Modern Classics

What if the remarkable story of Ebenezer Scrooge was true? What if the account was relayed to Dickens, and he turned it into A Christmas Carol? What if the ghostly visitations did not begin or end with Scrooge, but the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and yet to come visit one misanthropic soul in need of reclamation every Christmas Eve? This modern-day sequel to the Charles Dickens classic assumes all of the above. And this time, the spiritual trio’s attentions have been directed to a not-so-nice woman in Philadelphia.

In this captivating collection of stories by the author of Ballet Shoes, there are auditions on stage and antics on ice, trips to the pantomime, holiday adventures and laughter shared with family and friends. Charming, heartwarming and funny, this collection will bring joy to listeners of all ages. Originally written in the 1940s-'60s for annuals, magazines and the radio, these stories have never been collected before.

Set in Mississippi during the Civil War and Reconstruction, The Unvanquished focuses on the Sartoris family, who, with their code of personal responsibility and courage, stand for the best of the Old South's traditions.

Mark Haddon's gripping modern classic has been adapted and edited by Angela T. Wesker and specially designed for learners of ESL at a B1+ level or native English-speaking school students who need a quicker reading with a complete and extended analysis. This edition aims at encouraging a love of reading and promoting thoughtful interaction with books while developing language and thinking skills. The text comes with an introduction, notes, and a wide range of activities for a deeper understanding. This guided version of "The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night-Time" is a family drama, a ...

A high-ranking scientist has been kidnapped. A secret British intelligence agency must find out why. But as the quarry is pursued from grimy Soho to the other side of the world, what seemed a straightforward mission turns into something far more sinister. With its sardonic, cool, working-class hero, Len Deighton's sensational debut The IPCRESS File rewrote the spy thriller and became the defining novel of 1960s London.

Ebenezer Krow is a relentless man who charges through life, holding himself and everyone else to the letter of the law. Krow’s nephew, his employees, his business associates - even mankind in general - all feel the castigating burn of Krow’s glare. One night, on Christmas Eve, Krow is visited by his long-dead business partner, Marley Chastain. The ghost warns Krow that three spirits, one of them a devil, will assail him throughout the night. But will the harrowing experience be enough to tear the scab from his sin-scarred soul?

In December 1930, just before Christmas, the Gibbsville, Pennsylvania, social circuit is electrified with parties and dances. At the center of the social elite stand Julian and Caroline English. But in one rash moment born inside a highball glass, Julian breaks with polite society and begins a rapid descent toward self-destruction.

Five timeless adventures. One unforgettable collection. Step into the breathtaking worlds of Jules Verne, reimagined for a new generation. In Five Journeys of Wonder, Christina Chavis brings vivid, cinematic storytelling to five of Verne’s greatest masterpieces — modernizing the language while preserving the awe, adventure, and daring spirit of the originals. 🌋 Journey to the Center of the Earth — Descend into a hidden realm beneath our feet, where prehistoric monsters still roam. 🏝️ The Mysterious Island — Stranded and alone, a group of survivors battles nature — and ...

Unveil the secrets of the Chinese language and culture as you embark on a captivating journey with Sun Tzu's renowned masterpiece, The Art of War for Language Learners. Immerse yourself in this comprehensive audiobook, which offers a contemporary approach to learning Chinese and presents timeless wisdom from China's most celebrated classic.

Ten years ago only Flynn Carsen, the last of the Librarians, stood against an ancient criminal organization known as The Forty. They stole the oldest known copy of The Arabian Nights by Scheherazade, and Flynn fears they intend to steal Aladdin's fabled lamp. He races to find it first, before they can unleash the trapped malevolent djinn upon the world. Today Flynn is no longer alone. A new team of inexperienced Librarians, led by Eve Baird, their tough-as-nails Guardian, investigates an uncanny mystery in Las Vegas.

A modern day BWWM Pride and Prejudice Inspired Variation of the Classic Tale, just in time for the holidays! Olivia is the second oldest of the Bennett sisters, and the brain trust behind their brilliant new design firm, Divine Designs. Spunky, confident and full of big ideas, she notices the tall, dark and handsome Mr. Darcy at a gala fund-raiser from across the ballroom. When he turns out to be a snob, she shrugs it off and goes on living her best life. But Will Darcy regrets his sharp words. He finds himself in the strange position of defending his friend Martin Bingley from love with ...

What if the Beatles wrote “Help!” in the age of anxiety—or “Eleanor Rigby” in a world obsessed with connection but drowning in loneliness? Yesterday, Today reimagines 20 of the most iconic Beatles songs through a modern lens. From social media and mental health to shifting cultural values, this book explores what these timeless tracks might look and sound like if they were written in today's world. Author Steven Michaels, a longtime musician and English teacher, has spent more than two decades guiding teenagers through Beatles lyrics—uncovering new interpretations and emotional ...

Based in part on Cheever's adolescence in New England, the novel follows the destinies of the impecunious and wildly eccentric Wapshots of St. Botolphs, a quintessential Massachusetts fishing village. Here are the stories of Captain Leander Wapshot, venerable sea dog and would-be suicide; of his licentious older son, Moses; and of Moses' adoring and errant younger brother, Coverly.

There are stories for every listener in this delightful collection—exciting crime-solving adventures; nervous young actors in the spotlight for the first time; unforgettable holidays and unlikely friendships.

Ever wonder why we refer to three so often? The Big Three. “Third time’s a charm.” “Bad news comes in threes.” Threes represent curious patterns in many cultures. Sometimes those patterns of threes are obvious and tangible. Consider the modern traffic signal. Green, yellow and red lenses, each with a different meaning to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, fire in a predictable and never-changing order to signal proceed, slow down and stop when lighted in sequence. Sometimes those patterns are intangible. Such as three laws. Three rules of thumb. Three principles. Three classes...

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 ...

Celebrated historian John Hirst offers a fascinating exploration of the qualities that made Europe a world-changing civilization. The Shortest History of Europe begins with a rapid overview of European civilization, describing its birth from an unlikely mixture of classical learning and Christianity and German warrior culture. Over the centuries, this unstable blend produced highly distinctive characters - pious knights and belligerent popes, and beyond - and its coming apart provided the dynamic of European history in modern times.

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.

Rediscover The Pilgrim's Progress, one of the greatest works of Christian literature, now brought to life in a vibrant, modern translation. This beloved allegory has been faithfully retold with engaging, easy-to-understand storytelling while preserving all the original content and spiritual depth.

This is an updated version for all ages retold in wonderful storytelling fashion. John Bunyan was a simple maker and mender of pots and pans who received very little education. In spite of that, he penned the most successful allegory ever written. Embark on a perilous journey with Christian, the lead character, from the City of Destruction to the luminous safe haven of the Celestial City. The journey will encourage you to “set your hope fully on the grace to be given you” amidst the obstacles of life.