Based closely on the author's own life, Maggie's story explores the conflicts of love and loyalty and the friction between desire and moral responsibility. An accurate, evocative depiction of English rural life, this compelling narrative features a vivid and realistic cast, headed by one of 19th-century literature's most appealing characters. Unabridged republication of a standard edition.
Silas Marner by George Eliot Classic of English literature recounts the engrossing story of a lonely and embittered old man and the orphaned child who helps him find love and hope.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Delicious comedy of manners concerning two sisters, who appear to have been deserted by the young men they had intended to marry. Humor, perception, incomparable prose.
The Fiddler of the Reels and Other Stories by Thomas Hardy Three first-rate short stories include the romantic title piece, the comic "The Distracted Preacher," and "The Three Strangers," a tribute to community life. Highly readable and accessible intro to Hardy's fiction.
Washington Square by Henry James A wealthy spinster receives a proposal from a dashing suitor and her father threatens her with disinheritance if she accepts. James masterfully explores the moral consequences of a tender heart's ruthless manipulation.
