Classics Books

Book SynopsisThe Clemenceau Case (1866) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas fils. Partly inspired by his own life, the novel takes the form of a letter written from prison to a powerful judge. Looking back on his experiences as an illegitimate child, Pierre Clemenceau provides a scathing critique of French society for its treatment of women and children. Born out of wedlock, Pierre Clemenceau is raised by a mother who tells him he has no father. Clemenceau is educated at a local school until the age of ten, at which point he is sent to a prominent boarding school for boys. There, he struggles to make friends and suffers bullying at the hands of a young American. Tortured day and night, Pierre grows distrustful and violent, and soon turns to a life of crime. As he relates the story of his life to a powerful judge, he declares himself innocent due to the circumstance surrounding his birth, and maintains the following: “My true crime…for which earthly justice will not pursue me, but for which I will never pardon myself nor those who impelled me to, is that I have doubted, and sometimes blushed for my mother.” Filled with regret, he looks for answers from the society that made him doubt his mother in the first place, a society which allows men to escape the responsibilities of fatherhood with impunity. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Alexandre Dumas fils’ The Clemenceau Case is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJimbo: A Fantasy (1909) is a novel by Algernon Blackwood. Having already established himself as a promising short story writer, Blackwood published his debut novel at the age of 40. A lifelong occultist, Blackwood was interested in the fine line between the human and spiritual realms, often incorporating supernatural elements into his work. Jimbo: A Fantasy is a story of a young boy’s out of body experience after sustaining a terrible injury, a narrative that explores the vibrant worlds we wake to in our dreams. “Jimbo had fallen on his head. Inside that head lay the mass of highly sensitive matter called the brain, on which were recorded, of course, the impressions of everything that had yet come to him in life. […] [H]e would have to wander, lost and lonely, through the comparative chaos of disproportioned visions, generally known as the region of delirium, until the doctor, assisted by mother nature, restored him once more to normal consciousness.” Unsupervised, Jimmy wanders into the fields near his home. Charged by an angry bull, he falls and strikes his head, losing consciousness for an indeterminate period of time. As his body struggles to stay alive, his mind creates a world of its own, a haunting realm of dreams both fantastic and somehow realer, more vibrant, then the world he seems to have lost. Jimbo: A Fantasy is a story for children and adults alike, a novel that poses timeless questions regarding the nature of our existence, both upon earth and beyond. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Algernon Blackwood’s Jimbo: A Fantasy is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Sicilian Romance (1790) is a novel by Ann Radcliffe. Published anonymously, Radcliffe’s second novel is a tragic story of love and murder set in the sublime landscape of the Sicilian coast. Considered an essential work of Gothic fiction, A Sicilian Romance is an early example of her prowess as a leading novelist of suspense and the supernatural. “As I walked over the loose fragments of stone, […] I recurred, by a natural association of ideas, to the times when these walls stood proudly in their original splendour, when the halls were the scenes of hospitality and festive magnificence, and when they resounded with the voices of those whom death had long since swept from the earth.” A young tourist wanders through the ruins of an ancient castle. A local friar approaches and, noticing the foreigner’s curiosity, reveals to him the story of the Mazzini family, whose misfortune it was to possess wealth and power at the expense of morality. Possessive and cruel, the Marquis Mazzini seeks to control his daughters’ lives by forcing them to marry the men of his choosing. When Julia falls in love with an Italian count, he commands her to take the hand of the Duke de Luovo. Although she assents, Julia secretly plans to flee the castle with her lover, setting in motion a tale of terror and betrayal. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ann Radcliffe’s A Sicilian Romance is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Romance of the Forest (1791) is a novel by Ann Radcliffe. Her third novel was immensely popular upon publication, going though several editions in the span of three years. Considered an essential work of Gothic fiction, The Romance of the Forest made her name as a leading novelist of suspense and the supernatural. As night descends on the city of Paris, Pierre and Constance de la Motte leave their home for what may be the last time. Unable to pay their creditors, they’ve decided to flee by carriage with their servants Peter and Annette, who help them as they frantically pack whatever they can before morning arrives. Although their escape proves successful, they decide to stop in order to find a place to rest until dawn. Following a faint light, Pierre makes his way through the darkness to an ancient home, where a stranger grants him entry. Soon, however, his hope dissipates as he is locked in a room with a beautiful woman and told that he must take her with him on his journey. Fearing for his life, he agrees to the stranger’s demands, and makes his way back to the carriage with Adeline in tow. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ann Radcliffe’s The Romance of the Forest is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Amorous Intrigues and Adventures of Aaron Burr (1861) is an erotic biography of Aaron Burr. Published anonymously decades after Burr’s death, the book incorporates some of the well-known facts and scandals of his political life—including his arrest for treason and murder of Alexander Hamilton—with lurid fantasies of his legendary encounters with women. Comparable, perhaps, to the modern phenomenon of fan fiction, The Amorous Intrigues and Adventures of Aaron Burr is a risqué recreation of an infamous American’s romantic endeavors. “This talented, heroic, and energetic man was an adorer of the fair sex. From the age of puberty to the day of his death, (which occurred in his eightieth year,) Aaron Burr was keenly alive to the fascinations of the fairer portion of creation, and esteemed their smiles as sunny rays darted from heaven.” You might think you know everything there is to know about Aaron Burr—disgraced several times over, banished from political life following his very public downfall, his story is a cautionary tale of excess and ambition played out on the nation’s biggest stage. For the anonymous author of The Amorous Intrigues and Adventures of Aaron Burr, the facts—both historical and anecdotal—were simply not enough. In this erotic examination of Burr’s legendary love life, we find another angle on a man who would be myth, a man shown here to be somehow less principled, and frequently less clothed, than the one we thought we knew. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Amorous Intrigues and Adventures of Aaron Burr is a classic of American erotic fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Poison Tree (1873) is a novel by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Originally serialized in Bangadarshan, a popular literary magazine founded by Chatterjee in 1872 and later edited by Rabindranath Tagore, The Poison Tree is a story that engages with the subject of widow remarriage. “The river flowed smoothly on—leaped, danced, cried out, restless, unending, playful. On shore, herdsmen were grazing their oxen—one sitting under a tree singing, another smoking, some fighting, others eating. Inland, husbandmen were driving the plough, beating the oxen, lavishing abuse upon them, in which the owner shared.” With his wife’s blessing, Nagendra sets out on a journey by boat down the river. When a sudden storm forces him to leave his boat for safety, he comes across the ruined home of Kundanandini, a young widow caring for her father in his final days. When the old man dies, Kundanandini begs him to take her to Calcutta. As he begins to fall for the beautiful woman, he struggles with the demands of family, religion, and tradition, knowing that love wields power over them all. Tragic and timeless, The Poison Tree is a brilliant romance from a legendary figure in Bengali literature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s The Poison Tree is a classic of Bengali literature and utopian science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Civil Wars (c. 150) is a work of political and military history by Appian. Written toward the end of his career as a leading advocate in Rome, The Civil Wars is comprised of books 13-17 of The Roman History, Appian’s 24-book study of the Roman Republic and Empire. Appian’s work has long been considered essential by classical scholars and historians alike, providing an effective and largely objective overview of the most turbulent period in the history of Rome. In the decades after the assassinations of the Gracchi brothers—tribunes who attempted to enact sweeping reforms in favor of the poor and veterans—the Roman Republic erupts in a series of violent civil wars. From 88-81 BC, Sullan and Marian forces waged two wars dividing the country between the Optimates—Sulla’s political faction—and the Populares, controlled by Marius. In 81 BC, the victorious Sulla declared himself Dictator of the Republic, leading to a period of executions and political repression of those declared enemies of the state. Years later, in 60 BC, the First Triumvirate between Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey shifts power from the Optimates back to the Populares, creating tension between the Roman Senate and the Republic’s leading generals and elected officials. As Caesar’s military victories and acquisition of new territories give him increasing power and popularity, Pompey aligns himself with the Senate. In an act of stunning defiance, Caesar crosses the Rubicon with his army in 49 BC, setting off a four-year civil war that will conclude with Caesar declaring himself Dictator for life, virtually ending the Roman Republic after nearly five centuries of existence. Accessible and elegantly paced, Appian’s The Civil Wars is an invaluable work from one of the Roman Empire’s leading historians. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Appian’s The Civil Wars is a classic of Roman history reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Three Impostors (1895) is a novel by Arthur Machen. Consisting of interwoven stories involving the title characters, The Three Impostors was compared to the prose style of Robert Louis Stevenson on publication. Condemned as decadent and obscene upon publication, Machen’s writing earned praise from Oscar Wilde and H. P. Lovecraft. Throughout the years, Machen’s work has been referenced and adapted by such figures as Stephen King, Guillermo del Toro, and Josh Malerman for its masterfully unsettling blend of science, myth, and magic. Inspired by his knowledge of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which was undergoing a controversial conflict involving Irish poet W. B. Yeats and English mystic Aleister Crowley at the time, Machen crafts a layered tale of suspense and secrecy that continues to entertain and surprise over a century after its release. In London, a secret society of occultists gains strength through mutual disdain of modern life and Victorian social conventions. Three impostors gifted in the art of deceit do their best to disrupt city life while embarking on a quest for an Imperial Roman coin with a salacious history. The Three Impostors is a kaleidoscopic novel concerned with the horrors ever present on the outskirts of daily life, waiting to make themselves known. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Arthur Machen’s The Three Impostors is a classic of British horror fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKrishna Kanta’s Will (1878) is a novel by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Recognized as a pioneering work of Bengali literature with universal romantic themes, Krishna Kanta’s Will is a story that engages with the subjects of widow remarriage, land ownership, and heredity in Hindu culture. “If Krishna Kanta had ever desired to cheat his brother's son, and appropriate the entire property, there was now no obstacle in his way. But he had no such evil intention. He placed Gobind Lâl with his own family, and treated him in all respects like his own sons; he determined to draw up a will bequeathing to Gobind Lâl the half-share justly belonging to Râm Kânta Râi.” Raised in a loving home, orphan Gobind Lâl hopes to carry on his father’s legacy while honoring his uncle, who could have cut him out of the will entirely. Married to the beautiful Bhramar, he seems to have a life of fortune ahead of him. Meanwhile, Krishna Kanta’s sons, outraged at their father’s generosity, hatch a plan to switch the will with one they have written, employing the seductive widow Rohini to do their dirty work. Tragic and timeless, Krishna Kanta’s Will is a brilliant romance from a legendary figure in Bengali literature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Krishna Kanta’s Will is a classic of Bengali literature and utopian science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisChandra Shekhar (1875) is a novel by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Recognized as a pioneering work of Bengali literature with universal romantic themes, Chandra Shekhar is a story that engages with the subjects of marriage, suicide, and heredity in Hindu culture. “On the bank of the Ganges, there was seated a boy under the green mantles of the mango groves, enjoying the evening melody of the flowing Bhagirathi. Under his feet lay, on the green bed of grass, a little girl, casting upon his face her lingering glances—silent and motionless.” Along the banks of the sacred river, two star-crossed lovers count the boats as they pass. Although they love one another, Pratap and Shaibalini cannot marry—they are distant relatives, and such a match is forbidden. Distraught, Pratap proposes they commit suicide together by slipping into the slow, silent water, disappearing in a marriage of death. As his head goes under, Shaibalini begins to have doubts, surfacing just in time to see the gallant Chandra Shekhar dive in to save Pratap. Unaware of his intentions, the older man makes sure the younger is alright, then sets his sights on the lovely Shaibalini. Tragic and timeless, Chandra Shekhar is a brilliant romance from a legendary figure in Bengali literature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Chandra Shekhar is a classic of Bengali literature and utopian science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKapalkundala (1866) is a novel by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Set in Dariapur, Contai, Kapalkundala was Chatterjee’s second novel. Recognized as a pioneering work of Bengali literature with universal romantic themes, Kapalkundala has been adapted several times for film and television, most recently for a popular Indian Bengali soap opera of the same name. On his way home to Saptagram from a pilgrimage to Gangasagar, Nabakumar encounters a Tantric sage in the forest. After exchanging their greetings, the sage captures the young gentleman in order to sacrifice him to the goddess Shamshaan Kali. Rescued by the sage’s foster daughter, the beautiful Kapalkundala, Nabakumar marries her the next day. Despite their happiness, the past refuses to let them live in peace. As the sage plots his revenge, Nabakumar’s first wife, who left him after converting to Islam, has returned seeking forgiveness. As doubt begins to penetrate their bond, Nabakumar and Kapalkundala lose sight of the only thing that matters: each other. Tragic and timeless, Kapalkundala is a brilliant romance from a legendary figure in Bengali literature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Kapalkundala is a classic of Bengali literature and utopian science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMarianela (1878) is a novel by Benito Pérez Galdós. Published toward the beginning of Pérez Galdós’ career, Marianela is a powerful story of romance and disability that raises timeless questions regarding the meaning of love and the values associated with beauty. Adapted several times for film and television in Spain and abroad, the novel is Pérez Galdós’ most universal works of fiction. Everyone is familiar with the phrase “love at first sight,” but what about “love at first song?” In Marianela, Benito Pérez Galdós explores the ways we understand love in relation to worldly beauty. His contemporary fable is set in the fictional town of Socartes, where a young orphan named Marianela captures the heart of the blind youth Pablo through her beautiful singing. Their love is pure, and they plan to marry, but Pablo’s father has other plans. Hiring the famous doctor Teodoro Golfín to restore his son’s eyesight, he unwittingly threatens the unique relationship between Pablo and Marianela, whose physical features are far from society’s ideal. Although he promises to love her forever, Pablo feels pressured to marry his cousin Florentina. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Benito Pérez Galdós’s Marianela is a classic of Spanish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrafalgar (1873) is a novel by Benito Pérez Galdós. Published toward the beginning of Pérez Galdós’ career, Trafalgar is the first in of 46 historical novels in the author’s monumental, career spanning series of National Episodes. Set during the bloody naval battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Pérez Galdós’ novel is a story of heroism, growth, and adventure that manages to find humanity in history. “Always eager to mimic the greater world around us, we boys too had our squadrons of little ships, roughly hewn in wood, with sails of paper or of rag, which we navigated with the greatest deliberation and gravity in the pools of Puntales or La Caleta.” At fourteen, the young orphan Gabriel de Araceli gets the chance to leave boyhood games behind when his master, a retired naval officer, receives a letter requesting his return to service. Together, Gabriel and Don Alonso set out to join a Spanish Armada preparing to enter into battle with the British Royal Navy. Painstakingly researched by its author, Trafalgar is a detailed fictional retelling of one history’s most iconic conflicts. