"H.L. Mencken wrote of Mark Twain, 'I believe that he was the true father of our national literature, the first genuinely American artist of the blood royal.' Father, Mark Twain is. And brother, friend, and wise old grandpa. But no offense to Mr. Mencken: Sam'l Clemens is American and there ain't no royalty around here 'ceptin maybe the Duke or some one like that. Unless it's the "Prince and the Pauper" or King Arthur in "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court."

"Hank the Yankee asks, 'You know about transmigration of souls; do you know about transposition of epochs -- and bodies?'

"'Wit ye well, "I saw it done.'" Then, after a pause, added: 'I did it myself.'

"Just like Mark Twain -- Samuel Langhorne Clemens."

-- From Amy Sterling Casil's Introduction

Little Women is one of the best-loved children's stories of all time, based on the author's own youthful experiences. It describes the family life of the four March sisters living in a small New England community, Meg, the eldest, is pretty and wishes to be a lady; Jo, at fifteen is ungainly and unconventional with an ambition to be an author; Beth is a delicate child of thirteen with a taste for music and Amy is a blonde beauty of twelve. The story of their domestic adventures, their attempts to increase the family income, their friendship with the neighbouring Lawrence family, and their later love affairs remains as fresh and beguiling as ever. Good Wives takes up the story of the March sisters, some three years later, when, as young adults, they must face up to the inevitable trials and traumas of everyday life in their search for individual happiness.

"I like "Joan of Arc" best of all my books; and it is the best; I know it perfectly well. And besides, it furnished me seven times the pleasure afforded me by any of the others; twelve years of preparation, and two years of writing. The others need no preparation and got none." -- Mark Twain

Twain considered this book -- his last finished novel -- to be his most significant. Perhaps it is; certainly it's delightful -- but then, in retrospect, everything Twain did is good cause for delight.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is the timeless children's story written by Lewis Carroll. Join Alice on her strange and wonderful adventures into the world of the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, and the Hatter. This reproduction includes forty-two illustrations after John Tenniel. Charles Dodgson first told the story to Alice Liddell, age ten, and her two sisters on a picnic trip in 1862. She asked him to write it down for her and although it took him two and a half years, he gave her the finished story in 1864. Dodgson published the book a year later in 1865 under the pen name Lewis Carroll.

Witty, intelligent Elizabeth Bennet has no desire for a marriage of convenience. And when she meets the handsome, wealthy Mr Darcy, her opinion of him is quickly set: he is aloof, selfish and proud - the last man in the world she would ever marry. Until their paths cross again, and again, and the pair begin to realise that first impressions can be flawed... But as Elizabeth and Darcy become entangled in a dance through the strict hierarchies of society, will there be space for true love to bloom? Bestselling and YA Book Prize shortlisted author Laura Wood brings Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy's romance to life once more in a stunning and truly accessible retelling of Austen's beloved classic.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean and lonely businessman who despises the meaning of Christmas until one Christmas Eve when he is visited by the ghosts of his past, present and future... What are the themes? Relationships, individual vs. society and responsibility. Teaching points Many excellent passages which are good models for students' writing.

Containing many of Arthur Rackham's beautiful colour pictures and black and white drawings. Originally published in 1921. Many of the earliest children's books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Pook Press are working to republish these classic works in affordable, high quality editions, using the original text and artwork so these works can delight another generation of children.

This is a wonderful collection of six retellings of William Shakespeare's best-loved plays - a perfect mix of comedy, tragedy, magic and romance, retold for younger readers. It is full of colourful illustrations from the Usborne Young Reading Programme. It contains the plays "A Midummer Night's Dream", "Hamlet", "Macbeth", "Romeo and Juliet", "The Tempest", and "Twelfth Night". It also includes a section at the back on the life and times of Shakespeare.

If you came down to harsh facts -- which, it must be confessed, Anne of Avonlea seldom did until she had to -- it did not seem likely that there was much promising material for celebrities in Avonlea school; but you could never tell what might happen if a teacher used her influence for good. Anne had certain rose-tinted ideals of what a teacher might accomplish if she only went the right way about it; and she was in the midst of a delightful scene, forty years hence, with a famous personage . . . just exactly what he was to be famous for was left in convenient haziness, but Anne thought it would be rather nice to have him a college president or a Canadian premier . . . bowing low over her wrinkled hand and assuring her that it was she who had first kindled his ambition, and that all his success in life was due to the lessons she had instilled so long ago in Avonlea school.

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG --------------------- Enter BERTRAM, the COUNTESS OF ROUSILLON, HELENA, and LAFEU, all in black COUNTESS. In delivering my son from me, I bury a second husband. BERTRAM. And I in going, madam, weep o'er my father's death anew; but I must attend his Majesty's command, to whom I am now in ward, evermore in subjection. LAFEU. You shall find of the King a husband, madam; you, sir, a father. He that so generally is at all times good must of necessity hold his virtue to you, whose worthiness would stir it up where it wanted, rather than lack it where there is such abundance.

When Bear, a mysterious young man, lands on Blanche and Rose Brier's doorstep in New York City, the two sisters have conflicting opinions on whether or not he is dangerous. Even as Blanche learns to trust him, her fears that Bear's friendship threatens their family prove terrifyingly true. A modern retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale.

Princess Ozma's birthday celebration is set to be the most magnificent party of all time, and everybody who's anybody in Oz is desperate for an invitation. As for Dorothy and her friends, lost out in the lands beyond the Deadly Desert, they must use their heads and discover a way to get back to the Emerald City if they are to be in attendance on this most special occasion. But will they manage to get there in time? Book 5 of the 15 book series by L. Frank Baum. Journey through the magical world of Oz with Dorothy and friends with these beloved timeless classics.

"Work, work all the night"
"While the stars are shining bright;"
"Work, work all the day --"
"I've got no time to play!"

Everyone is curious! Farmer Brown's boy cannot figure it out. Then Peter Rabbit and Jerry Muskrat set their minds to the problem and try to wrestle it to the ground. What is happening in the peaceful meadow where the stream flowed so quietly before -- and what does Paddy Beaver have to do with it?

Thornton W. Burgess, famous for his tales of "the lesser folk in fur and feathers," first entertained young readers in the 1910s . . . and his books have kept doing so, decade after decade, down to the present day.