One of the most celebrated classics of the twentieth century, this cautionary tale of a man trapped under the gaze of an authoritarian state is more relevant now than ever before. “Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed for ever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you.” Winston Smith works in the Ministry of Truth—or Minitrue as it is called in Newspeak—where he alters newspapers and reports to follow the arbitrary dictates of Big Brother’s propaganda. Beneath his outward conformity, however, Winston dreams of sharing his treasonable thoughts andbreaking through the loneliness in which he lives. Thus he takes his first dangerous steps, writing a diary of his doubts and then falling in love with a woman of the Party, the beautiful and brave Julia. They know their love is doomed, but Julia says, “They can make you say anything—anything—but they can’t make you believe it.” But in Oceania, there is no possibility of solidarity, rebellion, or love—and the Party can reach anywhere. First published in 1949, this disturbing novel that George Orwell wrote during a time of great social and political unrest centers on the consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance, and repressive regimentation of people and behaviors within society. This classic of dystopian fiction contributed new words that became part of common English usage, including Big Brother, doublethink, newspeak, and thoughtcrime. The adjective "Orwellian" has come to mean government deception, surveillance, and misleading terminology.Cover illustration & Design by Derek Anderson and Joel Anderson. © Anderson Design Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Licensed by Anderson Design Group.

1984

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • OVER 120 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE • PUBLISHED IN 89 LANGUAGES “Teaches us about dreams, destiny, and the reason we are all here.”—Oprah Daily, “Best Self-Help Books of a Generation” A spellbinding audio presentation of the extraordinary bestseller, narrated by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons–Discover the true power of trusting your intuition, honoring your instincts, and tapping into your innate inner wisdom Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom, and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery and spiritual healing, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, moving millions across the globe and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations. Helping them find inner peace, strength, gratitude, and a deeper, divine connection with themselves and the world around them. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and soul-stirring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried near the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself a king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles in his path. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery that the most valuable treasures are those found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. No matter where you are in life’s journey, allow this profound fable to awaken you to the beauty of the present and the hope of the future, and what it truly means to be human and at peace. Year after year, across generations, Paulo Coelho's profound and enduring work remains fresh and vital for readers today. These words beam with the message that if we trust in ourselves and our inner strength and wisdom, we can navigate all of life’s complexities with grace and resilience. Discover your dreams and your truth with The Alchemist. “We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.”—Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist “It changed my whole life. I realized all of the people who had conspired to get me to this place.” —Pharrell Williams, musician and songwriter

The Alchemist

A new recording of Ray Bradbury’s timeless classic Fahrenheit 451 narrated by Penn Badgley! Nearly seventy years after its original publication, Ray Bradbury’s internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451 stands as a classic of world literature set in a bleak, dystopian future. Today its message has grown more relevant than ever before. Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.

Fahrenheit 451

10 invited guests on an island… Ten strangers, apparently with little in common, are lured to an island mansion off the coast of Devon by the mysterious U.N.Owen. Over dinner, a record begins to play, and the voice of an unseen host accuses each person of hiding a guilty secret. That evening, former reckless driver Tony Marston is found murdered by a deadly dose of cyanide. The tension escalates as the survivors realise the killer is not only among them but is preparing to strike again… and again…

And Then There Were None

George Orwell's nineteen Eighty-Four is one of the most definitive texts of modern literature. Set in Oceania, one of the three inter-continental superstate that divided the world among themselves after a global war, Orwell's masterful critique of the political structures of the time, works itself out through the story of Winston Smith, a man caught in the webs of a dystopian future, and his clandestine love affair with Julia, a young woman he meets during the course of his work for the government. As much as it is an entertaining read, nineteen Eighty-Four is also a brilliant, and more importantly, a timeless satirical attack on the social and political structures of the world.

In this classic 19th century story of love battling pride, we meet Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth is a smart, well-rounded woman, and she is one of five unmarried daughters of the country gentleman, Mr. Bennet, a country gentleman. Marriage is at the forefront Mrs. Bennet's mind, especially since her elderly husband's estate will not pass down to any of their daughters. The Bennets' small town is in an uproar when two highborn, eligible gentlemen, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, come to stay. Mr. Bingley takes and instant liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane. Elizabeth's prideful self does not realize her life is about to change when she meets the intolerable Mr. Darcy, who will make her questions her sensibilities.

Pride and Prejudice

Dating back to the 5th century B.C.,The Art of War is an ancient Chinese text on military strategy whose teachings have become very influential and popular in the west. Though authorship is attributed to Sun Tzu (Master Sun), many scholars believe the bulk of the text was written by his descendant Sun Bin, who lived some hundred years later. Its thirteen chapters cover such topics as Planning, Weaknesses and Strengths, Terrain, and Intelligence and Espionage. Popular with military thinkers, business leaders and entertainers alike, The Art of War is an essential tome on strategy that is remarkably relevant today despite its ancient origins.

