From Austen to Zola, from medieval to the modern day - all genres are catered for between the covers of these coveted classics.
Classics Books
Renard Press Ltd Lady Molly of Scotland Yard
Book SynopsisA trail-blazing writer of great repute in her day, but now unjustly neglected, Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s name was synonymous with the mystery genre in the early twentieth century, particularly for her Scarlet Pimpernel books, set during the French Revolution. But perhaps the most revolutionary of her works is the lesser-known Lady Molly of Scotland Yard, a short-story collection revolving around Molly Robertson-Kirk, a fictional London detective – indeed, published in 1910, Molly was one of the first fictional female detectives, and served as a prototype for many that followed. Beautifully presented and with helpful explanatory notes, this edition celebrates Orczy’s heroine and aims to reintroduce her for a new generation of readers.Trade Review'Anyone who feels that their outward manner is but a travesty of their inner self can hardly fail to respond to The Scarlet Pimpernel.' (Independent); 'Orczy had a rare gift: that of the storyteller. Her Pimpernel books are compulsively readable.' (Guardian)
£8.54
Broadview Press Ltd Moby-Dick; or, the Whale: Selections
Book SynopsisWhen Melville completed Moby-Dick, he wrote to Nathaniel Hawthorne that “I have written a wicked book, and feel spotless as a lamb.” While it took the world some time to appreciate the magnitude of Melville’s achievement, Moby-Dick is now widely considered one of the greatest works of American literature. It is, however, long, and students in semester-long courses will often not have a chance to read the novel in its entirety. The Broadview Moby-Dick: A Selection offers a robust sampling of chapters, chosen to give students a thorough initiation into the novel’s plot, as well as into the full range of its themes and stylistic experimentation. This edition also includes substantial, clear, and helpful annotations to help students successfully navigate Melville’s language and range of references.This volume is one of a number of editions that have been drawn from the pages of the acclaimed Broadview Anthology of American Literature; like the others, it is designed to make a range of material from the anthology available in a format convenient for use in a wide variety of contexts.Trade ReviewComments on The Broadview Anthology of American Literature“The expansion, diversification, and revitalization of the texts and terms of American literary history in recent years is made marvelously accessible in the … new Broadview Anthology of American Literature.” — Hester Blum, Penn State University“The Broadview Anthology of American Literature is, quite simply, a breakthrough. … Meticulously researched and expertly assembled, this anthology should be the new gold standard for scholars and teachers alike.” — Michael D’Alessandro, Duke University“So much thought has been put into every aspect of the Broadview Anthology of American Literature, from the selection of texts to their organization to their presentation on the page; it will be a gift to classrooms for years to come.” — Lara Langer Cohen, Swarthmore College “The multiplicity of early American locations, languages, and genres is here on wondrous display.” — Jordan Alexander Stein, Fordham University “Above all, this is a volume for the 21st century. … Its capaciousness and ample resource materials make for a text that is always evolving and meeting its readers in new ways.” — Russ Castronovo, University of Wisconsin-Madison“a rich collection that reflects the diversity of American literatures…. [and] that never forgets its most important audience: students. There is a wealth of material here that will help them imagine and reimagine what American literature could be.” — Michael C. Cohen, UCLA “The Broadview Anthology of American Literature is an instructor’s dream for introducing students to the diversity and complexity of American literature.” — Venetria K. Patton, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign“I am eager to teach with this anthology! It aligns with cutting-edge research through its selections, its introductions, and explanatory notes, and the texts are supplemented with primary documents that encourage teachers and students to think critically and dynamically.” — Koritha Mitchell, The Ohio State UniversityTable of ContentsFrom Moby-Dick Chapter 1 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 28 Chapter 32 Chapter 36 Chapter 38 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 64 Chapter 68 Chapter 87 Chapter 89 Chapter 93 Chapter 94 Chapter 95 Chapter 99 Chapter 102 Chapter 128 Chapter 132 Chapter 135 Epilogue Appendix A: Nineteenth-Century Images of Whales and Whaling Appendix B: The Story of the Essex Appendix C: Selection of Melville’s Letters to Hawthorne
£14.20
Blackstone Publishing Tai-Pan
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£33.15
Simon & Schuster The Lathe of Heaven
Book SynopsisWith a new introduction by Kelly Link, the Locus Award-winning science fiction novel by legendary author Ursula K. Le Guin, set in a world where one man’s dreams rewrite the future.During a time racked by war and environmental catastrophe, George Orr discovers his dreams alter reality. George is compelled to receive treatment from Dr. William Haber, an ambitious sleep psychiatrist who quickly grasps the immense power George holds. After becoming adept at manipulating George’s dreams to reshape the world, Haber seeks the same power for himself. George—with some surprising help—must resist Haber’s attempts, which threaten to destroy reality itself.A classic of the science fiction genre, The Lathe of Heaven is prescient in its exploration of the moral risks when overwhelming power is coupled with techno-utopianism.
