Classics Books

Book SynopsisGems of literature in a luxurious and unique design by Marjolein Bastin.The Marjolein Bastin Classics Series is a chance to rediscover classic literature in collectible, luxuriously illustrated volumes. For the first time ever, the internationally celebrated artwork of Marjolein Bastin graces the pages of a timeless classic, Sense and Sensibility, the story of the Dashwood sisters. Beyond bringing these stories to life, Bastin’s series adds elaborately designed ephemera, such as four-color maps, letters, family trees, and sheet music. Discover anew the dramatic world of Sense and Sensibility. The happy and carefree childhood of sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood comes to an abrupt end with the death of their father. The family is suddenly penniless and pushed out of their home, leaving the two young ladies with one sole hope: a good marriage. After moving into the cottage of a remote relative, the spirited Marianne falls in love much too quickly. In the meantime, the more intellectual Elinor sees her chances for a happy marriage fade when she discovers the man for whom she’s fallen is already engaged. Sense and Sensibility is the story of two dissimilar sisters fighting for their happiness in the face of the strict social conventions of early eighteenth-century England.

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Book SynopsisA deluxe hardcover edition of the world''s greatest fantasy classic--part of Penguin Galaxy, a collectible series of six sci-fi/fantasy classics, featuring a series introduction by Neil Gaiman T. H. White''s masterful retelling of the saga of King Arthur is a fantasy classic as legendary as the sword Excalibur and city of Camelot that are found within its pages. This magical epic takes Arthur from the glorious lyrical phase of his youth, through the disillusioning early years of his reign, to maturity when his vision of the Round Table develops into the search for the Holy Grail, and finally to his weary old age. With memorable characters like Merlin and Owl and Guinevere, beasts who talk and men who fly, wizardry and war, The Once and Future King has become the fantasy masterpiece against which all others are judged, a poignant story of adventure, romance, and magic that has enchanted readers for generations. Penguin Galaxy Six of our greatest masterworks of science fiction and fantasy, in dazzling collector-worthy hardcover editions, and featuring a series introduction by #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, Penguin Galaxy represents a constellation of achievement in visionary fiction, lighting the way toward our knowledge of the universe, and of ourselves. From historical legends to mythic futures, monuments of world-building to mind-bending dystopias, these touchstones of human invention and storytelling ingenuity have transported millions of readers to distant realms, and will continue for generations to chart the frontiers of the imagination. The Once and Future King by T. H. White Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein Dune by Frank Herbert 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Neuromancer by William Gibson For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators--

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Book SynopsisThe secrets of an aristocratic dynasty are about to be revealedLondon 1949. The New Look is in, Princess Elizabeth's wedding has raised morale and the capital is filled with a new energy. Alicia Stanton, niece of the Earl of Mowbray, is making her mark in the glamorous film world. Alongside her, Victoria Brown, a wartime evacuee, is starting out as a fashion photographer. Life is full of opportunity.But at Cavendon Hall, the stately home where they grew up, the Second World War has exacted a terrible price and the estate is facing bankruptcy. And when Cavendon's secrets start to rise to the surface, young and old alike are threatened. Can the families unite to save the house and their future?Trade Review‘A glamorous read packed with period detail in which strong women are centre stage’Daily Mail Acclaim for the Cavendon series: ‘A classic saga of loyalty, secrets, passion and intrigue…if you’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms from Downton, this is for you’ Daily Mail ‘A glorious family saga for Downton Abbey fans…This is Barbara Taylor Bradford in her element, full of drama, passion, romance and danger’ Sarah Broadhurst, lovereading.co.uk ‘A stately home, a dangerous secret and two families whose fates have been intertwined for generations…a gripping period piece set on the brink of the Great War. Exquisite escapism of the highest order’ The Lady 'Queen of the genre' Sunday Times ‘Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the world’s best at spinning yarns’ Guardian ‘As romantic and thrilling as the rest’ Independent on Sunday

