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War and Peace (1869) is a novel by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Serialized between 1865 and 1867, it was published in book form in 1869 and has since been recognized as a masterpiece of world literature. Notable for its epic scale, War and Peace encompasses hundreds of characters, diligently following its five central families across fifteen years while featuring detailed imaginings of such historical figures as Napoleon Bonaparte. In Books XI-XV, Tolstoy depicts the loss of Moscow, the final struggle against French forces, and the beginning of a new era for Russia, Europe, and the world. French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte leave the Russian military and people with no choice. Not only must they abandon Moscow, they must burn it to the ground in order to slow the Grande Armée¿s advance. The Rostov family leaves in a hurry, bringing with them the mortally wounded Prince Andrei, who is nursed by his beloved Natasha. Meanwhile, Pierre hatches a plan to assassinate Napoleon, but is soon captured and threatened with execution. As he awaits his fate in prison, guerrilla fighters manage to repel the French, forcing Napoleon¿s disastrous retreat. With its depiction of the brutalities of war on individuals and society alike, Tolstoy¿s story brings history to life while reminding us that the past is always closer than we care to think. As ambitious as it is triumphant, Leo Tolstoy¿s masterpiece is an epic novel of history and family, a story of faith and the will to persevere in the face of unspeakable catastrophe. War and Peace is a work that transcends both history and description, not just for the scale of its narrative and setting, but for the scope of its philosophical interests. Since its publication, it has been praised as an essential work of literature by Ivan Turgenev, Gustave Flaubert, Thomas Mann, and Ernest Hemingway, and has been adapted for film, theater, and television countless times. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Leo Tolstoy¿s War and Peace is a classic of Russian literature reimagined for modern readers.
When Ichabod Crane, an awkward and superstitious schoolteacher, moves to the town of Sleepy Hollow for work, he at first earns attention only from the housewives, who are amused by his large appetite and tall, lanky body. But once Ichabod decides to try for the attention of Katrina Van Tressel, the town''s most eligible bachelorette and only child of a wealthy farmer, he finds himself in competition with the most popular man in town. Abraham Van Brunt, better known as Brom Bones, is a rowdy local hero who already had intentions to marry Katrina. Usually able to settle disputes with a physical display of brute force, Bones is stumped when he is unable to goad Ichabod into a fight. Since Ichabod is mostly clueless to social cues and customs, Bones resorts to a series of pranks in order to deliver retribution. When the final chance to win Katrina''s hand in marriage arrives at a local party, Ichabod must overcome the pranks and trials to defeat Bones and win Katrina''s love. Originally published in a collection of Irving Washington''s short stories, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a gothic tale that caters to a need for adventure, spookiness, and humor. Since it''s publication two hundred years ago, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has inspired many film, television, and literary adaptations. With memorable characters and a vivid setting, Irving''s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has remained a classic and popular contribution to American literature. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving is now presented in an easy-to-read and modern font with a unique cover design, making it more appealing than ever to explore Ichabod Crane''s adventures and the mysteries of Sleepy Hollow.
Carwin the Biloquist (1798, 1805) is a story fragment by American author Charles Brockden Brown. A prequel of sorts to the novel, Wieland, Carwin the Biloquist provides backstory for the character of Carwin, a man with the uncanny ability to perfectly mimic any voice. Carwin the Biloquist is an unfinished story that traces the life of Carwin before meeting the Wieland family. Having discovered his power at a young age, Carwin first manipulates his family before striking out on his own, eventually meeting a wealthy man named Ludloe who encourages his intelligence and curiosity, but remains unaware of his biloquism. The two travel to Europe, where Carwin learns of Ludloe¿s membership in an occult society before setting out to discover its secrets. Carwin the Biloquist by Charles Brockden Brown is a masterpiece of horror and Gothic fiction with emotional depth and psychological intensity. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charles Brockden Brown¿s Carwin the Biloquist is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.
Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden (1878) is a novel by Toru Dutt. Published the year after her death at the age of 21, Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden is a heartfelt work of romance by a pioneering figure in Indian history and Bengali literature. "A funeral procession was winding slowly up the path; two mourners followed the coffin; the church yard was in a lonely place; so there were no half-curious, half-sympathising people following. It was the daughter of Alonzo Garcia a foreign gentleman residing in England, his eldest daughter and his most loved; the youngest was by his side, Bianca."Inspired by her time in England, Toru Dutt tells the story of a young girl mourning the loss of her beloved sister Inez. Tragic and timeless, Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden investigates themes of faith, family, and courtship while illuminating the experience of a young foreigner living in England. Born in Calcutta to a family of Bengali Christians, Toru Dutt was raised at the crossroads of English and Indian cultures. In addition to her native Bengali, she became fluent in English, French, and Sanskrit as a young girl, eventually writing novels and poems in each language. Despite her limited body of work, Dutt's legacy as a groundbreaking writer remains firm in India and around the world.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Toru Dutt's Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden is a classic work of Bengali literature reimagined for modern readers.