£15.29
Broadview Press Ltd The Noble Slaves
Book SynopsisThis is the first ever critical edition of Penelope Aubin’s The Noble Slaves, a novel that shows women as both moral exemplars and independent adventurers in foreign lands. Its tales of seduction, imprisonment, and escape engage with contemporary debates about arbitrary authority and slavery—particularly in relation to the lives of women. In one brief and fast-paced novel, Aubin brings together the aristocratic romance and the world of trade with the themes of empire and colonialism. Sometimes assessed as a pious conservative or a popular sensationalist, Aubin used fiction as a vehicle for addressing the deepest moral and political concerns of her time, and The Noble Slaves will allow new readers to understand her importance to the history of the novel.The appendices to this Broadview Edition include contemporary fiction and historical documents on slavery, piracy, and Orientalism. Trade ReviewThis new edition of The Noble Slaves is very welcome to those of us who teach eighteenth-century fiction, as it makes it possible to offer a richer view of the early development of novels in the period. Penelope Aubin was one of the three most productive novelists of the 1720s, and this edition of her most reprinted novel will help us give students a fuller picture of that crucial decade in the history of the novel. Students will find the annotations helpful in guiding the through the text, and the introduction and appendices provide important context, both piratical and political, for Aubin's work." - Marta Kvande, Texas Tech UniversityTable of ContentsAppendix A: Slavery 1. London Journal, Saturday, December 9th, 1721 reports the parading of captives released from Morocco 2. Anon., from A Description of the Nature of Slavery among the Moors, and the Cruel Sufferings of those that Fall into it (1721) 3. Daniel Defoe, from A Review of the State of the English Nation, No. 127, Saturday, January 28th, 1710 4. [Daniel Defoe], from Reformation of Manners, A Satyr (1702) 5. [Daniel Defoe], from The Life, Adventures, and Pyracies, of the Famous Captain Singleton (1720) 6. Anon., Excerpt from An Essay in Defence of the Female Sex (1696) 7. Mary Astell, from the Preface to Some Reflections Upon Marriage, third edition (1706) 8. [Cato], Excerpt from the London Journal, no. CXXX, Saturday, January 20th, 1722 9. [Cato], Excerpt from A Discourse of Standing Armies (1722) 10. William Stephens, Excerpt from A Second Deliverance from Popery and Slavery. As it was set forth in a Sermon in the Parish Church of Sutton in Surrey, Sept. 19. 1714. Being the First Sunday after His Majesty’s Landing (1714) Appendix B: Orientalism 1. Sir Paul Rycaut, Excerpt from The History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire (1666) 2. [Cato], Excerpt from the London Journal, No. XC, Saturday, April 15, 1721 3. Delarivier Manley, Excerpt from Almyna: or, The Arabian Vow. A Tragedy (first performed 1706, 3. published 1707) 4. Mary Pix, Excerpt from Ibrahim, the Thirteenth Emperour of the Turks: A Tragedy (1696) Appendix C: Piracy 1. David Aubin, Excerpt from Letter to Abraham and Henry Aubin, June 3, 1720 2. Penelope Aubin, Deposition of Penelope Aubin to the Board of Trade, 20 January 1709 3. [Daniel Defoe], Excerpt from The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1719) 4. [Captain Charles Johnson], Excerpt from A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates (1724) Appendix D: Romance and Translation1. Penelope Aubin, Excerpts from The Illustrious French Lovers, 2v. (1726)
£19.76
HarperCollins Publishers The Cat that Walked by Himself and Other Cat
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.But the wildest of all the wild animals was the Cat. He walked by himself, and all places were alike to him.Cats have long been considered creatures of mystery and magic. Worshipped as deities in some cultures, feared as harbingers of bad fortune in others, it''s little surprise that their enigmatic charm continues to capture our imaginations today.This classic collection of the most beloved cat tales includes Saki''s Tobermory', in which a straight-talking cat leaves dinner guests aghast yet entranced; a Norse fairy tale involving a spectacular feline rescue; The Dragon Tamers' by E. Nesbit; and H. P. Lovecraft''s strange story The Cats of Ulthar'; amongst many others to enjoy for years to come.