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Book SynopsisGems of literature in a luxurious and unique design by Marjolein Bastin.The Marjolein Bastin Classics Series is a chance to rediscover classic literature in collectible, luxuriously illustrated volumes. For the first time ever, the internationally celebrated artwork of Marjolein Bastin graces the pages of a timeless classic, Jane Eyre, the story of a penniless orphan who finds love and friendship despite great adversity. Beyond bringing these stories to life, Bastin’s series adds elaborately designed ephemera, such as four-color maps, letters, family trees, and sheet music. Whether an ideal gift for a Brontë devotee or a treat for yourself, The Marjolein Bastin Classics Series, as a set or individually purchased, is perfect for anyone who feels a connection to these enduring literary gems.Discover anew the dramatic world of Jane Eyre. As a penniless orphan, Jane Eyre endures a dismal childhood at the hands of her callous aunt, and her adolescent transition to boarding school provides little relief. But despite such adversity, she manages to transcend the social strictures of the nineteenth century, maturing into a confident and independent woman. Jane experiences true friendship, even love, until the revelation of a terrible secret casts dark clouds on the lives of everyone around her.

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Book SynopsisFirst accepted by a publisher in 1803, Northanger Abbey was eventually published posthumously in 1818. In it Austen weaves a romance full of suspense and comedy around the heroine Catherine Morland's first foray into society. The style of the novel is a unique hybrid; along the way Austen parodies the eighteenth-century novel of manners, the Gothic novel, and even the educational treatises of the time.The second Broadview edition includes a revised introduction, notes, bibliography, and expanded appendices of background contextual materials.Trade ReviewClaire Grogan's excellent introduction foregrounds the range of historical and cultural references in Northanger Abbey, enriching the experiences of reading which are at the heart of the novel's meaning. The text is a model of clarity, and the annotation is consistently helpful and lucid. As in all editions in this series from Broadview Press, the contextual material gathered in the appendices is rewarding. Included here is a wealth of information about Jane Austen's correspondence and her reading; reviews of Northanger Abbey; maps of Bath and the West of England; and a splendid guide to the social meanings of various kinds of horse-drawn travel. A full bibliography completes this outstanding edition, making it the obvious choice for Jane Austen's modern readers." - Nicholas Roe, University of St. Andrews"Claire Grogan's full and innovative new edition of Northanger Abbey provides background material that invites readers to think about this ambitious and exhilarating novel in fresh and suggestive ways. Grogan rightly calls Northanger Abbey Austen's most literary novel, and the edition she has prepared makes it possible to see how closely it is involved in the literary and political backgrounds of its time. An exemplary edition!" - Claudia L. Johnson, Princeton UniversityTable of ContentsIntroductionThe Novel’s HistoryThe Importance of Reading to Jane AustenHow Austen’s Characters ReadThe Modern Reader and Northanger Abbey A Note on the TextJane Austen: A Brief ChronologyTitle-Page, 1818 editionBiographical NoticeAuthor’s AdvertisementNorthanger AbbeyAppendix A: Jane Austen’s Correspondence with Crosby Publishing HouseAppendix B: Jane Austen’s Private Family CorrespondenceAppendix C: Examples of Jane Austen’s Reading Ann Radcliffe Romance of the Forest William Gilpin Observations on the Picturesque Sentimental Heroines Elizabeth Hervey Louisa Charlotte Smith Emmeline Helen Maria Williams Julia Appendix D: Catherine Morland’s Reading MaterialAnn Radcliffe The Mysteries of Udolpho Appendix E: Reviews of Northanger Abbey British Critic (March 1818) Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine (May 1818) Gentleman’s Magazine (July 1818) Quarterly Review (January 1821) Appendix F: Map of Bath, circa 1800Appendix G: Day Trips from BathAppendix H: Map of South West England, circa 1856Appendix I: Frontispiece to the 1833 edition of Northanger AbbeyAppendix J: Horse-Drawn Transportation Chaise and Four Phaeton Curricle Gig Works Cited/Recommended Reading

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Book SynopsisExperience Jonathan Livingston Seagull’s timeless and inspirational message like never before in the new complete edition of this philosophical classic, perfect for readers of all ages—now with a fourth part of Jonathan’s journey, as well as last words from author Richard Bach.This is the story for people who follow their hearts and make their own rules…people who get special pleasure out of doing something well, even if only for themselves…people who know there’s more to this living than meets the eye: they’ll be right there with Jonathan, flying higher and faster than they ever dreamed.A pioneering work that wed graphics with words, Jonathan Livingston Seagull now enjoys a whole new life.