Business Library

The Art of War

"The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath is a haunting exploration of the human psyche. Set against the backdrop of 1950s America, the novel follows Esther Greenwood, a talented and ambitious young woman, as she descends into the depths of mental illness. Plath's raw and poetic prose captures Esther's internal struggle with societal expectations, the constraints of gender roles, and the pressure to conform. The bell jar becomes a metaphor for Esther's sense of isolation and suffocation as she grapples with her identity and the expectations placed upon her. This poignant and introspective work delves into the complexities of mental health, the pursuit of individuality, and the challenges of finding one's place in a world that can feel stifling and oppressive. Plath's masterpiece continues to resonate for its unflinching portrayal of the human condition and remains a powerful exploration of the fragility of the mind.

The Bell Jar

Embark on an epic journey with Project Hail Mary, an inspiring tale of courage, innovation, and relentless determination that will ignite your inner drive and boost your productivity. This riveting audiobook follows a lone traveler on a high-stakes mission to save humanity, weaving together elements of scientific discovery, unexpected alliances, and personal transformation in a dynamic narrative designed for the modern adult seeking to overcome challenges and elevate their daily performance.

Project Hail Mary

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is one of the most loved English Classics of all time. Mystery, hardship - and love. Jane comes from nothing but she desires everything life can offer her. And when she finds work as a governess in a mysterious mansion, it seems she has finally met her match with the darkly fascinating Mr Rochester. But Thornfield Hall contains a shameful secret - one that could keep Jane and Rochester apart forever. Can she choose between what is right, and her one chance of happiness?

Timeless Classic

Jane Eyre

Generations of readers young and old, male and female, have fallen in love with the March sisters of Louisa May Alcott's most popular and enduring novel, Little Women. Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War. It is no secret that Alcott based Little Women on her own early life. While her father, the freethinking reformer and abolitionist Bronson Alcott, hobnobbed with such eminent male authors as Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne, Louisa supported herself and her sisters with "woman's work," including sewing, doing laundry, and acting as a domestic servant. But she soon discovered she could make more money writing. Little Women brought her lasting fame and fortune, and far from being the "girl's book" her publisher requested, it explores such timeless themes as love and death, war and peace, the conflict between personal ambition and family responsibilities, and the clash of cultures between Europe and America.

World Classics

Little Women

Jane Austen’s most popular novel, originally published in 1813, some 17 years after it was first written, presents the Bennet family of Longbourn. Against the background of gossipy Mrs Bennet and the detached Mr Bennet, the quest is on for husbands for the five daughters. The spotlight falls on Elizabeth, second eldest, who is courted by Mr Darcy though initially she is more concerned with the fate of her other sisters. This marvellous account of family life in Regency England is read with customary panache by Juliet Stevenson.

One of the very best Christie mysteries read by Hercule Poirot himself, David Suchet. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stopped the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train was surprisingly full for the time of the year. But by the morning there was one passenger fewer. An American lay dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. With tension mounting, detective Hercule Poirot comes up with not one, but two solutions to the crime.

Murder on the Orient Express

"White Nights" is the story about a melancholic daydreamer, who spends his life idling in St. Petersburg and indulging in existential questions. He is so much in a world of his own that any actual real-life encounter leaves him bewildered and numb. Dostoevsky’s powerful and detailed psychological portrait makes the reader identify with the protagonist, who cannot but seek means of consoling him. One day a random encounter takes place and the story takes a surprising turn – only to leave the reader gasping for breath once the final pages come. Highly recommended for people who often feels the need to find an alternative to the grey and stifling everyday life. Fyodor Dostoevsky was a famous Russian writer of novels, short stories, and essays. A connoisseur of the troubled human psyche and the relationships between the individuals, Dostoevsky’s oeuvre covers a large area of subjects: politics, religion, social issues, philosophy, and the uncharted realms of the psychological. He is most famous for the novels "Crime and Punishment", "The Idiot", and "The Brothers Karamazov". His literary legacy was met with mixed feelings, but remains gargantuan in its influence.

White Nights

Laura lives an isolated life with her father, alone in a castle in the Austrian wilderness. When the mysterious Carmilla, a strange and beautiful lady, arrives in the night, no one suspects the supernatural occurrences that follow. But still more unsuspected is the tempestuous romance that blooms between the two young women, and Carmilla’s nightmarish secret. Written 26 years before Stoker’s ‘Dracula’, ‘Carmilla’ is the original vampire novel. Sheridan Le Fanu combines a chilling Gothic atmosphere with horrifying episodes, boldly exploring the sexual desires of his heroines, and establishing the image of the female vampire. ‘Carmilla’ is an essential read for all fans of gothic novels and vampires, from Anne Rice’s ‘Interview with the Vampire’ to Netflix’s ‘The Vampire Diaries’. Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) was an Irish Gothic writer of short stories and novels. One of the central names amidst the ghost-story writers of the 19th century, Le Fanu’s influence cannot be underestimated. Inspiring the likes of Bram Stoker, Le Fanu laid the basis for the Victorian Horror genre by combining realism with deeper psychological elements. His most important works include ‘Uncle Silas’, ‘Carmilla’, ‘The House by the Churchyard’, and his short story collection ‘In a Glass Darkly’.

Carmilla

Crime and Punishment is the second of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's full-length novels following his return from 5 years of exile in Siberia, and is considered the first great novel of his "mature" period of writing. The novel focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in St. Petersburg who formulates and executes a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her cash. Raskolnikov, in an attempt to defend his actions, argues that with the pawnbroker's money he can perform good deeds to counterbalance the crime while ridding the world of a vermin, and to test a theory of his that some people are naturally superior and have the right to commit crimes if it is in pursuit of a higher purpose.

