Books published by publisher dodd

Product Description Penguin Island is a satirical novel by Anatole France first published in 1908. The book details the history of the penguins and is written as a critique of human nature, and is also a satire on France's political history, including the Dreyfus affair. Morals, customs and laws are satirised within the context of the fictional land of Penguinia, where the animals were baptised erroneously by the myopic Abbot Maël. The book is ultimately concerned with the perfectibility of mankind. As soon as the Penguins are transformed into humans, they begin robbing and murdering each other. By the end of the book, a thriving civilization is destroyed by terrorist bombs.

Aboard the luxurious Blue Train running from London to the Riviera, pampered millionaire's daughter Ruth Kettering is murdered, her expensive jewels stolen. Amid talk of an infamous jewel thief known only as the 'Marquis' being responsible, Poirot's suspicion falls closer to home, to Ruth's unhappy marriage. And sure enough, a witness comes forward claiming to have seen Ruth's flighty husband Derek entering her compartment before she was murdered. Christie claimed that this was one of the books she liked least, however the critics did not agree with her. The Times Literary Supplement said, 'The reader will not be disappointed when the distinguished Belgian on psychological grounds builds up inferences almost out of the air, supports them by a masterly array of negative evidence and lands his fish to the surprise of everyone.'