"Inferno" by Dante Alighieri is an epic allegory of the spiritual journey of man. Virgil, Dante the pilgrim's guide, leads him through the 7 layers of hell. Throughout his journey through the torturous layers, Dante discovers the perfection of God's divine justice and themes of contrapasso are largely explored. Classical symbolism and classical figures are constantly referenced. This serves to emphasize that God's power rules over all - even pagan...

Tess of the dUrbervilles, by Thomas Hardy, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: • New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars • Biographies of the authors • Chronologies...

"A novel about past mistakes and betrayals that ripple throughout generations, The Guest Book examines not just a privileged American family, but a privileged America. It is a literary triumph. The Guest Book follows three generations of a powerful American family, a family that "used to run the world." And when the novel begins in 1935, they still do. Kitty and Ogden Milton appear to have everything--perfect children, good looks, a love everyone...

"Cornwall, 1920. Daniel Branwell has survived the First World War and returned to the small fishing town where he was born. Behind him are the trenches and the most intense relationship of his life. As he works on the land, struggling to make a living in the aftermath of war, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the traumas of the past and memories of his dearest friend and his first love. As the drama unfolds, Daniel is haunted by the terrible, unforeseen...

Born with a strange birthmark on her face, Flavia is alienated even from her family. She leaves her sheltered childhood and becomes an ornatrix, a hairdresser and personal maid to a former courtesan. Ghostanza draws her into a world of desire and jealousy lurking behind the wealth and privilege of Perugia. In a society where admiration is everything and perfection is the ultimate, elusive goal, Flavia soon finds beauty in her grasp in the form of...

A mesmerizing, allegorical, and beautifully wrought first novel about one boy's fascination with the sea during the summer that will change his life. One moonlit night, thirteen-year-old Miles O'Malley slips out of his house, packs up his kayak and goes exploring on the flats of Puget Sound. But what begins as an ordinary hunt for starfish, snails, and clams is soon transformed by an astonishing sight: a beached giant squid. As the first person to...

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."

"Set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine The latest from legendary master storyteller Stephen King, a riveting, extraordinarily eerie, and moving story about a man whose mysterious affliction brings a small town together--a timely, upbeat tale about finding common ground despite deep-rooted differences. Although Scott Carey doesn't look any different, he's been steadily losing weight. There are a couple of other odd things, too. He weighs...

From the renowned Beat writer, Kerouac's colorful and meandering search for his family history, now reissued following his centenary celebrationSatori in Paris is the semi-autobiographical tale of Jack Kerouac's trip to France in search of his heritage. Beginning in Paris and moving west to Brittany, Kerouac traces the paths of his ancestors and explores his own understanding of the Buddhism that came to define his beliefs. From his familiar milieu...

As she turns eighteen years old, Rachel Verinder inherits from her uncle a large Indian diamond. Unaware of both how her uncle acquired it and how important the stone truly is, Rachel openly demonstrates it to public during her birthday party. A couple of hours later she realizes that the diamond had been stolen... Considered the first full length detective novel in English, The Moonstone is an engrossing story and a must-read for anyone with the...