Classics Books

Book SynopsisDark Laughter (1925) is a novel by Sherwood Anderson. Inspired by his own decision to abandon his family and career in order to establish himself as a professional writer, Anderson explores the guilts, routines, desires, and disappointments driving the lives of many Americans in the early-twentieth century. Although he is known today for his story collection Winesburg, Ohio, a pioneering work of Modernist fiction admired for its plainspoken language and psychological detail, Anderson’s Dark Laughter was his only bestseller. Inspired by the stream of consciousness style of James Joyce’s Ulysses, Anderson produced a novel that remains controversial for its depictions of race, class, and sexuality. >“Bruce Dudley stood near a window that was covered with flecks of paint and through which could be faintly seen, first a pile of empty boxes, then a more or less littered factory yard running down to a steep bluff, and beyond the brown waters of the Ohio River.” Bruce, a factory worker in Old Harbor, Indiana, is your average working man. He lives a simple life, keeps a low profile, spends his money at the bar with his friends, and tries not to get fired. As far as anyone knows, there is nothing special about him whatsoever; he is a drifter who found his way to Old Harbor by chance and settled down to make himself some money. But Bruce was born in Old Harbor; raised on its streets and educated in its schools, he lived most of his life by another name: John Stockton, Indiana native turned Chicago reporter. Married with kids, he was happy as far as anyone could tell. Up until the day he left, he was still John Stockton, but the change that came over him late in life was too great to resist. He needed a new name, a new life. He wanted to start over in the place where he began. When an opportunity comes to work as a gardener for the factory owner’s wife, Bruce soon finds it impossible to resist her brazen advances. Dark Laughter is a tale of guilt, identity, and shame from master storyteller Sherwood Anderson. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sherwood Anderson’s Dark Laughter is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book Synopsis Comprising of seven short stories, Old Friends and New by Sarah Orne Jewett explores the lives of the residents of small New England towns, both rural and oceanside. Beginning the collection, A Lost Lover follows the love story of an elderly woman named Horatia Dane. After rumors of her love life begin circulating around the town, Horatia reveals her side of the story, a heart-breaking tale of a lover lost at sea. In A Sorrowful Guest, a young military man writes to his sister, begging her to move to America to live with him. With similar themes of loneliness, A Late Supper depicts an elderly woman in search of company after she becomes the sole surviving member of her family. Reminiscing on the different kinds of family dynamics, a woman named Mary tries to lift her niece’s spirits by telling her a story about her less-than-ideal upbringing in Mr. Bruce. While Mr. Bruce wrestles with the past, Miss Sydney’s Flowers encourages a future of change through the depiction of Miss. Sydney, a long-term resident of her town. When the city decides to pave a new road next to her home, Miss Sydney is upset and resentful of the change. However, as the days go by, she realizes the benefits of having a busy street near her house. With masterful description, picturesque imagery, and stunning characterization, Old Friends and New by Sarah Orne Jewett provides an intimate portrayal of 19th century New England. As an excellent example of the local color movement, a literary initiative to place distinct regions under a spotlight, Old Friends and New is comprised of short stories that vividly depict the people, landscape, and customs of New England states. This edition of Old Friends and New by Sarah Orne Jewett 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 Old Friends and New to modern standards while preserving the original tranquility and beauty of the work of Sarah Orne Jewett.

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Book SynopsisMany Marriages (1923) is a novel by Sherwood Anderson. Inspired by his own decision to abandon his family and career in order to establish himself as a professional writer, Anderson explores the guilts, routines, desires, and disappointments driving the lives of many Americans in the early-twentieth century. Although he is known today for his story collection Winesburg, Ohio, a pioneering work of Modernist fiction admired for its plainspoken language and psychological detail, Anderson’s Many Marriages is a masterpiece in its own right. “There was a man named Webster lived in a town of twenty-five thousand people in the state of Wisconsin. He had a wife named Mary and a daughter named Jane and he was himself a fairly prosperous manufacturer of washing machines. […] [A]t odd moments, when he was on a train going some place or perhaps on Sunday afternoons in the summer when he went alone to the deserted office of the factory and sat for several hours looking out through a window and along a railroad track, he gave way to dreams.” On an otherwise average day in his office at an Ohio washing machine factory, John Webster finds himself dreaming. He contemplates an affair with his young secretary, hears a number of voices in his head, and watches an angelic woman drift down the river on a raft beneath the afternoon sun. When he returns home after work, he struggles to look his wife and daughter in the face, feeling deep in his heart he will have to leave them soon. Despite spending his whole life in service of the mundane—building his business, supporting his family, securing his finances—Webster knows he can no longer live an impassionate life. He knows he must reinvent himself from scratch. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sherwood Anderson’s Many Marriages is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisJennie Gerhardt (1911) is a novel by Theodore Dreiser. Controversial for its honest depiction of work, desire, and urban life, Jennie Gerhardt has endured as a classic of naturalist fiction and remains a powerful example of social critique over a century after its publication. Originally titled The Transgressor, the novel was shelved by Dreiser following a nervous breakdown in 1903. Controversial upon publication, Jennie Gerhardt has been largely overshadowed by Dreiser’s other works, but undoubtedly deserves renewed attention from readers and critics alike. In Columbus, Ohio, Jennie Gerhardt struggles to make ends meet while working at a popular hotel. There, she encounters a United States Senator, who takes a liking to her and offers his help with finances. Wary at first, Jennie acquiesces, and soon grows to care for the older man. She becomes pregnant and Senator Brander promises to marry her, but an outbreak of typhoid claims him as one of its victims. Left to raise a daughter on her own, Jennie moves to Cleveland to look for work. Employed as a lady’s maid, she soon meets the son of a wealthy industrialist who seems to have her best interests in mind. In order to stay with him, however, she hides her daughter by leaving her with her mother, and joins Lester on a trip to New York. Jennie Gerhardt is a story of tragedy and hope, of one woman determined to get more out of life than was promised to her at birth. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Theodore Dreiser’s Jennie Gerhardt is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisAn American Tragedy (1925) is a novel by Theodore Dreiser. Written and rewritten over a number of years, An American Tragedy is a weighty epic with a cleareyed vision of the decay at the heart of industrialized society. Based on the murder of Grace Brown in 1906, the novel proved controversial for its depiction of depravity and violence, but has endured as a classic of naturalist fiction and remains a powerful example of social critique nearly a century after its publication. A young Midwesterner bucks against his puritan upbringing, drinking with acquaintances and frequenting prostitutes when he isn’t busy working any number of thankless jobs. As friends and lovers come and go, he fails to find footing in a society fueled by ambition and cunning. Forced to flee Kansas City after a deadly auto accident, Clyde moves to Chicago before settling in Lycurgus, New York, where he meets a young farmgirl named Roberta Allen. When she becomes pregnant, Clyde begins to feel his dreams of freedom fade, and longs for a way out of marriage. Desperate and confused, he turns to a beautiful socialite named Sondra Finchley, the daughter of a local factory owner. Clyde knows what he should do—marry Roberta, settle down, raise a family—but his reckless ways refuse to remain in the past. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisSister Carrie (1900) is a novel by Theodore Dreiser. Controversial for its honest depiction of work, desire, and urban life, Sister Carrie has endured as a classic of naturalist fiction and remains a powerful example of social critique over a century after its publication. Despite poor reviews upon publication, the novel is now considered a landmark of American literature. Tired of the countryside, Carrie Meeber moves to Chicago to live with her older sister and her husband. On the train ride into the city, she meets an older man, a handsome traveling salesman named Charles Drouet. Despite their obvious attraction, she decides to focus on finding work in order to pay rent. Carrie struggles at a local factory and longs to pursue her interest in acting, but knows that her obligation to family requires she work diligently and without complaint. One day, she encounters Charles on the street and joins him for lunch. He offers to take her in, suggesting that she need no longer worry about factory work or her sister, and remarking on her natural beauty and effortless charm. Soon, however, she strikes up a relationship with an unhappily married man, risking her stability with Charles and tying her fortunes to Hurstwood, who soon proves arrogant and manipulative. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisBirthright (1922) is a novel by T.S. Stribling. Originally serialized in Century Magazine, the novel marked a major departure for Stribling, whose previous works had avoided serious themes altogether. Birthright was praised by black and white critics upon publication, and allowed Stribling to move his career away from genre fiction and into the pressing historical and social questions of his time. Peter is a young man with a powerful vision. After graduating from Harvard, he returns to his hometown of Hooker’s Bend, Tennessee, where he gains a new understanding of the prejudices and laws that shaped his upbringing. Born into a family of mixed racial heritage, Peter has long understood the necessity of passing, which allows him to avoid violence and to further his personal interests. Back in the South, however, he realizes that his experiences as a student have granted him an opportunity to change his community for the better. As he attempts to educate members of the local black and white communities, his hope for the future soon turns to doubt and disillusionment. Birthright, a triumphant and tragic story of race in America, was adapted by pioneering director Oscar Micheaux into a 1924 silent film and a 1939 talkie of the same name. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of T.S. Stribling’s Birthright is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisVice Versa (1882) is a comic novel by Thomas Anstey Guthrie. Guthrie’s debut novel was a popular success, earning him a reputation as a leading humorist of his time. Adapted several times for film, theater, and radio, the novel inspired Mary Rodgers’ beloved Freaky Friday (1972) and is referenced in such wide-ranging works as C. S. Lewis’ That Hideous Strength, James Joyce’s Ulysses, and Malcolm Lowry’s Under the Volcano.As holidays draw to a close, Dick prepares to return to boarding school. Dreading the inevitable encounter with harsh headmaster Dr. Grimstone, he shows obvious signs of trepidation as he packs his luggage to leave. Watching from the doorway, his father, businessman Paul Bultitude, attempts to console his son. He encourages him to enjoy his time at school, warning that life gets much more tiresome as one ages. Nevertheless, Dick remains morose throughout the day. At the last minute, the boy asks if he can take with him the stone brought back by his uncle from India. Hesitant at first, Mr. Bultitude goes to fetch it, failing to realize its potent magical properties. Struggling to convince Dick to leave, he admits that his only wish in life would be to live as a boy once more. Just then, the magic of the stone takes hold, transforming Mr. Bultitude into a child the same age as his son. Terrified, he begs Dick—now doubled over with laughter—to change him back. But the boy senses a once in a lifetime opportunity and wishes on the stone to become a middle-aged man. As they navigate one another’s daily lives, father and son gain a deeper understanding of one another’s fears, dreams, and desires, all while desperately attempting to keep their transformations secret. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Thomas Anstey Guthrie Vice Versa is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisLucy Temple (1828) is a novel by Susanna Rowson. Inspired in part by the author’s experiences in America—she was brought there by her father, a Royal Navy officer, and place under house arrest during the American Revolution—Lucy Temple, the sequel to her bestselling novel Charlotte Temple, fits squarely into the popular genre of the seduction novel. Alongside such works as Hannah Webster Foster’s The Coquette (1797), Rowson’s novel continues to inform scholars on the historical portrayal of women’s sexuality in English and American literature. “Such an assemblage of youth and innocence naturally attracted the young soldiers: they stopped; and, as the little cavalcade passed, almost involuntarily pulled off their hats. A tall, elegant girl looked at Montraville and blushed: he instantly recollected the features of Charlotte Temple, whom he had once seen and danced with at a ball at Portsmouth.” From this brief chance encounter, so much suffering ensues. Not long after meeting her on the street, Lieutenant John Montraville seduces young Charlotte and convinces her to leave her family and friends behind to join him in the new world. There, spurred on by rumors of infidelity and harboring his own sinister motives, he soon abandons his innocent wife, leaving her alone in a country where nobody knows her name. Although her father reaches her in time to see her once more, she soon succumbs to illness and poverty, leaving a young daughter behind. Lucy Temple is a tragic story of romance and morality from a leading writer and educator of her time. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Susanna Rowson’s Lucy Temple is a classic work of British-American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1916) is a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez. Published at the height of his career as a popular Spanish author, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse was adapted into a 1921 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino and later into a 1962 feature directed by Vincente Minelli. In 1919, the novel became a bestseller in the United States. “‘And when the sun arises in a few hours, the world will see coursing through its fields the four horsemen, enemies of mankind. . . . Already their wild steeds are pawing the ground with impatience; already the ill-omened riders have come together and are exchanging the last words before leaping into the saddle.’” At the outbreak of the First World War, two families—and countless more—are torn apart by hatred and conflict that threatens to bring an end to humanity itself. Julio Desnoyers, a young man of mixed Argentine and French descent, leaves a life of luxury behind in search of glory and romance. Convinced that only sacrifice will win him the hand of his lover Marguerite, he enlists as a soldier in the French army. Meanwhile, his mother is forced to reckon with the marriage of her sister to a German man. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse showcases Blasco Ibáñez’s sense of tragedy and devotion to the politics of peace, both of which guide his depiction of humanity at war with itself. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Vicente Blasco Ibáñez’s The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is a classic of Spanish literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisBlood and Sand (1908) is a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez. Published at the height of his career as a popular Spanish author, Blood and Sand was adapted into a 1916 silent film by the author himself and was remade three times, in 1922, 1941, and 1989. Predating Ernest Hemingway’s celebrated depictions of bullfighting by over a decade, Blasco Ibáñez’s novel remains an essential work of literature portraying one of Spain’s oldest and most controversial traditions. “Scarcely had the second bull appeared when Gallardo, by his activity and his desire to shine, seemed to fill the whole plaza. His cape was ever near the bull's nose. A picador of his cuadrilla, the one called Potaje, was thrown from his horse and lay unprotected near the horns, but the maestro, grabbing the beast's tail, pulled with herculean strength and made him turn till the horseman was safe. The public applauded, wild with enthusiasm.” Born into poverty, Juan Gallardo knows what it means to struggle and survive. From the streets of Spain, he rises to become one of the nation’s greatest bullfighters, a man for whom danger is merely an opportunity to showcase his talent. As lovers and fans flock to his side, Juan learns a new kind of danger, one with far more uncertain consequences than those he faces as a torero. With stunning depictions of the bullfighting ring and stirring evocations of urban life in Madrid and Seville, Blood and Sand is a masterpiece of twentieth century literature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Vicente Blasco Ibáñez’s Blood and Sand is a classic of Spanish literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisMrs. Craddock (1902) is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Controversial for its portrayal of infidelity and marriage across social classes, Mrs. Craddock was instrumental in establishing Maugham’s reputation as a leading author of the late Victorian era. Due to its content, the novel appeared exclusively in Bowdlerized form until Maugham saw it republished in 1938. Bertha Ley has always been independent. Orphaned at a young age, she comes into a sizable inheritance at 21 and declares her wish to marry Edward Craddock, a 27-year-old from a working-class background. Despite his initial hesitance, she encourages him to propose and assures him that they can raise a family together. As she signs over control of her fortune to Craddock, ostensibly to give him the confidence he desperately needs, Bertha slowly realizes that she is unattracted to almost everything about him. His morals, interests, and attitudes are all shaped by a way of life she will never understand, and he appears solely dedicated to raising his animals. When their first child is stillborn, things begin to change for the young husband and wife—Bertha retreats while Edward leans into his commitment to work, even taking an interest in local politics. Although Bertha begins to accept her unhappiness, something inside her remains undeterred, longing to be released. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of W. Somerset Maugham’s Mrs. Craddock is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisMrs. Dalloway (1925) is a novel by Virginia Woolf. Adapted from two short stories, “Mrs. Dalloway in Bond Street” and “The Prime Minister,” Mrs. Dalloway is a moving portrait of a day in the life of one woman, her thoughts and perceptions, and the influence of war on the human psyche. Recognized as one of Woolf’s most important works, Mrs. Dalloway is often considered one of the greatest English language novels of the twentieth century. In the aftermath of the Great War, two Londoners lead vastly different lives. Each of them, in their own way, has been impacted by violence—one, Clarissa Dalloway, has had her aristocratic lifestyle interrupted and struggles to reconcile her idyllic past with a present reeling from conflict; the other, Septimus Warren Smith, is a wounded veteran left to fend for himself on the streets of England’s capital. Throughout the day, as Mrs. Dalloway readies herself and her home for a party in the evening, she muses on her youth in the countryside and fantasizes about leaving her husband Richard. Across the city, Septimus lives in a park with his estranged Italian wife, Lucrezia. Suffering from a mental breakdown, he is struck with a series of powerful hallucinations and ultimately taken to a nearby psychiatric hospital. Well educated and decorated in battle, he has been left behind by the society he fought to protect, the very society gathering that night at Mrs. Dalloway’s opulent home. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisOf Human Bondage (1915) is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Inspired by his experiences as an orphan and young student, Maugham composed his masterpiece. Adapted several times for film, Of Human Bondage is a story of tragedy, perseverance, and the eternal search for happiness which drives us as much as it haunts our every move. Orphaned as a boy, Philip Carey is raised in an affectionless household by his aunt and uncle. Although his Aunt Louisa tries to make him feel welcome, William proves an uncaring, vindictive man. Left to fend for himself most days, Philip finds solace in the family’s substantial collection of books, which serve as an escape for the imaginative boy. Sent to study at a prestigious boarding school, Philip struggles to fit in with his peers, who abuse him for his intelligence and club foot. Despite his struggles, he perseveres in his studies and chooses his own path in life, moving to Heidelberg, Germany and denying his uncle’s wish that he attend Oxford. As he struggles to become a professional artist, Philip learns that one’s dreams are often unsubstantiated in the world of the living. Of Human Bondage is a tale of desire, disappointment, and romance by a master stylist with a keen sense of the complications inherent to human nature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of W. Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Gift of Black Folk (1924) is a book of essays by W. E. B. Du Bois. Written while the author was using his role at The Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP, to publish emerging Black artists of the Harlem Renaissance, The Gift of Black Folk is a purposeful work of history which revises the narrative of European and British influence and emphasizes the outsized role of African Americans in building the nation and establishing its definitive culture. “[Despite] slavery, war and caste, and despite our present Negro problem, the American Negro is and has been a distinct asset to this country and has brought a contribution without which America could not have been.” This thesis could not be stated clearly enough. Recognizing, in the words of Dr. King, “that the keystone in the arch of oppression was the myth of inferiority,” Du Bois set out to revise American history to properly tell the story of his people. As he does in his magnum opus Black Reconstruction in America (1935), Du Bois recognizes that the failures of the Reconstruction era were due in large part to an unwillingness to accept Black people, enslaved or free, as human. In these essays, he emphasizes the role of African Americans as workers, soldiers, and explorers, situates them in the movement for women’s rights, and celebrates their contribution to the arts and culture of the nation. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of W. E. B. Du Bois’ The Gift of Black Folk is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Golden Butterfly (1876) is a novel by Walter Besant and James Rice. Their fifth novel perhaps marks the zenith of their collaborative powers, capturing the spirit of adventure that defined the mythology of the American West. Epic and entertaining, The Golden Butterfly is a captivating tale for all audiences. “He was a thin man, about five and forty years of age; he wore an irregular and patchy kind of beard, which flourished exceedingly on certain square half-inches of chin and cheek, and was as thin as grass at Aden on the intervening spaces. He had no boots; but a sort of moccasins, the lightness of which enabled him to show his heels to the bear for so long a time.” Gilead P. Beck is a fortunate man. Only moments away from losing his life to a voracious grizzly bear, a company of English prospectors happens to spot him running through the brush. With two shots, they drop the beast, rescuing Gilead and earning his undying gratitude. Together, they continue toward the newly established Empire City, where fortune or failure awaits every man at the edge of the American West. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Walter Besant and James Rice’s The Golden Butterfly is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1895, a dying man instructs his son to reject their family fortune because of its evil origins and his grandfather’s unsavory past. Yet, his son is enamored by the riches and its potential for good. John Calvert was a successful engineer and heir to a large fortune. While on his deathbed, he tells his son, Dr. Lucian Calvert, the truth about their family’s money and how it was acquired. His dying wish is that Lucian never touches a dime or use it for personal gain. John fails to leave a will, which causes multiple “family members” to stake their claim on his wealth. Despite his father’s haunting words, Lucian becomes engaged in a battle for his highly-coveted estate. Beyond the Dream of Avarice is a cautionary tale about status, wealth and greed. Walter Besant provides an insightful look at the corruptive nature of money and power. Even with a clear warning, man can still fall victim to the desires of the flesh. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Beyond the Dream of Avarice is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisHide and Seek (1854) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written in the aftermath of Antonina (1850), his successful debut, Hide and Seek finds the author honing the trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that would make him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. Mary Grice, a young woman of wealth and social standing, becomes pregnant after a brief affair with a man calling himself Arthur Carr. Banished from her home, she dies during childbirth in the care of a group of circus performers, who adopt the baby as their own. Raised by Martha Peckover, the wife of a clown, young Mary is exploited by the circus owner following an accident with a horse, which leaves her deaf and mute. In order to save her, Martha brings Mary to a minister, who ensures she is adopted into a good home. Taken in by the Blyth family, Mary becomes known as Madonna for her beauty and grace, and soon catches the eye of Zack Thorpe. As the story unfolds, a mystery involving Mary’s father begins to take shape, with implications for her blossoming romance with Zack. Beyond its sensational plot, Hide and Seek is a masterpiece of Gothic suspense and mystery for seasoned readers of Victorian fiction and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Wilkie Collins’ Hide and Seek is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Yellow Mask (1887) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written toward the end of his life, The Yellow Mask recaptures some of the author’s trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that made him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. Father Rocco is a Catholic priest in the Italian city of Pisa. Through his brother, a sculptor and teacher, he becomes aware of Count Fabio D’Ascoli, a wealthy heir and an eager student of art. Vindictive and ruled by jealousy, Rocco fabricates a story accusing D’Ascoli’s family of stealing from the Church centuries before. Determined to obtain the D’Ascoli fortune, Father Rocco creates a rift between the Count and his young lover Nanina, then places his innocent niece Maddalena in a position to marry D’Ascoli. When Maddalena dies in childbirth, however, a strange figure in a yellow mask begins haunting her distraught widower, driving him to the brink of insanity. Beyond its sensational plot, The Yellow Mask is a novel that effectively critiques the institution of marriage and the morality of leaders in the Roman Catholic Church. Collins’ novel is a masterpiece of Gothic horror and mystery for seasoned readers of Victorian fiction and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Wilkie Collins’ The Yellow Mask is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisBasil (1852) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written in the aftermath of Antonina (1850), his successful debut, Basil finds the author honing the trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that would make him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. Basil, a young heir, is born with the future in his hands. As he reaches adulthood, he begins to question the expectations associated with wealth and social standing. Under enormous pressure from his father to marry a respectable woman, he finds himself drawn to a mysterious beauty, a draper’s daughter named Margaret Sherwin. In secret, he arranges a plan with her father to marry Margaret on one condition: they must live separately until she reaches the age of eighteen. As he eagerly awaits the day, Basil reconnects with Mannion, an acquaintance who has just recently returned from abroad. As the story unfolds, Basil’s fortunate destiny gives way to jealousy, violence, and a series of shocking revelations. Beyond its sensational plot, Basil is a novel that effectively critiques the institution of marriage and the false morality of the British aristocracy. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Wilkie Collins’ Basil is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Dead Secret (1856) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written in the aftermath of Antonina (1850), his successful debut, The Dead Secret finds the author honing the trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that would make him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. Born in Porthgenna Tower, Rosamond Treverton is a child of secrecy. Her birthmother, Sarah Leeson, became pregnant after an affair with a local miner. Unable to raise her daughter, she allowed her to be adopted by Mrs. Treverton, the lady of the Tower, herself unable to bear children. Sworn to silence, Sarah leaves a hidden note in a room at Porthgenna before disappearing into the night. Years later, the Tower has been inherited by Rosamond, who continues to live there with her husband Leonard Frankland. When she becomes pregnant, a strange nurse arrives to take care of her and soon reveals the secret of her birth, threatening Rosamond’s control of Porthgenna Tower and the Treverton family fortune. Beyond its sensational plot, The Dead Secret is a masterpiece of Gothic suspense and mystery for seasoned readers of Victorian fiction and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Wilkie Collins’ The Dead Secret is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Power of Sympathy (1789) is a novel by American author William Hill Brown. Considered the first American novel, The Power of Sympathy is a work of sentimental fiction which explores the lessons of the Enlightenment on the virtues of rational thought. A story of forbidden romance, seduction, and incest, Brown’s novel is based on the real-life scandal of Perez Morton and Fanny Apthorp, a New England brother- and sister-in-law who struck up an affair that ended in suicide and infamy. Inspired by their tragedy, and hoping to write a novel which captured the need for rational education in the newly formed United States of America, Brown wrote and published The Power of Sympathy anonymously in Boston. The novel, narrated in a series of letters, is the story of Thomas Harrington. He falls for the local beauty Harriot Fawcet, initially hoping to make her his mistress. But when she rejects him, his friend Jack Worthy suggests that he attempt to court and then propose to her, which is the honorable and lawful choice. Thomas’ overly sentimental mind is persuaded by Jack’s unflinching reason, and so he decides to pursue Harriot once more. This time, he is successful, and the two eventually become engaged, but their happiness soon fades when Mrs. Eliza Holmes, a family friend of the Harringtons, reveals the true nature of Harriot’s identity. As the secrets of Mr. Harrington—Thomas’ father—are revealed, the couple are forced to choose between the morals and laws of society and the passionate love they share. The Power of Sympathy is a moving work of tragedy and romance with a pointed message about the need for education in the recently founded United States. Despite borrowing from the British and European traditions of sentimental fiction and the epistolary novel, Brown’s work is a distinctly American masterpiece worthy of our continued respect and attention. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Hill Brown’s The Power of Sympathy is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisMan and Wife (1870) is a novel by Wilkie Collins. Written at the height of Collins’ career, Man and Wife displays the author’s the trademark sense of mystery and psychological unease that made him a household name around the world. Recognized as an important Victorian novelist and pioneer of detective fiction, Wilkie Collins was a writer with a gift for thoughtful entertainment, stories written for a popular audience that continue to resonate with scholars and readers today. At the estate of Lady Lundie in the lush Scottish countryside, a complicated situation is beginning to unfold. Geoffrey Delamyn, a young heir, has secretly promised to marry Anne Silvester, the governess of Lady Lundie’s stepdaughter Blanche. When Geoffrey learns of his impending disinheritance, he realizes that in order to live a life of luxury he must find himself a wealthy widow to marry, thereby breaking his promise to Anne. Because of an antiquated Scots marriage law, his verbal commitment is legally binding, forcing Geoffrey to come up with a questionable plan to extricate himself from his contract. He employs the assistance of his friend Arnold, who disguises himself as Geoffrey and meets Anne at a local inn, where he refers to her as his wife in front of several witnesses. As the story unfolds, Arnold falls in love with Blanche, Anne seeks legal counsel, and Geoffrey does whatever he can to further his own interests at the expense of others. Beyond its sensational plot, Man and Wife is a masterpiece of comedy and social critique for seasoned readers of Victorian fiction and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Wilkie Collins’ Man and Wife is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisBlack and White Tangled Threads (1920) is a novel by African American author Zara Wright. Published at the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance, Wright’s novel earned nationwide praise as a “realistic portrayal of individuals and events [that] lifts one to the heights of earthly ambitions.” Despite this critical success, Wright does not appear to have written more than Black and White Tangled Threads and its sequel, Kenneth, which were published together in 1920. Although recent scholars have made attempts to return her name to its rightful place on the pantheon of pioneering African American writers, mystery still clouds her life and career to this day. Like many of her contemporaries, Wright took interest in the sociopolitical realities of life as a Black or mixed-race person in the early twentieth century. In this novel, she explores the consequences of passing, interracial marriage, and class on the lives of individuals in the United States and Europe. Black and White Tangled Threads is a story of love, family, and faith from a forgotten writer of the Harlem Renaissance. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Zara Wright’s Black White and Tangled Threads is a classic work of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisLARGE PRINT EDITION. The Edgar Allan Poe Collection (2020) compiles several iconic works of short fiction and poetry by an icon of American literature. Recognized as a foundational figure of nineteenth century fiction, Poe has inspired generations of readers and writers with his craftsmanship and taste for tragedy and terror. His brief but meteoric career shaped the trajectory of American literature forever, forming a legacy without which science fiction, horror, and detective writing would surely be shells of themselves. In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” a man receives a distressing letter from an old friend requesting his presence at his family estate. There, Roderick Usher and his twin sister Madeline are found suffering from an unknown illness, and the narrator struggles to comfort them as signs of paranormal activity lead him to believe that the house itself is a living entity. “The Masque of the Red Death” is a timely work of Gothic fiction set in the abbey of a powerful prince. As the world outside suffers from a deadly plague, the prince decides to hold a masquerade for his wealthy friends and fellow nobles, unwittingly bringing death to his own fortunate doorstep. In “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” a French detective summons the powers of analytical reasoning to investigate the deaths of two young women. Included in this collection are some of Poe’s most iconic poems, including “A Dream Within a Dream,” “The Raven,” and “Ulalume,” all of which remain indelible classics of Romantic verse, masterpieces of mystery, beauty, and slow-burning fear. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Edgar Allan Poe Collection is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisRomantic and Horrific Stories (2021) is a collection of short fiction by Bram Stoker. Although he is largely remembered as the author of Dracula (1897), one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Stoker was a versatile writer whose gift for transmitting terror is matched by his ability to craft convincing and moving tales of love. “The Crystal Cup,” first published in London Society in 1872, is the story of an artist who is forced to create a flawless crystal vase for the king. Having left his wife and home behind, he suffers under a series of constraints and grueling demands. “The Chain of Destiny” is a bestselling epistolary tale featuring hypnotism, magic, and supernatural elements that first appeared in The Shamrock in 1875. In Stoker’s 1898 tale “Bengal Roses,” A teenager from the country falls for a beautiful young woman, but soon discovers she loves an older cavalry officer. First published in Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper in 1899, “A Yellow Duster” is the story of two old men whose lifelong friendship is threatened by a mysterious secret. Curious about a dust rag found in his friend’s display case, the story’s protagonist asks the collector of rare and priceless objects why he has preserved something so seemingly worthless.Other stories collected herein include “Our New House,” published in the Boston Herald in 1895, as well as “The Burial of the Rats” and “A Dream of Red Hands,” both of which appeared in Dracula’s Guest and Other Stories (1914). Romantic and Horrific Stories compiles a dozen works of short fiction 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 Romantic and Horrific Stories is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Water of the Wondrous Isles (1897) is a fantasy novel by William Morris. Although he is widely regarded as one of the most influential designers of the Victorian era, Morris was also a dedicated socialist and gifted novelist whose art explores the politics of his time through the lens of the imagination. Morris’ work in the genres of fantasy and utopian science fiction is an underrecognized but nevertheless vital aspect of his contribution to English cultural advancement. “This little one, who is henceforth called Birdalone, though the witch called her but seldom so, nor indeed by any name, dwelt there betwixt the water and the wood, and saw none save the said witch-wife, who, as aforesaid, fed her well, but scarce meddled with her else for a long while…” In the rural town of Utterhay, a wicked witch from Evilshaw arrives to peddle her wares. Beholding a beautiful young girl, she endeavors to gain the trust of her young mother. Invited to their humble home, the witch provides the woman money to head to market for supper, but when the mother leaves, her devious guest kidnaps the girl and heads for the forest of Evilshaw. There, Birdalone is raised to be a servant until, struck with a newfound sense of independence, she steals a magic boat in order to make her escape. With the help of the fairy Habundia, she makes her way from one wondrous isle to the next, risking everything to return to her home and family. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Morris’ The Water of the Wondrous Isles is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Blue Lagoon (1908) is a novel by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. The first in a trilogy of novels including The Garden of God (1923) and The Gates of Morning (1925), The Blue Lagoon is a story of romance and adventure inspired by the author’s travels in the South Pacific. A total of five films have been adapted from the novel, including the hit 1980 drama of the same name starring Brooke Shields. “The Pacific slept; a vast, vague swell flowing from far away down south under the night, lifted the Northumberland on its undulations to the rattling sound of the reef points and the occasional creak of the rudder; whilst overhead, near the fiery arch of the Milky Way, hung the Southern Cross like a broken kite.” When a terrible shipwreck leaves them stranded on a deserted island in the South Pacific, Dick and Emmeline Lestrange are merely children. Paddy Button, the ship’s cook and the only other survivor, takes it upon himself to train them in the ways of survival, teaching the arts of fishing and pearl diving to ensure the youths know how to take full advantage of a hostile environment. When Paddy dies from alcoholism, Dick and Emmeline are more than prepared to fend for themselves, but as they grow into young adulthood, a strange sense of desire starts to take hold. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Henry De Vere Stacpoole’s The Blue Lagoon is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisResurrection of the Gods (1900) is a novel by Dmitriy Merezhkovsky. Having turned from his work in poetry to a new, spiritually charged interest in fiction, Merezhkovsky sought to develop his theory of the Third Testament, an apocalyptic vision of Christianity’s fulfillment in twentieth century humanity. Resurrection of the Gods, the second work in the trilogy, is preceded by The Death of the Gods (1895) and followed by Peter and Alexis (1904). Well received internationally, The Christ and Antichrist Trilogy was largely ignored by Russian critics at the time of its publication, but has since been recognized as his most original and vital literary work. “This personage was already inspecting the Venus, with a cold, imperturbable composure, so different from Giovanni's personal agitation, that the lad could not but be struck with astonishment. He continued to gaze at the statue, but his consciousness now was entirely for the man by his side.” In Resurrection of the Gods, Merezhkovsky moves his groundbreaking vision of spiritual progress and the historical development of humanity to the world of the Italian Renaissance. The novel captures a pivotal moment in the life of Leonardo da Vinci: invited as an expert to appraise a recently rediscovered statue of Venus, the artist embarks down a path of self-discovery whereby the humanist ideals of the ancient world will reinvigorate his faith in art. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Dmitriy Merezhkovsky’s Resurrection of the Gods is a classic of Russian literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Garden of God (1923) is a novel by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. The second in a trilogy of novels including The Blue Lagoon (1908) and The Gates of Morning (1925), The Garden of God is a story of romance and adventure inspired by the author’s travels in the South Pacific. The novel was adapted into the film Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991), a sequel to the 1980 hit drama starring Brooke Shields. “The whale boat and the dinghy lay together, gunnels grinding as they lifted to the swell. […] [B]eyond and around from sky-line to sky-line the blue Pacific lay desolate beneath the day. ‘They are dead.’ He was gazing at the forms on the dinghy, the form of a girl with a child embraced in one arm, and a youth. Clasping one another, they seemed asleep.” Aboard the whaling vessel Raratonga, Arthur Lestrange discovers his long-lost son and niece after years of searching. As they pull up alongside their fishing boat, however, he realizes they are too late—the shipwrecked youths have succumbed to the elements. Between them, a child lies asleep, offering some hope to the devastated father and crew. Visited by Dick and Emmeline in a dream, Arthur endeavors to return to Palm Tree, the island where they raised their son in peace. There, the boy is brought up by his grandfather and a crewmember named Jim Kearney, who keep him safe and teach him the ways of survival. When a beautiful Kanaka native named Karolin arrives from a nearby atoll, he discovers something no one could have prepared him for: love. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Henry De Vere Stacpoole’s The Garden of God is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Death of the Gods (1895) is a novel by Dmitriy Merezhkovsky. Having turned from his work in poetry to a new, spiritually charged interest in fiction, Merezhkovsky sought to develop his theory of the Third Testament, an apocalyptic vision of Christianity’s fulfillment in twentieth century humanity. The Death of the Gods the first work in the trilogy, is followed by Resurrection of the Gods (1900) and Peter and Alexis (1904). Well received internationally, The Christ and Antichrist Trilogy was largely ignored by Russian critics at the time of its publication, but has since been recognized as his most original and vital literary work. “‘Julian!’ a voice cried; ‘Julian, Julian! Where in the world is he? Eutropius is looking for you to go to church with him.’ The boy shivered, and nimbly hid his handiwork inside the altar of Pan. He smoothed his hair, shook his clothes, and when he came out of the grotto had resumed an expression of impenetrable Christian hypocrisy.” In The Death of the Gods, Emperor Julian, recognizing the increasing popularity of Christianity among the Roman people, makes a final attempt to plant the Olympian Gods at the center of spiritual life. Opposed to the asceticism of early Christians, Julian views the emerging religion as a sacrifice of worldly existence and human connection in favor of a metaphysical ideal. Despite his idealism, the inexorable current of history dooms him from the beginning. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Dmitriy Merezhkovsky’s The Death of the Gods is a classic of Russian literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisPeter and Alexis (1904) is a novel by Dmitriy Merezhkovsky. Having turned from his work in poetry to a new, spiritually charged interest in fiction, Merezhkovsky sought to develop his theory of the Third Testament, an apocalyptic vision of Christianity’s fulfillment in twentieth century humanity. Peter and Alexis, the final work in the trilogy, is preceded by The Death of the Gods (1895) and Resurrection of the Gods (1900). Well received internationally, The Christ and Antichrist Trilogy was largely ignored by Russian critics at the time of its publication, but has since been recognized as his most original and vital literary work. “‘Antichrist is coming. He, the last of devils, has not yet come himself; but the world is teeming with his progeny. The children are preparing the way for their father. They twist everything to suit the designs of Antichrist. He will appear in his own due time, when everywhere all is prepared and the way smoothed. He is already at the door. Soon will he enter!’” In Peter and Alexis, Merezhkovsky moves his groundbreaking vision of spiritual progress and the historical development of humanity to the world of the Russian Empire. The novel portrays Peter the Great’s conflict with his son, the Tsarevich Alexei, as the inevitable confrontation between Antichrist and Christ for the soul of humanity. Rejecting the historical view of Peter as a powerful and honorable leader, Merezhkovsky suggests that he was a tyrant whose desire for progress and control came at the cost of countless lives. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Dmitriy Merezhkovsky’s Peter and Alexis is a classic of Russian literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Adventures of an Ugly Girl (1893) is a novel by Elizabeth Burgoyne Corbett. While she is mostly remembered today for New Amazonia, a feminist utopian novel which depicts the emergence of an advanced society of women in the not-so-distant future, Corbett was also a pioneering romance and detective novelist. While little is known about Corbett, her surviving novels and stories suggest she was a passionate campaigner for women’s suffrage in an era of conservative politics and traditional values. “‘Why, what does it matter how your hair is dressed, or what sort of a gown you put on? You may just as well spare your pains, for unfortunately nothing that you can do seems to mitigate your ugliness. I’m sure I cannot think where you get it.’” Dora Courtenay is moments away from meeting her new stepmother, but can’t find anything proper to wear for the occasion. Despite her sister Belle’s constant bullying, she finds the confidence to get herself dressed and, with her brother Jerry’s encouragement, goes downstairs to finish preparing the dining room for their guest. As her father and his new bride wait in the next room, Dora, unaware of their presence, makes a crude joke about Lady Elizabeth, only to discover that her insult, however innocent, was overheard. Despite this blunder, the two start off on even ground, leading Dora to believe that she could grow to admire her new stepmother. Soon, however, her step grandfather the Earl of Greatlands makes a surprising request: he would like to marry her, making Dora a Countess. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Elizabeth Burgoyne Corbett’s The Adventures of an Ugly Girl is a classic of Victorian romance literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisMizora (1890) is a novel by Mary E. Bradley Lane. Originally serialized between 1880 and 1881 in the Cincinnati Commercial, the novel was rediscovered a decade later and printed by prominent editor Murat Halstead. While little is known about Lane, she seems to have been a dedicated feminist and a gifted writer who nevertheless, by the time Halstead reached out to republish her work, seemed to want nothing to do with the appearance of Mizora in novel form. Regardless, Mizora remains a pioneering work of feminist utopian science fiction and an early example of the hollow earth subgenre of science fiction and fantasy. “Overhead, clouds of the most gorgeous hues, like precious gems converted into vapor, floated in a sky of the serenest azure. The languorous atmosphere, the beauty of the heavens, the inviting shores, produced in me a feeling of contentment not easily described. To add to my senses another enjoyment, my ears were greeted with sounds of sweet music, in which I detected the mingling of human voices.” Princess Vera Zarovitch has lived a tragic life. Born into wealth, she studied in Paris and gained an understanding of the world beyond Tsarist Russia. Imprisoned for criticizing the state after witnessing her friend’s murder at the hands of Russian soldiers, she escapes with a party of smugglers toward the North Pole. Following a devastating shipwreck, their party takes refuge with the local Eskimo, who care for the captain until his death from exposure. Abandoned by the men tasked with bringing her to safety, Vera is lost in a storm. When she awakens, she finds herself in the underground world of Mizora, where an advanced society of women has eliminated war and poverty altogether. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Mary E. Bradley Lane’s Mizora is a classic of feminist utopian science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisUnveiling a Parallel (1893) is a novel by Alice Ilgenfritz Jones and Ella Merchant. Alongside Mary E. Bradley Lane’s Mizora (1890) and Elizabeth Corbett’s New Amazonia (1889), Unveiling a Parallel is an important early work of feminist utopian science fiction. “Having launched my aeroplane on the current of attraction which flows uninterruptedly between this world and that, traveling was as swift as thought. My impression is that my speed was constantly accelerated until I neared my journey’s end, when the planet’s pink envelope interposed its soft resistance to prevent a destructive landing. I settled down as gently as a dove alights, and the sensation was the most ecstatic I have ever experienced.” A nineteenth century voyager travels by aircraft to the planet Mars, where he encounters two advanced civilizations of Martians. In Paleveria, women have taken control over men by adopting their tactics for violence and oppression. Their capitalist society is highly stratified, allowing wealthy women to hold all financial and political power. In Caskia, men and women have learned to live in harmony. Unlike their neighbors, they value egalitarianism, art, and intellectual advancement over wealth and power. Before returning to Earth, the voyager learns as much as he can about these Martian civilizations, speaking with their leaders to gain a better understanding of the values that guide their progress. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Alice Ilgenfritz Jones and Ella Merchant’s Unveiling a Parallel is a classic of feminist utopian science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisNew Amazonia: A Foretaste of the Future (1889) is a novel by Elizabeth Burgoyne Corbett. In June 1889, British novelist and President of the Women’s National Anti-Suffrage League Mary Augusta Ward published her reactionary essay “An Appeal Against Female Suffrage” in The Nineteenth Century. In response, Corbett penned New Amazonia, a feminist utopian novel which depicts the emergence of an advanced society of women in the not-so-distant future. While little is known about Corbett, her surviving novels and stories suggest she was a passionate campaigner for women’s suffrage in an era of conservative politics and traditional values. “‘This country is New Amazonia. A long time ago it was called Erin by some, but Ireland was the name it was best known by. It used to be the scene of perpetual strife and warfare. Our archives tell us that it was subjugated by the warlike English, and that it suffered for centuries from want and oppression.’” Having fallen asleep for hundreds of years, a Victorian man and woman emerge to a vastly different world. Following a devastating war between Britain and Ireland, the British repopulated their colony with women deemed to be surplus. On New Amazonia, these women came to control all aspects of government and culture, leading to the eradication of corruption and oppression. Scientifically advanced, the Amazonians have developed a technique for strengthening the human body and increasing the lifespan of women by hundreds of years. Mesmerized by what she finds in this fascinating new world, the narrator records her reactions alongside those of her male counterpart, who remains openly hostile to the Amazonians throughout. For its depiction of an advanced matriarchal society and celebration of feminist ideals, New Amazonia: A Foretaste of the Future remains an important early work of utopian science fiction. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Elizabeth Burgoyne Corbett’s New Amazonia: A Foretaste of the Future is a classic of feminist utopian fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisA Sweet Sinner (1897) is a novel by Hume Nisbet. Published at the height of his career as a leading ghost story writer of the Victorian era, A Sweet Sinner is a tale of romance and temptation written in the tradition of the sensation novel. Largely unknown by today’s audience, Hume Nisbet was a versatile writer whose experiences as an artist and traveler inform his wide-ranging body of work. “Miss Kate Keath is her name, the only child and heiress of a wealthy and retired Australian squatter, who for the past twelve months has taken up his abode in the suburbs of his most ancient, picturesque, and historical Castletown. Miss Kate was a native of New South Wales, and till her fifteenth year had passed all her days in that sunny climate…” After an idyllic youth in Australia, Miss Kate Keath moves to Scotland to complete her education. Although she shows little promise as a painter, her teacher Jamie Glen finds himself drawn to her remarkable beauty and endeavors to show patience to her always. At her family’s castle in the heather-streaked highlands, their lesson is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Havelock Gordon, a handsome young man with mysterious intentions and palpable contempt for Jamie. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Hume Nisbet’s A Sweet Sinner is a classic of Victorian fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisLARGE PRINT EDITION.Following his service in the First World War, a young Yale graduate moves to New York City for work. Living on Long Island, Nick Carraway meets a magnanimous millionaire named Jay Gatsby, who attempts to attract him to his hedonistic lifestyle. The Great Gatsby is the story of a lost generation, a novel fortune and failure by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

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Book SynopsisLARGE PRINT EDITION.Claude’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.

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Book SynopsisThe Italian (1797) is a novel by Ann Radcliffe. Radcliffe’s final novel is a tragic story of romance and mystery set in Naples during the brutal years of the Holy Inquisition. Published in the aftermath of the French Revolution, the novel investigates the issues of religion and class that had inspired the Republican cause, changing Europe and the world forever. Considered an essential work of Gothic fiction, The Italian is an early example of her prowess as a leading novelist of suspense and the supernatural. A young Englishman meets a friar while touring Naples. At the church of Santa Maria del Pianto, he notices a shadowy stranger sitting near the confessional. When the friar informs him that the man is an assassin, his friend, an Italian, offers to send him the narrative containing the man’s shocking confession. Back at his hotel room, he reads a story beginning in 1758 at the church of San Lorenzo, where a young nobleman falls in love with a beautiful orphan named Ellena. When Vicentio informs his mother, the Marchesa, of his desire to marry the girl, she conspires with the wicked Father Schedoni to change her son’s mind. Soon, Ellena disappears, sending Vicentio di Vivaldi on a quest to save her life. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ann Radcliffe’s The Italian is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisLARGE PRINT EDITION. The House Without a Key (1925) is a mystery novel by Earl Derr Biggers. The first in a series of novels featuring Chinese American detective Charlie Chan, The House Without a Key is notable for its nuanced depiction of race and class on the edges of American empire. Based in part on the life of Chinese Hawaiian detective Chang Apana, the character of Charlie Chan was intended by Biggers as an alternative to racist Yellow Peril stereotypes of the early twentieth century. Shaken by the murder of his uncle, a Bostonian aristocrat living in Hawai’i, John Quincy Winterslip travels to the islands to manage his estate and encourage his aunt Minerva to return home. Uncomfortable at first, he soon grows to appreciate both the natural beauty of life in the Pacific and the youthful attraction of a young woman he meets on his trip. Winterslip makes the decision to break off his engagement with Agatha and remains in Hawai’i to help with the investigation into his uncle’s death. As he grows familiar with the case, he comes to respect Chinese American detective Charlie Chan, an intelligent and honest man who dedicates himself to his work with passion and honor. The House Without a Key, the first in a series of six novels featuring Chan, rejuvenated Biggers’ career as a leading writer of popular fiction in the early twentieth century. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Earl Derr Biggers’ The House Without a Key is a classic of American detective fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisArsène Lupin is the greatest thief in the world. With his abundant wit and brilliance, Lupin gleefully disrupts the lives of France's cultural elite with his daring escapades. In his debut collection, Lupin escapes prison, obtains a priceless royal necklace, and meets legendary detective Sherlock Holmes. Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar is a collection of stories by Maurice Leblanc.

