World Classics Series

The novel tells a story of a fictional Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth soldier and noble Andrzej Kmicic and shows a panorama of the Commonwealth during its historical period of the Deluge, which was a part of the Northern Wars.

Schiller's Poems of the Second Period including: Hymn to Joy, The Invincible Armada, The Gods of Greece, Resignation, The Conflict, The Artists, The Celebrated Woman, Written in a Young Lady's Album.

Schiller's Poems of the First Period including: Hector and Andromache, Amalia, A Funeral Fantasie,To Laura at the Harpsichord, Group from Tartarus, Friendship, Elysium, The Fugitive, To Minna, The Flowers, The Triumph of Love, To a Moralist, Count Eberhard, To the Spring. Semele, and Other Poems.

"Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes is a timeless masterpiece that follows the adventures of the eccentric and chivalrous Alonso Quixano, who renames himself Don Quixote, and his loyal squire, Sancho Panza. Believing he is a valiant knight, Don Quixote sets out to revive chivalry, righting perceived wrongs and tilting at imaginary giants. His delusional quests lead to hilarious and poignant encounters with various characters, reflecting the complexities of human nature. As the novel unfolds, Cervantes skillfully blurs the line between reality and fantasy, exploring themes of illusion, disillusionment, and the power of imagination. "Don Quixote" remains a celebration of the human spirit and an enduring exploration of the enduring power of dreams, making it one of the most influential and beloved works in literary history.

"The Black Cat and Other Stories" by Edgar Allan Poe is a gripping collection of macabre tales. The eponymous story follows a man's descent into madness after a malevolent black cat enters his life. Other tales like "The Tell-Tale Heart" explore the horrors of guilt-driven paranoia, while "The Fall of the House of Usher" delves into the eerie atmosphere of a decaying mansion. Poe's stories intertwine psychological unease, moral conflict, and the uncanny, leaving readers haunted by their exploration of the darker facets of human nature.

"The Deluge" by Henryk Sienkiewicz is a vivid portrayal of 17th-century Poland, embroiled in the turmoil of war. This epic historical novel sweeps you into a world where personal and national struggles intersect. Amidst the chaos of the Swedish invasion, nobleman Andrzej Kmicic must redeem his tarnished honor and fight for the love of his life, Oleńka. A story of love, betrayal, and redemption, "The Deluge" captures the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.

The verses of Emily Dickinson are produced absolutely without the thought of publication, and solely by way of expression of the writer’s own mind. Such verse must inevitably forfeit whatever advantage lies in the discipline of public criticism and the enforced conformity to accepted ways.

Financial hardship prompts the young girl to marry a man whom she not only did not love, but also despised him and his occupation. She tries to rebel against such a life and against her husband, whom she even intended to kill in order to end human torment: not only her own, but also those people who were dependent on him, who pledged their last property for a penny at a high percentage.

This captivating volume presents a collection of Dostoyevsky's tales, inviting readers to explore the universal truths and profound insights embedded within his narratives. From the intriguing moral complexities of "An Honest Thief" to the enchanting symbolism of "The Heavenly Christmas Tree," and the poignant depiction of rural life in "The Peasant Marey," these stories showcase the breadth of Dostoyevsky's literary mastery. With his keen understanding of the human psyche, Dostoyevsky delves into the complexities of human nature, illuminating the inner struggles, desires, and moral dilemmas that define our existence. Through his tales, readers are transported to a world where the human condition is laid bare, inviting introspection and reflection on the timeless themes of morality, redemption, and the depths of the human soul.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Demons is a novel about the dark side of human nature. The book centers on the character of Pyotr Verkhovensky, a young man who becomes involved in a plot to overthrow the government. The novel explores the themes of power, corruption, and violence. Demons is considered one of Dostoyevsky's most important works, and it continues to be studied by scholars and readers alike.

Our narrator is hired by the New York Zoological Society to assist a professor who is in charge of their gardens and exhibits. He embarks on his search for a Great Auk, a species that was extinct for fifty or so years.