Crime and Punishment

*A FINANCIAL TIMES, GUARDIAN AND TLS BOOK OF THE SUMMER* 'The fascinating story of ancient words … new revelations await' The Guardian 'A magisterial feat' New Scientist ________________________________ One ancient language transformed our world. This is its story. Star. Stjarna. Stare. Thousands of miles apart, people look up at the night sky and use the same word to describe what they see. Listen to these English, Icelandic and Iranic words and you can hear echoes of one of the most extraordinary journeys in humanity’s past. All three of these languages – and hundreds more – share a single ancient ancestor. Five millennia ago, in a mysterious Big Bang of its own, this proto tongue exploded, forming new worlds as it spread east and west. Today, nearly half of humanity speaks an Indo-European language. How did this happen? In Proto, acclaimed journalist Laura Spinney sets off to find out. With her we travel the length of the steppe, navigating the Caucasus, the Silk Roads and the Hindu Kush. We follow in the footsteps of nomads and monks, Amazon warriors and lion kings – the ancient peoples who spread these tongues far and wide. In the present, Spinney meets the linguists, archaeologists and geneticists racing to recover this lost world. What they have discovered has vital lessons for our modern age, as people and their languages are on the move again. Proto is a revelatory portrait of world history in its own words.

Proto

The Count of Monte Cristo (French: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel by French author Alexandre Dumas ( père) completed in 1844. It is one of the author's more popular works, along with The Three Musketeers. Like many of his novels, it was expanded from plot outlines suggested by his collaborating ghostwriter Auguste Maquet. Another important work by Dumas, written before his work with Maquet, was the short novel Georges; this novel is of particular interest to scholars because Dumas reused many of the ideas and plot devices later in The Count of Monte Cristo. The story takes place in France, Italy, and islands in the Mediterranean during the historical events of 1815–1839: the era of the Bourbon Restoration through the reign of Louis-Philippe of France. It begins just before the Hundred Days period (when Napoleon returned to power after his exile). The historical setting is a fundamental element of the book, an adventure story primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness. It centres on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune, and sets about exacting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. His plans have devastating consequences for both the innocent and the guilty. The book is considered a literary classic today. According to Luc Sante, " The Count of Monte Cristo has become a fixture of Western civilization's literature, as inescapable and immediately identifiable as Mickey Mouse, Noah's flood, and the story of Little Red Riding Hood."

The Count of Monte Cristo

Rediscover one of the greatest love stories of all time with this new audio edition of Pride and Prejudice, masterfully narrated by actress Adjoa Andoh ('Bridgerton', 'Doctor Who'). Pride and Prejudice's prolific status as a beloved story is thanks to its dynamic, ever-evolving central characters, as well as the strength of the wit and satire wielded by Austen. It is a love story, yes, but it is also a profound critique of Georgian high society and the plight of women. Without a male heir, the Bennet daughters risk losing their home and their income when their father, Mr Bennet, passes. To save the family, the sisters must marry - and most importantly, marry well. It is in this predicament that we find the smart and spirited Elizabeth Bennet, who despite pressure from her family, is determined to live and marry on her own terms. The arrival of the haughty, wealthy Mr Darcy who is impervious to her charms begins a timeless comedy of manners, and endless drama, where first impressions are just not what they seemed. Pride and Prejudice is a classic tale with numerous screen adaptations, most notably the BBC’s TV adaptation starring Colin Firth and an Oscar-nominated film starring Keira Knightley. British actress Adjoa Andoh has had a prolific career on both the stage and screen, from starring roles in the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the National Theatre to popular television Bridgerton and the Witcher. She now delivers a captivating performance, breathing new life into this much-loved novel. There are few authors as iconic as Jane Austen (1775-1817). Her body of work contains some of the most beloved books and characters of all time which have been in print for over two hundred years and sold millions of copies worldwide. Austen was a trailblazer, famed for her satire, her astute social commentary and her strong-willed, passionate heroines. Her ability to wield humour with realism has found her favour with critics and readers for generations. Her most famous works include Pride and Prejudice (1813), Emma (1816), Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Persuasion (1818), all of which have received success in adaptations for the screen, stage and radio.

An undisputed masterpiece of twentieth-century literature, perfect for Fitzgerald lovers and classics collectors alike. Set against a backdrop of jazz music, bootlegging, and lavish parties, The Great Gatsby is the story of Midwesterner Nick Carraway’s curious introduction to the decadent world of his mysterious, wealthy neighbor Jay Gatsby, whose thirst for riches is matched only by his tragic obsession with the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. Penned in the “roaring twenties,” the novel continues to be the subject of numerous film and stage adaptations and has become a fixture in the American classroom. This dangerously propulsive tale of glitz and glamour continues to be relevant as readers long for escapist novels—a chance to flee into Gatsby’s famed mansion and lose oneself in the rush of opulence. The Great Gatsby audiobook is brought to life by Tim Robbins, famed American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, and musician.

