Books published by Alma Books Ltd

The basis for Glinka's famous opera of the same name, Ruslan and Lyudmila - Pushkin's second longest poetical work - is a dramatic and ingenious retelling of Russian folklore, full of humour and irony.

Anthony Mortimer, acclaimed for his versions of Petrarch and Michelangelo, provides a new verse translation complete with notes, critical comment and biographical material: following in the footsteps of Rossetti and Pound he presents a Cavalcanti who speaks for his own time and to ours.

This collection, the first and only edition of Marai's poems in the English language - here presented in John Ridland's and Peter V. Czipott's brilliant verse translation - offers a comprehensive selection spanning the author's whole career and exemplifying his mastery of what he considered to be the highest form of literary expression.

First published in 1922 and here presented in a fully annotated edition - the only currently available to English readers - this collection will offer the opportunity to discover a lesser-known side of this master storyteller's ability to surprise and enthrall.

The Last Tycoon is a sophisticated, gripping tale of love and intrigue in the Golden Age of Hollywood, containing what many critics have claimed are Fitzgerald's most modern and engaging characters.

Rich in language and detail, and by turns satirical and moving, Proust's stories - presented here in Andrew Brown's nuanced translation, the only edition currently in print - are layered with imagery and feeling and foreshadow the themes and psychological atmosphere of his later masterpiece.

Published in 1928 when Shaw was seventy-two, this book draws on decades of political activity and remains one of his brilliant exercises in propaganda. It contains a foreword by Polly Toynbee. Ramsay MacDonald, Labour leader, hailed the work as the world's most important book since the Bible

Referred to by their author as his 'passionate twins' and intended to provide an illustration of the original, primitive virtues of Christianity, the two novellas - "Atala" and "Rene" - were hugely successful in their time, thanks to their vivid depictions of exotic locations and their attunement to the emotional sensitivities of the age.

This volume contains articles describing how Verdi was persuaded to write the opera and extracts from the extended correspondence between Verdi and Boito during the period of composition, as well as a detailed musical commentary and a historical survey of important productions and performers of the principal roles.

A collection of essays that details the author's radical theories on drama, which he saw as being stifled by conservatism and lack of experimentation. It contains the famous manifestos of the 'Theatre of Cruelty', analyses the underlying impulses of performance, and provides some suggestions on a physical training method for actors and actresses.

Here presented with brand-new illustrations by Ian Beck, these hugely popular tales, inspired by ancient fables and Kipling's own experiences in India, form a vivid account of the relationship between humans and nature, and will continue to inspire readers young and old.

First published in 1827 and here presented in a new translation by J.G. Nichols along with Thoughts, Leopardi's own selected pearls of wisdom and gems of social observation, this volume will enchant both those who are familiar with and those who are new to the works of Italy's last great polymath.

Inspired by real events during the Second World War, Miriam Halahmy's novel is a touching tale of courage, resourcefulness and camaraderie in desperate times, as well as a stirring defence of animal welfare.

Tim Parks - who was described in a recent review as "one of the best living writers of English" - has delighted audiences around the world with his finely observed writing on all aspects of Italian life and customs. This volume contains a selection of his best essays on the literature of his adopted country.

Peopled by an unforgettable cast of aristocrats and high-fliers, Tender is the Night is at once a scathing critique of the materialism and hypocrisy of the Roaring Twenties and a poignant and sensitive account of personal tragedy and disillusionment.

New, lavishly produced paperback with a beautiful cover with foil and illustrations by Art Deco artist George Barbier. Here presented in a new fully edited and annotated version, it contains an extensive apparatus on Fitzgerald's life and works.

Part of Alma Classics Evergreen series, The Moonstone is here presented with an extensive section on Collins's life and works.

Part of Alma Classics Evergreen series, The Scarlet Letter is here presented with an extensive section on Hawthorne's life and works.

Tales of Adventure and Medical Life, one of the collections Arthur Conan Doyle published at the end of his career, anthologizes some of his best short fiction outside of the Sherlock Holmes canon.

One of Chekhov's most admired stories, 'The Kiss' is joined in this volume by six other celebrated tales in a new translation by Hugh Aplin.

Charles Dickens wrote a number of supernatural and horror stories, some of which were included in his longer works, while others were published in magazines. This collection gathers them, providing an insight into the author's storytelling apprenticeship and his steady growth towards excellence.

Graham Wade's definitive history of the classical guitar, from its origins to its current position as one of the world's most popular instruments.