Biographical fiction / autobiographical fiction
HarperCollins Publishers The ABC Murders
Book SynopsisMurder is a very simple crimeAs easy as ABCThe whole country is in a state of panic.There is a killer on the loose, growing more confident with each successive execution Alice Ascher in Andover, Betty Barnard in Bexhill, Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston laying a trail of deliberate clues to haunt the world's greatest detective, Hercule Poirot.Which might just be the killer's first mistakeTrade Review“There is no more cunning player of the murder game than Agatha Christie.” Sunday Times “A masterwork of carefully concealed artifice… most stunningly original.” Julian Symons “An Agatha Christie triumph.” Morning Post ”The best thing she has ever written, compact, witty and horribly exciting.” Sunday Referee “An entirely original idea.” Daily Telegraph “Mrs Christie has invented an entirely new plot for a detective story – a difficult thing in these days; she is to be congratulated on the perfection of her invention.” The Times “Her best yet. Where does she get hold of these brilliant notions?” Bristol Evening Post “Vive Hercule Poirot! He is back again … and I, for one, am thrilled to the marrow bones … the most amazing finale for sheer ingenuity that I have ever come across … Mrs Christie has pulled it off yet again.” The Bystander
£9.49
Union Square & Co. The Scarlet Letter
Book Synopsis
£17.10
Pan Macmillan Swann In Love
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Jamaica Inn
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Vintage Publishing 1984
Book SynopsisGeorge Orwell (Author) George Orwell (19031950) is one of England's most famous writers and social commentators. He is the author of the classic political satire Animal Farm and the dystopian masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four. He is also well known for his essays and journalism, particularly his works covering his travels and his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War. His writing is celebrated for its piercing clarity, purpose and wit and his books continue to be bestsellers all over the world.
£17.08
Penguin Books Ltd How Much Land Does A Man Need
Book SynopsisOffers a pair of short stories about greed, charity, life and death from one of Russia's most influential writers and thinkers.
£5.63
Penguin Books Ltd Tropic of Cancer
Book SynopsisShocking, banned and the subject of obscenity trials, Henry Miller''s first novel Tropic of Cancer is one of the most scandalous and influential books of the twentieth century -- new to Penguin Modern Classics with a cover by Tracey EminTropic of Cancer redefined the novel. Set in Paris in the 1930s, it features a starving American writer who lives a bohemian life among prostitutes, pimps, and artists. Banned in the US and the UK for more than thirty years because it was considered pornographic, Tropic of Cancer continued to be distributed in France and smuggled into other countries. When it was first published in the US in 1961, it led to more than 60 obscenity trials until a historic ruling by the Supreme Court defined it as a work of literature. Long hailed as a truly liberating book, daring and uncompromising, Tropic of Cancer is a cornerstone of modern literature that asks us to reconsider everything we know about art, freedom, and morality.''At last an unprintable book that is fit to read'' Ezra Pound ''A momentous event in the history of modern writing'' Samuel Beckett ''The book that forever changed the way American literature would be written'' Erica JongTrade ReviewAt last an unprintable book that is fit to read -- Ezra PoundA momentous event in the history of modern writing -- Samuel BeckettOne of the ten or twenty great novels of our century, a revolution in consciousness equal to The Sun Also Rises -- Norman MailerRead him for five pages, ten pages, and you feel the peculiar relief that comes not so much from understanding as from being understood. 'He knows all about me,' you feel; 'he wrote this especially for me'. It is as though you could hear a voice speaking to you, a friendly American voice, with no humbug in it, no moral purpose, merely an implicit assumption that we are all alike -- George OrwellThe book that forever changed the way American literature would be written -- Erica Jong
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Operation Heartbreak
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Rebecca
Book SynopsisDiscover the Dark Romance classics: Daphne du Maurier's timeless novels are now available with stunning, contemporary new covers for a new generation.
