In Victorian era England, longtime friends Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley experience love and loss alongside the many colorful members of their unique social circle. Despite the ups and downs, they attempt to maintain their dignity and connection. Becky Sharp is a bold spitfire who's driven by ambition and eager to solidify her station in life. Her childhood friend, Amelia Sedley, is a modest and passive woman, who is mostly viewed as warm and endearing. Their glaring personalities are on full display as they encounter various male suitors including Rawdon Crawley and George Osborne. Becky's flirtatious and manipulative manner makes her a topic of conversation, while Amelia's loyalty proves to be a cross too heavy to bear. Vanity Fair is one of William Makepeace Thackeray's most famous novels. It has been adapted multiple times for television and film, including a 2004 feature starring Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon as the feisty Becky. She is often considered Thackeray's most memorable character. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Vanity Fair is both modern and readable.

As the youngest son of a noble family, Val has always been sheltered. Though he is friendly and good-hearted, Val rarely takes initiative, as most of his life is planned for him. However, when Val is forced to hide a life-altering secret about himself, he is finally motivated to be accountable for himself, especially in his romantic endeavors. As he tries to preserve his reputation and suppress his mistakes, Val begins to transform into a new man, but how long will the change last? As he continues his journey, his secret inevitably looms over him, shrouding his life with mystery, manipulation, and even tragedy. While the mystery unfolds, Val must confront the consequences of people uncovering his secret, facing surprising reactions and earning unlikely allies. With elements of romance and mystery, Mrs. Henry Wood's Elster's Folly: A Novel is thrilling from start to finish. Featuring descriptive prose and vivid settings, Elster's Folly: A Novel depicts the conflicts of Victorian culture with life-like characters and compelling drama. Set in a charming aristocratic village in the midland of England, this classic sensation novel offers insight on the lives of Victorian aristocrats through the portrayal of well-developed characters, secrets, and class dynamics. First published in 1866, Mrs. Henry Wood's Elster's folly: A Novel remains to be a fascinating tale even over one-hundred and fifty years later. This edition of Elster's Folly: A Novel by Mrs. Henry Wood now features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of Elster's Folly: A Novel crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original sentiment and drama of Mrs. Henry Wood's work.

"I hold this book to be the most important expression which the present age has found; it is a book to which we are all indebted, and from which none of us can escape." T.S. Eliot Ulysses depicts a day in Leopold Bloom's life, broken into episodes analogous to Homer's Odyssey and related in rich, varied styles. Joyce's novel is celebrated for its depth of learning, earthy humor, literary allusions and piercing insight into the human heart. First published in Paris in 1922 Ulysses was not published in the United States until 1934. Immediately recognized as an extraordinary work that both echoed the history of English literature and took it in new, unheralded directions, Joyce's book was controversial. Its widespread release was initially slowed by censors nitpicking a few passages. The novel is challenging, in that it is an uncommon reader who will perceive all that Joyce has put into his pages upon first reading, but it is uniquely rewarding for anyone willing to follow where the author leads. Far more than a learned exercise in literary skill, Ulysses displays a sense of humor that ranges from delicate to roguish as well as sequences of striking beauty and emotion. Chief among the latter must be the novel's climactic stream of consciousness step into the mind of the protagonist's wife, Molly Bloom, whose open-hearted acceptance of life and love is among the most memorable and moving passages in English literature. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ulysses is both modern and readable.

