Modern Classics

1963 Berlin is dark and dangerous. The anonymous hero of The IPCRESS File has been sent to help arrange the defection - in an elaborate mock coffin - of a leading Soviet scientist. But, as he soon discovers, this deception hides an even deadlier truth. One of the first novels written after the construction of the Berlin Wall, Funeral in Berlin revels in the murky, chilling atmosphere of a divided city.

It is the far future. The artificial intelligences created by humanity are now gods, and mankind mere ants who scrabble in their shadows across a million worlds. The Lords of the Great Houses on the ever-night Moon of Hexator are suspected of the murder of one of their own. And merchant William Roxley, once a magistrate-priest, is unwillingly coopted to uncover the truth behind the killings. With only the help of his naive young assistant and a brutish robot bodyguard, the man they call 'Sweet William' digs into the Moon's eerie existence. A collapsing society where many strange, terrible ...

Thomas Jefferson claimed it to be the wisest and most perfect political system ever yet devised by the wit of man. Montesquieu said it was the most beautiful system ever created. That system is the Anglo-Saxon model. It is the only political/economic system that has a 500 year track record of bringing freedom and prosperity to every society that embraces it. More significantly, it ended the 10,000 year cycle that kept the common man in a state of poverty and servitude. It was at the heart of the Dutch Golden Age, made Britain the leader of the largest empire known to man, is at the ...

When Tom Sawyer and his best friend, Huck Finn, witness a murder in a cemetery, they become the key to an innocent man’s freedom. Sworn to a blood oath, Tom is forced to choose between friendship and justice at the risk of endangering the lives of his buddy, himself, and his adopted family.

Savushun chronicles the life of a Persian family during the Allied occupation of Iran during World War II. It is set in Shiraz, a town which evokes images of Persepolis and pre-Islamic monuments, the great poets, the shrines, Sufis, and nomadic tribes within a historical web of the interests, privilege, and influence of foreign powers; corruption, incompetence, and arrogance of persons in authority; the paternalistic landowner-peasant relationship; tribalism; and the fear of famine.

A Modern Telling of a Classic Fantasy The easy-to-understand, twenty-first-century language gives a new generation of children access to the story of Diamond, a child of Victorian England, and North Wind, the magical being who carries him through the skies. Their adventures together reveal the glimmer of wonder and Divine love shining even within the grim poverty of nineteenth-century London. Kenneth McIntosh, author of Following Aslan, writes that "At the Back of the North Wind is a cross between a Dickens novel and the Narnia stories. The tale weaves back and forth between gritty reality ...

John Galsworthy's magnificent trilogy of power and passion chronicles the wealthy Forsyte family. The complete Chronicles are divided into three volumes, containing nine books and four interludes in total. Volume 2, A Modern Comedy, focuses on Soames's vivacious daughter, Fleur. Soames tries constantly to protect her but is baffled by the carefree attitudes in post-war London. Fleur and her husband Michael Mont host society gatherings, but her previous affair with Jon Forsyte leaves embers of a passion that are ready to ignite - with dreadful consequences.

I.L. Peretz, the acknowledged "Father of Yiddish Literature", captured the essence of Eastern European Jewish life. He wrote of the magical quality of kindness, and the bitter fruits of blind faith.

Bernard has known that he is not getting the full picture from London Central ever since discovering that his wife, Fiona, was a double agent. Werner Volkmann has been cast out by London Central as untrustworthy. Yet Werner still seems able to pick up information that Bernard should have been told.

Bringing together dozens of voices in her distinctive style, The Unwomanly Face of War is Svetlana Alexievich's collection of stories from Soviet women who lived through the Second World War: on the front lines, on the home front and in occupied territories. As Alexievich gives voice to women who are absent from official narratives - captains, sergeants, nurses, snipers and pilots - she shows us a new version of the war we're so familiar with, creating an extraordinary history from their private stories.

Lolly Willowes, so gentle and accommodating, has depths no one suspects. When she suddenly announces that she is leaving London and moving, alone, to the depths of the countryside, her overbearing relatives are horrified. But Lolly has a greater, far darker calling than family: witchcraft.

Loosely inspired by the legend of Camelot, Dark Sexy Knight tells the story of dinner theater knight Colt Lane, who meets down-on-her-luck Verity Gwynn on the worst day of her life. Evicted from their home, Verity and her special-needs brother, Ryan, must find jobs or risk being separated. Colt, who is the furthest-possible thing from a white knight in real life, comes to their unlikely rescue, quickly cementing his place in Verity's heart.

Orwell chronicled his experiences as a militiaman in the Spanish Civil War in Homage to Catalonia. Here he brings to bear all the force of his humanity, passion and clarity, describing with bitter intensity the bright hopes and cynical betrayals of that chaotic episode: the revolutionary euphoria of Barcelona, the courage of ordinary Spanish men and women he fought alongside, the terror and confusion of the front, his near-fatal bullet wound and the vicious treachery of his supposed allies.

Unwittingly, we weave the fabric of our lives to perfection, like the spider mindlessly spins the perfect web. There is great beauty in the process, a beauty which is only perceived in retrospect; towards life's end. Way of the Wise follows one man's journey from youth's blinding impetuousness to the enveloping clarity of maturity's hindsight, only to arrive at the inescapable: The realization that each of us has but one course to follow, a course that we alone must navigate. Soon there will come upon that incessant wave of experience an encroaching weight of awareness...

First published in 1924, A Summer on the Test remains an essential read for fly fishermen. No author has surpassed the Right Honourable John Waller Hills' description of classic chalk stream fishing, or indeed knew more about the history of the sport. The Test is a river much affected by decline and deterioration, with the days of crystal clear waters and plentiful brown trout seemingly impossible to recover. A Summer on the Test reflects on the golden age giving an estimation of what it was once like and what we have lost.

Mussels are a versatile and delicious ingredient that are widely enjoyed around the world. From the bustling seafood markets of Europe to the tranquil bays of New England, mussels have been a staple food for centuries, and are beloved for their sweet, briny flavor and tender texture. This cookbook is a celebration of all things mussels. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to experiment with new flavors, you'll find a range of inspiring recipes that showcase the versatility and taste of these wonderful shellfish. From classic French dishes like moules marinière and baked ...

Hat, ribbon, bird rose. To the people on the island, a disappeared thing no longer has any meaning. It can be burned in the garden, thrown in the river or handed over to the Memory Police. Soon enough, the island forgets it ever existed. When a young novelist discovers that her editor is in danger of being taken away by the Memory Police, she desperately wants to save him. For some reason, he doesn't forget, and it's becoming increasingly difficult for him to hide his memories. Who knows what will vanish next?

An allegorical story of World War I set in the trenches in France and dealing ostensibly with a mutiny in a French regiment.

Step into a timeless story – retold for today’s youth. The Pilgrim's Progress (Book 2): Retold for the Next Generation brings John Bunyan’s enduring allegory to life in a fresh, relatable way that speaks to the hearts of teens and young readers. The journey doesn't end with Christian… In The Pilgrim's Progress (Book 2): Retold for the Next Generation, the classic allegory continues – now reimagined for today's teens and young readers. Follow Christiana, Christian's wife, and her children as they leave behind the City of Destruction and begin their own life-changing pilgrimage to ...

First in the super-funny classic series The Bagthorpe Saga, starring the totally unforgettable Bagthorpe family - from best-loved author Helen Cresswell. Jack's fed up of living in the shadow of his brilliant siblings. He and his trusty dog Zero are completely ordinary while the rest of them are annoyingly gifted. So when Uncle Parker comes up with a plan to make Jack stand out, he's more than a little excited. =