£10.44
Vintage Publishing The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories
Book SynopsisWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY HELEN SIMPSON From familiar fairy tales and legends - Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard, Puss in Boots, Beauty and the Beast, vampires and werewolves - Angela Carter has created an absorbing collection of dark, sensual, fantastic stories.Trade ReviewFairy tales reimagined for feminist times * Grazia *She was, among other things, a quirky, original, and baroque stylist, a trait especially marked in The Bloody Chamber - her vocabulary a mix of finely tuned phrase, luscious adjective, witty aphorism, and hearty, up-theirs vulgarity -- Margaret Atwood * Observer *Magnificent set pieces of fastidious sensuality -- Ian McEwanShe can glide from ancient to modern, from darkness to luminosity, from depravity to comedy without any hint of strain and without losing the elusive power of the original tales * The Times *The Bloody Chamber is such an important book to me. Angela Carter, for me, is still the one who said: ‘You see these fairy stories, these things that are sitting at the back of the nursery shelves? Actually, each one of them is a loaded gun. Each of them is a bomb. Watch: if you turn it right it will blow up.’ And we all went: ‘Oh my gosh, she’s right—you can blow things up with these!’ -- Neil Gaiman * Daily Telegraph *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Nineteen EightyFour
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Vintage Publishing Pride and Prejudice
Book SynopsisA beautiful deluxe gift edition of Jane Austen's masterpiece with foiled covers, marbled endpapers, sprayed edges, beautiful paper and finished with a silk ribbon. When Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr Darcy, she is repelled by his overbearing pride and prejudice towards her family. But the Bennet girls are in need of financial security in the shape of husbands, so when Darcy's friend, the affable Mr Bingley, forms an attachment to Jane, Darcy becomes increasingly hard to avoid. Polite society will be turned upside down in this witty drama of friendship, rivalry and love Jane Austen's classic romance novel. This hardback is part of VINTAGE COLLECTOR'S CLASSICS, a series of luxurious books especially crafted for collectors and fans of beautiful special editions. Sumptuous design meets the highest quality production. Discover timeless classics beautifully bound for every bookshelf.
£17.09
Penguin Books Ltd The Picture of Dorian Gray
Book SynopsisEnthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life; indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence.
£15.29
Union Square & Co. Angel Island
Book SynopsisFive men survive a South Seas shipwreck and wash up on a seemingly deserted beach, only to discover that five beautiful, winged women inhabit the island. Dazzled and soon in love, the men will do anything to possess these flying women . . . but what they plan, and how the magical women respond, is tellinglyand predictablyhuman. First published in 1914, and praised by Ursula K. LeGuin as a real rediscoveryromantic, satiric, funny, fanciful, and a good read, Angel Island is an adventure story and a genre-defining tale about women's rights.
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Yellow Wallpaper Herland
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.
£5.62
Pan Macmillan Death in Venice
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£10.44
Cornerstone Daisy Jones and The Six: From the author of the
Book SynopsisNOW A SMASH HIT AMAZON PRIME TV STARRING SAM CLAFLIN, RILEY KEOUGH AND CAMILA MORRONETHE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom the author of THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO and the bestselling MALIBU RISING'I LOVE it . . . I can't remember the last time I read a book that was so fun' DOLLY ALDERTONEverybody knows Daisy Jones and the Six.Their sound defined an era. Their albums were on every turntable. They sold out arenas from coast to coast.Then, on 12 July 1979, Daisy Jones walked barefoot onto the stage at Chicago Stadium. And it all came crashing down.Everyone was there.Everyone remembers it differently.Nobody knew why they split. Until now . . .'The verdict: Daisy Jones steals the limelight' STYLIST'New obsession, incoming' TELEGRAPH'I didn't want this book to end' FEARNE COTTON'Utterly believable . . . fantastically enjoyable' THE TIMES'Pitch perfect' SUNDAY TIMES'Reads like an addictive Netflix documentary meets A Star Is Born - despite being utterly fictional. It's also a call-to-arms that when you find your niche, don't doubt, embrace it' EMERALD STREET'Well observed, sensitively told . . . a great read' BBC'A tremendously engaging, and completely believable tale of rock and roll excess... inventive, persuasive and completely satisfying' DYLAN JONES'I spent a lost weekend in this book. Daisy Jones is an instant icon' ERIN KELLY'DAISY JONES & THE SIX is a transporting novel - at once a love story, a glimpse into the combustible inner workings of a rock-and-roll band, and a pitch-perfect recreation of the music scene of the