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Book SynopsisLARGE PRINT EDITION. Three Lives (1909) is a collection of novellas by Gertrude Stein. Characterized by its straightforward narrative style and disjointed prose, Three Lives proved a breakthrough for Stein, who had previously found it difficult bringing her works to publication. Each novella is set in Bridgepoint, a fictionalized version of Baltimore, where working class people of all races undergo the dignities and indignities of life in an industrialized nation. In “The Good Anna,” an immigrant housekeeper working in the home of a wealthy woman commands respect and order from all who cross her path. Caring only for her three small dogs, she does her best to forget a traumatic past. Having lost her mother in Germany at a young age, Anna moved to Bridgepoint with hope for a better future, but poor health and unlucky relationships haunt her throughout her life. “Melanctha” is the story of a young mixed-race woman who suffers from a lack of opportunity in a segregated city. Despite being honest and empathetic, she constantly finds herself betrayed and abandoned by those she trusts, and soon her pure heart and kind nature reach their limit. In “The Gentle Lana,” another German immigrant endures the banality and heartbreak of unhappily married life, raising a family and caring for a home without ever feeling fulfilled as an individual. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gertrude Stein’s Three Lives is a classic work of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisLARGE PRINT EDITION. Arsène Lupin vs Herlock Sholmes (1910) is a novel by Maurice Leblanc. Forced to change the name of his antagonist following a legal challenge by Holmes’ creator, Leblanc still manages to pull off one of the greatest fictional mashups of all time. Partly based on the life of French anarchist Marius Jacob, Arsène Lupin first appeared in print in 1905 as an answer to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Blending crime fiction, fantasy, and mystery, Leblanc crafts original and entertaining tales of adventure starring one of the greatest literary characters of all time—Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief. Arsène Lupin is the world’s greatest thief, an unmatched force for good whose exploits threaten the wealth and standing of France’s most wicked men. In this installment of Leblanc’s beloved series, Lupin uses his remarkable wit and chameleon-like ability to move undetected through aristocratic society in order to steal, trick, and cheat his way through life. Despite his criminal nature, he operates under a strict moral code, only taking from those who have taken from the poor all their lives. In this novel, Lupin forces French authorities to bring in an investigator capable of put a stop to his escapades. Across the English Channel comes Herlock Sholmes, the legendary British detective, and his trusted assistant Wilson. Although they are of a different breed than their adversary, who remains focused and stoic throughout, Sholmes and Wilson, despite their humorous outlook, prove more than capable of catching the gentleman thief. Arsène Lupin vs Herlock Sholmes is a story of romance, mystery, and crime that continues to astound over a century after it was published. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Maurice Leblanc’s Arsène Lupin vs Herlock Sholmes is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisIn the aftermath of the Great War, Clarissa Dalloway attempts to return to a sense of normalcy. Preparing for a party at her London home, she reflects on her life, remembers friends and family, and regrets her decision to marry Richard, a boring, reliable man. Across town, an injured veteran struggles to survive. Mrs. Dalloway is a novel by Virginia Woolf.

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Book SynopsisLARGE PRINT EDITION. The Hollow Needle (1910) is a novel by Maurice Leblanc. Originally serialized in in Je sais tout, a popular French magazine, The Hollow Needle is a crime and adventure novel featuring the legendary Arsène Lupin. Partly based on the life of French anarchist Marius Jacob, Lupin first appeared in print in 1905 as an answer to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Blending crime fiction, fantasy, and mystery, Leblanc crafts original and entertaining tales of adventure starring one of the greatest literary characters of all time—Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief. Arsène Lupin is the world’s greatest thief, an unmatched force for good whose exploits threaten the wealth and standing of France’s most wicked men. In this installment of Leblanc’s beloved series, Lupin uses his remarkable wit and chameleon-like ability to move undetected through aristocratic society in order to steal, trick, and cheat his way through life. Despite his criminal nature, he operates under a strict moral code, only taking from those who have taken from the poor all their lives. In this novel, Lupin discovers the secret of the Kings of France, leading him to a hidden hoard of jewels passed down since the days of the Roman Empire. On his trail is amateur detective Isidore Beautrelet, a high school boy determined to stop Lupin from completing the theft of a lifetime. Despite his youth and inexperience, he proves surprisingly capable of catching the gentleman thief. The Hollow Needle is a story of romance, mystery, and crime that continues to astound over a century after it was published. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Maurice Leblanc’s The Hollow Needle is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisLARGE PRINT EDITION. Jane’s Career: A Story of Jamaica (1913) is a novel by H. G. de Lisser. Born and raised in Jamaica, H. G. de Lisser was one of the leading Caribbean writers of the early twentieth century. Concerned with issues of race, urban life, and modernization, de Lisser dedicated his career to representing the lives and concerns of poor and middle-class Jamaicans. In Jane’s Career: A Story of Jamaica, the first West Indian novel to feature a Black protagonist, de Lisser captures the hope and struggle of a young woman leaving home for the first time. “‘Jane,’ he continued impressively after a pause, ‘Kingston is a very big an’ wicked city, an’ a young girl like you, who de Lord has blessed wid a good figure an’ a face, must be careful not to keep bad company.’” Preparing to send young Jane off to the Jamaican capital, village elder Daddy Buckram attempts to offer her advice on how to keep herself safe from Satan and sinners alike. Despite his serious tone and gloomy portrait of urban life, all Jane can think of is the wonder and excitement waiting for her in Kingston. Raised in the countryside, brought up in a conservative Christian family, Jane sees her new job as a means of achieving independence and establishing her own identity as a proud black woman, of forging her own path in a new, modern Jamaica. In spite of her dreams, however, Jane finds herself subjected to the cruelties of her employer Mrs. Mason, who threatens to send a letter to her parents alleging all sorts of imagined misdeeds. Through it all, she tries to maintain a sense of pride, hopeful that hard work—and even romance—will set her free. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of H. G. de Lisser’s Jane’s Career: A Story of Jamaica is a classic of Jamaican literature reimagined for modern readers.

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