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers The Letter
Book SynopsisWill its words uncover a dark family secret?Readers love Josephine Cox!'Loved the story and the characters''Family secrets hidden away for years. I really loved this story''I was hooked from start to finish''This one goes to the top of my list a five star read'Another gripping and dramatic family drama from the Sunday Times bestsellerBella can't wait to be married to her fiancée Sidney, and dreams of the day she will walk up the aisle to be given away by her widowed father, with her bookish sister Alice as her bridesmaid.Their lives are disturbed when they receive a letter from their fifteen-year-old cousin Millie. Taken in by her austere aunt and uncle when her parents were killed in an accident, Millie says she is being badly treated and pleads to be rescued.When the two sisters take a trip to find out the truth, things take a troubling turn. Millie is brought home to live with them, her only possessions her ill-fitting clothes and a tatty suitcase.But soon they are questioning thisTrade ReviewReader reviews for The Letter: ‘Loved the story and the characters’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘It's so well written and the story line was addictive.’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘What a brilliant book – so many rollercoasters, emotional, funny and sad’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘A definite read again book on my shelf’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars Praise for Josephine Cox: 'Thanks to her near faultless writing … readers will find it impossible to tear themselves away.' News of the World 'Another hit for Josephine Cox' Sunday Express ‘Cox's talent as storyteller never lets you escape the spell' Daily Mail 'Another masterpiece' Best ‘Another beautifully spun family epic' Scottish Daily Echo 'A born storyteller' Bedfordshire Times ‘A surefire winner' Woman's Weekly
£8.54
New Directions Publishing Corporation The Complete Works of Álvaro de Campos
Book SynopsisA companion volume to Fernando Pessoa’s The Book of Disquiet and The Complete Works of Alberto CaeiroTrade Review"As searing as Rilke or Mandelstam." -- The New York Times"Pessoa's amazing personality is as beguiling and mysterious as his unique poetic output." -- William Boyd"Arguably, the four greatest poets in the Portuguese language were all Pessoa using different names." -- NPR
£18.04
Vintage Publishing Last Comes the Raven
Book SynopsisThese early short stories brim with the beauty of the Italian countryside and seaside, telling tales both sumptuous and unnerving.Calvino's war-torn Italy is vivid, intense, almost hyper-real. A trio of greedy burglars rob a pastry shop, a boy offers a girl presents of toads and insects from the garden, a wealthy family invites a rustic goatherd to lunch, only to mock him. In every story he reveals the hidden meaning beneath the surface of everyday life, and the ludicrousness of war.Some stories from Last Comes the Raven have been previously available in the collection Adam, One Afternoon. This new expanded collection includes several stories newly translated by Ann Goldstein and is an important addition to Calvino's legacy.'In Last Comes the Raven, a collection of early stories, we find the man behind the magician' New YorkerTrade ReviewIn these beautifully translated stories, the quality of the writing emerges as clearly as do the ease and range of his inventiveness. Calvino's special gift is to link the physical and immediate with an allegorical timelessness. All the characters and creatures in these stories conspire to convey a feeling of the wonder, mystery and terror of life * Guardian *Calvino's strength is his economy and subtlety. The best of his allegorical fantasies have the power of the Brothers Grimm, rollicking stories on the surface, with an underlying savagery * Listener *Calvino was drawn to narratives as pure and potent objects; in this collection, he examines but does not deconstruct them . . . There is the author's trademark ironic distance and careful wit, as well as tinges of surrealism. But, where the mature Calvino found a style that was supremely arch, alien, and spare, his more mimetic stories retain the funk of the human . . . The reader of Last Comes the Raven registers a bloom of social feelings: sympathy, recognition, curiosity * New Yorker *
£9.49
Renard Press Ltd The Gift of the Magi
Book SynopsisFirst published in 1905, O. Henry's masterpiece, The Gift of the Magi, is a moving short story that highlights the plight of the poor at Christmastime. Desperately in love but destitute, Della and Jim try to find ways to drum up the cash for presents for one another, but in the end find they have sacrificed too much along the way. An ode to love and a warning against the consequences of capitalism, The Gift of the Magi has stood the test of time and has sadly never been more relevant. Part of Renard's successful Christmas Card Classics series, 25% of the RRP of each book sold goes to the Three Peas, a small charity supporting refugees.
£5.82
British Library Publishing The Uncanny Gastronomic
Book SynopsisRaiding this dark pantry of writing, this new collection presents a feast of sixteen classic tales, two poems and one essay, with choice morsels by masters of the macabre including Shirley Jackson, Franz Kafka, Angela Carter and Roald Dahl.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Ghosts from the Library
Book SynopsisA brand new anthology of previously unpublished and uncollected supernatural mysteries by some of the masters of the Golden Age thrills, spills and chills perfect for Halloween.It is said that books are written to bring sunshine into our dull, grey lives to show us places we want to escape to, lives we want to live, people we want to love. But there are also stories that can only be found in the deepest, darkest corners of the library. Stories about the unexplained, of lost souls, of things that go bump before the silence. Before the screaming.And some stories just disappear. Stories printed in old newspapers, broadcast live on the wireless, sometimes not even published at all these are the stories you cannot find on even the dustiest of library shelves.Ghosts from the Library resurrects forgotten tales of the supernatural by some of the most acclaimed mystery authors of all time. From Arthur Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr to Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier, this spine-chilTrade Review‘A delightfully shiversome set of tales to be read over a series of dark nights.’—The Invisible Event ‘The collection is full to the brim with elegant and subtle writing, clever character studies and some masterclass-level misdirection. Perfect for a long winter’s night.’—Crime Review ‘Criminally spooky – would make a great Christmas stocking gift!’—FictionFan ‘Despite being hitherto “lost”, there are few duds here.’—Guardian ‘A particular favourite of mine was Agatha Christie’s Personal Call, written for the BBC’s Light Programme in 1954. This translates well to the page … as the story builds to a tense climax guaranteed to send a shiver up an unsuspecting spine.’—Crime Review
£9.49
Alma Books Ltd The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes: Annotated
Book SynopsisOnce again the eminent detective is presented with a series of seemingly impenetrable cases: an anonymous but illustrious client employs him to rescue the daughter of a famous personage from the clutches of a roguish aristocrat and suspected murderer; a retired art-supply dealer asks him to investigate the suspicious disappearance of his wife with a neighbour and a stash of money; a veteran of the Boer War appeals to him to track down a missing friend; a man has become convinced that his wife has been sucking their baby son’s blood. Will the most famous of sleuths be persuaded to offer his services and set off in pursuit of the criminals? The final collection of Holmes adventures, containing twelve brilliant, unpredictable stories, The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes is a fitting conclusion to its protagonist’s long career and a powerful send-off for Conan Doyle’s greatest creation.