Fleetwood Mac era. You'll never want it to end' CECILIA AHERN'Once in a blue moon you get to discover a book you end up pressing upon many other people to read. Taylor Jenkins Reid has got every nuance, every detail exact and right. I loved every word' PAUL REES'So brilliantly written I thought all the characters were real . . . I couldn't put it down' EDITH BOWMAN'Explosive . . . a gorgeous novel and a ravishing read' SUNDAY EXPRESS'The characters leap off the page, seducing you with their dramas, and making you wish the band was real' HEAT'The heady haze of the 70s music scene, and a perfectly flawed Daisy, combine to create a fresh, rock n roll read. I loved it' ALI LAND, author of Good Me Bad MeTrade Review[T]his absorbing novel is full of irresistible characters, and brilliantly evokes its time and place. It's my favourite novel of the year. * Daily Mirror *Unique, inventive and stylish...It's exciting and intoxicating, and I loved the effortlessly cool Daisy Jones. It is a novel I'll revisit regularly. * Woman & Home *I totally fell for Taylor Jenkins Reid’s engaging recreation of the 70s rock 'n' roll scene . . . this novel has a lot of heart. * Good Housekeeping *Part juicy celebrity tell-all, part A Star Is Born . . . Be prepared to read it in a single night. * Vogue, Best New Books 2019 *I devoured DAISY JONES AND THE SIX in a day, falling head over heels for it. Taylor Jenkins Reid transported me into the magic of the 70's music scene in a way I'll never forget. The characters were beautifully layered and complex... Daisy and the band captured my heart, and they're sure to capture yours too. * Reese Witherspoon *Fascinating . . . you can't wait to find out what happens next . . . Everyone should read this. * Claudia Winkleman, RADIO 2 *The heady haze of the 70s music scene, and a perfectly flawed Daisy, combine to create a fresh, rock n roll read. I loved it. * Ali Land *Taylor Jenkins Reid is a stunning writer whose characters are unforgettable and whose stories are deeply emotional. Her new book is her most gripping yet. * Emily Giffin *Utterly believable . . . fabulously entertaining. * The Times *I spent a lost weekend in this book. Daisy Jones is an instant icon. * Erin Kelly *A tremendously engaging, and completely believable tale of rock and roll excess, one made all the more enjoyable by being written as an oral biography. It's inventive, persuasive and completely satisfying. * Dylan Jones *I LOVE it . . . I can't remember the last time I read a book that was so fun. * The High Low *The characters leap off the page, seducing you with their dramas, and making you wish the band was real. Five stars. * Heat *Once in a blue moon you get to discover a book you end up pressing upon many other people to read. Taylor Jenkins Reid has got every nuance, every detail exact and right. I loved every word. * Paul Rees *A book that reads like an addictive Netflix documentary meets A Star Is Born - despite being utterly fictional . . . It's also a call-to-arms that when you find your niche, don't doubt, embrace it. * Emerald Street *With Daisy Jones, Taylor Jenkins Reid has conjured up a legend both on the page and off. A zeitgeist book for 2019, read it before the series becomes the next must-see. * Stylist *DAISY JONES & THE SIX is a transporting novel - at once a love story, a glimpse into the combustible inner workings of a rock-and-roll band, and a pitch-perfect recreation of the music scene of the Fleetwood Mac era. You'll never want it to end. * Cecelia Ahern *So brilliantly written I thought all the characters were real . . . I couldn't put it down. * Edith Bowman *Brace for 2019's first pop-culture sensation . . . we're not exaggerating . . . new obsession, incoming . . . If you liked Almost Famous, you'll love it. * Stella Magazine, Telegraph *Prepare to be obsessed. * Stylist *Brilliantly gripping. * Reader's Digest *With wonderfully layered and complex characters, Reid's latest novel is brilliantly written and hard to put down. * Psychologies *Utterly refreshing - and too charming not to love * Image *I completely forgot that Daisy Jones and The Six was a fictional book and not a real story. The cast of characters with different narrators portraying them made it feel so real. One of my favourite audiobooks of all time. * Pop Sugar *Chances are that by the end of the year you’ll want to track down Daisy’s music and play it, even though the fabulous 1970s songbird never existed. * Writing Magazine *A compelling read that opens the lid on the music industry's dark side * Sunday Times Magazine *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Transformation
Book Synopsis90 classic titles celebrating 90 years of Penguin Books'He stretched out his two long, lank arms, that looked like spider's claws, and seemed to embrace with them the expanse before him'His inheritance squandered and engagement severed, Guido di Cortese stalks the desolate Genoese coast. A monstrous creature, shipwrecked by a ferocious storm, offers him unimaginable wealth to exchange bodies, entwining their fates. Transformation, with two further tales of striking and eerie power here, shows how Mary Shelley haunts us still.
