Signature Clothbound Editions – serie

As fledgling English lawyer Jonathan Harker treks into the Carpathian Mountains to complete a real estate transaction, frightened peasants warn him of horrible dangers that await him. Harker, terrified by eerie events along the way, finally meets his client, Count Dracula, a tall, gaunt old man with a surprisingly powerful handshake. Harker soon realizes that he is a prisoner in Dracula’s sumptuously furnished castle—a castle strangely devoid of mirrors. Later, as fifty coffin-size boxes are brought into the castle in preparation for Dracula’s departure, Harker knows that the count plans to do more in London than see the sights—and fears that the rational modern world is ill-equipped to recognize, let alone defeat, the count.

Handsome, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse delights in interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protégée, Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected.

Following the death of her uncle, the orphan Jane Eyre is sent to the Lowood School, where she grows into a confident and well-educated young woman. When Jane leaves Lowood to become a governess at Thornfield, she falls in love with Mr. Rochester, her pupil’s guardian. But a series of eerie and terrifying events threaten to destroy her happy future. Featuring gripping plot twists and surprises, Jane Eyre offers rich insight into the life of a woman who, despite oppression and precarious circumstances, refuses to yield her sense of self to societal expectations.

A talented, ambitious, restless tomboy with a wild imagination, Jo bridles against ladylike conventions. She has no interest in becoming a lady; she will become a writer. Fortunately for Jo, her family supports her ambitions and understands her eccentricities. With their father serving as a chaplain in the Union Army and little money coming in, Jo and her three sisters work hard to help their mother keep the household afloat.Rarely has a novel had as large an impact on society as Little Women, while generating virtually no controversy. Immensely popular from the day it was published, it struck a chord with generations of young American women, supporting traditional Protestant values while demonstrating that women could pursue their dreams freely without compromising their virtue.

When Mr. Earnshaw, master of Wuthering Heights, returns from a trip with an unkempt orphan in tow, he announces that the child, Heathcliff, is now a member of the family. While young Catherine Earnshaw becomes close with Heathcliff, her older brother Hindley sinks into bitter resentment. As Catherine and Heathcliff mature, and their affection blossoms into desire, Hindley’s resentment boils over into hatred, setting the stage for a tragic drama whose aftermath will shake the foundations of their world.

Original, experimental, and charmingly nonsensical, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’​s Adventures in Wonderland follows seven-year-old Alice down a rabbit hole and into the topsy-turvy dream world of Wonderland. In this fantastical place, food can shrink you to the size of a mouse, or turn you into a giant, babies turn into pigs, and time stands still at the Mad Hatter’s tea party. Filled with sparkling wordplay and unbridled imagination, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has enchanted readers for generations. This edition also includes Through the Looking-Glass.

Twenty-five-year-old Anthony Patch appears to have it all: a Harvard education, an apartment in New York City, memberships at all of the best clubs, and a generous trust fund to draw from. His grandfather is not happy with Anthony’s feckless lifestyle, but can Anthony be blamed knowing that, as an orphan, he is destined to be the sole heir to his grandfather’s immense fortune? When Anthony is introduced to the beautiful Gloria Gilbert, whose hedonism rivals his own, he is so smitten that he proposes marriage. Gloria accepts—and so begins the downward spiral of their lives. While their friends prosper, Anthony and Gloria live recklessly, outspending their assets and squandering their good fortune. Will they find the fortitude to change course and recover from the humiliating depths into which they've descended?

Ten years have passed since the fall of Troy. The surviving Greek warriors who destroyed that city have returned home. All except Odysseus, whose wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, await him. Claiming that Odysseus is dead, a host of suitors have taken up residence in his home, eating up his wealth and trying to persuade Penelope to marry one of them. Penelope steadfastly refuses. Odysseus, in fact, is alive. Odysseus has spent seven years as a captive of the nymph Calypso, the gods finally take pity on him and persuade her to set him free. When he resumes his journey home, the sea god Poseidon sends a great storm to destroy his raft. Exhausted and near death, Odysseus and his men wash up on an island shore. They are delayed by Polyphemus the Cyclops, the Lotus-eaters, the Sirens, the sorceress Circe, and other strange creatures.

