«This volume contains English translations of: «Ivanov», «The Seagull», «Uncle Vanya», «Three Sisters», and «The Cherry Orchard», with a new Introduction by Ronald Hingley.»

«Frankenstein» was Mary Shelley's immensely powerful contribution to the ghost stories which she, Percy Shelley, and Byron wrote one wet summer in Switzerland. Its protagonist is a young student of natural philosophy, who learns the secret of imparting life to a creature constructed from relics of the dead, with horrific consequences. «Frankenstein» confronts some of the most feared innovations of evolutionism: topics such as degeneracy, hereditary disease, and mankind's status as a species of animal. The text used here is from the 1818 edition, which is a mocking exposé of leaders and achievers who leave desolation in their wake, showing mankind its choice — to live cooperatively or to die of selfishness. It is also a black comedy, and harder and wittier than the 1831 version with which we are more familiar. Drawing on new research, Marilyn Butler examines the novel in the context of the radical sciences, which were developing among much controversy in the years following the Napoleonic Wars, and shows how Frankenstein's experiment relates to a contemporary debate between the champions of materialist science and of received religion.»

«He talked a lot about the past and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy. His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was...» «The Great Gatsby» (1925), F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, stands among the greatest of all American fiction. Jay Gatsby's lavish lifestyle in a mansion on Long Island's gold coast encapsulates the spirit, excitement, and violence of the era Fitzgerald named `the Jazz Age'. Impelled by his love for Daisy Buchanan, Gatsby seeks nothing less than to recapture the moment five years earlier when his best and brightest dreams — his `unutterable visions' — seemed to be incarnated in her kiss. A moving portrayal of the power of romantic imagination, as well as the pathos and courage entailed in the pusuit of an unattainable dream, The Great Gatsby is a classic fiction of hope and disillusion. This edition is fully annotated with a fine Introduction incorporating new interpretation and detailing Fitzgerald's struggle to write the novel, its critical reception and its significance for future generations.»

«The Jungle Books» can be regarded as classic stories told by an adult to children. But they also constitute a complex literary work of art in which the whole of Kipling's philosophy of life is expressed in miniature. They are best known for the 'Mowgli' stories; the tale of a baby abandoned and brought up by wolves, educated in the ways and secrets of the jungle by Kaa the python, Baloo the bear, and Bagheera the black panther. The stories, a mixture of fantasy, myth, and magic, are underpinned by Kipling's abiding preoccupation with the theme of self-discovery, and the nature of the 'Law'.»

In this almost documentary account of his own experiences of penal servitude in Serbia, Dostoevsky describes the physical and mental suffering of the convicts, the squalor and the degradation, in relentless detail. The inticate procedure whereby the men strip for the bath without removing their ten-pound leg-fetters is an extraordinary tour de force, compared by Turgenev to passages from Dante's Inferno. Terror and resignation — the rampages of a pyschopath, the brief serence interlude of Christmas Day — are evoked by Dostoevsky, writing several years after his release, with a strikingly uncharacteristic detachment. For this reason, House of the Dead is certainly the least Dostoevskian of his works, yet, paradoxically, it ranks among his great masterpieces.

«Notes from the Underground» (1864) is one of the most profound works of nineteenth-century literature. A probing, speculative book, often regarded as a forerunner of the Existentialist movement, it examines the important political and philosophical questions that were current in Russia and Europe at the time. «The Gambler» (1866), set in the fictional town of Roulettenberg, explores the compulsive nature of gambling, one of the author's own vices and a subject he describes with extraordinary acumen and drama. Specially commissioned for the World's Classics, this new translation includes a full editorial apparatus.»

Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up, is one of the immortals of children's literature. J. M. Barrie first created Peter Pan as a baby, living in secret with the birds and fairies in the middle of London, but as the children for whom he invented the stories grew older, so too did Peter, reappearing in Neverland, where he was aided in his epic battles with Red Indians and pirates by the motherly and resourceful Wendy Darling. With their contrary lures of home and escape, childhood and maturity, safety and high adventure, these unforgettable tales are equally popular with children and adults.

«William Blake (1757-1827) was a poet of striking originality, whose poetic world of myth and mysticism continues to fascinate. By turns a haunting lyricist, an apocalyptic visionary, and an unorthodox thinker, Blake was for years ignored or derided. Sustained by his belief in the artistic imagination, he drafted poetry, prose visions, and epigrams, and manufactured beautiful illustrated volumes of his lyrics and verse narratives. Towards the end of his life, Blake's unique and irreducible talent was recognized by a group of younger artists, who rescued much of his achievement from oblivion. This selection represents the full range of Blake's accomplishment as a poet, ranging from early «Poetical Sketches» to late lyrics, and including such major works as «The Book of Thel», «Songs of Innocence», «The Marriage of Heaven and Hell», «Visions of the Daughters of Albion», «America», «Songs of Experience», and «Europe». The collection is chosen from the Oxford Authors critical edition, with Michael Mason's introduction and notes providing the ideal guide to a remarkable oeuvre.»

