WThen an infected bolt of cloth carries plagae from London toan isolated mountain viilage, a housemaid named Anna' Frith emergesas an unlikely heroine and healer. ThroUgh Anna s eyes we followthe story" of the plague vear, I666, as her fellow viliagers makean extraordinan choice: convinced by a visionary young, ministerthey elect to quarantine themselves within the village boundariesto arrest the spread of the disease. But as death reaches intoevery household.faith flays. When villagers turn from prayers tomurderous witch-hunting, Anna must confront the deaths of family,,the disintegration of her community, and the lure of illicit love.As she struggles to survive, a year of plague becomes instead arumsmirabilis, a year of wonders."
"[Mole] thought his happiness was complete when, as he meandered aimlessly along, suddenly he stood by the edge of a full-fed river. Never in his life had he seen a river before--this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal, chasing and chuckling, gripping things with a gurgle and leaving them with a laugh, to fling itself on fresh playmates that shook themselves free, and were caught and held again." Such is the cautious, agreeable Mole's first introduction to the river and the Life Adventurous. Emerging from his home at Mole End one spring, his whole world changes when he hooks up with the good-natured, boat-loving Water Rat, the boastful Toad of Toad Hall, the society- hating Badger who lives in the frightening Wild Wood, and countless other mostly well-meaning creatures. Michael Hague's exquisitely detailed, breathtaking color illustrations on almost every generous spread--along with Kenneth Grahame's elegant, delightfully old-fashioned characterizations of the animals--make this book a wonderful read-aloud. G
Fifteen men on the dead man's chest-Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!' Treasure Island is a tale of pirates and villains, maps, treasure and shipwreck. When young Jim Hawkins finds a packet in Captain Flint's sea chest, he could not know that the map inside it would lead him to unimaginable treasure. Shipping as cabin boy on the Hispaniola, he sails with Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollett, Dr Livesey, the sinister Long John Silver and a frightening crew to Treasure Island. There, mutiny, murder and mayhem lead to a thrilling climax.
The vampire novel that started it all, Bram Stoker's Dracula probes deeply into human identity, sanity, and the dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire. When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula purchase a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries about his client. Soon afterward, disturbing incidents unfold in England-an unmanned ship is wrecked at Whitby, strange puncture marks appear on a young woman's neck, and a lunatic asylum inmate raves about the imminent arrival of his "Master"-culminating in a battle of wits between the sinister Count and a determined group of adversaries. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Romeo and ]uliet fall in love at First sight, but as she is a Capulet and he a Montague, their romance rnusz remain secret from their warring families. When Romeo is ban-ished for the murder of Juliet's cousin, the young lovers seek to thwart fate's tragic purpose.
Filled with envy, vanity and a desire for revenge, lago sets out to convince Othello of his wife's infidelity. Though courageous and noble, Othello eventually allows him self to be duped. The truth becomes clear only when all is tragically lost, as Othello attempts to avenge his jealous heart.
...that was the way Jack London saw life, and the more he lived it the more enamored of it he became. "All I saw," he once wrote, "was glamor of conquest, of scarlet adventure and yellow gold. ...The life was brave and wild, and I was living the adventure I had read so much about." Brilliant, poetic, swift with violence and action, his stories clearly illustrate the unique spirit of his unbridled genius. Critics admitted that the young firebrand -- "while frightfully primitive" -- was challenging Poe, Kipling and Melville as a one-in-a-million storyteller. The tales in this volume have been thrilling readers for nearly half a century.
Perhaps the most haunting and tragic love story ever written, Wuthering Heights is the tale of Heathcliff, a brooding, troubled orphan, and his doomed love for Catherine Earnshaw. His desire for her leads him to madness, however, when Catherine is made to marry a wealthy lord, sending Heathcliff on a life-long quest to avenge himself upon those who stole his only love and his life. In this gripping chronicle of the never-ending conflict between the heart and the mind -- and the pain and passion of true romance -- Emily Bront created an unforgettable classic saga of love, desperation, vengeance, and forgiveness. Published just one year before Bront 's death in 1848 at the age of thirty, Wuthering Heights endures as one of the world's greatest love stories and a classic of English literature. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
Thomas Hardy's richly evocative novel opens with the arrival of Bathsheba in the village of Weatherbury to work the large, dilapidated farm that is her inheritance. The plot turns on her sentimental education, her infatuation for Sergeant Troy, a dazzling young cavalry officer, and her relationship with the shepherd-farmer, Gabriel Oak. Gabriel's strong presence permeates a drama of temptation,treachery and passion in which Bathsheba achieves a painful but necessary self-knowledge.
The Brothers Grimm rediscovered a host of fairy tales, telling of princes and princesses in their castles, witches in their towers and forests, of giants and dwarfs, of fabulous animals and dark deeds. This selection of their tales was made and translated by Lucy Crane, and includes firm favourites such as Rapunzel, The Goose Girl, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel and Snow White. It is Illustrated throughout by Walter Crane's charming line drawings.
Featuring a stunning Introduction by popular author of The Ice Storm and Demonology Rick Moody, this special edition of The Mayor of Casterbridge is a tie-in to the AandE Television Network adaptation of Thomas Hardy's critically acclaimed novel. In a surprisingly personal essay, Moody names the saga "the first great novel about alcoholism," and delivers penetrating insight into the character of Michael Henchard and the crippling deficiencies that foretell his ruin. The Mayor of Casterbridge opens with an act of such heartlessness and cruelty that it still shocks readers today. Michael Henchard, an out-of-work hay-trusser, gets drunk at a fair and for five guineas sells his wife and child to a sailor. When the horror of his act sets in the following morning, the wretched Henchard swears he will not touch alcohol for twenty-one years. Through hard work and acumen, he becomes rich, respected, and eventually the mayor of Casterbridge. Eighteen years pass before Henchard's fateful oath comes back to claim its due
The indispensable consumers' guide to the music of The Police and Sting. An album by album, track by track, examination of every song released by The Police, from the 'Outlandos D'Amour' album to their recently released box set compilation, together with the subsequent solo music recorded by bassist/singer Sting.
