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Henry Fleming, a private in the Union Army, runs away from the field of war. Afterwards, the shame he feels at this act of cowardice ignites his desire to receive an injury in combat-a "red badge of courage" that will redeem him. Stephen Crane's novel about a young soldier's experiences during the American Civil War is well known for its understated naturalism and its realistic depiction of battle.

A mysterious prisoner wearing an iron mask languishes deep within the Bastille. D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers find themselves tangled in a web of intrigue when suspicions about the prisoner's identity begin to emerge. The final Musketeer story, "The Man in the Iron Mask" is a gripping adventure novel by one of the masters of the genre.

The Jungle Book is a collection of fables by noted 19th century author, Rudyard Kipling. Drawing upon his own childhood in India, the tales collected in this whimsical volume concern the life of a young boy raised by wolves and his jungle companions, as well as other stories of animals which embody human virtues and vices. Kipling's characters, including the boy Mowgli, the bear Baloo, the nefarious tiger Shere Khan, and the valiant mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, have inspired many adaptations, and continue to enchant new generations in these original stories.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is an intense exploration of morality, judgment, guilt, and sin as they affect the individual and society as a whole. Hester Prynne, a young woman sent to America ahead of her elderly husband, bears an illegitimate daughter. Condemned by her puritanical community and forced to wear a scarlet A on her clothing as a visible badge of her sinful nature, she nonetheless refuses to reveal the father's identity. Hawthorne's insight into lives of Hester, her estranged husband, her lover, and the surrounding community make The Scarlet Letter a psychologically intriguing literary masterpiece.

In The Story of My Life, Helen Keller tells the extraordinary tale of her childhood and her mentor, teacher, and companion Anne Sullivan. Before she was two years old, the otherwise healthy Helen became ill with an unidentified condition from which she recovered-but not without losing both her sight and hearing completely. Helen's inability to communicate beyond a few rudimentary signs became a source of despair for the Keller family until a young and ambitious Anne Sullivan was asked to become Helen's personal instructor. Helen's incredible true story is an inspiration to anyone who has faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

William Shakespeare's King Lear is believed by many scholars to be one of his finest achievements. King Lear tells of the tragedy resulting from the title character dividing his kingdom among his daughters based upon their ability to flatter his ego. Lear missteps in dispersing his kingdom between the sycophantic Regan and Goneril while disinheriting the plainspoken, honest Cordelia. The reverence previously displayed by Regan and Goneril proves to be fickle once their estates are assured, and the innocent and those at fault all pay a heavy price for Lear's vanities.

Charles Dickens' fictionalized narrative of the French Revolution takes place in London and Paris, the "two cities" of the title. While Dickens abandons much of the whimsicality which serves as his signature in other works, he continues to explore the themes of darkness and light and social justice, as well as the causes and effects associated with class structure in society which characterize his other works. The novel is widely seen as a message to the English aristocracy, one which proposed that the current status quo could not stand if a bloody revolution in England was to be avoided.

Daniel Defoe's 18th century novel, Robinson Crusoe, has maintained its dual status as literary class and engaging adventure narrative since its first printing. After rejecting the prospect of a career on land, Robinson Crusoe sets out to sea. Shipwrecks, pirates, and being sold into slavery do not dampen Crusoe's ambition or desire for adventure; despite finding prosperity as a plantation owner, he seeks another sea voyage. Defoe paints a detailed picture of Crusoe's resulting life as a castaway and his eventual return to civilization, giving the story philosophical substance with intelligent explorations of the individual's role in society.

Kenneth Grahame's classic children's tale, The Wind in the Willows, tells of the adventures of the good-natured but rather shallow and conceited Mr. Toad. Set in a fictionalized version of England and populated with a host of anthropomorphic animals, Grahame's whimsical story charms adults as it delights children. The author also gently incorporates hints of social satire, but The Wind in the Willows is at its core a tale for youth and those who wistfully remember it.

