Books in the Great Works that Shape our World series

American writer Herman Melville wrote Moby Dick in 1851 but it took decades before finally it was regarded as a great American novel, and worthy of its place amongst the greatest texts of humankind. This edition offers a specially written introduction to contextualise the book.

Also known as Yi jing or The Book of Changes, the I Ching is an ancient Chinese text of vast historical and cultural influence. Reviving James Legge's classic 19th-century translation, this new version features a new introduction by Dennis Schilling that casts fresh light on this core text, and the assumptions behind Legge's first translation.

Quantum Theory contains the seminal works of quantum theory from the early years of the 20th Century, representing breakthroughs in science that radically altered the landscape of modern knowledge: Quantum Theory of Line-Spectra by Niels Bohr and The Origin and Development of the Quantum Theory by Max Planck.

Focusing on military strategy, psychology and tactics, The Art of War has been a source of great strategic inspiration throughout the ages and its enduring wisdom has had a far-reaching impact beyond its Ancient Chinese origins. This new edition offers a comprehensive new introduction, with commentary and notes on the core text.

The Interpretation of Dreams is a seminal work of psychological theory and probably the most important of Freud's output. This new deluxe edition boasts a new introduction by expert Dr Richard Stevens, discussing it in the round, its initial impact and subsequent influence on modern thought, as one of the great works of our cultural heritage.

Initially received with muted applause Darwin's The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection was soon recognised as the breakthrough scientific advance that explained the evidence of the world around us, the place and history of humans, the connections between environment and evolution.

Written between 1387 and 1400 as a series of stories told by a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury, 'The Canterbury Tales' offers romance, farce, philosophy, religion and satire in a ribald reflection of humankind. This offers a specially written introduction to contextualise the book.