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Spanning three generations, this historical novel tells the tale of Boudicca, the most famous warrior of ancient Britain, and Caradoc, the son of a Celtic king, who sets out to unite the people of the Raven and lead them against Rome. Caradoc's objective is not easily accomplished as the Roman army advances into Britain, raping Celtic women and burning villages to the ground. His efforts are also met with fierce opposition from Aricia, the vain queen of a northern tribe who swears allegiance to the Romans after Caradoc slights her, and from Gladys, Caradoc's warrior sister who falls in love with her Roman captor. Unfortunately, Caradoc's endeavors are left unresolved when he is taken prisoner, but Boudicca, a strong-willed woman, ultimately takes up the cause that was Caradoc's legacy.

Rose Cottage, a tiny thatched dwelling in an idyllic English country setting, would appear the picture of tranquility to any passersby. But when Kate Herrick returns to her childhood home to retrieve some family papers in the summer of 1947, she uncovers a web of intrigue as tangled as the rambling roses in its garden. The papers are missing. The village is alive with gossip. Did her elderly neighbors, suspected of being witches, really see nighttime prowlers and ghosts in the cottage garden? Kate's search for the truth brings her together with many childhood friends and neighbors and leads her down a trail of family bitterness, jealousy, and revenge. She ends up discovering a long-hidden secret that will change her life dramatically--along with romance in a place she least expects. First published in 1997 and a major bestseller, "Rose Cottage" is, to date, the last and most mature novel from one of Britain's greatest writers.

Sappho Clark--beautiful, mysterious, Southern--arrives in Boston to earn her living as a stenographer. She lodges with the Smith family and immediately becomes a source of fascination to the them: Ma Smith is impressed by Sappho's financial independence; Dora Smith admires Sappho's quiet self-possession; and Will Smith, Dora's brother, falls madly in love with Sappho. But as Sappho enters the Smiths' community, it becomes clear that her beauty is a lure to bad actors, including someone who entertains dark suspicions about her past. . . A murder mystery, the story of a friendship, and a romance set in Boston's thriving, politically active middle-class Black community, Contending Forces is an unjustly forgotten American classic.

Susy Branch and Nick Lansing are typical Wharton heroes: popular, attractive, and much poorer than their "international set" friends. Like Lily Bart in The House of Mirth, the two depend on the largesse of more privileged acquaintances to get by. Recognizing in each other a desire for the finer things in life, they decide to get married and, knowing that their friends will happily provide fabulous accommodations, live rent-free on an extended honeymoon until either one of them finds a better match--at which point they will amicably divorce and sail off into their separate, wealthier sunsets. But a romantic tour of Europe can confuse even the most mercenary hearts. And when a friend asks for a favor in exchange for the use of her palazzo, Susy and Nick realize that everything in this sophisticated world comes at a price: one that their hearts and consciences may no longer allow them to pay. . .

"If it had not rained on a certain May morning, Valancy Stirling's whole life would have been entirely different. . ." One day, Valancy Stirling, a quiet, shy old maid, decides to stop listening to her nosy, small-minded relatives and start doing exactly as she pleases. Over the next year, Valancy's choices will transform her life, outrage her family, confuse the entire town of Deerwood--and bring her into close contact with the mischievous, mysterious, violet-eyed Barney Snaith. This is a heartwarming romance with a bold, contemporary message--a life spent appeasing other people is a wasted one--from the beloved author of the Anne of Green Gables series.

One of the first dystopian novels ever written, The Last Man traces the impact of an unstoppable pandemic as it slowly overtakes the world. Beginning in the year 2073, the story follows Lionel Vesey--the titular last man--and his circle of friends as the disease creeps from continent to continent and erodes the foundations of civilization. Published in 1826, after the death of Shelley's husband, her stepsister, and her two children, The Last Man is both an eerily accurate story about humanity wrestling with disaster and a moving fable about surviving personal grief.

Five men survive a South Seas shipwreck and wash up on a seemingly deserted beach, only to discover that five beautiful, winged women live on the island as well. Dazzled and soon in love, the men will do anything to possess these flying women . . . but what they plan, and how the magical women respond, is tellingly--and very predictably--human. First published in 1914, and praised by Ursula K. LeGuin as "a real rediscovery--romantic, satiric, funny, fanciful, and a good read," Angel Island is an adventure story and a genre-defining tale about women's rights.

