Every Friday, Marilyn Knapp Litt, who blogs at ClassicKindle.com, brings us her recommendation of a free classic book to discover (or rediscover) on Kindle. Find more of Marilyn’s recommendations at her blog, ClassicKindle.com, a guide to the best free and inexpensive classic literature for the Kindle. You can also get Marilyn’s blog on Kindle and I recommend that you “Like” the Classic Kindle Facebook page as well so you don’t miss anything. Here’s Marilyn’s post:

Mr. Midshipman Easy is a novel by Englishman Frederick Marryat who joined the Royal Navy in 1806. His experience is unusual in that he did not join as an officer.

One Amazon review says: Captain Marryat’s books have been difficult to find until now, and I’m overjoyed to find so many on kindle. I thought this book was great, very funny and understated, even if it’s a couple hundred years old it seems perfectly relevant today.

Here is a sample:

“As Mr Sawbridge, the first lieutenant, happened to be going on shore on the same evening for the last time previous to the ship’s sailing, he looked into the Blue Posts, George, and Fountain Inns, to inquire if there was such a person arrived as Mr Easy.

“O yes,” replied the waiter at the Fountain,—”Mr Easy has been here these three weeks.”

“The devil he has,” roared Mr Sawbridge, with all the indignation of a first lieutenant defrauded three weeks of a midshipman; “where is he; in the coffee-room?”

“Oh dear no, sir,” replied the waiter, “Mr Easy has the front apartments on the first floor.”

“Well, then, show me up to the first floor.”

“May I request the pleasure of your name, sir?” said the waiter.

“First lieutenants don’t send up their names to midshipmen,” replied Mr Sawbridge; “he shall soon know who I am.”

At this reply, the waiter walked upstairs, followed by Mr Sawbridge, and threw open the door.

“A gentleman wishes to see you, sir,” said the waiter.

“Desire him to walk in,” said Jack: “and, waiter, mind that the punch is a little better than it was yesterday; I have asked two more gentlemen to dine here.”

In the meantime, Mr Sawbridge, who was not in his uniform, had entered, and perceived Jack alone, with the dinner table laid out in the best style for eight, a considerable show of plate for even the Fountain Inn, and everything, as well as the apartment itself, according to Mr Sawbridge’s opinion, much more fit for a commander-in-chief than a midshipman of a sloop of war.”

Shiver me timbers!

Click here to get your free copy of Mr. Midshipman Easy by Frederick Marryhat >>>

Every Friday, Marilyn Knapp Litt, who blogs at ClassicKindle.com, brings us her recommendation of a free classic book to discover (or rediscover) on Kindle. Find more of Marilyn’s recommendations at her blog, ClassicKindle.com, a guide to the best free and inexpensive classic literature for the Kindle. You can also get Marilyn’s blog on Kindle and I recommend that you “Like” the Classic Kindle Facebook page as well so you don’t miss anything. Here’s Marilyn’s post:

Ben-Hur; a tale of the Christ by Lewis Wallace or as I was taught growing up in Indiana, Ben Hur by Lew Wallace, a famous American Civil War general. This 1880 novel was the best selling American novel until displaced by a book about the Civil War – Gone with the Wind published in 1936.

Lew Wallace was one of many celebrated Indiana authors, a state that at one time seemed to produce more authors than any other. (Can you tell I am a proud Hoosier?)

“I am a Bethlehemite,” said Joseph, in his most deliberate way. “Is there not room for–”

“There is not.”

“You may have heard of me–Joseph of Nazareth. This is the house of my fathers. I am of the line of David.” These words held the Nazarene’s hope. If they failed him, further appeal was idle, even that of the offer of many shekels. To be a son of Judah was one thing–in the tribal opinion a great thing; to be of the house of David was yet another; on the tongue of a Hebrew there could be no higher boast.

I hope I am not giving away the story to say that he finds somewhere to spend the night.

Later on (this is a long book,) we come to young Ben

“Well, Messala always had his share of the disagreeable quality. When he was a child, I have seen him mock strangers whom even Herod condescended to receive with honors; yet he always spared Judea. For the first time, in conversation with me to-day, he trifled with our customs and God. As you would have had me do, I parted with him finally. And now, O my dear mother, I would know with more certainty if there be just ground for the Roman’s contempt. In what am I his inferior? Is ours a lower order of people? Why should I, even in Caesar’s presence; feel the shrinking of a slave? Tell me especially why, if I have the soul, and so choose, I may not hunt the honors of the world in all its fields? Why may not I take sword and indulge the passion of war? As a poet, why may not I sing of all themes? I can be a worker in metals, a keeper of flocks, a merchant, why not an artist like the Greek? Tell me, O my mother–and this is the sum of my trouble–why may not a son of Israel do all a Roman may ?”

The book is known as a popular success and not a critical success. Does that make it a bad book? You decide . . .

Click here to get your free copy of Ben-Hur; a tale of the Christ by Lewis Wallace

Every Friday, Marilyn Knapp Litt, who blogs at ClassicKindle.com, brings us her recommendation of a free classic book to discover (or rediscover) on Kindle. Find more of Marilyn’s recommendations at her blog, ClassicKindle.com, a guide to the best free and inexpensive classic literature for the Kindle. You can also get Marilyn’s blog on Kindle and I recommend that you “Like” the Classic Kindle Facebook page as well so you don’t miss anything. Here’s Marilyn’s post:

Of Human Bondage is a 1915 novel by Somerset Maugham. About 20 years ago, someone rewrote it and sold it as their own and got caught very quickly for plagiarism, because this is Maugham’s masterpiece and has not been forgotten.
So you are lucky to be able to pick up this writing gem for free.

“His mother was my greatest friend. I can’t bear to think that she’s dead.”
“You oughtn’t to have gone to the funeral, Henrietta,” said her sister. “I knew it would upset you.”
Then one of the strangers spoke. “Poor little boy, it’s dreadful to think of him quite alone in the world. I see he limps.”
“Yes, he’s got a club-foot. It was such a grief to his mother.”

Our hero is an almost penniless orphan sent to live with people who are not used to dealing with children.

The chair was much too low for Philip, and for a moment neither Mr. Carey nor his wife knew what to do.
“I’ll put some books under him,” said Mary Ann.
She took from the top of the harmonium the large Bible and the prayer-book from which the Vicar was accustomed to read prayers, and put them on Philip’s chair.
“Oh, William, he can’t sit on the Bible,” said Mrs. Carey, in a shocked tone. “Couldn’t you get him some books out of the study?”
Mr. Carey considered the question for an instant.
“I don’t think it matters this once if you put the prayer-book on the top, Mary Ann,” he said. “The book of Common Prayer is the composition of men like ourselves. It has no claim to divine authorship.”
“I hadn’t thought of that, William,” said Aunt Louisa.

Apparently this is a somewhat autobiographical novel . . .what a strange story.

Click here to pick up your free copy of ‘Of Human Bondage’ by Somerset Maugham >>>