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 - - The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking from Bramblehurst railway station, and carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand. He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose; the snow had piled itself against his shoulders and chest, and added a white crest to the burden he carried. He staggered into the "Coach and Horses" more dead than alive, and flung his portmanteau down. "A fire," he cried, "in the name of human charity A room and a fire " He stamped and shook the snow from off himself in the bar, and followed Mrs. Hall into her guest parlour to strike his bargain. And with that much introduction, that and a couple of sovereigns flung upon the table, he took up his quarters in the inn.

Through the eyes of Lemuel Gulliver, Swift's unforgettable satire takes readers into worlds formerly unimagined. Visit four strange and remarkable lands: Lilliput, where Gulliver seems a giant among a race of tiny people; Brobdingnag, the opposite, where the natives are giants and Gulliver puny; the ruined yet magical country of Laputa; and the home of the Houyhnhnms, gentle horses far superior to the ugly humanoid Yahoos who share their universe.

The Outsiders is an outstanding story of teenage rebellion, written when the author was only 17 years old. It is one of The Originals from Penguin - iconic, outspoken, first.

Youngsters in a small Oklahoma town have split into two gangs, divided by money, tastes and attitude. The Socs' idea of having a good time is beating up Greasers like Ponyboy Curtis.

Ponyboy knows what to expect and knows he can count on his brothers and friends - until the night someone takes things too far.

For generations audiences have been gripped by the powerful drama of Macbeth: the ruinous journey of a man driven by his ambition for power, yet ultimately ending in fear violence, and madness. Macbeth, a Scottish general in King Duncan's army, is given a prophecy by three witches that he himself will become king. Fueled by this knowledge and goaded on by his ruthless wife he murders the king to gain the crown. Yet having gained his goal, the "peace to all their days and nights to come" prophesized by the witches fails to appear. Rather, he finds that having killed, he must do so again and again. Suspicion, fear and the ghosts of the dead haunt him and his wife, destroying everything that they fought for, including their relationship, their world and finally both of them. Holding new meaning for each generation this play is a masterpiece not to be missed.

This volume is part of a series of novels, plays and stories at GCSE/Key Stage 4 level, designed to meet the needs of the National Curriculum syllabus. Each text includes an introduction, pre-reading activities, notes and coursework activities. Also provided is a section on the process of writing, often compiled by the author.

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.

A stylish foiled picture book adaptation - celebrating 90 years of E. H. Shepard's iconic original illustrations! A stylish foiled picture book adaptation - celebrating 90 years of E. H. Shepard's iconic original illustrations! "Don't you know?" grinned Rat. "Oh, Mole! There is nothing half so much fun as simply messing about in boats!" A world of wonders awaits Mole as he emerges from his little underground home one spring day. He discovers the sights and delights of the river aboard Rat's rowing boat. He ventures into the Wild Wood, home to kindly Badger. In the company of fun-loving Toad, he feels the thrill of the open road. But Mole soon learns that where there is Toad, there is trouble. Toad has a dangerous new hobby, and Mole and his friends must use all their wits and courage to keep him from disaster! Kenneth Grahame's delightful characters, Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad, have entertained generations of children. This stunning anniversary picture book, adapted by bestselling author Timothy Knapman, introduces their famous adventures to readers aged 4+, with timeless illustrations from E. H. Shepard, the artist who created the world-famous images of Winnie-the-Pooh.

A paperback edition of E.B. White's classic novel about one small mouse on a very big adventure! With black and white illustrations.

Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's also a true lover of adventure.

Stuart's greatest adventure comes when his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest. Determined to track her down, Stuart ventures away from home for the very first time in his life. He finds adventure aplenty. But will he find his friend?

A royal family is thrown into utter ruin by its own poisonous web of distrust, deceit and struggle for power. Shakespeare's tragedy is one unsurpassed power and depth. It follows the descent of the ageing King Lear into madness, perpetuated by his malevolent daughters Goneril and Regan who struggle to gain power over the kingdom. Having banished his favorite daughter Cordelia, a loving, compassionate and honest woman, when she refuses to partake in a competition of flattery, he sets in motion a catastrophic sequence of events that will ultimately destroy his sanity, family and kingdom. The lines between good and evil are faultlessly drawn in this exploration of filial ingratitude, injustice, avarice and love. In a time when swollen words, false pretexts and the struggle for power are again the order of the day the message of King Lear carries renewed significance.

