20 Best Books Classics (Jan 2023 Update)

A sumptuous new one-volume edition of tolkien's classic masterpiece that is fully illustrated throughout in watercolour by the acclaimed and award-winning artist, alan lee, and housed in a special transparent slipcase. since it was first published in 1954, the lord of the rings has been a book people have treasured. steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy has touched the hearts of young and old alike. well over 100 million copies of its many editions have been sold around the world, and occasional collectors' editions become prized and valuable items of publishing. with the epic trilogy now an acclaimed, award-winning and billion-dollar success, images of the characters and landscapes have become iconic to a whole new generation of readers. much of the look of these movies is based on alan lee's paintings, giving this sumptuous new edition of tolkien's great work new relevance for the ever-growing number of fans. this new edition includes all 50 of alan lee's beautiful watercolour paintings that have been newly scanned by the artist himself, together with his stunning frontispiece painting that appears in full, for the very first time, as a three-page foldout sheet. the text has been reset using the definitive 50th anniversary text and is printed on high-quality paper, and this is accompanied by tolkien's own maps, which are printed in red & black as endpapers. the unjacketed book features illustrated boards and includes a silk ribbon marker, and is housed in a special transparent slipcase; together with alan's beautiful paintings, this new presentation of this landmark work provides the reader with the ultimate edition with which to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its first publication.

Buy roald dhal books- an amazing collections of childhood tales about the author roald dahl was a spy, ace fighter-pilot, chocolate historian and medical inventor. he was also the author of charlie and the chocolate factory, matilda, the bfg and many more brilliant stories. he remains the world’s no.1 storyteller.

Carnton plantation, 1894: carrie mcgavock is an old woman who tends the graves of the almost 1,500 soldiers buried there. as she walks among the dead, an elderly man appears–the same soldier she met that fateful day long ago. today, he asks if the cemetery has room for one more.based on an extraordinary true story, this brilliant, meticulously researched novel flashes back to 1864 and the afternoon of the civil war. while the fierce fighting rages on carrie's land, her plantation turns into a confederate army hospital; four generals lie dead on her back porch; the pile of amputated limbs rises as tall as the smoke house. but when a wounded soldier named zachariah cashwell arrives at her house, he awakens feelings she had thought long dead–and inspires a passion as powerful and unforgettable as the war that consumes a nation. *includes reading group guide*

'my mother died today. or maybe yesterday, i don't know.' in the outsider (1942), his classic existentialist novel, camus explores the alienation of an individual who refuses to conform to social norms. meursault, his anti-hero, will not lie. when his mother dies, he refuses to show his emotions simply to satisfy the expectations of others. and when he commits a random act of violence on a sun-drenched beach near algiers, his lack of remorse compounds his guilt in the eyes of society and the law. yet he is as much a victim as a criminal.albert camus' portrayal of a man confronting the absurd, and revolting against the injustice of society, depicts the paradox of man's joy in life when faced with the 'tender indifference' of the world. sandra smith's translation, based on close listening to a recording of camus reading his work aloud on french radio in 1954, sensitively renders the subtleties and dream-like atmosphere of l'étranger.albert camus (1913-1960), french novelist, essayist and playwright, is one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. his most famous works include the myth of sisyphus (1942), the plague (1947), the just (1949), the rebel (1951) and the fall (1956). he was awarded the nobel prize for literature in 1957, and his last novel, the first man, unfinished at the time of his death, appeared in print for the first time in 1994, and was published in english soon after by hamish hamilton.sandra smith was born and raised in new york city and is a fellow of robinson college, university of cambridge, where she teaches french literature and language. she has won the french american foundation florence gould foundation translation prize, as well as the pen book-of-the-month club translation prize.