The Novels of Frances Harper (2021) collects four works of fiction by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a pioneering figure in African American literature. Minnie¿s Sacrifice (1869), originally serialized in the Christian Recorder, addresses such themes as miscegenation, passing, and the institutionalized rape of enslaved women using the story of Moses as inspiration. Sowing and Reaping (1876) is a novel concerned with the cause of temperance in a time when Black families were frequently torn apart by alcoholism. Trial and Triumph (1888-1889) is a politically conscious novel concerned with an African American community doing its best to overcome hardship with love and solidarity. Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted (1892) is a story of liberation set during the American Civil War that deals with such themes as abolition, miscegenation, and passing. Minnie¿s Sacrifice begins on a plantation in the American South. A slave named Miriam mourns the untimely death of her only daughter, Agnes, who succumbed while giving birth to a baby boy, leaving her son in her mother¿s care. Visiting Miriam¿s cabin later that day, Camilla, the master¿s daughter, discovers a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy. Bringing this to the attention of her father, Camilla proposes that the boy be sent away from the plantation to be brought up as white. Trial and Triumph is the story of a young orphan girl. With few opportunities for education, and despite her affinity for reading, Annette faces prejudice and indifference from her community, who remain either cautiously protective of their children or too involved with their own problems to pay heed to another struggling youth. Sowing and Reaping is a tale of friendship and tragedy exploring the concerns of the temperance movement. Paul¿whose father died young from alcoholism¿always places morality ahead of opportunity, while John, a pragmatist at heart, decides to open a saloon. Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted is the story of Iola Leroy, a free-born woman who was forced into slavery due to her mixed racial heritage. Her father Eugene, a wealthy slaveowner, set Ioläs mother free in order to marry her and start a family. When he died from a sudden illness, Eugene left his family in grave danger, and Marie and her children were soon torn from freedom by Eugene¿s spiteful relatives. These novels by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a groundbreaking nineteenth century writer, inspired such figures as Zora Neale Hurston and Ida B. Wells. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Novels of Frances Harper is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.
Set in Malta, a European island off the coast of Italy, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe follows a rich Jewish merchant, Barabas, who enjoys the privileges that his wealth allows. When the governor of Malta, Ferneze, summons Barabas to his office, Barabas is intrigued and complies immediately. However, when the governor tells Barabas of a deal he is keeping with the Turks, Barabas is appalled. Ferneze demands that Barabas gives up half of his wealth in order to help the government pay tribute to the Turks, but the merchant refuses to cooperate, protesting the injustice. Filled with anger, Ferneze then decides to seize all of Barabas'' assets, including his home. Unable to dispute the decision, Barabas leaves to begin plotting his revenge. First, he is determined to recover the treasure he has hidden around his home, which Ferneze turned into a convent to mock Barabas'' own religious beliefs. After his plan to steal back some of the hidden fortune in his house is successful, Barabas begins to enact his revenge. Using his daughter as a pawn, Barabas promises to marry her to two men. As Barabas continues his cunning scheme to harm Ferneze, a chain of tragedies ensues, involving manipulation, murder, and even the threat of war. Christopher Marlowe''s The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta was an immediate success following its first performance in 1592. Compelled by the drama, characterization and the complex themes of religion, class, capitalism, and prejudice, audiences have been invested in Marlowe''s tragedy for centuries. This edition of The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe is now presented in an easy-to-read font and features a striking new cover decision, creating an accessible reading experience. With these accommodations, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta is restored to modern standards while the original genius and vivid imagery of Marlowe''s work is preserved.
