Rodion Raskolnikov is a handsome, yet impoverished student. Morally conflicted, he believes that extraordinary men who contribute much to society by their thinking are above the law, and in order to prove his theory, he decides to murder a grasping old money lender and, through unforeseen circumstances, her sister. Unexpectedly filled with remorse, Raskolnikov is caught in a moral dilemma: while he believes he can get away with the perfect murder, he also finds his conscience challenged by…
Robinson Crusoe, set ashore on an island after a terrible storm at sea, is forced to make do with only a knife, some tobacco, and a pipe. He learns how to build a canoe, make bread, and endure endless solitude. That is, until, twenty-four years later, when he confronts another human being.
This exceptional collection of "Junior Classics" lets listeners enjoy the exploits and antics of Tom, Huck, Tom Canty, Hank Morgan, and other characters, in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, " and "The Prince and the Pauper."
The story of David Copperfield (1850) began as a memoir of Dickens' boyhood experiences in a blacking factory and grew into one of his most popular novels, echoing aspects of the author's own life and providing a wealth of famous characters. Creepy Uriah Heep and the cruel Murdstones are here, with faithful Peggoty and David's formidable Aunt Betsey Trotwood; not forgetting the ever-optimistic Mr Micawber, who is a portrait of Dickens' own improvident father. This edition contains the original…
Written in 1914 but not published until 1925, a year after Kafka’s death, The Trial is the terrifying tale of Josef K., a respectable bank officer who is suddenly and inexplicably arrested and must defend himself against a charge about which he can get no information. Whether read as an existential tale, a parable, or a prophecy of the excesses of modern bureaucracy wedded to the madness of totalitarianism, The Trial has resonated with chilling truth for generations of readers.
This extraordinary historical novel, set in Medieval Paris under the twin towers of its greatest structure and supreme symbol, the cathedral of Notre-Dame, is the haunting drama of Quasimodo, the hunchback; Esmeralda, the gypsy dancer; and Claude Frollo, the priest tortured by the specter of his own damnation. Shaped by a profound sense of tragic irony, it is a work that gives full play to Victor Hugo's brilliant historical imagination and his remarkable
'Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.' Often referred to superstitiously as 'the Scottish play', Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's best-loved works. As a general in the army of the Scottish king, Macbeth meets three witches who prophesy that he will one day take his master's place. A tumultuous tale of how ambition, guilt and paranoia lead to deceit and murder, it is one of the greatest studies of…
In this lively comedy of love and money in sixteenth-century Venice, Bassanio wants to impress the wealthy heiress Portia but lacks the necessary funds. He turns to his merchant friend, Antonio, who is forced to borrow from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. When Antonio's business falters, repayment becomes impossible--and by the terms of the loan agreement, Shylock is able to demand a pound of Antonio's flesh. Portia cleverly intervenes, and all ends well (except of course for Shylock).
Chekhov's short stories were some of the most influential in modern literature. Relying on subtlety and clever characterization rather than explicit action, his sketches of Russian life bring out comedy, tragedy and all aspects of human nature. This beautiful collection features some of Chekhov's most celebrated stories, including 'Vanka', 'The Lady with a Dog' and 'Gooseberries', using the classic translation by Constance Garnett. This beautiful gift edition is presented with gilded page…
Validate your login