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Book SynopsisA police officer infiltrates an underground anarchist group and earns the name Thursday, becoming a vital part of an assassination plot that has drastic consequences. Unbeknownst to him, the officer is being pulled into a much bigger scheme. Gabriel Syme is a part of Scotland Yard’s secret police task force. He attends a party where he meets Lucian Gregory, a poet who’s sympathetic to the anarchist cause. Gregory takes Syme to the meeting of an anarchy council where he’s introduced to men with similar beliefs. To protect their identities, they’re each given code names inspired by a day of the week. Syme becomes Thursday and works as an active participant in an assassination plot. The group’s plan takes a surprising turn when a secret is uncovered, exposing not only Syme, but a greater deception. The Man Who Was Thursday is a clever thriller full of twists and shocking turns. Chesterton’s storytelling keeps the reader of their toes, making for an engaged and exciting experience. The story provides commentary of revolutionary politics, identity and the innate desire for community. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Man Who Was Thursday is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisVirgil's masterpiece, one of the greatest works in Western literature, was written in Latin, between 29 and 19 BCE, recalling events after the Fall of Troy over 1200 years before, as told in the famous Homeric epics of Greek literature the Iliad and the Odyssey. The great adventures of Aeneas' flight from Troy and the prophesy of his founding of a great city linked Roman dynasty to the legends of a heroic past, bringing myth and history to bear in the politics of the Roman Empire. Here in the much-loved translation by John Dryden, and accompanied by Virgil's Eclogues and Georgics, with biographical material on Virgil's life and works. Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore, epic literature and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

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Book SynopsisOne of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time WINNER OF THE HUGO AND LOCUS AWARDS FOR BEST ART BOOK Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the timeless and beloved A Wizard of Earthsea that “reads like the retelling of a tale first told centuries ago” (David Mitchell)—this complete omnibus edition of the entire Earthsea chronicles, including over fifty illustrations illuminating Le Guin’s vision of her classic saga by Hugo and Locus Award-winning artist, Charles Vess.Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea novels are some of the most acclaimed and awarded works in literature—they have received prestigious accolades such as the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor, the Nebula Award, and many more honors, commemorating their enduring place in the hearts and minds of readers and the literary world alike. Now for the first time ever, they’re all together in one volume

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Book SynopsisâœNoli Me Tangereâ is Latin for touch me not. In this modern classic of Filipino literature, Jose Rizal exposes matters... so delicate that they cannot be touched by anybody, unfolding an epic history of the Philippines that has made it that country's most influential political novel of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

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Book SynopsisIntroduction and Notes by Henry Claridge, Senior Lecturer, School of English, University of Kent at Canterbury. This is a troubling story of crime, sin, guilt, punishment and expiation, set in the rigid moral climate of 17th-century New England. The young mother of an illegitimate child confronts her Puritan judges. However, it is not so much her harsh sentence, but the cruelties of slowly exposed guilt as her lover is revealed, that hold the reader enthralled all the way to the book's poignant climax.

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Book SynopsisA Penguin ClassicWinner of the 1973 National Book Award, Gravity''s Rainbow is a postmodern epic, a work as exhaustively significant to the second half of the twentieth century as Joyce''s Ulysses was to the first. Its sprawling, encyclopedic narrative and penetrating analysis of the impact of technology on society make it an intellectual tour de force. This Penguin Classics deluxe edition features a specially designed cover by Frank Miller along with french claps and deckle-edged paper.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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Book SynopsisIt all begins with a letter. Fall in love with Penguin Drop Caps, a new series of twenty-six collectible and hardcover editions, each with a type cover showcasing a gorgeously illustrated letter of the alphabet. In a design collaboration between Jessica Hische and Penguin Art Director Paul Buckley, the series features unique cover art by Hische, a superstar in the world of type design and illustration, whose work has appeared everywhere from Tiffany & Co. to Wes Anderson's recent film Moonrise Kingdom to Penguin's own bestsellers Committed and Rules of Civility. With exclusive designs that have never before appeared on Hische's hugely popular Daily Drop Cap blog, the Penguin Drop Caps series debuted with an 'A' for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, a 'B' for Charlotte Brönte's Jane Eyre, and a 'C' for Willa Cather's My Ántonia. It continues with more perennial classics, perfect to give as elegant gifts or to showcase on your own shel

