The novel follows Anges and her uneasy path to personal happiness and a romance with Mr. Weston. Agnes, her sister, Mary, and their mother all try to keep expenses low and to bring in extra money, but Agnes is frustrated that everyone treats her like a child. To prove herself and to earn money, she starts working as a governess, teaching children of rich families. Agnes Grey is an autobiographical novel with strong parallels between its events and Anne Bronte's own life as a governess.

The Piazza Tales is the only collection of short stories by Herman Melville including: The Piazza, Bartleby, Benito Cereno, The Lightning-Rod Man, The Encantadas, The Bell-Tower.

Sandy Arbuthnot's friend John Blenkiron discovers that a charismatic industrial tycoon is plotting to rule the world from his base in the small South American country of Olifa. Sandy decides to lead a revolution to scuttle the plot and allow the Olifans to decide their own fate.

Diary of a Madman is one of Gogol's greatest stories. The tale follows the life of a minor civil servant during the repressive era of Nicholas I. Following the format of a diary, the story shows the descent of the protagonist, Poprishchin, into insanity. Diary of a Madman, the only one of Gogol's works written in first person, follows diary-entry format. This Sovereign Classic edition also includes the following other tales: The Mantle, The Nose, A May Night.

Our pet-loving narrator injures his black cat under heavy influence of alcohol. From that moment onward, the cat flees in terror at his master's approach but this does not save Pluto from his master and eventually leads to Pluto's death and a mysterious house fire. The mystery does not end there and leads to even more unexpected events. The book features twenty other stories including: The Fall of the House of Usher, The Masque of the Red Death, The Imp of the Perverse.

Can too much love be fatal? You are about to find out in this exquisite psychological drama between the owner of a pawnshop and his wife. The narrator's marriage started out cordially enough, but his miserly and reserved ways are taxing to his young wife. A dearth of communication and disagreements about how the pawnshop should be run result in arguments, though the narrator insists that they never quarrelled. One fine morning the narrator opens his eyes to see that his wife is standing over him with the revolver pointed at his temple.

The Professor was the first novel by Charlotte Bronte. It was originally written before Jane Eyre and rejected by many publishing houses, but was eventually published posthumously. The novel follows life of a young man, William Crimsworth, and is a first-person narrative from his perspective. It describes his maturation, his loves and his eventual career as a professor at an all-girls school.

The Red Badge of Courage follows events of the American Civil War, and life of a young private of the Union Army, Henry Fleming, who flees from the field of battle. Overcome with shame, he longs for a wound, a red badge of courage, to counteract his cowardice. When his regiment once again faces the enemy, Henry acts as standard-bearer.

Man’s evident failure to make the most out of his material life suggests a study of the elements in each citizen that make him of value to his age and community. What are the measurements of mankind, and why is it that daily some add new treasures to the storehouse of civilization, while others take from and waste the store already accumulated?

Anton Chekhov's iconic plays including some of the unfamiliar short pieces such as The Wedding, and some of the more established classics such as The Cherry Orchard. Chekhov revolutionised world literature influencing generations of playwrights, screenwriters and actors. George Bernard Shaw described Chekhov's work as a fantasia in the Russian manner on English themes.

Troilus and Cressida is set during the later years of the Trojan War, faithfully following the plotline of the Iliad from Achilles' refusal to participate in battle to Hector's death. Troilus, a Trojan prince (son of Priam), woos Cressida, another Trojan. They have sex, professing their undying love, before Cressida is exchanged for a Trojan prisoner of war. As he attempts to visit her in the Greek camp, Troilus glimpses Diomedes flirting with his beloved Cressida, and decides to avenge her perfidy.

Three visitors find shelter from a blizzard at Pat Scully's hotel: a nervous New Yorker known as the Swede, a rambunctious Westerner named Bill, and a reserved Easterner called Mr. Blanc. The Swede becomes increasingly drunk, defensive, and reckless. He is later murdered at the bar.

