Classic General Fiction

As recommended on BBC4's A Good Read - 'A very good writer...simple, elegant and readable...a fantastic story' Jonathan Coe Nevil Shute's classic Second World War novel, Pied Piper, is an uplifting, satisfying and moving story. John Howard is determined to brighten up his old age by taking a fishing trip to France. However, during his stay, the Nazis invade and...

Powerful, gripping, and haunting — Nevil Shute's most remarkable and influential novel. After the war is over, a radioactive cloud begins to sweep southwards on the winds, gradually poisoning everything in its path. An American submarine captain is among the survivors left sheltering in Australia, preparing with the locals for the inevitable. Despite his memories of his wife, he becomes...

Probably more people have shed tears over the last page of A Town Like Alice than about any other novel in the English language... remarkable - John Ezard, Guardian Probably more people have shed tears over the last page of A Town Like Alice than about any other novel in the English language... remarkable - Guardian Jean Paget is just...

John Grady Cole is the last bewildered survivor of long generations of Texas ranchers. Finding himself cut off from the only life he has ever wanted, he sets out for Mexico with his friend Lacey Rawlins. Befriending a third boy on the way, they find a country beyond their imagining: barren and beautiful, rugged yet cruelly civilized; a place where...

A new edition of the book that has been more widely read than any book in English except the Bible. Bunyan wrote the first part of The Pilgrim's Progress when he was in prison for conducting unauthorised Baptist religious services outside of the Church of England. It was published in 1678; the second part was published in 1684. In Bunyan's...

New to Penguin Black Classics, the fully annotated edition of Mireille Ribière's acclaimed translation. Rumours that a ghost stalks the dark passages and cellars of the Paris Opera House, wreaking havoc, have long been rife among staff and performers. This Phantom also haunts the imagination of the beautiful and talented singer Christine Daaé, appearing to her as the 'Angel of...

As the interminable case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce grinds its way through the Court of Chancery, it draws together a disparate group of people: Ada and Richard Clare, whose inheritance is gradually being devoured by legal costs; Esther Summerson, a ward of court, whose parentage is a source of deepening mystery; the menacing lawyer Tulkinghorn; the determined sleuth Inspector Bucket;...

This stunning collectible hardcover edition of L. Frank Baum's classic features gorgeous printed and sprayed edges, and coloured endpapers designed with an Ex Libris bookplate. In time to celebrate the forthcoming film adaptation of Wicked starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey, and directed by Jon M. Chu, this edition is a Penguin Hardcover Classic....

During an eventful season at Bath, young, naive Catherine Morland experiences fashionable society for the first time. She is delighted with her new acquaintances: flirtatious Isabella, who introduces Catherine to the joys of Gothic romances, and sophisticated Henry and Eleanor Tilney, who invite her to their father's house, Northanger Abbey. There, influenced by novels of horror and intrigue, Catherine comes...

A Popular Penguin NZ classic. This classic has been released in the Popular Penguin format to mark 50 years of publishing in New Zealand. The format reaches further back to 1935, when Allen Lane founded Penguin Books with a clear vision: 'We believed in the existence of a vast reading public for intelligent books at a low price, and staked...

Bored on a hot afternoon, Alice follows a White Rabbit down a rabbit-hole without giving a thought about how she might get out. And so she tumbles into Wonderland: where animals answer back, a baby turns into a pig, time stands still at a disorderly tea party, croquet is played with hedgehogs and flamingos, and the Mock Turtle and Gryphon...

A terrifying encounter with an escaped convict in a graveyard on the wild Kent marshes; a summons to meet the bitter, decaying Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold-hearted ward Estella; the sudden generosity of a mysterious benefactor—these form a series of events that change the orphaned Pip's life forever, and he eagerly abandons his humble origins to begin a new...

A new selection of seven of Dostoyevsky's best short stories, translated by Ronald Meyer. The Gambler and Other Stories is Fyodor Dostoyevsky's collection of one novella and six short stories reflecting his own life. Indeed, The Gambler, a story of a young tutor in the employment of a formerly wealthy Russian General, was written under a strict deadline so he...

