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Considered one of the most important and widely read novels ever written in the Italian language, "The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi)" is Alessandro Manzoni's 1827 historical novel, which details the terribly oppressive rule of the Spanish over Italy in the early 1600s. At the center of the novel is the story of two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, whose marriage is forbidden by the local baron, who wishes to wed the lovely Lucia himself. Forced to flee their homes, Renzo and Lucia are separated and must struggle against the ravages of war, famine, and the plague to be reunited again. While in essence a simple and affecting love story, "The Betrothed" is also a fascinating and detailed glimpse into a dramatic and tumultuous period in Italy's history. Famed for its depiction of young love, devotion, and fidelity, the novel is also noted for its incredibly realistic depictions of the real-life plague that ravaged Milan, as well as the subsequent bread shortages and violent unrest. Manzoni's "The Betrothed" is an epic Italian masterpiece. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1869, this deliberately written work follows the ambitions and whims of the young Frédéric Moreau as he travels from his provincial hometown to the enticing metropolis of Paris. Though he survived the Revolution of 1848, Moreau is still prone to all the mistakes and petty concerns of a young man of the middle class: he develops an infatuation for a married woman, Madame Arnoux, and falls in and out of love with her throughout the novel; his ambitious endeavors soon bore him and leave him with Parisian ennui; and, despite the founding of the Second French Empire, Moreau is disappointed by the lack of social progress around him. Through all of this disillusionment, the author makes it very clear that he saw his generation as one without true passion or genuine feeling, utilizing irony and pessimism to underscore the mood of that social and political time in the history of France. The last work of Flaubert published in his lifetime, "Sentimental Education" has since been hailed as one of the most influential novels of the 19th century. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1722, Daniel Defoe's "Moll Flanders" is the classic and tragic morality tale of its title character. Based in part on the true story of a female criminal that Defoe met in Newgate Prison, Moll Flanders is the daughter of a convict and is driven by a singular ambition, to raise her station in life, by any means necessary. In the process of trying to lift herself out of squalor and become a lady she is married several times, abandons her many children, and eventually resorts to thievery and prostitution in her constant quest for a better life. Bad luck and poor judgment plague Moll at every turn and at one point she discovers she has inadvertently married her own half-brother. Eventually convicted of theft, Moll is transported to the new world where she finally begins to turn her life around. Moll is able to redeem herself, repair many of her fractured relationships, and finds love and a new life of prosperity in the Colonies. One of Defoe's best and most loved works, "Moll Flanders," is both the story of a fascinating and complicated woman and ultimately a tale of remorse and redemption. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Written in Middle English during the Tudor period, "Everyman" is the most famous example of the medieval morality play. Popular in Europe during the 15th and 16th century, morality plays were allegorical dramas in which the protagonists are met with the personifications of personal attributes and tasked with choosing either a good and godly life or evil. "Everyman" is the archetypal morality play, as the main character, Everyman, represents all of mankind. God, frustrated with the wicked and greedy, sends Death to Everyman and summons him to account for his misdeeds and sins. It was believed that God tallied all of one's good and evil deeds in life and then one must provide an accounting before God upon one's death. During Everyman's pilgrimage to God, he meets many characters, such as Fellowship, Good Deeds, and Knowledge. Everyman asks them all to join him in his journey so that he may improve his reckoning before God. In the end, it is only Good Deeds that stays with him before God and helps Everyman find salvation and eternal life. In addition to "Everyman," this volume contains several other morality plays from medieval Europe. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

"The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman", when originally published from 1759 to 1767, was an experimental novel far ahead of its time. The titular character, Shandy narrates the story of his life, beginning with his conception and focusing on his family, particularly his unconventional father Walter and his gentle Uncle Toby. One of the recurrent jokes in the novel, Shandy cannot explain anything concisely and Sterne utilizes many narrative devices to accommodate Shandy's digressions on countless subjects, especially human disconnection and his doubts about truly knowing himself. His disorderly account is rich in minor characters, especially Dr. Slop, Toby's servant Corporal Trim, and the parson Yorick. Though the novel is ostensibly about Shandy and his life, most of the work focuses on the characters surrounding him and their reactions to their daily lives and struggles. While criticized by Sterne's peers, the novel was immediately and wildly popular in London, perhaps because it was full of coarse humor and satire and did not fear to discuss taboo and scandalous subjects. Generally considered one of the greatest comic novels of English literature, it was widely influential on modern and post-modern writers and philosophers. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and includes an introduction by Wilbur L. Cross.

Born in the late 5th century AD, Boethius was a Roman statesman and philosopher who would come into the service of the Ostrogothic ruler of Italy, Theodoric the Great. Ultimately he would rise to the position of magister officiorum, the head of all the government and court services. In 523 AD he would find himself accused of treasonous correspondence with Justin I, a charge that would land him in prison and ultimately lead to his execution. During Boethius's year-long imprisonment leading up to his execution he wrote "The Consolation of Philosophy," a work that would become regarded as one of the most important and influential works from medieval times. "The Consolation of Philosophy" is a classical exposition of human nature as Boethius reflects on the treacherous betrayal that led to his fall from favor with his lord. In it he ponders the universal question of Theodicy, or why a benevolent and all powerful God allows evil to manifest in the world, and on the transitory nature of fortune. Meant to provide himself with some solace in the face of his fated execution, Boethius' "The Consolation of Philosophy" is a work that has provided spiritual guidance to those in despair ever since its first appearance. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.