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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.

Clouds and Sunshine (1920) is a collection of poems by Sarah Lee Brown Fleming. Published during the Harlem Renaissance, Clouds and Sunshine is a powerful work of poetry exploring themes of faith, racial identity, loss, and love in twentieth century America. Recognized as a leading advocate for the advancement of Black girls and women throughout her life, Fleming is a writer whose voice never falters from the task at hand: telling the story of her people. Separated into three sections, Clouds and Sunshine shows Flemings prowess as a lyric poet of the Romantic persuasion, a dialect poet in the tradition of Paul Laurence Dunbar, and a groundbreaking political writer who observed the experiences of Black Americans while recording and examining her own. In ¿Tuskegee,¿ she offers an ode to the iconic institution founded by Booker T. Washington in Alabama: ¿On thy consecrated ground / Is carved a wondrous story, / Out of chaos, Washington / Raised this place to glory.¿ In ¿The Black Man¿s Hope,¿ located in the section titled ¿Race Poems,¿ Fleming condemns the politics of the United States, which promises so much to white Americans while betraying time and again a people it never meant to recognize as citizens: ¿I hear the talk of the white man¿s hope / In the ring and at the poll, / But never a word of the black man¿s hope / Do I hear as time doth roll. // Bowed with the weight which slavery left / Upon his chattled frame, / No star of hope comes into view / The weight is still the same.¿ In two brief stanzas, Fleming effectively condemns the emptiness offered with every election cycle. Far from despairing, she makes a powerful case for resistance while telling a terrible truth: prejudice is a manmade thing, and only targeted action can undo it. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sara Lee Brown Fleming¿s Clouds and Sunshine is a classic work of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Hope¿s Highway: A Novel (1918) is a historical novel by Sarah Lee Brown Fleming. Published during the Harlem Renaissance, Fleming¿s novel is a powerful work of fiction exploring the lives of formerly enslaved Black people living in the South during Reconstruction. Recognized as a leading advocate for the advancement of Black girls and women throughout her life, Fleming is a writer whose voice never falters from the task at hand: telling the story of her people. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation is fulfilled to with varying results throughout the South. On John Vance¿s plantation, many of his former slaves have remained to work in their new capacity as wage laborers, fearful of change and confident in the relative kindness of their former master. Among them, Enoch receives financial support and an education, eventually rising to the role of first Black teacher in the Reconstruction South. When John Vance dies, his land and belongings are divided among his former slaves, including the influential Institute, now left for Enoch to run. As much as their situation promises some hope for the future, the specter of enslavement and prejudice lurks around every corner, forcing them to use caution when dealing with those who would sooner have them back in chains than treat them as fellow humans. Hope¿s Highway: A Novel is a story of tragedy and redemption set in the South during the period of Reconstruction, a time of immense change and even greater promise in a nation only just emerged from the shadows of war. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sara Lee Brown Fleming¿s Hope¿s Highway: A Novel is a classic work of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

For better or worse, the Comstock family is tied to the Limberlost Swamp. Though it provides them food and shelter, the swamp will forever be connected to the death of Katharine¿s husband, who drowned in quicksand while his wife was pregnant. Now a teenager, Elnora yearns for a normal life. A Girl of the Limberlost is a novel by Gene Stratton-Porter.

