House Classics

Hot on the heels of Gardner Dozois's acclaimed anthology The Book of Swords comes this companion volume devoted to magic. How could it be otherwise? For every Frodo, there is a Gandalf... and a Saruman. For every Dorothy, a Glinda... and a Wicked Witch of the West. What would Harry Potter be without Albus Dumbledore... and Severus Snape? Figures of wisdom and power, possessing arcane, often forbidden knowledge, wizards and sorcerers are shaped - or misshaped - by the potent magic they seek to wield.

A young Native American, Abel has come home from war to find himself caught between two worlds. The first is the world of his father’s, wedding him to the rhythm of the seasons, the harsh beauty of the land, and the ancient rites and traditions of his people. But the other world - modern, industrial America - pulls at Abel, demanding his loyalty, trying to claim his soul, and goading him into a destructive, compulsive cycle of depravity and disgust.

A powerful novel examining the nature of evil, informed by the works of T. S. Eliot and Freud, mythology, local lore, and hard-boiled detective fiction, Sanctuary is the dark, at times brutal, story of the kidnapping of Mississippi debutante Temple Drake. She introduces her own form of venality into the Memphis underworld where she is being held.

In this brilliant, multi-layered novel, a young Southerner, Stingo, wants to become a writer. In Brooklyn, he meets Nathan, a brilliant Jewish intellectual involved in a turbulent love-hate affair with Sophie, a beautiful Polish woman. She has a terrible wound in her past, one that impels both Sophie and Nathan toward destruction.

In this superb and widely acclaimed translation of the complete Mahabharata, Bibek Debroy takes us on a great journey with incredible ease.

Matilda es una ávida lectora de solo cinco años. Sensible e inteligente, todos la admiran menos sus mediocres padres, que la consideran una inútil. Además, tiene poderes extraños y maravillosos.... Un día, Matilda decide liberarse y empieza a emplearlos contra la abominable y cruel señorita Trunchbull.

Travel back in time in the magic tree house with Jack and Annie in this number one best-selling series, and meet the greatest warriors of all - the Romans! Then get whisked away and meet famous founding-father and inventor Ben Franklin!

This story of a young woman's confrontation with death and her past is a poetic study of human relations.

After exploiting India's divisions for years, the British depart in such haste that no one is prepared for the Hindu-Muslim riots of 1947.

Against the backdrop of the violent partition of India and Pakistan, this volume sketches one last bittersweet romance, revealing the divided loyalties of the British as they flee, retreat from, or cling to India.

Directors operate behind the scenes managing actors, establishing a cohesive creative vision, at times literally guiding our eyes with the eye of the camera. But we are often so dazzled by the visions onscreen that it is easy to forget the individual who is off-screen orchestrating the entire production - to say nothing of their having marshaled a script, a studio, and other people's money. David Thomson, in his usual brilliantly insightful way, shines a light on the visionary directors who have shaped modern cinema and, through their work, studies the very nature of film direction.

In The Power-House, Leithen’s quiet life is disrupted when he is pitted against the murderous forces of an international network of anarchists, and its chilling leader. Then, adopting the nom de guerre of “John Macnab,” Leithen and two friends risk their reputations when they take to poaching in the Highlands of Scotland in an effort to recover their zest for life. Finally, in The Dancing Floor, Sir Edward befriends a young man haunted by an annually recurring dream, and a young woman stubbornly determined to atone for the sins of her disreputable family, even at the risk of her own life.

El señor Wonka, dueño de la magnífica fábrica de chocolate, ha escondido cinco billetes de oro en sus chocolatinas. Quienes los encuentren serán los elegidos para visitar la fábrica. Charlie tiene la fortuna de encontrar uno de esos billetes y, a partir de ese momento, su vida cambiará para siempre.

All of us are familiar with the fairy tales of youth where the young hero and heroine fall in love, defeat their enemies, marry, and live happily ever after. The fairy tales gathered here are about what happens next, when the Prince goes bald and the Princess has a midlife crisis. They portray middle-aged men and women facing the special issues dealing with crisis, aging and mortality, and the desire for renewal.

The assumptions and obsessions that control our daily lives are explored in tantalizing detail by master novelist John Updike in this wise, witty, sexy story. Harry Angstrom - known to all as Rabbit, one of America's most famous literary characters - finds his dreary life shattered by the infidelity of his wife. How he resolves - or further complicates - his problems makes a compelling listen.

The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne is a timeless classic filled with whimsy, heart, and imagination. This delightful sequel to Winnie-the-Pooh brings listeners back to the enchanting Hundred Acre Wood, where Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and their friends embark on new adventures, share heartfelt moments, and explore the meaning of friendship. From building a house for Eeyore to saying goodbye to Christopher Robin, each chapter is filled with charm and tender lessons that resonate with both children and adults.

Johnny Appleseed's real name was John Chapman, a native of Massachusetts who lived from 1774 to 1845. It is known that he wandered for 40 years through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana sowing apple seeds, staying one step ahead of the pioneer movement in order to sell seedlings to those who traveled through. Chapman was known for his humanitarian values: his cheerfulness, generosity, and most of all, his respect for, and nearly mystical relationship with, nature.

Lily Bart enjoys an equitable standing within the New York City elite. Although she desires a comfortable life and has received generous proposals from wealthy suitors, Lily remains single with hope for an honest and loving marriage. However, her life takes an unexpected twist when a nasty bit of gossip instigates her long descent down the social ladder. With her reputation plummeting, Lily escapes the city by joining an acquaintance on a European cruise.

Based on historical characters and events, A Sweetness to the Soul recounts the captivating story of young, spirited Oregon pioneer Jane Herbert who at the age of 12 faces a tragedy that begins a life-long search for forgiveness and love. In the years that follow, young Jane finds herself involved in an unusual and touching romance with a dreamer 16 years her senior, struggles to make peace with an emotionally distant mother, and fights to build a family of her own.

Este libro capital para la cultura del siglo XX transcurre en Argelia y narra la anodina vida de Meursault, un joven oficinista que vive en perpetua apatía. Cuando recibe la noticia del fallecimiento de su madre, la encaja con la mayor impasibilidad. Obligado a abandonar la capital y viajar para asistir al funeral, Meursault desea que la ceremonia sea breve para regresar a su casa.

The Betrothed is a cornerstone of Italian culture, language, and literature. Published in its final form in 1842, The Betrothed has inspired generations of Italian readers and writers. Giuseppe Verdi composed his majestic Requiem Mass in honor of Manzoni. Italo Calvino called the novel “a classic that has never ceased shaping reality in Italy” while Umberto Eco praised its author as a “most subtle critic and analyst of languages.”