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Though only Dickens’ third novel, “Nicholas Nickleby” is a well-crafted and significant precursor to his other great works. The tale follows the fortunes of a young man, the son of an imprudent gentleman who leaves his family without resources. Fiercely devoted to his mother and sisters, as well as his true friends, Nicholas is occasionally emotional and even violent, yet always idealistic. He seeks the aid of his villainous uncle, Ralph Nickleby, who comes to hate his nephew and wishes him serious harm. Nicholas attempts more than once to achieve gainful employment, being first disgusted by the abuse of the schoolmaster Squeers, later surprised by the acting and antics of Vincent Crummles, and finally assisted by the merchant Cheeryble brothers. Dickens employs a cast of characters, both good and unsavory, in this adventurous story of Nicholas Nickleby, who helps those in need, despises wickedness, grows in self-awareness, and eventually falls in love, in a plot that is by turns melodramatic and comedic. An uplifting tale full of poignant indictments on Victorian society, “Nicholas Nickleby” has all the best characteristics of Dickens’ other classics. This edition includes an introduction by Edwin Percy Whipple and a biographical afterword.

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First published in 1774, “The Sorrows of Young Werther” is the loosely autobiographical epistolary novel by German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. This classically tragic story is one of unrequited love. During a stay in the fictional village of Wahlheim, Werther becomes enamored with the simple ways of the peasantry there. He meets and falls in love with the beautiful young Lotte, despite her engagement to Albert. The highly emotional Werther is overcome with grief over the fact that the one that he loves will marry another. Despite this fact, he develops a friendship with the couple over the next few months. Eventually his pain becomes so great that he must take his leave. After a time he returns, but seeing the couple now married brings his grief to an extreme that he can no longer bare, which leads to the novel’s epically tragic conclusion. Cited as a major work from the “Sturm und Drang” period of German literature, which would be highly influential of the Romantic period to come, “The Sorrows of Young Werther” was Goethe’s most famous work during his lifetime, one which would bring him instant international fame. This edition follows the translation of R. D. Boylan and includes a biographical afterword.

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First published in 1876, “Daniel Deronda” was George Eliot’s final novel. Controversial in its time for its morally ambiguous characterizations and its sympathy for the proto-Zionist movement, the novel is regarded today as one of the great social satires of the Victorian era. The story begins with the meeting of Daniel Deronda and the beautiful but stubborn and selfish, Gwendolen Harleth, whom he witnesses loses all her money at a game of roulette. The following day, Gwendolen learns that her family is bankrupt and consequently pawns her necklace, which is fortunately returned to her in a sympathetic gesture by Daniel. Faced with the loss of the family fortune in an economic downturn, Gwendolen ponders her options for obtaining financial security. She is reluctant to take a position as a governess desiring to become an actress and singer instead. Ultimately she chooses to marry the wealthy but manipulative Henleigh Mallinger Grandcourt, a decision she quickly regrets. Meanwhile Daniel becomes acquainted with Mirah Lapidoth, a young Jewish woman, whom he rescues from drowning. Daniel seeking a purpose in his life begins to identify with the cause of establishing a Jewish nation. Through the portrayals of Gwendolen and Daniel, Eliot provides a robust tale of the search for meaning amidst the decadence and materialism of Victorian British society. This edition includes an introduction by Esther Wood and a biographical afterword.

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First published in 1913, “Sons and Lovers” is D. H. Lawrence’s provocative semi-autobiographical novel. The work is based in part on his own family, his mother married a miner like the matriarch of the novel and consequently felt constrained by being relegated to a working class life. The story reflects the struggles of Paul Morel, an artist who cannot reciprocate love for other women while under the influence of his stifling mother. Unconsciously taught to despise his father and eschew other women, Paul comes even further under his mother’s psychological grip after the death of his older brother. When he eventually does fall in love, the results of his confused affection and desire are painful for all concerned. What follows is a tragic struggle for Paul between the desire for a normal loving relationship and the innate sense of love and fidelity he feels for his mother. While “Sons and Lovers”, for its Oedipal allusions and conflict with contemporary views on sexuality, was considered scandalous when first published, it has come to be regarded as one of Lawrence’s greatest works, his earliest masterpiece. This edition is printed includes an introduction by Mark Schorer and a biographical afterword.

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First published in 1874, «The Mysterious Island» is French author Jules Verne’s exciting adventure which begins amidst the siege on Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. Five northern prisoners plan an unconventional escape by hijacking a hot air balloon. What is in store for them is more than they bargained for. Cyrus Harding, an engineer in the union army; his servant Nebuchadnezzar, a former slave; sailor Bonadventure Pencroft; his protege Herbert Brown; and the journalist Gideon Spilett; after flying for several days through stormy weather, crash-land their balloon on a deserted island. The men name it Island Lincoln in honor of their President, Abraham Lincoln. Reminiscent of such classic island stories of adventure as «Robinson Crusoe» and «Swiss Family Robinson» the novel follows the exploits of the men as they struggle for survival in a foreign land. A number of inexplicable occurrences, while the men are there, suggests that there is some secret mystery to the island, one that they will soon discover. This follows the translation of W. H. G. Kingston, includes an introduction by Anthony Boucher, and a biographical afterword.

