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Oscar Wilde

"You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit."
One day, the artist Basil Hallward is painting a picture of his muse Dorian Gray with his friend Lord Henry watching. Dorian listens as Lord Henry confidentially presents his hedonistic world view, saying beauty is the only thing in life that truly matters. It makes Dorian wish that his painting would age instead of him. Not long thereafter, Dorian sees his girl perform Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and is so turned off by her bad performance that he rejects her. When he gets home, he notices a certain cruel sneer in his portrait.
Told with flowery and snappy Jane Austen-like language, The Picture of Dorian Gray, about a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth, is Oscar Wilde’s most famous and popular work. It has been adapted for film and television many times, most recently in the 2009 film Dorian Gray starring Colin Firth and Ben Barnes.

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet, famous for ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ and ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ to name a couple. He was believed to be gay and met a lot of resistance in his life on that account. He died in Paris at the age of 46.

Ben Onwukwe

SAGA Egmont

World Classics

The Picture of Dorian Gray

F. Scott Fitzgerald

"In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars."

It’s the height of the roaring 20’s. Every Saturday, the doors to Gatsby’s gothic mansion are flung wide to the bright young things of New York - the music is loud, the dancing is wild, and the champagne flows freely. 

Gatsby’s new neighbor, Nick Carraway, is fascinated by the spectacle. But when he pushes beyond the shimmering, glistening veneer of Gatsby’s charmed life, Nick discovers his new friend is tortured by a profound yearning for the one thing – and one person – he can’t have. 

A vibrant tale of obsession and opulence, corruption and canapes. The promise of the American Dream set against the glittering chaos of the Jazz Age. 

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) is considered one of the greatest American novelists of the 20th century and the author of 'Tender is the Night’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’. He and his wife, Zelda, were prominent socialites and spent much time moving in famous literary circles across Europe.

Russell Bentley

The Great Gatsby

Mark Twain

The Mysterious Stranger is a story by Mark Twain that tells the tale of a mysterious stranger who comes to a small town and changes the lives of its residents. It is difficult to understand what exactly is happening. However, it seems as though the stranger is a force for good, and he helps the townspeople to become better people. Ultimately, the mystery of the stranger's identity remains unsolved, but his impact on the town is clear.

J. Greehman

Listen & Live Audio

The Mysterious Stranger

Gustave Flaubert

Herodias is a short story by Gustave Flaubert, one of the great masters of French literature. It is a reworking of the tale of Salomé and John the Baptist, in which faith and cruelty are blended in a deadly dance culminating in tragedy. A stylistic masterpiece, with orientalist sensuality and an inspired dive into religious fervor, this short story brings the ancient era to the most colorful possible life.

Katie Haigh

Herodias by Gustave Flaubert

Virginia Woolf

Immerse yourself in the enchanting prose which makes ´Mrs Dalloway´ a timeless classic, celebrated globally as one of Virginia Woolf's greatest novels.

While Mrs Dalloway meticulously prepares for a grand evening soirée, she is interrupted by the arrival of an old admirer, who unknowingly ignites a cascade of memories and reflections that threaten to consume her.

Weaving you in and out of her characters' minds, ´Mrs Dalloway´ will leave you convinced that Virginia Woolf possesses an unparalleled understanding of human nature.

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) was a hugely influential English writer. A pioneer in the narrative device of streams of consciousness, Woolf’s breathtaking collection spans ‘Mrs Dalloway’, ‘To the Lighthouse’, and the non-fiction title ‘A Room of One’s Own’.

Heather Long

Mrs Dalloway

Dante Alighieri

"Purgatorio" is the second part of Alighieri’s poem "The Divine Comedy". The story of Dante travelling through the nine circles of Hell in "Inferno" continues as he survives the depths of hell and climbs the mountain Purgatory. The mountain has seven terraces which represent the seven deadly sins and the seven levels of suffering which lead to spiritual growth. The story depicts love as the initial reason for the arising of sins. On top of the mountain is the Earthly Paradise. If the soul is however going to reach it, depends on the choices one makes.

Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet, philosopher, language and political theorist, born in Florence in 1265. He is one of the best known poets of the Middle Ages and his masterpiece "The Divine Comedy" is considered to be a representative of the medieval world-view. "The Divine Comedy" and "The New life" were written in vernacular, i.e. the speech variety that was used in everyday life. This made the literature accessible to most people and this is mainly why Dante is called "The father of Italian language". Dante’s life was divided by poetry and politics and the relationships between secular and religious authority were topics which were often depicted in his literary works.