The blue fairy book was the first volume in the series and so it contains some of the best known tales, taken from a variety of sources: not only from grimm, but exciting adventures by charles perrault and madame d'aulnoy, the arabian nights, and other stories from popular traditions. here in one attractive paperbound volume – with enlarged print – are sleeping beauty, rumpelstiltskin, beauty and the beast, hansel and gretel, puss in boots, trusty john, jack and the giantkiller, goldilocks, and many other favourites that have become an indispensable part of our culture heritage. all in all, this collection contains 29 stories, all arranged in the clear, lively prose for which lang was famous. not only are lang's generally conceded to be the best english versions of standard stories, his collections are the richest and widest in range. his position as one of england's foremost folklorists as well as his first-rate literary abilities makes his collection unfathomable in the english language.

Homer's two epics of the ancient world, the iliad and the odyssey, tell stories as riveting today as when they were written between the eighth and ninth century b.c. this edition employs samuel butler's classic translations of both texts. the iliad, which tells of the siege of troy by the greeks, is an unforgettable tale of nations at war and of the courage and compassion heroic soldiers show upon the field of battle. the odyssey is the story of the greek hero odysseus and the many marvels and challenges he encounters during his ten-year voyage home to ithaca after the end of the trojan war.

The arabian nights is your magic carpet ride to exotic lands full of wonders and marvels. first collected nearly a thousand years ago, these folktales are presented as stories that crafty scheherazade tells her husband, king shahryar, over a thousand-and-one consecutive nights, to pique his interest for the next evening's entertainment and thereby save her life. among them are some of the best-known legends of eastern storytelling, including the sinbad the sailor, aladdin and his magic lamp, and ali baba and the forty thieves. this collection features more than twenty stories, in the classic translation of sir richard burton, published between 1884 and 1886, and full-colour illustrations by renata fucikova and jindra capek. each volume features authoritative texts by the world's greatest authors in an exquisitely designed bonded-leather binding, with distinctive gilt edging and a silk-ribbon bookmark. decorative, durable, and collectible, these books offer hours of pleasure to readers young and old and are an indispensable cornerstone for every home library.

The divine comedy describes dante's descent into hell with virgil as a guide; his ascent of mount purgatory and encounter with his dead love, beatrice; and finally, his arrival in heaven. examining questions of faith, desire and enlightenment, the poem is a brilliantly nuanced and moving allegory of human redemption. dante alighieri was born in florence in 1265 and belonged to a noble but impoverished family. his life was divided by political duties and poetry, the most of famous of which was inspired by his meeting with bice portinari, whom he called beatrice, including la vita nuova and the divine comedy. he died in ravenna in 1321.

Heidi is the timeless tale of an orphan girl who comes to live with her cold and frightening grandfather in the mountains of switzerland–and who, in the end, brings cheer and comfort into the hearts of everyone who knows her. this edition of johanna spyri's classic novel features illustrations in full color by jessie wilcox smith.

Successful lady novelist laura morland and her boisterous young son tony set off to spend christmas at her country home in the sleepy surrounds of high rising. but laura's wealthy friend and neighbour george knox has taken on a scheming secretary whose designs on marriage to her employer threaten the delicate social fabric of the village. can clever, practical laura rescue george from miss grey's clutches and, what's more, help his daughter miss sibyl knox to secure her longed-for engagement? utterly charming and very funny, high rising is irresistible comic entertainment.

A landmark in american literature (chicago sun-times) stephen king s #1 national bestseller about seven adults who return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they had first stumbled on as teenagers an evil without a name: it. welcome to derry, maine. it s a small city, a place as hauntingly familiar as your own hometown. only in derry the haunting is real. they were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. now they are grown-up men and women who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. but the promise they made twenty-eight years ago calls them reunite in the same place where, as teenagers, they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city s children. now, children are being murdered again and their repressed memories of that terrifying summer return as they prepare to once again battle the monster lurking in derry s sewers. it, paperback book.

#1 new york times bestselleroprah's book club selectionthe “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece” (booklist) that changed the course of ken follett’s already phenomenal career—and begins where its prequel, the evening and the morning, ended.“ follett risks all and comes out a clear winner,” extolled publishers weekly on the release of the pillars of the earth. a departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. today, it stands as a testament to follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. the pillars of the earth tells the story of philip, prior of kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of tom, the mason who becomes his architect—a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive lady aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state and brother against brother. a spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century england, this is ken follett’s historical masterpiece.

