English literature

The Grotesque: A Novel

Patrick McGrath · 1989

This exuberantly spooky novel, in which horror, repressed eroticism, and sulfurous social comedy intertwine like the vines in an overgrown English garden, is now a major motion picture, starring Alan Bates, Sting, and Theresa Russell.

Dracula

Bram Stoker · 2017

When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries about his client and his castle. Soon afterwards, a number of disturbing incidents unfold in England: an unmanned ship is wrecked at Whitby; strange puncture marks appear on a young woman's neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the imminent arrival of his 'Master'. In the ensuing battle of wits between the sinister Count Dracula and a determined group of adversaries, Bram Stoker created a masterpiece of the horror genre, probing deeply into questions of human identity and sanity, and illuminating dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire.

The Women in White

Wilkie Collins · 2020

The Woman in White is widely regarded as the first in the genre of 'sensation novels'. It follows the story of two sisters living in Victorian England with their selfish, uninterested uncle as their guardian. Marian Halcombe is the elder of the two sisters, and a remarkably ugly woman, but with courage, strength and resourcefulness in abundance. The younger, her beautiful half-sister Laura Fairlie, is engaged to a rich man by the name of Sir Percival Glyde.

The Italian Or the Confessional of the Black Penitents. a Romance. by Ann Radcliffe, ... in Three Volumes.

Ann Ward Radcliffe · 2022

<p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.</p> <p>This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p> <p>Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>

The Monk - Matthew Lewis

Matthew Lewis · 2025

<p> <b> <i>The Monk</i> </b> by <b>Matthew Gregory Lewis</b> is a seminal work of Gothic fiction that delves into themes of temptation, repression, corruption, and the supernatural. Published in 1796, the novel follows Ambrosio, a revered monk in Madrid whose descent into moral ruin is driven by pride, desire, and manipulation. As Ambrosio falls deeper into sin—committing acts of lust, murder, and sacrilege—the story reveals the dangers of unchecked hypocrisy and the fragility of virtue when confronted with forbidden impulses.</p> <p>Notable for its bold treatment of taboo subjects and its atmospheric intensity, <i>The Monk</i> shocked readers upon release and was both condemned and admired for its daring content. Lewis combines horror, suspense, and dark romanticism to expose the contradictions within religious and social institutions of his time. The novel's complex structure, vivid imagery, and incorporation of the supernatural make it a hallmark of the Gothic tradition.</p> <p>The lasting impact of <i>The Monk</i> lies in its fearless exploration of human weakness and its critique of moral absolutism. Its provocative themes and dramatic narrative continue to captivate readers, securing its place as a groundbreaking and controversial masterpiece of Gothic literature.</p>

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare · 2021

A new edition of William Shakespeare's beloved comic play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, originally written in 1595-96. Set in ancient Athens, the play revolves around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyte, with several interweaving comic and romantic subplots. The cast of supporting characters find themselves in a forest inhabited by mischievous fairies who manipulate the humans and draw them into all sorts of intrigue. One of most Shakespeare's most enduringly popular and most often staged works, A Midsummer Night's Dream is beloved by readers and audiences alike and features many of Shakespeare's most popular and memorable characters and phrases.<br/><br/>This pocket edition is based on the original Cambridge editions, first published for the general public in the 1860s, and is designed for reading ease -- the size of a standard mass market paperback, it is convenient enough to fit in your pocket, briefcase, or purse, but it features font size large enough for easy reading in any setting, margins wide enough to be marked up by students of all ages, and paper durable enough for reading again and again.