„Bucur?-te de fiecare clip? tr?it?!“ „Principala mea preocupare în via?? a fost s? mi cultiv pl?cerile sim?urilor. Sim?indu-m? n?scut pentru sexul opus, l-am iubit întotdeauna ?i m-am l?sat iubit de el. Mi-a pl?cut la nebunie savoarea meselor bune ?i m-a pasionat tot ceea ce era menit s?-mi incite curiozitatea.“ – Casanova Casanova (n. 1725, Vene?ia), „scandalosul ?i insolitul vene?ian, nu a fost doar ceea ce s-a crezut: un aventurier, escroc ?i libertin. Ci ?i poetul, memorialistul, filosoful, muzicianul ale c?rui Memorii au fost considerate «adev?rata Enciclopedie a secolului al XVIII lea».“ – Blaise Cendrars „Pu?ine persoane îi pot egala cunoa?terea, inteligen?a ?i imagina?ia.“ – Lamberg ?Via?a monden? ?i amoroas? a lui Casanova a fost consemnat? f?r? pudoare în miile de pagini ale Memoriilor sale, intitulate ?i Povestea vie?ii mele, autobiografie lipsit? de complezen??, care traverseaz? Secolul Luminilor. Scris? extrem de savuros, cartea – din care edi?ia de fa?? ofer? o bogat? selec?ie – este considerat? o capodoper? a literaturii, prin picanteria detaliilor, amploarea moravurilor descrise ?i erudi?ia autorului.

Trebuie spus c ghinga pe nelesul tuturor e i el un volum de construcie. Se vede de la poziionarea la nceput i la final a dou texte pn la capt/ la capt. Nu doar prin abilitatea cu care l structureaz, Coman d impresia unei poete exersate ndelung nainte de a-i propune s debuteze, ci prin modul impecabil n care i concepe fiecare text n parte. Dac vei cuta bjbieli, construcii ntmpltoare, falsete, balast (inerente unui volum de debut), v asigur ca nu le vei gsi aici. Coman reuete s construiasc o lume credibil cu o voce feminin care, dei pare s opteasc, strig. Este o carte care exploateaz jocul de contraste, nuannd: abia dup cel de-al doilea copil al nostru/ am neles ca sunt chestiuni/ perfect distincte – dragostea (am/ putea tri foarte bine/ ca fraii) i plcerea./ pentru amndoi plcerea a venit/ de la corpul strin. n-a mai rmas dect dragostea./ o vom duce cum se cuvine pn la capt. Unei poetici feminine viscerale cu artificii retorice, Coman i opune ceea ce muli ar punea vedea drept o extirpare a afectivitii. Vorbim de dedublare: niciodat n-am ncetat s-mi vorbesc/ altfel dect unei femei/ dar astzi am depit orice nchipuire./ astzi cnd tocmai reuisem/ s-mi adorm trupul/ iar tensiunea dintre mine i el/ aproape c se risipise i de depersonalizare: ntr-un loc n care se aud tot mai tare/ copiii/ cineva m numete nina./ am 40 de ani/ i nu vreau s-mi mai beau cafeaua cu un mort. Vorbim de existen domestica printre oale, robinet, frigider, paa hasan, adjectiv, de hiperchinezie dublat de deficien de concentare, dar i de oboseal cronica (nu m odihnesc niciodat) i acuitate perceptiv, de pnd (ciulesc urechile). O figur care pare c folosete prospecia ca terapie: voi schimba ceva la pr, mi voi/ cumpra ciorapi verzi./ voi zugrvi buctria. mi voi/ face timp s corectez teancurile cu lucrri./ voi mbtrni pentru a cdea, de fapt, imediat n blazare. Pe aceste schimbri brute de direcie, fr a fi disonante, ci perfect muzicale, Coman mizeaz i iese pe deplin ctigtoare.“ – Ioana Dunea

