Sylvia'sLoversisan1863novelwrittenbyElizabethGaskell.Theheroine,SylviaRobsonliveshappilywithherparentsonafarm,andispassionatelylovedbyherratherdullQuakercousinPhilip.She,however,fallsinlovewithCharlieKinraid,adashingsailoronawhalingvessel,andtheybecomesecretlyengaged.ButKinraidisforciblyenlistedintheRoyalNavybyapressgang.Philipknowseverything.Outofkindness,hedoesnottellSylviaoftheincidentnordeliverherCharlie'spartingmessage.Believingherloverisdead,SylviaeventuallymarriesPhilip.Later,Kinraidreappears,WhenSylviaisinformedbyKinraidthatPhilipkneweverything,sheisfurious.Philipleavesherindespairandjoinsthearmyunderapseudonym,andendsupfightingintheNapoleonicwars,wherehesavesKinraid'slife.Atlast,whenSylviarealizessheisactuallyinlovewithPhilip,hehorriblydisfiguredbyashipboardexplosion,thenfatallyinjuredwhilesavingtheirdaughter.

TheLife,AdventuresandPiraciesoftheFamousCaptainSingletonisanovelbyDanielDefoe,whoisanEnglishtrader,writer,journalist,pamphleteerandspy,primarilypublishedin1720.Ithasbeenrepublishedmultipletimes.CaptainSingletonisconsideredtohavebeenpartlyinspiredbytheexploitsoftheEnglishpirateHenryEvery,whooperatedinthelate17thcentury.ThenarrativedescribesthelifeoftheEnglishman,Singleton,stolenfromawell-to-dofamilyasachildandraisedbyGypsies,eventuallymakinghiswaytosea.TheformerhalfofthebookconcernsSingleton'scrossingofAfrica,thelatterhalfreferringtohislifeasapirateintheIndianOceanandArabianSea.Defoe'sdescriptionofpiracyfocusesonthemostpartonmattersofeconomicsandlogistics,makingitanintriguingifnotparticularlygrippingread.

It'sthefirstpublishedbookofCharlesDickens,"SketchesbyBoz"(1836)heraldedanexcitingnewvoiceinEnglishliterature.Thisrichlyvariedcollectionofobservation,fancyandfictionshowstheLondonheknewsointimatelyatitsbestandworst-itsstreets,theatres,inns,pawnshops,lawcourts,prisons,omnibusesandtheriverThames-inhonestandvisionarydescriptionsofeverydaylifeandpeople.Throughpenportraitsthatoftenanticipatecharactersfromhisgreatnovels,weseethecondemnedmaninhisprisoncell,garrulousmatrons,vulgaryoungclerksandScrooge-likebachelors,whileDickens'spowersforsocialcritiqueareneverfarfromthesurface,inunflinchingdepictionsofthevastmetropolis'sforgottencitizens,fromchildworkerstoprostitutes.Astartlingmixtureofhumourandpathos,theseSketchesrevealLondonaswonderfulterrainforanextraordinaryyoungwriter."Sketches"isaremarkableachievement,andlookstowardsDickens'sgiantnovelsinitsprofusionofcharacters,itsglimpsesofsurrealmodernityanditslimitlessfundofpathosandcomicinvention.

MaryBartonisthefirstnovelbyEnglishauthorElizabethGaskell,publishedin1848.ThestoryissetintheEnglishcityofManchesterbetween1839and1842,anddealswiththedifficultiesfacedbytheVictorianlowerclass.Itissubtitled'ATaleofManchesterLife'.ThenovelbeginsinManchester,whereweareintroducedtotheBartonsandtheWilsons,twoworking-classfamilies.JohnBartonisaquestionerofthedistributionofwealthandtherelationsbetweenrichandpoor.Soonhiswifedies—heblamesitonhergriefoverthedisappearanceofhersisterEsther.HavingalreadylosthissonTomatayoungage,Bartonislefttoraisehisdaughter,Mary,aloneandnowfallsintodepressionandbeginstoinvolvehimselfintheChartist,trade-unionmovement.Gaskell'sdesiretoaccuratelyrepresentthepovertyofindustrialManchesterisevidentinarecordofavisitshemadetothehomeofalocallabourer.ItisasubjectofsomedebatewhetherthefirstpersonnarratorinMaryBartonissynonymouswithGaskell.