The Godolphin family runs a small-town bank, keeping the business in the family and earning them an enviable reputation. However, after the patriarch of the Godolphin passes away, he bequeaths the bank to his two sons, Thomas and George. Nearly polar opposites, the bank is the only thing that the brothers share. Thomas is pious, honest, and serious, haunted by the untimely death of his fiance. George is dapper, fun, and irresponsible. Though he has a wife, Mary, George spends most of his time with a woman named Charlotte. While Thomas sees the bank as an inherited responsibility, and is eager to uphold the family legacy, George views their inheritance as an opportunity. Despite Thomas's best efforts, George's gambling addiction threatens their business. As his debts begin to overwhelm the careless man, George becomes tempted to commit shameful crimes. Headed for social ruin, George sows seeds of trouble, consequently dragging the rest of his family down with him. Hailed as one of the author's most beloved works, The Shadow of Ashlydyat by Mrs. Henry Wood is a dramatic masterpiece. With themes of family, morality, and class, The Shadow of Ashlydyat is as thought-provoking as it is compelling. Featuring complex, wonderfully-written characters, this Victorian drama leaves its audience conflicted on who to root for, and allows readers to invest in the personal dramas of the Godolphin family. This edition of The Shadow of Ashlydyat by Mrs. Henry Wood now features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of The Shadow of Ashlydyat crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original sentiment and drama of Mrs. Henry Wood's work.

After the unfortunate death of the Halliburton family patriarch, Mrs. Halliburton is forced to support her children alone. Living in a man-favoring society, Mrs. Halliburton struggles to find adequate work that will not compromise her morals and still earn her a decent pay. Having been the wife of a church cleric, Mrs. Halliburton holds a natural and strong reverence for her religion. As her family struggles through poverty, scandal, shame, and grieve, Mrs. Halliburton feels that her faith is among the few things that cannot be taken from her. However, as she allows her religion to guide her, still barely able to provide for her three children, her cousins, the Dares, hold much different standards. Contrasted with her extended family, who live by a code of convivence, Mrs. Halliburton holds her head high and she attempts to redeem her family from their social ruin to achieve a comfortable lifestyle once again. Inspired by some of Mrs. Henry Wood's own struggles, Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles contains an authentic and touching narrative of self-help and faith. Through the portrayal of Mrs. Halliburton's virtuous character and the classic rags-to-riches storyline, Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles aims to be an inspirational lesson and promotes moral behavior and faith. Though based in Victorian ideals, this message still holds relevance for modern audiences, for both self-reflection and insight into this historic period. With the detailed depiction of the class system of Victorian England, and the transition between them, Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles provides a personal and thorough perspective of the social order of the mid-to-late 19th century. This edition of Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles by Mrs. Henry Wood now features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles creates an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery and drama of Mrs. Henry Wood's work.

Black and White Tangled Threads (1920) is a novel by African American author Zara Wright. Published at the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance, Wright's novel earned nationwide praise as a "realistic portrayal of individuals and events [that] lifts one to the heights of earthly ambitions." Despite this critical success, Wright does not appear to have written more than Black and White Tangled Threads and its sequel, Kenneth, which were published together in 1920. Although recent scholars have made attempts to return her name to its rightful place on the pantheon of pioneering African American writers, mystery still clouds her life and career to this day. Like many of her contemporaries, Wright took interest in the sociopolitical realities of life as a Black or mixed-race person in the early twentieth century. In this novel, she explores the consequences of passing, interracial marriage, and class on the lives of individuals in the United States and Europe. Black and White Tangled Threads is a story of love, family, and faith from a forgotten writer of the Harlem Renaissance. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Zara Wright's Black White and Tangled Threads is a classic work of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Set in a unique and isolated community, The Master of the Greylands: A Novel follows a small, private village by the sea and its occupants. Owned by the Castlemaine family, the community is old and quirky, with haunted ruins and gothic aesthetic. Despite the seemingly dreary atmosphere, the people of the Greylands are content and comfortable, until Peter Castlemaine, a leading member of the Greylands' social scene, makes a grave financial mistake due to his own flaws. Stuck in an undesirable position, Peter realizes that his error could potentially harm the whole town. Hoping to keep his situation a secret for as long as possible, Peter confers with his closest friends, trying to find ways to delay the inevitable. Though it never received the same amount of attention of her other novels, The Master of the Greylands: A Novel by Mrs. Henry Wood is among the prolific author's few gothic works. Featuring a clever and compelling novel set in a unique setting with life-like characters, The Master of the Greylands: A Novel captivates its audience, engrossing them in the story of a man's foolish mistake. Embellished with an intricate amount of detail, Wood describes the community of the Greylands with vivid prose and explores the characters of the Greylands with great care. First published in 1872, The Master of the Greylands: A Novel remains to memorize readers with the spirit of the obscure setting and characters. This edition of The Master of the Greylands: A Novel by Mrs. Henry Wood now features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of The Master of the Greylands: A Novel creates an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery and drama of Mrs. Henry Wood's work.