«Byron was a legend in his own lifetime and the dominant influence on the Romantic movement. The most European of the English writers in an age of revolution, Byron was deeply involved in contemporary events, and a passionate supporter of the struggle for Greek independence. Describing himself as `born for opposition', his work was largely directed against what he called the `cant political, cant poetical, and cant moral' of the English and European worlds. He was rocketed to fame by the publication of «Childe Harold» in 1812, and lionized by society until his departure from England amid a whirlpool of private gossip and newspaper scandal in 1816. His is, in every sense, a poetry of experience, and a Romantic emphasis on the personality of the poet is the hallmark of all his verse. Relishing humour and irony, daring and flamboyant, sardonic yet idealistic, his work encompasses a sweeping range of topics, subjects, and models, embracing the most traditional and the most experimental poetic forms. This selection of the poetical works, chosen from the Oxford Authors critical edition, includes such masterpieces as «The Corsair», «Manfred», «Bebbo», and «Don Juan». There are many other less familiar works and shorter lyrics, and Jerome J. McGann's introduction and notes give fascinating insight into Byron's world.»

«John Donne (1572-1631) is perhaps the most important poet of the seventeenth century. In his day it seemed to his admirers that Donne had changed the literary universe, and he is now widely regarded as the founder of the metaphysical `school'. Donne's poetry is highly distinctive and individual, adopting a multitude of rhythms, images, forms, and personae, from irresistible seducer to devout believer. His greatness stems from the subtleties and ambivalences of tone that convey his remarkably modern awareness of the instability of the self. This collection of Donne's verse is chosen from the Oxford Authors critical edition of his major works. It includes a wide selection from his secular and divine poems, such as the rebellious and libertine satires and love elegies, the virtuoso «Songs and Sonnets», and the desperate, passionate «Holy Sonnets». John Carey's introduction and extensive notes provide valuable insights into Donne's poetic genius.»

«'Love is nothing without feeling. And feeling is still less without love.' Celebrated in its own day as the progenitor of 'a school of sentimental writers', «A Sentimental Journey» (1768) has outlasted its many imitators because of the humour and mischievous eroticism that inform Mr Yorick's travels. Setting out to journey to France and Italy he gets little further than Lyons but finds much to appreciate, in contrast to contemporary travel writers whom Sterne satirizes in the figures of Smelfungus and Mundungus. A master of ambiguity and double entendre, Sterne is nevertheless as concerned as his peers with exploring the nature of virtue; unlike other writers of sentimental fiction Sterne insists on the inseparability of desire and feeling. This new edition includes a selection from «The Sermons of Mr Yorick», which shed light on the concerns of the «Journey», «The Journal to Eliza», which records Sterne's feelings as he languishes for the company of Eliza Draper, and «A Political Romance», the satire on a local ecclesiastical squabble that was the catalyst for Sterne's literary career.»

«Twenty Years After» (1845), the sequel to «The Three Musketeers», is a supreme creation of suspense and heroic adventure. Two decades have passed since the musketeers triumphed over Cardinal Richelieu and Milady. Time has weakened their resolve, and dispersed their loyalties. But treasons and strategems still cry out for justice: civil war endangers the throne of France, while in England Cromwell threatens to send Charles I to the scaffold. Dumas brings his immortal quartet out of retirement to cross swords with time, the malevolence of men, and the forces of history. But their greatest test is a titanic struggle with the son of Milady, who wears the face of Evil. In his Introduction to this edition David Coward sets both the author and his exciting tale in their historical and cultural contexts.»

«Typhoon», «Falk», «Amy Foster», «The Secret Sharer» The four tales in this volume share autobiographical origins in Conrad's experience at sea and his exile from Poland, the country of his birth. 'Typhoon' is the story of a steamship and her crew beset by tempest, and of the stolid captain whose dogged courage is tested to the limit. In 'Falk' a taciturn young woman is bizarrely courted by a tug-boat master who is haunted by a terrible secret. 'Amy Foster' tells of an emigrant Pole struggling to overcome isolation and prejudice in England. The final tale, 'The Secret Sharer', is Conrad's most famous short story, a masterpiece of suspense and ambiguity. Giving sanctuary to a fugitive sailor, a young sea-captain risks his ship and his command in order to save him. This revised edition uses the English first edition texts and has a new chronology and bibliography.»