Having got rid of their human master, the animals in this political fable look forward to a life of freedom and plenty. But as a clever, ruthless elite takes control, the other animals find themselves hopelessly ensnared in the same old way. Animal Farm by George Orwell is a powerful allegory that explores the dynamics of power and corruption, leaving...

A searing collection of E. M. Forster's short stories about forbidden sexuality and desire. 'Neither of them knew when the end came, and he when he realised it felt no sadness, no remorse' Ranging from moving to satirical, historical to supernatural, Forster's masterful storytelling is on full display in these tales of passion and betrayal. Love, death, class and race...

A masterfully rendered volume of Chekhov's stories from famed translators Pevear and Volokhonsky. Chekhov's genius left an indelible impact on every literary form in which he wrote, but none more so than short fiction. Now renowned translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky give us their superb renderings of fifty-two Chekhov stories. These stories, which span the full arc of his...

A collection of Kafka's greatest stories, including his famous tale of alienation, now in Penguin Black Classics. This collection of new translations brings together the small proportion of Kafka's works that he himself thought worthy of publication. It includes Metamorphosis, his most famous work, an exploration of horrific transformation and alienation; Meditation, a collection of his earlier studies; The Judgement,...

After eighteen years as a political prisoner in the Bastille, the aging Dr Manette is finally released and reunited with his daughter in England. There, two very different men, Charles Darnay, an exiled French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a disreputable but brilliant English lawyer, become enmeshed through their love for Lucie Manette. From the tranquil lanes of London, they are...

With Robinson Crusoe, Defoe wrote what is regarded as the first English novel, and created one of the most popular and enduring myths in literature. Written in an age of exploration and enterprise, it has been variously interpreted as an embodiment of British imperialist values, as a portrayal of 'natural man', or as a moral fable. But above all, it...

The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde's only novel—dark, captivating, and intensely Victorian. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY IRVINE WELSH Dorian is a good-natured young man until he discovers the power of his own exceptional beauty. As he gradually sinks deep into a frivolous, glamorous world of selfish luxury, he apparently remains physically unchanged by the stresses of his corrupt...

The Vintage Classics Russians Series - sumptuous editions of the greatest books to come out of Russia during the most tumultuous period in its history. If you've never read it, now is the moment. This translation will show that you don't read War and Peace, you live it - The Times Tolstoy's enthralling epic depicts Russia's war with Napoleon and...

NOW A MAJOR BBC TV ADAPTATION "Still grips the reader with its epic-narrative sweep and all-embracing humanitarianism" Douglas Kennedy, Sunday Times Read the masterful story of romance and revolution behind the hit BBC TV series. Les Miserables is a novel peopled by colourful characters from the nineteenth-century Parisian underworld; the street children, the prostitutes, and the criminals. In telling the...

50th anniversary of Catch-22's publication. Yossarian lives! Explosive, subversive, wild and funny, 50 years on the novel's strength is undiminished. Reading Joseph Heller's classic satire is nothing less than a rite of passage. Set in the closing months of World War II, this is the story of a bombardier named Yossarian who is frantic and furious because thousands of people...

Arrow's 60th anniversary edition of the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning classic. 'Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.' A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel - a black man falsely charged with the rape of a white girl....

This Penguin Classics edition of Louisa May Alcott's inspiring tale of sisterhood, Little Women, is edited with an introduction by Elaine Showalter. One of the best-loved books of all time. Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read. Lovely Meg, talented Jo, frail Beth, and spoiled Amy face the hard lessons of poverty and growing...

Swann’s Way, the first volume of Marcel Proust’s monumental series In Search of Lost Time, unfolds as an evocative meditation on memory, time, and desire. Through the protagonist’s meandering reflections, readers are introduced to the intricate world of 19th century French high society. The novel kicks off with the narrator’s recollections of his childhood in Combray, his delicate relationship with...

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a profound exploration of the human psyche, set in the mid-19th century. The novel is a first-person narrative by an unnamed narrator, often referred to as the Underground Man. He is a retired civil servant living in St. Petersburg, who is consumed by intense introspection and psychological struggle. The narrative is split into...

