Enter the thrilling world of the Knights HENRY GILBERT of the Round Table with these exciting retellings of the Arthurian legends. Henry Gilbert’s classic collection includes the adventures of Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Merlin, Gwenevere, and many other famous characters.Filled with daring quests and chivalrous deeds, these stories will enchant readers of all ages. This edition features illustrations by the renowned artist, Walter Crane.

Wendy knows that all children have to grow up… all apart from the magical Peter Pan! When Peter flies through the nursery window and invites Wendy and her brothers, John and Michael, to come to Never-Never-Land, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime…With specially-commissioned cover designs by Kayla Stark, J. M. Barrie’s best-loved tale of Lost Boys, mermaids, pirates and a boy who will never grow up is sure to enchant readers aged 8 and up.

When Marilla and Matthew decide to adopt a boy from an orphanage they are not sure what to expect. But it’s certainly not the imaginative, red-haired little girl who arrives at Green Gables instead. Join Anne on her many adventures on Prince Edward Island in this much-loved story from Lucy Maud Montgomery. This classic tale of mischief, romance, and friendship is sure to delight readers of all ages.

Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, heralds the return of Sherlock Holmes after his apparent death in The Final Problem. This masterwork of crime writing expertly fuses suspense and dread with a primal terror of the weird, unfamiliar, and invisible.Set in Devonshire, the lonely moorlands and the imposing Baskerville Hall provide the sinister backdrop over which the daemonic hound casts an ominous shadow over the landscape. The sudden death of Sir Charles Baskerville raises many questions. Could his death be linked to the legend of a hound that has terrorized his family for multiple generations? Only Sherlock Holmes can unravel the mystery…

Four of the most important plays ever written, each one a masterpiece in human psychology, with a flawed yet fascinating main character at its heart.

When Marilla and Matthew decide to adopt a boy from an orphanage they are not sure what to expect. But it’s certainly not the imaginative, red-haired little girl who arrives at Green Gables instead. Follow Anne’s adventures on Prince Edward Island in the first of L. M. Montgomery’s much-loved stories, which is guaranteed to delight readers of all ages.

When I cannot see words curling like rings of smoke round me I am in darkness — I am nothing. — Virginia WoolfFirst published in 1927, Virginia Woolf’s loosely autobiographical novel features the Ramsay family and their visits to the Isle of Skye between 1910 and 1920, a period which spans World War I. Six-year old James wants to visit the lighthouse they can see from their window and his mother tells him they’ll go the next day if the weather permits…Following in the footsteps of Marcel Proust and James Joyce, To the Lighthouse is a modernist novel that uses a stream-of-consciousness technique to deal with the complexities of who and what we are and how we perceive the world as we trudge through the shifting sands of time. While the reader awaits the long-delayed trip to the lighthouse, the themes of the text are the transience of life, absence and the inevitability of death. Everything will pass but not the enduring power of art. This is a subtle, psychological masterpiece from a great writer.

The Dashwood sisters — 19-year-old Elinor and Marianne, aged 17 — are left poor and homeless by their father’s death. Although kind relatives provide a roof over their heads, one way out of this misfortune is for both girls to marry well. However, impetuous Marianne and cautious Elinor find themselves having to choose between passionate romance and observing the rules of polite society.Through risky liaisons, misunderstandings and illness, two very different individuals discover, in their own-ways, that a mixture of Sense and Sensibility is the solution.

‘One might have imagined that the British Empire was in danger. The Standard spoke of me as a menace to English letters; and the Morning Post as an example of the sad results to be expected from the over-education of the lower orders…’ Jerome K. JeromeWhen Three Men in a Boat, a jaunty account of a boating trip down the Thames, was first published in 1889, it became a huge overnight success with the paying public despite the barrage of criticism in the press.It’s the knockabout story of three impressionable young clerks, J., George and Harris, who climb aboard a skiff in the company of a fox-terrier called Montmorency. Originally intended to be a travel guide, it somehow turned into an outstanding comic novel and a runaway hit that still has legs. It’s never been out of print since.The good-natured jokes and comic set-pieces remain as fresh today as when they were first penned. The gags cover entirely random subjects, including hazardous towropes, the whys and wherefores of late-Victorian suburban life, and the problem of trying to get into a tin of pineapple chunks without an opener. This is a comic gem that brings to life memories of a lost era of innocence and it regularly makes lists of the funniest books of all time.