O poezie de o stranietate izbitoare, o lume postapocaliptic cldit pe datele unui imediat nstrinat. O poezie rece, tioas, ritmat (ritmul i aduce aportul formal la respectiva stranietate) care pune n dialog un Eu bntuit de moarte, pe care o citete, o palpeaz n toate detaliile unui univers cvasimitologic pe care-l construiete tocmai pentru a o putea circumscrie. Eul acesta al lui Kemény se afl ntr-o continu stare de asediu pe care o transfer asupra cititorului ideal adoptnd de multe ori structura narativ a mitului, a povestirii legendare (...)Materia are o greutate sufocant n poemele lui Kemény, contrastnd parc cu imaginile aflate n continu micare i transformare. Un vag suprarealism care aduce oarecum, vizual, cu acele videoclipuri ale anilor ’90 trzii, care mizau, pentru a obine stranietatea, pe ocul dat de alternarea dintre accelerarea brusc a micrii i aspectul static al temei mitologice (m gndesc n special la Metallica, clipul de la Until it sleeps)Un volum excelent, un adevrat manual de poezie care sun, datorit lui Andrei Dósa, impecabil.“ – Bogdan Alexandru Stanescu

Din nord, dup? o experien?? de dasc?l la ?coala din Ieud, Ioan Es. Pop a naufragiat prin ’88, ?n Capital? ca muncitor pe un ?antier, mai apoi, dup? ’89, ca redactor la Luceaf?rul, izbutind s?-?i transforme naufragiul ?n descoperire esen?ial?, precum eroul lui Defoe. Cu migal?, cu entuziasm, cu r?bdare, cu Vineri, Robinson a f?cut din naufragiul s?u o terapeutic? a oric?rei alien?ri, inclusiv a celei de sine ?nsu?i. Cu talent, cu intui?ie, cu imagina?ie, cu nou?zeci?tii, Ioan Es. Pop ?i-a convertit naufragiul ?ntr-o splendid? revocare dramatic-liric? a neantului zilnic, cum numai poe?ilor de tot li se poate ?nt?mpla. Ieudul f?r? ie?ire este expresia plin? de prospe?ime poetic? a cestei convertiri. Lauren?iu Ulici

n doar opt ani, Peggy Guggenheim a schimbat faa artei secolului XX; iar viaa sa, cea public i cea privat, a fost la fel de radical precum colecia pe care a deinut o. --The IndependentPatroan a artelor nc din anii 1930, Peggy Guggenheim ne ofer, ntr un autoportret plin de sinceritate, o perspectiv din interior asupra nceputului artei moderne, fcnd mrturisiri revelatoare despre familia sa bogat i excentric, despre relaiile sale personale i oferindu ne portrete adesea surprinztoare ale artitilor nii.Confesiunile unei dependente de art imortalizeaz un capitol nsemnat din istoria artei moderne, precum i personalitatea uneia dintre cele mai fervente susintoare a ei.Ar trebui s ne mulumim, deocamdat, cu ceea ce a produs secolul XX — Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Kandinsky, Klee, Léger, Braque, Gris, Ernst, Miró, Brncui, Arp, Giacometti, Lipchitz, Calder, Pevsner, Moore i Pollock. Astzi este vremea colecionrii, nu a creaiei.Haidei cel puin s conservm i s le oferim oamenilor toate marile comori pe care le avem. -- Peggy Guggenheimntlnirea cu frumosul ne modific. Arta, n toate formele ei de exprimare, ne vorbete despre frumuseea acestei lumi, indiferent ct de sublim sau atroce este ea.Prin Colecia StArt pe care o inaugureaz odat cu apariia Confesiunilor lui Peggy Guggenheim, Editura Pandora M i propune s familiarizeze cititorii cu arta modern a secolului XX i cu fabuloasa lume din spatele cortinelor care ascund de multe ori poveti extraordinare i viziuni inedite. Colecia StArt este un loc de ntlnire ntre cei care au curiozitatea de a citi viaa prin alt fel de lentile dect cele obinuite i cei mai importani actori ai scenei de art, fie c este vorba despre artiti, curatori, galeriti, colecionari, critici sau istorici.