The Great Gatsby

Step into the intriguing world of existentialism and moral ambiguity with Albert Camus' masterful novel, The Stranger. Set in the sun-drenched streets of French Algiers, this thought-provoking literary classic takes readers on a journey of introspection, challenging societal norms and exploring the depths of human existence. Meet Meursault, a dispassionate and detached protagonist, who finds himself caught in the chaos of an absurd and indifferent world. As the story unfolds, Meursault's life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes embroiled in a fateful act of violence, leading to a gripping exploration of morality, identity, and the meaning of life itself. Camus' exquisite prose paints a vivid portrait of Meursault's internal struggles and his alienation from the conventional expectations of society. Through Meursault's eyes, the reader is confronted with the stark reality of human existence, where indifference and the relentless march of time challenge our very notions of purpose and significance. The Stranger is not just a tale of a man's existential crisis; it is a profound examination of the human condition, raising questions about free will, the nature of truth, and the absurdity of life. Camus invites readers to confront the uncomfortable truths that lie within the recesses of our own minds, urging us to question our own lives and the choices we make. In this timeless masterpiece, Camus weaves together philosophy, psychology, and social commentary, creating a narrative that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally resonant. The Stranger challenges readers to confront their own beliefs, to grapple with the complexities of morality, and to ponder the essence of what it means to be alive. A literary treasure that has captivated readers for generations, The Stranger continues to provoke introspection and ignite intellectual debates. Camus' powerful exploration of the human condition remains as relevant today as it was when it was first published, reminding us of the eternal struggle to find meaning in a seemingly indifferent world. Prepare to be enthralled, disturbed, and ultimately moved by The Stranger, a novel that will leave an indelible mark on your soul and forever change the way you view the world around you.

The Stranger

A brand new collection of short stories featuring the Queen of Crime’s legendary detective Jane Marple, penned by twelve remarkable bestselling and acclaimed authors.Read by Alex Kingston, Adrian Scarborough, Adjoa Andoh, Imogen Stubbs, Alison Steadman, Jodhi May, Chipo Chung, Cathy Tyson, Ramon Tikaram, Tanya Reynolds, Celia Imrie and Miriam Margolyes. This collection of twelve original short stories, all featuring Jane Marple, will introduce the character to a whole new generation. Each author reimagines Agatha Christie’s Marple through their own unique perspective while staying true to the hallmarks of a traditional mystery. · Naomi Alderman · Leigh Bardugo · Alyssa Cole · Lucy Foley · Elly Griffiths · Natalie Haynes · Jean Kwok · Val McDermid · Karen M. McManus · Dreda Say Mitchell · Kate Mosse · Ruth Ware Miss Marple was first introduced to readers in a story Christie wrote for The Royal Magazine in 1927 and made her first appearance in a full-length novel in 1930’s The Murder at the Vicarage. It has been 45 years since Agatha Christie’s last Marple novel, Sleeping Murder, was published posthumously in 1976, and this collection of ingenious new stories by twelve Christie devotees will be a timely reminder why Jane Marple remains the most famous fictional female detective of all time.

Marple: Twelve New Stories

'My dear, I don't give a damn.' The pampered daughter of a wealthy Georgian plantation owner, sixteen-year-old Scarlett O'Hara soon realises that young men can't resist her charms, despite her forthright manners and her refusal to embrace her mother's ladylike ways. She enters into an early marriage, but when the war between the Union and the Southern States breaks out and she is left a young widow, Scarlett's life is turned upside down, and she finds herself embroiled, together with the world surrounding her, in a long struggle for survival. Widely considered the great American novel, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer prize, and inspiring the iconic 1939 Oscar-winning film starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, Gone With The Wind's achievements are unparalleled and it remains an enduring classic.

Gone With The Wind

A quiet English villageA shocking murderAn unlikely detectiveNobody liked Colonel Protheroe. So when he’s found dead in the vicarage study, there’s no absence of suspects in the seemingly peaceful village of St Mary Mead. In fact, Jane Marple can think of at least seven. As gossip abounds in the parlours and kitchens of the parish, everyone becomes an amateur detective. The police dismiss her as a prying busybody, but only the ingenious Miss Marple can uncover the truth . . . Never underestimate Miss Marple. ‘Agatha Christie is the gateway drug to crime fiction both for readers and for writers.’ Val McDermid ‘Always keeps her reader enthralled and guessing to the end.’ Times Literary Supplement

Marple

The Murder at the Vicarage

Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's only novel. It was first published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, and a posthumous second edition was edited by her sister Charlotte. The name of the novel comes from the Yorkshire manor on the moors on which the story centres (as an adjective, wuthering is a Yorkshire word referring to turbulent weather). The narrative tells the tale of the all-encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them.

Wuthering Heights

Do you want to listen to Siddhartha? If so then keep reading… The title of this novel is a combination of two Sanskrit words, “siddha,” which is defined as “achieved,” and “artha” which is defined as “meaning” or “wealth.” The word serves as the name for the principal character, a man on a spiritual journey of self-discovery during the time of the first Buddha. Siddhartha is the son of a wealthy Brahmin family who decides to leave his home in the hopes of gaining spiritual illumination. Siddhartha is joined by his best friend Govinda. The two renounce their earthly possessions, engage in ritual fasting and intense meditation and ultimately seek out and speak with Gautama, the original Buddha. Here the two go their separate ways, Govinda joining the order of the Buddha, Siddhartha traveling on in search of spiritual enlightenment. In order to complete this novel Hesse immersed himself in the sacred teachings of both Hindu and Buddhist scriptures and lived a semi-reclusive life in order to achieve his own spiritual enlightenment. Considered one of Hesse’s most important works, “Siddhartha” remains to this day as one of his most popular. It is a work that deals with the quest that we all undertake in some way or another, to define our lives in an environment of conflicting dualities and ultimately find spiritual awareness. What are you waiting for Siddhartha is one click away, select the “Download” button in the top right corner NOW!

