Light in August, a novel set in the American South during Prohibition, contrasts stark tragedy with hopeful perseverance in the face of mortality. This work features some of Faulkner’s most memorable characters:

• Guileless, dauntless Lena Grove, in search of the father of her unborn child;
• Reverend Gail Hightower, plagued by visions of Confederate horsemen;
• And Joe Christmas, a desperate, enigmatic drifter consumed by his mixed ancestry.

“Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out the window.” —William Faulkner

The Complete Works by William Shakespeare is an extensive collection that brings together the celebrated works of one of the most influential writers in the English language. This comprehensive edition includes Shakespeare's timeless plays, sonnets, and poems, offering readers a unique opportunity to explore the breadth and depth of his literary genius.

From the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet to the comedic twists of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and from the political machinations of Julius Caesar to the haunting contemplations of Hamlet, this volume presents an array of Shakespeare's most renowned works. Also featured are his lesser-known poems, such as Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece, as well as his profound sonnets that delve into themes of love, beauty, and mortality.

Whether you are a dedicated scholar or a casual reader, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is an essential addition to any library, providing endless hours of engagement with the words of the Bard himself.

Dr. Harivanshrai Bachchan is India's leading Hindi poet, a confidante of the Nehrus. His son is India's best-known cinema superstar, Amitabh Bachchan.

The core of this book is a long sequence called Madhushala (the house of wine), which could be compared to the Rubaiyat in imagery and metre.

The Optimist's Daughter is a profound exploration of familial bonds and self-discovery. The novel follows Laurel McKelva Hand, a young woman who returns to the South from Chicago when her father is on his deathbed in New Orleans.

After his passing, Laurel embarks on a journey back to her roots in a small Mississippi town. Accompanied by her father's naive and much younger wife, Fay, Laurel confronts the memories of her past.

In the solitude of her childhood home, she gains a deeper understanding of her parents and herself, making peace with her past to embrace her future.

Louis, the yard teacher, starts off 30 tales of unusual students. Comic sketches precede every chapter.

Todd brings a cute adorable plastic puppy who bites back when Joy steals it. Cafeteria Mrs. Mush serves Mushroom Surprise that changes Ron. When Paul falls out the window, Leslie offers her pigtails to pull him back. On the 19th floor, invisible Allison finds Miss Zarves' class.

Krishna, an English teacher in the town of Malgudi, is constantly nagged by the feeling that he's doing the wrong work. Despite this, he is delighted by his domestic life, where his wife and young daughter wait for him outside the house every afternoon.

Devastated by the death of his wife, Krishna comes to realize what he truly wants to do. He makes a decision that will change his life forever.

A wine connoisseur with an infallible palate and a sinister taste in wagers. A decrepit old man with a masterpiece tattooed on his back. A voracious adventuress, a gentle cuckold, and a garden sculpture that becomes an instrument of sadistic vengeance. Social climbers who climb a bit too quickly. Philanderers whose deceptions are a trifle too ornate. Impeccable servants whose bland masks slip for one vertiginous instant.

In these deliciously nasty stories, an internationally acclaimed practitioner of the short narrative works his own brand of black magic: tantalizing, amusing, and sometimes terrifying readers into a new sense of what lurks beneath the ordinary.

Included in Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected are such notorious gems of the bizarre as "The Sound Machine," "Lamb to Slaughter," "Neck," and "The Landlady."

The Best of Roald Dahl is a collection of 25 of Roald Dahl's short stories. This collection brings together Dahl’s finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque which is unparalleled.

Contents:

- Madame Rosette
- Man from the South
- The Sound Machine
- Taste
- Dip in the Pool
- Skin
- Edward the Conqueror
- Lamb to the Slaughter
- Galloping Foxley
- The Way Up to Heaven
- Parson's Pleasure
- The Landlady
- William and Mary
- Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat
- Royal Jelly
- Georgy Porgy
- Genesis and Catastrophe
- Pig
- The Visitor
- Claud's Dog (The Ratcatcher, Rummins, Mr. Hoddy, Mr. Feasey, Champion of the World)
- The Great Switcheroo
- The Boy Who Talked with Animals
- The Hitchhiker
- The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
- The Bookseller

The Call of the Wild is a short adventure novel by Jack London, published in 1903 and set in Yukon, Canada, during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, when strong sled dogs were in high demand. The central character of the novel is a dog named Buck.