The Divine Comedy: Purgatory

Charles Eliot Norton

Dante Alighieri’s journey continues in the third part of "The Divine Comedy". Opposite to the main subject in the previous two parts, "Paradiso" depicts virtues and not sins as it represents the soul’s ascent to God. Dante’s journey goes through the nine spheres of Heaven, associated with nine different virtues such as Justice, Faith, Love. Which is the last stage of Dante’s journey and what will it bring to his soul? 

Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet, philosopher, language and political theorist, born in Florence in 1265. He is one of the best known poets of the Middle Ages and his masterpiece "The Divine Comedy" is considered to be a representative of the medieval world-view."The Divine Comedy" and "The New life" were written in vernacular, i.e. the speech variety that was used in everyday life. This made the literature accessible to most people and this is mainly why Dante is called "The father of Italian language". Dante’s life was divided by poetry and politics and the relationships between secular and religious authority were topics which were often depicted in his literary works.

The Divine Comedy: Paradise

"Inferno" tells the story " of those who have rejected spiritual values", of those who are lost and are unable to find the right way to salvation. It describes each sin and the corresponding punishment. It differentiates between Purgatory and Hell by presenting people begging for forgiveness and others willing to justify their sins."Inferno" represents the Christian soul who gets to see what it really is to commit a sin and what is to be expected in the afterlife. 

"Inferno" is the first part of Dante Alighieri’s medieval poem "The Divine Comedy" which was written in the period 1308-1320. It depicts the nine circles of Hell and Dante’s journey through them. 

Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet, philosopher, language and political theorist, born in Florence in 1265. He is one of the best known poets of the Middle Ages and his masterpiece "The Divine Comedy" is considered to be a representative of the medieval world-view."The Divine Comedy" and "The New life" were written in vernacular, i.e. the speech variety that was used in everyday life. This made the literature accessible to most people and this is mainly why Dante is called "The father of Italian language". Dante’s life was divided by poetry and politics and the relationships between secular and religious authority were topics which were often depicted in his literary works.

The Divine Comedy: Hell

Fyodor Dostoevsky

"White Nights" is the story about a melancholic daydreamer, who spends his life idling in St. Petersburg and indulging in existential questions. He is so much in a world of his own that any actual real-life encounter leaves him bewildered and numb. Dostoevsky’s powerful and detailed psychological portrait makes the reader identify with the protagonist, who cannot but seek means of consoling him. One day a random encounter takes place and the story takes a surprising turn – only to leave the reader gasping for breath once the final pages come. Highly recommended for people who often feels the need to find an alternative to the grey and stifling everyday life.

Fyodor Dostoevsky was a famous Russian writer of novels, short stories, and essays. A connoisseur of the troubled human psyche and the relationships between the individuals, Dostoevsky’s oeuvre covers a large area of subjects: politics, religion, social issues, philosophy, and the uncharted realms of the psychological. He is most famous for the novels "Crime and Punishment", "The Idiot", and "The Brothers Karamazov". His literary legacy was met with mixed feelings, but remains gargantuan in its influence.

Ciaran Saward

White Nights

One of Dostoevsky’s shorter novels, "The Gambler" reflects the author’s own difficult and prolonged battles with gambling as one of his major addictions. It is the story of a young man with aspirations to see and go beyond the established order, but in reality only gets stuck deeper and deeper into addiction and degradation. Dostoevsky does a great job in painting the psychological portrait of the protagonist, Alexey, who is having difficulties finding meaning in life and himself. 

Fyodor Dostoevsky was a famous Russian writer of novels, short stories, and essays. A connoisseur of the troubled human psyche and the relationships between the individuals, Dostoevsky’s oeuvre covers a large area of subjects: politics, religion, social issues, philosophy, and the uncharted realms of the psychological. He is most famous for the novels "Crime and Punishment", "The Idiot", and "The Brothers Karamazov". His literary legacy was met with mixed feelings, but remains gargantuan in its influence.

The Gambler

Charles King

"Starlight Ranch and Other Stories of Army Life on the Frontier" collects five of Captain Charles King's frontline stories, and offers a glimpse of American army life in the mid- to late 19th century. It follows his campaigns in the American-Indian wars in a number of battles. It offers valuable insights into life in the military at this time as well as stunning first-hand accounts of combat in these theatres. It is a fascinating insight into the formative years of the American army as well as the formative years of American society as a whole. If you enjoyed ‘The Last of the Mohicans’ this stunning first-hand account is perfect for you. This collection contains: 'Starlight Ranch,' 'Well Won, or From the Plains to the Point’, 'From the point to the Plains', 'The Worst Man in the Troop,' and 'Van'.