'Steinbeck at the top of his form' New York Times 'In the town they tell the story of the great pearl - how it was found and how it was lost again. They tell of Kino, the fisherman, and of his wife, Juana, and of the baby, Coyotito. And because the story has been told so often, it has taken root in every man's mind.' The Pearl is Steinbeck's heartbreaking short parable about wealth and the darkness and evil it can instill in even the most generous of men's hearts. This edition features a stunning new cover by renowned artist Bijou Karman. '[The Pearl] has the distinction and sincerity that are evident in everything he writes' New Yorker 'There is no more impressive writer on either side of the Atlantic' Time and Tide 'Steinbeck is to be judged by the highest standards' New York Herald Tribune

At her birth, Ella of Frell was the unfortunate recipient of a foolish fairy's gift--the "gift' of obedience. Ella must obey any order given to her, whether it's hopping on one foot for a day and a half, or chopping off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her fate. Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse--once and for all.

In this incredible debut novel comes the richly entertaining story of Ella of Frell, who at birth was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little better than a curse, for how can she truly be herself if at anytime anyone can order her to hop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray her kingdom'and she'll have to obey? Against a bold tapestry of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella's quest to break the curse once and for all and discover who she really is is as sharply funny as Catherine, Called Birdy and as richly poignant as Beauty, and has all the marks of a classic in the making.

00 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award, 99-00 Black-Eyed Susan Award (Gr 6-9 Cat), 00 CA Young Reader Medal (Mid. School/Jr. High Cat.), 01 Blue Spruce Award Masterlist (YA Cat.), and 00 Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award (Grades 6-8 Cat.)

2000 List of Popular Paperbacks for YA and 00 Judy Lopez Memorial Award Honor Book

The highest standards in editing and production have been applied to the Wordsworth Children's Classics, while the low price makes them affordable for everyone. Wordsworth's list covers a range of the best-loved stories for children, from nursery tales, classic fables, and fairy tales to stories that will appeal to older children and adults alike. Many of these volumes have contemporary illustrations, and while they are ideal for shared family reading, their attractive format will also encourage children to read for themselves. Like all Wordsworth Editions, these children's books represent unbeatable value.

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.

A magical story of snow and stars by Catherine Fisher. The Clockwork Crow is a mysterious gothic Christmas tale set in a frost-bound Victorian country mansion. When orphaned Seren Rees is given a mysterious package by a strange and frightened man on her way to her new home, she reluctantly takes it with her. But what is in the parcel? Who are the Family who must not be spoken of, and can the Crow help Seren find Tom, before the owner of the parcel finds her? The Clockwork Crow is a gripping Christmas tale of families and belonging set in snowy Wales from a master storyteller.

Frances Hodgson Burnett was an English-American playwright and author. She is best known for her children's stories, in particular "The Secret Garden," "A Little Princess," and "Little Lord Fauntleroy," Following the death of her mother in 1872, eighteen-year-old Frances found herself the head of a family of four younger siblings. She turned to writing to support them all. Her main writing talent was combining realistic detail of working-class life with a romantic plot.

"The Lost Prince" features Marco Loristan, his father Stefan, and his friend, a street urchin named "The Rat," Marco's father is working to overthrow the cruel dictatorship in the kingdom of Samavia. Marco and his father Stefan come to London where Marco becomes friends with "The Rat," Stefan, realizing that two boys are less likely to be noticed, entrusts them with a secret mission to travel across Europe giving the secret sign: "The Lamp is lighted," to help bring about a revolution and restore the rightful king.

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.

Having crash-landed in the Sahara desert, a pilot comes across a young boy who introduces himself as the Little Prince and tells him the story of how he grew up on a tiny asteroid before travelling across the galaxies and coming to Earth. His encounters and discoveries, seen through childlike, innocent eyes, give rise to candid reflections on life and human nature. Presented here in a new translation by Gregory Norminton and featuring the author's own watercolour illustrations, The Little Prince has become a classic philosophical fable for young and old.