The book is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story that explores themes of love, wealth, ambition, and disillusionment. The protagonist, Amory Blaine, is a young man from a wealthy family who embarks on a journey of self-discovery as he tries to find meaning and purpose in his life. Through his experiences at Princeton University, in the army, and in the fast-paced world of New York society, Amory grapples with the limitations of his privileged existence and the emptiness of the lives of those around him. This Side of Paradise is a poignant and perceptive commentary on the search for happiness and the struggle to find one's place in the world. It is also a masterful portrayal of the disillusionment and loss of innocence that characterized the Jazz Age.

A collection of short stories from one of the most famous writers of very long novels Leo Tolstoy, including: Ilyas, Little Girls Wiser Than Men, The Coffee-House of Surat. 'For man to be able to live he must either not see the infinite, or have such an explanation of the meaning of life as will connect the finite with the infinite.'

The novel describes the life of a young man living through the revolution of 1848 and the founding of the Second French Empire, and his love for an older woman. Flaubert based many of the protagonist's experiences including the romantic passion on his own life. 'I want to write the moral history of the men of my generation—or, more accurately, the history of their feelings. It's a book about love, about passion; but passion such as can exist nowadays—that is to say, inactive.'

"The Gold-Bug and Other Stories" by Edgar Allan Poe is a captivating collection featuring the iconic tale "The Gold-Bug," where a cryptic cipher leads to a hunt for hidden treasure. The collection includes more of Poe's masterful short stories, such as the chilling "The Tell-Tale Heart," exploring the mind of a murderer haunted by guilt. "The Fall of the House of Usher" delves into themes of madness and the macabre, while "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" introduces the detective C. Auguste Dupin in a groundbreaking detective mystery. Through Poe's intricate narratives and dark imagination, the collection delves into the depths of the human psyche, leaving readers both thrilled and haunted by his tales of mystery, horror, and psychological tension.

"Ligeia and Other Stories" by Edgar Allan Poe is a haunting collection of tales that delve into the depths of human psychology and the supernatural. The titular story, "Ligeia," explores themes of love, death, and resurrection through a mysterious woman's haunting presence. Other stories like "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Tell-Tale Heart" delve into madness, horror, and guilt. Poe's intricate narratives evoke a sense of unease, as characters grapple with their inner demons and the uncanny. The collection masterfully blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural, leaving readers captivated by its exploration of the macabre and the enigmatic.

"The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Stories" by Edgar Allan Poe is a riveting collection of dark tales. The titular story delves into the mind of a murderer tormented by guilt. "The Fall of the House of Usher" explores a decaying mansion's eerie atmosphere, while "The Pit and the Pendulum" traps a victim in a torturous nightmare. Poe's narratives traverse madness, horror, and the macabre, offering glimpses into the human psyche's depths. Through chilling descriptions and psychological intensity, the collection immerses readers in tales of terror, guilt, and the uncanny, leaving an indelible mark of unease.

The novel describes the life of a young man living through the revolution of 1848 and the founding of the Second French Empire, and his love for an older woman. Flaubert based many of the protagonist's experiences including the romantic passion on his own life. 'I want to write the moral history of the men of my generation—or, more accurately, the history of their feelings. It's a book about love, about passion; but passion such as can exist nowadays—that is to say, inactive.'

Ivan Ivanovitch attends the funeral of a casual acquaintance and falls to contemplation in the graveyard. He hears the voices of the recently deceased and buried, and he listens to their conversation. They discuss card games and political scandals. As the deceased entertain themselves by revealing all of the shameful details of their earthly lives, Ivan Ivanovitch sneezes.

The book reflects the social and cultural changes of the Jazz Age, a time of great optimism, decadence, and excess. The stories explore themes of love, wealth, ambition, and disillusionment, as well as the disillusionment of the American Dream. Through his characters, Fitzgerald critiques the morality of the wealthy and the emptiness of the lives they lead. The collection provides an insightful look into the era, capturing the spirit and essence of the times.

Hal Warner, a rich young fellow determined to find the truth for himself about conditions in the mines, runs away from home and adopts the alias Joe Smith. After being turned away by one coal mine for fear of Hal being a union organizer, he gets a job in another coal mine operated by the General Fuel Company, or GFC. In the mines he befriends many of the workers, and realizes their misery and exploitation at the hands of the bosses.