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Book SynopsisRobinson Crusoe is one of the most famous literary characters in history, and his story has spawned hundreds of retellings. Inspired by the life of Alexander Selkirk, a sailor who lived for several years on a Pacific island, the novel tells the story of Crusoe's survival after shipwreck on an island, interaction with the mainland's native inhabitants, and eventual rescue. Read variously as economic fable, religious allegory, or imperialist fantasy, Crusoe has never lost its appeal as one of the most compelling adventure stories of all time.In addition to an introduction and helpful notes, this Broadview Edition includes a wide range of appendices that situate Defoe's 1719 novel amidst castaway narratives, economic treatises, reports of cannibalism, explorations of solitude, and Defoe's own writings on slavery and the African trade. A final appendix presents images of Crusoe's rescue of Friday from a dozen of the most significant illustrated editions of the novel published between 1719 and 1920.Trade ReviewEvan Davis has done an excellent job of bringing together many of the strands of thought that Defoe put into The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe—his interests in travel, economics, religion, and the experience of solitude—and putting them into an attractive format. Professor Davis supplies examples of texts on related topics such as solitude, cannibalism, and castaway narratives, along with a group of wonderful illustrations, including a large number of Crusoe and Friday, showing everything from the sympathetic and helpful Crusoe to Crusoe the colonialist and exploiter. These are well chosen to make points about the ways in which Crusoe fits into the interests of post-colonial criticism. Professor Davis is also very good in his introduction on the ambiguity with which Crusoe treats Friday. Is he a friend, a servant, or a slave? Or all three? This will be a useful and indeed an exciting text for students at all levels." – Maximillian E. Novak, University of California at Los Angeles"This edition greatly enriches the reader's appreciation of Robinson Crusoe both as a classic that transcends its historical origins and as a text that reflects a specific historical context. In each role, the novel can be viewed from many perspectives, ranging from those embodied in other writings by Defoe and his contemporaries to later ideas about psychology, economics, religion, and post-colonialism, and the introduction and appendices give the reader access to an extraordinarily copious array of these perspectives. The introduction, moreover, goes well beyond compiling viewpoints: while elegantly marshaling information, Evan R. Davis also contests received opinion and offers fresh insights. This is an extremely useful edition for students, general readers, and even those already well-acquainted with Defoe." – Oscar Kenshur, Indiana University"Evan R. Davis's fine edition of Robinson Crusoe for Broadview joins an already well-populated field of classroom paperbacks of Defoe's first novel….The Broadview edition holds its own…and offers much to recommend itself. It provides everything one would want from a text for classroom use (or for reading outside the classroom, for that matter): a reliable text, annotations that are clear and sufficient without being obtrusive, and an intelligent and thoughtful editor’s introduction. Moreover, it provides a rich selection of supplementary materials, including a truly surprising number of illustrations, aimed at provoking classroom discussion or simply thoughtful reflection." - Benjamin F. Pauley, Eastern Connecticut State University, reviewed in Digital DefoeTable of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Daniel Defoe: A Brief Chronology A Note on the Text The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Appendix A: Daniel Defoe, Preface and Publisher’s Introduction to Serious Reflections During the Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1720) Appendix B: From Charles Gildon, The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Mr. D—— De F— (1719) Appendix C: Castaway Narratives Appendix C: Castaway Narratives Appendix E: Economic Contexts Appendix F: Defoe on Slavery and the African Trade Appendix G: Cannibalism Appendix H: Illustrations of Friday’s Rescue Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisBased on personal memories of his life in Ireland and Scotland in the early 1900s, this was Patrick MacGill’s first novel. It tells the story of Dermod Flynn an independent and feisty youth who earns a meagre living as an itinerant farm hand in Donegal and County Tyrone before coming to Scotland with a potato-picking squad. After living on the road, labouring and navvying, Dermod finds work on the hydro-electric scheme at Kinlochleven –an extraordinarily brutal and unforgiving environment where hundreds died on one of the biggest engineering projects of its time. Against this background, Dermod reads voraciously, begins to discover his talent as a writer and is eventually lured to Fleet Street, where he briefly becomes a journalist. Peopled with extraordinary characters, Children of the Dead End is a gritty and uncompromising expose of the near slavery endured by the poor in Scotland and Ireland at the beginning of the twentieth century.Trade Review'An evocative read about working class life.. should be on every school’s reading list' * Scottish Field *'A superb account of its times' * Irish Times *'Raw, lyrical, angry, Children of the Dead End still retains its affecting power' -- Nick Brooks * The List *'This beautifully written book is a rare and important work' -- Hollie Bruce * Dundee Courier *

