A concise style manual that provides the basic elementary principles of English usage and composition, with tips on commonly misused words and expressions, style, and spelling.

King Louis XIV of France imprisons his twin brother Phillipe, the rightful heir to the throne, in the Bastille. In a cunning scheme, Phillipe is freed from prison and released from the iron mask he has been forced to wear.

The Island of Doctor Moreau is a classic work of early science fiction and one of H. G. Wells' most visionary novels. It recounts the harrowing ordeal of Edward Prendick, an Englishman who survives a shipwreck in the southern Pacific Ocean. Rescued by a man named Montgomery, Prendick finds himself on an island belonging to Dr. Moreau, formerly an eminent physiologist in London who was expelled from his homeland for his cruel vivisection experiments. Prendick...

"Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka is a haunting and surreal exploration of existentialism and the human condition. This novella introduces readers to Gregor Samsa, a diligent traveling salesman who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a gigantic insect. Kafka's narrative delves into the isolation, alienation, and absurdity that Gregor experiences as he grapples with his new identity. The novella is a profound examination of the individual's...

Henry D. Thoreau (1817–62) was an American author, naturalist, poet, and philosopher. He wrote many essays and books, including Civil Disobedience, Walking, and The Maine Woods, among others. John Updike (1932–2009) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, short story writer, and poet. One of the most influential and compelling books in American literature, Walden is a vivid account of the years that Henry D. Thoreau spent alone in a secluded...

Much Ado About Nothing, with its sparkling wordplay, spirited heroine, battle of the sexes, and of course eventual romance, all mixed with a good dose of burlesque, is one of Shakespeare's most performed and studied comedies. Benedick summarizes the plot: "Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably."