Penguin Classics

Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons' hilarious comic novel of rural life, is new to Penguin Modern Classics. When sensible, sophisticated Flora Poste is orphaned at nineteen, she decides her only choice is to descend upon relatives in deepest Sussex. At the aptly named Cold Comfort Farm, she meets the doomed Starkadders — cousin Judith, heaving with remorse for unspoken wickedness;...

The first novel in the Bernard Samson series is a dazzling return to Deighton’s world of Cold War espionage. Embattled agent Bernard Samson is used to being passed over for promotion as his younger, more ambitious colleagues—including his own wife Fiona—rise up the ranks of MI6. When a valued agent in East Berlin warns the British of a mole at...

We are in Harlem, the black soul of New York City, in the era of Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. The narrator of James Baldwin's novel is Tish, nineteen, and pregnant. Her lover, Fonny, father of her child, is in jail accused of rape. Flashbacks from their love affair are woven into the compelling struggle of two families to win...

Holly Golightly, glittering socialite traveller, generally upwards, sometimes sideways and once in a while down. She's up all night drinking cocktails and breaking hearts. She's a shoplifter, a delight, a drifter, a tease. She hasn't got a past. She doesn't want to belong to anything or anyone. Not to 'Rusty' Trawler, the blue-chinned, cuff-shooting millionaire man about women about town....

A View from the Bridge is a tragic masterpiece of the inexorable unravelling of a man. Eddie Carbone is a longshoreman and a straightforward man, with a strong sense of decency and honour. For Eddie, it's a privilege to take in his wife's cousins, newly arrived from Italy. However, as his niece begins to fall for one of them, it's...

A new anthology of 100 years of artists', filmmakers', and architects' manifestos. In this remarkable collection of 100 manifestos from the last 100 years, Alex Danchev presents the cacophony of voices of such diverse movements as Futurism, Dadaism, Surrealism, Feminism, Communism, Destructivism, Vorticism, Stridentism, Cannibalism, and Stuckism, taking in along the way film, architecture, fashion, and cookery. Artists' manifestos are...

The essential writings of black lesbian poet and feminist writer Audre Lorde. The woman's place of power within each of us is neither white nor surface; it is dark, it is ancient, and it is deep. The revolutionary writings of Audre Lorde gave voice to those 'outside the circle of this society's definition of acceptable women'. Uncompromising, angry and yet...

A Victorian scientist propels himself into the future. Entranced at first by the Eloi, an elfin species descended from man, he soon realises that this beautiful people are simply remnants of a once-great culture—now weak and childishly afraid of the dark. They have reason to be afraid: in tunnels beneath their paradise lurks another race—the sinister Morlocks. When the scientist's...

In 1940, John Steinbeck sailed in a sardine boat with his friend, the biologist Edward F. Ricketts, to collect marine invertebrates from the beaches of the Gulf of California. The day-to-day story of the trip is given in the log, which combines science, philosophy, and high-spirited adventure. This edition also includes Steinbeck’s profile of his fellow traveller.

The iconic study of the Haitian revolution by one of the founding fathers of Caribbean scholarship, now in Modern Classics for the first time. In 1791, inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, the slaves of San Domingo rose in revolt. Despite invasion by a series of British, Spanish and Napoleonic armies, their twelve-year struggle led to the creation...

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...

The great underwater adventure story by the Father of Science Fiction. In this thrilling adventure tale, three men embark on an epic journey under the sea with the mysterious Captain Nemo aboard his submarine, the Nautilus. Over the course of their fantastical voyage, they encounter the lost city of Atlantis, the South Pole and the corals of the Red Sea,...

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...

Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne is a pioneering science fiction classic that tells the story of the distinguished but eccentric Professor Lidenbrock. He discovers a scrap of parchment in an old manuscript, revealing a cipher written in runes. This cipher tells of an entrance to another world—a world hidden beneath our own. In Jules Verne's...