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Book SynopsisWith a preface by Elizabeth Macneal and original illustrations by Laurence Housman.Two sisters, Laura and Lizzie, are enticed by the smells, sounds and sights of the goblin market, tempted by the ripe figs, plump cherries and fragrant berries. Whilst Lizzie resists, Laura is slowly destroyed by her insatiable longing for the goblin’s forbidden fruit.Complete & Unabridged. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. Here is Christina Rossetti’s first critically acclaimed collection of poetry. Published in 1862, as well as ‘Goblin Market’ it contains some of her most treasured work, such as ‘A Birthday’, ‘An Apple Gathering’ and ‘Remember’. It launched her career as the foremost female poet of her time and, more than a century later, modern readers are still seduced by its symbolism and sensual language.

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Book SynopsisE. M. Delafield's largely autobiographical novel takes the form of a journal written by an upper-middle-class lady living in a Devonshire village. Written with humour, this charming novel is full of the peculiarities of daily life. The Provincial Lady of the title attempts to avoid disaster and prevent chaos from descending upon her household. But with a husband reluctant to do anything but doze behind The Times, mischievous children and trying servants, it's a challenge keeping up appearances on an inadequate income, particularly in front of the infuriating and haughty Lady Boxe. As witty and delightful today as when it was first published in 1930, Diary of a Provincial Lady is a brilliantly observed comic novel and an acknowledged classic. This beautiful Macmillan Collector's Library edition features an introduction by author and journalist Christina Hardyment.Designed to appeal to the book lover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift-editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.Trade ReviewI carry the Macmillan Collector's Library edition, which is tiny, in my handbag, to dip into when I'm stuck somewhere. It has never let me down. It is as fresh and sparkling as a champagne flute -- India Knight