Oswald Cray is so often praised for his strong values and nobility, that it is easy for him to forget that he still has flaws. After a nosy servant, who meddles in others' belongings, finds a letter he deems to be suspicious, he presents false charges against Dr. Davenal, a kind and patient man who previously held a sterling reputation. Unaware that it was all a misunderstanding, Cray places too much trust in his own suspicions and breaks off his engagement with the doctor's daughter. As chaos ensues as broken hearts, criminal activity and ruined reputations continue to feed the drama, escalating an issue that could have been easily avoided. Written by an internationally bestselling author, Mrs. Henry Wood, Oswald Cray: A Novel is rarely found in print. Though lesser known than her other novels, Oswald Cray: A Novel deserves recognition for its elegant prose and amusing tone. Featuring complex characters and impactful themes, this work of Victorian sensation fiction is compelling and intricate, fueled by the relatable flaws of the characters and their misfortunes. Decorated with detail of specific aspects of culture, such as women's fashion, Oswald Cray: A Novel allows modern readers an uncommon perspective on the culture of social norms of Victorian England. Though first published in 1864, Mrs. Henry Wood's Oswald Cray: A Novel remains to feel fresh and relatable, while simultaneously allowing modern readers to be immersed in this 19th century community. This edition of Oswald Cray: A Novel by Mrs. Henry Wood now features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of Oswald Cray: A Novel creates an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original sentiment and drama of Mrs. Henry Wood's work.

Don't miss the gripping new historical novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Secret of the Chateau and The Forgotten Secret. A country rebelling It's 1916 and, as war rages in Europe, Grainne leaves her job in a department store to join Countess Markiewicz's revolutionary efforts. It is a decision which will change her life forever. A rebellion is brewing, and as Dublin's streets become a battleground, Grainne soon discovers the personal cost of fighting for what you believe in... A forgotten sacrifice Decades on, student Nicky is recovering from a break-up when a research project leads her to her great-grandmother's experiences in revolutionary Ireland. When Nicky finds a long-forgotten handkerchief amongst her great-grandmother's things, it leads to the revelation of a heartbreaking story of tragedy and courage, and those who sacrificed everything for their country. Inspired by a heartbreaking true story, this emotional historical novel will sweep you away to the Emerald Isle. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Sandy Taylor and Fiona Valpy. Readers LOVE The Girl with the Emerald Flag! 'I LOVED this book!... I was totally engrossed... I'd highly recommend it!' NetGalley reviewer 'An absolute page turner, it had me gripped and in its spell... From the first page I was absolutely hooked on this book.' NetGalley reviewer 'A brilliant book.' NetGalley reviewer 'An inspiring coming-of-age story, combined with a fascinating Irish history lesson... Five stars from me.' NetGalley reviewer 'Outstanding... I loved this from start to finish.' NetGalley reviewer 'Riveting... I loved it.' NetGalley reviewer 'Beautifully written... A fabulous read with a teary ending.' NetGalley reviewer 'What a great novel!' NetGalley reviewer

Don't miss the sixth and final book in the heartwarming six-part series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dilly Court! Dolly's dreams could lead her astray . . . Dolly Blanchard dreams of a bigger life. She wants to make a mark on the world, not simply wait for a husband to come along. So when an impoverished actress offers her a lifeline, Dolly flees to London, determined to make it on the stage and prove to her family - and herself - that she can strike out alone. But the dark city streets are full of danger. With her dreams fading to dust, Dolly soon finds herself in peril. And with the family's future under threat at Rockwood Castle, and secrets tumbling out of the shadows, she faces a difficult choice. Will her heart call her home? Dilly's novel Sunday's Child hit #1 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts the w/e 25th June 2022.