About lord of the flies goldings iconic 1954 novel, now with a new foreword by lois lowry, remains one of the greatest books ever written for young adults and an unforgettable classic for readers of any age. this edition includes a new suggestions for further reading by jennifer buehler. at the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. at first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate. this far from civilization they can do anything they want. anything. but as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far removed from reality as the hope of being rescued.

A controversial tale of friendship and tragedy during the great depressionover seventy-five years since its first publication, steinbeck’s tale of commitment, loneliness, hope, and loss remains one of america’s most widely read and taught novels. an unlikely pair, george and lennie, two migrant workers in california during the great depression, grasp for their american dream. they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. for george and lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. when they land jobs on a ranch in the salinas valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. but even george cannot guard lennie from the provocations, nor predict the consequences of lennie's unswerving obedience to the things george taught him.of mice and men represents an experiment in form, which steinbeck described as "a kind of playable novel, written in a novel form but so scened and set that it can be played as it stands." a rarity in american letters, it achieved remarkable success as a novel, a broadway play, and three acclaimed films. this edition features an introduction by susan shillinglaw, one of today’s leading steinbeck scholars.for more than sixty-five years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the english-speaking world. with more than 1,500 titles, penguin classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Get ready for samantha shannon's new novel, a day of fallen night, coming in february 2023! the new york times bestselling "epic feminist fantasy perfect for fans of game of thrones" (bustle). named a best book of the year by:amazon (top 100 editors picks and science fiction and fantasy) * chicago public library * bookpage * autostraddlea world divided. – a queendom without an heir. – an ancient enemy awakens. – the house of berethnet has ruled inys for a thousand years. still unwed, queen sabran the ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction–but assassins are getting closer to her door. – ead duryan is an outsider at court. though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. ead keeps a watchful eye on sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. – across the dark sea, tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. – meanwhile, the divided east and west refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

* instant new york times and usa today bestseller ** goodreads choice award winner for best debut and best romance of 2019 ** best book of the year* for vogue, npr, vanity fair, and more! *what happens when america's first son falls in love with the prince of wales? when his mother became president, alex claremont-diaz was promptly cast as the american equivalent of a young royal. handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the white house. there's only one problem: alex has a beef with the actual prince, henry, across the pond. and when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an alex-henry altercation, u.s. /british relations take a turn for the worse. heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. what at first begins as a fake, instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either alex or henry could have imagined. soon alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: can love save the world after all? casey mcquiston's red, white & royal blue proves: true love isn't always diplomatic. "i took this with me wherever i went and stole every second i had to read! absorbing, hilarious, tender, sexy—this book had everything i crave. i’m jealous of all the readers out there who still get to experience red, white & royal blue for the first time!" – christina lauren, new york times bestselling author of the unhoneymooners"red, white & royal blue is outrageously fun. it is romantic, sexy, witty, and thrilling. i loved every second." – taylor jenkins reid, new york times bestselling author of daisy jones & the six

With stunning illustrations from celebrated artist charles santore and a child-friendly, abridged retelling that remains faithful to frank l. baum's original text, this classic edition of the wizard of oz is a must-have for every family's library. readers of all ages will follow the yellow brick road on an unforgettable journey that takes them from dorothy's gray kansas home into the blue munchkin land; the sparkling bejeweled emerald city; the dark, foreboding forest; and the ruby-red throne room of glinda the good witch in this gorgeously illustrated, classic edition of the wizard of oz.

This collection of classic works traces the founding of america, from the birth of the nation in the late 1760s to the creation of a more perfect union at the end of the early 1800s. it celebrates the pursuit of life, liberty and justice and the freedoms that define america through notable documents, writings and speeches.