The story opens at a ranch in Santa Clara Valley, California, when Buck is stolen from his home and sold into service as a sled dog in Alaska. He becomes progressively more primitive and wild in the harsh environment, where he is forced to fight to survive and dominate other dogs. By the end, he sheds the veneer of civilization, and relies on primordial instinct and learned experience to emerge as a leader in the wild.

The Aeneid – thrilling, terrifying and poignant in equal measure – has inspired centuries of artists, writers and musicians. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is translated by J. W. Mackail and has an afterword by Coco Stevenson.

Virgil’s epic tale tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, who flees his city after its fall, with his father Anchises and his young son Ascanius – for Aeneas is destined to found Rome and father the Roman race. As Aeneas journeys closer to his goal, he must first prove his worth and attain the maturity necessary for such an illustrious task. He battles raging storms in the Mediterranean, encounters the fearsome Cyclopes, falls in love with Dido, Queen of Carthage, travels into the Underworld and wages war in Italy.

Published two weeks after his seventieth birthday, Ada, or Ardor is one of Nabokov's greatest masterpieces, the glorious culmination of his career as a novelist. It tells a love story troubled by incest. It is also at once a fairy tale, epic, philosophical treatise on the nature of time, parody of the history of the novel, and erotic catalogue. Ada, or Ardor is no less than the supreme work of an imagination at white heat.

This is the first American edition to include the extensive and ingeniously sardonic appendix by the author, written under the anagrammatic pseudonym Vivian Darkbloom.

In 1888, the last sane year of his life, Nietzsche produced these two brief but devastating books. Twilight of the Idols, "a grand declaration of war" on all the prevalent ideas of his time, offers a lightning tour of his whole philosophy. It also prepares the way for The Anti-Christ, a final assault on institutional Christianity.

Yet although Nietzsche makes a compelling case for the 'Dionysian' artist and celebrates magnificently two of his great heroes, Goethe and Cesare Borgia, he also gives a moving, almost ecstatic portrait of his only worthy opponent: Christ.

Both works show Nietzsche lashing out at self-deception, astounded at how often morality is based on vengefulness and resentment. Both combine utterly unfair attacks on individuals with amazingly acute surveys of the whole contemporary cultural scene. Both reveal a profound understanding of human mean-spiritedness which still cannot destroy the underlying optimism of Nietzsche, the supreme affirmer among the great philosophers.

Prometheus Bound is a timeless piece of ancient Greek tragedy attributed to Aeschylus. In this powerful narrative, the Titan Prometheus is punished by Zeus for his audacious act of giving fire to mankind. This play delves into the intense drama and themes of rebellion, power, and human progress.

The translation by James Scully and C. John Herington brings to life the true essence of the original, accentuating its relevance to modern times. Aeschylus originally crafted Prometheus Bound as part of a tragic trilogy, and this version is unique as it includes the extant fragments of the companion plays.

For those interested in mythology, Greek tragedy, or the exploration of timeless themes, Prometheus Bound offers a captivating journey into the heart of defiance and endurance. Discover the power of the human spirit through this masterpiece of ancient drama.

Anne's children are almost grown up, except for pretty, high-spirited Rilla. No one can resist her bright hazel eyes and dazzling smile. Rilla, almost fifteen, can't think any further ahead than going to her very first dance at the Four Winds lighthouse and getting her first kiss from handsome Kenneth Ford. But undreamed-of challenges await the irrepressible Rilla when the world of Ingleside is endangered by a far-off war. Her brothers go off to fight, and Rilla brings home an orphaned newborn in a soup tureen. She is swept into a drama that tests her courage and changes her forever.

Man discovers a species of giant, intelligent newts and learns to exploit them so successfully that the newts gain skills and arms enough to challenge man's place at the top of the animal kingdom. Along the way, Karel Capek satirizes science, runaway capitalism, fascism, journalism, militarism, even Hollywood.

Remember, remember the fifth of November...

A frightening and powerful tale of the loss of freedom and identity in a chillingly believable totalitarian world, V for Vendetta stands as one of the highest achievements of the comics medium and a defining work for creators Alan Moore and David Lloyd.