Seen and Unseen: Or, Monologues of a Homeless Snail (1897) is a collection of poems by Yone Noguchi. Written only three years after his arrival in San Francisco, these poems capture the emotions of a young man far from home. Fluent in English and adept with the open, flowing style of free verse, Noguchi remains unique in his vision of earthly life.Noguchi¿s poems are songs of light and shadow, in tune with animals, seasons, spirits, and complex emotions. His words are leaves, his thoughts are curtains knocking ¿with their shadowy hands¿ upon his door. His ¿[p]oetry begins with the tireless songs of the cricket, on the lean gray haired hill, in sober-faced evening. / And the next page is Stillness.¿ Alone in a foreign country, he finds solace in the strange music of nature, hope in the words he can make of it. He envisions himself asleep in the depths of a canyon, writing letters that will never arrive, longing for the crickets to sing. ¿The homeless snail climbing up the pillow, stares upon the silvered star-tears on my eyes! [¿] Oh, I am alone! Who knows my to-night¿s feeling!¿ He asks, the homeless snail asks, and his reader longs to answer.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Yone Noguchi¿s Seen and Unseen: Or, Monologues of a Homeless Snail is a classic of Japanese American literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Secret Rose (1897) is a collection of poems by W.B. Yeats. Written in response to demands that the poet write ¿a really national poem or romance,¿ The Secret Rose exhibits Yeats¿ devotion to personal mythology and occult orders, and is a brilliant display of symbolism by one of Irish literature¿s premier poets.¿To the Secret Rose¿ opens the collection. The poem, inspired by Yeats¿ membership in the Rosicrucian Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, uses symbolism to evoke religion, myth, and history. The ¿Far off, most secret, and inviolate Rose¿ is an image of utopian longing, an ideal moment the poet awaits, envisions, and longs for. ¿The Crucifixion of the Outcast¿ is a parable in which a wandering bard is led by Christian brothers to his execution. As his cross is set in the earth, he offers a portion of his last meal to the beggars who have gathered to watch. When he is nailed to the cross, however, he finds that mercy without humility is a seed that cannot grow. In ¿The Curse of the Fires and of the Shadows,¿ Puritan soldiers storm an abbey and attack a group of friars. Before he dies, the abbot raises the cross upon the altar, and promises divine vengeance. Immediately afterward, the soldiers are told that two messengers have escaped on horseback to warn and gather the people for a counterattack. The Secret Rose explores themes of faith and persecution while illuminating the proximity of life and myth for a poet whose subject is the soul.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of W.B. Yeats¿s The Secret Rose is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

When the famed 18th century astrologer, John Partridge, publicly discredited the Christian church, Jonathan Swift developed an immense distaste for the man. Feeling insulted and malicious, Swift decided to celebrate his favorite holiday, All Fools Day, more commonly known as April Fools, while also appeasing his self-appointed feud with Partridge. Under the disguise of a pseudonym, Swift published The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers as a series of three letters. The first letter, titled Predictions for the Year 1708 started with a criticism of the cultural impact astrology had on their society. Eventually, the narrative shifts to list predictions including political uprisings, the birth of children, weather patterns, battle outcomes, and most importantly, the death of notable figures, including John Partridge. To accompany this letter, Swift next published The Accomplishments of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff¿s Predictions, which was written from the perspective of a government employee who supported and confirmed the validity of Bickerstaff¿s predictions. This section also included an elegy for John Partridge, furthering the claim that the man was dead. These papers gained immense popularity, and convinced the public that these predictions were legitimate. This caused quite the disturbance for Partridge, who was often waken by the sound of people crying outside his home, mourning his death. After Partridge published a paper to deny the rumors that he was dead, Swift responded with the final part of The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers, pondering the philosophical definition of death to convince his audience that Partridge was dead once more. Though it began as a prank, Swift¿s The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers transformed into a life-altering work that employed careful prose and satire so supreme that it went unnoticed by many. Following its popularity in 1708 and 1709, The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers further inspired celebrated authors such as Richard Steele, Benjamin Franklin, and H.P. Lovecraft. This edition of The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers by Jonathan Swift features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a readable font, making it both accessible and modern.

Wrestling with the disease of alcoholism for most of his life, Jack London tells all in his autobiography John Barleycorn. Beginning with a discussion of the prohibition movement and its effects, London explores the ways that alcohol affects daily life in the Victorian era. Because there were not many forms of affordable entertainment or reliable communication, bars were the perfect spot for social activity. People were able to sit and drink, enjoying themselves while hearing the gossip and news from the other townspeople. However, this social practice can quickly deteriorate into a disease that infects every aspect of life, damaging those at home, threatening financial security, and even risking their safety. From personal experience, London explains what being an alcoholic is like with stories of humor and shame delivered with sharp accuracy. While doing so, John Barleycorn includes tales of London¿s interesting and numerous careers, such his time as a sailor, oyster pirate, and gold miner. Set to the vivid backdrop of the California Bay Area, he discloses his wildest stories and paints a portrait of his stomping grounds. Featuring themes of masculinity and friendship, John Barleycorn possesses a duality of lauding the social power of alcohol while warning against falling for its addictive qualities. The fine line between enjoying a drink and struggling alcoholism is characterized in clear prose and demonstrative narratives as London both brags about and laments his personal experiences with the substance. Employing thoughtful, honest, and exceptional prose, Jack London¿s John Barleycorn made a debut as one of the first intelligent and empathetic narratives about alcoholism. With both emotional and historical significance, London explores the unfortunately common disease while also explaining the cultural impact of alcohol in the 19th century, bleeding even to modern times. Both original and profound, John Barleycorn has earned a reputation for leaving audiences stunned by its emotional and frank narrative. This edition of Jack London¿s John Barleycorn features a new, eye-catching cover design and a readable, stylish font, crafting a perfect and approachable experience for the modern reader.