£5.99
Orion Publishing Co The Childrens Bach
Book Synopsis''A jewel of a novel about a perfect family falling apart''DAVID NICHOLLS''The Children''s Bach is Garner''s masterpiece''PUBLIC BOOKS''A perfect novel. I was so stunned that I wanted to run around the block''RUMAAN ALAMAthena and Dexter Fox are happy. They love each other. They are friends.They live with their young sons in a sparsely furnished house near the Merri Creek: its walls cracking, its floors sloping and its doors hanging loosely in their frames. There is a piano in their kitchen.But then, one day - years after their lives have taken different directions - Dexter runs into Elizabeth, an old friend from his university days. She brings into his world her loose-living musician boyfriend, Philip, and her seventeen-year-old sister, Vicki. And all at once, the bonds that hold the Fox family together begin to fray.Helen Garner''s perfectly formed novels embody Melbourne''s tum
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Their Eyes Were Watching God
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Animal Farm
Book Synopsis''All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others''When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master Mr Jones and take over the farm themselves, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of freedom and equality. But gradually a cunning, ruthless élite among them, masterminded by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, starts to take control. Soon the other animals discover that they are not all as equal as they thought, and find themselves hopelessly ensnared as one form of tyranny is replaced with another. The Penguin English Library - collectable general readers'' editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century to the end of the Second World War.
£7.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Seven Dials Mystery
Book SynopsisA healthy young man dies in his sleep, despite the ringing of seven separate alarm clocksGerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper; so the other house guests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6.30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank had backfired with tragic consequences.For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words Seven Dials' were to take on a new and chilling significanceThe Seven Dials Mystery will be coming to Netflix in 2025Trade Review‘Her gift is pure genius.’ Observer ‘An amusing, exciting, well-written story.’ Outlook ‘All signs indicate that Mrs Christie has been reading P.G. Wodehouse, and she does it very well in spots. This is her gayest thriller and mustn’t be missed.’ Books
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Marple Twelve New Stories
Book SynopsisA brand new collection of short stories featuring the Queen of Crime's legendary detective Jane Marple, penned by twelve remarkable bestselling and acclaimed authors.
£13.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Sagas of the Icelanders
Book SynopsisIn Iceland, the age of the Vikings is also known as the Saga Age. A unique body of medieval literature, the Sagas rank with the world's great literary treasures as epic as Homer, as deep in tragedy as Sophocles, as engagingly human as Shakespeare. Set around the turn of the last millennium, these stories depict with an astonishingly modern realism the lives and deeds of the Norse men and women who first settled in Iceland and of their descendants, who ventured farther west to Greenland and, ultimately, North America. Sailing as far from the archetypal heroic adventure as the long ships did from home, the Sagas are written with psychological intensity, peopled by characters with depth, and explore perennial human issues like love, hate, fate and freedom.Trade Review"One of the great marvels of World Literature.... This is a dream come true." --Ted Hughes"A testimony to the human spirit's ability not only to endure what fate may send it but to be renewed by the experience." --Seamus Heaney"The glory of the Sagas is indisputable." --Milan Kundera"Generally excellent, accurate and readable, these translations are sure to become the standard versions." --The Times Literary Supplement (London)Table of ContentsThe Sagas of Icelanders List of Illustrations and TablesPreface by Jane Smiley Introduction by Robert KelloggFurther ReadingA Note on the TextsSagasEgil's Saga (trans. Bernard Scudder)The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal (trans. Andrew Wawn)The Saga of the People of Laxardal (trans. Keneva Kunz)Bolli Bollason's Tale (trans. Keneva Kunz)The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey's Godi (trans. Terry Gunnell)The Saga of the Confederates (trans. Ruth C. Ellison)Gisli Sursson's Saga (trans. Martin S. Regal)The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue (trans. Katrina C. Attwood)The Saga of Ref the Sly (trans. George Clark)The Vinland Sagas:The Saga of the Greenlanders (trans. Keneva Kunz)Eirik the Red's Saga (trans. Keneva Kunz)TalesThe Tale of Thorstein Staff-struck (trans. Anthony Maxwell)The Tale of Halldor Snorrason II (trans. Terry Gunnell)The Tale of Sarcastic Halli (trans. George Clark)The Tale of Thorstein Shiver (trans. Anthony Maxwell)The Tale of Audun from the West Fjords (trans. Anthony Maxwell)The Tale of the Story-wise Icelander (trans. Anthony Maxwell)Reference Section:Illustrations and Diagrams: Ships; The Farm; Social and Political StructureGlossaryIndex of Characters
£18.70
Little, Brown Book Group The Haunting Season
Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERDon''t miss the brand new collection of never-before-seen ghostly tales from these eight authors plus four more. The Winter Spirits is out in October 2023 and available to pre-order now. ''You won''t find a more thrilling winter read this year, or a better line up of writers who have mastered the gothic and ghostly.'' SARA COLLINS, Costa Award-winning author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton Featuring new and original tales from: Bridget Collins Sunday Times bestselling author of The Binding Imogen Hermes Gowar Sunday Times bestselling author of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock Kiran Millwood Hargrave Sunday Times bestselling author of The Mercies Andrew Michael Hurley Sunday Times bestselling author of The Loney Jess Kidd International award-winning author of Things in Jars Elizabeth Macneal Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory Natasha Pulley Sunday Times bestselling author of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street Laura Purcell Award-winning author of The Silent Companions ______________Long before Charles Dickens and Henry James popularized the tradition, the shadowy nights of winter have been a time for people to gather together by the flicker of candlelight and experience the intoxicating thrill of a ghost story.Now eight bestselling, award-winning authors - all of them master storytellers of the sinister and the macabre - bring the tradition to vivid life in a spellbinding new collection of original spine-tingling tales.Taking you from the frosty Fens to the wild Yorkshire moors, to the snow-covered grounds of a haunted estate, to a bustling London Christmas market, these mesmerizing stories will capture your imagination and serve as your indispensable companion to the cold, dark nights. So curl up, light a candle, and fall under the spell of winters past . . .Trade ReviewThe chilling tales of The Haunting Season will make you feel oddly cosy, in the way that only the best ghost stories can. Exquisitely crafted from some of the finest British writers, I enjoyed every word. -- Francine Toon, Sunday Times bestselling author of 'Pine'Gorgeous, macabre, beautifully crafted . . .a brilliant re-making of an old tradition, and this is a book destined to be read and re-read through many a long winter night -- Amanda Mason, author of 'The Wayward Girls'You won't a more thrilling winter read this year, or a better line up of writers who have mastered the gothic and ghostly. -- Sara Collins, Costa Award-winning author of 'The Confessions of Frannie Langton'It lured me in, then held me fast. A gut-wrenching collection of ghostly tales, at once sumptuous and thrilling, rich and raw. Powerful, original and beautifully written, I didn't want them to end. -- Joanne Burn, author of 'The Hemlock Cure'The Haunting Season contains stories by some of our finest contemporary writers - between them, they revitalize the traditional winter's tale with vibrant, tense writing that will haunt you long after you finish reading -- Jenn Ashworth, author of 'A Kind of Intimacy'The Haunting Season was an absolute treat. Eight gloriously gothic and ghostly tales from some of our best historical writers. Spectral chess, haunted chairs and stories of survival and psychosis. Brilliantly chilling writing. -- Anna Mazzola, author of 'The Unseeing'From today's finest writers of suspense, horror and historical fiction comes a chocolate-box collection of stories to savour alone or share ... Best read by candlelight. * Metro *An array of celebrated writers have contributed spooky stories to this beautifully produced book * Daily Express *Curl up with a hot chocolate but maybe leave the lights on * Prima *You can't go wrong with this creepy collection of 'ghostly tales for long winter nights', from an absolutely stellar cast of writers ... I had to sleep with the lights on after I'd read it * Red *What a line-up of authors ... these classic tales, intended to be read by candlelight, will thrill lovers of old fashioned, spooky tales * Woman *Prepare to be spooked by these eight fantastically frightening tales ... best read by candlelight (if you dare....) * Good Housekeeping *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Little Women
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.''Wouldn''t it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true and we could live in them?''A heart-warming tale of love, sisterhood and hardship during the New England Civil War, Little Women tells the story of the lovable March family. Meg, Beth, Jo and Amy try to support their mother at home while their father is away at war and enter into various scrapes and adventures as they do so. Alcott beautifully interweaves bad times and good as her characters struggle with the trials and tribulations of growing up and their relationships with one another.
£5.62
HarperCollins Publishers The Great Gatsby Collins Classics
Book SynopsisThe Great American Novel of love and betrayal in the Jazz Age.I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited they went there'.Considered one of the all-time great American works of fiction, Fitzgerald's glorious yet ultimately tragic social satire on the Jazz Age encapsulates the exuberance, energy and decadence of an era.After the war, the mysterious Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire pursues wealth, riches and the lady he lost to another man with stoic determination. He buys a mansion across from her house and throws lavish parties to try and entice her. When Gatsby finally does reunite with Daisy Buchanan, tragic events are set in motion.Told through the eyes of his detached and omnipresent neighbour and friend, Nick Carraway, Fitzgerald's succinct and powerful prose hints at the destruction and tragedy that awaits.