Set in an imagined future England that has given itself over to fascism, this groundbreaking story captures both the suffocating nature of life in an authoritarian police state and the redemptive power of the human spirit which rebels against it. Crafted with sterling clarity and intelligence, V for Vendetta brings an unequaled depth of characterization and verisimilitude to its unflinching account of oppression and resistance.

Eine Stadt am Adriatischen Meer ist Schauplatz dieses Romans. Branco, der Sohn eines fahrenden Geigers und einer Tabakarbeiterin, verliert seine Mutter. Er hat kein Zuhause mehr. Bald verdächtigt man ihn des Diebstahls und sperrt ihn ein. Doch Zora, das Mädchen mit den roten Haaren, befreit ihn, und er wird in die Bande der jungen Uskoken aufgenommen, die in der alten Burg hausen.

Nicht Romantik, sondern Hunger und Not haben sie zusammengetrieben. Sie kämpfen ums tägliche Brot, gegen Entbehrungen und Verfolgung. So ernst die Lage der Kinder oft ist, so herrlich sind die Einfälle, mit denen sie ihren Widersachern begegnen, und um so selbstloser wird ihre Kameradschaft.

Mögen die Erwachsenen sich auch von ihnen abwenden: sie finden aneinander Halt, und ein eigenes Ehrgefühl bewahrt sie vor Schlechtem. Ihre wilden Streiche bringen jedoch die Bürgerschaft gegen sie auf, und es droht das Gefängnis. Da weiß aber ihr Beschützer, ein alter Fischer, die Stadtväter zu überzeugen, dass es zum Besten aller ist, sich der Kinder anzunehmen. So finden die Rote Zora und ihre Bande endlich Arbeit und ein Zuhause.

Ulysses is a modernist novel by Irish writer James Joyce. It was first serialized in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920 and then published in its entirety in Paris by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, Joyce's 40th birthday. It is considered one of the most important works of modernist literature and has been called "a demonstration and summation of the entire movement."

According to Declan Kiberd, "Before Joyce, no writer of fiction had so foregrounded the process of thinking." Ulysses chronicles the peripatetic appointments and encounters of Leopold Bloom in Dublin in the course of an ordinary day, 16 June 1904. Ulysses is the Latinised name of Odysseus, the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, and the novel establishes a series of parallels between the poem and the novel, with structural correspondences between the characters and experiences of Bloom and Odysseus, Molly Bloom and Penelope, and Stephen Dedalus and Telemachus, in addition to events and themes of the early 20th-century context of modernism, Dublin, and Ireland's relationship to Britain.

The novel is highly allusive and also imitates the styles of different periods of English literature. Since its publication, the book has attracted controversy and scrutiny, ranging from an obscenity trial in the United States in 1921 to protracted textual "Joyce Wars." The novel's stream-of-consciousness technique, careful structuring, and experimental prose—replete with puns, parodies, and allusions—as well as its rich characterisation and broad humour have led it to be regarded as one of the greatest literary works in history. Joyce fans worldwide now celebrate 16 June as Bloomsday.

On the Genealogy of Morals, written in 1887, showcases Friedrich Nietzsche's use of philosophy, psychology, and classical philology to offer new directions to ancient ethical inquiries. This work is divided into three essays, each exploring different aspects of morality and its origins. The first essay delves into the contrast between master morality and slave morality, highlighting the diverse meanings of "good" in each context. The second essay investigates the concepts of guilt and the bad conscience, while the third essay examines ascetic ideals not only in religion but also in the academic realm.

Ecce Homo, Nietzsche's autobiographical review of his life and works, was written in 1898 and first published posthumously in 1908. It provides chapters on all the books he published, offering his interpretations which are both fascinating and invaluable. This edition, translated and annotated by renowned Nietzsche scholar Walter Kaufmann, presents Nietzsche's most clear and thorough expression of his psychological philosophy.

Adrian Mole has grown up. At least that’s what it says on his passport. But living at home, clinging to his threadbare cuddly rabbit ‘Pinky’, working as a paper pusher for the DoE, and pining for the love of his life, Pandora, has proved to him that adulthood isn’t quite what he hoped it would be. Still, intellectual poets can’t always have things their own way…

Included here are two other less well-known diarists: Sue Townsend and Margaret Hilda Roberts, a rather ambitious grocer’s daughter from Grantham.