The book reflects the cultural and social changes of the Jazz Age, a time characterized by optimism, decadence, and excess. The stories explore themes of love, wealth, ambition, and disillusionment, as well as the disillusionment of the American Dream. Through his characters, Fitzgerald critiques the morality of the wealthy and the emptiness of their lives. The collection provides a unique insight into the era and captures the spirit and essence of the times. From the flappers and their newfound freedom to the stock market boom and eventual crash, Tales from the Jazz Age is a vivid and captivating portrayal of one of the most fascinating periods in American history.

A young lawyer, Allan Montague moves to New York City from Mississippi, along with his mother and cousin Alice. He joins his younger brother Oliver, who had taken up residence there several years before. The newcomers soon discover that Oliver has become a highly networked member of a fast-paced social circuit comprising some of the most powerful members of the business class.

"The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym" by Edgar Allan Poe is a gripping adventure tale that follows young Pym's maritime journey. He joins a whaling ship and faces treacherous seas, mutiny, and encounters with indigenous people. Pym's voyage takes a surreal turn as he discovers a hidden island and its enigmatic inhabitants. As the story unfolds, it ventures into the realms of horror and the unknown, where the boundaries of reality blur. Through vivid descriptions and suspenseful storytelling, Poe crafts a tale of exploration, survival, and the eerie mysteries that lie beyond the human realm.

A true story of how a gentleman of a certain age and of respectable appearance was swallowed alive by the crocodile in the Arcade, and of the consequences that followed.

Emma Bovary, a doctor's wife, has a highly romanticized view of the world and craves beauty, wealth, passion, and high society. The disparity between these romantic ideals and the realities of her country life lead her into extramarital love affairs as well as causing her to accrue an insurmountable amount of debt. The book, loosely based on the life story of a school friend who had become a doctor, was written at the urging of friends, who were trying to cure Flaubert of his Romanticism by assigning him the dreariest subject they could think of, and challenging him to make it interesting.When it was first serialized in La Revue de Paris, the novel was attacked for obscenity by public prosecutors. Flaubert's masterpiece is now considered a seminal work of Realism and one of the most influential novels ever written.

The intellectual activity of Emily Dickinson was so great that a large and characteristic choice is still possible among her literary material, and this third volume of her verses is put forth in response to the repeated wish of the admirers of her peculiar genius. Much of Emily Dickinson’s prose was rhythmic, —even rhymed, though frequently not set apart in lines.

"The Double" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky follows the life of the timid government clerk Golyadkin, who encounters his exact doppelgänger, a confident and audacious version of himself. As the double infiltrates Golyadkin's life, paranoia and identity crisis ensue. The novella delves into themes of alienation, psychological turmoil, and the duality of human nature. Dostoyevsky's exploration of the blurred lines between reality and imagination creates a haunting narrative that exposes the fragility of the human psyche.

The eagerness with which the first volume of Emily Dickinson’s poems has been read shows very clearly that all our alleged modern artificiality does not prevent a prompt appreciation of the qualities of directness and simplicity in approaching the greatest themes,—life and love and death. That 'irresistible needle-touch,' as one of her best critics has called it, piercing at once the very core of a thought, has found a response as wide and sympathetic as it has been unexpected even to those who knew best her compelling power. This second volume, while open to the same criticism as to form with its predecessor, shows also the same shining beauties.

The book is a social commentary on the life and times of the wealthy and their disillusionment with the American Dream. The story follows the lives of Anthony Patch and his wife, Gloria, as they navigate the high-society world of New York in the early 20th century. As they wait for Anthony's inheritance, they indulge in the lavish lifestyle of the wealthy, but soon find themselves consumed by their own decadence and excess. The Beautiful and Damned is a powerful exploration of the emptiness of wealth, the consequences of self-indulgence, and the eventual disillusionment that follows. Through the lives of its characters, the book provides a vivid and captivating portrayal of the social and cultural changes of the Jazz Age.