Emma （1816） is Jane Austen’s most characteristic work。Written with irony， wit， and faultless control， it is both a novel of intense emotional power and a comic masterpiece。This edition has a new Introduction which examines the pleasure given by Emma’s reassuringly stable world as well as by its comedy， and examines the relationships， imagery， amd continuing power of Austen’s last and perhaps greatest novel。——This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title。
PENGUIN POPULAR CLASSICS Jane Eyre escapes the cold charity of Lowood School to become governess to Mr Rochester's young ward. Plain but passion-ate, Jane gradually falls in love with her employer, but her discovery of Rochester's secret in the attic of Thornfield Hall threat-ens to destroy them both. PENGUIN POPULAR CLASSICS are the per-fect introduction to the world-famous PENGUIN CLASSICS series - which en-compasses the best books ever written,from Homer's Odyssey to Orwell's 1984 and everything in between. For a full list and ideas on what to read next, visit www.penguinclassics.com
Oliver Twist is born in a workhouse and lives there until the day he pleads for more gruel Cast out into a harsh world, Oliver is taught to survive in London by Fagin and his gang of thieves. But can wits alone over-come poverty on the dangerous city streets?PENGUIN POPULAR CLASSICS are the per-fect introduction to the world-famous PENGUIN CLASSICS series - which en-compasses the best books ever written,from Homer's Odyssey to Orwell's 1984 and everything in between. For a full list and ideas on what to read next, visit www.penguinclassics.com
The Mill on the Floss, based on George Eliot's own experiences of provincial life, is a masterpiece of ambiguity in which moral choice is subjected to the hypocrisy of the Victorian age. As the headstrong Maggie Tulliver grows intowomanhood, the deep love which she has for her brother Tom turns into conflict, because she cannot reconcile his bourgeois standards withher own lively intelligence. Maggie is unable to adapt to her community or break free from it, and the result, on more than one level is tragedy.
The unforgettable story of Heathcliff and Catherine, whose doomed love torments them in a tempest of madness, vengeance, and redemption. EACH ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES: A concise introduction that gives readers important background information A chronology of the author's life and work A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations Detailed explanatory notes Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full pot
They were just kids when they stumbled upon the hidden horror oftheir hometown. Now, as adults, none of them can withstand theforce that has drawn them all back to Derry, Maine, to face thenightmare without end, and the evil without a name.
In To the Far Blue Mountains," " Louis L'Amour weaves theunforgettable tale of a man who, after returning to his homeland,discovers that finding his way back to America may be impossible.Barnabas Sackett was leaving England to find his fortune in the NewWorld. But as he settled his affairs, he learned that a Royalwarrant had been sworn out against him, and that men were searchingfor him in every port. At issue were some rare gold coins Sackettsold to finance his trip to the Americas--coins believed to be partof a great treasure lost by King John years before. Believing thatSackett possesses the rest of the treasure, the Queen will stop atnothing to find him. If caught, not only will his dream of a lifein American be lost, he will be tortured and put to death on thegallows.
Henry James was arguably the greatest practitioner of what has been called the psychological ghost story. His stories explore the region which lies between the supernatural or straightforwardly marvellous and the darker areas of the human psyche. This edition includes all ten of his ghost stories, and as such is the fullest collection currently available. The stories range widely in tone and type. They include 'The Jolly Corner', a compelling story of psychological doubling; 'Owen Wingrave', which is also a subtle parable of military tradition; 'The Friends of the Friends', a strange story of uncanny love; and 'The Private Life', which finds a shrewd, high comedy in its ghostly theme. The volume also includes James's great novella ‘The Turn of the Screw’, perhaps the most ambiguous and disturbing ghost story ever written.
The controversial Gulf War air campaign is revealed in rich, provocative detail. And in this new edition, General Horner looks at the current Gulf conflict--and comments on the use of air power in Iraq today.
It is a Wednesday in mid-June 1923 andMrs Dalleway is to have a party. As Shespends the day in preparation, worryingabout the evening's success, she looks backover her life at the choices that have led herhere. Then an unexpected visitor calls ... PENGUIN POPULAR CLASSICS are the per-fect introduction to the world-famousPENGUIN CLASSICS series - which en-compasses the best books ever written,from Homer's Odyssey to Orwelrs 1984and everything in between. For a full listand ideas on what to read next, visitwww.penguinclassics.com
"Don't you think there is a certain resemblance between the mystery of the Mass and what I am trying to do?...To give people some kind of intellectual pleasure or spiritual enjoyment by converting the bread of everyday life into something that has a permanent artistic life of its own." - James Joyce, in a letter to his brother. With these fifteen stories, James Joyce reinvented the art of fiction, using a scrupulous, deadpan realism to convey truths that were at once blasphemous and sacramental. Whether writing about the death of a fallen priest ("The Sisters"), the petty sexual and fiscal machinations of "Two Gallants," or of the Christmas party at which an uprooted intellectual discovers just how little he really knows about his wife ("The Dead"), Joyce takes narrative places it had never been before.