A novel of manners about the romantic pas de deux between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, two perfectly suited lovers who, at first, find each other insufferable. Despite Elizabeth’s negative feelings about Darcy, fate seems determined to throw this pair together, and Darcy, almost in spite of himself, will make revelations that end up causing Elizabeth to question everything she believes. Set in a time when marrying well was a woman’s only way to secure a comfortable future, Pride and Prejudice is arguably the forerunner of all romantic comedies and certainly one of the best-loved novels of all time.

When millions suffer under iron-fisted oppression, when anger and resentment boil into bloody insurrection, when triumph leads to savage vengeance—does one individual life matter? In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens interweaves the intensely personal dramas of Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton with the terror and chaos of the French Revolution. The result is a powerful story of love, sacrifice, and redemption amid horrific violence and world-changing events.

The legendary storytelling and common-sense lessons of Aesop, now freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. The calamities that befall the hapless creatures of Aesop’s Fables! The fox can’t reach his grapes, then gets attacked by biting flies, and loses his tail in a trap. And things don’t go much better for the hare, who is chased relentlessly by a hound, barely escaping with his life—only to be beaten in a race by a lowly tortoise. Misfortune turns to mayhem when a wolf is killed by his sweetheart’s father, a sheepdog preys on his own flock, and the mouse and his friend the frog are eaten by a hawk. On the brighter side, a tiny ant saves her new friend the dove from a hunter’s arrow, a bat persuades two different weasels not to eat her, and a kid goat uses his wits to escape from the jaws of a hungry wolf... For nearly three thousand years, the fables of Aesop have amused people of all ages as they provide common-sense lessons in the conduct of everyday life. The colorful characters and brief tales, by turns amusing and frightening, deliver a how-to course in applied moral philosophy. This edition features more than forty illustrations by the celebrated artist Ernest Griset.

The Art of War, by the Chinese general and philosopher Sun Tzu, is one of the most influential books of military strategy ever written, now freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. More than 2,000 years old, this classic of Chinese philosophy lays out a systematic, rational approach to tactics and strategy that leaders worldwide have applied not only to the military, but also to business, law, martial arts, and sports. This elegant hardcover gift edition uses Lionel Giles's classic translation and stands apart for its gorgeous design, fine Chinese illustrations, and affordable price. Giles's extensive annotations and commentary on Sun Tzu's aphorisms and proverbs are also included.

Alexander Dumas’s classic tale of betrayal, wrongful imprisonment, and revenge, now freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantès is confined to the grim fortress of Chateau d'If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo, and he becomes determined not only to escape, but also to unearth the treasure and use it to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration.

The book that translated the dark and stormy ethos of the gothic novel into the foundation for the tale of modern science fiction, now freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. Dr. Victor Frankenstein never considers the consequences of his obsession. In his zeal to understand and harness the secret of life, he neglects his family and friends, isolates himself from the world, and ignores his own health. For years, he labors to create a new race of intelligent beings. He spends his nights scrounging human and animal body parts from graveyards, slaughterhouses, and hospital dissection rooms. By day he experiments in his secret laboratory, learning from his mistakes and perfecting the creature who, he believes, will worship him as a god. But this hubris is not his only sin. When he succeeds, Frankenstein is horrified by the ugly brutishness of the patchwork being he has brought to life. Rather than exult in his accomplishment, he runs from it, retreating to the comfort of long-neglected friends and family. Frankenstein has, indeed, created a monster, not by animating dead flesh but by abandoning his creation and planting within it the seeds of rage and loneliness. Now, the monster is out for revenge.

