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Frankenstein was written, said Shelley, to "curdle the blood and quicken the beatings of the heart.'' It succeeds in doing just that and stands as the classic of gothic horror novels, inspiring many screen and stage adaptations. But none has ever done proper justice to the novel's powerful ethical and philosophical themes - scientific hubris, our narrow perception of beauty, the powerful urge for friendship and love and the consequences if these needs are denied. The story itself is a gripping blend of science fiction, mystery and thriller. Victor Frankenstein, obsessed with the idea of creating life from death, experiments with alchemy and science to build a man-like monster from dead remains. He succeeds, but immediately abandons the fruit of his labours, repulsed as he is by its grotesque appearance. The reader's compassion is kindled for the sentient creature left to fend for himself but his maker shows little empathy and is arguably more monster than the being he spawned. The ogre's rejection by his "father" sets in motion a tragic chain of events that brings Victor to the very brink of madness. Written when Shelley was only 18 years old in response to a challenge between herself, Lord Byron, her husband-to-be, Percy Shelley, and John Polidori, to compose the most terrifying ghost story, this volume is based on the third edition of 1831, and contains the revisions Mary Shelley made to her story, as well as her 1831 introduction and Percy Shelley's preface to the first edition.

Ouspensky's unique series of five 'psychological lectures' describe not what Humanity is now, but what it may become. Most people are 'asleep' - they act mechanically, are not totally conscious of their own existence, and are filled with a multitude of ephemeral and competing 'I's. To awaken - to find inner unity - one must first become continually self-aware, a difficult task that requires special techniques, sustained effort over many years, and the help of a bona fide 'school' of wisdom. In these lectures, originally meant only for a select few, Ouspensky gives invaluable guidance for those starting out on this most important of all quests. Included in this edition are the 'Notes on Decision to Work', a vital adjunct to understanding his philosophy and method. A book that will repay careful study over many years.

A novel of high fantasy and spellbinding imagination set on the (strangely earthlike) planet Mercury and peopled by Ghouls, Goblins, Imps, Demons, and Witches, The Worm Ouroboros tells the epic tale of the conflict between Witchland and Demonland, including an heroic quest to free Goldry Bluszco, banished by sorcery to a remote mountain peak for the killing of Witch-King Gorice XI. Written in sweeping, heroic, saga-like prose and shot through with stirring poetry, Ouroboros greatly influenced the work of both J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, predating Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia by some 30 years. Tolkien was especially impressed by the book, declaring its author to be "The greatest and most convincing writer of invented worlds that I have read."

As timeless expressions of wit and wisdom, the maxims in Poor Richard's Almanac are as popular today as they were in eighteenth century colonial America. The author behind the pseudonym of Poor Richard, or Richard Saunders, was none other than Benjamin Franklin, the renowned American scientist, statesman and publisher. Franklin presented his Poor Richard character as a man of humble means with aspirations to better himself through hard work and temperate living and the urge to share this wisdom with his fellow citizens. Popular periodicals in Franklin's day, almanacs aimed both to inform and entertain their readership and Poor Richard's Almanac delivered on both counts with great success. Each annual edition consisted of a short introduction followed by poems, proverbs, a calendar of meteorological and astronomical charts, practical household hints, puzzles and often a serial story that ended on a cliff-hanger to ensure the next instalment was purchased. What made Franklin's almanac stand out was his signal use of witty wordplay and his collection of short, humorous truisms. Over the 26 years of publication - from 1732 to 1758 - his almanac became a household name in Philadelphia, with two-thirds of the population buying a copy every year. This edition by Aziloth Books collates the maxims from each edition and includes the "The Way to Wealth", Franklin's famous distillate of Poor Richard's quotes that was published in the last issue of the almanac.

"The finest historical short stories ever written" is Conan-Doyle expert Owen Edwards' verdict on the Brigadier Gerard series. In this new complete edition, which includes 55 original illustrations by W B Wollen, the aged Brigadier tells all his tales of Napoleonic gloire, quite unhindered by any sense of false modesty. He was, he tells us, "the finest horseman … and the best swordsman in the entire Grande Armee", an outstandingly brave, hot-blooded hussar who was, of course, beloved by any woman fortunate to cast her eyes upon him. Nor was the Emperor unaware of Etienne Gerard's accomplishments, and sought him out for a variety of secret, or especially dangerous assignments. And so we are told of wild adventures from the Peninsular War, Waterloo, the retreat from Moscow, Gerard's imprisonment in England, and even an attempt to rescue Napoleon from St. Helena.As we listen, we gradually realise that the bold Hussar's brain was perhaps not quite as sharp as his sword. Gerard regularly misconstrues orders, and has the most preposterous ideas on the sporting ideals of his favourite enemy, the English, who he mistakenly believes to be in awe of his prowess at both pugilism and fox-hunting. An inspiration for the Flashman series, George MacDonald Fraser describes Brigadier Gerard as "a splendid catalogue of secret missions, escapes, love affairs, duels, disguises, pursuits, triumphs, and occasional disasters," narrated in "inimitable mock French style."

Translated by Thomas Common, with introduction by Mrs Förster-Nietzsche, & notes by Anthony M. LudoviciGerman philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was one of the most influential thinkers of the late 1800s, penning critiques on philosophy, religion and social norms. Nietzsche's controversial thoughts on what he saw as religious and political repression emerged early on in his life - as a schoolboy he wrote "Very often submission to the will of God and humility are but a covering mantle for cowardly hesitation to face our destiny with determination."Thus Spake Zarathustra is Nietzsche's magnum opus on the subject of God, morality and political idealism. The legendary Persian philosopher and moralist, Zarathustra (Zoroaster), is his choice for the central character because, he says, "Zarathustra created the most portentous error, morality, consequently he should also be the first to perceive that error." So it falls on Zarathustra to turn his own original doctrine on its head. He takes on the task of seeking the truth - "to aim straight", as Nietzsche puts it - and finds his answer after much soul-searching.The book takes the form of a story in four parts, styled with a biblical cadence. Zarathustra the radical thinker comes down from his mountain cave and attempts to persuade the people to throw off their stifling preconceptions of God and other-worldly hopes. He entreats them to dispense with life-denying concepts such as pity, humility, guilt, and to seek instead the superman, or übermensch, in themselves. This 'beyond man' would move past the human condition and would create his own life-affirming values and purpose.Thus Spake Zarathustra remains a provocative work - and is all the more valuable for it.