LITMIR.BIZ

First published serially between January and December of 1878 in the sensationalistic monthly London magazine “Belgravia”, Thomas Hardy’s “The Return of the Native” is the author’s sixth published novel. Set in Egdon Heath, an area of Thomas Hardy’s fictionalized Wessex known for the thorny evergreen shrubs, called furze or gorse, which are cut there by its residents for fuel. When the story begins, on Guy Fawkes Night, we find Diggory Venn, a merchant of the red mineral called reddle which farmers use to mark their sheep, giving aid to Thomasin Yeobright, whom he is in love with but has unsuccessfully wooed over the preceding two years. Diggory is helping Thomasin, who is in distress having left town with Damon Wildeve under the false promise of matrimony, return home to her aunt, Mrs. Yeobright. Damon has rebuffed Thomasin in favor of the beautiful young Eustacia Vye. However when Mrs. Yeobright’s son Clym, a successful diamond merchant, returns from Paris, Eustacia loses interest in Damon, seeing a relationship with Clym as an opportunity to escape the Heath in favor of a more glamorous and exciting locale. A classically modern novel, “The Return of the Native” presents a world of people struggling between their unfulfilled desires and the expectations of society. This edition is includes an introduction by J. W. Cunliffe and a biographical afterword.

Подробнее

In the late 19th century, discoveries of ancient civilizations, like those in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, stirred the imaginations of Europeans with regard to the largely unexplored interior of Africa. First published in 1885, H. Rider Haggard’s “King Solomon’s Mines” was one the first novels to capitalize on this fascination of the public. It is the story of adventurer Allan Quatermain, who is enlisted by the aristocratic Sir Henry Curtis and his friend Captain Good to help them find Henry’s lost brother, last seen traveling into the interior of Africa in search of the riches of the fabled King Solomon’s Mines. With the aid of a mysterious map Quatermain agrees to help the two in exchange for a share of the treasure. Along the way they encounter the many perils of the African wilderness, including its vast deserts, dangerous Elephants, and its fierce native warriors. One of the most popular novels of the 19th century, regarded as the genesis of the Lost World literary genre, “King Solomon’s Mines” remains to this day as one of the greatest stories of adventure ever told. This edition includes illustrations by A. C. Michael and a biographical afterword.

Подробнее

First published in 1900, “Sister Carrie” is Theodore Dreiser’s classic tale of Caroline “Sister Carrie” Meeber, a young woman living in rural Wisconsin who yearns for a more urban life. She takes the train to Chicago where she is taken in by her older sister Minnie and her husband. Caroline attempts to make her way in Chicago first by obtaining a job in a factory but is quickly confronted with the coarse reality of a working class life. When she becomes ill, and loses her factory job as a consequence, she must find another way to advance her station in life. An opportunity presents itself in the form of Charles H. Drouet, a buoyant traveling salesman whom Caroline first met on the train to Chicago and reencounters after losing her job in the factory. After dining with Drouet, who desires her affection, she is persuaded to move in with him. Caroline discovers that through her beauty she can achieve the material reward that she desires, first through a series of love affairs, and then ultimately by pursuing a career as an actress. Due to its unconventional morality and unromantic depiction of modern life “Sister Carrie” received a mixed response when first published, but since that time has come to be regarded as an American Classic. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

Подробнее

The third novel in the “Anne of Green Gables” saga, Lucy M. Montgomery’s “Anne of the Island” first debuted in 1915. The plucky young Anne Shirley is now all grown up into a smart beautiful young woman. Having left the environs of Avonlea, where she was employed as a teacher in the preceding novel, “Anne of Avonlea”, Anne is off to pursue her dream of obtaining a college degree at Redmond College in Nova Scotia. She is joined there by childhood friends Gilbert Blythe and Charlie Sloane, both whom have affections for Anne, and by her good friend from Queen’s Academy, Priscilla Grant. Along with old friends there are new ones in the beautiful but frivolous Philippa Gordon, and the darkly handsome and poetic Roy Gardner. “Anne of the Island”, which follows Anne through all four years of college, is the story of how a young woman’s idealized notions of romance are replaced by a mature sensibility of what love really is. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

Подробнее

First published in 1912, “Riders of the Purple Sage” is Zane Grey’s genre defining novel which has been referred to as “the most popular western novel of all time.” Set in the canyon country of southern Utah in 1871, it is the story of Jane Withersteen, a Mormon who has refused the wishes of her father to marry Elder Tull because she does not love him. Jane, whose father has passed away and has inherited his valuable ranch, is persecuted by the Mormon community for her refusal to marry Elder Tull, and for her befriending of cowboy Bern Venters, a non-Mormon. The conflict between Jane and the rest of the community intensifies when a mysterious stranger named Lassiter, who is seeking to avenge the murder of his sister Milly Erne, comes to town. Rich with western detail, set against the backdrop of the Mormon influx into Utah, with a mysterious “Masked Rider”, and a gang of rustlers, “Riders of the Purple Sage” played an important role in shaping the formula of popular Western fiction and remains to this day one of its most popular examples. This edition includes illustrations by W. Herbert Dunton and a biographical afterword.

