Vogue
Looker: 'A slim novel that has maximum drama'
by Laura SimsA hugely compulsive, dark, stylish and intense novel, simmering with Hitchcockian undertones - for readers of LULLABY, EILEEN or THE LEMON GROVE'This intense, gripping first novel from Laura Sims shoehorns us into a gathering disquiet and sense of dread, heightened at every turn by our sympathetic understanding of her relentlessly unraveling protagonist. The precise, observant writing slips through the skin without ever calling attention to itself'-Peter Straub, author of A Dark Matter and Interior DarknessHave you ever wanted to steal someone else's life?The Professor lives in Brooklyn; her partner Nathan has left her; she can't have a baby. All she's left with is Nathan's old moggy, Cat. Who she doesn't even like.Then a celebrity actress moves into the area. She's beautiful, with long auburn hair, perfect skin, a lovely smile. She's got children - a baby, even. And a husband who seems to adore her. She leaves discarded household items and toys outside for thrift collection. She leaves her windows open, even at night.There's no harm, the Professor thinks, in recycling those items. Or looking in through the illuminated glass at that shiny, happy family. Is there?(P)2019 Headline Publishing Group Limited
Looker: A Novel
by Laura Sims*Vogue’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2019” *Entertainment Weekly’s “One of January’s Hottest Reads” *Literary Hub’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2019” *Southern Living’s “Best New Books Coming Out Winter 2019” A dazzling, razor-sharp debut novel about a woman whose obsession with the beautiful actress on her block drives her to the edge.I’ve never crossed their little fenced-in garden, of course. I stand on the sidewalk in front of the fern-and-ivy-filled planter that hangs from the fence—placed there as a sort of screen, I’m sure—and have a direct line of view into the kitchen at night. I’m grateful they’ve never thought to install blinds. That’s how confident they are. No one would dare stand in front of our house and watch us, they think. And they’re probably right: except for me. In this taut and thrilling debut, an unraveling woman, unhappily childless and recently separated, becomes fixated on her neighbor—the actress. The unnamed narrator can’t help noticing with wry irony that, though she and the actress live just a few doors apart, a chasm of professional success and personal fulfillment lies between them. The actress, a celebrity with her face on the side of every bus, shares a gleaming brownstone with her handsome husband and their three adorable children, while the narrator, working in a dead-end job, lives in a run-down, three-story walk-up with her ex-husband’s cat. When an interaction with the actress at the annual block party takes a disastrous turn, what began as an innocent preoccupation spirals quickly, and lethally, into a frightening and irretrievable madness. Searing and darkly witty, Looker is enormously entertaining—a psychologically suspenseful and fearlessly original portrait of the perils of envy.
Lookin' for Love: A Novel
by Susen EdwardsBased on a compelling and sometimes tragic true story, this novel follows young mother Ava from the go-go bars of the 1970s to the heart of Florida’s drug trade to a Kenyan prison to, ultimately, a place of forgiveness, faith, and love through recovery.Inspired by a gripping true story, Lookin’ for Love begins in 1963, when Ava, nineteen and pregnant, marries a violent alcoholic and is disowned by her abusive mother. She bears two sons, leaves her husband, and turns to go-go dancing to provide for her children, using alcohol and drugs to numb herself to the degrading work. Then she meets Mike, a charismatic drug dealer who promises to give her “a beautiful life.” They move to Florida and begin working for The Crew, one of the largest drug smuggling organizations in the country. The Crew sends Ava and Mike to Kenya to find farmers to grow marijuana—but while they’re there, their home is raided, they’re charged with international drug smuggling, and Ava is sentenced to serve time in a Kenyan prison. After her release, Ava struggles with sobriety but soon returns to dancing, alcohol, and drugs. Eventually, she hits bottom and surrenders her will to God. Once sober, she learns the power of forgiveness, faith, and love.
Looking Beyond
by Lin YutangWITH HUMOR AND COMMON SENSE A MODERN PHILOSOPHER SHOWS MANKIND A WAY TO THE GREATER ENJOYMENT OF LIVING…In the year 2004 the heroine, an anthropologist, lands on an unknown and isolated Pacific island. Her plane is destroyed, so the renamed Eurydice finds herself compelled to join the Ruined Earth Utopian islanders.In this gripping novel, which was first published in 1955, Chinese-U.S. author, essayist and academic Dr. Lin Yutang’s appears to formulate his conception of a world beyond the muddling of today in a world that has survived two more world wars, and inaugurated a new Democratic World Commonwealth, outside the limitations of national sovereignty. He makes the contact between this groping old world and an island community, dedicated to peace, isolation and immunity from world ills, exalting the virtues of culture, and surviving in a state of suspended animation with little or no government.