In A Murder of Quality by John le Carré, readers are drawn into a gripping mystery that reveals the dark underbelly of a prestigious British public school. When Stella Rode, the wife of a respected teacher at the exclusive Carne School, is brutally murdered, George Smiley is called upon to investigate. What appears to be a straightforward case soon unravels...

One of the great masterpieces of 17th-century English prose, Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes is a profound and influential work that delves into the nature of human society and the necessity of a strong central authority. Hobbes presents a compelling social contract theory, wherein individuals collectively agree to surrender some freedoms to a sovereign power in exchange for security and order....

History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides offers an in-depth, incisive chronicle of the momentous clash between the two Greek powerhouse city-states, Athens and Sparta. Set during the fifth century B.C., this profound historical text delves into the complex political, diplomatic, and military maneuvers that led to and sustained this protracted conflict. As the reader traverses the events meticulously detailed...

In Twilight of Idols and Anti-Christ, Friedrich Nietzsche presents two of his most provocative and critical works. These texts offer a penetrating analysis of the philosophical and religious ideas that dominated his era. Twilight of Idols serves as an incisive critique of the cultural and intellectual norms of Nietzsche's time. Subtitled "How to Philosophize with a Hammer," the book delivers...

The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus explores one of the most profound philosophical questions: Is life worth living? Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Second World War, Camus delves into the existential crisis faced by humanity, particularly the struggle to find meaning in a world devoid of higher purpose. Through a captivating blend of philosophical discourse and literary...

The Essential Works of Michel Foucault offer the definitive collection of Foucault's articles, interviews, and seminars that span the breadth and depth of his intellectual journey. Encompassing thirty years of his extraordinary career, this first volume, Ethics, introduces readers to the core of Foucault's philosophical explorations on ethical issues. Ethics is more than a mere collection; it is an immersion...

The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin is a compelling firsthand account of the young naturalist's earth-shattering expedition aboard the HMS Beagle. Setting sail from Devonport on 27 December 1831, the twenty-two-year-old Darwin embarked on a journey that would reshape the world of science. Though initially a leisurely voyage along the South American coast, the adventure broadened into a...

The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux is a captivating travelogue that chronicles the author's epic journey by rail across Asia. This remarkable narrative details Theroux's exploits on some of the most iconic and legendary train routes in the world. From the Direct-Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, and the Delhi Mail from Jaipur, to the Golden Arrow to Kuala...

Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry Thoreau are two seminal works that reflect on personal freedom, individuality, and the inherent connection between humanity and nature. Walden is the fruit of Thoreau's two-year experiment in simple living on Walden Pond in Massachusetts. It meticulously follows the natural cycle of the seasons, weaving a thoughtful narrative that extends beyond a mere account...

Over the past 75 years, a new canon of environmental literature has taken shape as visionary thinkers worldwide have raised their voices to defend Earth from the brink of collapse. This Can't Be Happening by George Monbiot is a powerful addition to this indispensable body of work. In this collection of galvanising speeches and essays, Monbiot implores humanity to confront...

The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh offers readers an intimate glimpse into the mind of one of history’s most iconic artists. This comprehensive collection, based on a fresh and meticulously crafted translation, compiles Van Gogh’s personal letters that span nearly his entire adult life. Through these letters, readers are drawn into Van Gogh's world - a realm of artistic passion,...

In the uproarious sequel to Life Among the Savages, the beloved author of The Haunting of Hill House confronts the most vexing demons yet—her own children. Shirley Jackson, with her trademark wit and uncanny precision, skewers the trials of domestic life in 1950s America. In Raising Demons, Jackson's four offspring have now grown into fully-fledged little devils, turning everyday family...

Aristotle's Poetics stands as a seminal work in the history of literary criticism and is a cornerstone of Western philosophy. In this profound analysis of Greek tragedy, Aristotle meticulously dissects the elements that converge to create the quintessential dramatic experience. Delving into the intricacies of plot, character, and spectacle, Aristotle elucidates how these components intertwine to evoke feelings of pity...