Siddhartha

Set in Southwest England in the late 1800s, Sense and Sensibility follows the lives of the Dashwood sisters Elinor and Marianne. When inheritance money from their father does not fall their way, the sisters and their mother must move in with distant relatives. Settling in at Barton Park, the Dashwood sisters discover a new life, filled with new acquaintances and different suitors. From these new encounters, their lives are forever changed through a series of love, romance, and heartbreaks. Ultimately the sisters must choose between sense and sensibility while uncovering secrets about their potential suitors and the wealth-inspired motives the society holds.

Sense and Sensibility

The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the Iliad, the poem is divided into 24 books. It follows the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his journey home after the Trojan War. After the war, which lasted ten years, his journey lasted for ten additional years, during which time he encountered many perils and all his crew mates were killed. In his absence, Odysseus was assumed dead, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus had to contend with a group of unruly suitors who were competing for Penelope's hand in marriage. The Odyssey was originally composed in Homeric Greek in around the 8th or 7th century BCE and, by the mid-6th century BCE, had become part of the Greek literary canon. In antiquity, Homer's authorship of the poem was not questioned, but contemporary scholarship predominantly assumes that the Iliad and the Odyssey were composed independently and that the stories formed as part of a long oral tradition. Given widespread illiteracy, the poem was performed by an aoidos or rhapsode and was more likely to be heard than read.

The Odyssey

The award-winning narrator of Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass brings the beloved classic The Secret Garden to sparkling new life in this delightful, highly accessible production. When her parents die from cholera in India, orphan Mary Lennox is sent to live with her uncle in a cold, dark mansion in England. Then she discovers a secret garden that has been locked since her Aunt died ten years earlier… Frances Hodgson Burnett was a British born American playwright and author best known for her children's stories Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Little Princess and The Secret Garden. Alison Larkin is the award-winning narrator of over 200 audiobooks including The Complete Novels by Jane Austen and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. www.alisonlarkin presents.com.

The Secret Garden

Includes an introduction written and read by Jesmyn Ward, a foreword written and read by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s granddaughter, Eleanor Lanahan, and an afterword written and read by Professor James L. W. West III The only edition of the beloved classic that is authorized by Fitzgerald’s family and from his lifelong publisher. An all-new recording published for the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, this production presents the enduring original text, updated with the author’s own revisions, a foreword by his granddaughter, and with an introduction by National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the supreme achievement of his career. First published by Scribner in 1925, this quintessential novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s.

Widely considered one of the great American novels, Herman Melville's masterpiece went largely unread during his lifetime and was out of print at the time of his death in 1891. Called the greatest book about the sea ever written by D.H. Lawrence, Moby Dick features detailed descriptions of whale hunting and whale oil extraction as well as beautiful, incisive writing on race, class, religion, art, and society. The story, loosely based on a real whaling shipwreck, features the unforgettable, vengeful Captain Ahab, who obsessively hunts a great white whale who bit his leg off below the knee.

Moby Dick

A shooting star seen in the skies over Victorian England heralds an alien invasion. The Martians, in need of resources, have been shot from Mars via a huge space gun and have landed in Southern England, where they quickly overwhelm its inhabitants. As the battle for Earth begins, our unnamed narrator struggles to return to his wife amidst the fighting and devastation. One of the most widely-read and influential science-fiction novels, War of the Worlds touches on interplanetary travel, evolutionary theory, British imperialism, and the fears and prejudices of Victorian times. First serialized in 1897, it has been adapted many times, most famously by Orson Welles and company in the form of a prank radio news alert in 1938 that caused panic among listeners.

War of the Worlds

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck is an epic novel that traverses generations, exploring the intricate tapestry of human relationships and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Set in California's Salinas Valley, the story revolves around the intertwined destinies of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons. At its heart is the retelling of the biblical tale of Cain and Abel, as themes of morality, free will, and the pursuit of identity unfold. The characters, vividly drawn and deeply flawed, grapple with their own desires and the impact of their choices on those around them. Steinbeck's prose weaves a narrative of profound depth and insight, creating a literary masterpiece that delves into the complexities of the human spirit and the enduring quest for redemption and understanding.

