Books in the Thrift Editions series

"Orthodoxy, as G. K. Chesterton employs the term here, means 'right opinion.' In this, the masterpiece of his brilliant literary career, he applies the concept of correct reasoning to his acceptance of Christianity. Written in a down-to-earth and familiar style, he presents formal and scholarly arguments in the explanation and defense of the tents underlying his faith. Paradox and contradiction, Chesterton maintains, do not constitute barriers to belief; imagination and intuition are as relevant to the processes of thought and understanding as logic and rationality. 'Whenever we feel there is something odd in Christian theology,' he observes, 'we shall generally find that there is something odd in the truth.' He defines his insights with thought-provoking analogies, personal anecdotes, and engaging humor, making this century-old book a work of enduring charm and persuasion

Over 150 familiar works by English and American poets: John Donne's "The Ecstasy," William Blake's "The Garden of Love," as well as poems by Shakespeare, Milton, Keats, Whitman, Dickinson, many more.

The impassioned abolitionist and eloquent orator provides graphic descriptions of his childhood and horrifying experiences as a slave as well as a harrowing record of his dramatic escape to the North and eventual freedom. A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Charming self-portrait covers boyhood, work as a printer, political career, scientific experiments, much more. Its openness, honesty, and readable style have made the "Autobiography" one of the great classics of the genre.

An integral part of Chinese thought for more than 2,000 years, the Tao Te Ching teaches individual peace and harmony through meditation. One of the most influential books in history.

"An authentic masterpiece." ¿ The North American Review. Recounting the homecoming of a shell-shocked officer, this novel offers a compelling look at the far-reaching effects of the First World War and the shifting nature of English class structure.

First published in 1903, this eloquent collection of essays exposed the magnitude of racism in our society. The book endures today as a classic document of American social and political history: a manifesto that has influenced generations with its transcendent vision for change.

Classic 1722 account of the epidemic that ravaged England nearly 60 years earlier. Defoe used his considerable talents as a journalist and novelist to reconstruct -- historically and fictionally -- the Great Plague of London in 1664-65. Written as an eyewitness report, the novel abounds in memorable and realistic details.

One of philosophy's most accessible and easily understood works, this denunciation of Christianity and organized religion consists of 62 brief chapters, each an aphorism that advances the philosopher's argument.