£5.62
Penguin Books Ltd Animal Farm
Book SynopsisWhen the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master, Mr Jones, and take over the farm themselves, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of freedom and equality. But gradually a cunning, ruthless elite among them, masterminded by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, starts to take control. Soon the other animals discover that they are not all as equal as they thought, and find themselves hopelessly ensnared as one form of tyranny is replaced with another. Orwell''s chilling ''fairy story'' is a timeless and devastating satire of idealism betrayed by power and corruption.
£13.49
Union Square & Co. Great Expectations
Book SynopsisA love story, a mystery, and a sharp critique of upper-class English society, Great Expectations remains one of Dickens's best-regarded works.
£18.04
Union Square & Co. Persuasion
Book SynopsisEight years ago, Anne Elliot followed the advice of Lady Russell, her only true friend, and broke off her engagement to the dashing young naval officer Frederick Wentworth. When Anne and the newly wealthy Captain Wentworth cross paths years later, it is clear that he has neither forgottennor forgiventheir past. Can true love survive heartbreak? Who should we listen to in matters of the heart? Filled with Jane Austen's trademark wit and social commentary, Persuasion is a delightful romance and a surprisingly subversive exploration of our need to persuade, and to be persuaded by, others.
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers The Fall of Númenor
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£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd East of Eden
Book Synopsis'There is only one book to a man' Steinbeck wrote of East of Eden. Set in the rich farmland of the Salinas Valley, California, this powerful, often brutal novel, follows the interwined destinies of two families - the Trasks and the Hamiltons - whose generations hopelessly re-enact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. Here Steinbeck created some of his most memorable characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of indentity; the inexplicability of love, and the murderous consequences of love's absence.
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Crime and Punishment
Book Synopsis''A truly great translation . . . This English version really is better'' - A. N. Wilson, The SpectatorTIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2014This acclaimed new translation of Dostoyevsky''s ''psychological record of a crime'' gives his dark masterpiece of murder and pursuit a renewed vitality, expressing its jagged, staccato urgency and fevered atmosphere as never before. Raskolnikov, a destitute and desperate former student, wanders alone through the slums of St. Petersburg, deliriously imagining himself above society''s laws. But when he commits a random murder, only suffering ensues. Embarking on a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a suspicious police investigator, Raskolnikov finds the noose of his own guilt tightening around his neck. Only Sonya, a downtrodden prostitute, can offer the chance of redemption.Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) was born in Moscow and made his name in 1846 with the novella Poor Folk. He spent several years in prison in Siberia as a result of his political activities, an experience which formed the basis of The House of the Dead. In later life, he fell in love with a much younger woman and developed a ruinous passion for roulette. His subsequent great novels include Notes from Underground, Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons and The Brothers Karamazov.Oliver Ready is Research Fellow in Russian Society and Culture at St Antony''s College, Oxford. He is general editor of the anthology, The Ties of Blood: Russian Literature from the 21st Century (2008), and Consultant Editor for Russia, Central and Eastern Europe at the Times Literary Supplement.Trade ReviewA superb translation -- Jennifer Szalai * The New York Times *A truly great translation ... Sometimes new translations of old favourites are surplus to our requirements. Sometimes, though, a new translation really makes us see a favourite masterpiece afresh. And this English version of Crime and Punishment really is better ... Crime and Punishment, as well as being an horrific story and a compelling drama, is also extremely funny. Ready brings out this quality well ... That knife-edge between sentimentality and farce has been so skilfully and delicately captured here ... Ready's version is colloquial, compellingly modern and - in so far as my amateurish knowledge of the language goes - much closer to the Russian. ... The central scene in the book is a masterpiece of translation -- A. N. Wilson * Spectator *I was delighted to discover Oliver Ready's new translation of Crime and Punishment ... It is brimful of a young man's rage and energy and bullshit. I adored it -- Peter CareyThis vivid, stylish and rich rendition by Oliver Ready compels the attention of the reader in a way that none of the others I've read comes close to matching. Using a clear and forceful mid-20th-century idiom, Ready gives us an entirely new kind of access to Dostoyevsky's singular, self-reflexive and at times unnervingly comic text. This is the Russian writer's story of moral revolt, guilt and possible regeneration turned into a new work of art ... [It] will give a jolt to the nervous system to anyone interested in the enigmatic Russian author -- John Gray * New Statesman, 'Books of the Year' *Oliver