East of Eden

Beloved by millions, this timeless classic holds the key to all you desire and everything you wish to accomplish. This is the book that reveals the secret to personal wealth. The Success Secrets of the Ancients— An Assured Road to Happiness and Prosperity Countless readers have been helped by the famous "Babylonian parables," hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works on the subject of thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth. In language as simple as that found in the Bible, these fascinating and informative stories set you on a sure path to prosperity and its accompanying joys. Acclaimed as a modern-day classic, this celebrated bestseller offers an understanding of—and a solution to—your personal financial problems that will guide you through a lifetime. This is the book that holds the secrets to keeping your money—and making more. The Richest Man in Babylon Read it and recommend it to loved ones— and get on the road to riches. MORE THAN TWO MILLION BOOKS SOLD

The Richest Man in Babylon

Agatha Christie’s most exotic murder mystery, read by Hercule Poirot himself, David Suchet. The tranquillity of a cruise along the Nile was shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway had been shot through the head. She was young, stylish and beautiful. A girl who had everything… until she lost her life. Hercule Poirot recalled an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: ‘I’d like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger.’ Yet in this exotic setting nothing was ever quite what it seemed…

Death on the Nile

Middlemarch is a complex tale of idealism, disillusion, profligacy, loyalty and frustrated love. This penetrating analysis of the life of an English provincial town during the time of social unrest prior to the Reform Bill of 1832 is told through the lives of Dorothea Brooke and Dr Tertius Lydgate and includes a host of other paradigm characters who illuminate the condition of English life in the mid-nineteenth century.America.

Middlemarch

Buddenbrooks is a 1901 novel by Thomas Mann, chronicling the decline of a wealthy north German merchant family over the course of four generations, incidentally portraying the manner of life and mores of the Hanseatic bourgeoisie in the years from 1835 to 1877. Mann drew deeply from the history of his own family, the Mann family of Lübeck, and their milieu. It was Mann's first novel, published when he was twenty-six years old. With the publication of the second edition in 1903, Buddenbrooks became a major literary success. Its English translation by Helen Tracy Lowe-Porter was published in 1924. The work led to a Nobel Prize in Literature for Mann in 1929; although the Nobel award generally recognises an author's body of work, the Swedish Academy's citation for Mann identified "his great novel Buddenbrooks" as the principal reason for his prize. Mann began writing the book in October 1897, when he was twenty-two years old. The novel was completed three years later, in July 1900, and published in 1901. His objective was to write a novel on the conflicts between businessman and artist's worlds, presented as a family saga, continuing in the realist tradition of such 19th-century works as Stendhal's Le Rouge et le Noir (1830; The Red and the Black). Buddenbrooks is his most enduringly popular novel, especially in Germany, where it has been cherished for its intimate portrait of 19th-century German bourgeois life. Before Buddenbrooks Mann had written only short stories, which had been collected under the title Der kleine Herr Friedemann (1898, Little Herr Friedemann). They portrayed spiritually challenged figures who struggle to find happiness in (or at the margins of) bourgeois society. Similar themes appear in the Buddenbrooks, but in a fully developed style that already reflects the mastery of narrative, subtle irony of tone, and rich character descriptions of Mann's mature fiction. The exploration of decadence in the novel reflects the influence of Schopenhauer's The World as Will and Representation (1818, 1844) on the young Mann. The Buddenbrooks of successive generations experience a gradual decline of their finances and family ideals, finding happiness increasingly elusive as values change and old hierarchies are challenged by Germany's rapid industrialisation. The characters who subordinate their personal happiness to the welfare of the family firm encounter reverses, as do those who do not. The city where the Buddenbrooks live shares so many street names and other details with Mann's native town of Lübeck that the identification is unmistakable, although the novel makes no mention of the name. The young author was condemned for writing a scandalous, defamatory roman à clef about (supposedly) recognisable personages. Mann defended the right of a writer to use material from his own experience. The years covered in the novel were marked by major political and military developments that reshaped Germany, such as the Revolutions of 1848, the Austro-Prussian War, and the establishment of the German Empire. Historic events nevertheless generally remain in the background, having no direct bearing on the lives of the characters.

Buddenbrooks

In George Orwell's timeless classic, "Animal Farm," a seemingly idyllic farm becomes the stage for a powerful and thought-provoking allegory. Set in a rural landscape, this remarkable novel examines the nature of power, corruption, and the human condition. When Old Major, a wise and respected boar, shares his vision of a utopian society, the animals of Manor Farm are captivated. Inspired by his words, they rise up against their human oppressors, overthrowing their human masters and establishing their own self-governed farm. Led by the pigs, notably the intelligent and manipulative Napoleon and the eloquent Snowball, the animals embrace the principles of "Animalism" and set out to create a fair and equal society. Initially, the farm thrives under the animals' collective efforts, with the Seven Commandments of Animalism serving as their guiding principles. However, as time passes, the pigs gradually assume more power and privilege, distorting the original vision of equality. The farm's transformation unfolds before the reader's eyes, as Orwell masterfully illustrates how power corrupts even the noblest of intentions. As the pigs consolidate their authority, the other animals witness a chilling erosion of their rights and freedoms. The novel vividly portrays the struggles, hardships, and disillusionment faced by the hardworking animals as they grapple with the stark reality that their revolution has been hijacked by those who crave power and control. "Animal Farm" is a captivating and deeply allegorical novel that holds a mirror to society's dynamics, exploring themes of totalitarianism, propaganda, and the dangers of unchecked authority. Orwell's sharp and incisive prose exposes the flaws and contradictions of human nature, challenging readers to question the nature of power and its ability to corrupt. Originally published in 1945, "Animal Farm" remains a literary masterpiece and a scathing critique of political systems and social hierarchies. It continues to resonate with readers of all ages, urging them to reflect on the fragility of democracy and the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of tyranny. With its compelling narrative, rich symbolism, and enduring relevance, George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is a must-read for anyone seeking to explore the complexities of power and the human struggle for freedom and equality.