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Book Synopsis'Mary Renault's portraits of the ancient world are fierce, complex and eloquent, infused at every turn with her life-long passion for the Classics. Her characters live vividly both in their own time, and in ours' MADELINE MILLERMary Renault is a shining light to both historical novelists and their readers. She does not pretend the past is like the present, or that the people of ancient Greece were just like us. She shows us their strangeness; discerning, sure-footed, challenging our values, piquing our curiosity, she leads us through an alien landscape that moves and delights us' HILARY MANTELIn the story of the great lyric poet Simonides, Mary Renault brings alive a time in Greece when tyrants kept an unsteady rule and poetry, music, and royal patronage combined to produce a flowering of the arts. Born into a stern farming family on the island of Keos, Simonides escapes his harsh childhood through a lucky apprenticeship with a renowned Ionian singer. As they travel through 5th century B.C. Greece, Simonides learns not only how to play the kithara and compose poetry, but also how to navigate the shifting alliances surrounding his rich patrons. He is witness to the Persian invasion of Ionia, to the decadent reign of the Samian pirate king Polykrates, and to the fall of the Pisistratids in the Athenian court. Along the way, he encounters artists, statesmen, athletes, thinkers, and lovers, including the likes of Pythagoras and Aischylos. Using the singer's unique perspective, Renault combines her vibrant imagination and her formidable knowledge of history to establish a sweeping, resilient vision of a golden century.'There's much to say about her interweaving of myth and history and, just as interestingly, there's much to wonder at in the way she fills in the large dark spaces where we know next to nothing about the times she describes . . . an important and wonderful writer . . . she set a course into serious-minded, psychologically intense historical fiction that today seems more important than ever' - Sam Jordison, GuardianTrade ReviewMary Renault is a shining light to both historical novelists and their readers. She does not pretend the past is like the present, or that the people of ancient Greece were just like us. She shows us their strangeness; discerning, sure-footed, challenging our values, piquing our curiosity, she leads us through an alien landscape that moves and delights us -- Hilary MantelI never learned Latin or Greek; I wasn't raised on the classics, even in translation. So all my sense of the ancient world - its values, its style, the scent of its wars and passions - comes from Mary Renault. I turned to writing historical fiction because of something I learned from Renault: that it lets you shake off the mental shackles of your own era, all the categories and labels, and write freely about what really matters to you -- Emma DonoghueMary Renault's portraits of the ancient world are fierce, complex and eloquent, infused at every turn with her life-long passion for the Classics. Her characters live vividly both in their own time, and in ours -- Madeline MillerThere's much to say about her interweaving of myth and history and, just as interestingly, there's much to wonder at in the way she fills in the large dark spaces where we know next to nothing about the times she describes . . . an important and wonderful writer . . . she set a course into serious-minded, psychologically intense historical fiction that today seems more important than ever -- Sam Jordison * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThe Romance of a Shop is an early “New Woman” novel about four sisters, who decide to establish their own photography business and their own home in central London after their father’s death and their loss of financial security. In this novel, Amy Levy examines both the opportunities and dangers of urban experience for women in the late nineteenth century who pursue independent work rather than follow the established paths of domestic service. By outfitting her characters as photographers, Levy emphasizes the importance of the gendered gaze in this narrative of the modern city.This Broadview edition prints for the first time since the 1880s Levy’s essay on Christina Rossetti and a short story set in North London, both published in Oscar Wilde’s magazine The Woman’s World. Other appendices include poetry by Levy, Michael Field, Dollie Radford, and A. Mary F. Robinson, and essays on Victorian photography, literary realism, “the woman question” at the end of the nineteenth century, and the plight of women working in London.Trade Review“It is an unexpected pleasure to have Amy Levy’s fascinating 1888 novel, The Romance of a Shop, in a well-annotated modern edition. Levy, an Anglo-Jewish poet and novelist who was educated at Newnham College and frequented the London circles of Eleanor Marx and Olive Schreiner, has been the subject of increasing interest over the last ten years. Levy’s novel chronicles the romance of work and the trials of independent urban life for the ‘new woman’; Susan David Bernstein gives us a splendid edition, with appendices that include Levy’s essays and poems, reviews, and other invaluable contemporary materials.” — Deborah Nord, Princeton UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Amy Levy: A Brief Chronology A Note on the TextThe Romance of a ShopAppendix A: Contemporary Reviews of The Romance of a Shop From “The Newest Books,” British Weekly (26 October 1888) “The Romance of a Shop,” The Jewish Chronicle (2 November 1888) “The Romance of a Shop,” The Spectator (3 November 1888) From George Saintsbury, “New Novels,” The Academy (10 November 1888) From H.C. Brewer, “New Novels,” The Graphic (24 November 1888) Oscar Wilde, “Amy Levy,” The Woman’s World (1890) Appendix B: Other Writing by Levy “The Poetry of Christina Rossetti,” The Woman’s World (February 1888) “Women and Club Life,” The Woman’s World (June 1888) “Readers at the British Museum,” Atalanta (April 1889) “Eldorado at Islington,” The Woman’s World (1889) Poetry Appendix C: Literary Contexts From John Ruskin, “Fiction—Fair and Foul,” The Nineteenth Century (October 1881) From Oscar Wilde, “The Decay of Lying,” The Nineteenth Century (January 1889) A. Mary F. Robinson, “Will,” Women’s Voices (1887) Michael Field, “The Moon Rose Full,” Long Ago (1889) Dollie Radford, “From Our Emancipated Aunt in Town,” Songs and Other Verses (1895) Appendix D: The Woman Question From Grant Allen, “The Girl of the Future,” The Universal Review (1890) From Clementina Black, “The Organization of Working Women,” The Fortnightly Review (November 1889) Appendix E: Victorian Photography From [Lady Elizabeth Eastlake], “Photography,” Quarterly Review (April 1857) Levy at Newnham College: Norwich House (1880) Appendix F: Map of Levy’s London from Bacon’s New Map of London (1885)Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisMarley’s ghost, Bob Cratchit’s slide down icy Cornhill, Mr and Mrs Fezziwig’s dance, and of course Ebenezer Scrooge himself, are all exquisitely illustrated in this luxury collector’s edition of Charles Dickens’s perennial seasonal favourite. Arthur Rackham’s colour wash drawings and silhouettes, first published during the First World War, bring a threatening and haunting atmosphere to Scrooge’s story, which contrasts wonderfully with the gifts and games of Belle’s household. Rackham was a leading illustrator in the golden age of book illustration, when groundbreaking techniques for colour printing were developing fast. He illustrated over sixty books and specialized in children’s classics and fairy tales. This landmark edition helped to consolidate the idea of the Dickensian Christmas and the tradition of the Christmas gift book. It is a beautiful version of a classic story, which never ceases to be relevant to our times.