From the perspective of the townspeople and the queen, Clytemnestra, Agamemnon follows the emotional journey of grief, rage, and revenge. Agamemnon had dedicated much of his life to a war that his brother started. He vowed to do whatever it takes to win¿committing war crimes and killing innocents. But, even in victory, Agamemnon feels unsatisfied and plagued by the bloodshed he caused. Because of this, he decides to perform a ritual to clear his conscience and regain the gods¿ approval. After he fought for ten years in the Trojan war, Clytemnestra eagerly awaited the return of her husband, King Agamemnon. However, upon his arrival, she learns that he has sacrificed one of her loved ones to the gods, in order to win their favor. Though Agamemnon expressed slight remorse, he felt resolute in his actions, as he viewed the sacrifice as a necessity. Already devastated, Clytemnestra is driven to pure rage when she finds that Agamemnon also brought back a ¿spoil of war¿, Cassandra, a Trojan princess and prophetess, who has been punished by the god Apollo for refusing his advances. Though she is able to see the future, she is cursed to be never believed. Considered as Agamemnon¿s war prize, Cassandra is trapped in the kingdom, especially hopeless when she receives a vision of unescapable doom. Meanwhile, as Clytemnestra settles in her grief and rage, she creates a plot for vengeance, and much like her husband at war, is unconcerned about any collateral damage. As the first installment of the sole surviving Greek trilogy, Agamemnon is both a stand-alone piece and a compliment to later plays. With symbolism and precise prose, Agamemnon by Aeschylus depicts the consequences of warfare¿both abroad and domestic. Featuring strong, dynamic, and well-developed characters and an emotional, dramatic plot, Agamemnon is an enthralling perspective on the fates of famous heroes from Greek mythology. This edition of Aeschylus¿ acclaimed tragedy, Agamemnon features a new, eye-catching cover and is reprinted in a modern, readable font. With these accommodations, contemporary readers are encouraged to revisit this classic and enthralling tale of revenge.

The Spirit of Japanese Poetry (1914) is a collection of essays by Yone Noguchi. Although he is widely recognized as a leading poet in English and Japanese of the modernist period, Noguchi was also a dedicated literary critic who advocated for the cross-pollination of national poetries. His essays on the Noh drama and Hokku poems influenced Ezra Pound, William Butler Yeats, and countless other artists from the West. ¿Not only the English poetry, but any poetry of any country, is bound to become stale and stupid if it shuts itself up for too long a time; it must sooner or later be rejuvenated and enlivened with some new force.¿ For Noguchi, it is not only educational to immerse oneself in the art of other cultures, but vital for those cultures to flourish. As a Japanese poet who excelled with a modern, free verse style of English poetry, Noguchi advocated for his contemporaries to attempt a similar radical openness¿to possibility, uncertainty, and change. In these brilliant, instructive essays, he provides his understanding of the spiritual, otherworldly nature of Japanese poetry, reflects on the function of silence in the traditional Noh drama, and praises the lyric essence of Hokku poems.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Yone Noguchi¿s The Spirit of Japanese Poetry is a classic of Japanese American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773) is the first book of poetry published by an African American author. Written while Wheatley was a slave in Boston, the collection was published in England. Regarded for her mastery of classical poetic form, Phillis Wheatley earned praise from Voltaire and George Washington. Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral has long been the subject of scholarly work on the history of African American literature, with some critics arguing that Wheatley¿s poems proved detrimental to the struggle of enslaved African Americans. Whether Wheatley made excuses for slavery or, as some have argued, included subtle critiques of the institution in her writing, her talent and importance to the history of African American literature remain undisputed.Despite her status as a slave, Phillis Wheatley seems to have viewed herself as a blessed individual, a woman for whom life itself was a sign of God¿s grace, and in whom talent arose in the form of a foreign language. Many of her poems¿elegies, odes, and monologues¿are aimed at others. Whether in mourning, in praise, or in warning, Wheatley frequently offers her own voice to university students, royalty, God, the muses, and deceased infants. When she does offer glimpses of herself, for instance, in her poem ¿On Being Brought from Africa to America,¿ she provides a complex perspective on her status as a slave: ¿¿Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, / Taught my benighted soul to understand / That there¿s a God, that there¿s a Saviour too.¿ While her words may seem strange to our modern view of the American institution of slavery, they provide an important historical lens onto the adoption of Christianity by African American slaves, who developed a faith grounded in resistance, hope, and redemption.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Phillis Wheatley¿s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