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Benito Pérez Galdós’s Trafalgar is a classic of Spanish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSaragossa: A Story of Spanish Valor (1899) is a novel by Benito Pérez Galdós. Published at the height of Pérez Galdós’ career, Saragossa: A Story of Spanish Valor is the sixth in of 46 historical novels in the author’s monumental, career spanning series of National Episodes. Set during the bloody naval battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Pérez Galdós’ novel is a story of heroism, growth, and adventure that manages to find humanity in history. “It was, I believe, the evening of the eighteenth when we saw Saragossa in the distance. As we entered by the Puerta de Sancho we heard the clock in the Torre Nueva strike ten. We were in an extremely pitiful condition as to food and clothing. The long journey we had made […], climbing mountains, fording rivers, making short cuts until we arrived at the high road of Gallur and Alagon, had left us quite used up, worn out, and ill with fatigue.” Having survived the disastrous defeat of the Spanish Armada at Trafalgar by the British Royal Navy, Gabriel de Araceli makes his way to Saragossa. There, he must fight for his life and the future of his nation as the army of Napoleon Bonaparte lays siege to the city. Painstakingly researched by its author, Saragossa: A Story of Spanish Valor is a detailed fictional retelling of one history’s most iconic conflicts. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Benito Pérez Galdós’s Saragossa: A Story of Spanish Valor is a classic of Spanish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDoña Perfecta (1876) is a novel by Benito Pérez Galdós. Published toward the beginning of Pérez Galdós’ career, Doña Perfecta is a powerful story of romance and religion that raises timeless questions regarding the meaning of love and the restrictions placed on individual lives by the Catholic Church. Adapted several times for film and television in Spain and abroad, the novel is one of Pérez Galdós’ most beloved works of fiction. “‘What more can I tell you of Dona Rosarito but that that she is the living image of her mother? You will have a treasure, Senor Don Jose, if it is true, as I hear, that you have come to be married to her. She will be a worthy mate for you, and the young lady will have nothing to complain of, either.’” Don Jose Rey, known to friends and family as Pepe, arrives in the cathedral city of Orbajosa to marry his cousin Rosario. A young liberal, Jose has mixed feelings regarding the institution of marriage and the place of the Catholic church, but decides to obey his father’s wishes and go ahead with the marriage as it has been arranged. When a disagreement arises between Pepe’s father and Doña Perfecta, the mother of Rosario, their spite threatens to destroy the lives of the two young lovers. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Benito Pérez Galdós’s Doña Perfecta is a classic of Spanish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFirecrackers: A Realistic Novel (1925) is a novel by Carl Van Vechten. Published in the same year as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Anita Loos’ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Van Vechten’s novel has been recognized as an important document of the Jazz Age, a decade of bohemian excess and artistic experimentation that changed the shape of American and European culture. “You must think of a group of people in terms of a packet of firecrackers. You ignite the first cracker and the flash fires the fuse of the second, and so on, until, after a series of crackling detonations, the whole bunch has exploded, and nothing survives but a few torn and scattered bits of paper, blackened with powder.” In Van Vechten’s novel, an explosive group of friends welcomes a handsome young man into their midst. Gunnar O’Grady, an athlete and a jack of all trades, soon becomes an object of obsession for men and women alike. As he tries to satisfy their needs and desires while working to support himself, he begins to question the meaning of friendship itself. Firecrackers: A Realistic Novel, Van Vechten’s fourth novel, is a fascinating work of fiction from a man who was always one step ahead of the rest. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Carl Van Vechten’s Firecrackers: A Realistic Novel is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book Synopsis Lady Joan grew up in a modest household in a poor community. When she and her childhood friend, Elliot, fell in love as they grew older, Joan promised to wait for him, planning on marrying when Elliot rose to a higher position in society. However, as the wait grew longer, Joan became impatient. When the son of a wealthy coal owner began to express interest in her, Joan hardly hesitated to marry rich and leave her hometown. Now, years later, Lady Joan is reminded of her choice when her old lover, Elliot, who is now a pastor, gets stationed at the church close to Joan’s estate. While Joan reconsiders her past choice of money over love, she is also concerned with the future when she learns that her son, Herrick, has fallen in love with a girl named Lois, threatening the marriage arrangement Joan and her husband were planning for him. Torn between the past and future, Joan must make peace with the decision she made as a young woman while attempting to control her son’s love life. Separated into three volumes, Catherine Louisa Pirkis’ Red Sister: A Story of Three Days and Three Months follows the drama of two generations facing similar issues of love and life. Set in England during the late 19th century, Red Sister: A Story of Three Days and Three Months provides a beautiful and descriptive portrayal of both the aristocratic and middle classes of the late 1800s. With love triangles, family drama, and tragic deaths, Red Sister: A Story of Three Days and Three Months remains to be compelling and intriguing nearly one-hundred and thirty years after its original publication. This edition of Red Sister: A Story of Three Days and Three Months by Catherine Louisa Pirkis features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in an easy-to-read font. With these accommodations, Red Sister: A Story of Three Days and Three Months is restored to modern standards while preserving the original beauty of Catherine Louisa Pirkis’ work.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMiss Betty (1898) is a novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. Written only a year after the publication of Dracula, Miss Betty helped to establish the Irish master of Gothic horror’s reputation as a leading writer of the early-twentieth century. “Of all the incidents of her early life none had so great or lasting an effect on Betty Pole as those that evening in Cheyne Walk on which she had been accused of breaking the blue china jar.” Following an innocent accident, Betty Pole is berated by her grandfather, who believes she has broken a priceless heirloom. On this day, Betty first learns of her strange ability to sense things before they happen, which proves both a gift and a curse in due time. That night, Betty learns the truth behind her identity and is named the heiress of her grandfather’s fortune. The next morning, he is found dead. As Betty gets older, as England passes from one era into the next, she is forced to hide her ability from the suspicions and intentions of friends and strangers alike. Miss Betty is a gripping work of fantasy and historical romance by Bram Stoker, the secretive and vastly underrated creator of Dracula, one of history’s greatest villains. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Bram Stoker’s Miss Betty is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPeter Whiffle (1922) is a novel by Carl Van Vechten. Framing himself as his character’s literary executor, Van Vechten provides a satirical self portrait of his unusual life in the arts through the lens of a man whose sole gift is to identify and move with the avant-garde. Peter Whiffle is a writer who never writes. Throughout his travels, he claims to be researching for an important work of literature but mostly provides humorous portraits of some of the greatest artists, dancers, and writers of his time. In this way, he proves himself much more of a mirror than a window—like Van Vechten likely sensed of his own writing, Whiffle is a man who reflects the success and genius of others much more than he offers his own. Travelling between New York City and Europe, Whiffle becomes a figure who defines his generation through keen wit and tongue-in-cheek wisdom, a tour guide to a vast land of cultural creation and bohemian excess. Peter Whiffle, Van Vechten’s debut novel, is a fascinating work of fiction from a man who was always one step ahead of the rest. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Carl Van Vechten’s Peter Whiffle is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio (1807) is a novel by Charles Maturin. Published under the psueudonym Dennis Jasper Murphy, Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio was Maturin’s debut novel. Largely ignored by critics and readers, it managed to draw attention from Sir Walter Scott, who supported Maturin’s efforts and encouraged him to pursue a career as a writer. Despite its humble beginnings, Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is considered a masterpiece of Gothic romance. “Their palaces were haunted by groups of monks, and magicians, and alchymists, and astrologers; and amid the most superstitious state of the country of superstition, the House of Montorio was distinguished by weak and gloomy credulity.” At the siege of Barcelona in 1697, two brothers of mysterious origin fight bravely and gain the respect of their fellow officers. When the fighting has ceased, they are counted among the dead. Gathering his subordinates, their commandant, “acquainted with their name, and their country, and their misfortunes,” begins to tell the story of their cursed family. Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is a story of mystery and terror that engages with timeless themes of loyalty, fantasy, and fate. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charles Maturin’s Fatal Revenge; Or, the Family of Montorio is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne of Charles Dickens most acclaimed works Great Expectations displays the author at the peak of his skills, working a collection of vivid characters through a sprawling plot studded with richly drawn scenes. First appearing in 1861, Great Expectations offers a bounty of the pleasures only this author can provide. This is the sweeping story of Pip, an orphan growing up in an England Dickens brings to tumultuous life on the page. Pip must wrestle with injustice, poverty, duplicity and the trials of love while surrounded by a meticulously woven web of indelible characters. There are Miss Havisham, the spinster once left at the altar and still clad in her wedding dress, her adopted daughter Estella, beloved by Pip but curiously indifferent to all affection, and Abel Magwitch, the fearsome convict whose hidden nature affects Pip in a surprising fashion. These, and many other equally vital and amusing individuals are thrust together and pulled apart as they, and the reader, are borne along on a torrent of pure storytelling power. Great Expectations is arguably its author’s finest achievement and one of the greatest novels of the Victorian era. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Great Expectations is both modern and readable.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDawn O’Hara: The Girl Who Laughed (1911) is a novel by Edna Ferber. Written while the author was recovering from a bout of anemia, Ferber’s debut marked the beginning of an illustrious literary career. Inspired by her experience as a reporter in the city and countryside, Dawn O’Hara: The Girl Who Laughed is the story of a young woman who recognizes the unhappiness in her life and decides to risk it all for something better. Lighthearted in nature, Ferber’s novel recalls the best of Fitzgerald in its unswerving commitment to humanity in all its beauty and terror. “‘Newspaper reporting, h'm? In New York? That's a devil of a job for a woman. And a husband who... Well, you'll have to take a six months' course in loafing, young woman. And at the end of that time, if you are still determined to work, can't you pick out something easier—like taking in scrubbing, for instance?’” As though suffering a mental breakdown wasn’t bad enough, Dawn is forced to listen to the snide advice of a doctor who seems to know more about her home and professional life than she does. Determined to maintain her career as a reporter, she decides to move to a small town and start fresh. Away from the hustle and bustle of New York City, she hopes to find success while learning more about herself in the process. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Edna Ferber’s Dawn O’Hara: The Girl Who Laughed is a classic work of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLord Harrowby visits Lloyds of London and takes out an insurance policy on his future wedding, which guarantees a hefty payout if the ceremony stalls. It’s an odd request that leads to desperate measures from both parties. Lord Allan Harrowby is engaged to marry a wealthy American heiress. Prior to their nuptials, he decides to take out an insurance policy on their wedding. If it doesn’t occur by a certain time, Harrowby will receive a massive claim for his troubles. The insurers, Lloyds of London, sends one of their trusted employees to the wedding locale to make sure it goes off without a hitch. What happens next is a series of unexpected events that attempt to derail the ceremony at every turn.Love Insurance is a screwball comedy that uses the best elements of the genre. It is a fun and entertaining story that leaps off the page. The novel was later adapted for feature film including 1919’s Love Insurance, 1924’s The Reckless Age and 1940’s One Night in the Tropics With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Love Insurance is both modern and readable.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Female Quixote (1752) is a novel by Charlotte Lennox. A parody of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote, Lennox’s novel was an immediate critical and commercial success. Boosted by praise from Samuel Johnson, Henry Fielding, and Samuel Richardson, The Female Quixote launched Lennox’s career as a leading author of English plays, poetry, and novels. Although she failed to regain her early heights as an author, Lennox and her work have undergone positive reappraisal by twentieth century feminist scholars, securing her long-underrecognized reputation as an important precursor to Jane Austen and countless other writers.Raised in a remote English castle by her father, Arabella makes up for a lack of formal education with an endless appetite for French romance novels. Although exceedingly intelligent, her lack of experience and overactive imagination lead her to fantasize about the world outside. Envisioning a life of adventure and romance, she receives a rude awakening when, upon the death of her father, she is to be left his estate on the condition she marry her cousin Glanville. Making her way to London via Bath, Arabella makes a positive impression on the young gentleman, who recognizes her innocence but remains determined to love her. As he attempts to educate her on the realities of city life, his friend Sir George Bellmour tries to take advantage of her through a courtship veiled in the chivalry of her beloved novels. When a case of mistaken identity leads to Arabella being gravely injured, Glanville is forced to decide whether the young woman he cares for will ever manage to come to terms with their shared reality. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charlotte Lennox’s The Female Quixote is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEquality (1897) is a novel by Edward Bellamy. The sequel to Bellamy’s bestselling novel Looking Backward, 2000-1887 (1888) is a product of decades of work on the socialist theories that captivated thousands of Americans and inspired the formation of the People’s Party. Although Bellamy died before his vision could be realized, many of the ideas that circulate in Equality—including vegetarianism, feminism, and the abolition of private capital—continue to inform left-wing politics today. “He learned that there were no longer any who were or could be richer or poorer than others, but that all were economic equals. He learned that no one any longer worked for another, either by compulsion or for hire, but that all alike were in the service of the nation working for the common fund, which all equally shared…” After a century in a hypnosis-induced coma, Julian West emerges to a fundamentally different world. Shocked at first, he soon understands that the changes made to the American economy at the tail end of the Gilded Age were not only just, but entirely necessary. In this sequel to Looking Backward, 2000-1887, Bellamy provides more detail on the theories which informed the construction of a revolutionary socialist utopia in the United States. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Edward Bellamy’s Equality is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Anti-Pamela: Or, Feign'd Innocence Detected (1741) is a novel by Eliza Haywood. Blending tragedy and comedy, Haywood explores the intersection of gender and class to reveal how women perform and experience desire. Written in response to Samuel Richardson’s Pamela; Or, Virtue Rewarded, a novel in which a young girl resists the advances of her wealthy employer and eventually marries him honorably, Haywood’s novel flips the portrayal of static feminine desire on its head. Unlike Pamela, her protagonist is an anti-heroine who wields her sexuality for the purpose of social mobility, showing resilience and determination despite her repeated failures. Syrena Tricksy knows what she wants from men. To get it, she disguises herself as an unmarried aristocrat, a mistress, a widow, and a libertine, each time in pursuit of a wealthy nobleman to marry. Playing these parts with ease, she frequently gets in her own way, failing at the last moment through carelessness and greed. Resourceful and independent, Syrena is a character at odds with the stereotypical portrayal of feminine sexuality. She may not be perfect, but she is never passive. As a parody of Samuel Richardson’s popular novel of morality, The Anti-Pamela: Or, Feign'd Innocence Detected lampoons the unrealistic character at the heart of Pamela, a woman who gets what she wants through virtue alone. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Eliza Haywood’s The Anti-Pamela: Or, Feign'd Innocence Detected is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter receiving news that her closest brother has been shot and killed while fighting in the Civil War, Mary Cabot is distraught. Having lost the majority of her family, Mary is left feeling alone and helpless. She seeks solace in the church, her neighbors, and friends, but is unable to find the comfort she needs. Becoming more reserved and losing her faith, Mary is relieved when her widowed aunt, Winnifred, and young cousin from Kansas decide to visit her in Massachusetts. As the women strengthen their bond and share conversations on their trauma, Winniefred offers a new perspective, describing her understanding and vision of heaven. Despite its divergence from the traditional Christian idea of the afterlife, Mary begins to heal, unaware that more hardships are around the corner. First published over one-hundred and fifty years ago in 1868, The Gates Ajar established author Elizabeth Stuart Phelps’ career, earning her fame and recognition for her emotional and reflective spiritualist novel. Inspired by her own experience of losing loved one to the Civil War, Phelps wrote The Gates Ajar to assuage the pain of death in ways the Christian church was not providing. Quickly rising to fame, The Gates Ajar sold thousands of copies and inspired a new vision of heaven that really resonated with its audience, leading to references in music, literature, and even floral arrangements. With sympathetic characters, a relatable plot, and gorgeous imagery, The Gates Ajar remains to stimulate modern readers and addresses timeless topics that remain approachable and relevant. This edition of The Gates Ajar by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring The Gates Ajar to modern standards while preserving the original intelligence and impact of Elizabeth Stuart Phelps’ work.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLove in Excess (1719-1720) is a novel by Eliza Haywood. Published in three parts by printer William Chetwood, the novel marked Haywood’ debut on the London literary scene. It was an immediate bestseller, going through several reprintings in Haywood’s lifetime. Love in Excess is considered a prime example of the popular genre of amatory fiction, which often used love triangles to expose the imbalance between male and female desire in a patriarchal society. Like all young aristocratic women of their time, Alovisa and Amena are expected to wait for a marriage proposal to fall into their laps. Forbidden from expressing her desires, Alovisa decides to send an anonymous letter to the handsome, rakish D’Elmont. When he receives it, however, he thinks it has been sent by Amena, whom her promptly begins to pursue. Disappointed, Alovisa conspires with Amena’s father—who disapproves of D’Elmont—to have her rival sent to a convent. Although Alovisa ends up with her beau of choice, she soon realizes that desire has a funny way of concealing a lover’s true nature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Eliza Haywood’s Love in Excess is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFruitfulness (1899) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. Published as the first installment of his Les Quatre Évangiles, a series of four novels inspired by the New Testament gospels and aimed at investigating prominent social issues, Fruitfulness was written while Zola was living in exile in England following his advocacy on behalf of Alfred Dreyfus, a French Jew falsely convicted of spying. An inspired secularist and socialist, Zola foresaw his final literary project as an essential step forward in human consciousness and societal evolution, a vision tragically cut short by his death only several years later. In nineteenth-century France, following the collapse of the Second Empire, widespread economic instability has led to a dangerously low birthrate. Forced to make impossible decisions for the lives of their families, people have given up raising more than one or two children, leading to a strain on the workforce and creating a society without the joys of youth. Against all odds, and despite the harsh judgment of their peers, Mathieu and Marianne Froment attempt to raise a family of twelve children. Grounded in love and solidarity, the Froment family becomes a symbol of perseverance and a model for their beleaguered community. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s Fruitfulness is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFanny Herself (1917) is a novel by Edna Ferber. Inspired by her experience as a young Jewish woman from the Midwest, Fanny Herself is the story of a young woman who recognizes the unhappiness in her life and decides to risk it all for something better. Lighthearted in nature, yet serious in its ideals, Ferber’s novel recalls the best of Fitzgerald in its unswerving commitment to humanity in all its beauty and heartbreak. “You could not have lived a week in Winnebago without being aware of Mrs. Brandeis.” Such a confident pronouncement proves even truer for young Fanny, whose mother is the Mrs. Brandeis in question. As the owner of Brandeis’ Bazaar—a successful store raised from the ashes of her deceased husband’s chronic mismanagement—Molly Brandeis is a deeply serious woman who wants nothing but the best for her daughter. Where they differ, of course, is in the definition of that deceptive superlative. While Molly wants to train her daughter to follow in her managerial footsteps, Fanny dreams of training as an artist in order to escape the confinement of small-town life. Consistently moving, frequently funny, and supremely true, Fanny Herself is an underappreciated novel from Pulitzer Prize winning author Edna Ferber. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Edna Ferber’s Fanny Herself is a classic work of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Castle of Wolfenbach (1793) is a novel by Eliza Parsons. Employing themes common to the popular genre of Gothic fiction, Parsons crafts a chilling tale of murder and mystery that remains uniquely entertaining to this day. Referred to as a “horrid” novel in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, The Castle of Wolfenbach was recognized as a terrifying precursor to such classics as Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794), often considered the quintessential Gothic novel. Orphaned as a young girl, Matilda Weimar is raised by her uncle, a domineering figure whose attentions soon turn abusive. Left with no choice, Matilda flees with her trusted servant Albert. They arrive after some time in the harsh countryside at the cottage of Pierre and Jaqueline, who have only one bed and no food to offer. Desperate, Matilda and Albert make their way to the haunted Castle of Wolfenbach, where caretakers Joseph and Bertha offer to give them shelter. Although they seem hesitant, the caretakers reveal that the Count was a terrible man who left his wife and children to die in captivity and advise their unexpected guests to be gone by morning. As night falls, Matilda hears strange sounds coming from inside the castle, and sneaks up into the tower to investigate. There, she encounters a woman and her servant, who are surprised to find a stranger in their midst. Sensing their sympathy, Matilda recounts the story of her life. The next day, after Matilda and Albert have left for France, the castle burns to the ground—but its mystery remains. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Eliza Parsons’ The Castle of Wolfenbach is a classic of British horror fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Rush for the Spoil (1872) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. The second of twenty volumes of Zola’s monumental Les Rougon-Macquart series is an epic story of family, politics, class, and history that traces the disparate paths of several French citizens raised by the same mother. Spanning the entirety of the French Second Empire, Zola provides a sweeping portrait of change that refuses to shy away from controversy and truth as it gets to the heart of heredity and human nature. Aristide Saccard is the son of Pierre Rougon, a man born into poverty who rose through vanity and shear opportunism to a position of power in the France of Napoleon III. After a rakish youth, Aristide promises his brother Eugene, a prominent politician, that he will make his way in the world under a different surname. Destined for failure, he manages to gain funding for a scheme involving the purchase of homes destined for demolition. Collecting government compensation for each property, Aristide turns a handsome profit and eventually becomes one of the richest men in Paris. When his wife becomes terminally ill, he decides to sacrifice the last of his morality by marrying a wealthy pregnant woman, whose father has promised an immense dowry. As the years go by, his fragmented family suffers under the weight of their father’s impropriety, illuminating the hypocrisy and obscenity of wealth in nineteenth century France. The Rush for the Spoil is a story of family and fate, a thrilling and detailed novel that continues a series rich enough for its author to explore in twenty total volumes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s The Rush for the Spoil is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Sin of Father Mouret (1875) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. The