Classic Books

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens · 2020

Great Expectations, written by Charles Dickens and first published in 1861, is a classic novel that follows the life of an orphaned boy named Pip. Through a series of unexpected events, Pip embarks upon a journey of self-discovery and maturity. Along the way, he meets a variety of colorful characters and learns valuable life lessons. Great Expectations is an uplifting story of hope, perseverance, and the power of redemption. It is a timeless tale of courage and determination that will continue to inspire generations to come.<br/><br/>Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer, novelist, and social critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time, having written some of the most famous works in the English language, such as A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and Oliver Twist. His works have been translated into more than 100 languages, and his stories have been adapted into countless plays, films, and television shows.<br/><br/>Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, and lived in London for much of his life. He was the second of eight children and had a difficult childhood. He was forced to leave school at the age of twelve and start working at a factory to help support his family. Despite his difficult circumstances, Dickens was an avid reader and a talented writer. He began publishing his works in 1833, and quickly gained fame and popularity.<br/><br/>Throughout his career, Dickens wrote some of the most influential works of the 19th century, exploring themes of morality, poverty, and social justice. He was also an outspoken critic of Victorian-era injustices, particularly those experienced by the poor. His works were often seen as critiques of the social and political issues of his time.<br/><br/>Dickens' popularity has endured over the years and his works are still widely read today. His novels have been adapted and re-imagined countless times, and his characters and stories have become part of the English literary canon. He is remembered as one of the most influential authors of all time, and his works have shaped generations of readers.

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald · 2004

Emma

Jane Austen · 2014

Following her governess’s marriage, wealthy, spoilt Emma Woodhouse seeks new company and new amusement. Ignoring the warnings of her friend Mr. Knightley, she begins a series of terrible blunders.<br/><br/>Through letters to her sister, the author presents the reader with puzzles to confuse even the best detective. Who sent the mystery piano? Why is Mr. Elton so charming and Miss Fairfax so reserved? How many men can Harriet love? Who is hiding a shocking secret?<br/><br/>With little understanding of her own feelings, can Emma lead anyone towards happiness? Can you solve any of the mysteries before Emma does?<br/><br/>Real Reads -- the classics retold and beautifully illustrated. Real Reads are a new and exciting way of presenting our literary heritage to a new audience: bright young primary readers, children who have seen the films and now want the books, teenagers who want to read the classics but aren't yet ready for the original, grown-up readers who want a quick fix of their favorite classical author, less confident readers who don't want to be left out of real books, learners of English who want to explore the classics everyone talks about.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde · 1993

In this celebrated work, his only novel, Wilde forged a devastating portrait of the effects of evil and debauchery on a young aesthete in late-19th-century England. Combining elements of the Gothic horror novel and decadent French fiction, the book centers on a striking premise: As Dorian Gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait grows day by day into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world. For over a century, this mesmerizing tale of horror and suspense has enjoyed wide popularity. It ranks as one of Wilde's most important creations and among the classic achievements of its kind.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee · 2002

Voted America's Best-Loved Novel in PBS's The Great American Read<br/>Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South—and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred<br/>One of the most cherished stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, served as the basis for an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father—a crusading local lawyer—risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

Animal Farm

George Orwell · 2024

"Animal Farm" by George Orwell is a classic allegorical novella depicting a farm where animals overthrow their human owner to establish a society based on equality and fairness. Led by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, the animals initially strive to create a utopian community free from human exploitation. However, power corrupts, and the pigs gradually betray the founding principles of equality, leading to oppression and inequality among the animals. Orwell's powerful critique of totalitarianism and political hypocrisy resonates through vivid characters and events, highlighting the dangers of unchecked power and the manipulation of ideology for personal gain.

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë · 2017

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott · 2014

<b>Louisa May Alcott's classic tale of four sisters in a deluxe hardcover edition, with beautiful cover illustrations by Anna Bond, the artist behind world-renowned stationery brand Rifle Paper Co.<br></b><br>Grown-up Meg, tomboyish Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. The four March sisters couldn't be more different. But with their father away at war, and their mother working to support the family, they have to rely on one another. Whether they're putting on a play, forming a secret society, or celebrating Christmas, there's one thing they can't help wondering: Will Father return home safely?

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen · 1813

The Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka · 2009

"The Metamorphosis" (original German title: "Die Verwandlung") is a short novel by Franz Kafka, first published in 1915. It is often cited as one of the seminal works of fiction of the 20th century and is widely studied in colleges and universities across the western world. The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, waking to find himself transformed into an insect.

Madame Bovary

Gustave Flaubert · 2002

The notorious and celebrated novel that established modern realism<br/><br/>For this novel of French bourgeois life in all its inglorious banality, Flaubert invented a paradoxically original and wholly modern style. His heroine, Emma Bovary, a bored provincial housewife, abandons her husband to pursue the libertine Rodolphe in a desperate love affair. A succès de scandale in its day, Madame Bovary remains a powerful and scintillating novel.<br/><br/>This Penguin Classics edition is translated with notes and an introduction by Geoffrey Wall. It includes a preface by Michele Roberts.<br/><br/>For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.