In Republic, Plato argues poets should be banned from the ideal society for their interest in illusion, in things other than the truth. In Suffrage Songs and Verses, Charlotte Perkins Gilman proves that poets are a danger to government¿not because they speak of illusions, but because they threaten the illusion by which the few hold power over the many.

Princess Irene lived a cold and isolated life before stumbling across a group of goblins that are eager to make humans pay for their treachery. With the help of a young miner and a divine figure, the heroine hopes to protect her loved ones from the looming threat. Princess Irene is an eight-year-old girl who is primarily raised by her caregiver, Lootie. Her mother died and her father is constantly away while she occupies their large family home. One day, while roaming the halls, Princess Irene discovers a beautiful woman who claims to be her great-great-grandmother. Elsewhere, a young miner named Curdie discovers the local goblins are plotting their revenge against humans after years of suffering. When Curdie and Princess Irene cross paths, they must work together to keep the goblins from destroying their land.The Princess and the Goblin was originally published in 1872 following a successful serial run in Good Words for the Young magazine. One of George MacDonald's most beloved tales, the story is filled with vivid imagery and symbolism that makes a lasting impression.With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Princess and the Goblin is both modern and readable.

Vathek (1786) is a novel by William Beckford. Inspired by his travels, Beckford wrote Vathek in French before supervising its translation into English by Reverend Samuel Henley. Recognized as an instrumental work in the popularization of Orientalist fiction, Vathek is an early Gothic novel that influenced such writers as Edgar Allan Poe, Lord Byron, Robert Southey, and H. P. Lovecraft. Born into a royal family, Vathek is appointed the ninth caliph of the Abassides as a boy. Spoiled and enabled at every turn, he grows to be an insufferably vain and vindictive ruler, unschooled in diplomacy and always quick to anger. When a deformed stranger arrives at his palace claiming to be a merchant from India, Vathek purchases a set of inscribed sabers. At dinner that night, the merchant insults the caliph with his silence and is sentenced to prison. The next morning, the merchant escapes, killing every guard in his path. As Vathek examines the glowing blades, he sees that the messages inscribed on them have changed¿he has been cursed, and the only way to reverse his fate is to find the man he mistreated. Determined to remain his own master, he sets out for the mountain to clear his head, beginning a journey from which few return. Immersed in Islamic mythology, Vathek is a cautionary tale of power, faith, and desire that earned its author a reputation as a leading young artist with a gift for fantasy. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Beckford¿s Vathek is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

Such is Life (1903) is a novel by Joseph Furphy. Written under his pseudonym "Tom Collins," Such is Life is a unique and challenging story that took decades to achieve a proper audience. Earning comparisons to the works of Melville and Twain, Furphy's novel is considered a landmark of Australian literature. "The fore part of the day was altogether devoid of interest or event. Overhead, the sun blazing wastefully and thanklessly through a rarefied atmosphere; underfoot the hot, black clay, thirsting for spring rain, and bare except for inedible roley-poleys, coarse tussocks, and the woody stubble of close-eaten salt-bush; between sky and earth, a solitary wayfarer, wisely lapt in philosophic torpor." Setting out on a trek through the outback, Tom Collins begins his seemingly endless torrent of words, a journey through language to match his journey over land. Accompanied by a dog and two horses, he meets a vibrant array of characters from all nations and walks of life; from drovers to criminals, Collins can talk with them all. Described by Furphy himself as "offensively Australian," Such is Life is part travelogue, part philosophy, a novel ahead of its time that remains informative for our own. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Joseph Furphy's Such is Life is a classic work of Australian literature reimagined for modern readers.