Charles King (1844-1933) was a graduate of the prestigious West Point academy, grandson of a signatory of the American Constitution as well as a decorated war veteran with over seventy years of service. Much of his work covers the Indian wars of the 1870s, the American wars in the Philippines as well as the First World War. Apart from his non-fiction he wrote dozens of novels and short stories earning him the name the ‘American Kipling’. His most famous works include "Marion’s Faith," "The Colonel’s Daughter," "Campaigning with Crook," "Fort Frayne," "Under Fire" and "Daughter of the Sioux."

David Wales

Starlight Ranch and Other Stories of Army Life on the Frontier

Jean Webster

The impetuous but nonetheless highly intelligent, street smart Patty Wyatt goes to a turn of the century, all-girls college where she studies here and there during whatever time remains after delivering scathing commentaries on dorm life, playing pranks on her friends and teachers, and, last but not least, soaring to the rescue of other girls in need. First published in 1903, Jean Webster’s debut novel 'When Patty Went to College' is a witty yet strikingly authentic account of going to college in Patty's day and age, to be fondly treasured by anybody who holds their college memories dear to their heart. 

If you enjoyed the 2012 musical comedy blockbuster 'Pitch Perfect' about a group of talented and free-spirited modern day college girls, starring Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow and Rebel Wilson, you'll find this a highly fascinating and enthralling account of college girl life long before the advent of modern day pastimes. 

Jean Webster was the pseudonym of Alice Jane Chandler Webster (1876-1916), who was an American writer. Her novels are marked by bitter dialogue and socio-political themes such as: eugenics and heredity, institutional reform, and women’s rights. Webster herself was a suffragette, and as well as writing fiction, she also worked as a journalist. Some of her most famous works include: ‘When Patty Went to College,’ ‘Daddy-Long-Legs’ and ‘Dear Enemy’.

Daryl Wor

When Patty Went to College

‘The Eternal Husband’ is a tragicomic novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky about Trusotsky, a widower who discovers that his wife had an affair with an old friend, Velchaninov. The story follows Trusotsky and Velchaninov as they embark on a misadventure to find Trusotsky a new wife while the tension between them grows to a violent climax. ‘The Eternal Husband’ is a critically acclaimed story teeming with romance, betrayal, and death. 

Dostoevsky examines the role of women in society in this tale, as the female characters are at once both repressed by society but hold power over men due to their charm and apparent virtue. This story portrays corrupt characters exploring an equally corrupt world in which no one is clean, but Dostoevsky’s incredible character work creates sympathy for those perhaps undeserving in a way that only he can. This classic novella is both ironic and melancholy and is recommended for fans of Samuel Beckett or Russian literature in general.

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) was a famous Russian writer of novels, short stories, and essays. A connoisseur of the troubled human psyche and the relationships between the individuals, Dostoevsky’s oeuvre covers a large area of subjects: politics, religion, social issues, philosophy, and the uncharted realms of the psychological. He is most famous for the novels ‘Crime and Punishment’, ‘The Idiot’, and ‘The Brothers Karamazov’. James Joyce described Dostoevsky as the creator of ‘modern prose’ and his literary legacy is influential to this day as Dostoevsky’s work has been adapted for many movies including ‘The Double’ starring Jesse Eisenberg.

Tim Treloar

The Eternal Husband

Joseph Conrad

"The Mirror of the Sea" (1906) is a collection of autobiographical essays first published in various magazines between 1904 and 1906.

Joseph Conrad lived an exciting and eventful life as a seaman, and as a writer he possessed a unique insight into human psychology, which is clearly reflected in his fictional works as well as in his essays.

Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) was a Polish-born author who left Poland in his teens to avoid enlistment in the Russian Army. He learned English aboard British ships and started writing in that language after settling in England. His most famous novel is "Heart of Darkness" (1899), which was inspired by his experiences on the open sea.

Peter Kelleher

The Mirror of the Sea

In this 1901 short story inspired by Ford Maddox Ford’s "The Cinque Ports", Conrad works on the theme of alienation. It centers on a young man, Yanko, the sole survivor of a shipwreck off the coast of Kent. The locals, not knowing that a boat has sunk, shun him as he washes up on their shores. But he is taken in by an eccentric local, and little by little, Yanko learns some English and falls in love with the servant girl, Amy Foster. But he has not come to the end of his troubles yet and the community keeps him at arm’s length, terrified of his very difference. 

Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) was a Polish-born author who left Poland in his teens to avoid enlistment in the Russian Army. He learned English aboard British ships and started writing in that language after settling in England. His most famous novel is "Heart of Darkness" (1899), which was inspired by his experiences on the open sea.