Theghoststory"TheSignal-Man"iswrittenin1866,whichconcernsaspectreseenbesideatunnelentrance.Thesignal-manofthetitletellsthenarratorofaghostthathasbeenhauntinghim.Eachspectralappearanceprecedes,andisaharbingerof,atragiceventontherailwayonwhichthesignalmanworks.Thesignalman'sworkisatasignalboxinadeepcuttingnearatunnelentranceonalonelystretchoftheline,andhecontrolsthemovementsofpassingtrains.Whenthereisdanger,hisfellowsignalmenalerthimviatelegraphandalarms.Threetimes,hereceivesphantomwarningsofdangerwhenhisbellringsinafashionthatonlyhecanhear.Eachwarningisfollowedbytheappearanceofthespectre,andthenbyaterribleaccident.Thefirstaccidentinvolvesaterriblecollisionbetweentwotrainsinthetunnel.DickensmayhavebasedthisincidentontheClaytonTunnelrailcrashthatoccurredin1861.

Arich,comicandilluminatingportraitoflifeinasmalltown,Cranfordhasmovedandentertainedreadersforgenerations.ThewomenofthesmallcountrytownofCranfordliveingenteelpoverty,resolutelyrefusingtoembracechange,whilethedarkcloudsofurbanisationandtheadvanceoftherailwayhoverthreateninglyonthehorizon.Intheirsimple,well-orderedlivestheyfaceemotionaldilemmasandupheavals,smallinthescaleoftheever-shiftingworld,butaffectionatelyportrayedbyElizabethGaskellwithalltheweightandconsequenceofagranddrama.

ThisisthefirstvolumeofLawrence'scollectedshortstories.Thethirteenshortstoriesinthisvolumewerewrittenbetween1924and1928,whichweresetinbothEnglandandAmerica.thefollowingshortstoriesareincluded:TheWomanWhoRodeAway;TwoBlueBirds;Sun;Smile;TheBorder-Line;JimmyandtheDesperateWoman;TheLastLaugh;InLove;TheManWhoLovedIslands;GladGhosts;NoneofThat!;TheRocking-HorseWinner;TheLovelyLady.ElevenwerecollectedinTheWomanWhoRodeAway(1928),though'TheManWhoLovedIslands'appearedintheAmericaneditiononlyandtheothertwoinTheLovelyLady(1933).ThestoriesreflectLawrence'sexperiencesinthepost-warperiod.ManywereconsiderablyrevisedandsomewerecompletelyrewrittenbyLawrence,subsequentlywerepublishedindifferentversions.

TheGamblerisashortnovelbyFyodorDostoevskyaboutayoungtutor,AlexeiIvanovich.Thefirst-personnarrativeistoldfromthepointofviewofhim.Thepatriarchofthefamily,TheGeneral,isindebtedtotheFrenchmandeGriersandhasmortgagedhispropertyinRussiatopayonlyasmallamountofhisdebt.Uponlearningoftheillnessofhiswealthyaunt,"Grandmother",hesendsstreamsoftelegramstoMoscowandawaitsthenewsofherdemise.HisexpectedinheritancewillpayhisdebtsandgainMademoiselleBlanchedeCominges'shandinmarriage.Itisastunningpsychologicalportraitofayoungman'sexhilaratinganddestructiveaddiction,acompulsionthatDostoevskyknewintimatelyfromhisownexperience.Inthedisastrousloveaffairsandgamblingadventuresofhischaracter,AlexeiIvanovich,DostoevskyexplorestheirresistibletemptationtolookintotheabyssofultimateriskthathebelievedwasanessentialpartoftheRussiannationalcharacter.TheGamblerwaswrittenunderthepressureofcrushingdebt.Dostoevskycompletedthenovelunderastrictdeadlinetopayoffgamblingdebts.

TheLife,AdventuresandPiraciesoftheFamousCaptainSingletonisanovelbyDanielDefoe,whoisanEnglishtrader,writer,journalist,pamphleteerandspy,originallypublishedin1720.Ithasbeenrepublishedmultipletimes.CaptainSingletonisbelievedtohavebeenpartlyinspiredbytheexploitsoftheEnglishpirateHenryEvery,whooperatedinthelate17thcentury.ThenarrativedescribesthelifeoftheEnglishman,Singleton,stolenfromawell-to-dofamilyasachildandraisedbyGypsies,eventuallymakinghiswaytosea.TheformerhalfofthebookconcernsSingleton'scrossingofAfrica,thelatterhalfconcerninghislifeasapirateintheIndianOceanandArabianSea.