Babes in Toyland (1903) is a libretto by Glen MacDonough. Written for an operetta composed by Victor Herbert, MacDonough¿s libretto is a story for children and adults alike. Taking inspiration from beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes, MacDonough crafted an American classic that has been adapted countless times for theater, film, and television.As though losing their parents wasn¿t traumatic enough, Alan and Jane are forced to live with their wicked Uncle Barnaby. When he becomes aware of the massive fortune they stand to inherit, he hatches a plan to get them out of the way. Sent to sea with sailors Gonzorgo and Roderigo, Alan and Jane are soon lost in a terrible shipwreck. Somehow, they survive and are taken to the garden of Contrary Mary¿who had nearly been forced to marry Barnaby. When their Uncle discovers their location, Alan and Jane are kidnapped and taken to the Forest of No Return, where a benevolent queen offers to protect them from the treacherous Spider¿s Den. Eventually, the children make their way to Toyland, where they must make a final stand against Barnaby and the Master Toymaker. Babes in Toyland is a tale of romance and adventure from Glen MacDonough, a legendary figure of early Broadway.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Glen MacDonough¿s Babes in Toyland is a classic of American children¿s fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Soon after meeting near the famed city of love, Paris, Heloiseand Abelard fall into a deep and passionate love. Abelard is a well-known man and famous teacher; his students are considered to be lucky to study with him. Heloise, however, surpasses his other students with her multi-linguicism and impressive scholarship. Whether it be fate or their mutual intelligence, Heloise and Abelard make a quick connection. Since Heloise is one of Abelard¿s pupils, the love quickly invites scandal. When Fulbert, Heloise¿s uncle and sole guardian, discovers their romance, he forbids it. The two lovers continue their affair in secret, but it becomes impossible to hide when Heloise gets pregnant. After the birth of their son, Heloise is sent away to live in a convent, and Abelard soon follows her suit, becoming a monk after a violent run-in with Fulbert and his friends. Each struggle with their own religious journey, one born from necessity and shelter, the other from devotion. Though apart, Heloise and Abelard try to stay in touch and sustain their love, despite the public scandal and unfavorable odds. Told through a series of letters, witness the intimacy of this 12th century romance. Filled with scandal, passion, and emotion, The Letters of Abelard and Heloise gives readers a personal view into the famed and real-life relationship of Abelard and Heloise. This classic romance has since inspired love stories, while Abelard and Heloise remain legends in French history, and fascinating characters of history. Heloise¿s embodiment of feminist values provide much needed representation in classic literature. With a brilliant new cover design and a readable font, The Letters of Abelard and Heloise not only tells the true and dramatic story of a forbidden romance, but also offers insight into Middle Age culture and religious life.

After optimistically traveling to Australia to participate in the gold rush, Cole decides to return home when his efforts prove to be unsuccessful. Disappointed, Cole boards the same ship he sailed to Australia on, feeling cheated that not much had changed in his life. However, as the voyage home stretches on, it seems patience is all Cole needed. When he first met Eva Denison, a young woman being escorted back to London by her step father, Cole thought little of her. Though, as the two start to talk more and grow closer, a romance blossoms between the two. Unfortunately, the pair are given little chance to explore it when they discover that the ship harbored a dangerous secret. When a tragic accident leaves Cole as seemingly the sole survivor, he returns to London, shaken and ready to put that chapter of his life behind him. But when suspicions start to form about the incident, Cole realizes that his survival was all part of a complex and dubious plot. With complex characters and descriptive prose, Dead Men Tell No Tales by E.W Hornung is a thrilling and suspenseful narrative. First published in 1898, Dead Men Tell No Tales depicts a voyage that Hornung himself was familiar with. Though the plot is dramatized, this adventurous novel provides an engaging and enlightening depiction of the early 20th century through vivid details of the setting, characters, and social customs. This edition of Dead Men Tell No Tales by E.W Hornung 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 Dead Men Tell No Tales crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original drama and suspense of E.W Hornung''s work.