"In this chapter of Arkady and Boris Strugatsky's ever-deepening saga of the Noon Universe, Maxim Kammerer, once an intrepid young space explorer, is now an investigator with COMCON-2, the covert agency in charge of countering threats to the homeworld. He is tasked with tracking Lev Abalkin, a "progressor" tasked with guiding the development of civilizations on alien worlds, who has returned to Earth after a routine mission went tragically wrong. Do the secrets of Abalkin's past pose a grave danger to humanity-or is he an innocent caught up in a deadly misunderstanding?"--

The Waves Extinguish the Wind provides the epic conclusion to the Noon Universe saga, as eighty-nine-year-old Maxim Kammerer looks back at his most earth-shattering investigation, which brought an entire era of human civilization to an end. Searching for evidence that the mysterious alien Wanderers were interfering in Earth's development, Kammerer and his young trainee Toivo Glumov discovered a deeper and more disturbing secret within humanity itself.

Legends of New-England was John Greenleaf Whittier's first book, published in 1831. It includes Whittier's retelling of eighteen legends that were current in his time, some in prose and some in poetry. It is of interest because it is Whittier's earliest work, because it lets us look at early American folk legends, and because the stories themselves are fascinating. It has some of the earliest tales of the supernatural in American literature, which compare with Poe's and Hawthorne's stories. Given Whittier's importance as an American writer, it is surprising that this book has long been out of print. We are proud to make it available to the public once again. John Greenleaf Whittier was one of the most beloved American poets. Every school child learned his poems, and lines such as "Blessings on thee, little man, . Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan" and "'Shoot, if you must, this old gray head, . But spare your country's flag, ' she said." were widely quoted. Whittier was a Quaker and became an active abolitionist when he was in his twenties. He was the editor of two abolitionist newspapers, The Pennsylvania Freeman and The National Era, and was a founding member of the Liberty Party. He wrote two volumes of anti-slavery poetry. In 1866, just after slavery was abolished, Whittier published the book-length poem Snow-Bound, the best seller that established his reputation as a poet.

Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are widely known as the greatest Russian writers of science fiction, and their 1964 novel Hard to Be a God is considered one of the greatest of their works. It tells the story of Don Rumata, who is sent from Earth to the medieval kingdom of Arkanar with instructions to observe and to influence, but never to directly interfere. Masquerading as an arrogant nobleman, a dueler and a brawler, Don Rumata is never defeated but can never kill. With his doubt and compassion, and his deep love for a local girl named Kira, Rumata wants to save the kingdom from the machinations of Don Reba, the First Minister to the king. But given his orders, what role can he play? Hard to Be a God has inspired a computer role-playing game and two movies, including Aleksei German's long-awaited swan song. Yet until now the only English version (out of print for over thirty years) was based on a German translation, and was full of errors, infelicities, and misunderstandings. This new edition--translated by Olena Bormashenko, whose translation of the authors' Roadside Picnic has received widespread acclaim, and supplemented with a new foreword by Hari Kunzru and an afterword by Boris Strugatsky, both of which supply much-needed context--reintroduces one of the most profound Soviet-era novels to an eager audience.

"Never before translated into English, LAME FATE tells the story of middle-aged author Felix Sorokin, who is asked by the Soviet Writers' Union to submit a writing sample to a new computer program that will scientifically evaluate its "objective value" as a literary work. Sorokin must choose whether to present something establishment-approved or risk sharing his unpublished masterpiece. Sorokin's masterwork is UGLY SWANS, previously published in English as a standalone work but presented here in an authoritative new translation. In it, disgraced literary celebrity Victor Banev returns to the town of his childhood to find it haunted by the mysterious "clammies," black-masked outcasts with supernatural talents who terrify the town's adult population but enthrall its teenagers, including Banev's own daughter. By turns chilling, uproarious, and moving, these intertwining stories from the most celebrated Russian science fiction writers of the Soviet era are sure to delight readers from all walks of life"--

Following in the tradition of Auntie Mame, in 1962 bestselling author Patrick Dennis turned his wicked satirical pen on the insane world of fictional director Leander Starr. Rumored to be based on legendary filmmaker Orson Welles, Starr proves to be outrageous and memorable in this glamorous comedy of errors. Fleeing the IRS, creditors, and jilted lovers, Starr holes up in a Mexico City apartment, Casa Ximenez, with his faithful valet, Alistair St. Regis. To his surprise, the proprietor is none other than Catalina Ximinez, the leading lady in Starr's early masterpiece, Yucatán Girl. By accident or intent, others soon descend on Casa Ximenez--Starr's ex-wife, his estranged socialite daughter, a shady Mexican film producer, a tax collector who has chased Starr around the world, and a dim young widow sitting on a fortune in laxative stock. Starr concocts a plan to distract them all, and possibly stage a comeback: an abbreviated epic covering the history of Mexico titled Valley of the Vultures. This fresh edition of Dennis's uproarious novel is joined by a long-lost short story of Leander Starr, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas in the Railway Station," which appeared in the Chicago Tribune Magazine of Books, as well as a new afterword by the author's son.