fifth of twenty volumes of Zola’s monumental Les Rougon-Macquart series is an epic story of family, politics, class, and history that traces the disparate paths of several French citizens raised by the same mother. Spanning the entirety of the French Second Empire, Zola provides a sweeping portrait of change that refuses to shy away from controversy and truth as it gets to the heart of heredity and human nature. Serge Mouret is a pious, if not overzealous young man. For his first assignment after taking his religious orders, he is appointed parish priest of the impoverished village of Artauds. Unable to attract villagers to his sermons, he pontificates to an empty, dilapidated church, determined to explore and expose the innermost spaces of his soul. Unconcerned with worldly affairs, he grows increasingly neurotic, eventually suffering a debilitating breakdown. Unable to care for himself, Father Mouret is taken into the care of Doctor Pascal Rougon, a distant relative. At his suggestion, Mouret is sent to Le Paradou, a rundown estate, where he is to live out his life in peace and near-solitude. There, he befriends Albine, a young girl who seems to have grown up alone at Le Paradou, and who dotes on her ailing housemate. As time goes by, he begins to fall in love with her, and their friendship develops into an innocent, blissful romance. The Sin of Father Mouret is a story of family and fate, a thrilling and detailed novel that continues a series rich enough for its author to explore in twenty total volumes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s The Sin of Father Mouret is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Ladies’ Delight (1883) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. The eleventh of twenty volumes of Zola’s monumental Les Rougon-Macquart series is an epic story of family, politics, class, and history that traces the disparate paths of several French citizens raised by the same mother. Spanning the entirety of the French Second Empire, Zola provides a sweeping portrait of change that refuses to shy away from controversy and truth as it gets to the heart of heredity and human nature. At the age of twenty, Denise Baudu moves to Paris with her brothers and finds work at “Au Bonheur des Dames,” a new department store owned by eccentric entrepreneur Octave Mouret. There, she grows accustomed to 13-hour days, inferior food and housing, and the constant grind of thankless labor. Despite her circumstances, she soon finds herself attracted to Mouret, a notorious womanizer whose exploitative business practices have alienated him from employees and local businesspeople. Mouret’s ambition and innovation have led him to corner the market on textiles, womenswear, furniture, and household goods, infuriating his competitors and driving smaller shops into bankruptcy. Until Denise, he has avoided tying himself down to another, intent on building a fortune for himself without the interference of family. Innocent at first, she soon learns how to manipulate Octave to do her bidding. The Ladies’ Delight is a story of family and fate, a thrilling and detailed novel that continues a series rich enough for its author to explore in twenty total volumes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s The Ladies’ Delight is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Fortune of the Rougons (1871) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. The first of twenty volumes of Zola’s monumental Les Rougon-Macquart series is an epic story of family, politics, class, and history that traces the disparate paths of several French citizens raised by the same mother. Spanning the entirety of the French Second Empire, Zola provides a sweeping portrait of change that refuses to shy away from controversy and truth as it gets to the heart of heredity and human nature. Adelaide Fouque is a woman of Plassans, a town in southern France. Alongside her son Pierre Rougon, whose deceased father was her husband, Adelaide raises the Macquart siblings, her children from a brief, passionate affair. Despite their shared upbringing, the three children take vastly diverging paths in life. Pierre, desperate to prove his legitimacy, becomes an ambitious middle-class man whose deepest desire is to win favor with the aristocracy and to climb even further from his humble roots. Meanwhile, his half siblings struggle to make a living for themselves and their working-class families. As Pierre’s ambitions lead him to not only disinherit the Macquarts, but to position himself as a supporter of Napoleon III in his attempt to overthrow the French government. At the same time, Silvère Mouret, Adelaide’s grandson, and his lover Miette Chantegreil find themselves on the side of the republicans who attempt to resist Napoleon’s coup. The Fortune of the Rougons is a story of family and fate, a thrilling and detailed novel that sets up a world rich enough for its author to explore in nineteen subsequent volumes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s The Fortune of the Rougons is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Fat and the Thin (1873) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. The third of twenty volumes of Zola’s monumental Les Rougon-Macquart series is an epic story of family, politics, class, and history that traces the disparate paths of several French citizens raised by the same mother. Spanning the entirety of the French Second Empire, Zola provides a sweeping portrait of change that refuses to shy away from controversy and truth as it gets to the heart of heredity and human nature. Arrested in the crackdowns that followed the French coup of 1851, Florent, an innocent man, manages to escape prison and return to Paris. Desperate to avoid capture, he finds a place to stay with his half-brother Quenu and his wife Lisa, a member of the Macquart family. With his brother’s help, Florent finds work as a fish inspector at Les Halles, an enormous central market. Redesigned in the aftermath of the coup, the market has become a symbol of wealth and power for the French Second Empire, and is an important hub for the nation’s growing economy. Apolitical in nature—he was sent to prison based on false information—Florent becomes interested in socialism through his experience as a laborer and with the encouragement of radical acquaintances, and soon becomes swept up in a plot to overthrow the government of Napoleon III. The Fat and the Thin is a story of family and fate, a thrilling and detailed novel that continues a series rich enough for its author to explore in twenty total volumes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s The Fat and the Thin is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Beast Within (1890) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. The seventeenth of twenty volumes of Zola’s monumental Les Rougon-Macquart series is an epic story of family, politics, class, and history that traces the disparate paths of several French citizens raised by the same mother. Spanning the entirety of the French Second Empire, Zola provides a sweeping portrait of change that refuses to shy away from controversy and truth as it gets to the heart of heredity and human nature. Jacques Lantier is a violent man. Kept in check by his dedication to his work as an engine driver, he manages to suppress the disturbing fantasies of rape and murder that fill his tortured mind. While waiting for his train to get repaired, he meets his cousin Flore, a beautiful young woman who inflames him with desire and deadly intent. At the last moment, he flees before he can harm her, only to witness a gruesome murder at night by the railroad tracks. When a police investigation fails to find the killer, life in Le Havre returns to a sense of calm, and even Lantier seems to put the past behind him. When he begins an affair with Severine, the wife of his boss Roubaud, he is roped into a plot to kill the man and steal a secret fortune. The Beast Within is a story of family and fate, a thrilling and detailed novel that continues a series rich enough for its author to explore in twenty total volumes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s The Beast Within is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMadeleine Férat (1868) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. Following the success of his third novel, Thérèse Raquin (1867), Zola published Madeleine Férat to lukewarm critical acclaim. Intent on exploring taboo and the lives of people on the edge of society, Zola crafts a narrative capable of illuminating the human condition while humanizing those typically disdained by the literary elite. In 1920, Madeleine Férat was adapted into an Italian silent film starring Francesca Bertini. To anyone who makes their acquaintance, Guillaume and Madeleine have a storybook romance—marriage, a child, the inheritance of a beautiful villa and a sizeable fortune; these things and more bless their family from the start and promise a lengthy, healthy relationship. As Madeleine adjusts to the comforts and curiosities of married life, she finds herself emboldened to share aspects of her personal history with Guillaume. One night, she decides to tell him a story involving a former lover, sparing no details on their sexual relationship. To her horror, she discovers that her lover was once Guillaume’s best friend. Rather than amusing her husband, she shatters their idyllic existence, plunging him into doubt and despair while exposing herself to his hidden vindictive side. Madeleine Férat is a story of love, secrets, and the false promise of modern life. Written at the very beginning of Zola’s career, it shows the innerworkings of a young mind interested in subjects too often ignored by writers, a mind whose guiding principle is truth and truth alone. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s Madeleine Férat is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Page of Love (1878) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. The eighth of twenty volumes of Zola’s monumental Les Rougon-Macquart series is an epic story of family, politics, class, and history that traces the disparate paths of several French citizens raised by the same mother. Spanning the entirety of the French Second Empire, Zola provides a sweeping portrait of change that refuses to shy away from controversy and truth as it gets to the heart of heredity and human nature. Hélène Grandjean, a member of the Mouret family, finds herself desperate and alone when her husband Charles dies from a sudden illness. Left as the sole guardian of her young daughter Jeanne, she does her best to provide while overcoming the boundaries of life in a strange new town. Having moved from Marseilles to the suburbs of Paris only days before Charles’ death, Hélène longs for friendship and community. When Jeanne suffers a violent seizure, she receives assistance from her neighbor, Dr. Deberle. Soon, Hélène befriends Deberle and his wife Juliette, who introduce her to their family and small circle of acquaintances. Although she remains wary of romance, Hélène soon finds herself falling in love with a kind and gentle man, a figure capable of caring for her and her young daughter—a man who is already married. A Page of Love is a story of family and fate, a thrilling and detailed novel that continues a series rich enough for its author to explore in twenty total volumes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s A Page of Love is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisClaude’s Confession (1865) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. Written at night while Zola was employed at Hachette, Claude’s Confession proved scandalous upon publication and resulted in the loss of his job. Undeterred by the response to his literary debut, Zola took advantage of his newfound infamy in order to embark on a career as one of France’s foremost experimental writers. Intent on exploring taboo and the lives of people on the edge of society, Zola crafts a narrative capable of illuminating the human condition while humanizing those typically disdained by the literary elite. Born and raised in Provence, Claude is shocked to find that the Paris of legend is a city mired in poverty, decay, and loneliness. As he struggles to make ends meet in order to pay for his tiny apartment, he takes notice of a young woman who lives in the same building as him. Although he knows she is a prostitute, his feelings for him grow stronger than the impulse to look down on her way of life. After months of silent longing, he opens his door to find her standing there, desperate for help after being evicted. Despite his limited income, he welcomes her inside, and their relationship soon develops into a passionate romance. Claude’s Confession is a story of forbidden love, fading hope, and the false promise of modern life. Written at the very beginning of Zola’s career, it shows the innerworkings of a young mind interested in subjects too often ignored by writers, a mind whose guiding principle is truth and truth alone. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola’s Claude’s Confession is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe City of Beautiful Nonsense (1909) is a novel by Ernest Temple Thurston. After a decade of working odd jobs while pursuing his literary interests, Temple Thurston finally broke through to a popular audience with this novel of romance and wonder. Adapted twice for the cinema and followed by a sequel entitled The World of Wonderful Reality (1919), The City of Beautiful Nonsense is a stunning portrait of Edwardian London and turn of the century Venice, two of the world’s most fabled cities. “It was half-past seven in the evening. At half-past seven it is dark, the lamps are lighted, the houses huddle together in groups. They have secrets to tell as soon as it is dark. Ah! If you knew the secrets that houses are telling when the shadows draw them so close together! But you never will know. They close their eyes and they whisper.” In flowing, meditative prose, Temple Thurston weaves a tale of love at first sight exploring themes of religion, tradition, and modernity. After their first meeting in a silent, candlelit church, John and Jill begin running into one another by chance on the streets of London. As they strike up a relationship, they share their innermost feelings and dreams for the future, learning about themselves as much as they do of one another. Drawn to the city of Venice, John wants nothing more than to bring Jill there, to grow their love in a city seemingly built for lovers. Heartfelt and dreamlike, The City of Beautiful Nonsense is the type of novel that stays with you long after you’ve read its last words. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition Ernest Temple Thurston’s The City of Beautiful Nonsense is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Fanny Fern’s novel Ruth Hall, Miss Ruth Hall must learn to navigate life without her husband, Harry, after he unexpectantly dies from typhoid fever. This follows the death of Harry and Ruth’s eldest daughter, Daisy, who passed tragically by contracting a respiratory illness. In the thick of mourning and with her two youngest daughters to support, Ruth must find a way to make end meet. After she resorts to begging, her father agrees to give her a small amount of money. Unable to afford anything else, Rith moves her family to an unsafe, run-down part of town. Despite the discouragement from her parents and older brother, she decides to pursue writing, as she has exhausted her other job opportunities. Ruth finds an editors, Mr. Lascom and Mr. Tibbetts, who both publish her works. Though readers really enjoy her work which earns the newspapers more subscriptions but neither Mr. Lascom nor Mr. Tibbets will pay Ruth fairly for her contributions. Because of this, she still struggles despite having a job. As Ruth continues her passion, working hard to survive off her modest salary, she meets a new publisher, who promises to pay her more than the other publishers, on the condition that Ruth writes exclusively for him. Ruth Hall is a story of endurance and excellence. Widowed and poor, Ruth is able to pull herself up and become a successful writer, loving mother and find love again after losing her first husband. First published in 1854, Fanny Fern completed Ruth Hall in just a few months, writing with passion that remains evident even to modern day readers. This edition of Ruth Hall by Fanny Fern features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Ruth Hall to modern standards while preserving the emotion and brilliance of Fanny Fern’s work.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThough she is an orphan, Cecilia Beverly is an heiress to a small fortune, which she may keep under the stipulation from her uncle that when Cecilia marries, she will keep her Beverly name, asking her future husband to adopt it as well. After she leaves for London to stay with her guardians, she realizes that each of the three families left to care for her are greedy and vain people. Before arriving to the first pair of guardians, the Harrels, Cecilia visits their friend, Mr. Monckton, for breakfast. Mr. Monckton is stunned when he meets the beautiful, intelligent and wealthy Miss Beverly and is upset that he has married for money instead of waiting to meet a woman like Cecilia. Cecilia knows nothing of his admirations and attends a masquerade ball thrown by Mrs. Harrel. At the masquerade she is unable to meet people because a man dressed as a black demon is following and chasing others away. After she is rescued by a mysterious man masquerading as White Domino, it becomes a pattern in her social life. This man rescues Cecilia again at the opera when two men are fighting over her. She learns his identity is Mortimer Delvile and after spending time with his family, Cecilia begins to fall in love. Unfortunately, Mortimer believes she is engaged to one of the many suitors trying to win her favor. Cecilia must overcome the manipulation and extortion from her guardians and dangerous admirers in order to protect her fortune and find real love. First published in 1782, Cecilia; or Memoirs of an Heiress by Frances Burney is an exciting and wonderful romance. With themes of true love, class, and morality, Cecilia; or Memoirs of an Heiress satirizes the society it is set in. With captivating characters and a compelling plot, this 18th century romance is timeless. This edition of Cecilia; or, Memoirs of an Heiress by Frances Burney features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Cecilia: or, Memoirs of an Heiress to modern standards while preserving the tender romance and satirical genius of Frances Burney’s work.