New Classics

A towering figure in the pantheon of twentieth-century literature, Thomas Mann has often been perceived as a dry and forbidding writer—"the starched collar," as Bertolt Brecht once called him. But in fact, his fiction is lively, humane, sometimes hilarious. In these fresh renderings of his best short work, award-winning translator Damion Searls casts new light on this underappreciated aspect of Mann's genius.

The origins, history and authorship of Beowulf are shrouded in uncertainty. This heroic epic probably began, as most do, with a wandering troubadour strumming a stringed instrument, sitting before a hearth-fire, and singing the verses to a spellbound audience arrayed before him. Beowulf is a rousing adventure story, filled with intrepid heroes, monsters and fire-breathing dragons, which can be listened to for the sheer enjoyment of the tale.

Socrates questions Ion, an actor who just won a major prize, about his ability to interpret the epic poetry of Homer. How does an actor, a poet, or any other artist create? Is it by knowing? Is it by inspiration? As the dialogue proceeds, the nature of human creativity emerges as a mysterious process and an unsolved puzzle.

No romance. Just action, bullets, and a man on the run. Wesley McCoy has always been a drifter—good with a gun, handy with a deck of cards, and smart enough to stay out of trouble when the odds ain’t in his favor. But after a card game gone wrong lands him in jail, he finds himself faced with a choice: swing from a noose or ride with former Texas Ranger William McKinnrick, a man who claims he still upholds the law. McKinnrick and his men bring justice to the lawless frontier—or so it seems at first. Hunting outlaws, collecting bounties, and settling scores, McCoy starts to believe ...

Like Scheherazade, Stevenson, the consummate storyteller is at the peak of his craft. Who can resist the charm of the medieval romance in "The Sire de Maletroit's Door", the strangely enigmatic rogue Villon of "A Lodging for the Night", or the sheer delight of "Providence and the Guitar"?

Ralph Waldo Trine’s In Tune with the Infinite is one of the most significant works of mind power ever published. When the book first appeared in 1897, few Americans had heard terms like law of attraction, higher power, or positive thinking - Trine introduced these themes and others into mainstream life, teaching millions how to tap the creative faculties of higher thought. Now, historian Mitch Horowitz condenses and reintroduces Trine’s masterwork for a new generation.

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles is an inspirational work that inspired the creation of Rhonda Byrne's best-selling book, The Secret. The simplicity and pragmatic approach of The Science of Getting Rich demonstrates the direct route to aligning oneself (and others) with the acquirement of wealth and success.

Do you love popcorn? Of course you do! Who doesn’t? This is why starting a flavored popcorn business is such a good idea. People will be intrigued by your unique flavors or they’ll want to go with an unbeatable classic that’s made with a special touch.

Hans Christian Andersen was the profoundly imaginative writer and storyteller who revolutionized literature for children. He gave us the now standard versions of some traditional fairy tales—with an anarchic twist—but many of his most famous tales sprang directly from his imagination. The 30 stories here range from exuberant early works such as "The Tinderbox" and "The Emperor's New Clothes" through poignant masterpieces such as "The Little Mermaid" and "The Ugly Duckling", to more subversive later tales such as "The Ice Maiden" and "The Wood Nymph".

Colditz Castle was Nazi Germany’s infamous "escape-proof" wartime prison, where hundreds of the most determined and resourceful Allied prisoners were sent. Despite having more guards than inmates, Australian Lieutenant Jack Champ and other prisoners tirelessly carried out their campaign to escape from the massive floodlit stronghold, by any means necessary.

When young Mattie Silver arrives at her cousin Zeena Frome's farm in the New England village of Starkfield, no one could have imagined the tale of sublime and thwarted passion which ensues. Starkfield, like so many New England village communities, is a place where the emotional terrain resembles the physical: stony, hard, and snow covered much of the year. Ethan Frome - "the most striking figure in Starkfield" - ekes out a bleak living from his ungenerous farm, until Mattie brings love and a dream of escape. The powerful sway of obligation and duty and Ethan's inherent dignity make this novel a great American tragedy.

It was now just five short years after George Bailey had his first miraculous meeting with a saving angel in Bedford Falls, and a new Bailey had come into town with his own great challenge that needed a miraculous solution! It was a wonderful life indeed when John Bailey and Anabelle Smith first came to be that otherwise perfect “match made in Heaven” shortly after they first met at the traditional New Year’s Eve Dance of Bedford Falls. It seemed so perfect, when Anabelle tragically died, and then far more surprisingly returned on that very next Christmas saying that she had come back...

This heartwarming fictionalized autobiography tells the story of what it is like for a little girl to be growing up in an unfamiliar place. While other girls her age were enjoying childhood in America, Jean Fritz was in China in the midst of political unrest. During this time, foreigners were becoming more and more unpopular, and evacuation at a moment’s notice was imminent. Although Jean appreciated the beauty of China - the mountains, the countryside, the sea - she knew she belonged in America and longed to make her home there.

Calamity is confronting two big transitions: the death of her beloved father and the beginning of menopause, a physical shift that has rekindled her gift for finding lost things. Suddenly, she is getting hot flashes that seem to forge objects out of thin air, most notably a four-year old boy. As Calamity takes the child into her care, she discovers that all is not as it seems. Then, Calamity must reawaken to the mysteries surrounding her own childhood and the early disappearance of her mother.

It's time to welcome new girls to Malory Towers, the famous boarding school by the sea, in four brand-new stories by outstanding authors, set in Enid Blyton's much-loved school, in its original time period.

A chill wind from the Solent carries whispers of terror. In the grim Kingfisher Dry Dock, the salvaged hulk of the RMS Sovereign – a grand ocean liner lost decades ago – is plagued by inexplicable and terrifying occurrences. Ghostly figures haunt the decaying decks, disembodied voices echo through the rusting corridors, and the workforce is paralyzed by fear. Summoned by syndicate chairman Sir Alistair Finch, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson arrive to find a priceless treasure has been recovered from the wreck: the legendary Admiral's Star necklace. Its presence seems to heighten the ...

One of the greatest novels to have come from the 19th century, a realistic, gritty exposure of the lives, loves, intrigue and rivalry that existed in the literary world of London. The art form and culture of writing is becoming a business, expanding rapidly, and profit is more important than integrity of purpose.

A town on the brink. A ruthless enemy with nothing to lose. A gunfighter fueled by vengeance. After months on the trail, Nash stumbles upon the quiet town of Clearwater, a place under siege by the brutal McAllister gang. Their leader, Jericho McAllister, rules with an iron fist, extorting the townsfolk, burning their homes, and silencing anyone who dares to stand against him. For Nash, Clearwater is just another town in trouble—until he sees the toll it’s taken on the people who refuse to leave. When Nash rescues a widow and her young son from a gang attack, he finds himself drawn into ...

Cast off on a raft with a runaway slave down the great Mississippi and a boy who couldn't dream of a greater adventure. With each bend of the river, each town, comes a chance encounter, perhaps with a king or duke wrapped in the schemes of scoundrels or a young girl caught amidst a family feud. On a journey with a friend dreaming of freedom, it's full of mischief, full of fun, and the adventures of a lifetime.

Seamus Heaney’s new translation of Beowulf is a work that is both true to the original poem and an expression of something fundamental to Heaney’s own creative gift.One of the great classics of English literature, it tells the story of a hero who wins glory and learns wisdom and is then called upon to face a final test against the monstrous. There are obvious parallels to be found in the history of the twentieth century, and Heaney’s Beowulf cannot fail to be read partly in the light of his Northern Irish upbringing. But it also transcends such considerations, revealing psychological and spiritual truths that are both permanent and liberating.