The Castle of Otranto A Gothic Story

Horace Walpole · 2014

'Look, my lord! See heaven itself declares against your impious intentions!'The Castle of Otranto (1764) is the first supernatural English novel and one of the most influential works of Gothic fiction. It inaugurated a literary genre that will be forever associated with the effects that Walpole pioneered. Professing to be a translation of a mysterious Italian tale from the darkest Middle Ages, the novel tells of Manfred, prince of Otranto, whose fear of an ancient prophecy sets him on a course of destruction. After the grotesque death of his only son, Conrad, on his wedding day, Manfred determines to marry the bride-to-be. The virgin Isabella flees through a castle riddled with secret passages. Chilling coincidences, ghostly visitations, arcane revelations, and violent combat combine in a heady mix that terrified the novel's first readers.In this new edition Nick Groom examines the reasons for its extraordinary impact and the Gothic culture from which it sprang. The Castle of Otranto was a game-changer, and Walpole the writer who paved the way for modern horror exponents.The eBook offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support: Find the eBook on VitalSource.FeaturesA new edition of one of the earliest and most influential Gothic novels, the best introduction to the work that inaugurated a literary genre.Nick Groom's wide-ranging introduction explores the novel's Gothic context in the cultural movement that affected political and religious thinking before Walpole developed it as a literary style, helping to explain the novel's impact on contemporaries, its importance, and Walpole's pioneering innovations.Up-to-date bibliography and notes, drawing on the latest scholarship.Useful chronology of Walpole and the Gothic context.Appendix includes extracts from contemporary non-fiction by Walpole and Richard Hurd demonstrating the domestication of medieval Gothic for eighteenth-century readers that fed into The Castle of Otranto.New to this EditionNew introduction by Nick Groom.Up-to-date bibliography.Fuller chronology of Walpole and seventeenth/eighteenth century Gothic.New notes.An appendix with extracts from contemporary non-fiction relating to the domestication of medieval Gothic for eighteenth-century readers.Reset text.ABOUT THE SERIESFor over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Hamlet

William Shakespeare · 2003

<i>Hamlet</i> is Shakespeare’s most popular, and most puzzling, play. It follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties.<br> <br> Among them: What is the Ghost—Hamlet’s father demanding justice, a tempting demon, an angelic messenger? Does Hamlet go mad, or merely pretend to? Once he is sure that Claudius is a murderer, why does he not act? Was his mother, Gertrude, unfaithful to her husband or complicit in his murder?<br> <br> The authoritative edition of <i>Hamlet</i> from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes:<br> <br> -Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play<br> -Newly revised explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play<br> -Scene-by-scene plot summaries<br> -A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases<br> -An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language<br> -An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play<br> -Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books<br> -An up-to-date annotated guide to further reading<br> <br> Essay by Michael Neill<br> <br> The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Ken Kesey · 2002

A Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition of a counterculture classic, and the inspiration for the new Netflix original series Ratched, with a foreword by Chuck Palahniuk One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years Boisterous, ribald, and ultimately shattering, Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel has left an indelible mark on the literature of our time. Now in a new deluxe edition with a foreword by Chuck Palahniuk and cover by Joe Sacco, here is the unforgettable story of a mental ward and its inhabitants, especially the tyrannical Big Nurse Ratched and Randle Patrick McMurphy, the brawling, fun-loving new inmate who resolves to oppose her. We see the struggle through the eyes of Chief Bromden, the seemingly mute half-Indian patient who witnesses and understands McMurphy’s heroic attempt to do battle with the powers that keep them all imprisoned. 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.

Surfacing

Have you ever wondered why that 13-digit number on the back of a book costs $125 in the United States but is completely free in Canada and India? This book, The Global ISBN Handbook, is your 2025 guide to the International Standard Book Number. It explains everything about this global "fingerprint" for books. The ISBN is the most important cornerstone of the publishing industry. It started as a simple warehouse tool in the 1960s. Now, it is a complex digital identifier used in over 200 countries. This handbook deconstructs the entire system. It uses 15 distinct national case studies to do this. You will learn how the old 10-digit system changed to the new 13-digit one. We break down the five parts of the ISBN, from the "Bookland" prefix to the final check digit. The book explores the global governance framework, starting with the International ISBN Agency. Then, it dives deep into how different countries run their systems. You'll see the privatized, high-cost model in the United States. You'll compare it to Canada's free, government-run system. We explore the industry-led models in Brazil and Germany. We look at government-run systems in Mexico and India. We even cover the unique case of China, where the ISBN is not a simple identifier but a state-controlled publication license. The book also examines the systems in the UK , France , Russia , Japan , Australia , South Africa , Nigeria , and Egypt. Many books and websites can tell you how to get an ISBN. This handbook is the only resource that explains why the process is so different everywhere you look. It moves beyond a simple "how-to" and provides a true global analysis. It directly compares the privatized, for-profit models in the US and UK against the free, public-good systems in Canada and South Africa. You won't just learn the price; you will understand the cultural policies, market structures, and legal philosophies that shape that price. This book shows how the ISBN is a "global mirror". It reveals how a simple number can be a commercial product in one nation , a tool of cultural policy in another , and an instrument of state control in a third. This comparative insight is the missing piece for any author, publisher, or researcher trying to navigate the complex international publishing market. Disclaimer: This handbook is an independently produced resource for commentary and analysis. The author has no affiliation with the International ISBN Agency, R.R. Bowker, Library and Archives Canada, the National Press and Publication Administration, or any other national ISBN agency. This work is independently produced under the principle of nominative fair use.