The Intersexes: A History of Similisexualism as a Problem in Social Life (1906) is a work of nonfiction by Edward Irenaeus Prime-Stevenson. Written while Prime-Stevenson was living as an expatriate in Europe, The Intersexes is a defense of homosexuality grounded in scientific and historical research. Throughout his career, Prime-Stevenson sought to dispel falsehoods surrounding the history and social acceptance of homosexuality. Writing under the pseudonym Xavier Mayne, Prime-Stevenson took great care to insulate himself from the reprisal common to the period in which he worked. Despite his limited audience--copies of his works numbered in the hundreds--Prime-Stevenson is now recognized as a pioneering advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ community. "Between a protozoan and the most perfect development of the mammalia, we trace a succession of dependent intersteps...A trilobite is at one end of Nature''s workshop: a Spinoza, a Shakespeare, a Beethoven is at the other. [...] Why have we set up masculinity and femininity as processes that have not perfectly logical and respectable inter-steps?" Seeking to defend homosexuality as a natural result of human evolution, Prime-Stevenson offers his theory of intersexes, of which he identifies two while leaving room for more to be defined in the future. To do so, he rejects the binary of masculine and feminine, both of which fail to describe the vast majority of humanity, in favor of a broader spectrum of sexual identity. Using the terms Uranian and Uraniad, which align with gay and lesbian respectively, Prime-Stevenson attempts to define these types, call attention to historical examples, and critique the societal condemnation and persecution of such individuals as "degenerate" or "criminal." This groundbreaking study, perhaps the first to approach homosexuality from a scientific, historical, personal, and legal point of view, is recognized today as a landmark in queer literature by academics around the world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Edward Irenaeus Prime-Stevenson''s The Intersexes: A History of Similisexualism as a Problem in Social Life is a classic work of queer literature reimagined for modern readers.
Mademoiselle Giraud, My Wife (1870) is a novel by Adolphe Belot. Written at the height of his career as a popular playwright, the novel proved immensely popular and caused a stir with its depiction of homosexuality. Recognized today as an important work of French literature and in the history of sexuality, Mademoiselle Giraud, My Wife is a highly original, frequently funny, and ultimately tragic work of fiction from an underappreciated writer of nineteenth century France.Having forged a life of success and financial security for himself as a businessman, Adrien returns to Paris to find a wife. Singularly obsessed with tying his fate to a respectable woman, he finds himself struggling to remain realistic in his standards. Just when he thinks he will remain a bachelor for the rest of his days, Adrien meets the beautiful Paule Giraud, a friend of the influential Countess Berthe de Blangy. After a brief courtship, he marries Giraud only to find himself rejected in the bedroom. As he succumbs to jealousy and suspicion, Adrien becomes abusive and petulant, eventually leaving his wife in Paris for the city of Nice. There, he meets the Count de Blangy, who reveals to the unsuspecting husband the secret of his wife's sexual habits: for years, she has engaged in a lesbian affair with her friend Berthe. Enraged and dumbfounded, Adrien hatches a plan with the Count to separate their wives and punish them for their sexual deviancy. Tragic and scandalous, Mademoiselle Giraud, My Wife was a bestselling story of homosexuality told from the point of view of an author who clearly possessed his society's reprehensibly oppressive views on sex and gender. Regardless, Belot's novel remains an important landmark in the historical representation of homosexuality in literature.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Adolphe Belot's Mademoiselle Giraud, My Wife is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.
James Langdon enjoys his practice of hunting bears in the forests of Canada, convinced that there are few greater thrills. However, as he sets out on a hunt for a towering grizzly bear, Langdon makes a stunning discovery. Different from the start, the hunt begins after the giant grizzly, who is named Thor, is injured by a hunter. While nursing his wounds, Thor meets a young black bear cub, who had recently been orphaned. Taking the young cub under his care, the two bears enjoy the peaceful riches of the Canadian wilderness, picking berries, fishing, and meeting other animals. However, Langdon is on their trail, and determined to kill Thor, hungry for the acclaim and the thrill of defeating such a large animal. But, when the three finally cross paths, they each find themselves surprised by their own instincts. With gorgeous description, surprising humor, and complex characters, James Oliver Curwood¿s The Grizzly King: A Romance of the Wild is a unique masterpiece. First published in 1916, this reflective adventure novel documents Curwood¿s change of mind regarding conservation. Once an avid hunter himself, Curwood wrote The Grizzly King: A Romance of the Wild to encourage others to appreciate nature without harming it. Featuring a rare point of view, Curwood created a gripping and beautiful tale that considers multiple perspectives. The Grizzly King: A Romance of the Wild inspired a film adaptation titled The Bear, and remains to a fan-favorite of the prolific author¿s work. This edition of The Grizzly King: A Romance of the Wild by James Oliver Curwood now features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of The Grizzly King: A Romance of the Wild crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original beauty of James Oliver Curwood¿s literature.