Writing in the latter half of the 4th century, St. Augustine provides the reader with an intimate view into his own troubled past, conversion, and understanding of human nature and the Trinity. It is difficult to overestimate the significance of The Confessions of St. Augustine. Perhaps the first example of an autobiography in the Western world, Saint Augustine's analysis and account of his own life has had an immeasurable influence on Western literature, Christian theology, and our understanding of life and society in the Middle Ages-and today.

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is one of the author's briefest but most cherished works. The novella shares the story of the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, freed from slavery to his own petty greed. The inspirational narrative has been adapted into many forms, weaving its way into the cultural consciousness and shaping our idea of the true meaning of "Christmas spirit." Secular in its themes, but deeply moral, A Christmas Carol contains a message of unselfishness applicable every day of the year.

The documents which would birth and shape a nation are bound together here in one beautiful edition. The philosophies upon which the United States of America was founded have influenced the entire world. Within the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America, these philosophies are distilled to their very essence. These texts retain a special significance far beyond their roles within the government of a single nation, and this significance is best embodied in that immortal statement which begins with "We hold these truths to be self-evident..."

This classic play by renowned French dramatist Edmond Rostand portrays a fictionalized narrative of the life of another French playwright, Cyrano de Bergerac. Rostand's play, written in rhyming verse, tells the story of the eloquent but unattractive de Bergerac and his unlikely friendship with the more physically appealing but verbally clumsy Christian. The two men care for the beautiful Roxane, but each believes himself lacking. Cyrano's words provide Christian with the opportunity to win Roxane-or so they hope.

The Odyssey is the tale of the Greek warrior Odysseus and his attempt to return to his island home, Ithaca. After ten years of war, he and his crew must endure a grueling decade-long journey back. In his absence, his loyal wife Penelope has been under siege from potential suitors. The Odyssey and its companion, The Iliad, are attributed to the Greek author and historian, Homer. Believed to have been written in the 8th century BC, these two texts are the first known literary works of the Western world. Their brilliance remains unchallenged today.

Shakespeare's richly textured play, Hamlet, has provided readers and theatre-goers alike an exceptional drama presented through the unparalleled verses of the Bard. Prince Hamlet of Denmark, haunted by the ghost of his father, struggles with the impulse to avenge his father's death at the hands of his uncle. The tragic romance between Hamlet and the doomed Ophelia is intertwined with this story of grief, guilt, and madness. William Shakespeare was possessed of not only the unique talent for crafting drama, but the uncanny abilities to both understand and lay bare to all the complexities of human nature and society.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of the best known works of the renowned 19th century author Robert Louis Stevenson. This early foray into science fiction delves into the battle between good and evil in its most ubiquitous form. Dr. Jekyll, like every human being, struggles with good and evil within his own personality. He seeks to purify his soul through scientific means, concocting potions intended to refine his loftier qualities by separating them from his base impulses. In the process, he unleashes the monster within

Published in the early 19th century, James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans is a fictionalized adventure taking place during the French-American War. The daughters of an American colonel become caught up in the conflict between the two nations' contest for supremacy in North America, and embroiled in the war between the Native American allies of the two sides. Cooper's trademark intricacy of description and his portrayal of life during this tumultuous era have made The Last of the Mohicans one of the world's most widely read American novels.

Persuasion is one of the finest examples of Jane Austen's ability to inject a simple premise with emotion, expand it with depth of character, and polish it with charm. Persuasion is the also one of the most poignant of Austen's romances, perhaps as a result of being her final finished work. Anne Elliot's former fiancé has acquired wealth and prestige in the years which have passed since their last meeting, the lack of which had prompted the family meddling which ended their engagement. Now Anne must persuade the embittered Wentworth of her sincerity-once she is certain of it herself.

H. G. Wells describes a scientist's descent into madness in his classic science fiction novella, The Invisible Man. Griffin, a former medical student, becomes obsessed with the pursuit of invisibility. Already a slave to his goal, he steals money from his own father to perfect his formulas. Lacking suitable subjects, and consumed by the desire to succeed, Griffin uses the formula on himself. His success, however, does not satisfy him, and his crumbling moral foundations result in an egomaniacal rampage. Wells' masterpiece offers a thrilling fiction as well as a glimpse into the darkest realms of the human psyche.