£8.20
Dedalus Ltd The Oblate: L'Oblat
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£10.44
Vintage Publishing A German Christmas: Festive Tales From Berlin to
Book SynopsisFrom helpful elves to an enchanting Nutcracker, rediscover the German Christmas tales behind our most iconic festive traditions*A Daily Express Book of the Year*Eine fröhliche Weihnachten -- A Merry Christmas -- made all the more joyful with these literary treats redolent of candle-lit trees, St. Nikolaus, gingerbread, roast goose and red cabbage, tinsel and stollen cakes, accompanied by plenty of schnapps.In this collection, classic works by the Brothers Grimm and Thomas Mann intertwine with more recent stories from writers like Peter Stamm and Martin Suter to bring together the greatest festive tales from Austria, Switzerland and Germany. From a child lost in a snowy, pine-scented forest meeting an unlikely saviour to old lovers reuniting during a last-minute dash across the city for presents, each story creates magical moments of reflection and rediscovery.Bursting with family chaos, carols and yuletide cheer, A German Christmas showcases those works that have helped define the festive period the world over.Trade ReviewA festive treat with a German twist * Daily Express, *Christmas Gift Guide 2022* *A gorgeous little book and the perfect Christmas stocking filler * Art Shelf, *Christmas Gift Guide 2022* *
£11.69
Dedalus Ltd The Dedalus Book of Faroese Literature
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£12.34
Prakash Books The Complete Grimms' Fairy Tales
Book SynopsisFor over a century, the Grimm brothers' fairy tales have captivated the popular imagination. Their enduring magic and wonder have led to countless adaptations in film, theatre, opera, and animation, firmly establishing them as part of our cultural heritage. Now, in this exquisite leather-bound edition, experience the timeless enchantment of two hundred fairy tales and ten children's legends. Translated from German by Margaret Hunt, these cherished stories, including Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Rumpelstiltskin, offer a treasure trove of imagination for both children and adults. Step into a world of enchantment and embrace the legacy of the Grimm brothers' extraordinary tales. Unleash your imagination with enchanting Grimm's classics. Dive into a world of whimsy and dark magic. Discover hidden treasures within the timeless fairy tales. Experience the captivating power of the Brothers Grimm. Journey through forests and realms with iconic characters.
£16.99
West Margin Press The Good Soldier
Book SynopsisThe Good Soldier (1915) is a novel by Ford Madox Ford. Set just before the First World War, the novel is superficially the story of Edward Asburnham, a man with a reputation for philandering. Considered an important proto-modernist novel, The Good Soldier employs a fragmented narrative told by an unreliable narrator who appears at times as distant, gossipy, voyeuristic, and even vindictive. Praised as one of the greatest English-language novels of the century, The Good Soldier remains Ford’s most popular work. John Dowell has secrets. Married for nine years to a serially unfaithful woman, friends with a man who falls in love at first sight with every woman he meets, he lives an exciting life without ever doing much himself. As he sorts through his memories, revealing the sordid details of his loved ones’ private lives, it becomes clear that Dowell is haunted by tragedy. His psychological state, shaped by years of jealousy and paranoia, reveals the soul of a man without faith, thrown from one betrayal to the next by his manipulative wife. But how could he fail to see what was right under his nose? Can a man truly be as innocent as Dowell claims to be? The Good Soldier is a masterpiece of English fiction that poses timeless questions regarding friendship, fidelity, and sexuality. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ford Madox Ford’s The Good Soldier is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.
£10.44
ERIS The Invisible Collection
Book SynopsisStefan Zweig's short story is a powerful evocation of the condition of Germany between the wars and a moving reminder of the power of art.
£7.01
West Margin Press There is Confusion
Book SynopsisThere Is Confusion (1924) is a novel by Jessie Redmon Fauset. Published to resounding acclaim from such critics as Alain Locke and Montgomery Gregory, There Is Confusion was largely forgotten by the 1930s as the Great Depression and the Second World War shifted national attention away from the writers and artists whose vision defined the Harlem Renaissance. Rediscovered by scholars in the late twentieth century, There Is Confusion is seen as a feminist masterpiece on par with the best of Jane Austen and Edith Wharton. Set in Philadelphia and Harlem, Fauset’s novel traces the lives of three African Americans from childhood to adulthood while situating their experience in the cultural shifts of the early twentieth century. Joanna Marshall is a dancer who longs for recognition. Maggie Ellersley is a beautiful girl who detests her working-class roots. Peter Bye is an ambitious student who hopes to become a surgeon. As they grow up together, their shared dreams are tarnished by romance and competition. As economic opportunity reshapes the African American community, the three friends must redefine their relationships and desires. Moving and plainspoken, There Is Confusion is a novel grounded in history that manages a delicate balance between the personal and the political without losing sight of the characters who live Fauset’s vision. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Jessie Redmon Fauset’s There Is Confusion is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.