The 26 characters in this rhythmic, rhyming baby book are a lowercase alphabet with attitude. "A told b, and b told c, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree'" — which probably seemed like a good idea until the other 23 members of the gang decided to follow suit. The palm tree, standing straight and tall on the first page, begins to groan and bend under its alphabetical burden. First, the coconuts fall off, then ("Chicka chicka... BOOM! BOOM!") all the letters also end up in a big heap underneath.

Invitation to a Beheading embodies a vision of a bizarre and irrational world, akin to Kafka's The Castle. In an unnamed dream country, the young man Cincinnatus C. is condemned to death by beheading for "gnostical turpitude", an imaginary crime that defies definition. Cincinnatus spends his last days in an absurd jail, visited by chimerical jailers, an executioner who masquerades as a fellow prisoner, and his in-laws, who lug their furniture with them into his cell.

As Cincinnatus is led out to be executed, he simply wills his executioners out of existence. They disappear, along with the whole world they inhabit, leaving a narrative that is both unsettling and utterly captivating.

Orphaned siblings Henry, Jessie, Benny, and Violet are determined not to be separated after the deaths of their parents. Fearing being sent away to live with their cruel, frightening grandfather, they run away and discover an abandoned boxcar in the woods. They convert the boxcar into a safe, comfortable home and learn to take care of themselves. But when Violet becomes deathly ill, the children are forced to seek out help at the risk of their newfound freedom.

This original 1924 edition contains a few small difference from the revised 1942 edition most readers are familiar with, but the basic story beloved by children remains essentially untouched.

The Adventures of Feluda brings together four novellas of crime and suspense featuring the brilliant Bengali private investigator, Feluda.

Contents:

• The Golden Fortress
• The Buccaneer of Bombay (The Bandits of Bombay)
• Mystery at Golok Lodge (A Mysterious Tenant)
• Trouble in the Graveyard (The Secret of the Cemetery)

In his foreword, Satyajit Ray, the noted film-maker, confesses to being an avid reader of crime fiction. This deep interest led Ray to try his own hand at the genre. The first Feluda story's response startled him: "I scarcely imagined he would prove so popular that I would be forced to write a Feluda novel every year." The novellas in this collection are the author's own favourites from among the numerous Feluda stories he has written.

Join Feluda, urbane and intellectually-inclined, as he sets out to solve a series of particularly baffling crimes ranging from a kidnapping in Rajasthan to a locked-room murder in an old Calcutta house.

Tao Te Ching, traditionally attributed to the legendary Old Master, Lao Tzu, is a cornerstone of spiritual literature and philosophy. More than a mere religious text, this work is a guide to living in harmony with the natural flow of existence, known as the Way or Tao.

John C. H. Wu's translation captures the enigmatic beauty of the original text, presenting it in English while preserving its timeless wisdom. Wu, a jurist and scholar, brings to life the essence of Lao Tzu's teachings, which are as relevant today as they were over two thousand years ago.

The Tao Te Ching emphasizes the virtues of humility, spontaneity, and generosity, encouraging readers to embody the qualities of the enlightened sage in all aspects of life. Whether it is in leadership, business, politics, or personal growth, the insights found within these pages are invaluable for anyone seeking balance and harmony.

Part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series, this edition is designed to be a portable and accessible entry point for those new to Lao Tzu's work, as well as a treasured companion for those who already embrace the wisdom of the Tao.

And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street is Dr. Seuss’s very first book for children! It tells the delightful tale of young Marco, who, on his way home from school, allows his imagination to run wild. What starts as a plain horse and wagon on Mulberry Street quickly transforms into a chaotic carnival of colorful creatures and characters in his mind.

With Dr. Seuss’s signature rhythmic text and unmistakable illustrations, this book appeals to fans of all ages. Readers will cheer when our hero proves that a little imagination can go a very long way. This story, now over seventy-five years old, remains as timeless as ever, showcasing a singular kind of optimism that is also evident in McElligot’s Pool.

Allan Gurganus's Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All became an instant classic upon its publication. Critics and readers alike fell in love with the voice of ninety-nine-year-old Confederate widow Lucy Marsden, one of the most entertaining and loquacious heroines in American literature.

Lucy married at the turn of the twentieth century, when she was fifteen and her husband was fifty. If Colonel William Marsden was a veteran of the "War for Southern Independence," Lucy became a "veteran of the veteran" with a unique perspective on Southern history and Southern manhood.