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...

Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon is a striking exploration into the complexities of racism and dehumanisation. Fanon, a psychiatrist and philosopher from Martinique, delves into the black psyche in a predominately white world, examining how internalised racism and colonialism have devastating effects on the identities and minds of black individuals. This seminal work emerges through a powerful narrative...

An account of a year spent eating and living in 1920s Paris - an acerbic, affectionate classic of great food writing. While on a year of study in Paris in 1927, Liebling acquired the friendship and tutelage of Yves Mirande, 'one of the last great gastronomes of France', beginning a joyous apprenticeship in the fine art of eating. Told with...

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is a pioneering work that laid the groundwork for modern feminism and the enduring struggle for gender equality. Written in 1792 by the trailblazing philosopher and advocate Mary Wollstonecraft, this seminal treatise is a compelling call to arms for the emancipation and education of women. In an era marked by the revolutionary fervour...

Against Interpretation and Other Essays is a landmark collection that showcases the formidable intellect and insightful critique of Susan Sontag. Originally published in 1966, this collection has never gone out of print and continues to resonate with readers around the world due to its timeless exploration of art, culture, and thought. As Sontag's first collection of essays, it firmly established...

Considered an audacious second novel, Giovanni's Room is set in the 1950s Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence. This now-classic story of a fated love triangle explores, with uncompromising clarity, the conflicts between desire, conventional morality and sexual identity.

A deep, complex examination of the crucial philosophical questions of human existence, from one of the world's most renowned novelists, now in the beautifully designed Penguin Clothbound series. The Brothers Karamazov states, "The mystery of human existence lies not in staying alive, but in finding something to live for." The murder of brutal landowner Fyodor Karamazov changes the lives of...

Nineteen Eighty-Four is Orwell's masterwork, presented here in a stunning Clothbound Classics edition for the first time. Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, Winston Smith skilfully rewrites the past to suit the needs of the Party. Yet, he inwardly rebels against the totalitarian world he lives in, which demands absolute obedience and controls him...

A new translation and abridgement of one of the four classical Chinese novels, this is the epic story of the fall of the Han dynasty and rise of the Three Kingdoms. Part historical and part legendary, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms dramatizes the lives of feudal lords and their retainers, recounting their personal and military battles, intrigues, and struggles...

Introducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith. A group of passengers on a cruise ship challenge the world chess champion to a match. At first, they crumble, until they are helped by whispered advice from a stranger in the crowd – a man...

Vivid biographies of famous characters from the Ancient Greek world, in a revised edition of Ian Scott-Kilvert's seminal translation. The Parallel Lives of Plutarch are cornerstones of Western literature, and have exerted a profound influence on writers and statesmen since the Renaissance, most notably Shakespeare. This selection of ten biographies spans the period from the start of the fourth century...

Penguin Classics relaunch Gilbert Markham is deeply intrigued by Helen Graham, a beautiful and secretive young woman who has moved into nearby Wildfell Hall with her young son. He is quick to offer Helen his friendship, but when her reclusive behaviour becomes the subject of local gossip and speculation, Gilbert begins to wonder whether his trust in her has been...

Jay Rubin's translation of Soseki's cherished novel, new to Penguin Classics. One of Soseki's most beloved works of fiction, the novel depicts the 23-year-old Sanshiro leaving the sleepy countryside for the first time in his life to experience the constantly moving 'real world' of Tokyo, its women and university. In the subtle tension between our appreciation of Soseki's lively humour...

"Nothing but the darkness, and all around them destruction, and before them nothing but the fire—a bastard people, far from God, singing and crying in the wilderness!" First published in 1953, Go Tell it on the Mountain is Baldwin's first novel, offering a short but intense, semi-autobiographical exploration of the troubled life of the Grimes family in Harlem during the...