£13.59
Hogarth Our Share of Night
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£13.09
West Margin Press Liza of Lambeth
Book SynopsisLiza of Lambeth (1897) is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Written while the author was living as a medical student in London, the Maugham’s debut marked an electrifying start to an illustrious career in literature. Controversial for its portrayal of infidelity, domestic violence, and women’s reproductive health, Liza of Lambeth is a gritty realist tale that takes an honest look at the everyday struggles of actual Londoners in a time of celebration and nostalgia for the Empire. Set in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, Liza of Lambeth follows a young woman in her life as a factory worker and caretaker for her ailing mother. Although she is only 18, Liza Kemp is a hard worker who desires more from life than that which she was born into. When a rare holiday gives her the chance to unwind in the countryside with a group of friends, she takes a much-needed break from her daily responsibilities to partake in a carriage ride. There, she meets Jim Blakeston, a married father of five who has recently moved to a home near Liza’s. Drunk on beer, she begins to feel attracted to the man, who sneaks a kiss before the night draws to a close. Soon, they begin an ill-fated affair, sneaking off whenever possible to elude the suspicions of friends and family. As lust turns to violence, Liza learns too late the dangers of trusting men. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of W. Somerset Maugham’s Liza of Lambeth is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.
£6.37
Renard Press Ltd The History of England
Book SynopsisJane Austen, one of the nation's most beloved authors, whose face adorns our currency, surely needs no introduction, but while many are familiar with her groundbreaking novels, few have come across her short burlesque work The History of England. Billed a history 'from the reign of Henry IV to Charles I by a partial, prejudiced and ignorant historian', The History of England pokes fun at the overly verbose and grand histories of Austen's day. Written when she was just fifteen, this is a comic tour de force that shows Austen's wit developing into the satirical prowess she is remembered for.Trade Review'Praise the Lord for making her, and her for all she made!' (Rudyard Kipling) 'The finest writer in the English language.' (Philippa Gregory)
£6.79
Vertical Inc. The Surgery Room: Maiden's Bookshelf
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£17.09
Alma Books Ltd Carmen: Accompanied by another famous novella by
Book SynopsisWhen the Basque dragoon Don José meets a Gypsy woman at the factory he is guarding, he is immediately ensnared by her wiles. After she is arrested for injuring a co-worker and he helps her to flee, he is imprisoned and demoted, but she repays him at their next meeting with a day of excess and a night of love. As Carmen continues to exert her spell, José is dragged further and further into a seedy world of smugglers, robbers, fiery passions and uncontrollable jealousy – one that he will find difficult to escape alive. Carmen, the archetype of the amoral femme fatale, is Prosper Mérimée’s highest creation, and a model for many subsequent literary heroines. First published in 1846, this story of crime and desire – here accompanied by another famous novella by Mérimée, The Venus of Ille – has been adapted into a number of dramatic works, including the famous 1875 opera of the same name by Georges Bizet.
£6.99
West Margin Press Melmoth the Wanderer
Book SynopsisMelmoth the Wanderer (1820) is a novel by Charles Maturin. Written toward the end of Maturin’s life, Melmoth the Wanderer was the author’s fifth and most successful novel. Inspired by the story of the Wandering Jew and the Faustian legend, the novel is a powerful Gothic romance divided into nested stories, each one delving deeper into the mystery of Melmoth’s life. Often interpreted for its criticisms of 19th century Britain and the Catholic Church, Melmoth the Wanderer is considered one of the greatest novels of the Romantic era. Following a lead from a story told at his uncle’s funeral, John Melmoth, a student from Dublin, begins an obsessive search into his family’s mysterious past. Little is known about the man called “Melmoth the Traveller.” A portrait dated 1646 suggests that he has been dead for over a century. Despite this, he discovers a manuscript from a stranger named Stanton who claims to have seen Melmoth on several occasions over the past few decades. John tracks him down and finds him at a mental institution, where he was placed when his obsession with Melmoth was deemed insanity. Disturbed, John burns the portrait and attempts to put his questions behind him. Soon, he begins having visions of his own. Melmoth the Wanderer is a story of mystery and terror that engages with timeless themes of faith, fantasy, and the thin line between dreams and life. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charles Maturin’s Melmoth the Wanderer is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.
£21.59
Graphic Arts Books The Mill on the Floss
Book SynopsisMaggie Tulliver is a brilliant woman who finds herself at the center of a love triangle between her childhood crush and a cousin’s potential fiancé. The controversial romance makes her a town pariah, damaging her most beloved relationships. Maggie adores her older brother Tom, who’s a consistent yet sometimes adversarial figure. She’s an idealistic student of the world, while Tom is more of a conservative. Their sibling dynamic is tested by Maggie’s interactions with two male suitors: Philip Wakem and Stephen Guest. Philip is the son of their father’s mortal enemy, while Stephen is already linked to their cousin Lucy. When Maggie’s dalliance with the latter is exposed, she is immediately shunned by the locals, including her brother. The Mill on the Floss is an examination of the complex dynamic between family and friends. Like many of Eliot’s novels, it highlights the dangers of groupthink and individual oppression. In this case, Maggie must sacrifice her personal happiness for the acceptance of others. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Mill on the Floss is both modern and readable.