Abandoned pregnant and penniless on the teeming streets of London, 16-year-old Amber St. Clare manages, by using her wits, beauty, and courage, to climb to the highest position a woman could achieve in Restoration England--that of favorite mistress of the Merry Monarch, Charles II. From whores and highwaymen to courtiers and noblemen, from events such as the Great Plague and the Fire of London to the intimate passions of ordinary--and extraordinary--men and women, Amber experiences it all. But throughout her trials and escapades, she remains, in her heart, true to the one man she really loves, the one man she can never have. Frequently compared to Gone with the Wind, Forever Amber is the other great historical romance, outselling every other American novel of the 1940s--despite being banned in Boston for its sheer sexiness. A book to read and reread, this edition brings back to print an unforgettable romance and a timeless masterpiece.

"Published by arrangement with Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC"--Title page verso.

Roadside Picnic: Volume 16 is a captivating read penned by the renowned author, Arkady Strugatsky. This engrossing book, published in the year 2012, is a significant addition to the world of literature. The genre of the book is a delightful mix that keeps the readers hooked from the beginning till the end. The story unfolds in a manner that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The author's unique storytelling style and the gripping narrative make it a must-read. Published by the reputed CHICAGO REVIEW PR, this book is a testament to Strugatsky's literary prowess. The book is available in English language. Don't miss out on this literary gem!

Mary Grey had come from Canada to the land of her forebears: Northumberland. As she savored the ordered, spare beauty of England's northern fells, the silence was shattered by the shout of a single name: "Annabel!" And there stood one of the angriest, most threatening young men Mary had ever seen. His name was Connor Winslow, and Mary quickly discovered that he thought she was his cousin--a girl supposedly dead these past eight years. Alive, she would be heiress to an inheritance Connor was determined to have for himself. This remarkably atmospheric novel is one of bestselling-author Mary Stewart's richest, most tantalizing, and most surprising efforts, proving her a rare master of the genre.

Charity, a beautiful war widow, and her friend Louise arrive in the South of France expecting a lovely holiday. They are pleased to meet up with a young boy who is having trouble with his dog. From that point on, the tension mounts steadily until it reaches a breaking point.

So began the ceremony that was to make young Phaedrus, ex-slave and gladiator, Horse Lord of the Dalriadain. Phaedrus had come a long way since the fight in the arena that gained him his freedom. He had left behind his old Roman life and identity and had entered another, more primitive, world-that of the British tribes in the far north. In this world of superstition and ancient ritual, of fierce loyalties and intertribal rivalry, Phaedrus found companionship and love, and something more--a purpose and a meaning to his life as he came fully to understand the significance of the Mark of the Horse Lord. First published in 1965, The Mark of the Horse Lord, set in second-century Britain, has been acclaimed by many readers as the finest of Rosemary Sutcliff's many novels, imparting true insight into the nature of leadership, identity, heroism, loyalty, violence, and sacrifice.

"In a world half of light, half of darkness, where science and magic strive for dominance, there dwells a magical being who is friendly with neither side. Jack, of the realm of shadows, is a thief who is unjustly punished. So he embarks on a vendetta. He wanders through strange realms, encountering witches, vampires, and, finally, his worst enemy: the Lord of Bats"--Page 4 of cover.

Originally published: New York: M.S. Mill Co.: Distributed by W. Morrow, c1964.

First published in 1956, this haunting novel of suspense and romance set in the Scottish Hebrides blends pungent description with sheer terror as only Mary Stewart can. Most visitors to the Isle of Skye are there to climb the jagged peaks of Blaven or fish the many sparkling streams, but Gianetta Brooke came to forget Nicholas Drury--the husband she had painfully divorced. Upon arrival, however, Gianetta realizes that this won't be a typical vacation when she discovers that Nicholas is numbered among the guests at the small inn. Then, upon the treacherous slopes of Blaven, a murder is committed, and although Gianetta missed the first act of an eerie, unearthly crime, the murderer is set to strike again and again before a thrilling finale that pits Gianetta face-to-face with a madman.

The World's Desire begins with Odysseus utterly alone. His kingdom of Ithaca is an empty, abandoned wasteland. His beloved wife Penelope is dead. His patron goddess Athena has forsaken him. But then Aphrodite visits Odysseus and sends him on a quest to find the world's desire, the face that launched a thousand ships: the woman he once knew as Helen of Troy. Armed with his legendary bow, Odysseus's final journey takes him to a court riven by murderous factions, ruled by a queen who is haunted by dreams of Odysseus's face . . .