Things Fall Apart introduces Okonowo, the greatest warrior alive. His fame has spread like a bushfire in West Africa, making him one of the most powerful men of his clan. However, Okonowo's fiery temper is equally renowned. Determined to be the opposite of his father, he refuses to show any weakness to anyone. To maintain his strength and dominance, he...

"In a decade marked, much like our own, by simple fears, John Wyndham refused to make simple metaphors". -M John Harrison. A world paralyzed by genetic mutation- Wyndham takes the reader into the anguished heart of a community where the chances of breeding true are less than fifty percent and where deviations are rooted out and destroyed as abominations.

A generous selection from the most charismatic and infamous of the Romantic poets. Described as 'Mad, bad and dangerous to know' by one of his lovers, Lady Caroline Lamb, Lord Byron was the quintessential Romantic. Flamboyant, charismatic and brilliant, he remains almost as notorious for his life—as a political revolutionary, sexual adventurer and traveller—as he does for his literary work....

The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle is one of the most significant works in the history of Western philosophy. In this seminal text, Aristotle embarks on a detailed and nuanced exploration of human morality, virtue, and happiness. The work explores the nature of ethical thought, delving into the question of how men can achieve a good and fulfilling life. Aristotle's treatise...

A wildly imaginative short story collection from one of the greatest female science fiction writers ever. Daring, energetic, and struck through with linguistic inventiveness, Warm Worlds and Otherwise is one of the most influential short story collections in all of science fiction, and one of the principal achievements of James Tiptree Jr - the pen name of Alice Bradley Sheldon....

The dazzling debut collection from one of the greatest female science fiction writers ever. James Tiptree Jr, the pen name of Alice Bradley Sheldon, is widely considered to be one of the most influential American genre writers ever, and a pioneer of feminist science fiction. Ten Thousand Light-Years From Home, her brilliant debut collection, displays all her trademark humour, intensity...

An enchanting clothbound edition of the essential tales drawn from the acclaimed translation of The Arabian Nights. Part of Penguin's beautiful hardback Clothbound Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality, colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design. Every night for three years, the vengeful King Shahriyar sleeps with...

Persuasion, Jane Austen's final and arguably most sophisticated novel, is available in a beautiful new clothbound edition. Part of Penguin's exquisite hardback Clothbound Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality, colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design. At twenty-seven, Anne Elliot is no longer young and has few...

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin is a monumental work that delves deep into the human psyche and the complexities of love and identity. This beautiful new clothbound edition of Baldwin’s ground-breaking novel further solidifies his status as one of the great American writers of his time. Set against the evocative backdrop of 1950s Paris, the story revolves around David, a...

A major new anthology of Percy Bysshe Shelley's work, edited by Jack Donovan and Cian Duffy. Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the leading English Romantics and is critically regarded among the finest lyric poets in the English language. His major works include the long visionary poems Prometheus Unbound and Adonais, an elegy on the death of John Keats. His...

In 1831, Tocqueville set out from post-revolutionary France on a journey across America that would take him nine months and cover 7,000 miles. The result was Democracy in America, a subtle and prescient analysis of the life and institutions of 19th-century America. Tocqueville's study of the strengths and weaknesses of an evolving democratic society remains a key point of reference...

The Trial is Kafka's gripping work of psychological horror. A terrifying psychological trip into the life of one Joseph K., an ordinary man who wakes up one day to find himself accused of a crime he did not commit, a crime whose nature is never revealed to him. Once arrested, he is released, but must report to court on a...

Letters from a Stoic by Seneca is a timeless philosophical work that dives deep into the heart and mind of one of Ancient Rome's greatest thinkers. Through a collection of epistolary writings, Seneca, the eminent Stoic philosopher, shares his wisdom and insights on how to lead a meaningful and virtuous life. These letters, originally penned to his friend Lucilius, discuss...