A play ought to be written in which people should come and go, dine, talk of the weather or play cards… because that is what happens in real life — Anton ChekhovChekhov demolished the conventions of traditional Russian theatre and created something new that proved hugely influential. His aim was to create a slice of life with naturalistic settings, mundane conversation and acting that brought the everyday on stage.The Seagull, 1895, is the first of his four major plays. The four main characters, guests on a tranquil estate in the Russian countryside, are Nina, a beautiful young actress who can’t act; Konstantin, a talentless playwright, and his mother Irina Arkadina, a fading theatrical diva; finally, there is successful writer of middling books, Boris Trigorin. Konstantin shoots a seagull and, much to her horror and disgust, gives it to Nina as the set-up becomes a recipe for romantic and artistic fallings-out, compounded when they all meet up a second time.Although Chekhov called this a comedy, there’s nothing cheerful here. By always snatching at love and success, his characters block out happiness; the author is satirizing human foibles which we soon recognize in ourselves. When the play was first performed, it was booed off stage. In 1898, after the production by Stanislavski that marked the birth of modern theatre, it became a major triumph and Chekhov took his place in history.

Follow the thrilling adventures of Robin Hood and his gang of Merry Men in Henry Gilbert’s famous retelling of this much-loved legend. When Robin witnesses how cruelly the peasants are being treated by the lords of the land, he decides to become and outlaw and fight against their tyranny.Featuring a cast of unforgettable characters, such as Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, and the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham, this heroic story is guaranteed to delight young readers aged 8 and up. This edition also features illustrations by the renowned artist, Walter Crane.

This collection brings together the unique stories from H. P. Lovecraft’s formative years, ranging from the petrifying ‘Dagon’ through the playful ‘Ibid’ to the subtle horror of ‘The Music of Erich Zann.’ Featuring ancient powers, long-buried secrets, and cosmic terrors, Macabre Stories demonstrates the range and depth of Lovecraft’s writing.Sometimes shocking, sometimes horrifying, but always engaging, these tales are an impressive example of the master of horror’s ability to entertain.

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’The famous opening words of Pride and Prejudice carry the reader straight to the heart of the Bennet household, the home of no fewer than five marriageable daughters.Austen’s best-loved romance unfolds around the twp eldest, Jane and Elizabeth, and two eligible bachelors, Mr Bingley and his friend Mr Darcy. When the lively Elizabeth first meets the aloof, conceited Darcy she dislikes him immediately, but this is only the prelude to a classic attraction of opposites.

A woman receives two severed ears in a cardboard box, a government-worker is found dead on the London Underground, and two men go insane in a Cornish cottage.In His Last Bow, the world’s favourite eccentric sleuth investigates a series of compelling mysteries. Taking on dastardly villains in thrilling adventures, Sherlock Holmes and his partner John Watson leave no stone unturned as they seek to unravel their opponents’ despicable plots.The concluding story in this collection presents the iconic detective’s final adventure. Set during World War I, Holmes’ cosy retirement is interrupted by a call to investigate a potential German spy. It also includes a fantastic epilogue on his life that brings closure to one of literature’s most brilliant characters.

On the bleak streets of Dublin, a young boy grieves over the death of an irreligious priest, a woman elopes with her lover, and a professor considers the nature of death: these are some of the unfortunate denizens of James Joyce’s imagination.This powerful collection of short stories from one of Ireland’s greatest writers includes such brilliant tales as ‘Araby’, ‘The Sisters’ and ‘The Dead’. Gracefully written and born of deeply personal experiences, the stories in this collection are often bleak and troubling. Together they provide an unflinching portrait of the city, as Joyce lays out the brutal realities of Irish life on the eve of independence.A controversial and genre-defying depiction of the everyday, Dubliners is an essential read from one of Ireland’s most celebrated literary figures.

Anton Chekhov was one of Russian literature’s greatest short story writers. This collection brings together twenty-five of his best known, including ‘Fat and Thin’, ‘Sleepy’, ‘Rothschild’s Fiddle’, and ’The Lady with a Dog’.An acute observer of everyday life in late 19th-century Russia, Chekhov was a master of wry precision. His clear, subtle prose conjures up a diverse range of characters, whether they be small children arguing over a game, two old school friends meeting by chance, or lovers conducting an illicit affair. By turns tragic, comic, and satirical, each story paints a vivid picture that lives long in the mind.

Anne Elliot lives at the time of the Napoleonic wars, a time of accident, adventure, the making of new fortunes and alliances. A woman of no importance, she manoeuvres in her restricted circumstances as her long-time love Captain Wentworth did in the wars.

Californian family dog Buck is happy spending his days eating and sleeping. That is until he is kidnapped, and is forced to work in the frozen north of Alaska as a sledge dog. Passed from owner to owner, Buck sets out on a remarkable journey to ensure his own survival. Will he make it? And, when tested, how hard will he struggle against returning to the wild?Packed with tension and excitement, Jack London’s atmospheric story of adventure and endurance is sure to grip readers of all ages.

