Классическая проза
Различные книги в жанре Классическая прозаMy Secret Life
‘My Secret Life’ is a dark work of Victorian erotica, and an explicit memoir of unspoken desires in the English class system – encapsulating the joy of hidden sins in an age of moral fervour.Would you undress with the curtains open?A champagne-drinking Victorian traveller, Walter is lascivious, obnoxious and possessed of an insatiable sexual appetite. Through a bawdy catalogue of indecent scenarios with maids, widows and wenches, he solicits an indulgent exploration of the flesh. His obsessions, fantasies and voyeuristic tendencies are explored and revealed within this diary – one of the most famous examples of Victorian erotic literature from the decadent era.Only six copies of ‘My Secret Life’ were initially printed in 1888. Attempts to republish the book resulted in the novel being repeatedly banned.
Venus in Furs
First published in 1870, the author of ‘Venus in Furs’ defined – and unwittingly gave his own name to – that sexual proclivity we know as masochism in this understated, charged erotic classic.What woman could resist a trembling man handing her the whip?Severin is a young Galician nobleman with a secret; he can only love a woman with a ruthless heart, who will rain her whip upon him in a shower of bloody kisses. When he meets Wanda, the wealthy and beautiful widow living in the apartment upstairs, he wonders if she might be the one to help him realise his darkest desires. But Wanda is better than she ever dreamed possible at domination – and soon Severin realises he is powerless to escape what he has begun. Here, fantasy and reality writhe together in a ceaseless, fraught embrace…
Venus in India
‘Venus in India’ is set in colonial Hindustan, and reveals the story of Captain Devereux, a man who finds it hard to keep his hands off other soldiers’ wives. Exploring the fine art of menage a trois, each sinuous line provides proof that tropical heat and erotic lust are perfect bedfellows.To cheat? Or not to cheat?Captain Devereux is posted to India, far away from his beautiful young wife and child, and at first is devastated at the parting. But when he comes across Lizzie Wilson, the wife of one of his fellow officers, her ample bosom and open thighs prove more than enough consolation. And when her husband objects to their dalliances, no matter – for the Colonel of the regiment's three young daughters, Fanny, Amy and Mabel, are more than eager to be initiated into the ways of adult love…
The Locked Room
The eighth classic instalment in this genre-changing series of novels starring Detective Inspector Martin Beck. This new edition has an introduction by Michael Connolly.In one part of town, a woman robs a bank. In another, a corpse is found shot through the heart in a room locked from within, with no firearm in sight. Although the two incidents appear unrelated, Detective Inspector Martin Beck believes otherwise, and solving the mystery acquires the utmost importance. Haunted by a near-fatal bullet wound and trying to recover from the break-up of his unhappy marriage, Beck throws himself into the case to escape from the prison that his own life has come to resemble.Written in the 1960s, these masterpieces are the work of Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo – a husband and wife team from Sweden. The ten novels follow the fortunes of the detective Martin Beck, whose enigmatic, taciturn character has inspired countless other policemen in crime fiction. The novels can be read separately, but do follow a chronological order, so the reader can become familiar with the characters and develop a loyalty to the series. Each book will have a new introduction in order to help bring these books to a new audience.
Half a War
A classic coming-of-age tale set in a vivid and richly-imagined world from Sunday Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie.‘Joe Abercrombie is doing some terrific work’ GEORGE R.R. MARTINWORDS ARE WEAPONSPrincess Skara has seen all she loved turned to ashes. She is left with only words. But the right words can be as deadly as any blade.ONLY HALF A WAR IS FOUGHT WITH SWORDSThe deep-cunning Father Yarvi has walked a long road from crippled slave to king’s minister. But now he faces the greatest army since the elves made war on God.SOMETIMES ONE MUST FIGHT EVIL WITH EVILSome – like Thorn Bathu and the sword-bearer Raith – are born to fight, perhaps to die. Others – like Brand the smith and Koll the wood-carver – would rather stand in the light. But when Mother War spreads her iron wings, she may cast the whole Shattered Sea into darkness…
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER was banned on its publication in 1928, creating a storm of controversy. Lawrence tells the story of Constance Chatterley’s marriage to Sir Clifford, an aristocratic intellectual who is paralyzed from the waist down after the First World War. Desperate for an heir and embarrassed by his inability to satisfy his wife, Clifford suggests that she have an affair. Constance, troubled by her husband’s words, finds herself involved in a passionate relationship with their gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors.Lawrence’s vitriolic denunciations of industrialism and class division come together in his vivid depiction of the profound emotional and physical connection between a couple otherwise divided by station and society.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
Originally published in 1914, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is a timeless story of socialism, political awakenings and class struggle, told with a volatile mix of heartfelt rage and sly humour.The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists tells the story of a group of working men who are joined one day by Owen, a journeyman-prophet with a vision of a just society. Owen’s spirited attacks on the greed and dishonesty of the capitalist system rouse his fellow men from their political quietism. A masterpiece of wit and political passion, this is one of the most authentic novels of English working class life ever written.This enduring favourite is now reinvigorated by a smart new jacket and exclusive extra material as part of Harper Perennial’s Modern Classics line of reissues. Now its timeless message of justice, equality and reason will be introduced to a whole new generation of discerning readers.
Luck of the Wheels
A reissue of classic backlist titles from the author of the best selling Farseer Trilogy and The Liveship Traders books. LUCK OF THE WHEELS is the fourth and final book in THE WINDSINGERS series, which introduced her popular gypsy characters, Ki and Vandien.Gypsy traders Ki and Vandien should have realised the money was too good to be true. Three georns and a full orn to be paid on arrival – and all they had to do was transport the cargo to Villena! The cargo, however, turned out to be human; a boy called Goat, and his family seemed just a little bit too anxious to be rid of him.The arrangement smelled like trouble. And it was; especially when faced with a few other unexpected problems… like a lovesick stowaway, an army of rebels and road bandits and a magical detour with death itself…
The Windsingers Series: The Complete 4-Book Collection
The complete WINDSINGERS SERIES by international bestselling author Megan Lindholm (who also writes as Robin Hobb).Harpies don't give up of blood debts. Neither do the men who serve them. A life must be given in return.Devastated by the slaughter of her family and haunted by memories of her own violent revenge, Ki rejects the comfort of her husband's gypsy people and wants only to wander in solitude as an outcast.Across mountains sheathed with ice, through the treacherous shadow of the impassable Sisters, Ki finds herself running for her life, pursued by frenzied Harpies sworn to vengeance; and by one stubborn, dark-haired man who seems intent on being part of her future.
The Autobiography of a Flea
‘The Autobiography of a Flea’ was initally published in 1887, and inspired a film directed by one of the first female pornographic directors from the 1970s. Starring the inimitable John C Holmes, it is recognised as a classic example of the x-rated genre.Can men of the cloth ever escape temptation?A young maiden, Bella, and her boyfriend Charlie consummate their passion under the moonlight, shrouded in petticoats. Little do they know that someone has been watching them – a priest – who blackmails Bella over the sight he has witnessed, enslaving her into a world of sexual subservience.‘The Autobiography of a Flea’ is narrated by the smallest voyeur of them all, who uses his size to avenge Bella's misfortune, revealing the sordid details of a priest's inner sanctum.