A wonderful edition of Herbert's poetry, edited by his acclaimed biographer John Drury, and including elegant new translations of his Latin verse by Victoria Moul. George Herbert wrote, but never published, some of the very greatest English poetry, recording in an astonishing variety of forms his inner experiences of grief, recovery, hope, despair, anger, fulfilment and—above all else—love. This volume,...

The great German poem on the completion of the story of the Holy Grail Composed in the early thirteenth century, Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival is the re-creation and completion of the story left unfinished by its initiator, Chretien de Troyes. It follows Parzival from his boyhood and career as a knight in the court of King Arthur to his ultimate...

Handsome would-be poet Lucien Chardon is poor and naive, but highly ambitious. Failing to make his name in his dull provincial hometown, he is taken up by a patroness, the captivating married woman Madame de Bargeton, and prepares to forge his way in the glamorous beau monde of Paris. But Lucien has entered a world far more dangerous than he...

This is a substantial selection from the Journals of Captain Cook's voyages, drawn from the four-volume Beaglehole edition. It represents not only Cook's own accounts of his various voyages, but those of his companions, notably the naturalist, Joseph Banks.

The heroic Greek dramas that have moved theatre-goers and readers since the fifth century B.C. Towering over the rest of Greek tragedy, the three plays that tell the story of the fated Theban royal family—Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus—are among the most enduring and timeless dramas ever written. Robert Fagles's authoritative and acclaimed translation conveys all of...

One of Williams' best-loved plays, this emotional rollercoaster tells the tale of the iconic Blanche DuBois and her demise by Stanley Kowalski. Fading southern belle Blanche DuBois depends on the kindness of strangers and is adrift in the modern world. When she arrives to stay with her sister Stella in a crowded, boisterous corner of New Orleans, her delusions of...

The Shooting Party is a masterpiece of historical fiction and the inspiration behind Downton Abbey. It is 1913—a breath away from the Great War—and Edwardian England is about to vanish into history. An assorted group of men and women gather at Sir Randolph Nettleby's estate for a shooting party. Opulent, adulterous, moving assuredly through the rituals of eating and slaughter,...

The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin is a seminal work that explores an alternative vision of society, where resources and opportunities are equitably shared for the benefit of all individuals, not just a select few. In this thought-provoking text, Kropotkin meticulously dissects the flaws within capitalist and state socialist systems, proposing a more humane and just way of organising...

Composed in the twelfth century in north-eastern Iran, Attar's great mystical poem is among the most significant of all works of Persian literature. A marvellous, allegorical rendering of the Islamic doctrine of Sufism—an esoteric system concerned with the search for truth through God—it describes the consequences of the conference of the birds of the world when they meet to begin...

Born in the Castilian town of Avila in 1515, Teresa entered the Carmelite convent of the Incarnation when she was twenty-one. Tormented by illness, doubts, and self-recrimination, she gradually came to recognise the power of prayer and contemplation. Her spiritual enlightenment was intensified by many visions and mystical experiences, including the piercing of her heart by a spear of divine...

New to Black Classics for this Classic Travel Book, with a new introduction by Jon Lee Anderson. During the years he spent among the Marsh Arabs of southern Iraq, Wilfred Thesiger came to understand, admire, and share a way of life that had endured for many centuries. Travelling from village to village by canoe, he won acceptance by dispensing medicines...

Published in cooperation with the English Folk Dance and Song Society, this volume presents the songs with music, and annotations on their original sources and meaning. The definitive collection of folk music—one of the great English popular art forms. One of the great English popular art forms, the folk song can be painful, satirical, erotic, dramatic, rueful or funny. This...

A new collection of Pushkin's great narrative and lyric verse, translated by Antony Wood WINNER OF THE READ RUSSIA PRIZE 2020 Alexander Pushkin established what we know as Russian literature. This collection includes his strongly personal lyric verse, which springs spontaneously from his everyday life – his numerous loves, his exile, his hectic life in St Petersburg – while the...