Ready's translation of Crime and Punishment . . . is a five-star hit, which will make you see the original with new eyes -- A. N. Wilson * Times Literary Supplement, 'Books of the Year' *At last we have a translation that brings out the wild humour and vitality of the original -- Robert ChandlerI was bowled over, by the novel itself and the utterly brilliant translation, which grabs you by the lapels and doesn't let go. In the course of my work, I go through mountains of nonfiction to try to understand the world. This summer, I was reminded of the power of a novel to uncover something much deeper about the human spirit -- Fareed Zakaria * The New York Times Book Review *A tour de force built from prose that is not only impeccable in its own right but also perfectly suited to the story, its characters, its epoch and themes. We should treasure this new translation and, indeed, this new book * New York Journal of Books *A dazzlingly agile and robust new translation . . . Ready, who has a practiced ear for Russian dialect and a natural grace with English, is exceptionally deft at navigating [the novel's] challenges ... His ability to reproduce the whole heady brew of Dostoyevsky's novel in a consistent but nimble modern English ought to be applauded * Los Angeles Review of Books *What a great book this is and nothing like the dated, heavy Russian literature I thought I might have to wade through. It's a page turner - a dark, comic thriller with an anti-hero akin to Macbeth and characters so perfectly rendered as to leap from the page. The style is really modern and constantly delves into the mad thoughts of the protagonist - if you can call him that - Raskolnikov. Try it, especially Oliver Ready's high-tempo version -- Gary KempOliver Ready's version is outstanding in finding le mot juste for all of Dostoevsky's graphic verbs and odd objects (few Russian writers have a lexical range to equal Dostoevsky's) * The Times Literary Supplement *Ready's translation is nothing less than a wonder. He mirrors the tonal shifts in Dostoyevsky's original more nimbly than any English-language translator has before, and he catches the dark humour that runs through the book mostly below its surface, and best of all, he captures the essential, unchanging absurdity of Raskolnikov perfectly ... Ready's version crackles with grubby, demented vitality -- Steve Donoghue * Open Letters Monthly *Ready's lively translation succeeds in admirably capturing the psychological intensity of Dostoyevsky's style. . . . [It] replicates natural speech patterns in a way that Pevear and Volokhonsky's rather stilted translation does not. . . . [Ready's] English prose is rhythmic and, at times, poetic. . . . It is [the novel's] sense of frenzy that Ready so brilliantly captures in his new translation, which will ensure that another generation of readers remains enraptured by Crime and Punishment -- Slavic and East European JournalReady's vivid, new version ... is more than a Titanic idea of a great translation. It is the real thing ... Crisp and compelling, building on staccato rhythmic structures to heighten the novel's dramatic tension, then elegantly sidling into Dostoyevsky's abrupt denouement, his translation brings new life to a 150-year-old classic, rendering the familiar in fresh light * The Wichita Eagle *A gorgeous translation ... Inside one finds an excellent apparatus: a chronology, a terrific contextualizing introduction, a handy compendium of suggestions for further reading, and cogent notes on the translation. . . . But the best part is Ready's supple translation of the novel itself. Ready manages to cleave as closely as any prior translator to both spirit and letter, while rendering them into an English that is a relief to read * The East-West Review *What a pleasure it is to see Oliver Ready's new translation bring renewed power to one of the world's greatest works of fiction ... Ready's work is of substantial and superb quality ... [His] version portrays more viscerally and vividly the contradictory nature of Raskolnikov's consciousness. ... Ready evokes the crux of Crime and Punishment with more power than the previous translators have ... with an enviably raw economy of prose * The Curator *[An] excellent new translation * Critical Mass *Ready's new translation of Crime and Punishment is thoughtful and elegant [and] shows us once again why this novel is one of the most intriguing psychological studies ever written. His translation also manages to revive the disturbing humour of the original ... In some places, Ready's version echoes Pevear and Volokhonsky's prize-winning Nineties version, but he often renders Dostoyevsky's text more lucidly while retaining its deliberately uncomfortable feel. . . . Ready's colloquial, economical use of language gives the text a new power * Russia Beyond the Headlines *A clever modern translation of this classic of Russian horror that gave me nightmares as a student. We journey through suffering, repentance and expiation of sin -- Neil Mendoza * The Week *
£9.49
British Library Publishing The New Flesh
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Pushkin Press The Effingers
£17.00
Chiltern Publishing Pride and Predjudice: Chiltern Edition
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£17.00
Penguin Books Ltd Animal Farm