When Edward ¿ becomes king, he uses his new authority to pardon his favorite nobleman, Piers Gaveston, from his exile, angering key supporters. Soon after he inherits the throne, King Edward ¿ of England writes a letter to his favorite nobleman, Piers Gaveston, who had previously been exiled, asking him to come back to England. Eager to return and happy to have the king¿s favor, Gaveston travels to the kingdom immediately. However, when the other noblemen and advisors hear of Edward¿s decision, they quickly try to talk him out of it. Believing that Gaveston is a manipulative social climber, the noblemen warn Edward that he should reconsider his pardon. However, Edward loves Gaveston deeply, and refuses to revoke his pardon. He appoints Gaveston the power to issue commands and draw money from the treasury, happy to be reunited with the man. Meanwhile, the angered noblemen start to gather a group of resistance. Concerned about the power Edward has given Gaveston, they continue their attempts to disillusion him, convincing others close to Edward to talk him into turning against the man. As some of Edward¿s closest friends and family, take a side against him, the distrust the nobles hold for Gaveston begins to bleed into contempt for the king. With schemes of manipulation, invasion, and abdication plague the kingdom, Edward must reconsider his love for Gaveston before it causes his downfall. First debuted in 1592, Edward the Second is among the legendary playwright¿s final works. Considered to be Marlowe¿s masterpiece, Edward the Second is praised for its unique topic, disciplined rhetoric, and homoeotic undertones. Having been adapted for film and radio, as well as inspiring theatre revivals, Edward the Second is one of Marlowe¿s most popular and celebrated works. With exemplary writing and a high-stakes plot, Edward the Second provides an intriguing perspective on the rule of Edward ¿ that remains fascinating to modern audience. This edition of Edward the Second by Christopher Marlowe is now presented in an easy-to-read font and features a striking new cover decision, creating an accessible reading experience. With these accommodations, Edward the Second is restored to modern standards while the original genius and vivid imagery of Marlowe¿s poetry is preserved.
Sarrasine (1831) is a novella by French author Honoré de Balzac. Written as part of his La Comédie humaine sequence, Sarrasine is one of Balzac¿s earliest works published without a pseudonym and helped to establish his reputation as a serious writer and distinguished member of Parisian high society. Noted for its controversial exploration of homosexuality and castration, Balzac¿s novella would become the subject of Roland Barthe¿s groundbreaking work of literary criticism, S/Z (1970).Composed as a frame narrative, Sarrasine begins during a ball at the mansion of the wealthy Monsieur de Lanty. The unnamed narrator, from a window overlooking the garden, listens to the conversations of partygoers and watches as his guest, Beatrix Rochefide, is approached by a mysterious older man. The next night, the narrator tells Beatrix a story involving the man, a respected member of de Lanty¿s circle. He begins with the life of Ernest-Jean Sarrasine, a successful young sculptor who, on a trip to Rome, fell in love with an opera star named Zambinella. Convinced she represents the ideal feminine form, he rejects Zambinelläs misgivings and vague excuses, becoming increasingly obsessed with the beautiful singer. Devising a plan to kidnap Zambinella during a party at the French embassy, Sarrasine discovers the truth: the singer is a castrato, a classical operatic performer who was selected and castrated before puberty. Sarrasine, a powerful novella, explores themes of idealization and obsession while illuminating the conflation of sex and gender.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Honoré de Balzac¿s Sarrasine is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.
Revenge: A Tale of Old Jamaica (1919) 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 Revenge: A Tale of Old Jamaica, de Lisser portrays the deadly Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865, a protest by poor black laborers unsatisfied with the economic and political establishment and the widespread lack of opportunity for freedmen in Jamaica. In response to a period of scarcity brought on by drought and disease, as well as to acts of police brutality against peaceful protestors, a group of several hundred Jamaicans led by Paul Bogle took to the streets in an effort to fight for their rights. In de Lisser¿s fictionalized version of events, he explores the experiences of white and black Jamaicans in the days leading up to the violence. As signs of unrest grow impossible to ignore, those in power prove more than willing to reject the pleas of the oppressed, writing their anger off as nothing more than a passing phase. Seated on their veranda overlooking the mountains of the Jamaican countryside, the Carlton family observes a series of fires growing in the nearby hills. While the women see them as a sign of violence to come, the men seem entirely unphased by the threat of an uprising. In response to his mother¿s fears, Dick Carlton attempts to calm her: ¿¿Our people are just now passing through one of their periodical fits of depression, and you will probably hear them expressing fears of negro uprisings and all that sort of thing [¿] and you may be frightened. Don¿t allow yourself to be. The danger is purely imaginary.¿¿ As night falls with no end to the fires, however, and as the songs and cries of the oppressed grow closer, his sense of security will prove a foolish thing indeed. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of H. G. de Lisser¿s Revenge: A Tale of Old Jamaica is a classic of Jamaican literature reimagined for modern readers.