Lucy’s story encompasses everything from the tragic death of a Confederate boy soldier to the feisty narrator's daily battles in the Home--complete with visits from a mohawk-coiffed candy striper.

Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All is a marvel of narrative showmanship and proof that brilliant, emotional storytelling remains at the heart of great fiction.

Nick and Nora Charles are among Dashiell Hammett’s most alluring creations: a rich, glamorous couple who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis.

Nick Charles seems to find trouble wherever he goes. He thinks his sleuthing days are behind him when Julia Wolf, a former acquaintance, turns up dead. Nick—thanks to some persuasion from his enchanting wife, Nora—finds himself falling back into old habits and making a few polite inquiries. The prime suspect, Julia’s lover and boss Clyde Miller Wynant, has vanished without a trace. Everyone is after him, but Nick is not so sure Wynant is the culprit.

And when another dubious figure bursts into their bedroom, waving a loaded handgun, it seems Nick and Nora’s adventure is only just beginning.

The Thin Man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners.

To the fear-filled eyes of criminals everywhere, he is a man without a past—a Darknight Defender of the helpless and oppressed, a towering symbol of swift and vengeful justice, a wraith-like guardian of Gotham City's asphalt corridors. But to comic book fans throughout the world, he is...Batman, and he is a man with a mission.

Now, for the first time in paperback, readers can discover the deepest secrets of the masked crimefighter, from his own origin to his first meeting with Robin, his partner in the war on crime. This spectacular re-telling of The Batman legend includes his initial encounters with his most menacing foes, as well as a fact-filled tour through the Darknight Detective's secret headquarters, The Batcave.

A veritable encyclopedia of the Cowled Crimefighter's past, The Untold Legend of the Batman will delight comic adventure fans everywhere!

Raymond Carver’s third collection of stories, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, includes the canonical titular story about blindness and learning to enter the very different world of another.

These twelve stories mark a turning point in Carver’s career and overflow with the danger, excitement, mystery and possibility of life. Carver is a writer of astonishing compassion and honesty. His eye is set only on describing and revealing the world as he sees it. His eye is so clear, it almost breaks your heart.

From its first magnificent sentence, "In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing," to the last, "I am haunted by waters," A River Runs Through It is an American classic.

Based on Norman Maclean's childhood experiences, A River Runs Through It has established itself as one of the most moving stories of our time; it captivates readers with vivid descriptions of life along Montana's Big Blackfoot River and its near magical blend of fly fishing with the troubling affections of the heart.

This handsome edition is designed and illustrated by Barry Moser. There are thirteen two-color wood engravings.

Norman Maclean (1902-90), woodsman, scholar, teacher, and storyteller, grew up in the Western Rocky Mountains of Montana and worked for many years in logging camps and for the United States Forestry Service before beginning his academic career. He retired from the University of Chicago in 1973.

Despair is the wickedly inventive and richly derisive story of Hermann Karlovich, a man who undertakes the perfect crime—his own murder.

Extensively revised by Nabokov in 1965, the novel offers a masterly portrait of Hermann, who is rapt in his own reality, incapable of escaping or explicating it. Hermann is a compelling character in the fascinating gallery of living characters Vladimir Nabokov has given to world literature.

In his pseudo-worldliness and odd genius, Hermann stands alongside other neurotic Nabokovian creations. Despair is illuminated throughout by the virtuosity and cunning wit that are Nabokov’s hallmarks.

Grendel, the first and most terrifying monster in English literature, from the great early epic Beowulf, tells his own side of the story in this frequently banned book. This classic and much lauded retelling of Beowulf follows the monster Grendel as he learns about humans and fights the war at the center of the Anglo Saxon classic epic.

An extraordinary achievement, said the New York Times. This is the novel William Gass called "one of the finest of our contemporary fictions."

Winnie-the-Pooh, the Best Bear in All the World, has long been adored by readers young and old. In this beautiful full-color gift edition of The House at Pooh Corner, Ernest H. Shepard's classic illustrations have been painstakingly hand-colored. An exquisite volume and the perfect gift for any occasion, this book is as vivid and charming as the beloved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood.