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is an enduring classic that has captivated readers for over a century and a half. This swashbuckling epic of chivalry, honour, and daring exploits is set in France during the tumultuous 1620s. The novel follows the impetuous young d'Artagnan, who leaves his home in Gascony to join the revered Musketeers of the Guard. Upon...

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again..." In Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier weaves a suspenseful and atmospheric tale that captures the reader from its very first line. As a young and inexperienced lady's companion, the unnamed heroine's life is marked by yearning and meekness. Her mundane existence takes an unexpected turn on a trip to the South of...

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a timeless tale of love, society, and the importance of first impressions. Set in the rural English countryside, the story centres around Elizabeth Bennet, a sharp-witted and independent young woman, and her tumultuous relationship with the wealthy and seemingly aloof Fitzwilliam Darcy. Through a series of misunderstandings, social blunders, and personal revelations, Elizabeth...

Marple: Twelve New Stories is a tantalising collection of short stories that reintroduces the legendary detective Jane Marple. This anthology, crafted by twelve bestselling and acclaimed authors, breathes new life into one of Agatha Christie's most beloved characters. Each author brings their unique voice and perspective to Miss Marple, whilst masterfully preserving the hallmarks of a traditional mystery. The tales...

A Wreck of Seabirds by Karleah Olson was shortlisted for the Fogarty Literary Award and delivers a confronting and compelling read from the very first chapter. Both grappling with grief and loss, Briony and Ren are brought together in their hometown. Ren has returned to care for his dying father, while Briony remains hopeful of finding her missing sister, Sarah....

The Spanish Garden is about memory and how it serves and deceives us. It is about the casualties of war, both the dead and the living, and the need to acknowledge the unnamed and the disappeared. It is about buried secrets and their patient wait to be told. But it is also about the beauty of places which unite people,...

The Crossing forms the second part of Cormac McCarthy's critically acclaimed Border Trilogy, a story that began with All the Pretty Horses and concludes with Cities of the Plain. Set on the south-western ranches in the years before the Second World War, Cormac McCarthy's The Crossing follows the fortunes of sixteen-year-old Billy Parham and his younger brother Boyd. Fascinated by...

In Cities of the Plain, the concluding volume of Cormac McCarthy's acclaimed Border Trilogy, two men grapple with a vanishing way of life amidst a rapidly changing world. John Grady Cole and Billy Parham, whose stories began in All the Pretty Horses and The Crossing, now find themselves facing the tumultuous currents of the 1950s American Southwest. Bound by their...

Discover a world of enchantment, whimsy, and timeless wisdom with The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. This exquisite collection features 211 classic stories that have become an integral part of cultural heritage, including beloved favourites such as Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Rumpelstiltskin. Each tale transports you to a realm...

A genuine once-in-a-generation writer. - The Times Every word is the right word in the right place, and the effect is resonant and deeply moving. - Hilary Mantel Claire Keegan makes her moments real - and then she makes them matter. - Colm Toibin After an uneventful Friday at the Dublin office, Cathal faces into the long weekend and takes...

Set against the dramatic and desolate backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a timeless narrative of intense passion, betrayal, and revenge. The deeply intertwined lives of the Earnshaw and Linton families are forever marked by the intense and turbulent relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a brooding and vengeful orphan adopted by the Earnshaws. The...

In Albert Camus’s world-renowned fable of fear and courage, The Plague, the serene town of Oran on the Algerian coast is unexpectedly torn by the outbreak of a deadly disease. Panic spreads as death infiltrates their daily lives, forcing the townspeople into a harsh quarantine. The once bustling town descends into isolation and despair, as its inhabitants grapple with the...

The Picture of Dorian Gray: Popular Penguins by Oscar Wilde is a haunting exploration of vanity, moral corruption, and the quest for eternal youth. Set against the backdrop of Victorian London, the novel tells the story of a handsome young man, Dorian Gray, who becomes the muse of the painter Basil Hallward. Captivated by Dorian's beauty, Basil creates a magnificent...