Bellona Times

Amy Foster

John S.C. Abbott

In this biography, John S. C. Abbott focuses on the infamous Scottish sailor turned pirate Captain William Kid. The book is completed by other buccaneer stories, buccaneers being a term designating privateers or sailors for hire, peculiar to the Caribbean Sea. Pirate life in the 18th century is little like it is commonly represented in movies and novels, and Abbott here helps the reader understand what it was really like, what it meant, and what repercussions the choice of a pirate life could have. 

John Stevens Cabot Abbott (1805-1877) was an American writer, pastor and historian from Maine. He was the brother of children’s book author Jacob Abbott. He wrote fiction and biographies, often with a strong focus on Christian ethics. He gained fame for his "The Mother at Home" and "History of Napoleon Bonaparte".

Captain William Kidd and Others of The Buccaneers

This is a detailed biography of the life and adventures of Daniel Boone (1734-1820). Whilst he is often brushed over in American history classes, Boon was an important frontiersman, pioneer, and explorer, who played a decisive role in furthering European settlement in America. He was also a businessman, soldier and politician, taking part in the French and Indian War and contributing to the settlement of modern day Kentucky. 

John Stevens Cabot Abbott (1805-1877) was an American writer, pastor and historian from Maine. He was the brother of children’s book author Jacob Abbott. He wrote fiction and biographies, often with a strong focus on Christian ethics. He gained fame for his "The Mother at Home" and "History of Napoleon Bonaparte".

Allyson Hester

Daniel Boone, The Pioneer of Kentucky

Susan Coolidge

Tall, gangly, and tomboyish Katy was badly injured in an accident which has left her partially paralysed. This has been tough on the wild girl, who is no longer able to play with her siblings or roam around nature the way she used to. But Katy has now regained some feelings in her legs, and can finally start to slowly walk again. Her father feels she is healthy enough to start school, so he sends her off to be educated. It is with mixed emotions that Katy goes. Starting school will be exciting, but won’t she miss her siblings too much to learn anything?

This is the second book in the Katy series, which has been elected one of the best children’s books by its readers. The series takes place in 1860's Ohio.

Susan Coolidge (1835-1905) was an American children’s’ book author, best known for her novel ‘What Katy Did’ (1872), which was inspired by her own childhood. She started writing after working as a nurse during the American Civil War.

Karen Savage

What Katy Did at School

Frances Hodgson Burnett

‘The Lost Prince’ is a children’s novel from ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’ author Frances Hodgson Burnett. Published in 1915, it tells the tale of twelve-year-old Marco Loristan and his father Stefan, who come from the fictional land of Samavia. Marco has been on the move all his life – travelling from place to place ever since Samavia fell into Civil War many years before his birth. When the pair arrive in London, they strike up a friendship with a street urchin nicknamed The Rat, and so begins a thrilling adventure across Europe and back to their homeland. A delightful tale from the famous children’s author. 

Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) was a British novelist and playwright. Born in Manchester, the family emigrated to America following the death of Frances’ father when she was just three years old. Her literary career began at the ages of 19, when she began writing stories for magazines to help financially support her family. Following her first marriage, Frances began to write novels, of which her children’s stories ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’, ‘A Little Princess’ and ‘The Secret Garden’ are perhaps her best-known and most loved. All adapted for stage and screen numerous times, the latest film adaptation of ‘The Secret Garden’ was released in 2020, and starred Colin Firth and Julie Walters. Frances Hodgson Burnett died in New York in 1924 at the age of 74.

Susan Umpleby

The Lost Prince

Burton E. Stevenson

Published in 1907 ‘That Affair at Elizabeth’ is a detective novel set in turn of the century New York City. When bride-to-be Marcia disappears just hours before her wedding, friend of the groom Lester decides to turn detective as he tries to track down the bride and uncover the mysterious reason behind her disappearance. An intriguing classic mystery novel from renowned author Burton E. Stevenson. 

Burton Egbert Stevenson (1872-1962) was an American author and librarian. Born in Chillicothe, Ohio, Stevenson went on to study at Princeton University, where he worked as a correspondent for the New York Tribune. He was Director of the Chillicothe Public Library – a post which he held for 58 years. Stevenson joined the WWI war effort, setting up a library at Camp Sherman in Ohio which held 40,000 works across 22 branches. As Director of French operations for the Library War Service in 1918 he also established the library which would go on to become the American Library in Paris. He was author of numerous books and anthologies including ‘The Mystery of the Boule Cabinet’ and ‘The Home Book of Quotations’. He died in 1962 in Ohio at the age of 89.

World Classics - La série de livres

World Classics - La série de livres

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