Edward Waverly enjoyed a privileged upbringing, despite his family¿s drama. Coming of age during a political uprising, Edward¿s time is split between his father and his uncle, who each have opposing political views, which causes a rift in the family. His uncle is a traditional British subject that wishes to overthrow the government so that Charles Edward Stuart is restored to power, commonly known as a Jacobite. However, Edward¿s father is a Hanoverian, a citizen who supports the current government. Raised between the two, Edward himself has flippant views. In fact, he is more interested in chasing women than his studies or politics. For this reason, Edward¿s aunt decides to send him to the army. Serving as a Hanoverian soldier, Edward takes his training about as seriously as he took his studies, but as his regiment travels around Scottland, Edward is taken by the beauty of the nation and its culture, especially falling for a young woman named Flora. Though Edward quickly becomes enamored by Flora, he soon realizes that their romance is ill-fated, as he is a Hanoverian soldier, and Flora is a dedicated Jacobite. While Edward challenges his own political views for love, more chaos unfolds, including war, uprisings, and accusations of treason. First published anonymously in 1814, Waverley rose to almost immediate fame, praised for its authenticity and comedy. Already famous as a poet, Sir Walter Scott eventually admitted that this extraordinary historical novel was among his first attempts to publish his prose fiction. With themes of war and tolerance and beautiful prose, Waverley depicts a young soldier¿s struggle with love and beliefs as he travels across Scottland. Featuring stunning detail, the landscape and culture of 18th century Scottland is beautifully represented as is the fascinating history of the Jacobite uprising of 1745. This edition of Waverley by Sir Walter Scott now features an eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of Waverley crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery of Sir Walter Scott¿s literature.
When William Came (1913) is a novel by Saki. Considered a masterpiece of invasion literature, When William Came indulges in the paranoid atmosphere of the leadup to the Great War to weave a sinister tale of espionage, survival, and conspiracy. Keenly aware of the heightening tensions between Britain and Germany, Saki crafts an entertaining story with a political purpose: to call for national conscription in the event of war. Much has changed in London since Murrey Yeovil left for a hunting trip in Eastern Siberia. War came and went, London fell to German forces, and his wife Cicely found a younger lover. Disembarking from the train, he gets into a cab and gives his address, only to discover his driver speaks German. Slowly, he grows accustomed to the rhythms of life under an occupying force, but it is impossible to ignore how many people have been lost. Of those who survived the war, many fled for the countryside or to colonies and nations overseas. They are the lucky ones, who need not fear a trip to the store or a turn down the wrong street might lead to imprisonment¿or worse. Soon, Murrey must decide where his true loyalties lie. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Saki¿s When William Came is a classic of British invasion literature reimagined for modern readers.
The Uncalled (1898) is a novel by African American author Paul Laurence Dunbar. Published while Dunbar was at the height of his career as one of the nation¿s leading black poets, The Uncalled marked his debut as a novelist with a powerful vision of faith and perseverance who sought to capture and examine the diversity of the African American experience. When his mother dies, Freddie Brent¿whose father is presumed dead¿is officially orphaned. Although some members of the church community think it best to send him to the local orphanage, Miss Hester, an unmarried older woman, declares it her duty to provide for the boy. Having never raised a child before, however, she struggles to ascertain and fulfill Freddie¿s needs, focusing instead on her perception of his troubled upbringing and punishing the boy for his parents¿ supposed sinfulness. Freddie looks forward to visits from Eliphalet Hodges, Miss Hester¿s longtime suitor, who acts as a father figure and shows him kindness and respect. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Paul Laurence Dunbar¿s The Uncalled is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.
Freckles knows what it¿s like to struggle. Raised in a Chicago orphanage, he learned to navigate life with one hand while suffering abuse for his flame-red hair and accent. Searching for work, he finds his way to the Limberlost Swamp, where he joins a lumber crew and hopes to prove himself. Freckles is a novel by Gene Stratton-Porter.