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is a gripping and thought-provoking dystopian novel that has left an indelible mark on contemporary literature. Set in the near-future Republic of Gilead, a theocratic and totalitarian society that has replaced the United States, the story explores themes of power, control, and female subjugation. At the centre of this harrowing world is Offred, a...

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a timeless classic that delves into the heart of the American Dream. Set against the opulent backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, this novel paints a vivid picture of a society where wealth and status are the ultimate pursuits. The story follows Nick Carraway, a young man from the Midwest who moves to...

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin is a seminal work that offers a profound and personal exploration of race relations in America. Structured as two poignant letters, Baldwin addresses his 14-year-old nephew on the one hand, and on the other, an open letter to his fellow countrymen. Through these missives, Baldwin intimately reflects on his experiences growing up in...

Kurt Vonnegut's debut novel, Player Piano, marks the arrival of a literary genius whose work has left an indelible impression on American literature. With the re-release of this trailblazing book to celebrate Vonnegut's 100th birthday, readers are invited to revisit a story that remains strikingly relevant. Detailing a dystopian future where automation has rendered most of the American workforce obsolete,...

Orwell and Politics is the definitive collection of George Orwell's timeless political writing, showcasing the enduring brilliance of one of the 20th century's most influential authors. This anthology comprehensively assembles Orwell's powerful political essays and journalism along with his enduring satire on totalitarianism, Animal Farm. The collection is arranged to illustrate Orwell's vast range of political interests. It includes provocative...

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville is a masterful tale of obsession, conflict, and the majestic yet unfathomable sea. At its heart, the story follows Ishmael, a sailor who signs aboard the whaling ship Pequod, under the mysterious and vengeful Captain Ahab. Ahab's singular quest for vengeance on the great white whale, Moby-Dick, which had previously cost him his leg, drives the...

Introducing Little Clothbound Classics—irresistible, mini editions of short works by the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith. One morning, ordinary salesman Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant cockroach. Metamorphosis, Kafka's masterpiece of unease and black humour, is one of the twentieth century's most influential works of fiction, and is accompanied here by...

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is a timeless classic that weaves a compelling narrative of resilience, love, and mystery. Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, this poignant story follows the life of Jane Eyre, an orphaned girl subjected to the harsh cruelty of her aunt and the austere regime of the charity school she is forced to attend. Despite...

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is an enthralling and thought-provoking exploration of civilisation and savagery, challenging the very essence of our humanity. As Marlow, a seafaring wanderer, recounts his harrowing expedition into the African Congo, readers are whisked through rivers choked with danger and into the unknown depths of an unforgiving jungle. His assignment, to captain a steamer upriver,...

Set against the backdrop of 1970s New York, a city steeped in decadence and transformation, Dancer from the Dance by Andrew Holleran is a captivating tale that follows the journey of Anthony Malone. Disenchanted with his life as a seemingly straight, small-town lawyer, Malone seeks liberation in the throbbing heartbeats of disco and the hedonistic allure of the city's emerging...

A landmark in modern literature, Animal Farm by George Orwell is a timeless fable about the dangers of power and corruption. The story begins with Mr Jones, the negligent and frequently intoxicated owner of Manor Farm, who fails to care for his animals. Incited by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, the animals revolt, oust Mr Jones, and seize control of...

The final instalment of The Darkwar series from the acclaimed best-selling author of Magician, Raymond Feist, Wrath of a Mad God plunges readers into the gripping climax of one of fantasy literature's most beloved universes. This book is a must-read for fans who have journeyed through the myriad of adventures on Kelewan and Midkemia, witnessing the rise of heroes, the...

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, is an epic masterpiece that delves into the rich and intricate mythology preceding The Lord of the Rings. This seminal work elaborates the cosmic and historical events that shape the world of Middle-earth, providing profound insights into the lore that underpins Tolkien's more famous novels. In this special edition, the story is brought vividly to...

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien is a magnificent precursor to The Lord of the Rings, offering readers a richly detailed account of the earlier ages of Middle-earth. This enchanting narrative spans from the creation of the world through the tumultuous events of the First and Second Ages, concluding with the setting up of the Third Age, where the stories of...