A collection of the best-known fairy and folk tales set down by the Brothers Grimm, now repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. For most children, reading the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm is an essential experience; but when these stories were first collected, fairy tales were considered entertainment for adults as well. This edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales brings together the best-known fairy and folk tales set down by the Brothers Grimm, including “Sleeping Beauty,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “The Frog-Prince,” and “Rumpelstiltskin,” in a package aimed at readers returning to the beloved stories of their youth.

Victor Hugo’s classic novel of the French Revolution and the basis for the internationally renowned musical, now freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. Victor Hugo's tale of injustice, heroism, and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. But his attempts to become a respected member of the community are constantly put under threat: by his own conscience, when, owing to a case of mistaken identity, another man is arrested in his place; and by the relentless investigations of the dogged Inspector Javert. It is not simply for himself that Valjean must stay free, however, for he has sworn to protect the baby daughter of Fantine, driven to prostitution by poverty.

The classic collection of writings by second-century Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius is one of the foundational texts of the Stoic philosophy—and remains an evergreen bestseller centuries later, now freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. A compendium of ruminations and reflections by the second-century Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, a staunch adherent to the Stoic philosophy. It is a spiritual journal of the author’s philosophical exercises and a chronicle of the paradox of the philosopher-king, who must enforce the law and administer justice while looking beyond politics to the cosmic vantage point from which the tribulations of politics come to seem trivial.

Jane Austen’s classic novel about heartbreak and second chances, now freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. Eight years ago, Anne Elliot followed the advice of Lady Russell, her only true friend, and broke off her engagement to the dashing young naval officer Frederick Wentworth. When Anne and the now wealthy Captain Wentworth cross paths years later, it is clear that he has neither forgotten—nor forgiven—their past. Can true love survive heartbreak? Who should we listen to in matters of the heart? Filled with Jane Austen’s trademark wit, Persuasion is both a delightful romantic comedy and a surprisingly subversive exploration of our need to persuade, and be persuaded by, others.

Oscar Wilde's surreal and haunting story of a beautiful young man who bargains his soul for eternal youth, now freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. When handsome young Dorian Gray sees a painter’s stunning portrait of him, he is transfixed by its reflection of his own beauty. He is also troubled by the knowledge that the image in the painting will remain forever youthful and handsome while he himself will grow older and less desirable. He wishes aloud that the roles were reversed, saying that he would give his soul if only the painting would suffer the ravages of time and he were to remain forever young. From that point on, Dorian lives a life of hedonistic indulgence, knowing that only the painting will show his moral corruption. This edition also includes four additional stories from Oscar Wilde's fairy tale collection, A House of Pomegranates.

Jane Austen's first published novel, generally acclaimed as a masterpiece of nineteenth-century literature, now freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. Marianne Dashwood can’t understand her sister. How could the attractive, witty, and charming Elinor fall for the quiet, self-effacing, and rather dull Edward Ferrars? And, if the two are in love, why don’t they shout it to the world? Meanwhile, Elinor worries that Marianne’s heart-first approach to life will hurt her, especially when it comes to the dashing John Willoughby. The two sisters spar good-naturedly over the merits of full-blown emotionalism versus reticence and self-discipline in matters of the heart. Fond as they are of each other, each is certain that hers is the only true path to love. Meanwhile, both Edward and Willoughby harbor secrets that will force these women to doubt their philosophies, their judgment, and their chances for happiness. With Sense and Sensibility, her first published novel, Austen served notice that a new and important author had arrived—one whose style, wit, and piercing sense of satire supported a compelling story peopled with finely drawn characters and punctuated with remarkable insights into the human condition.

Herman Melville’s epic story of obsession and revenge, now in a beautiful gift edition for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. When Ishmael signs up for a whaling voyage, the dark prophecies of a stranger hint at the perils of boarding the Pequod. Ishmael joins anyway, and meets Captain Ahab, who is hell-bent on vengeance against Moby-Dick, the sperm whale that took Ahab’s leg some years ago. Largely panned by critics on its initial publication, Moby-Dick has since been hailed as a “Great American Novel” and, according to D. H. Lawrence, “the greatest book of the sea ever written.”