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCamilla; Or, A Picture of Youth (1796) is a novel by Frances Burney. Both satirical and serious, comedic and Gothic, Burney’s novel helped establish her reputation as one of the most popular writers of eighteenth-century England. Referred to in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey (1803) and Maria Edgeworth’s Belinda (1801), Camilla; Or, A Picture of Youth was a popular and critically acclaimed novel that served as inspiration for some of the leading literary figures of the early nineteenth century. After years of silence, Mr. Augustus Tyrold moves to the rural estate of Cleves to be near his brother Sir Hugh, who lives at a local parsonage. Lonely and crippled, Sir Hugh hopes to act as a mentor to his nieces and nephews. He takes a liking to Camilla, the middle daughter, and endeavors to make her his heiress while raising her in his own household. Although initially cautious, Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold eventually send Camilla to live at Sir Hugh’s home, where her uncle decides to host her tenth birthday party. When a lapse in judgement leads to Camilla’s younger sister contracting smallpox, Sir Hugh attempts to remedy the situation by naming Eugenia his heiress instead. Living with her uncle, Eugenia enjoys an unusually thorough education under the tutelage of Dr. Orkbourne, a classical scholar who quickly takes to the enthusiastic and intelligent young girl. Meanwhile, Camilla becomes entangled in a love triangle involving her father’s ward Edgar and her cousin Indiana. Despite the mutual affection between Edgar and Camilla, Indiana has entertained the thought of marrying the handsome, wealthy man from a young age, when Sir Hugh thought it prudent to predict their future marriage. As Sir Hugh’s plans for the Tyrold youths meet increasingly serious obstacles, and as debts threaten the wellbeing of the entire family, Camilla is forced to navigate a world in which decisions seem always to be made in her interest by those with their own in mind. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Frances Burney’s Camilla; Or, A Picture of Youth is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Novels of Frances Harper (2021) collects four works of fiction by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a pioneering figure in African American literature. Minnie’s Sacrifice (1869), originally serialized in the Christian Recorder, addresses such themes as miscegenation, passing, and the institutionalized rape of enslaved women using the story of Moses as inspiration. Sowing and Reaping (1876) is a novel concerned with the cause of temperance in a time when Black families were frequently torn apart by alcoholism. Trial and Triumph (1888-1889) is a politically conscious novel concerned with an African American community doing its best to overcome hardship with love and solidarity. Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted (1892) is a story of liberation set during the American Civil War that deals with such themes as abolition, miscegenation, and passing. Minnie’s Sacrifice begins on a plantation in the American South. A slave named Miriam mourns the untimely death of her only daughter, Agnes, who succumbed while giving birth to a baby boy, leaving her son in her mother’s care. Visiting Miriam’s cabin later that day, Camilla, the master’s daughter, discovers a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy. Bringing this to the attention of her father, Camilla proposes that the boy be sent away from the plantation to be brought up as white. Trial and Triumph is the story of a young orphan girl. With few opportunities for education, and despite her affinity for reading, Annette faces prejudice and indifference from her community, who remain either cautiously protective of their children or too involved with their own problems to pay heed to another struggling youth. Sowing and Reaping is a tale of friendship and tragedy exploring the concerns of the temperance movement. Paul—whose father died young from alcoholism—always places morality ahead of opportunity, while John, a pragmatist at heart, decides to open a saloon. Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted is the story of Iola Leroy, a free-born woman who was forced into slavery due to her mixed racial heritage. Her father Eugene, a wealthy slaveowner, set Iola’s mother free in order to marry her and start a family. When he died from a sudden illness, Eugene left his family in grave danger, and Marie and her children were soon torn from freedom by Eugene’s spiteful relatives. These novels by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a groundbreaking nineteenth century writer, inspired such figures as Zora Neale Hurston and Ida B. Wells. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Novels of Frances Harper is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSaracinesca (1887) is a novel by Francis Marion Crawford. Originally serialized in Blackwood’s Magazine, Saracinesca became the first in a series of four novels. Followed by Sant’Ilario (1889), Don Orsino (1892), and Corleone (1897), Saracinesca is an epic tale of history, family, and romance set in Rome during a time of immense cultural change. “In the year 1865 Rome was still in a great measure its old self. It had not then acquired that modern air which is now beginning to pervade it.” In this city of living history, church and state vie for control of a people divided on the basis of class. Against this sociopolitical backdrop, Don Giovanni Saracinesca proves an unusual character. Against the expectations of his friends and family, he remains unmarried in his early thirties and refuses to adhere to aristocratic tradition. In reality, he is deeply in love with a married woman, the Duchessa Corona d’Astrardente, who married the Duca—a much older man—when she was young. Although she feels strongly for Giovanni, she knows that her station in life will not allow an affair. Despite this, the two continue to meet, risking both life and reputation for the sake of love. Saracinesca is the first in a series of novels set in Italy by Francis Marion Crawford, a master of romance with a talent for detailed historical research. Although his reputation as a novelist has largely faded in recent years, Crawford was a bestselling author in his time and received glowing reviews for many of his novels and stories. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Francis Marion Crawford’s Saracinesca is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Triumph of Death (1894) is a novel by Gabriele D’Annunzio. The third in a cycle of novels exploring the lives of the Italian bourgeoisie, The Triumph of Death was inspired by the author’s interpretation of the work of Friedrich Nietzsche and Walter Pater. Considered a central text of Italian Decadentism, the novel has earned comparisons to the work of Oscar Wilde and Joris-Karl Huysmans. “When she perceived a group of men leaning against the parapet and looking down into the street below, Hippolyte stopped and exclaimed: ‘What has happened?’ With a slight gesture, betraying fear, she placed her hand involuntarily on George's arm as if to restrain him. After watching the men a moment George said: ‘Someone must have leaped from off the terrace.’” After witnessing a suicide, Giorgio Aurispa leaves Rome and his lover Ippolita to return to his family in Guardigrele. Reminded of the beauty of the mountains where he was born, he is soon drawn into conflict with his father, a vain nobleman who has left his mother for a mistress and spent every last penny of their immense family fortune. Reminded of his uncle’s tragic death, overwhelmed with his responsibilities as a son, Giorgio flees the mountains for the coast, buying a home in San Vito Chietino where he attempts to pick up where he left off with Ippolita. Gloomy and paranoid, Giorgio struggles to regain his sense of beauty, the only thing in life he ever loved. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gabriele D’Annunzio’s The Triumph of Death is a classic work of Italian literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Martian (1898) is a novel by George du Maurier. Published posthumously, du Maurier’s final novel is a semi-autobiographical account of his struggle with vision loss incorporating elements of fantasy and fairy tale fiction. Originally serialized in Harper’s Magazine, The Martian is a powerful story of romance, tragedy, and redemption. “When so great a man dies, it is generally found that a tangled growth of more or less contentious literature has already gathered round his name during his lifetime. He has been so written about, so talked about, so riddled with praise or blame, that, to those who have never seen him in the flesh, he has become almost a tradition, a myth—and one runs the risk of losing all clew to his real personality.” Barty Josselin is dead, leaving it up to his friend Robert Maurice to present a fair and accurate record of his life and achievements. After graduating from the Institution F. Brossard in Paris, Barty returns to his native England. As his vision begins to fail, causing him suicidal thoughts, he is visited in a dream by a female spirit from the planet Mars. With her guidance, he becomes a renowned writer. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of George du Maurier’s The Martian is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

Read more less