TBR Classics ✮⋆˙

Animal Farm: 75th Anniversary Edition

George Orwell · 2004

1984

George Orwell · 1961

<b>Written more than 70 years ago, <i>1984</i> was George Orwell’s chilling prophecy about the future. And while 1984 has come and gone, his dystopian vision of a government that will do anything to control the narrative is timelier than ever...<br><br><b>• Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s <i>The Great American Read •</i></b><br></b><br>“<i>The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.</i>”<br><br>Winston Smith toes the Party line, rewriting history to satisfy the demands of the Ministry of Truth. With each lie he writes, Winston grows to hate the Party that seeks power for its own sake and persecutes those who dare to commit thoughtcrimes. But as he starts to think for himself, Winston can’t escape the fact that Big Brother is always watching...<br><br>A startling and haunting novel, <i>1984</i> creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing from start to finish. No one can deny the novel’s hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions—a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time.

Don Quixote

Miguel de Cervantes, Edith Grossman · 2009

The Great Gatsby: The Original 1925 Edition (A F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic Novel)

F. Scott Fitzgerald · 2021

Illiad

Homer · 2011

Oddysey of Homer

· 1996

Antigone

Sophocles · 2005

To make this quintessential Greek drama more accessible to the modern reader, this Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Edition? includes a glossary of difficult terms, a list of vocabulary words, and convenient sidebar notes. By providing these, it is our intention that readers will more fully enjoy the beauty, wisdom, and intent of the play.The curse placed on Oedipus lingers and haunts a younger generation in this new and brilliant translation of Sophocles? classic drama. The daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, Antigone is an unconventional heroine who pits her beliefs against the King of Thebes in a bloody test of wills that leaves few unharmed. Emotions fly as she challenges the king for the right to bury her own brother. Determined but doomed, Antigone shows her inner strength throughout the play. Antigone raises issues of law and morality that are just as relevant today as they were more than two thousand years ago. Whether this is your first reading or your twentieth, Antigone will move you as few pieces of literature can.

Oedipus Rex

Sophocles · 2022

Oedipus Rex, written by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, is a timeless classic of tragedy and one of the most well-known works of Western literature. It tells the story of Oedipus, King of Thebes, who unknowingly murders his father and marries his mother, fulfilling a prophecy that he had desperately attempted to avoid. The story is one of fate and its unavoidable power, as Oedipus’s life is predetermined despite his efforts to change it. The play is set in the city of Thebes, where Oedipus has recently been anointed king after solving a riddle posed by the Sphinx, freeing the city from her curse. He begins his rule by attempting to solve the mystery of the plague that has recently befallen the city. Through the course of his investigation, Oedipus discovers that he is the source of the plague, having unknowingly killed his father and married his mother, fulfilling the prophecy he had tried to avoid. As the truth of his identity is revealed, Oedipus’s fate is sealed and his life unravels. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is a powerful exploration of the power of fate and its ability to affect the lives of its characters. It is a timeless classic that is often studied in literature classes and is recognized as one of the greatest works of tragedy. Through its compelling characters and thoughtful exploration of the consequences of destiny, Oedipus Rex is a powerful and timeless tale.<br/><br/>Sophocles (c. 497/6 – 406/5 BC) was one of the three great ancient Greek tragedians, along with Aeschylus and Euripides. Born in 496 B.C. in Colonus, a village near Athens, Sophocles was the son of a wealthy merchant. He was trained in the art of rhetoric by the great teacher Gorgias, and was also a skilled musician and athlete. Sophocles is best known for his contributions to the development of tragedy. He wrote over 120 plays, of which seven have survived intact. These are the Oedipus trilogy (Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone), Ajax, Electra, Trachinian Women, and Philoctetes. These plays are notable for their complex themes, such as the inevitability of fate, loyalty, fidelity, power and responsibility. Sophocles was a highly influential figure in the development of Greek theater, and his works are still performed and studied all over the world. He was awarded first prize in the City Dionysia, a prominent drama festival in Athens, 18 times. He was also an active politician and served as a general in the Peloponnesian War. Sophocles was also known for his dedication to the gods and his involvement in religious ceremonies. He died in 406 B.C., leaving behind a legacy of superbly crafted plays and a unique style of tragedy. He remains one of the most renowned playwrights in the Western world.