The mysterious Jay Gatsby uses his fabulous wealth to create an enchanted world fit for his former love, Daisy Buchanan, now married to Tom. Daisy, though, is a romanticised figment of his own imagination, and the extraordinary world that he creates is equally illusory. He gives lavish, legendary, parties where the guests and gate-crashers enjoy free-flowing champagne and cocktails and carefree hospitality. It is easy for modern readers to forget that the story takes place in the time of Prohibition (1920 to 1933) something that would have been immediately apparent when the book was first published. It enforces the nature of the unreal world that Gatsby creates, beyond the reach of the law and the police. But a more sinister reality begins to break through, as idealised romantic figures prove to have human frailties and selfish motivations, and the grandiose world of Gatsby's creation crumbles and disillusion turns to tragedy. A new film, directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan will be released in 2012.

Translated by Constance Garnett with an Introduction and Notes by Dr Keith Carabine, University of Kent at Canterbury. Crime and Punishment is one of the greatest and most readable novels ever written. From the beginning we are locked into the frenzied consciousness of Raskolnikov who, against his better instincts, is inexorably drawn to commit a brutal double murder. From that moment on, we share his conflicting feelings of self-loathing and pride, of contempt for and need of others, and of terrible despair and hope of redemption: and, in a remarkable transformation of the detective novel, we follow his agonised efforts to probe and confront both his own motives for, and the consequences of, his crime. The result is a tragic novel built out of a series of supremely dramatic scenes that illuminate the eternal conflicts at the heart of human existence: most especially our desire for self-expression and self-fulfilment, as against the constraints of morality and human laws; and our agonised awareness of the world's harsh injustices and of our own mortality, as against the mysteries of divine justice and immortality.

A Combat Officer and a Dog Find Each Other in the Shadows of Trauma and Addiction

Dog is a haunting and unflinching exploration of PTSD, addiction, and redemption, told through the eyes of an Israeli officer returning from Gaza. Haunted by trauma, he spirals into heroin addiction, finding himself among Tel Aviv's community of misfit junkies-until a stray dog unexpectedly enters his life. What follows is a raw, immersive journey through psychological anguish, fleeting hope, and the search for meaning in the wreckage of war.

Beyond its deeply personal narrative, Dog offers a profound examination of PTSD's mechanisms-how extreme stress, moral injury, and the experience of combat rewire the brain, making a return to civilian life nearly impossible. With sharp social critique and emotional depth, the novel sheds light on the invisible wounds of war and those who carry them.

A novel of love, loss, and redemption in a divided South Africa.

In the turbulent ’70s and ’80s, South Africa is torn apart by racial hatred and oppressive apartheid laws. While many accept the status quo, a new generation rises to challenge injustice.

Elizabeth Apollos, the daughter of farmworkers on the prestigious Tweefontein wine estate, refuses to accept the passive acceptance of her parents. When she joins a protest march, she meets Robert Booth, a passionate activist from the UK. Their forbidden love forces them into a desperate escape, leaving behind the one thing that binds them forever—Emmy, their daughter.

Emmy’s journey is one of heartbreak and resilience, as she searches for her identity and the truth behind her past. In a post-apartheid South Africa, she pieces together the fragments of love, loss, and revolution to find where she truly belongs.

The Space Between the Stars is a powerful saga of courage, forbidden love, and the relentless pursuit of justice.