ThewomenofthesmallcountrytownofCranfordliveingenteelpoverty,resolutelyrefusingtoembracechange,whilethedarkcloudsofurbanisationandtheadvanceoftherailwayhoverthreateninglyonthehorizon.Intheirsimple,well-orderedlivestheyfaceemotionaldilemmasandupheavals,smallinthescaleoftheever-shiftingworld,butaffectionatelyportrayedbyElizabethGaskellwithalltheweightandconsequenceofagranddrama.Arich,comicandilluminatingportraitoflifeinasmalltown,Cranfordhasmovedandentertainedreadersforgenerations.

Ideashipflipstraditionalleadershiponitsheadandshowshowsimpleactsofcompassion,trust,andgenerosityofspirit,aswellassomeseeminglyzanyactions,canunleashunexpected,vitalburstsofcreativity.

JohnPeerybingle,acarrier,liveswithhisyoungwifeDot,theirbabyboyandtheirnannyTillySlowboy.Acricketchirpsonthehearthandactsasaguardianangeltothefamily.ThetitlecreatureisasortofbarometeroflifeatthehomeofJohnPeerybingleandhismuchyoungerwifeDot.Whenthingsgowell,thecricketonthehearthchirps;itissilentwhenthereissorrow.OnedayamysteriouselderlystrangercomestovisitandtakesuplodgingatPeerybingle'shouseforafewdays.Thejealousoldman,Tackleton,poisonsJohn'smindaboutDot,butthecricketthroughitssupernaturalpowersrestoresJohn'sconfidenceandallendshappily.Dickensdescribedthenovelas"quietanddomesticinnocentandpretty.".ItisthethirdofDickens'sfiveChristmasbooks,precededbyAChristmasCarol(1843)andTheChimes(1844),andfollowedbyTheBattleofLife(1846)andTheHauntedManandtheGhost'sBargain(1848).

TheMetamorphosisfirstpublishedin1915,ithasbeencitedasoneoftheseminalworksoffictionofthe20thcenturyandisstudiedincollegesanduniversitiesacrosstheWesternworld.Thestorybeginswithatravelingsalesman,GregorSamsa,wakingtofindhimselftransformedintoalarge,monstrousinsect-likecreature.ThecauseofSamsa'stransformationisneverrevealed,andKafkahimselfnevergaveanexplanation.TherestofKafka'snovelladealswithGregor'sattemptstoadjusttohisnewconditionashedealswithbeingburdensometohisparentsandsister,whoarerepulsedbythehorrible,verminouscreatureGregorhasbecome.

ThecollectionofshortstoriesbyD.H.Lawrence(11September1885–2March1930),anEnglishwriterandpoet,wereoriginallywrittenbetween1913and1921,manyofthemagainstthebackgroundofWorldWarI.atfirstmostoftheseversionswereplacedinmagazinesorperiodicals.TenwerelaterselectedandextensivelyrevisedbyLawrence,Thefirstversionwaspublishedon24October1922byThomasSeltzerintheUS.ThefirstUKeditionwaspublishedbyMartinSeckerin1924.Manyvolumesofshortstoriesfrequentlysharethetitleofoneofthetalesinthecollection.Oftenthefirststoryisdignifiedinthisway,andoftenthat'sbecauseitannouncesathemeortopicthatrunsthroughoutthevolume.Inthe"EnglandandOtherStories,"thetitlestory"England,MyEngland"ranksfirst.Thestoriesincludedinthecollectionare:England,MyEngland;Tickets,Please;TheBlindMan;MonkeyNuts;WintryPeacock;YouTouchedMe;SamsonandDelilah;ThePrimrosePath;TheHorseDealer'sDaughter;FannyAndAnnie.

TheLife,AdventuresandPiraciesoftheFamousCaptainSingletonisanovelbyDanielDefoe,whoisanEnglishtrader,writer,journalist,pamphleteerandspy,primarilypublishedin1720.Ithasbeenrepublishedmultipletimes.CaptainSingletonisconsideredtohavebeenpartlyinspiredbytheexploitsoftheEnglishpirateHenryEvery,whooperatedinthelate17thcentury.ThenarrativedescribesthelifeoftheEnglishman,Singleton,stolenfromawell-to-dofamilyasachildandraisedbyGypsies,eventuallymakinghiswaytosea.TheformerhalfofthebookconcernsSingleton'scrossingofAfrica,thelatterhalfreferringtohislifeasapirateintheIndianOceanandArabianSea.