Pinocchio is a marionette who aspires to be a real boy but encounters a series of moral dilemmas that keep him from reaching his goals. This classic tale is an unconventional herös journey, highlighting the importance of integrity and discipline in a world filled with distractions.Geppetto is an elderly and impoverished carpenter whös gifted with an enchanted piece of wood. He uses it to create a marionette, which he fashions after a young boy, calling him Pinocchio. He quickly learns that Pinocchio can walk, talk and has a brash attitude. His most distinguished feature is his nose, which is prompted to grow whenever the puppet tells a lie. As Pinocchio explores his surroundings, he encounters various characters who attempt to show him the error of his ways.The Adventures of Pinocchio is one of the most famous books in the world. It¿s been translated into over 300 languages, selling more than 80 million copies. Its most popular adaptation came in 1940 with the Disney animated film, Pinocchio. Despite the many interpretations, the original maintains the story¿s core values with greater nuance and depth.With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Adventures of Pinocchio is both modern and readable.
The classic short novel of love, deceit, and tragedy, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton has been breaking hearts and shocking readers for over a century. Ethan Frome is a ruin of a man, aged and limping. Alienated from the other residents of desolate Starkfield, Massachusetts, he can barely draw a living from the stony soil of his family farm. For twenty-four years, Frome has held a secret in his heart: he loved not his waspish wife Zeena, but her young cousin Mattie, whom Zeena depended on for care. When an enigmatic newcomer arrives in Starkfield one frigid winter and takes pity on Frome, the tragic twist of Frome¿s love and desire, and the reason for his crippling injuries, are set to be revealed. Ethan Frome is a classic tragic love story. The inability of Ethan and Mattie to articulate their feelings save through gestures¿as small as a broken plate, as large as a horrific accident¿speak to the power of author Edith Wharton¿s gimlet eye. And the reversal of fortune in the denouement continues to shake readers over a century after it was written. Adapted as a film starring Liam Neeson and Particia Arquette in 1993, Ethan Frome has broken the hearts of generations of readers. The Mint Editions version of Ethan Frome features expressive cover art and contemporary typesetting, making it a fine addition to any bookshelf.
True Love: A Story of English Domestic Life (1891) is the first and only novel by Sarah E. Farro. Inspired by the works of Dickens and Thackeray, this novel models itself on the stories of romance and everyday life popular in Victorian England. When True Love: A Story of English Domestic Life appeared in print, Farro became the first black woman to publish a novel in the United States. Despite this distinction, her name and reputation would largely have faded into history if not for the effort of recent scholarship, which seeks to restore her status as a pioneering African American woman while contextualizing her work within the study of Victorian literature. Mrs. Brewster is an unhappy woman. A carpenter¿s daughter, she spent years in poverty before receiving a sizable inheritance from a distant relative, granting her and her two daughters a minimum of stability for the first time in their lives. Despite this, she endures an abusive, joyless marriage to a merchant tailor and longs for a way to escape middle class life. When her daughter Janey becomes engaged to a wealthy aristocrat, Mrs. Brewster grows hopeful of the opportunity to tie herself to her fate. Not far from the Brewster home, Charles Taylor lives in an ornately decorated mansion. Having inherited a large sum from his capitalist father, he leads a boring, luxurious existence. For Taylor, marriage is a matter of romance, a bond between a man and a woman with no economic significance whatsoever. For Mrs. Brewster, her daughter is ¿worth her weight in gold.¿ With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sarah E. Farrös True Love: A Story of English Domestic Life is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.
Capt¿n Davy¿s Honeymoon (1893) is a novella by British author Hall Caine. Set on the Isle of Man¿the proud British island where Caine¿s father was born¿the story begins with the separation of Capt¿n Davy from his wife Nelly after only ten days of marriage following a heated argument over money. With humorous and emotional dialogue enriched with an authentic Manx flavor, detailed portraits of land and seascapes, and a critical eye for society¿s shortcomings, this novella is a classic work of romantic comedy from one of Victorian Britain¿s most successful writers.Born into poverty, and orphaned at the age of fifteen, Davy Quiggin is taken in by the Kinvig family in Ballavolley, Isle of Man. For several years, Davy lives with Kinvig¿a farmer and local Methodist leader¿his wife, and their daughter Nelly, in relative harmony. But when Davy¿s love for Nelly is discovered by her parents, he is forced to leave. Thus begins a life at sea that will take Davy across the world to South America, where he becomes a steamboat captain, amasses a sizable fortune, and achieves for himself a life far surpassing his humble origins or his wildest dreams. Davy returns home to marry Nelly, but finds himself wrapped up with a crowd of old friends and acquaintances more than happy to indulge his tastes for drinking and gambling. As his wealth disappears, and as his marriage threatens to end before it even truly began, Davy must find a way to adjust himself to life back home¿a place and a people he thought he knew so well. Meanwhile, Nelly is forced to pick up the pieces of their relationship while navigating a community that seems more intent on gossip than it does on mutual aid. Hall Caine¿s Capt¿n Davy¿s Honeymoon investigates the limits of friendship, marriage, and society with a keen ear for the rhythm of everyday speech and a sense of what makes us human.Although he was one of the most famous and acclaimed authors of his time, Caine¿s work remains relatively unknown today. With this edition, it is hoped that Hall Caine once again receives not only the attention he deserves, but the respect and admiration his work demands.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Hall Caine¿s Capt¿n Davy¿s Honeymoon is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.