Book SynopsisThe first ever graphic novel version of Animal Farm - a Times Book of the YearAnimal Farm is the story of what happens when the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master, and how their revolution goes horribly wrong. Now George Orwell''s dark, timeless fable has been turned into a graphic novel for the very first time, illustrated in full colour by the renowned Brazilian artist Odyr to bring us a whole new work of art.''This brightly coloured homage to Orwell''s timely allegory is heartbreaking and elegant. Odyr''s images of animals casting off their bonds and then living with the results of their revolution are painterly and evocative, both loose and illuminating'' The New York TimesTrade ReviewThis brightly coloured homage to George Orwell's timely allegory is heartbreaking and elegant. Odyr's images of animals casting off their bonds and then living with the results of their revolution are painterly and evocative, both loose and illuminating. * The New York Times *Odyr's rich brushstrokes do much to enhance the experience of Orwell's brand of satire * New York Journal of Books *Odyr's expressive watercolour palette strikes a visceral note that matches the intensity of Orwell's original text ... He skillfully evokes the mood of the countryside and the plot's shocking violence; the atmosphere and emotions are spot-on * Publisher's Weekly *
£15.29
Pushkin Press Sevastopol Tales
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Penguin Books Ltd Metamorphosis
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHe is the greatest German writer of our time. Such poets as Rilke or such novelists as Thomas Mann are dwarfs or plaster saints in comparison to him -- Vladimir NabokovKafka described with wonderful imaginative power the future concentration camps, the future instability of the law, the future absolutism of the state, the paralysed, inadequately motivated, floundering lives of the many individual people; everything appeared as a nightmare and with the confusion and inadequacy of a nightmare -- Bertolt Brecht
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Chartwell Books The Scarlet Letter
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Penguin Books Ltd Inspector Imanishi Investigates
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Oxford University Press War and Peace
Book SynopsisTolstoy's epic masterpiece intertwines the lives of private and public individuals during the time of the Napoleonic wars and the French invasion of Russia. In this revised and updated version of the definitive and highly acclaimed Maude translation, Tolstoy's genius and the power of his prose are made newly available to the contemporary reader.
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Chartwell Books Treasure Island
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Vintage Publishing Frankenstein
Book SynopsisA beautiful deluxe gift edition of Mary Shelley's gothic masterpiece with foiled covers, marbled endpapers, sprayed edges, beautiful paper and finished with a silk ribbon. Navigating the Arctic, the captain of a ship rescues a man wandering near death across the ice caps. How the man got there reveals itself in a story of ambition, murder and revenge. As a young scientist, Victor Frankenstein pushed moral boundaries in order to cross the final frontier and create life. But his creation is a monster stitched together from grave-plundered body parts who has no place in the world, and his existence can only lead to tragedy. This hardback is part of VINTAGE COLLECTOR'S CLASSICS, a series of luxurious books especially crafted for collectors and fans of beautiful special editions. Sumptuous design meets the highest quality production. Discover timeless classics beautifully bound for every bookshelf.
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Union Square & Co. The Book of Enoch
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Penguin Books Ltd The Idiot
Book SynopsisReturning to St Petersburg from a Swiss sanatorium, the gentle and naive epileptic Prince Myshkin - pays a visit to his distant relative General Yepanchin and proceeds to charm the General, his wife, and his three daughters. But his life is thrown into turmoil when he chances on a photograph of the beautiful Nastasya Filippovna.Trade Review“A book that manages like no other to plunge fearlessly into suffering while at the same time illuminating the enduring, almost unspeakable beauty of the human.” —Laurie Sheck, The Atlantic “One of the most excoriating, compelling, and remarkable books ever written: and without question one of the greatest.” —A. C. Grayling “A masterpiece . . . a fact of world literature just as important as the densely dramatic Brothers Karamazov or the brilliantly subtle and terrifying Devils. . . . [an] excellent new translation.” —The Guardian “McDuff's language is rich and alive.” —The New York Times Book Review “[The Idiot's] narrative is so compelling.” —Rowan Williams, Archbishop of CanterburyTable of ContentsThe IdiotChronologyIntroductionFurther ReadingA Note on the TranslationThe IdiotNotes
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Pushkin Press The Village of Stepanchikovo
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Penguin Books Ltd The Yellow WallPaper
Book Synopsis''The color is hideous enough, and unreliable enough, and infuriating enough, but the pattern is torturing.''Written with barely controlled fury after she was confined to her room for ''nerves'' and forbidden to write, Gilman''s pioneering feminist horror story scandalized nineteenth-century readers with its portrayal of a woman who loses her mind because she has literally nothing to do.Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin''s 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935). Gilman''s work is available in Penguin Classics in The Yellow Wall-Paper, Herland and Selected Writings.
£5.63