Trout Fishing in America / The Pill vs. the Springhill Mine Disaster / In Watermelon Sugar is an omnibus edition of three counterculture classics by Richard Brautigan that embody the spirit of the 1960s.

Trout Fishing in America is by turns a hilarious, playful, and melancholy novel that wanders from San Francisco through America's rural waterways.

In Watermelon Sugar expresses the mood of a new generation, revealing death as a place where people travel the length of their dreams, rejecting violence and hate.

The Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster is a collection of nearly 100 poems, first published in 1968.

For as long as she could remember, Jane Stuart and her mother lived with her grandmother in a dreary mansion in Toronto. Jane always believed her father was dead until she accidentally learned he was alive and well and living on Prince Edward Island.

When Jane spends the summer at his cottage on Lantern Hill, doing all the wonderful things Grandmother deems unladylike, she dares to dream that there could be such a house back in Toronto... a house where she, Mother, and Father could live together without Grandmother directing their lives — a house that could be called home.

Laddie: A True Blue Story is a charming fictionalization of the author's own childhood, Gene Stratton-Porter. This delightful novel is set in the idyllic countryside, capturing the spirit of rural life and the bond between a young boy and his loyal dog.

The story is narrated through the eyes of a young girl, recounting the adventures and experiences shared with her faithful canine companion, Laddie. As the narrative unfolds, readers are drawn into a world of innocence and simplicity, enriched by themes of friendship, family, and the natural beauty of the American Midwest.

Gene Stratton-Porter’s keen observations and deep affection for nature and animals shine through, making this book a touching and nostalgic read. The novel's exploration of loyalty, courage, and the joys of childhood resonates with readers of all ages.

For those seeking a comforting and uplifting read, Laddie: A True Blue Story is a cherished classic that beautifully illustrates the enduring bond between a child and their pet. Its timeless themes and engaging storytelling make it a must-have for fans of classic literature and animal lovers alike.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, a Monarch Notes edition, provides a comprehensive guide to understanding one of literature's great novels. This study guide includes detailed analyses of characters, themes, and the narrative structure, along with a deep dive into Dostoyevsky's literary techniques. Whether you're a student preparing for exams or a literature enthusiast eager to gain a deeper understanding of Dostoyevsky's work, this guide is an invaluable resource.

The Dragonriders of Pern brings together the first three books in the world’s most beloved science-fiction series, making it a must-have for both longtime fans and newcomers.

On a beautiful world called Pern, an ancient way of life is about to come under attack. Lessa is an outcast survivor—her parents murdered, her birthright stolen—a strong young woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. But when an ancient threat reemerges, Lessa will rise—upon the back of a great dragon with whom she shares a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. Together, dragon and rider will fly, and Pern will be changed forever.

Since Lessa and Ramoth, her golden queen dragon, traveled into the past to bring forward a small army of dragons and riders to save their world from deadly alien spores, fear and desperation have spread across the land. But while the dragonriders struggle with threats both human and otherworldly, a young rider named F’nor and his brown dragon, Canth, hatch a bold plan to destroy the alien scourge at its source—the baleful Red Star that fills the heavens and promises doom to all.

Never in the history of Pern has there been a dragon like Ruth. Mocked by other dragons for his small size and pure white color, Ruth is smart, brave, and loyal—qualities that he shares with his rider, the young Lord Jaxom. Unfortunately, Jaxom is also looked down upon by his fellow lords, and by other riders as well. His dreams of joining the dragonriders in defending Pern are dismissed. What else can Jaxom and Ruth do but strike out on their own, pursuing in secret all they are denied? But in doing so, the two friends will find themselves facing a desperate choice—one that will push their bond to the breaking point . . . and threaten the future of Pern itself.

Crossing to Safety has, since its publication in 1987, established itself as one of the greatest and most cherished American novels of the twentieth century. Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples who move between Vermont and Wisconsin, it is a work of quiet majesty, deep compassion, and powerful insight into the alchemy of friendship and marriage.

The Lady in the Lake is a thrilling novel by the master of hardboiled crime fiction, Raymond Chandler. It features the iconic private detective Philip Marlowe in his fourth novel appearance.

Marlowe is hired to investigate the case of two missing wives—one belonging to a wealthy man and the other to a man of modest means. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a web of deceit, Mexican divorces, gigolos, and possibly a murder.