'As heart-warming as it is heartbreaking, this novel is unputdownable' Sunday Express. It is 1953 and five very different girls are arriving at the nurses' home in Lovely Lane, Liverpool, to start their training at St Angelus Hospital. Dana has escaped from her family farm on the west coast of Ireland. Victoria is running away from a debt-ridden aristocratic background. Beth is an army brat and throws her lot in with bitchy Celia Forsyth. And Pammy has come from quite the wrong side of the tracks in Liverpool. The world in which they now find themselves is complicated and hierarchical, with rules that must be obeyed. Everyone has their place at St Angelus and woe betide anyone who strays from it. But when an unknown girl is admitted, after a botched late abortion in a backstreet kitchen, a tragedy begins to unfold which will rock the world of St Angelus to its foundations. Can't wait for the next one? THE CHILDREN OF LOVELY LANE is out now! What people are saying about THE ANGELS OF LOVELY LANE: 'Nadine Dorries's writing is sparkling and vibrant, her books are a joy to read' 'The book was like a dream - difficult to put down' 'You feel as if you know the characters personally!' 'Enthralling read, can't wait to read more'

George Eliot's most acclaimed work, Middlemarch displays the author at the peak of her powers, weaving multiple plotlines and a memorable collection of characters together to create a wide-ranging novel of remarkable insight. First appearing in 1871, Middlemarch is a historical novel set 42 years before its publication. Political and social concerns of the era are present but serve as background and contrast to four compelling plotlines focused on a set of unforgettable characters striving against circumstance, each other, and themselves. Powerful themes, religion, love, marriage, education, society's treatment of women and much more, are dealt with as fully fused elements of the story and integral parts of the lives of the characters. The author conveys a sweeping vision of small-town England in the Victorian era, the rich and the poor, the people of the countryside and the people of the city, while unspooling several interlocked storylines full of passion, uncertainty and suspense. Middlemarch received a mixed reaction upon its initial appearance, but has gained in standing among critics and general readers until it is now commonly considered one of the high points of 19th century fiction and even of English literature as a whole. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Middlemarch is both modern and readable.

At the age of fourteen, happy-go-lucky Polly Perkins faces untold sadness when her beloved father is diagnosed with tuberculosis. As Tommy's stay in hospital turns from weeks into months, Polly's mother, Ada, becomes increasingly anxious as to how she will make ends meet. In an attempt to help out, Polly takes a job as a flowerseller, and when she sells a buttonhole to Charles Denholme, a member of the Liverpool gentry, she sets in motion a chain of events that changes her life forever...

When Elsa Gripper dies in childbirth on Christmas Eve, 1912, her grief-stricken husband is unable to cope with his two newborn babies, Lucy and Patsy, so the twins are separated. Lucy is taken home with Elsa's parents, who run a successful business, Mersey Antiques, and she grows up spoiled and pampered with no interest in the family firm. Patsy has a more down-to-earth upbringing, living with their father and other grandmother above the Railway Arms. And through further tragedy she learns to be responsible from an early age. Then Patsy is invited to work for her grandfather at Mersey Antiques, which she hopes will bring her closer to Lucy. But it is to take a series of dramatic events for the twins to be drawn together.