Подробнее

First published in 1807, “Tales from Shakespeare” is the classic retelling of Shakespeare’s plays by brother and sister duo Charles and Mary Lamb. All told twenty of Shakespeare’s plays are represented in this work. On what basis the two made their selection of tales is unknown, the English Histories are left unattempted, as well as the Roman Plays. Of the comedies only “Love’s Labour’s Lost” is omitted. As Alfred Ainger comments in his introduction “perhaps Miss Lamb felt how little would have remained of the original comedy when the poetical element in its language and the brilliant wit of its dialogue had been removed”. What is represented of Shakespeare’s plays is a magnificent retelling of some of his most popular works, ideal for introducing young readers to the brilliance of the Bard. As the two write in their preface “The following Tales are meant to be submitted to the young reader as an introduction to the study of Shakespeare,” so “that the true Plays of Shakespeare may prove to them in older years—enrichers of the fancy, strengtheners of virtue, a withdrawing from all selfish and mercenary thoughts, a lesson of all sweet and honourable thoughts and actions”. This edition includes an introduction by Alfred Ainger and illustrations by Arthur Rackham.

Подробнее

First published in 1888, “Looking Backward: 2000-1887” is the highly influential work of utopian science fiction by American journalist Edward Bellamy. In the years following the American Civil War a growth in inequality led to an increase in social and economic turmoil. The rise of ever larger and less competitive firms was causing wages to stagnate and created an appetite amongst the populace for solutions to help mitigate the negative effects of an unrestrained and increasingly plutocratic form of capitalism. This appetite gave rise to a popular new literary genre, the utopian socialist novel, of which “Looking Backward” is arguably one of the most famous examples of. It is the story of young Julian West who is induced by hypnosis into a deep 113 year sleep. When he awakes in the year 2000 he finds that America has been transformed into a socialist utopia. Upon waking West readily encounters Doctor Leete, who explains to him what has transpired since he has slept. Society through a combination of technological advancement and the nationalization of the productive capacity of the United States has become a world in which people work together in mutual cooperation and harmony. “Looking Backward” was one of the best-selling novels of the 19th century, one which would inspire a large number of people to promote more socialistic public policies. This edition includes an introduction by Sylvester Baxter.

Подробнее

First published in 1907, “Lord of the World” is the dystopian work of science fiction by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson which depicts the rise of the Anti-Christ and the ensuing end of the world. The novel begins with a prologue set in early 21st century London in which the history of the last century is described. A global rise of Marxism has divided the world up into three power-blocs; a European Confederation of Marxist one-party states, an Eastern Empire comprised of the former Asian and Oceanic countries, and an American Republic comprised of North, South, and Central America. Culture and politics is now dominated by a mix of Marxism, atheism, and secular humanism. As tensions between the European Confederation and the Eastern Empire inch the world ever closer to global war, a dynamic American politician, Vermont Senator Julian Felsenburgh, furiously crisscrosses the globe in charge of the American Republic’s peace delegation. Felsenburgh through a wave of populist support and Machiavellian power plays arises to become leader of the world. Simultaneously Father Percy Franklin works against the global disintegration of religious faith. What follows is an apocalyptic conflict between these two dynamically opposed forces. Heralded as prophetic by religious leaders like Pope Francis, “Lord of the World” presents a not implausible dystopian imagination of the end of the world.

Подробнее

“The Man in the Iron Mask” represents the final portion of the third installment of the ‘D’Artagnan Romances’. Preceded by “The Three Musketeers”, the first volume; “Twenty Years After”, the second volume; “The Vicomte de Bragelonne”, part one of the third volume; “Ten Years Later” part two of the third volume; and “Louise de la Vallière”, part three of the third volume; “The Man in the Iron Mask” is a tale that brings to life the mystery of one of the Bastille’s most famous prisoners, a man whose identity is hidden behind an iron mask. In this work we find the original three Musketeers in retirement and D’Artagnan in the service of the corrupt Louis XIV. While the identity of the original man in the iron mask is unknown, Dumas constructs his story around the idea that the prisoner is in fact the twin brother of Louis XIV, imprisoned from birth by his father to prevent any conflict over a divided rule of the kingdom. When Aramis learns the secret of the man in the iron mask he devises a plot to replace the King with his twin brother, setting in motion a series of events which draws all the Musketeers back into action. An exciting work of political intrigue and high adventure, “The Man in the Iron Mask” brings to a tragic conclusion the adventures of the Musketeers. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

Подробнее

When Emily Inglethorp, the elderly matriarch of Styles Court, an Essex country manor, is found poisoned with strychnine, a guest of the manor, Arthur Hastings calls upon his friend, famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, to solve the mystery that surrounds her death. Chief amongst the suspects is Emily’s husband Alfred Inglethorp, a much younger man whom she has recently married and has the most to gain from her death. Another potential suspect is her eldest stepson John Cavendish, who stands to receive the manor upon her death. Or one of the other occupants of the manor; Lawrence Cavendish, her younger stepson; Mary Cavendish, John’s wife; Cynthia Murdoch, the daughter of a deceased friend of the family; or Evelyn Howard, Emily's companion; may be to blame. With the help of Inspector Japp, a Scotland Yard detective and the investigating officer, Hercule Poirot endeavors to uncover the mystery of who killed Emily Inglethorp. Mystery fans will delight in this first installment of Agatha Christie’s most famous character, Hercule Poirot.

Подробнее