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Book SynopsisThe plot of Charlotte Smith's autobiographical first novel Emmeline (1788) includes the usual thrills of the eighteenth-century courtship novel: abduction, duels, and a "fairy tale princess." At the same time, the novel satirically reworks such literary conventions by focusing on the dangers of early engagement and marriage, and challenges a social and legal system in which woment are inherently illegitimate subjects.The Broadview edition includes primary source material relating to the novel's reception; women, marriage and work; and landscape in eighteenth-century fiction. Mary Hays's biographical writing on Smith is also included, as is selected correspondence.Trade Review“Emmeline is one of the most delightful, absorbing English novels of the eighteenth century, at turns sentimental and hilariously comic. We are lucky to have Loraine Fletcher’s beautifully contextualized, well-annotated edition in print.” — Adela Pinch, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor“This is an exemplary edition. In her authoritative introduction, Loraine Fletcher contextualizes Emmeline as an early romantic work, influenced by Rousseau, contrasting with Fanny Burney and, surprisingly, repudiated as a bad example by Mary Wollstonecraft. The inclusion of Mary Hays’s account of the desperate but heroic author’s life is especially welcome.” — Sybil Oldfield, University of Sussex“One of the fascinations of Charlotte Smith is the way in which she epitomizes the political, cultural, economic, and literary cross-currents of the later eighteenth century, and Fletcher has done a masterful job of contextualizing Smith in all of these ways. With an introduction that touches upon all of the elements key to understanding the complexity of Smith’s work, and with the copious appendices characteristic of Broadview texts, this edition should prove an invaluable tool for scholars of all levels.” — Judith Davis Miller, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield“Fletcher includes contemporary reviews of the novel, portions of critical treatises on the position of women and marriage, and excerpts from Smith contemporaries such as Mary Collier, Edmund Burke, Hester Chapone, John Gregory, and Mary Wollstonecraft, making this an invaluable introduction to eighteenth-century feminine fiction.” — Mary Anne Schofield, Eighteenth-Century FictionTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionCharlotte Smith: A Brief ChronologyA Note on the TextEmmelineAppendix A: The Reception of Emmeline Anonymous, The Critical Review, June 1788 Mary Wollstonecraft, The Analytical Review, July 1788 Anonymous, The Monthly Review, September 1788 Anonymous, The European Magazine, November 1788 Jane Austen, “The History of England,” 1791 Walter Scott, The Lives of the Novelists, 1821 Egerton Brydges, “Memoirs of Mrs. Charlotte Smith,” January 1807 Appendix B: Women, Marriage, Work Mary Collier,“The Woman’s Labour: An Epistle to Mr Stephen Duck,” 1731 Edmund Burke,“On Delicacy,” 1757 Hester Chapone,“On Politeness and Accomplishments,” 1773 John Gregory,“Marriage,” 1774 Mary Wollstonecraft,“Matrimony,” 1787 Appendix C: Landscapes Thomas Gray, “Journal in the Lakes,” 8 October 1769 William Gilpin, Observations on the River Wye, 1770 Appendix D: Life Letter from Charlotte Smith to Thomas Cadell, 14 January 1788 Letter from Charlotte Smith to William Hayley, 1788-89 Mary Hays,“Mrs. Charlotte Smith,” British Public Characters, 1800-1801 Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisProlific even by eighteenth-century standards, Eliza Haywood was the author of more than eighty titles, including short fiction, novels, periodicals, plays, poetry, and a political pamphlet for which she was briefly jailed. From her early successes (most notably Love in Excess) to later novels such as Betsy Thoughtless (her best known work) she remained widely read, yet sneered at as a 'stupid, infamous, scribbling woman' by the likes of Swift and Pope.Betsy Thoughtless is the story of the slow metamorphosis of the heroine from thoughtless coquette to thoughtful wife. Ironically, the most decisive moment in this development may be when Betsy decides to leave her emotionally abusive and financially punishing husband; it is only after experiencing independence that she returns to her marriage and to what becomes her husbands deathbed. Betsy Thoughtless may be the first real novel of female development in English. In this edition the text is accompanied by appendices, including writings from the period that shed light on Haywood's life and