£20.69
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Lucian: Three Menippean Fantasies
Book SynopsisA handful of fragments is all that remains of the writings of Menippus, the third-century BCE provocateur of the Greek Cynic movement. The Western literary tradition knows him through Lucian, the Greek satirist who lived and worked four hundred years later. Included in this book are Joel Relihan’s lively English translations of Lucian’s three reanimations of Menippus—fantastic narratives and comic dialogues set in heaven and hell: Menippus; or, The Consultation of the Corpses Icaromenippus; or, A Man above the Clouds The Colloquies of the Corpses (Dialogues of the Dead) For the first time in over fifty years, these works are assembled in a unified format to tell a particular story: Lucian’s evolving understanding of the philosophical and literary potential of the person, productions, and purposes of Menippus. Not only is it time to give Lucian’s Menippus a fresh look and a thorough reevaluation, but also to consider how Lucian’s imitations and innovations adumbrate, illuminate, and complicate the history of that enigmatic genre, Menippean satire.Trade Review“Professor Relihan’s translations of Lucian’s Menippus works are the best I know of in English. The notes, Introduction, and Afterword are models of concision and clarity. This volume will be enormously useful to anyone interested in Lucian, Menippus, or ‘Menippean satire’.” —R. Bracht Branham, Emory University
£14.39
Rixdorf Editions Three Prose Works: 2022
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£9.49
Vintage Publishing Brave New World: 90th Anniversary Edition with an
Book SynopsisA sumptuous gift edition to mark the 90th anniversary of first publication. With an Introduction by Yuval Noah Harari.'A masterpiece of speculation... As vibrant, fresh, and somehow shocking as it was when I first read it' Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's TaleWelcome to New London. Everybody is happy here. Our perfect society achieved peace and stability through the prohibition of monogamy, privacy, money, family and history itself. Now everyone belongs.You can be happy too. All you need to do is take your Soma pills.Discover the brave new world of Aldous Huxley's classic novel, written in 1932, which prophesied a society which expects maximum pleasure and accepts complete surveillance - no matter what the cost.'A grave warning... Provoking, stimulating, shocking and dazzling' Observer**One of the BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World**Trade ReviewHuxley's nightmare, set out in Brave New World, his great dystopian novel, was that we would be undone by the things that delight us * Guardian *The most prophetic book of the 20th century... If you have time for just one book, this would be my top choice.A brilliant tour de force, Brave New World may be read as a grave warning of the pitfalls that await uncontrolled scientific advance. Full of barbed wit and malice-spiked frankness. Provoking, stimulating, shocking and dazzling * Observer *Such ingenious wit, derisive logic and swiftness of expression, Huxley's resources of sardonic invention have never been more brilliantly displayed * The Times *Aldous Huxley was uncannily prophetic, a more astute guide to the future than any other 20th century novelist ... Nineteen Eighty-Four has never really arrived, but Brave New World is around us everywhere
£15.29
Flame Tree Publishing Treasure Island
Book SynopsisLittle treasures, the FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library. Each stunning, gift edition features deluxe cover treatments, ribbon markers, luxury endpapers and gilded edges. The unabridged text is accompanied by a Glossary of Victorian and Literary terms produced for the modern reader. The very name of Robert Louis Stevenson is synonymous with storytelling adventures, Treasure Island being one of the most popular books in English literature. Its racing narrative pace takes the young Jim Hawkins on a lively escapade that's fired the imagination of many generations of readers. Mysterious maps, Long John Silver and his parrot, buried treasures, tropical islands, leafy palms and endless blue seas, innocence and treachery, the complicated path between good and evil, all conspire to deliver a powerful addition to any collection of tall tales and essential reads.
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Flight of Anja
Book SynopsisOnce again, Goranson channels the epics of the past to take the reader on a journey filled with adventure, danger, and forbidden love I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, Viking tales, and mythology!' ? ? ? ? ? reader reviewWIFE.DAUGHTER.DREAMER.Anja Freydisdottir has always heard whispers of her mother's adventures in Vinland. All she longs for is to spread her wings and follow them but she's trapped by the expectations of 11th-century society.Liberation comes from an unexpected source when she is helped to flee across the Atlantic on a Viking longboat bound for Vinland shores.Haunted by the ominous shadows of a family history she does not know, Anja must seek a perilous path into an unfamiliar wilderness to find her answersThe Flight of Anja is an unmissable historical novel of epic adventure and forbidden love perfect for fans of Vikings and Outlander.What readers are saying:I really enjoyed this book, it was beautifully written, almost lyrical in its Trade Review‘Anyone who loves Vikings and historical fiction definitely should pick up this book’ Emily, NetGalley reviewer ‘Very lyrically written, I felt as if I was reading a song’ Tiffany, NetGalley reviewer ‘As a lover of mythology and historical fiction I knew immediately I was going to like this book – and I’m pleased to say I not only liked it but I LOVED it!’ Libby, NetGalley reviewer ‘Tamara Goranson’s writing really shines here. I felt the cold, heard the wind, flinched with the blows – that takes a lot of skill’ Dawn, NetGalley reviewer ‘Took me on a rollercoaster of emotions’ Charlotte, NetGalley reviewer
£8.54
Alma Books Ltd The House of Mirth
Book SynopsisAn impoverished member of the privileged high society of old New York, Lily Bart is beautiful and socially agreeable, but she is almost thirty and still unmarried. Now she is keen to secure a wealthy husband to confirm her status, but the debts she contracts at the card table, her reduced circumstances and the constant gossip she attracts from malevolent tongues through her heedless behaviour and faux pas make her prospects look bleak. As suitor after suitor appears and fades away, and she is drawn further and further down a spiral of loneliness and unhappiness, she realizes that she is just one step away from losing everything she has. Published in 1905 to immediate critical and commercial success, Edith Wharton’s enduringly popular novel of manners is a brilliant evocation of the economic and social changes wrought by the Gilded Age, as well as a universal satire on the constraints and follies of upper-crust conventions.