A tale of hardship and survival, The Doorstep Child is a heart-rending story from bestselling author Annie Murray. From a tender age little Evie struggled . . . Evie spent her early years left outside on the step. With a drunk for a father and a neglectful mother, all little Evie has ever craved is a safe home and a normal existence. Her young eyes had seen so much but this never tainted her spirit. If it wasn't for her best friend Gary, and friendly dog called Whisky - Evie might never have made it to the sixteenth birthday. At sixteen she meets Ken, a sweet brown-eyed boy, not much older than she is. Perhaps her fortunes have changed? But no sooner does she give over her heart, she is betrayed, not for the first time in her young life . . . Will Evie ever find the love and warmth she's always craved?

EVERY MOTHER'S WORST NIGHTMARE IS ABOUT TO COME TRUE...Based on a gripping and moving true story, The Stolen Baby is the new Second World War novel from bestselling author Diney Costeloe. Plymouth, 1941. As sirens blare all around, the Shawbrook family take refuge in a packed shelter. Bombs have already begun to fall through the night sky when they realise their infant son, Freddie, has been forgotten in the rush, left to sleep in his crib. Terrified, Vera, his young mother races to find him and bring him to safety. The next morning, police officer David Shawbrook returns from his watch to find the shelter pulverised, and his family seemingly all dead. Dirty footprints inside their home betray the looters who have rifled through the house. Meanwhile, Maggie waits alone for her husband. Since the death of her infant son, she passes her days at home with neither joy nor aim. But not this morning. For this morning her husband has brought home a child, found abandoned in the aftermath of the terrible raid - a child she is sure is the one she held in her arms so many months before. Praise for Diney Costeloe 'Truly captivating' Woman & Home 'This is a truly captivating read that brings together vibrant characters and a historical setting' Woman's Own 'A gripping saga' My Weekly 'A treat from the very first page. I could not put it down' Historical Novel Society

Praise for Judy Summers: 'I thoroughly enjoyed this book... The characters are well drawn and believable' Lyn Andrews 'Fascinating insights into Victorian Liverpool and a heart-warming story make for an inspiring read' Mollie Walton Can she save her family when they need her the most? Liverpool, 1847. At seventeen, Delilah Shaw is the eldest of the eight Shaw siblings, and the one who must take charge when her mother and brother die in a tragic manner, and her father is left disabled in an accident at the docks. Taking care of the cooking, cleaning, washing and childcare is hard enough, but when they can no longer afford to live in the family home, Delilah must make the heartbreaking choice to leave it and to take two of her younger sisters to the workhouse. Determined to earn enough to get them back, Delilah conjures up a plan to start a flower-selling business, with the support of her new friends, Irish siblings Bridget and Frank, as well as trusted dockworker Abraham. But as her father's drinking habit gets worse, and her siblings grow weaker, Delilah must ask whether she can really forge a better life for her family before it's too late?

When a new feature on Pete Newbury's popular TV programme shows his adult image digitally transformed to that of a young child, Beth is shocked to realise that he's her baby brother, who disappeared without a trace thirty-eight years ago. He vanished at the age of three and her family has grieved for him ever since, believing him to be dead. But the path to reunion and happiness is fraught with complications, not least Beth's feelings towards a close friend of her long-lost brother and then the reappearance of her runaway daughter, complete with child. Bridges take time to build, but after so many years of heartache, can Beth manage to keep hold of everything she holds dear?

Nancy, Amy and Katie Siddons are three of the prettiest nurses south of the Mersey. They've been brought up to respect their elders and uphold family honour at all times. Then sweet, naive Katie falls pregnant, bringing shame upon the family's name. Alec Siddons, a local police constable, cannot and will not forgive his daughter for her immoral behaviour. But Katie isn't the only one with troubles ahead. Amy is in love with her cousin Paul, but owing to a family feud the mere mention of his name is forbidden in her father's presence; and Nancy is eager to wed her fiance Stan before the Second World War takes him away. With the outbreak of war, the three sisters offer each other comfort and support. Their mother, meanwhile, is battling with painful memories of the past, and their father lives in dread that his own dark secrets will be revealed. As the war takes its toll on the Merseyside girls they learn that few things in life are more precious than honesty, love and forgiveness.