"I am a human being; I am a woman; I am a black woman; I am an African. Once I was free; then I was captured and became a slave; but inside me, here and here, I am still a free woman."During a period of four hundred years, European slave traders ferried some 12 million enslaved Africans across the Atlantic. In the Americas, teaching a slave to read and write was a criminal offense. When the last slaves gained their freedom in Brazil, barely a thousand of them were literate. Hardly any stories of the enslaved and transported Africans have survived.This novel is an attempt to recreate just one of those stories, one story of a possible 12 million or more.Lawrence Hill created another in The Book of Negroes (Someone Knows my Name in the U.S.) and, more recently, Yaa Gyasi has done the same in Homegoing. Ama occupies center stage throughout this novel. As the story opens, she is sixteen. Distant drums announce the death of her grandfather. Her family departs to attend the funeral, leaving her alone to tend her ailing baby brother. It is 1775. Asante has conquered its northern neighbor and exacted an annual tribute of 500 slaves. The ruler of Dagbon dispatches a raiding party into the lands of the neighboring Bekpokpam. They capture Ama. That night, her lover, Itsho, leads an attack on the raiders’ camp. The rescue bid fails. Sent to collect water from a stream, Ama comes across Itsho’s mangled corpse. For the rest of her life she will call upon his spirit in time of need. In Kumase, the Asante capital, Ama is given as a gift to the Queen-mother. When the adolescent monarch, Osei Kwame, conceives a passion for her, the regents dispatch her to the coast for sale to the Dutch at Elmina Castle. There the governor, Pieter de Bruyn, selects her as his concubine, dressing her in the elegant clothes of his late Dutch wife and instructing the obese chaplain to teach her to read and write English. De Bruyn plans to marry Ama and take her with him to Europe. He makes a last trip to the Dutch coastal outstations and returns infected with yellow fever. On his death, his successor rapes Ama and sends her back to the female dungeon. Traumatized, her mind goes blank. She comes to her senses in the canoe which takes her and other women out to the slave ship, The Love of Liberty. Before the ship leaves the coast of Africa, Ama instigates a slave rebellion. It fails and a brutal whipping leaves her blind in one eye. The ship is becalmed in mid-Atlantic. Then a fierce storm cripples it and drives it into the port of Salvador, capital of Brazil. Ama finds herself working in the fields and the mill on a sugar estate. She is absorbed into slave society and begins to adapt, learning Portuguese. Years pass. Ama is now totally blind. Clutching the cloth which is her only material link with Africa, she reminisces, dozes, falls asleep. A short epilogue brings the story up to date. The consequences of the slave trade and slavery are still with us. Brazilians of African descent remain entrenched in the lower reaches of society, enmeshed in poverty. “This is story telling on a grand scale,” writes Tony Sim?es da Silva. “In Ama, Herbstein creates a work of literature that celebrates the resilience of human beings while denouncing the inscrutable nature of their cruelty. By focusing on the brutalization of Ama's body, and on the psychological scars of her experiences, Herbstein dramatizes the collective trauma of slavery through the story of a single African woman. Ama echoes the views of writers, historians and philosophers of the African diaspora who have argued that the phenomenon of slavery is inextricable from the deepest foundations of contemporary western civilization.” Ama, a Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, won the 2002 Commonwealth Writers Prize for the Best First Book.

A sequel to Daniel Defoe's legendary Robinson Crusoe story of his adventures and survival on a remote tropical island. In this volume we follow Crusoe's return to his island, his voyages to Brazil, Southeast Asia, China, Madagascar, Siberia, and his adventures with the local tribes.

Moby-Dick, one of the Great American Novels and a treasure of world literature, follows the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and Captain Ahab who seeks out Moby Dick, a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale. In a previous encounter, the whale destroyed Ahab's boat and bit off his leg, which now drives Ahab to take revenge.

Ireland is at a crossroads of history and culture, and so are the characters in Joyce's collection of fifteen stories in this book. The initial stories are narrated by child protagonists, and later deal with the lives and concerns of progressively more mature characters. The stories centre on Joyce's idea of an epiphany: a moment where a character experiences self-understanding or illumination.