LITMIR.BIZ

First published in 1919, W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Moon and Sixpence” is an episodic first person narrative based on the life of Paul Gaugin. At the center of the novel is the story of Charles Strickland, an English banker who walks away from a life of privilege, abruptly abandoning his wife and children, in order to pursue his passion to become an artist. Strickland leaves London for Paris and ultimately Tahiti, mirroring the life of Gaugin who would also split with his wife to pursue a life of painting eventually immigrating to Tahiti. The title of the novel, which is never clearly explained in the novel, comes from a review for Maugham’s previous work “Of Human Bondage” in which that novel’s protagonist, Philip Carey, is described as “so busy yearning for the moon that he never saw the sixpence at his feet.” The moon in this sense might be seen as the lofty ambition to pursue a life of artistic expression in contrast to the sixpence which represents the security of a middle-class life style with wife and children to which the protagonist abandons. “The Moon and Sixpence” is the story of the demands that can be placed on a tortured artistic soul and consequently the lives that it touches. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

Подробнее

Originally serialized in “Bentley’s Miscellany” between February 1837 and April 1839, “Oliver Twist,” is Charles Dickens’s second novel, the classic story of the struggles of a young orphan in 19th century England. When his mother dies in childbirth, Oliver Twist finds himself in a situation of dire poverty. At the time, those who could not afford to provide for themselves were often forced into servitude under the harsh Poor Laws of 19th century England. At the age of nine, Oliver is set to work picking and weaving oakum at the workhouse where he lives. The circumstances of Oliver’s life are brutal, with meager food, clothing, and shelter, he finds himself in an unenviable position. “Oliver Twist,” is an early example of social criticism, in which Dickens effectively draws attention to the political issues of child labor and the struggles of the poor. Drawing upon his own experiences as an impoverished youth, Dickens brought to light the struggles of the lower classes in a way that continues to resonate with audiences until this day. This edition includes an introduction by Edwin Percy Whipple.

Подробнее

First published in 1922, “The Beautiful and Damned” is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s second novel, which follows upon many of the same themes of his first novel, “This Side of Paradise.” It is the story of Anthony Patch who because of the expectation of inheriting a large fortune from his grandfather is unmotivated to work and floats through various vocations. Anthony seeks escape from his unmotivated life through socializing and an increasing alcoholism. He is in love with Gloria Gilbert, a beautiful young socialite and aspiring actress. The novel addresses a theme common to Fitzgerald’s work, that being the moral decline and directionless lethargy that had consumed the American upper class during the early part of the 20th century. Set during the Jazz Age before and after the First World War, “The Beautiful and Damned” is a brilliant and tragic character study that explores the intricacies of married life and intimacy. Believed to have been based on Fitzgerald’s own relationship with his wife Zelda, the characters of the novel are complex figures that are disproportionately consumed with their pasts unable to act as agents for their own well-being in the present.

Подробнее

The eighth novel of Charles Dickens, which was first published serially between May 1849 and November 1850, “David Copperfield,” is viewed as one of the most autobiographical of all the author’s novels. A classic coming-of-age story, it is the tale of its titular character from childhood to maturity which chronicles the struggle between the emotional and moral aspects of his life. Central to the theme of the novel is the idea of the disciplined heart. Dickens suggests that people basically fall into three categories: those who have one, those who don’t, and those who seek to cultivate one. It is this development of a disciplined heart inside David Copperfield which establishes the principal context of his relationships throughout the novel. David’s story is one filled with trials and tribulations which he struggles to overcome in his pursuit of a happy and fulfilled life. Considered by many as one of Dickens’s greatest works, “David Copperfield” remains as popular today as when it was first published. This edition includes an introduction by Edwin Percy Whipple.

Подробнее

One of the most beloved adventure stories of all time, “Treasure Island” is a swashbuckling tale of the search for hidden treasure. When an old sea captain by the name of Billy Bones dies at the Admiral Benbow Inn on the west coast of England during the mid-1700s, Jim Hawkins, the innkeeper’s son, and his mother discover a treasure map among his belongings. Jim shows the map to some local acquaintances, Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney and together they plan an expedition to find the treasure. Together they set sail aboard the “Hispaniola” led by Captain Smollett in search of Treasure Island. Amongst the crew are numerous former pirates, who are led to mutiny by “Long John” Silver, a one-legged Bristol tavern-keeper who has been hired as the ship’s cook. Written in the late 19th century, Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” dramatically depicts maritime life, rich with all its perils, in an adventure that investigates the nature of good and evil itself. This edition is illustrated by Elenore Plaisted Abbot, includes an introduction and notes by Clayton Hamilton, and a biographical afterword.