At a young age, author Jerome K. Jerome found a hobby that he was extremely skilled at, and very passionate about--idleness. He was thrilled at the amount of time he could waste doing nothing, frustrating those around him. However, when Jerome falls ill and is ordered to bedrest, this hobby is tested. Then, he learns that doing nothing is only fun when you have other commitments. This relatable sentiment is explored in the title essay of Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. Taking sometimes mundane topics and twisting them into the extraordinary, Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow shares insight on a variety of topics. In On Being in Love Jerome applies his observations of couples to broader realizations of love and romance. Exploring an opposite, polarizing feeling, On Being in the Blues is a touching portrayal of living with depression, struggling through the lows and highs of mental health. While such essays invoke strong emotional reactions, others dabble in lighter topics, such as the attire of babies, the weather, and gluttonous appetites. Yet, whether the topic is profound or ordinary, Jerome finds a way to craft philosophical prose saturated in clever insight. Featuring fourteen witty and philosophical essays, Jerome''s Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow considers topics of varying importance, from the author''s opinion on cats to suffering through depressive episodes. Each accompanied by a personal, and usually hilarious narrative, these essays reach philosophic conclusions as they entertain with their captivating charm and sarcasm. Written with casual prose decorated with thorough imagery and figurative language, Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow imparts fun and frank wisdom on its readers, still delighting audiences over a century after it was first published. This edition of Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow by Jerome K. Jerome is presented in an easy-to-read font and features an eye-catching new cover design. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Jerome K Jerome''s work to modern standards while preserving the original wit and charm of Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow.

When Aubrey, a young Englishman, meets a mysterious man from London high society, Lord Ruthven, they become unlikely friends. Shortly after, Aubrey decides to accompany the noble on a trip to Rome. However, when a moral disagreement arises between the two, Aubrey decides to leave Ruthven in Rome, and goes off on his own. Arriving in Greece, Aubrey meets Ianthe, and the two share an immediate connection. After sharing stories and an evening together, Aubrey and Ianthe part ways for the night. However, after a devastating turn of events, Aubrey and Ruthven reunite, and Aubrey, ready to leave Greece behind, is happy to travel with the older man once again. But as they continue their travels, Aubrey slowly begins to notice Ruthven''s odd behavior. After even more consideration, Aubrey realizes a shocking pattern--nearly everyone that Ruthven comes in close contact to meets an untimely end. Afraid of his newly acquired knowledge, Aubrey attempts to distance himself from the suspicious man, though he is forced to reconsider his efforts when Ruthven expresses intent to marry Aubrey''s sister. First published under Lord Byron''s name, The Vampyre rose to immediate commercial success. However, though he was inspired by a discarded piece of Lord Bryon''s work, both authors have since admitted that John William Polidori was the true writer of The Vampyre. Considered to be the first work of vampire fiction, The Vampyre had an immense role in shaping vampires as literary figures, influencing the canonical rules of vampires that many still follow today. First published in 1819, Polidori''s The Vampyre remains to be a thrilling and spooky read centuries later, and has since inspired both film and theater adaptations. With mystery and eerie suspense, Polidori''s work is an extraordinary example of 19th century gothic horror. This edition of The Vampyre by John William Polidori features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, The Vampyre caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation of John William Polidori''s work.