Botchan (1906) is a novel by Natsume S¿seki. Inspired by his experience as a teacher on the island of Shikoko, S¿seki composed a beloved tale of growth and moral decency that continues to be read in Japan and around the world to this day. Filled with humorous asides and heartwarming scenes, Botchan is a classic bildungsroman from one of Japan¿s most successful twentieth century writers.Ever since his childhood days in Tokyo, Botchan has experienced bouts of ¿hereditary recklessness,¿ an inability to think and act as others expect him to. Frequently injured, always in trouble, he develops a reputation in his neighborhood as a young rapscallion, a misfit at home and in school. When his mother dies unexpectedly, Botchan is raised by Kiyo, his family¿s elderly servant, who sees something in him no one else has been able to recognize. Through positive reinforcement and a focus on fostering good morals, she helps Botchan achieve a certain amount of respectability without forcing him to sacrifice his fiercely independent nature. He excels in school and finds a job as a middle school math teacher on the island of Shikoku. Thinking the days of schoolyard drama are behind him, he is surprised to discover that the antics and conflicts inherent to boyhood are rampant among his fellow teachers. Joining forces with Porcupine, he sets out to dethrone head teacher Red Shirt, who indiscriminately wields his power over colleagues and students alike. Hilarious and eminently human, Botchan is a beloved story of class, morality, and conflict from a master of Japanese fiction.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Natsume S¿seki¿s Botchan is a classic work of Japanese literature reimagined for modern readers.
The Land that Time Forgot follows the narrative of Bowen Tyler, who is among the few who survived after their ship sank while heading for a battle during World War ¿. Accompanied by Lys La Rue, the only woman on the ship, and a loyal dog, Bowen is rescued by a British ship. However, their relief does not last long after they discover that a German spy is aboard and has been sabotaging the vessel and crew. Forced to drop their anchor at a mysterious island, the group makes their way to shore, united only by their will to survive. After finding a corpse close to the shore, the group are disheartened, but have nowhere else to go. As the group explore part of the island and make a camp, they notice the prehistoric fauna, flora, and exotic species that surround them, uncovering a great threat to their survival. While a war rages on in the world around them, this group of diverse nationalities must reconcile and work with one another in order to survive the mysterious and isolated island. Inspired by the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Jules Verne, The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs is a high adventure, pulp fiction fantasy with elements of romance. Featuring topics of evolution, war, and human nature, The Land that Time Forgot is an intriguing adventure with sequences of action, romance, and mystery. First published in 1924, this imaginative work has remained to be a fun read, and has inspired both film and comic adaptations. This edition of The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in an easy-to-read font. With these accommodations, The Land that Time Forgot caters to a modern audience while preserving the original wonder and adventure of Edgar Rice Burroughs¿ work.
The Moon and Sixpence (1919) is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Inspired by the life of French painter Paul Gauguin, Maugham set out to capture the disconnect between an artist's desire to create and their obligations to their loved ones and society. Praised for its multifaceted portrayal of tortured genius and wasted talent, The Moon and Sixpence explores the distance between expectation and desire in a man whose decisions, however, hastily made, are done with the loftiest of intentions. Some people live their whole lives without daring to dream, going from moment to moment in a haze of dreary reality, following expectation from birth to grave. Strickland seems to be one of these people-singularly dedicated to his work as a London stockbroker, uninterested in the arts, married as though through obligation alone. One day, he unexpectedly leaves his wife and children to pursue a career as a painter in Paris, completely and irrevocably severing himself from the professional and familial ties he sent his whole life building. Somehow, he proves incredibly adept, but each brilliant work of art is made at the expense of those he leaves behind. The Moon and Sixpence is a tale of creativity, disappointment, and struggle 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 The Moon and Sixpence is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.