Animal Farm

This book, newly updated, contains now several HTML tables of contents that will make reading a real pleasure! The first table of contents (at the very beginning of the ebook) lists the titles of all novels included in this volume. By clicking on one of those titles you will be redirected to the beginning of that work, where you'll find a new TOC that lists all the chapters and sub-chapters of that specific work. 1. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) 2. The Divine Comedy (Dante Alighieri) 3. Meditations (Marcus Aurelius) 4. Emma (Jane Austen) 5. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) 6. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum) 7. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) 8. Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) 9. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) 10. Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes) 11. The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Agatha Christie) 12. The Richest Man in Babylon (George S. Clason) 13. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) 14. Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad) 15. A Tale Of Two Cities (Charles Dickens) 16. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky) 17. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas) 18. Middlemarch (George Eliot) 19. The Innocence of Father Brown (G. K. Chesterton) 20. The Border Legion (Zane Grey) 21. The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) 22. Think And Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill) 23. The Odyssey (Homer) 24. The Iliad (Homer) 25. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (Victor Hugo) 26. Les Misérables (Victor Hugo) 27. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett) 28. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Washington Irving) 29. The Turn of the Screw (Henry James) 30. The Metamorphosis (Franz Kafka) 31. The Jungle Book (Rudyard Kipling) 32. The Call Of The Wild (Jack London) 33. Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) 34. War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy) 35. At the Mountains of Madness (H.P Lovecraft) 36. The Call of Cthulhu (H.P Lovecraft) 37. Anne of Green Gables (Lucy Maud Montgomery) 38. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind (Joseph Murphy) 39. Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson) 40. The Fall Of The House Of Usher (Edgar Allan Poe) 41. Swann's Way (Marcel Proust) 42. The Federalist Papers (Publius) 43. Frankenstein (Mary Shelley) 44. Dracula (Bram Stoker) 45. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Mark twain) 46. The Art of War (Sun Tzu) 47. Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu) 48. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (Lew Wallace) 49.The Science of Getting Rich (Wallace D. Wattles) 50. The War of the Worlds (H. G. Wells)

50 Masterpieces you have to read before you die vol: 1 (2020 Edition)

"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck is a classic novella that explores the dreams, hardships, and complexities of human relationships during the Great Depression. The story revolves around two itinerant ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, as they navigate a world marked by economic hardship and social injustice. Set against the backdrop of the American West, the narrative delves into the deep friendship between George and Lennie, two contrasting characters bound by a shared dream of owning a piece of land. Lennie, despite his immense physical strength, possesses a childlike innocence that complicates their journey. The novel poignantly addresses themes of loneliness, the pursuit of the American Dream, and the harsh realities faced by those on the margins of society. Steinbeck's rich prose captures the essence of the time and place, offering a compelling exploration of human resilience and the fragility of dreams. "Of Mice and Men" stands as a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers, prompting reflection on the enduring nature of friendship, the pursuit of happiness, and the societal challenges that shape the human experience.

Of Mice and Men

Shirley Jackson’s beloved gothic tale of a peculiar girl named Merricat and her family’s dark secret Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Brave New World is a dystopian social science fiction novel by English author Aldous Huxley, written in 1931 and published a year later. Largely set in a futuristic World State, whose citizens are environmentally engineered into an intelligence-based social hierarchy, the novel anticipates huge scientific advancements in reproductive technology, sleep-learning, psychological manipulation, and classical conditioning that are combined to make a dystopian society that is challenged by only a single individual: the story's protagonist. Huxley followed this book with a reassessment in essay form, Brave New World Revisited (1958), and with his final novel, Island (1962), the utopian counterpart. The novel is often compared to George Orwell's 1884. Brave New World has frequently been banned and challenged since its original publication. It has landed on the American Library Association list of top 100 banned and challenged books of the decade since the association began the list in 1990. Author Aldous Huxley was an English writer and philosopher. He wrote nearly fifty books, both novels and non-fiction works—as well as wide-ranging essays, narratives, and poems. Born into the prominent Huxley family, he graduated from Oxford, with an undergraduate degree in English literature. Early in his career, he published short stories and poetry and edited the literary magazine Oxford Poetry, before going on to publish travel writing, satire, and screenplays. Huxley spent the latter part of his life in the United States, living in Los Angeles from 1937 until his death. By the end of his life, Huxley was widely acknowledged as one of the foremost intellectuals of his time. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature nine times and was elected Companion of Literature by the Royal Society of Literature in 1962. Also includes several ultra-rare previously unheard conversations with the esteemed intellectual.

Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

The allegorical novella ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell was first published in 1945. It is the story of farm animals that rebel against the farmer, intending to establish a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. With stirring slogans, they set out to create utopia. However, the rebellion is betrayed and the farm ends up in a state worse than it was before, under the dictatorship of a pig named Napoleon. When ‘Animal Farm’ was first published, Stalinist Russia was its target. Today it is quite clear that wherever and whenever freedom is suppressed, the message of George Orwell’s masterpiece is still relevant. Time Magazine chose the book as one of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005. It also features at number 31 on the Modern Library List of Best 20th-Century Novels.

"The Old Man and the Sea" is a short novel written by Ernest Hemingway in 1951 in Cuba and published in 1952. This work is among the author's most famous and narrates the story of Santiago, an aged Cuban fisherman, and his epic struggle with a massive marlin in the Gulf of Mexico. The novel explores themes of courage, perseverance, and man's relationship with nature. It is a masterpiece of literature known for its simple yet powerful narrative and is considered one of Hemingway's finest works, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.

The Old Man and the Sea

A book that pulses with life in the midst of death, The Magic Mountain is a mammoth masterpiece of erudition and irony, sexual tension, and intellectual ferment. Mann utilises a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps, a community dedicated solely to illness, as a microcosm for Europe, which in the years prior to 1914 was already displaying the initial signs of its own terminal madness, in this dizzyingly dense novel of ideas. Death in Venice tells the tale of Gustav von Aschenbach, a successful but ageing writer who follows his wanderlust to Venice in search of spiritual fulfilment but instead leads to his erotic doom. It was published on the eve of World War I, ten years after Buddenbrooks had established Thomas Mann as a literary celebrity. Foreword - Track 1 Chapter 1. Arrival - Track 2 Chapter 2. Of the Christening Basin -Track 3 Chapter 3. Drawing the Veil - Track 4 to 6 Chapter 4. Necessary Purchases - Track 7 to 11 Chapter 5. Soup-Everlasting Part 1 - Track 12 to 16./ Soup-Everlasting Part 2 - Track 17 to 21. Chapter 6. Changes Part 1 - Track 22 to 25. / Changes Part 2 - Track 26 to 29. / Changes Part 3 - Track 30 to 32. Chapter 7. By the Ocean of Time Part 1 - Track 33 to 37. / By the Ocean of Time Part 2 - Track 38 ./ By the Ocean of Time Part 3 - Track 39 to 43.

The Magic Mountain

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.` So opens Jane Austens second novel Pride and Prejudice, which was first published in 1813. It follows the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five single daughters. The whole town is set aflutter by the arrival of prosperous Mr Bingley and his friend Mr Darcy, and as the prejudice of the latter hurts the pride of headstrong Elizabeth Bennet, friendship, love, and strife enfold. Perhaps the most beloved of all of Austens work, Pride and Prejudice has been adapted numerous times, including in the 1995 BBC mini-series featuring Colin Firth as Mr Darcy, and the 2005 movie adaption by Joe Wright with Keira Knightley in the role of Elizabeth Bennet. Jane Austen (1775-1817) is one of the most beloved British writers of all time. During her short life she published six novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, that are all considered as literary classics today. Her writing is full of sharp observations on the society in which she evolved, as well as ripe with timeless irony, and a solid dose of humour. She has created immortal characters that have inspired countless authors, novels, and movies such as Bridget Jones and Clueless.

Svenska Ljud Classica

Ten invited guests on an island… Ten strangers, apparently with little in common, are lured to an island mansion off the coast of Devon by the mysterious U.N.Owen. Over dinner, a record begins to play, and the voice of an unseen host accuses each person of hiding a guilty secret. That evening, former reckless driver Tony Marston is found murdered by a deadly dose of cyanide. The tension escalates as the survivors realise the killer is not only among them but is preparing to strike again… and again…

'Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad!' Lockwood is an unwanted guest, forced by a snowstorm to pass the night at the lonely and inhospitable house of Wuthering Heights. A child's ghost pleads at the window to be let in; a waif who has wandered the moor for 20 years. Lockwood's screams bring the fierce and brooding master of the house, Heathcliff, who is at first angry, and then, startlingly, sobs and begs for the ghost to return. This is the unforgettable opening to a passionate love story, a haunting Gothic tale, a stark depiction of rural isolation and cruelty.

1984 or Nineteen Eighty-Four: A Novel, is a dystopian novel by English novelist George Orwell. It was published on 8 June 1949. 1984 is one of George Orwell's most powerful politically charged novels, a beautifully crafted warning against the dangers of a totalitarian society, and one of the most famous novels in the dystopian genre. Winston Smith is a low-ranking member of the ruling party in London whose every move is monitored by telescreens. Everywhere Winston goes, the party's omniscient leader, Big Brother, watches him. This is an important novel not only for its stark warning against abusive authority (and its somewhat ironic contribution to modern television content), but also for its insights into the power of manipulating language, history, and the psychology of fear and control. These issues are perhaps even more pertinent today than when Orwell penned his novel.

1984 - Orwell

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cosmos and renowned astronomer Carl Sagan’s international bestseller about the discovery of an advanced civilization in the depths of space remains the “greatest adventure of all time” (Associated Press). The future is here…in an adventure of cosmic dimension. When a signal is discovered that seems to come from far beyond our solar system, a multinational team of scientists decides to find the source. What follows is an eye-opening journey out to the stars to the most awesome encounter in human history. Who—or what—is out there? Why are they watching us? And what do they want with us? One of the best science fiction novels about communication with extraterrestrial intelligent beings, Contact is a “stunning and satisfying” (Los Angeles Times) classic.

Contact

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