Подробнее

“Candide” is Voltaire’s most famous work, a satirical masterpiece, which was first published in 1759. It is the story of its central character, the titular Candide, who lives a sheltered comfortable life and has been indoctrinated into the philosophy of Leibnizian optimism, by his mentor, Professor Pangloss. When Candide travels throughout the world he begins to witness the pervasive hardships of life, an experience that leads to his ultimate disillusionment with Leibnizian philosophy. Through this clever narrative Voltaire refutes the philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, whose central idea was that despite the apparent imperfections of the world, it was the best of all possible worlds because it was created by an all powerful and all knowing God. Voltaire found this philosophy insultingly ridiculous and within the humorous and satirical construct of this work he effectively exposes the idiocy of a philosophy that was so pervasive in his time. “Candide” is a fast-moving and fantastical tale which established Voltaire as not only one of the most important but controversial authors of his time. This edition is illustrated by Adrien Moreau and includes introductions by Philip Littell and J. M. Wheeler.

Подробнее

First published in 1911, “Ethan Frome” is Edith Wharton’s tale of thwarted dreams and desires set in small New England town at the turn of the 20th century. When a young engineer is on assignment in the fictitious town of Starkfield, Massachusetts, he becomes fascinated by the deformed and troubled local, Ethan Frome. Framed through an extended flashback, the young engineer ultimately learns the tragic history of Ethan Frome when he is forced to take refuge at the man’s house during a winter storm. Frome, who is married to Zenobia, a nagging hypochondriac of a woman, finds himself trapped in an unfulfilling life. Zenobia’s young cousin Mattie Silver comes to live with them in order to help out around the farmhouse and Ethan sees an opportunity for happiness. When his wife begins to notice the growing attachment between Ethan and Mattie she plans to send her away, insisting she needs a more competent servant, which sets in motion a tragic set of circumstances for all involved. “Ethan Frome” remains to this day as one of Wharton’s finest literary accomplishments.

Подробнее

A renewed interest in “Moby-Dick” in the early 20th century would help to establish it as an outstanding work of Romanticism and the American Renaissance, firmly placing it amongst the greatest of all American novels. Based on the real life events depicted in the “Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex” and the legend of “Mocha Dick”, an albino sperm whale whose killing is described in the May 1839 issue of “The Knickerbocker” magazine, it is the story of a wandering sailor by the name of Ishmael and his voyage aboard the whaling ship the “Pequod.” Commanded by the monomaniacal Captain Ahab, a man who is obsessed with revenge against a white whale of enormous size and ferocity, the “Pequod” and its crew are tasked with the singular goal of the capture and killing of the whale, whatever the cost. “Moby-Dick” is a novel rich with symbolism, full of complex themes, whose composition defies convention. A commercial and critical failure during the author’s lifetime, this classic whaling adventure would ultimately secure the literary legacy of Herman Melville. This edition includes an introduction by William S. Ament, a biographical afterword, and is illustrated by Mead Schaeffer.

Подробнее

First published serially in 1905, “The Jungle” is American journalist Upton Sinclair’s dramatization of the harsh working conditions for and exploitation of immigrant workers in industrial cities like Chicago during the early part of the 20th century. Sinclair spent seven weeks prior to publication working ‘in cognito’ in the meatpacking plants of the Chicago stockyards gathering information for the novel. The work is principally concerned with Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant trying to make ends meet in Chicago, and his family’s struggle for survival. Having come to America in want of a better life, Jurgis instead finds that a combination of poor working conditions, slave level wages, and mounting debt, offers little hope for it. While Sinclair, a noted socialist, showed the vast socio-economic divide between the haves and have-nots and the corrupt alignment of American politicians with the industrial-capitalist machine, the greater impact of the novel would be on reforming the health violations and unsanitary practices in the American meatpacking industry, which were brought to light by the work. Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” dramatized the plight of the working class in a way that no American novel before had and thus has established itself as one of the most important socialistic novels of all time. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

Подробнее

Mark Twain’s first attempt at historical fiction, “The Prince and the Pauper”, was first published in 1881. It is a story set in the time of Prince Edward, of house Tudor, who at age nine would become King Edward VI. When young Prince Edward meets a Pauper, Tom Canty, who likes a lot like him, he convinces the two to switch clothes so that they can be mistaken for each other and end up switching places. While they play out their new roles, Prince Edward learns of the struggles of the commoners of England while Tom discovers what it is like to be a Prince and then a King. Twain wrote with regards to his novel that, “My idea is to afford a realizing sense of the exceeding severity of the laws of that day by inflicting some of their penalties upon the King himself and allowing him a chance to see the rest of them applied to others. . .” A delightfully comedic tale, “The Prince and the Pauper” is at its heart a social commentary on judging others simply by their appearance. This edition includes the illustrations of Franklin Booth.

Подробнее