J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings remains one of the most enduring and beloved fantasy sagas of all time. Set in the mythical world of Middle-earth, the story unfolds as a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins inherits a seemingly innocuous ring. However, this is no ordinary piece of jewellery; it is the One Ring, an artefact of...

The Hobbit Facsimile Gift Edition [Lenticular cover] by J. R. R. Tolkien is a truly extraordinary piece for any literary collection. Originally published on 21 September 1937, the story introduces the reader to Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit who embarks on a thrilling quest far beyond his quaint shire. Watch as Bilbo is whisked away by the enigmatic wizard Gandalf...

The Fall of Númenor by J.R.R. Tolkien is a profound exploration of the Second Age of Middle-earth, a time fraught with epic struggles and profound transformations. This era, lesser-known but pivotal, unfolds with the grandeur and depth that only Tolkien’s masterful storytelling can deliver. For the first time, Tolkien’s texts about this epoch are meticulously collected into a single volume,...

Talon of the Silver Hawk by Raymond E. Feist transports readers into a breath-taking epic fantasy world where tradition and destiny collide in a dramatic and poignant tale. Among the Orosini tribe, young boys must endure a rigorous manhood ritual designed to connect them with the universe and reveal their revered manhood name. Kielianapuna, a boy on the brink of...

Immerse yourself in the epic world of Midkemia with Raymond E. Feist's Flight of the Night Hawks, the first enthralling entry in the Darkwar series. As the exalted author of Magician, Feist returns with a masterful tale filled with suspense, political intrigue, and dark magic. The clandestine organisation known as the Conclave of Shadows faces unprecedented challenges. The malevolent magician...

The Trial is a haunting exploration of a man's struggle against an unfathomable and invisible authority. The novel delves into the life of Joseph K., a respectable and diligent officer at a bank, who finds himself unexpectedly arrested by a shadowy bureaucratic organisation. Without being informed of his crime, Joseph K. becomes embroiled in a protracted and surreal judicial process...

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima explores the dark and complex psyches of a group of disillusioned adolescents and the tragic consequences of their discontent. This haunting novel delves into the tension between idealism and reality, revealing the often brutal nature of human desires. The story centres around Noboru, a thirteen-year-old boy who, along...

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of the Italian Renaissance with Giorgio Vasari's seminal work, The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects. Often hailed as the first art historian, Vasari offers readers an unparalleled look at the artistic achievements that defined an era. This masterful collection of artist biographies transports you from the humble beginnings of the...

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky delves deep into the human psyche, presenting a profound and captivating exploration of the underground man, a disenchanted 19th-century Russian official who grapples with his role in society. Set in St. Petersburg, this existential novel unveils the protagonist's bitter ruminations, shedding light on his complex relationship with the world around him. Through his stream-of-consciousness...

Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess is a sprawling and audacious epic that intricately weaves the narratives of two compelling men whose lives are a study in contrasts and convergences. The story spans much of the 20th century, delivering a vast and richly detailed tapestry of historical events, religious upheavals, and personal ambitions. At its heart is Kenneth Toomey, a renowned...

The unforgettable story of Edmond Dantes is a masterpiece of literature that has remained popular with readers for nearly two centuries. From best-selling author Alexandre Dumas—who also wrote The Three Musketeers—comes the epic tale of Edmond Dantes, wrongly imprisoned for fourteen years, kept from the woman he loved, and unjustly denied the life they had planned. His revenge on the...

They move from party to party, engagement to engagement, scheme to scheme—never stopping long enough to notice that nothing is holding. Money evaporates, relationships dissolve, plans collapse. Still, the music plays. Vile Bodies is comedy at speed, but its subject is exhaustion: a generation living as if permanence were optional, and discovering that it is not. Beneath the glitter, something...

A woman is told to rest. To obey. To stop thinking. What follows is one of the most unsettling descents in modern fiction. In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s classic, the domestic interior becomes a site of quiet horror, where care turns to control and reason gives way to obsession. Short, precise, and impossible to forget, The Yellow Wallpaper is a story...