Stefan Zweig's most famous novel, reissued with a new jacket and title. 'I can't take any more of your revolting merciful kindness!' Who would have thought that the great military hero Captain Hofmiller - that living monument to his own courage - would have anything burdening his soul? But when he reveals his story, it is not one of bravery...

A new departure in Penguin Classics – a book containing one of the greatest of all Renaissance woodcut sequences – Holbein's bravura danse macabre. One of Holbein's first great triumphs, The Dance of Death is an incomparable sequence of tiny woodcuts showing the folly of human greed and pride, with each image packed with drama, wit and horror as a...

A fine collection of the greatest French tales about the legend of Arthur. Taking the legends surrounding King Arthur and weaving in new psychological elements of personal desire and courtly manner, Chrétien de Troyes fashioned a new form of medieval Romance. The Knight of the Cart is the first telling of the adulterous relationship between Lancelot and Arthur's Queen Guinevere,...

Schopenhauer believed that human action is determined not by reason but by will—the blind and irrational desire for physical existence. These writings depict individuals struggling in a Godless world, in which art, morality, and self-awareness are our only salvation. One of the greatest philosophers of the nineteenth century, Schopenhauer (1788-1860) believed that human action is governed by will rather than...

One of the most beloved translations of all time returns to Penguin Classics - Scott Moncrieff's masterful version of Proust. Remembrance of Things Past: Volume 3 is part of Proust's masterpiece, one of the seminal works of the twentieth century, recording its narrator's experiences as he grows up, falls in love, and lives through the First World War. A profound...

The Volcano Lover is an enchanting, always interesting, and always entertaining book. It has been described as "a big, old-fashioned broth of a book" by John Banville in The New York Times. The British Ambassador at the court of Naples has only two passions: his precious art collection, and his fascination with volcanoes. This changes when he agrees to care...

New to Penguin Modern Classics, a timeless tale of divided generations and enduring friendship. Following a baseball game that nearly became a religious war, two Jewish boys become friends. Danny comes from the strict Hasidic sect that keeps him bound in centuries of orthodoxy. Reuven is brought up by a father patently aware of the twentieth century. Everything tries to...

A revised edition of a classic translation, with completely new editorial material. Taking the form of a dialogue between Socrates, Gorgias, Polus, and Callicles, Gorgias debates perennial questions about the nature of government and those who aspire to public office. Are high moral standards essential, or should we give our preference to the pragmatist who gets things done or negotiates...

A brilliant science-fiction satire from one of the best writers of the twentieth century. Dr Felix Hoenikker—a father of the atomic bomb—has another creation. Far more dangerous than that which levelled Hiroshima is ice-nine, a chemical that could freeze the world's oceans solid. The search for Hoenikker leads first to his three children, each in possession of the chemical, and...

Under the Jaguar Sun, available for the first time in Penguin Modern Classics, takes readers on a mesmerising journey through three distinct tales that explore the senses and their profound connections to human experience. In the first story, a couple embarks on an epicurean journey across Mexico, tantalised by the idea of a particular ingredient that evokes ancient rituals of...

Philip K. Dick's cult novel—now in an official tie-in edition to accompany the new TV series. Imagine the world if the Allies had lost the Second World War... Philip K. Dick trips the switches of our minds with his vision of the world as it might have been—the African continent virtually wiped out, the Mediterranean drained to make farmland, the...

Reissuing in Penguin Modern Classics as part of our Paul Bowles relaunch, with a new introduction by Paul Theroux. The Sheltering Sky is a book about people on the edge of an alien space; somewhere where, curiously, they are never alone. - Michael Hoffman. Port and Kit Moresbury, a sophisticated American couple, are finding it more than a little difficult...

The famous Gothic novel from Ann Radcliffe. From the first moment Vincentio di Vivaldi, a young nobleman, sets eyes on the veiled figure of Ellena, he is captivated by her enigmatic beauty and grace. But his haughty and manipulative mother is against the match and enlists the help of her confessor to come between them. Schedoni, previously a leading figure...