Other books that might interest you

• 

  The Gate

  Natsume Sōseki, Pico Iyer

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  An NYRB Classics Original 
   
   
   
  A humble clerk and his loving wife scrape out a quiet existence on the margins of Tokyo. Resigned, following years of exile and misfortune, to the bitter consequences of having married without their families' consent, and unable to have children of their own, Sosuke and Oyone find the delicate equilibrium of their household upset by a new obligation to meet the educational expenses of Sosuke's brash younger brother. While an unlikely new friendship appears to offer a way out of this bind, it also soon threatens to dredge up a past that could once again force them to flee the capital. Desperate and torn, Sosuke finally resolves to travel to a remote Zen Mountain monastery to see if perhaps there, through meditation, he can find a way out of his predicament. 
   
   
         
  This moving and deceptively simple story, a melancholy tale shot through with glimmers of joy, beauty, and gentle wit, is an understated masterpiece by one of Japan's greatest writers. At the end of his life, Natsume Soseki declared The Gate, originally published in 1910, to be his favorite among all his novels. This new translation captures the oblique grace of the original while correcting numerous errors and omissions that marred the first English version.

  Show book

• 

  Scenes of Clerical Life

  George Eliot

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Three novellas that brilliantly portray English country and clergy life at the turn of the nineteenth century from the author of Middlemarch.   Initially appearing in Blackwood’s Magazine, this trio of linked stories comprises George Eliot’s first published work. Together they form a portrait of small-town life in Midlands, England, where changes are affecting both society at large and religious beliefs and institutions.   In “The Sad Fortunes of Reverend Amos Barton,” the clergyman struggles to raise funds for church repairs and perform his parochial duties, while a target of gossip—both good and bad. Meanwhile, few in Shepperton can find fault with his shy and hardworking wife, who cares for their six children, stretching Barton’s meager salary—and herself—to the limit.   Set before the arrival of Amos Barton, “Mr. Gilfil’s Love Story” features well-liked parish priest Maynard Gifil, who is known for smoking long pipes and preaching short sermons. Shockingly tumultuous events lead up to his marriage—including a love triangle, deception, and a murder plot.   An argument over religious doctrine splits the market town of Milby into two factions in “Janet’s Repentance.” With the arrival of Reverend Tryan, a rumor spreads that Evangelicalism has invaded the parish, angering local lawyer Robert Dempster. But his long-suffering wife finds in Tryan a kindred spirit, leading her to embark on a new life.  “The exquisite truth and delicacy, both of the humour and the pathos of those stories, I have never seen the like of.” —Charles Dickens “A first-rate novel, and its author takes rank at once among the masters of the art.” —The Times

  Show book

• 

  The Game

  Jack London

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "It was 'the game'—the struggle of the men, the colorful, brutal, and fascinating game."
  
  Joe Fleming is a clean-living young man with a bright future and a woman he loves, Genevieve. But Joe has a secret passion: he is a prize-fighter. On the eve of their wedding, Joe agrees to one final bout—one last time to play "the game." Genevieve, initially repulsed by the violence, agrees to watch the fight from a secret vantage point, hoping to understand the strange, masculine world that captivates her fiancé. What follows is a visceral, blow-by-blow account of a match that serves as a profound meditation on the animalistic nature of man and the tragic interference of fate.
  
  The "Red Muscle" Philosophy: London applies his trademark naturalism to the sport of boxing. He describes the physical "machinery" of the fighters with scientific precision, portraying the ring not just as a sport, but as an arena where the "blood-heritage" of prehistoric ancestors resurfaces in the modern world.
  
  A Clash of Worlds: The novella highlights the stark contrast between the "woman-world" of the home and the "man-world" of the ring. Through Genevieve's eyes, the reader experiences the shocking transition from the gentle Joe she knows to the fierce, efficient athlete he becomes under the lights. It is a story about the irresistible pull of competition and the price one pays to be a champion.
  
  Step into the ring. Purchase "The Game" today and experience the raw power of Jack London's prose.

  Show book

• 

  Things

  D H Lawrence

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  'Things' takes a cutting look at two 'idealistic' young Americans who travel Europe in an attempt to give their spoiled lives some meaning and in the end settle for suburban America, surrounded by their possessions, their 'things'.

  Show book

• 

  Jorinda and Jorindel - Story...

  Brothers Grimm

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Jorinda and Jorindel, two lovers engaged to be married, went for a walk in the forest. They came too near to the witch's lair. She turned Jorinda into a nightingale and petrified Jorindel to the ground. Once she had carried away the bird, she freed Jorindel, laughing that he would never see Jorinda again.

  Show book

• 

  Frankenstein; or the Modern...

  Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus 
  In the early nineteenth century, English author Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) Shelley penned a novel that would forever alter literature. Born in 1797, Mary’s unconventional upbringing shaped her worldview. During a summer near Lake Geneva in 1816, she conceived the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but tormented scientist. 
  Driven by relentless ambition, Victor embarked on an unorthodox experiment: creating life itself. The result—the Creature, often called “Frankenstein’s Monster”—was stitched together from various body parts. Seeking understanding and acceptance, the Creature grappled with its existence and harsh treatment. 
  The novel delves into profound themes: ambition, nature vs. nurture, responsibility, and loneliness. Beyond horror, “Frankenstein” challenges us to consider science’s boundaries and creators’ roles. It serves as a cautionary tale, warning against unchecked ambition and dehumanization. 
  Because of time, some words in the novel may have changed meanings.

  Show book