Harlem Shadows (1922) is a poetry collection by Claude McKay. Published at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, Harlem Shadows earned praise from legendary poet and political activist Max Eastman for its depictions of urban life and the technical mastery of its author. As a committed leftist, McKay¿who grew up in Jamaicäcaptures the life of Harlem from a realist¿s point of view, lamenting the poverty of its African American community while celebrating their resilience and cultural achievement. In ¿The White City,¿ McKay observes New York, its ¿poles and spires and towers vapor-kissed¿ and ¿fortressed port through which the great ships pass.¿ Filled him with a hatred of the inhuman scene of industry and power, forced to ¿muse [his] life-long hate,¿ he observes the transformative quality of focused anger: ¿My being would be a skeleton, a shell, / If this dark Passion that fills my every mood, / And makes my heaven in the white world¿s hell, / Did not forever feed me vital blood.¿ Rather than fall into despair, he channels his hatred into a revolutionary spirit, allowing him to stand tall within ¿the mighty city.¿ In ¿The Tropics in New York,¿ he walks past a window filled with ¿Bananas ripe and green, and ginger-root, / Cocoa in pods and alligator pears,¿ a feast of fresh tropical fruit that brings him back, however briefly, to his island home of Jamaica. Recording his nostalgic response, McKay captures his personal experience as an immigrant in America: ¿My eyes grew dim, and I could no more gaze; / A wave of longing through my body swept, / And, hungry for the old, familiar ways, / I turned aside and bowed my head and wept.¿ With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Claude McKay¿s Harlem Shadows is a classic of Jamaican literature reimagined for modern readers.
A Night in a Moorish Harem (1896) is a Victorian erotic novella. Published under the pseudonym ¿Lord George Herbert,¿ the novella has proved both popular and controversial as the subject of several obscenity trials. Noted for its orientalist tropes, the novella remains relevant to scholars of postcolonial literature and Victorian culture. ¿My first duty was to kiss the fair hands which had aided me, and then I explained the accident which had brought me among them and the plan I had formed for escape before dawn. I then gave my name and rank. While doing this I had an opportunity to observe the ladies; there were nine of them and any one of them would have been remarked for her beauty. Each one of them differed from all the others in the style of her charms: some were large and some were small; some were slender and some plump, some blonde and some brunette, but all were bewitchingly beautiful.¿ Tired of life onboard, a young midshipman decides to spend his afternoon off in a small boat attached to the side of the naval vessel he serves. Comforted by the gentle waves and hot Mediterranean sun, he falls into a deep sleep. When he wakes, he finds himself drifting close to the Moroccan shore and is unable to spot his ship along the haze-strewn horizon. As he prepares himself to be sold into slavery¿or worse¿he spots a group of beautiful women watching him from the rocks. Helped ashore, the midshipman is brought to the safety of their harem, where he spends one night of ecstasy exploring their nimble bodies and learning the stories of their lives. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of A Night in a Moorish Harem is a classic work of Victorian erotica reimagined for modern readers.
Scenes of Bohemian Life (1851) is a novel by Henri Murger. Written at the beginning of his career as a popular French poet and novelist, Scenes of Bohemian Life is composed of vignettes inspired by the author¿s experience as a starving artist in Paris¿ Latin Quarter. Adapted countless times for theater and film, Murger¿s novel served as inspiration for Puccini¿s opera La bohème (1896) and for the hit musical Rent (1996). ¿The Bohemians know everything and go everywhere, according as they have patent leather pumps or burst boots. They are to be met one day leaning against the mantel-shelf in a fashionable drawing room, and the next seated in the arbor of some suburban dancing place. They cannot take ten steps on the Boulevard without meeting a friend, and thirty, no matter where, without encountering a creditor.¿ Distinguished by their sense of fashion and impoverished lifestyle, Paris¿ Bohemians are part of a historical avant-garde, a cultural phenomenon found in any artistic society. Living day to day, these artists and radicals commune with the world as it is, taking nothing and no one for granted. In Scenes of Bohemian Life, four friends¿Rodolphe, Marcel, Colline, and Schaunard¿avoid landlords and old lovers on the streets of the Latin Quarter, a district known for its countercultural figures. Hilarious and preeminently human, Scenes of Bohemian Life is a masterpiece of nineteenth century fiction from a writer whose lifestyle informed much of his work. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Henri Burger¿s Scenes of Bohemian Life is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.
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