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Considered one of the masterpieces of world-renowned naturalist Emile Zola, «Nana» is his finely written work on the demimonde of France's failing Second Empire. A symbolically compounded novel, it follows the rise and fall of Nana, a street-walking prostitute who becomes an actress at the Théâtre des Variétés. Though apparently independent and self-confident in her role of 'high-class cocette,' Nana envies the material possessions of the people around her, and the series of besotted men, and occasionally women, whom she betrays and ruins are a testament to her selfishness and vanity. What is surprising is Zola's genius in creating the strength and generosity of Nana, the elemental goodness in an unintelligent woman who can't seem to prevent herself from initiating chaos. Though she advances through society, she ultimately only manages to fall from greater heights, taking on an almost mythical quality even as she remains eminently realistic.

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First serialized in «The Saturday Evening Post» between May and June of 1919, P. G. Wodehouse's «A Damsel in Distress» is the light-hearted whimsical tale of American composer George Bevan who falls in love with a mysterious young lady who takes refuge in his taxicab one day. When George finally tracks her down, all manner of comedic chaos is bound to ensue in classic Wodehouse fashion.

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The fourteenth novel in a twenty book series collectively entitled, «Les Rougon-Macquart, L'Œuvre» was first translated into English in 1886, the title having since been rendered «The Masterpiece». Set in France's Second Empire, the story of naturalist painter Claude Lantier is believed to be a highly fictionalized account of Zola's friendship with the painter Paul Cézanne. The fictional artist of Zola's Bohemian world, Lantier, strives to complete a great work that will reflect his own talent and genius as a revolutionary, but struggles greatly in living up to his artistic potential. The story was perhaps too personal for Cézanne, whose correspondence with Zola ended immediately after the novel's publication. Nevertheless, this story of the misunderstood artist, brilliant but scorned by the intolerant art-going public and their unwillingness to abandon traditional practices, epitomizes the attitudes of Bohemian Revolutionaries and the nineteenth century era of French Naturalism.

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"Vanity Fair" is William Makepeace Thackeray's 19th century novel which satirizes the English society of the time. It is the story of Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley, who have just completed their studies at Miss Pinkerton's Academy for Young Ladies and are beginning to embark upon the world. The simple-minded nature of Amelia is contrasted with the strong-willed nature of Becky, who has affections for Amelia's brother Joseph Sedley. Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, «Vanity Fair» is Thackeray's most popular work which brilliantly characterizes and satirizes the societal trappings of Victorian England.

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Literally meaning «The tailor re-tailored,» «Sartor Resartus» is Thomas Carlyle's 1836 novel which was first serialized in «Fraser's Magazine» in 1833-1834. The novel poses as a review for the work «Clothes, Their Origin and Influence» by the fictional philosopher Diogenes Teufelsdrockh, Professor of «Things in General» at Weissnichtwo University. Intended by Carlyle as a new kind of book, «Sartor Resartus» is at once a work of fiction and social philosophy that challenges the reader to determine what is truth and what is merely the invention of the author. The exploration of fashion through the fictional work discussed in the book exists as an allegory to explore the changing conventions of other elements of culture and society. «Sartor Resartus» marked an important transition from the Romantic and Victorian periods, whose influence on countless other literary figures cannot be understated.

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Written in 1869 with a clear awareness of the time's tension over women's rights, «He Knew He Was Right» is primarily a story about Louis Trevelyan, a young, wealthy, educated Victorian man and his marriage to the beautiful Emily Rowley. They meet in the Mandarin Islands, where Emily's father is governor, but their happiness in wedlock is short-lived. They soon have a son and Louis begins to have strong feelings of jealousy towards Emily. Emily accepts frequent visits from the older Colonel Osborne, despite the fact that these innocent calls incite the unwarranted disapproval of Louis, to the point of resentment and separation. While their marital struggle carries on, Trollope skillfully weaves in other characters and the difficulties they face, most notably with Aunt Jemima Stanbury and several unmarried ladies of her acquaintance. When the tale turns back to the emotionally unstable Louis, the author continues to explore the psychological and emotional depths of the strained spousal relationship of this man, fully and masterfully delving into the tragedy of a man going jealously insane.

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James Branch Cabell's career was short-lived – his works fit neatly within the 1920s literary escapist culture and then quickly declined in popularity as the author veered away from the fantasy niche. In his heyday, Cabell garnered praise from several of his contemporaries such as H. L. Mencken and Sinclair Lewis. Lewis even acknowledged Cabell's successful «Jurgen» in his 1930 Nobel Prize address. «Jurgen» is certainly Cabell's most famous novel, published in 1919, and it tells the story of a middle-aged man on a journey through fantastic realms, where he meets and seduces beautiful women of fiction and myth – including the Devil's wife. The book garnered attention as it was charged with obscenity in a case that reached the New York Supreme Court. Cabell and his publisher won the case, and the author was deemed a literary avant garde, who tested conventional social boundaries and opposed the forces of puritanical repression.

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The third and least political novel of the Palliser series, «The Eustace Diamonds» concerns the beautiful pathological liar Lizzie Greystock. Determined to marry into wealth, Lizzie snares the ailing Sir Florian Eustace and quickly becomes a widow. Despite the brevity of their marriage, Lizzie still inherits according to the generous terms of Sir Florian's will, which include the Eustace diamonds. When the Eustace family solicitor, Mr. Camperdown, begins to question her legal claim to the family heirloom, however, Lizzie begins to weave a tangled web of deception and crime to ensnare possession of the diamonds. Enlisting the aid of her cousin Frank Greystock, much to the dismay of his constant fiancée Lucy Morris, Lizzie seeks to both avoid legal persecution and have a true love affair, first with Frank, and later with Lord George de Bruce Carruthers. Considered a satire of the acceptance of the corrupting influence of money and greed in Victorian society, Trollope's novel blends elements of mystery, politics, and romance in a memorable and thought-provoking work.

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Inspired by The Mussel Slough Tragedy, an 1880 dispute over land titles between California settlers and the Southern Pacific Railroad, Frank Norris' 1901 novel, «The Octopus: A California Story», is the first part in the unfinished trilogy, «The Epic of Wheat». The novel depicts the conflict between wheat farmers in the San Joaquin Valley and the Pacific and Southwestern railroad. When the railroad attempts to take possession of land leased to and improved by the farmers, they are challenged to defend themselves. The second volume of «The Epic of Wheat» trilogy, «The Pit», was published after Norris' death and the third installment, to be titled «The Wolf», was never written.

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Widely considered the masterpiece of the fascinating and mysterious man known as Stendahl, «The Red and the Black» is a two volume novel first published in 1830. It follows the ambitious desires of Julien Sorel, a young man raised in the French countryside who wishes to rise above his station and explore Paris and its society. Through a series of events, Julien's talent and hard work give way to deception and hypocrisy when he loses the will to believe in sincerity. Though he reaches many of his goals in Paris, Julien's calculating manner falls prey to his passions, and he commits a crime that leads to his downfall. Ultimately a flawed protagonist whose illusions are shattered in the face of a harsh reality, Stendahl allows readers to live in the minds of his characters in such a remarkable way that this work is considered as psychological as it is historical. «The Red and the Black» is satirical and prophetic for its time, and can perhaps be known as one of the first realist novels ever written.

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