- A hardback dictionary, ideal for everyday reference at home, school, or work — Contains over 150,000 words, phrases, and definitions — Two-colour layout and accessible design help you find the information you need quickly and easily — Features all the words you need, with extensive coverage of essential vocabulary, plus the most-used technical and specialist terms — Effective English centre section, full of practical advice, helps you use language more effectively Its excellent coverage of essential English vocabulary and clear, accessible style make this revised edition of the Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English ideal for general everyday use. Straightforward definitions are accompanied by plenty of example sentences to show how words behave in the language. Usage notes on tricky parts of English help you distinguish between commonly confused words, such as complementary and complimentary, or forbear and forebear, as well as giving advice on grammar. The Effective English section in the centre of the dictionary is packed with advice on how to use English in a variety of situations, such as writing CVs or letters of complaint. This revised edition has been completely redesigned and now contains even more practical help with correspondence. The clear layout and attractive two-colour design enable you to find the infromation you want quickly and easily, and the uncomplicated definitions give you the most accurate picture of the language possible.

• Fully revised and updated: Over 5,100 entries — 200 new to this edition • Covers all aspects of personal and international finance, from private investments and borrowing to European and American commerce. • Recommended web links for many entries, accessible via the Dictionary of Finance and Banking companion website • Useful feature entries on areas requiring a fuller explanation, such as Financial Times Share Indexes, Bankruptcy Law, and Financial Reporting Standards (FRS) • Expanded coverage of central banking, monetary policy, and a special focus on financial institutions reflecting recent developments in this area New to this edition • Fully revised and updated with 200 new words added to this edition • Feature panels with full explanations of topical and complex terms, e.g. Financial Times Share Indexes. • Recommended web links for many entries, accessible via the Dictionary of Finance and Banking companion website • Expanded coverage of central banking, monetary policy, and a special focus on financial institutions reflecting recent developments in this area

This best-selling dictionary is written by one of the most famous philosophers of our time, and it is widely recognized as the best dictionary of its kind. Comprehensive and authoritative, it covers every aspect of philosophy from Aristotle to Zen. With clear and concise definitions, it provides lively and accessible coverage of not only Western philosophical traditions, but also themes from Chinese, Indian, Islamic, and Jewish philosophy. Entries include over 500 biographies of famous and influential philosophers, in-depth analysis of philosophical terms and concepts, and a chronology of philosophical events stretching from 10,000 BC to the present day. The first edition of this dictionary became a market-leader and a standard work of reference, selling over 100,000 copies. Now the author, Professor Simon Blackburn, has revised it to include web links which provide up-to-date and valuable extra information via the Dictionary of Philosophy companion website. Fully cross-referenced and containing over 3,000 alphabetical entries, it is the ideal introduction to philosophy for anyone with an interest in the subject, and it is an indispensable work of reference for students and teachers.

• A hardback thesaurus, ideal for home, work, or school, with over 230,000 syonyms and antonyms • Features all the words you need for everyday use, with synonyms given in order of usefulness • New usage notes on commonly confused words help you to avoid common pitfalls • Centre section includes new and updated lists of nouns, such as types of birds, bread, and butterflies, to help you expand your vocabulary and find quick answers to puzzles and queries A handy hardback volume for home, school, or work, the Pocket Oxford Thesaurus features synonyms and antonyms for everyday words, as well as language help. Updated with all the latest must-know vocabulary, and with a completely revised text, this second edition is an invaluable tool for anyone who writes for work, school, or pleasure, or anyone looking for the word on the tip of their tongue. The centre section of this thesaurus has been revised and now contains even more lists of nouns, such as insects, fruits, or drinks. This information can help you to broaden your knowledge, or to find the answer you are looking for in a quiz or a puzzle. The A-Z text of the thesaurus features usage notes to help you identify frequently confused words, such as affect and effect, or compliment and complement, so that you can avoid common pitfalls when you are writing. This thesaurus also contains Word Link features, helping you to find words that are closely associated with each other. For example, the Word Link at the entrylaw informs you that the words legal, judicial, and juridicial all relate to laws, and the Word Link at darkness reveals that the fear of darkness is called scotophobia. Packed with extra tips and help, and with a completely revised and up-to-date text, the Pocket Oxford Thesaurus is an ideal reference book for anyone who wants to improve their writing.

- Exciting and skilful adaptations of a range of modern novels — New, innovative activities specifically tailored to support the revised Programme of Study for Key Stage 3. Activities include work on Speaking and Listening, close text analysis and the structure of playscripts, and act as a springboard for personal writing — Insights into the plays themselves by their popular authors and adapters — Advice on staging Dominic Cooke's acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation of the bestselling novel by Malorie Blackman. First performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2007.

This three-level grammar practice series takes students through from Basic to Advanced level English.

In a house in Oxford three people are having breakfast — Carol, her husband Jan, and his father Josef. They are talking about Prague, because Carol wants them all to go there for Christmas. Josef was born in Prague, but he left his home city when he was a young man. He is an old man now, and he would like to see Prague again before he dies. But he is afraid. He still remembers another Christmas in Prague, many long years ago — a Christmas that changed his life for ever...