Классическая проза
Различные книги в жанре Классическая прозаA Christmas Carol
HarperCollins is proud to present a range of best-loved, essential classics.'I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,' said the Spirit. 'Look upon me!'A celebration of Christmas, a tale of redemption and a critique on Victorian society, Dickens' atmospheric novella follows the miserly, penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge who views Christmas as 'humbug'. It is only through a series of eerie, life-changing visits from the ghost of his deceased business partner Marley and the spirits of Christmas past, present and future that he begins to see the error of his ways. With heart-rending characters, rich imagery and evocative language, the message of A Christmas Carol remains as significant today as when it was first published.
What Katy Did
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.“And now, Katy, it's your turn. Tell us what you're going to be when you grow up.”“I’m not sure about what I’ll be,” replied Katy; “beautiful, of course, and good if I can. That’s what I’d like to be. But now I’ll tell you what I mean to do…’Tomboyish Katy Carr is tall, gangling, and full of mischief. Constantly scheming and playing with her brothers and sisters, 12-year-old Katy dreams that one day she will be ‘beautiful and beloved, and amiable as an angel’. But goodness and obedience don’t come easily to Katy, who had promised to be a good stand-in mother to her younger siblings but finds it difficult to stick to her word. When her bedridden cousin Helen comes to stay, Katy becomes enchanted with her as the living embodiment of goodness and light. On the day Helen leaves, Katy devotes herself to be a shining example of Helen’s behaviour. But quickly the best of intentions go awry, and a day of mischief ends in an accident: a serious fall from a swing that seems to threaten Katy’s grand hopes for the future. But by focusing on the good humour and strength she witnessed in Helen, Katy eventually learns to overcome her difficulties in the ‘School of Pain’, and to practice strength, patience, and hope.Originally published in 1872, and often paired with The Secret Garden and Pollyanna, What Katy Did is the classic American tale of childhood, love, hope, and ‘doing good’.
Leaves of Grass
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey work of the stars…First published in 1855, and edited, revised and expanded over thirty years, ‘Leaves of Grass’ has become one of the most celebrated poetry collections in the history of American literature. A master of free verse, Walt Whitman captures the true spirit of his homeland and its people through his poetry. He explores a wide range of themes, encompassing American identity and cultural values, democracy, nature and the mysteries of the human spirit.Featuring the poems of the original 1855 edition, ‘Leaves of Grass’ remains an influential work within the American literary tradition, studied and treasured around the world.
The Invisible Man
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.“I beheld, unclouded by doubt, a magnificent vision of all that invisibility might mean to a man – the mystery, the power, the freedom.”Griffin, a stranger, arrives at the local inn of an English village, entirely shrouded in bandages. Forbidding and unfriendly, he confines himself to his room. Driven away by the villagers and turning to an old friend for help, Griffin reveals that he has discovered how to make himself invisible, and plans to use his condition for treacherous ends. But when his friend refuses to join his quest, Griffin turns murderous, threatening to seek revenge on all who have betrayed him.H. G. Wells’ controversial works are considered modern classics of the science fiction genre. Originally serialised in 1897, The Invisible Man is a fascinating exploration of power, corruption and science.
Gulliver’s Travels
HarperCollins is proud to present a range of best-loved, essential classics.'I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.'Shipwrecked on the high seas, Lemuel Gulliver finds himself washed up on the strange island of Lilliput, a land inhabited by quarrelsome miniature people. On his travels he continues to meet others who force him to reflect on human behaviour – the giants of Brobdingnag, the Houyhnhnms and the Yahoos. In this scathing satire on the politics and morals of the 18th Century, Swift's condemnation of society and its institutions still resonates today.
Anne of Avonlea
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.‘A tall, slim girl, ‘half-past sixteen’, with serious gray eyes and hair which her friends called auburn…’Anne Shirley, now a young woman, is a new teacher at Avonlea School. As she learns to cope with the ups and downs of life, she is accompanied by some familiar faces, as well as new friends: the twins Davy and Dora, Mr. Harrison and his foul-mouthed parrot Ginger. With fiery red hair and an adventurous attitude, our vivacious heroine cannot stop getting herself into yet more scrapes.First published in 1909, Anne of Avonlea is the delightful second chapter in the popular Anne of Green Gables series.
The Three Musketeers
HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.‘I do not cling to life sufficiently to fear death.’Adventurous and spirited in tone, The Three Musketeers is considered one of the greatest historical French novels. When Athos, Porthos and Aramis befriend a young and determined country boy d’Artagnan, together they confront the scheming King’s Minister, Cardinal Richelieu and the female spy Milady who threaten to undermine the King. Swashbuckling, romantic and often humourous, Dumas’ novel is a timeless tale of friendship and intrigue.
The Great Gatsby
HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.Considered one of the all-time great American works of fiction, Fitzgerald’s glorious yet ultimately tragic social satire on the Jazz Age encapsulates the exuberance, energy and decadence of an era.After the war, the mysterious Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire pursues wealth, riches and the lady he lost to another man with stoic determination. He buys a mansion across from her house and throws lavish parties to try and entice her. When Gatsby finally does reunite with Daisy Buchanan, tragic events are set in motion.Told through the eyes of his detached and omnipresent neighbour and friend, Nick Carraway, Fitzgerald’s succinct and powerful prose hints at the destruction and tragedy that awaits.
The Time Machine
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.“In a moment I was clutched by several hands, and there was no mistaking that they were trying to haul me back . . . You can scarce imagine how nauseatingly inhuman they looked – those pale chinless faces and great, lidless, pinkish-grey eyes!”An English scientist regales his dinner guests with the tale of his travels to the year 802,701, where he discovers that the human race has evolved into two distinct societies. The Eloi, elegant and peaceful, yet lacking spirit, are terrorised by the sinister, light-fearing Morlocks, who live underground, surrounded by industry. And when his time machine mysteriously vanishes, the scientist must descend to the realm of the Morlocks in order to find his only hope of escape . . .H. G. Wells is considered a founding father of modern science fiction, coining the term ‘time machine’ and popularising the idea of time travel in literature.
Jo’s Boys
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.Set ten years after ‘Little Men’, ‘Jo’s Boys’ is the final novel in the unofficial series that follows the ups and downs of the March family.The Plumfield boys – including rebellious Dan, sailor Emil and promising musician Nat – are now grown up, and finding their places in the world. As they deal with the challenges of growing up, finding careers and falling in love, Jo remains at the heart of the family, steady in her love for her ‘boys’ as she steers them through young adulthood, and even murder.Here is a charming and bittersweet conclusion to the story of a family first introduced to us in ‘Little Women’.