TheLife,AdventuresandPiraciesoftheFamousCaptainSingletonisanovelbyDanielDefoe,whoisanEnglishtrader,writer,journalist,pamphleteerandspy,primarilypublishedin1720.Ithasbeenrepublishedmultipletimes.CaptainSingletonisconsideredtohavebeenpartlyinspiredbytheexploitsoftheEnglishpirateHenryEvery,whooperatedinthelate17thcentury.ThenarrativedescribesthelifeoftheEnglishman,Singleton,stolenfromawell-to-dofamilyasachildandraisedbyGypsies,eventuallymakinghiswaytosea.TheformerhalfofthebookconcernsSingleton'scrossingofAfrica,thelatterhalfreferringtohislifeasapirateintheIndianOceanandArabianSea.Defoe'sdescriptionofpiracyfocusesonthemostpartonmattersofeconomicsandlogistics,makingitanintriguingifnotparticularlygrippingread.

MyLadyLudlowbyElizabethGaskellisalongnovella.ItfirstappearedinthemagazineHouseholdWordsin1858,andwasrepublishedinRoundtheSofain1859,withframingpassagesaddedatthestartandend.LadyLudlowisabsolutemistressofHanburyCourtandaresoluteopponentofanythingthatmightdisturbtheclasssystemintowhichshewasborn.Shewillkeepnoservantwhocanreadandwriteandinsiststhatthelowerordershavenorights,butonlyduties.ButthewindsofchangeareblowingthroughthevillageofHanbury.Thevicar,Mr.Gray,wishestostartaSundayschoolforreligiousreasons;Mr.Hornerwantstoeducatethecitizensforeconomicreasons.ButLadyLudlowisnotasrigidasonemaythink.Thisbelovednovellaoffersafascinatingglimpseintothelivesofwomeninthenineteenthcentury,particularlythosewhowerewidowedorunmarried.Thelackoflegalrightsaffordedtothesewomenmaycomeasashocktocontemporaryreaders,butGaskelladdressestheuniquechallengestheyfaced--andoftentriumphedover--withgraceandkeeninsight.

BasedonthelifeofPaulGauguin,TheMoonandSixpenceisW.SomersetMaugham'sodetothepowerfulforcesbehindcreativegenius.CharlesStricklandisastaidbanker,amanofwealthandprivilege.Heisalsoamanpossessedofanunquenchabledesiretocreateart.AsStricklandpursueshisartisticvision,heleavesLondonforParisandTahiti,andinhisquestmakessacrificesthatleavesthelivesofthoseclosesttohimintatters.ThroughMaugham'ssympatheticeyeStrickland'storturedandcruelsoulbecomesasymboloftheblessingandthecurseoftranscendentartisticgenius,andthecostinhumanslivesitsometimesdemands.

ThisistheCompleteShortStoriesofErnestHemingway.ItismadeupoftheclassicFirstForty-NineStoriesplusanumberofotherworksandaforewordbyhissons.InthisdefinitivecollectionofErnestHemingway'sshortstories,readerswilldelightintheauthor'smostpopularclassicssuchas"TheSnowsofKilimanjaro,""HillsLikeWhiteElephants,"and"AClean,Well-LightedPlace,"andsevennewtalespublishedforthefirsttimewillappearinthiscollection.ThesevenstoriesincludedinTheCompleteShortStoriesofErnestHemingway:TheFincaVigíaEditionare"ATrainTrip","ThePorter","BlackAssattheCrossRoads","LandscapewithFigures","IGuessEverythingRemindsYouofSomething","GreatNewsfromtheMainland",and"TheStrangeCountry".ForHemingwayfansTheCompleteShortStoriesisaninvaluabletreasury.

ThisbookisaChristmasnovellabyCharlesDickens.ItisperhapsbestdescribedasDickens's"other"Christmasstory,thisisanelderlynarrator'sreminiscenceofholidayspast,eachincidentinspiredbythegiftsandtoysthatdecoratethetraditionaltree.Thereisarangeofappealinthestoryitself,fromsnugmemoriesofbelovedtoystothepassingalongofeeriestoriessurroundingvariouschildhoodhaunts."Ibegintoconsider,whatdoweallrememberbestuponthebranchesoftheChristmasTreeofourownyoungChristmasdays,bywhichweclimbedtoreallife."thewholeenlivenedbysmallbells,wasamightymarvelandagreatdelight."oftheladenhopelessnessofmorningeverdawning;andtheoppressionofaweightofremorse.""This,incommemorationofthelawofloveandkindness,mercyandcompassion.This,inremembranceofMe!"Thestoryisfullofrichandbrilliantimagination,