Eight years ago, anne elliot broke off her engagement to the dashing young naval officer frederick wentworth on the advice of a friend. now twenty-seven and considered a faded beauty, she is resigned to a spinster's life when she learns that wentworth, now a captain and wealthy with prize money from the napoleonic wars, has returned. while anne visits her married younger sister mary, wentworth pays frequent calls on mary's two charming sisters-in-law. although anne tries to avoid him she cannot, and although she knows he has not forgiven her, his presence is a constant reminder of what she has lost. published posthumously in 1818, persuasion is both a delightful romantic comedy and an insightful exploration of our need to persuade, and be persuaded, by others. this volume is one of barnes & noble's collectible editions classics. each volume features authoritative texts by the world's greatest authors in an exquisitely designed foil-stamped binding, with distinctive coloured edging and an attractive ribbon bookmark. decorative, durable, and collectible, these books offer hours of pleasure to readers young and old and are an indispensable cornerstone for any home library.

Titles in this collection set 1 stay out of the basement they're baa-ack! make way for the bestselling children's series of all time! with a fresh new look, goosebumps is set to scare a whole new generation of kids. so reader beware–you're in for a scare! dr. brewer is doing a little plant-testing in his basement. nothing to worry about. harmless, really. but margaret and casey brewer are worried about their father. especially when they…meet…some of the plants he is growing down there. then they notice that their father is developing plantlike tendencies. in fact, he is becoming distinctly weedy-and seedy. is it just part of their father's "harmless" experiment? or has the basement turned into a garden the ghost next door they're baa-ack! make way for the bestselling children's series of all time! with a fresh new look, goosebumps is set to scare a whole new generation of kids. so reader beware–you're in for a scare! "how come i've never seen you before?" hannah's neighborhood has gotten a little – weird. ever since that new boy moved in next door. but when did he move in? wasn't the house empty when hannah went to sleep the night before? why does it still look so deserted? hannah can't get any answers from her new neighbor. he just keeps disappearing in the oddest ways. and he's so pale… is hannah being haunted by… …the ghost next revenge of the lawn gnomes they're baa-ack! make way for the bestselling children's series of all time! with a fresh new look, goosebumps is set to scare a whole new generation of kids. so reader beware–you're in for a scare! two pink flamingos. a whole family of plaster skunks. joe's dad loves those tacky lawn ornaments. but then he brings home two ugly lawn gnomes. and that's when the trouble starts. late at night, when everyone's asleep someone's creeping in the garden. whispering nasty things. smashing melons. squashing tomatoes. no way two dumb old lawn ornaments could be causing all the trouble….is there? the haunted car the original books featuring the scariest creatures from the goosebumps movie, in theaters october 16, 2015! mitchell moinian tried to do some homework. but he kept jumping up and going to his bedroom window to peer down at the car. a street light made the chrome bumpers sparkle and the sleek blue body glow. mitchell couldn't resist. he had to sit in the car. holding his breath, he crept down the stairs and out the front door. he stepped around to the driver's side of the car and grabbed the handle. go ahead,"" a voice whispered. ""climb in."" mitchell had no idea how scary this ride was going to be. let's get invisible they're baa-ack! make way for the bestselling children's series of all time! with a fresh new look, goosebumps is set to scare a whole new generation of kids. so reader beware–you're in for a scare! on max's birthday, he finds a kind of magic mirror in the attic. it can make make him invisible. so max and his friends start playing "now you see me, now you don't." until max realizes that he's losing control. staying invisible a little too long. having a harder and harder time coming back. being invisible is turning into a very dangerous game. the next time max gets invisible, will it be… forever? the scarecrow walks at night the best-selling scare series of all time brings you a thrilling repackage of the field of screams! jodie loves visiting her grandparents' farm. okay, so it's not the most exciting place in the world. still, grandpa tells great scary stories. and grandma's chocolate chip cookies are the best. but this summer the farm has really changed. the cornfields are sparse. grandma and grandpa seem worn out. and the single scarecrow has been replaced by twelve evil-looking ones then one night jodie sees something really odd. the scarecrows seem to be moving. twitching on their stakes. coming alive .