A priceless object. A handful of people willing to lie, betray, and kill for it. And at the centre, a man who knows exactly what everyone is doing—and how far he is willing to go himself. The Maltese Falcon strips the detective story to its core: not the solving of a crime, but the negotiation of a world where nothing...

A young woman disappears into a world where the law does not reach. Abduction, violence, and trial, all unfold with terrible clarity and no relief. Nobody intervenes, no one answers, nothing is repaired. Sanctuary exposes a system that continues to function even as it ceases to protect. Institutions hold their shape but their force is gone. Power acts freely. Consequence...

It begins with a drink thrown in a moment of anger—public, irreversible, and instantly understood. From that point on, everything closes in. Business relationships sour, social standing slips, money tightens, and the small evasions that once held life together stop working. What follows unfolds over just a few days, with a precision that makes every misstep feel both accidental and...

Landmark new 90th anniversary edition featuring a wealth of charming illustrations from Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins, published in English for the first time. Smaug certainly looked fast asleep, almost dead and dark, with scarcely a snore more than a whiff of unseen steam, when Bilbo peeped once more from the entrance. He was just about to step out...

Having just moved into a fine, six-roomed residence, “the Laurels”, the Pooters are ready to begin a new life. Charles, the paterfamilias, a lowly clerk in a City of London firm, begins to keep a diary. Over the next fifteen months, this diary will provide a record of the small trials and tribulations, as well as the preoccupations, aspirations and...

The taboo-breaking, the fabulous prose—there's no one like Edna O'Brien. Anne Enright Surprising and beautiful and courageous . . . A beacon. Megan Nolan We want to live. Drink gin. Squeeze into the front of big cars and drive up outside big hotels. We want to go places. Caithleen is a romantic: she dreams of finding a handsome man who...

These four Stefan Zweig stories, translated by the award-winning Anthea Bell, are among his most celebrated and compelling work. The titular tale is a devastating depiction of unrequited love, which inspired a classic Hollywood film, directed by Max Ophüls and starring Joane Fontaine. Elsewhere in the collection, a young man mistakes the girl he loves for her sister, two erstwhile...

As the ageing Gustav von Aschenbach, a famous author who has recently been ennobled in recognition of his literary achievements, arrives in Venice for a holiday and checks into his Lido hotel, he is struck by the arresting good looks of Tadzio, an aristocratic Polish youth of around fourteen who is sojourning there with his family. Gradually, what starts as...

Let Christmas live in your heart all year long with this luxe edition of A Christmas Carol and Other Stories by Charles Dickens. Merry Christmas to all! This timeless collection has warmed hearts for generations, and now you can pass it down to the next in this heirloom-quality volume. On Christmas Eve, cold-hearted, greedy Ebenezer Scrooge is confronted with his...

A thrilling blend of adventure and spy novel, The Thirty-Nine Steps has been continuously in print since first publication in 1915 and has been adapted for stage and screen multiple times, including Alfred Hitchcock's famous film adaptation. ‘Ordinary fellow’ Richard Hannay returns home one night and is horrified to find a dead body. He recognises the murdered man as his...

For book lovers, not a day goes by without thoughts of their favourite quotes from books that are special to them. The Macmillan Collector's Library Weekly Planner is a true ode to the classics, bringing the magic of reading to your weekly routine. This dateless, customisable, and pocket-sized week-to-view planner offers ample space for notes and can be started at...

In Vanity Fair, two young women—sharp-witted Becky Sharp and gentle Amelia Sedley—navigate love, war, and society's hypocrisies in a world where charm and cunning often outweigh virtue. Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Thackeray's masterpiece exposes the moral emptiness of Victorian England with biting humour and unforgettable characters. First published in 1847, this enduring classic remains one of...

Anne Elliot is persuaded to reject the love of her life, Captain Wentworth, when her good friend Lady Russell hints that there is a better match to be found. Now eight years later, Anne's family has been forced to retrench and move to Bath. But while visiting her married sister, Anne meets Captain Wentworth again, who is now a wealthy...