An unexpected windfall gives Peggie Cartwright the lucky break she deserves. At last she can save her family from financial ruin. Ever since Cyrus Crabbe stole her father Septimus's brake and claimed it as his own vehicle, Sep has dreamed of the day he would run a bus service for the villagers of Leicester to put the Crabbes out of business once and for all. It now looks like that day is in sight. But Cyrus Crabbe is a dangerous man, determined to stop the Cartwrights from succeeding. A wicked remark from his acid tongue forces Septimus to abandon his beloved brood, and as Sep's absence stretches from weeks to months, Peggie watches her mother sink into a deep decline. Peggie's brothers and sisters are used to heartache but when Billy is beaten black and blue and Cyrus's son Reginald turns his attentions to young Letty it seems that none of the family is to be spared... Peggie knows it's up to her to keep the business afloat and spirits raised. For no matter what obstacles are thrown her way she is determined to fulfil her father's dream.

The Burnsides' move from Glasgow's tenement slums to the sunny new suburbs of Flannery Park brings hope to all members of the family. But heartbreak awaits among the tidy gardens and green lawns and soon seventeen-year-old Alison is forced to take on responsibility for her out-of-work father and brothers and put her own ambitions aside. Love as well as loss threatens Alison's future, however, and leads her into a relationship with teacher Jim Abbott, an affair which her brothers, even the brooding Henry, are powerless to understand, let alone prevent. Throughout the Depression years of the early 30s, the Burnsides - united by a shared heritage yet divided by their dreams - square up to the challenge of poverty and fight to hold the family together, whatever the cost.

Don't miss the fifth book in the heartwarming six-part series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dilly Court! 'I foresee happiness for you, Nancy. I hear bells and I see snow, and your heart's desire comes true' A chance encounter brings Nancy Sunday to the streets of London, where she finds herself amongst a band of street urchins. Her heart may have been broken by love but it's big enough to help those less fortunate than herself, and Nancy takes these unloved orphans in - but when one of them is accused of a serious crime, the neighbourhood turns against her. The colder the cruel grip of winter grows, the more mouths she finds herself having to feed. Can Nancy's good heart and strength bring them all through? *And don't miss the sixth and final book in The Rockwood Chronicles - Dolly's Dream - available to pre-order now!* Dilly's novel Sunday's Child hit #1 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts the w/e 25th June 2022.

1880. Everyday life in London's slums is hard enough for Jane Roberts and her three children, but when her ne'er-do-well husband Bert walks out on his family, times are particularly dark. In the wake of his desertion, Jane longs to regain both her financial independence and her identity by divorcing him, but the path to such freedom is long and fraught with unforeseen obstacles. With help from a neighbour, a lucky break and fresh opportunities, the road ahead starts to look more promising. But can Jane and her children finally be free of Bert's clutches?

From this "fabulous storyteller" (Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author) comes the third book in a bestselling western romance series. Jenna Owens spent her young adult years helping raise her three teen nephews after they were removed from their abusive father's care. Now that they're grown, it's their turn to take care of her with the perfect gift: a stay at the Meadow Valley Guest Ranch for her and her supposedly psychic chicken, Lucy. Colt Morgan---one of the owners of Meadow Valley Ranch---is in town visiting his sister and has offered to give Jenna and Lucy a ride. But a storm leaves them stranded for a night in a farmhouse guest room where things get cozier than expected for the barely introduced travel companions. Colt can't deny his attraction to Jenna, even after they make it to Meadow Valley and no long have to share a bed. But Jenna is overly cautious, not only because Colt is ten years younger but because the life he wants isn't one she's able to give him. Their time at the ranch, though? They can at least have that. But what if two weeks of fantasy between strangers might actually have a shot in the real world, or will their final destination be two broken hearts?