Leo Tolstoy's classic of Russian literature in its first-and still, arguably, the best-translation by Constance Garnett, now in a beautiful gift edition for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line.Anna Karenina is the wife of a well-respected government official. When she travels to St. Petersburg to reconcile her brother and his wife, she meets Count Vronsky and the course of her life is transformed. Widely adapted into theater, ballet, radio, television, and movie adaptations.

A comprehensive collection of the mysteries, dread figures, poetry, and horror stories of Edgar Allan Poe, now in a beautiful gift edition for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line.Featured in these pages are Edgar Allan Poe's best-loved and most-feared literary creations: the clever C. August Dupin, precursor to Sherlock Holmes; the terrifying ghouls of "Tales of the Grotesque" and "Arabesque"; as well as the tragic sensibilities of "The Raven and Other Poems." This is an essential treasury for Poe novices and experts alike.

A collected edition of two classic texts by Fitzgerald that explore love, greed, and the American Dream, now in a beautiful gift edition for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line.The Great Gatsby is not only Fitzgerald's greatest work-to many, it is the Great American Novel. When Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, Long Island, he has no idea that the lavishly outfitted mansion next to his modest house is home to Jay Gatsby. Eventually, Nick becomes aware of Gatsby's intense interest in his cousin Daisy Buchanan, and when Daisy's brutish husband, Tom, probes into Gatsby's background, he uncovers unsavory truths about his rival's wealth. This edition also includes This Side ofParadise, an autobiographical novel and a portrait of the dawning Jazz Age that launched Fitzgerald's career and turned him into an overnight literary sensation.

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s classic of Russian literature in its first—and still, arguably, best—translation by Constance Garnett, now in a beautiful gift edition for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. Set in the slums of nineteenth-century Saint Petersburg, Russia, Crime and Punishment follows Raskolnikov, and impoverished ex-student, who rationalizes committing criminal acts for the greater good. However, a momentous decision triggers a tense cat-and-mouse game that sees him pursued by authorities, while wrestling with the weight of his own moral anguish. Originally published in 1866, Dostoevsky’s “masterwork” (The New Yorker) is the quintessential psychological crime thriller and widely considered one of the greatest novels of all time.

Charles Dickens’s masterpiece about love and social circumstance, now in a beautiful gift edition for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. Pip is a poor orphan, a boy with “no expectations” being raised by his unkind sister and her husband in a small home on the marshes of Kent. But when Pip meets the bizarre Miss Havisham and her beautiful ward, Estella, he starts to yearn for a life as a gentleman. However, Pip will discover that wealth and honesty do not go hand in hand, and that kindness can be found in the most surprising places. A love story, a mystery, and a sharp critique of upper-class English society, Great Expectations remains one of Dickens’s best-regarded works.

Helen Guerber's classic translations of Greek and Roman mythology, now in a beautiful gift edition for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. H. A. Guerber’s lively retellings of Greek mythology have become legends unto themselves, long prized for their simple, graphic, accurate interpretations of the principal myths of Ancient Greece and Rome. From the legendary gods and goddesses residing on Mount Olympus—Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Apollo, Diana, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and others—to the adventures of Ulysses and Aeneas, this rich assembly offers hours of compelling reading and abundant insight into one of the influential mythologies of Western culture.

Jane Austen’s complex and insightful study of manners, morality, and social class, now in a beautiful gift edition for the Union Square & Co. Signature Clothbound Editions line. When ten-year-old Fanny Price is plucked from squalor to be raised in comfort among her well-to-do relatives at the elegant Mansfield Park, only her cousin Edmund notices her homesickness and distress. Bolstered by Edmund’s kindness, Fanny begins to thrive as a useful and happy member of the household, and her natural feelings of gratitude and respect for Edmund start to grow into something deeper. But when sophisticated Londoners Henry and Mary Crawford arrive at Mansfield Park, trouble arrives with them, and Fanny’s hard-won peace is threatened by the chaos the Crawfords leave in their wake.