Tom Sawyer is a playful and mischievous boy who lives with his half-brother Sid and his Aunt Polly in Missouri. Join him on his hapless adventures around his town and beyond, as he tries to have fun without getting into trouble. Featuring a cast of amusing characters, including the famous Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain’s classic tale is sure to delight children aged 8 and up.

At the young age of five, little orphan Heidi is sent to live in the Swiss Alps with her grandfather. Everyone in the village is frightened of him, yet the two of them form an unlikely bond, and Heidi loves her simple existence in the mountains. Everything is going well, until she is taken away to lead a life in the town. Isolated and unhappy, can Heidi make it back to the friends she has made, and the grandfather she adores? This classic tale, full of warmth and joy, is sure to delight readers of all ages.

When wealthy Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin’s boarding school in London, she is determined to settle in and make friends. Charismatic and popular, with a big heart and a love of storytelling, she seems to be succeeding. That is until tragedy strikes, and Sara must fight harder than she thought possible to remain both strong and kind in the most difficult of circumstances …This inspirational tale of the significance of friendship, the power of the imagination, and the importance of perseverance will be adored by readers of all ages.

Northanger Abbey is the light-hearted account of a young girl’s first excursion into fashionable society. Catherine Morland is taken to Bath where, among a crowd of new acquaintances, she meets Henry Tilney and his sister Eleanor, who invite her to stay at their family home, Northanger Abbey. Catherine, a devotee of ‘horrid’ Gothic novels, fervently hopes that the Abbey will match the haunted ruins conjured up in her imagination.While poking fun at popular fiction, Catherine’s story also exposes the difference between illusion and reality, and shows how her artless approach to people attracts true friendship and love.

Two young women, Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley, leave Miss Pinkerton s Academy together. They are friends, yet the witty and flirtatious Becky looks set to outdo the passive, sweet-natured Amelia with her ruthless determination to grab what she can in life. And so all kinds of battles and fortunes are won and lost against a backdrop of the Napoleonic wars.Thackeray’s satire on corruption at every level of English society is rightly subtitled a novel without a hero’, since none of its characters have improved themselves by the end.However, it was a success from its first appearance in 1847 and remains one of the greatest comic novels.

The myths and legends of the Norsemen have entertained both old and young alike for hundreds of years.This fascinating collection contains stories retold from the Icelandic Eddas, the principal sources of knowledge of Norse mythology, and the Sagas of the ancient world of the Vikings.Following the deeds of the powerful Norse gods, such as Odin, Thor and Loki, and filled with a host of fantastic creatures and objects containing magical properties, the tales in Norse Mythology will conjure up a world of heroism and romance that will enthrall readers.

Scott Fitzgerald’s debut novel, originally published in 1920, captures the feel of its era and explores themes such as the quest for success and the power of money as it tells the story of Amory Blaine’s journey from youth to maturity.

Published in 1826, The Last of the Mohicans is an adventure story centred on the kinship between white frontiersman, Natty Bumppo — or ‘Hawkeye’ — and two Mohican Indians, Chingachgook and his son Uncas. The action takes place during the French and Indian War. Alice and Cora, daughters of a British fort commander, are on a perilous journey through the dark forests of western New York. Their Huron guide, Magua, turns out to be a traitorous French sympathizer who holds the sisters captive until Hawkeye and the Mohicans come to their rescue. Even then, their troubles are far from over.

Inspired by real-life events, this epic tale features a young sailor, Ishmael, who yearns for adventure aboard a whaling ship. In Nantucket, he signs up for a voyage aboard the Pequod, bound for the tropics.But what Ishmael believes will be an ordinary whale hunt turns out to be nothing less than a voyage of revenge led by the imposing «ungodly, god-like» Captain Ahab. For Ahab has already lost one of his legs to the great White Whale, Moby Dick, and this time — driven by a tremendous inner rage — he is determined to pursue him to the death.

Benjamin Button is born as an old man, but as time passes, he gradually grows younger. As he grows up, he encounters prejudice, shock and delight as he seeks to live an ordinary live. Touching and profound, ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a uniquely moving meditation on the experience of growing up.This beautiful clothbound collection also includes several of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s stories set in the Roaring Twenties, which he termed the ‘Jazz Age’, such as ‘The Jelly Bean’, ‘May Day’ and ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz’. Ranging from the farcical to the insightful, Fitzgerald presents an enlightening portrait of 1920s America in these stories while always remembering that the first duty of a writer is to entertain.