£6.99
Chiltern Publishing Romeo and Juliet
Book Synopsis
£18.00
Vintage Publishing The Power of the Dog: NOW AN OSCAR AND BAFTA
Book Synopsis**NOW THE WINNER OF THE 2022 BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR AND TWO 2022 BAFTA AWARDS**Discover Thomas Savage's dark poetic tale of a small town in early 20th century America.Phil and George are brothers and joint owners of the biggest ranch in their Montana valley.Phil is the bright one, George the plodder. Phil is tall and angular; George is stocky and silent. Phil is a brilliant chess player, a voracious reader, an eloquent storyteller; George learns slowly, and devotes himself to the business. They sleep in the room they shared as boys, and so it has been for forty years.When George unexpectedly marries a young widow and brings her to live at the ranch, Phil begins a relentless campaign to destroy his brother's new wife. But he reckons without an unlikely protector.From its visceral first paragraph to its devastating twist of an ending, The Power of the Dog will hold you in its grip.WITH AN AFTERWORD BY ANNIE PROULX'With its echoes of East of Eden and Brokeback Mountain, this satisfyingly complex story deserves another shot at rounding up public admiration' GuardianTrade ReviewOptimistically billed as the next Stoner, this 1967 reissue is in fact the better novel...a rich and challenging psychodrama, based on brilliant characterisation... With its echoes of East of Eden and Brokeback Mountain, this satisfyingly complex story deserves another shot at rounding up public admiration * Guardian *[Savage’s] prose is vivid and direct… [his] descriptions of nature have real power… a slow-burn psychological western. * The Times *An exhilarating drama between two brothers set in Twenties Montana, and better even than Stoner * Daily Telegraph *Something aching and lonely and terrible of the west is caught forever on Savage's pages, and the most compelling and painful of [his] books is The Power of the Dog, a work of literary artThe shocking turn of the book’s final pages keeps the story bright as a blade to the end...This is the perfect example of a book that never quite made it to the rank of classic...but is more than worthy of resurrection now * New Statesman *
£8.54
Oxford University Press MobyDick
Book SynopsisThis edition of Herman Melville's monumental novel includes a new introduction that is attentive both to the rich literary history of Moby-Dick, and to the book's sharp relevance to issues of environmentalism, disability, power, race, and sexuality today.Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the text Selected Bibliography Herman Melvolle Chronology MOBY-DICK; OR, THE WHALE Appendix: Melville's Letters to Nathaniel Hawthorne Explanatory Notes
£7.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Happy Reader 17
Book SynopsisFor avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.
£5.69
Quercus Publishing A Nest of Gentlefolk and Other Stories (riverrun
Book SynopsisThis riverrun edition of Turgenev's most accomplished stories contains A Nest of Gentlefolk, A Quiet Backwater, First Love, and A Lear of the Steppes - the defining masterpieces of his career. Justly celebrated as a novelist, playwright, and poet, these stories encapsulate his skills: in the scope and span of his depiction of nineteenth-century provincial life; in his nuanced portraiture of the vivid quirks of human character; and in the elusive poise of his narrative style - all artfully captured in Jessie Coulson's subtly brilliant translation.Presented by riverrun editions with an exclusive preface by award-winning translator Boris Dralyuk.
£10.44
Lanternfish Press Medusa's Daughters
Book SynopsisThe witchy women are Medusa’s daughters indeed—their gaze kills. But rather than sending heroes to slay them, the writers of this collection celebrate the deadliness of these femmes fatales. After a period of decline, Gothic literature underwent a revival at the end of the 1800s. As the century turned, women writers such as Vernon Lee, Mary Coleridge, and Rosamund Mariott Watson left an indelible mark on fantasy and horror literature. Like Medusa herself, their poetry and short stories embody the very essence of magic and monstrosity. Curated and annotated by award-winning fantasy author and Victorianist Theodora Goss, this collection of rare and strange gems serves as a tantalizing sampler of work by fin-de-siècle women writers, whose legacy still echoes in the speculative fiction we know and love today.
£12.34
General Press India The Time Machine
£10.44
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Moonfleet
When fifteen-year-old orphan John Trenchard is banished by his Aunt Jane, he goes to live at the local inn with the mysterious Elzevir Block, whose son has been killed by Customs Officers. Unofficially adopted by Block, John comes to learn the reasons for the noises in the graveyard at night, of 'Blackbeard' Mohune's lost treasure and Elzevir Block's secret. This dashing tale of eighteenth-century Dorset smugglers will be enjoyed by all who love stories of derring-do written in the tradition of Treasure Island.
£4.99
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Robin Hood
Book SynopsisRobin Hood is the best-loved outlaw of all time. In this edition, Henry Gilbert tells of the adventures of the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest - Robin himself, Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, and Alan-a-Dale, as well as Maid Marian, good King Richard, and Robin's deadly enemies Guy of Gisborne and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.