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First published in 1912, “Death in Venice” is Thomas Mann’s novella concerning Gustav von Aschenbach, a famous middle-aged author who in order to alleviate a terrible case of writer’s black decides to go on holiday. Gustav first travels to the coast of Austria-Hungary but soon is overcome with the feeling that he is meant to travel to Venice. On Lido Island he takes up residence in a suite at the Grand Hotel des Bains. During dinner one evening at the hotel he sees a family at a table nearby and becomes fascinated by the beauty of their adolescent fourteen year old boy named Tadzio. His interest in Tadzio at first enlivens in him an uplifting and artistic spirit, however as the days pass his interest begins to grow into an unhealthy obsession. As the weather in Venice turns hot and humid, Gustav, feeling his health to be in decline, decides to travel to a cooler locale, however a mix up with his luggage, draws him back to the hotel and Tadzio, which he inwardly rejoices. Though Gustav never acts on his feelings regarding the boy he nevertheless feels himself drawn down a path of ruinous inward desire. A classic depiction of emotional suffering, “Death in Venice” brilliantly depicts the tragic intensity of inner psychological torment. This edition follows the translation of Martin C. Doege.

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First published in 1922, “Babbitt” is Sinclair Lewis’ satire of American culture in the early part of the 20th century. In the years following World War I Americans began to idealize the middle-class lifestyle as a symbol of success, one crucial to the American identity. The successful self-made family man living in a Midwestern town began to symbolize the “American Dream”. The titular character of this novel, George F. Babbitt, is one such man. Babbitt is a successful middle-aged partner in a real estate firm who is married with three kids living in the fictional Midwestern town of Zenith. While having achieved the “American Dream” Babbitt gradually begins to feel a lack of fulfillment with how his life has turned out. He is a man unaware of the contemporary social and economic conditions that exist outside his own small circle. This lack of awareness begins to become increasingly apparent to him and a feeling of consternation sets in. Controversial upon its first publication for its criticism of what many Americans believed to be the ideal life, “Babbitt” is at once the tale of a middle-life crisis and a satirical critique of the vacuity of middle-class American life. This edition includes an introduction by Hugh Walpole and a biographical afterword.

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First published in 1830, “The Red and the Black,” is widely considered the masterpiece of 19th century French author Marie-Henri Beyle, known more commonly by his pen name, Stendahl. It follows the ambitions of Julien Sorel, a young man raised in the French countryside who wishes to rise above his provincial station by climbing the social ranks of Parisian society. Through a series of events, Julien’s talent and hard work give way to deception and hypocrisy when he realizes the limitations for advancement of a sincere and honest man of humble origins. Although Julien achieves much which he aspires to, ultimately his pride gets the better of him when he commits a violent crime of passion, leading to his tragic downfall. Through the deep psychological introspection of Julien we see Stendhal’s unique literary genius, the remarkable way in which he allows readers to live in the minds of his characters. Set against the backdrop of the July Revolution of 1830, “The Red and the Black” is a narrative which embodies the rich social conflict of that time. This edition is translated with an introduction by Horace B. Samuel.

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First published in 1896, Charles Monroe Sheldon’s “In His Steps” is a classic of Christian literature whose premise centers on the idea of emulating Christ in one’s everyday life. The story concerns the lives of the residents of the fictional railroad town of Raymond, located somewhere in the Northeastern United States. When an out of work man, Jack Manning, appeals for help from Reverend Henry Maxwell, pastor of the first church of Raymond, and later collapses and dies in front of his congregation, because the Reverend refuses to help the man, Henry is forced to reexamine his life. Following the incident, Henry begins to preach to his congregation the following message: “Do not do anything without first asking, ‘What would Jesus do?’” This simple maxim, which becomes the guiding message of the novel, creates a profound way of looking at life when confronted with both common and morally challenging dilemmas. By asking how would Jesus respond in a particular situation, an individual can hope to gain a greater insight into living a more pious life. Christians will find “In His Steps” a compelling narrative illustrating this concept.

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A predecessor to such monumental works as “Crime and Punishment” and “The Brothers Karamazov”, “Notes from Underground” represents a turning point in Dostoyevsky’s writing towards the more political side. In this work we find a story in two parts, the first a rambling memoir of a bitter, isolated, retired civil servant living in St. Petersburg, Russia. In the second part we follow the unnamed narrator through a series of events which further exhibit the consciousness of a man who is disillusioned by the oppression and corruption of the society in which he lives. A philosophically dark and politically charged novel, “Notes from Underground” shows Dostoyevsky using the narrative form as a device for criticizing the prevailing ideologies of his time, mainly nihilism and rational egoism. In “The Double” we see an intense psychological study of its main character, Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin, a government clerk who becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea that a man who bears a striking resemblance to him is trying to take over his identity. “Notes from Underground” and “The Double” are two of Dostoyevsky’s more popular shorter works, which exhibit the author’s uncanny ability to portray the darker side of the human psyche. This edition is printed follows the translations of Constance Garnett and includes a biographical afterword.

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