The Story of Yone Noguchi (1914) is a memoir by Yone Noguchi. Both a leading modernist poet in English and Japanese and a dedicated literary critic who advocated for the cross-pollination of national poetries, Yone Noguchi lived an extraordinary life. In clear prose and with a confidence earned through decades of dedication to literature, he tells his own story and reflects on his unique experiences while illuminating the influential people and places that shaped him.Noguchi began studying English as a child, and soon fell in love with the language and its literature. For years, he dreams of leaving Japan to experience life in the West, and as a teenager takes the opportunity to move to California. In San Francisco and Oakland, he encounters a vibrant community of artists who welcome him into their midst. Under the tutelage of Joaquin Miller, an older poet and adventurer, he begins to believe in his own poetic voice, and soon publishes two collections of verse in English. Over the next several years, he moves to Chicago, New York, and London, each time increasing his professional connections and growing surer as a poet. Eventually, he returns to Japan, where he looks to his roots and becomes a well-regarded critic of poetry and the dramatic arts.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Yone Noguchi¿s The Story of Yone Noguchi is a classic of Japanese American literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Countess Cathleen (1892) is a verse drama by W.B. Yeats. Dedicated to Maud Gonne, an actress and revolutionary whom Yeats unsuccessfully courted for years, The Countess Cathleen underwent several editions before being performed in its final version at Dublin¿s Abbey Theatre in 1911.Based on an Irish legend, the play, set during a period of intense famine, follows a land-owning Countess who decides to sacrifice her wealth and property in order to save the starving Irish people. As dusk gathers, a family prepares for dinner in their rural home. The fire is lit, and Shemus, the father, has returned home from a day of hunting with nothing to show for it. As they scrounge what they can to make themselves a meal, the Countess Cathleen arrives to ask them for directions. Touched by their suffering, the Countess returns home and begins to wonder what she can do to alleviate their difficult circumstances. Impatient, Shemus yells to the darkening woods to welcome whatever being, angel or devil, that would bring them money or something to eat. When two merchants arrive offering him gold for his services, it appears that the Countess, despite her good intentions, may already be too late. The Countess Cathleen is a drama written in blank verse that explores themes of poverty, faith, and Irish independence.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of W.B. Yeats¿s The Countess Cathleen is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

Featuring eight works of short fiction, South Sea Tales by Jack London is an adventurous collection with a nautical theme. With settings on islands or ships, South Sea Tales tell the exciting, but often heartbreaking tales of violence, colonialism, and racism. The House of Mapuhi follows the son of a trading magnate, who travels from island to island buying valuable items for his mother's business. When he learns of a brilliant pearl owned by one of the locals on the island of Hikueru, he becomes obsessed with obtaining it. London mocks Christian martyrdom in The Whale Tooth, a story of a man falling victim to his own impulses and inflated self-importance, consequently leading to cannibalism and murder. Yah! Yah! Yah! explores colonial brutality and race relations in the South Sea with a sympathetic portrayal of the native islanders. Further examining these themes, Mauki follows the son of a chief who had been kidnapped and sold into slavery. Hailed as a fan favorite, The Seed of McCoy depicts a story about sailing the seas with a twist. Finally, with a touching lesson of tolerance, The Heathen portrays two men from different racial backgrounds, Otoo and Charley, as they stay loyal to each other while they fight to survive a brutal shipwreck. With bold and unique characters, thrilling settings, and thought-provoking themes, South Sea Tales by Jack London is sure to captivate readers. Inspired by London's own adventures in the South Sea, South Sea Tales brings an authentic and memorable setting for stories that possess in-depth and compelling prose. Jack London's well-known style of descriptive, visceral prose shines in this classic collection, creating works with intense adventure and an interesting depiction of the early 20th century. With a striking new cover design and a modern and readable font, this edition of South Sea Tales by Jack London is catered to a contemporary audience. With these accommodations, modern readers can now enjoy the strong prose of Jack London, examine the culture of 20th century colonialism, and explore the islands of the southern Pacific with ease.

When young Gaston moves to Bayeux, a small province in Normandy, he feels stranded. Though he would rather spend his time in the capital city, Gaston must stay in Bayeux until he recovers from his illness. He feels unsatisfied and bored, until he hears the rumor about a woman living as a recluse on the countryside. Victomtesse de Beauseant is a beautiful woman who had been abandoned by her husband many years ago. Devastated, and now stuck in a loveless marriage because she cannot get a divorce, she lives in isolation. Gaston is moved by her story and becomes fixated, desperate to meet her. When he finally gets the courage to visit her home, Victomtesse de Beauseant is flattered by his infatuation, and despite her being ten years his senior, Beauseant and Gaston become lovers. However, their private paradise is soon interrupted by Gaston¿s disapproving mother, who is pressuring him to marry a woman he does not love. As rumors grow and Gaston¿s mother becomes more persistent, Gaston and Victomtesse¿s love is tested and threatened like never before. The Deserted Woman exemplifies Honoré de Balzac¿s extraordinary literary ability that has influenced esteemed authors such as Henry James and Charles Dickens. With intricate prose and unparalleled compassion, Honoré de Balzac explores the too-common predicament of women trapped in unhappy relationships. The Deserted Woman tells the emotional tale of the pressure society put on women and men to enter marriages that prioritized social and financial compatibility over a real, mutual, love connection. Though it does not exist to such an extent in Western society, Balzac¿s The Deserted Woman invites readers to consider how this spirit of unhealthy marriages is still alive in modern relationships. Balzac dedicated much of his career to the pursuit of capturing all aspects of society with his realist lens, creating celebrated work that influences the perspective of society. This edition of The Deserted Woman by Honoré de Balzac features a striking new cover design and is reprinted in a modern, easy-to-read font, creating an approachable reading experience for a contemporary audience.