£4.99
Wordsworth Editions Ltd The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
Book SynopsisBy the time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had completed the twelve stories for The Strand Magazine that are gathered together in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, he was already growing tired of his most famous creation, but the financial incentive to continue was too great. So began the second series of stories, known as The Memoirs; these introduced such notable characters as Holmes' indolent brother, Mycroft, and Holmes' most dangerous adversary, Professor James Moriarty, the 'Napoleon of Crime'. The collection included such stories as 'The Adventure of the Resident Patient' and 'The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter', which Doyle would list later as amongst his favourites. It was to Moriarty that was delegated the task of ending the career of the world's finest consulting detective in a final, fatal encounter at The Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland in the concluding tale, 'The Final Problem'.
£8.54
Pan Macmillan The Yellow Wallpaper & Herland
Book SynopsisCharlotte Perkins Gilman’s progressive views on feminism and mental health are powerfully showcased in her two most famous stories. The Yellow Wallpaper skillfully charts one woman's struggle with depression whilst Herland is an entertaining imagining of an all female utopia.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is introduced by journalist and author Lucy Mangan.Confined to her attic bedroom and isolated from her newborn baby, the nameless narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper keeps a secret diary in which she records the sprawling and shifting patterns of the room’s lurid yellow wallpaper as she slowly sinks into madness. This chilling story is based on the author’s own experience of depression. In Herland, a trio of men set out to discover an all-female community rumoured to be hidden deep in the jungle. What they find surprises them all; they’re captured by women who, for two thousand years, have lived in a peaceful and prosperous utopia without men.Trade ReviewThe Yellow Wallpaper by the American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman created feminist fireworks the moment it appeared in the January 1892 edition of the New England Magazine -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian *Gilman wrote her story about husbands, the medical profession and the patriarchy at large shaping and suppressing women’s lives and freedoms 126 years ago. It was only in 2015 that we got a name and a crime – coercive control – for most of what her heroine experiences * Stylist *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Cats Cradle
Book Synopsis''Vonnegut looked the world straight in the eye and never flinched'' J. G. BallardThis bitterly funny Cold War satire on the end of the world expresses our deepest fears of Armageddon, and has become a counter-culture classic.''A satirist with a heart, a moralist with a whoopee cushion'' Jay McInerney''The closest thing we had to a Voltaire'' Tom Wolfe''The time to read Vonnegut is just when you begin to suspect that the world is not what it appears to be. He is not only entertaining, he is electrocuting'' The New York Times
£8.99
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc The Inferno
Book SynopsisDante’s The Inferno is the first part of his masterpiece, The Divine Comedy. This edition uses the classic translation by the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882).
£11.66
Graphic Arts Books The Romance of Lust
Book SynopsisThe Romance of Lust (1873-1876) is an anonymously written pornographic novel. Published by infamous London pornographer William Lazenby, The Romance of Lust appeared in four volumes and immediately drew condemnation from the British authorities. Although its author remains unknown, scholars believe either William Simpson Potter or Edward Sellon wrote the text. Frequently censored, The Romance of Lust influenced countless authors of erotica from the Victorian era onward. Charlie Roberts has always felt different. Born with an abnormally large penis, he finds himself tempted into sexual experience at a young age. Soon, he develops an uncontrollable desire for the human body, and begins to have sex with everyone from his governesses to his own sisters Eliza and Mary. As he gets older, a whole new world of lust becomes available, and Charlie begins to feel attracted to men. Filled with detailed scenes of erotic acts, including orgies, fellatio, cunnilingus, masturbation, anal sex, and double penetration, The Romance of Lust raised more than just eyebrows when it first appeared in print. Condemned for obscenity and often censored by authorities, the novel is recognized today as an important work of Victorian erotica and has inspired generations of pornographers around the world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Romance of Lust is a classic of pornographic literature reimagined for modern readers.
£13.29
Graphic Arts Books The Great Gatsby
Book SynopsisThe Great Gatsby (1925) is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Published at the height of Fitzgerald’s career as a leading writer of American fiction, The Great Gatsby was reviewed poorly by contemporary critics, but has since been recognized as a groundbreaking work for its vision of American decadence and decay. Adapted into several influential films and adored by generations of readers and writers, The Great Gatsby is not only Fitzgerald’s crowning achievement, but one of the finest novels ever written. Nick Carraway is a young veteran and Yale graduate who moves to New York in search of work. He rents a bungalow on Long Island next door to the extravagant mansion of Jay Gatsby, a magnanimous millionaire with a mysterious past. There, he reconnects with his distant cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan, a flagrant philanderer who brings Nick to the city in order to spend time with Myrtle, his impoverished mistress. Soon, he receives an invitation to a party at the Gatsby mansion, where he gets terribly drunk and meets his neighbor, who swears they served together in the Great War. As time goes by, the two begin a tenuous friendship bolstered by stories of the war and a mutual fondness for alcohol. When Nick discovers that Gatsby and Daisy have a complicated history with one another, he starts to question not only the nature of his neighbor’s kindness, but his own desire to make it big in New York. The Great Gatsby is a tragic tale of ambition and romance set in the Roaring Twenties, a decade born from war and lost to economic disaster. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this new edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a classic work of American literature reimagined for modern readers.
£7.01