Throughout the investigation, Marlowe remains characteristically detached, realizing that he is not paid to care, yet drawn into the intrigue and danger that surrounds him. The narrative is peppered with Chandler's signature witty dialogue and vivid descriptions, making it a captivating read.

This novel is a staple of the noir genre, filled with suspense and twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. A true classic that explores the depths of human nature and the complexities of truth and deception.

Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid....He is the hero; he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. This is the Code of the Private Eye as defined by Raymond Chandler in his 1944 essay 'The Simple Act of Murder.' Such a man was Philip Marlowe, private eye, an educated, heroic, streetwise, rugged individualist and the hero of Chandler's first novel, The Big Sleep. This work established Chandler as the master of the 'hard-boiled' detective novel, and his articulate and literary style of writing won him a large audience, which ranged from the man in the street to the most sophisticated intellectual.

A dying millionaire hires private eye Philip Marlowe to handle the blackmailer of one of his two troublesome daughters, and Marlowe finds himself involved with more than extortion. Kidnapping, pornography, seduction, and murder are just a few of the complications he gets caught up in.

By the time of his early death in 1988, Raymond Carver had established himself as one of the greatest practitioners of the American short story, a writer who had not only found his own voice but imprinted it in the imaginations of thousands of readers. Where I'm Calling From, his last collection, encompasses classic stories from Cathedral, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love and earlier Carver volumes, along with seven new works previously unpublished in book form. Together, these 37 stories give us a superb overview of Carver's life work and show us why he was so widely imitated but never equaled.

It is the year 12,020 G.E. and Emperor Cleon I sits uneasily on the Imperial throne of Trantor. Here in the great multidomed capital of the Galactic Empire, forty billion people have created a civilization of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Yet Cleon knows there are those who would see him fall—those whom he would destroy if only he could read the future.

Hari Seldon has come to Trantor to deliver his paper on psychohistory, his remarkable theory of prediction. Little does the young Outworld mathematician know that he has already sealed his fate and the fate of humanity. For Hari possesses the prophetic power that makes him the most wanted man in the Empire...the man who holds the key to the future—an apocalyptic power to be known forever after as the Foundation.

Jean de Florette and Manon of the Springs is a masterpiece by Marcel Pagnol, capturing a Provencal legend of vengeance exacted by a mysterious sheperdess. This powerful story is rich with twists and ramifications, setting an idealistic city man against two secretive and deceitful Provencal countrymen.

Pagnol brings to life the Provencal countryside with a dramatist's sense of place, ambience, and character. It's a superbly realized story of struggle for life, crime and punishment, betrayal and revenge, and judgment and forgiveness. This edition, illustrated with images from the acclaimed film adaptation by Claude Berri, presents Pagnol's enduring story in W.E. van Heyningen's exact and sensitive translation.

Biblical in its cadences, epic in its sweep to destiny, and old-fashioned in development of character and plot, this saga charts the destruction of a Provencal family.

Welcome to Noisy Village! Go crayfishing in the summer at Nocken, dipping in the pot at Christmastime with Lisa and Karl, and join Britta and Anna who know the best way to go about "nutting" for the New Year. In this gently humorous tale, master storyteller Astrid Lindgren takes us through a year in the lives and customs of six Swedish children living on a group of three farms in the countryside.

Calvin is a rambunctious six-year-old whose manic antics threaten world peace. Hobbes is his stuffed tiger who comes alive when adults aren't around. Together, they embark on daily adventures that are both hilarious and heartwarming.

Something Under the Bed Is Drooling is a collection of their delightful escapades, showcasing the brilliant humor and creativity of Bill Watterson. Dive into the world of Calvin and Hobbes and discover the magic that lies beneath the surface.

The plot of Washington Square has the simplicity of old-fashioned melodrama: a plain-looking, good-hearted young woman, the only child of a rich widower, is pursued by a charming but unscrupulous man who seeks the wealth she will presumably inherit. On this premise, Henry James constructed one of his most memorable novels, a story in which love is answered with betrayal and loyalty leads inexorably to despair.

In Washington Square (1880), Henry James reminisces about the New York he had known thirty years before as he tells the story of Catherine Sloper and her fortune-seeking suitor Morris Townsend. This perceptively drawn human drama is James' most accessible work and an enduring literary triumph.