Bartleby is a newly-hired scrivener who initially produces great work but slowly reduces his output, declining assignments and responding with: "I would prefer not to." Despite his poor performance, his boss struggles to reprimand the eccentric character.A Manhattan lawyer decides to hire a third scrivener called Bartleby to help manage his growing workload. Yet, the quiet unassuming man soon becomes a source of contention. At first, Bartleby is an active member of the team yet one day he refuses to complete an assignment, setting an unusual precent. He continues to refuse work, which confuses the lawyer and frustrates his peers. Bartleby¿s passive attitude is indicative of a larger issue his boss has yet to uncover. Herman Melville delivers a simple story about a man who follows his own path. He chooses not to engage with work or society as a whole. It¿s an examination of passive resistance in a modern world fueled by compliance and consumerism.With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Bartelby, The Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street is both modern and readable.

Talma Gordon (1900) is a short story by Pauline E. Hopkins. Recognized as the first African American mystery story, Talma Gordon was originally published in the October 1900 edition of The Colored American Magazine, America's first monthly periodical covering African American arts and culture. Combining themes of racial identity and passing with a locked room mystery plot, Hopkins weaves a masterful tale of conspiracy, suspicion, and murder. "When the trial was called Jeannette sat beside Talma in the prisoner's dock; both were arrayed in deepest mourning, Talma was pale and careworn, but seemed uplifted, spiritualized, as it were. [...] She had changed much too: hollow cheeks, tottering steps, eyes blazing with fever, all suggestive of rapid and premature decay." When Puritan descendant Jonathan Gordon is discovered murdered under suspicious circumstances, the ensuing trial implicates his own daughter Talma. Despite being declared innocent, the townsfolk are determined to believe that Talma conspired to have her father killed after he discovered her mixed racial heritage. Freed from the prospect of imprisonment, Talma is left with only her sister's protection against the anger and violence of her neighbors. With this thrilling tale of murder and racial tension, Hopkins proves herself as a true pioneer of American literature, a woman whose talent and principles afforded her the vision necessary for illuminating the injustices of life in a nation founded on slavery and genocide. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Pauline E. Hopkins' Talma Gordon is a classic work of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Power of Darkness (1886) is a play by Leo Tolstoy. Forbidden for decades in Tolstoy¿s native Russia, the five-act play was first staged in Paris, where it earned praise from some of France¿s leading critics. Noted for its brutal depiction of violence and desperation, the play is concerned with the universal religious and philosophical themes that inspired such masterpieces as War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877). Peasant life is often portrayed in art as peaceful and romantic, in touch with the rhythms of the natural world and coursing with spirituality. In The Power of Darkness, Tolstoy refuses such empty symbolism, choosing instead to tell a story of greed, murder, and betrayal that has everything to do with the political reality faced by its impoverished characters. Fearful of what will happen to their farm when her aging husband Peter dies, Anisya seduces her farmhand Nikita, whose lack of education and opportunity¿as well as a moral emptiness¿make him a willing accomplice. Betraying Marinka, a young orphan girl he manipulates for pleasure, Nikita joins Anisya in dispossessing her stubborn husband. Tragic and disturbing, The Power of Darkness is a story of man at war with nature, and therefore at war with himself. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Leo Tolstoy¿s The Power of Darkness is a classic work of Russian literature reimagined for modern readers.