Around the World in Eighty Days is one of the most highly acclaimed works by the prolific adventure and science fiction novelist Jules Verne. Phileas Fogg, a highly precise man who religiously follows routines, finds more adventure than he anticipated when he takes on a wager to circumnavigate the Earth in 80 days. Their encounters with an Asian damsel being prepared for human sacrifice and having their train derailed in North America by Sioux warriors are only the beginning of their troubles. What began as an exercise in routine becomes a race against the unexpected, delivered with Verne's legendary skill.

As one of history's most passionate defenders of Christian doctrine, Saint Athanasius is notable for his apologist essays and their substantial contribution to early Orthodox theology. As a bishop serving in fourth century Alexandria, Athanasius composed this essay in his early life and devoted it to a number of issues still debated by theologians today, including monotheism, spiritual salvation, and the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

Sam Watkins joined the First Tennessee Regiment in 1861, fighting against the Yankees until the Confederacy surrendered in 1865, one of the few surviving men from his original company. Decades later, Watkins wrote an account of his days in the Confederate army. "Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of Civil War" is an engaging and often humorous memoir, which deftly captures the complicated humanity of a soldier's life.

Roman dictator Julius Caesar returns from a victorious campaign in Spain, causing his fellow-citizens to mistrust the scope of his political ambitions. Afraid that he will accept the title of 'king', a group of conspirators persuade Marcus Brutus to join their plot against Caesar. William Shakespeare's play revolves around Marcus Brutus as he grapples with issues of friendship, honor, and patriotism.

J., Carl, George, and the dog Montmorency take a boat trip on the Thames in order to forestall the ill effects of overwork. As they navigate the stretch of river between Kingston upon Thames to Oxford, they have many entertaining adventures. Alternately anecdotal and descriptive, "Three Men in a Boat" has been translated into many languages and remains one of the most popular novels of all time.

Owing heavily to the styles of Plato and Socrates, Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy is a deep investigation into the nature of wisdom and the physical world. Making use of fiction, dialogue, and other Platonic conventions, Boethius's envisioned discussions with Philosophy personified take the reader on a journey of philosophical inquiry and reflection that is as stimulating today as it was in the sixth century.

One of the bestselling books of all time, Sheldon's 1897 classic was the first book to coin and popularize the famous question, "What would Jesus do?" The novel tells the story of a small town whose residents are compelled by the local pastor to ask this question before their every action. The challenge ultimately transforms the lives of these residents as they discover the unexpected consequences of aspiring to live like Christ and do well unto others.

Another powerful novel from Charlotte Brontë, Villette tells the story of Lucy Snowe, a teacher at an all-girls school who finds herself in the thralls of romance and adventure. A novel known less for its plot than the compelling psychology of protagonist, Villette touches upon the themes of gender roles, repression, and religious conflict in nineteenth century Belgium.

John Dewey's analysis and criticism of the educational philosophies of Plato and Jean-Jacques Rousseau culminate in his expansion upon the idea that the individual and society are inextricably linked-and that this linkage informs the development of intellect. This classic introduction to Dewey's philosophy of education became a foundation for many of today's progressive theories of education, and the influence of the ideas contained therein continue to shape the educational landscape of the Western world.

This is Cather's coming-of-age classic---the story of a young artist who leaves the mediocrity of her home town to seek fame and success in the big city. A bittersweet reflection on severing oneself from one's past relationships and surroundings, The Song of the Lark explores the loss that ultimately accompanies an artist's highest achievements.

Although unpublished during his lifetime, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin has served as an inspiration to untold numbers of readers. One of the most influential men in American history explores his own strengths and weaknesses and expounds upon virtue and vice in this literary journey. From his earliest days as an apprentice to his negotiations with world leaders concerning the future of the American colonies, Franklin's autobiography shares with his readers an extraordinary life in extraordinary times in an engaging style that is by turns wise and self-deprecating.