work, and on her relationship with contemporaries such as Henry Fielding.Trade ReviewBoth scholarly and readable, Christine Blouch's edition of Eliza Haywood's The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless is a welcome addition to the expanding library of neglected and undervalued women novelists of the early eighteenth century that will contribute to the current re-assessment of Haywood's work." - John Richetti, University of Pennsylvania"Eliza Haywood transforms the familiar tale of the reformed coquette. A comic investigation of city morals and manners develops into a dark critique of women's vulnerability in bourgeois marriage. Christine Blouch's informative edition clarifies the contexts of Haywood's textual, political and personal relations." - Ros Ballaster, Mansfield College, Oxford University"Simply the best edition to date of Haywood's fiction. The text and apparatus are equally impressive." - Alexander Pettit, University of North TexasTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionA Note on the TextWorks of Eliza HaywoodThe History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless Appendix A: Haywood’s First BiographerAppendix B: Review of Betsy ThoughtlessMonthly Review (1751)Haywood’s response (from The History of Jenny and Jemmy Jessamy)Appendix C: Betsy Thoughtless on TrialProceedings at the Court of Censorial Enquiry, Etc. (1752)Appendix D: Reading Haywood in her own centuryClara Reeve, The Progress of Romance (1785)Appendix E: A Stage Adaptation of Betsy ThoughtlessRobert Hitchcock, The Coquette; or, The Mistakes of the Heart (1777) Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIn 1750 at the age of twenty-seven Sarah Scott published her first novel, a conventional romance. A year later she left her husband after only a few months of marriage and devoted herself thereafter to writing and to promoting such causes as the creation of secular and separatist female communities. This revolutionary concept was given flesh in Millenium Hall, first published in 1762 and generally thought to be the finest of her six novels.The text may be seen as the manifesto of the 'bluestocking' movement—the protean feminism that arose under eighteenth-century gentry capitalism (originating in 1750, largely under the impetus of Scott's sister Elizabeth Montagu), and that rejected a world which early feminists saw symbolized in the black silk stockings demanded by formal society. It is a comment on Western society as well as on the strengths of Scott's novel that the message of Millenium Hall continues to resonate strongly more than two centuries later.Trade Review“Scott’s novel of a female utopia and of the personal histories of the women who took refuge there is an unrivalled experiment in literary form. With its provocative introduction, this edition is a must for anyone interested in the Enlightenment, in Social Theory, in Women’s history, or in the development of the novel.” — Eve Tavor Bannet, University of Oklahoma“With this splendid edition Gary Kelly has recovered a central document of Enlightenment British feminism. Scott’s compelling utopia depicts a community of women who turn from the folly and vice of the world to create a rational paradise.” — Peter Walmsley, McMaster UniversityTable of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionList of Sarah Scott’s WorksNote on the TextA Description of Millenium HallFrom The History of Sir George Ellison

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Book SynopsisInspired by a grisly discovery in the nineteenth century, The King's General was the first of du Maurier's novels to be written at Menabilly, the model for Manderley in Rebecca. Set in the seventeenth century, it tells the story of a country and a family riven by civil war, and features one of fiction's most original heroines. Honor Harris is only eighteen when she first meets Richard Grenvile, proud, reckless - and utterly captivating. But following a riding accident, Honor must reconcile herself to a life alone. As Richard rises through the ranks of the army, marries and makes enemies, Honor remains true to him, and finally discovers the secret of Menabilly.Trade ReviewNo other popular writer has so triumphantly defied classification ... She satisfied all the questionable criteria of popular fiction, and yet satisfied the exacting requirements of "real literature", something very few novelists ever do -- Margaret Forster She wrote exciting plots, she was highly skilled at arousing suspense, and she was, too, a writer of fearless originality Guardian

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