Classical Era

This book looks at the contributions made by the actors and actresses who appeared in film noir, and the directors who made them: Edward G. Robinson, Orson Welles, Joan Bennett, Dan Duryea, John Carradine, Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Frank Sinatra, Sterling Hayden, Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Edmond O’Brien, Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte, James Cagney, Ida Lupino, John Huston, Delmer Daves, Edgar G. Ulmer, Fritz Lang, Anthony Mann, Phil Karlson, Lewis Allen, Robert Wise, Henry Hathaway, John Brahms, Otto Preminger, Billy Wilder, Jacques Tourneur, Alfred ...

Step into the machine that launched modern science fiction—now clearer and more compelling than ever. This Adapted for Modern Readers edition of The Time Machine keeps H. G. Wells’s groundbreaking story intact while updating the reading experience for today. Clean formatting, contemporary typography, and gently clarified language remove Victorian clutter without touching the plot, tone, or ideas, so you can focus on the mystery, tension, and wonder at the heart of this classic journey. First published in the late nineteenth century, The Time Machine captures an era obsessed with ...

Classical Music for Dummies is a friendly, funny, easy-to-understand guide to composers, instruments, orchestras, concerts, recordings, and more. Classical music is widely considered one of the pinnacles of human achievement, and this informative guide will shows you just how beautiful and rewarding it can be. You'll learn how Bach is different from Beethoven, how Mozart is different still, and why not all "classical" music is actually Classical if it's really Baroque or Romantic.

LA PETITE DUCHESSE When twelve-year-old Alberte de la Rochefaucon is pulled from her convent boarding school by her fashionable older sister, she tumbles headlong into a world she is entirely unprepared for: the drawing rooms, dinner parties, and dressmakers of Faubourg Saint-Germain society. Her sister Madeleine, the young Marquise de Valroux, means well but lives for pleasure, and her formidable great-aunt the duchess inhabits a crumbling mansion where the clocks seem to have stopped sometime before the Revolution. Alberte is bright, proud, restless, and bored — bored at the convent, ...

Embark on a thrilling adventure with Jules Verne’s "Around the World in Eighty Days: Adapted for Modern Readers." This refreshed edition breathes new life into the classic tale with clean formatting and contemporary typography, making it more accessible for today's audience. The adapted language ensures clarity while preserving Verne’s original tone, allowing modern readers to dive seamlessly into the whirlwind journey that has captivated imaginations for generations. Set against the backdrop of the 19th century, this timeless narrative follows Phileas Fogg in a daring race against the ...

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time...

Embark on a culinary journey through the pages of this Depression-era cookbook with Riley Stone, a passionate home cook with a fascination for recipes that have endured the test of time. Rediscover the flavorful recipes that sustained generations during the Great Depression, celebrating resourcefulness, frugality, and the enduring spirit of the era. Explore a treasure trove of dishes, from hearty soups to comforting stews and timeless desserts. Each recipe is a taste of history, showcasing how humble ingredients were transformed into culinary masterpieces. Learn the secrets of Depression-...

The dramatic story of an X-wing pilot on the razor’s edge between the hero he once was and the power he could have—if he’s willing to embrace the Dark Side Corran Horn was an officer in the Corellian Security Force before casting his lot with the New Republic. As the grandson of a...

In this essential Star Wars Legends novel, discover the legacy of Rogue Squadron and its fabled pilots, who became a symbol of hope throughout the galaxy. They are sleek, swift, and deadly. They are the X-wing fighters. And as the struggle rages across the vastness of space, the fearless men and...

Step into the moors with a fresh perspective in "Wuthering Heights: Adapted for Modern Readers." This edition invites you to experience Emily Brontë's timeless tale with contemporary typography and a streamlined format. Lightly clarified language makes the classic narrative accessible without losing its original tone and intensity. Discover Heathcliff and Catherine's turbulent world through a lens that resonates with today's readers, ensuring the haunting beauty of the story is both engaging and comprehensible. Set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, "Wuthering Heights" explores ...

Voltaire’s Candide, first published in 1759, is one of the most influential and enduring works of satire in Western literature. Written during the Enlightenment, the novella presents a sharp critique of philosophical optimism, religious hypocrisy, and the cruelty of human society, all wrapped in a fast-paced and darkly humorous adventure. Through its witty and often absurd narrative, Candide remains as relevant today as it was in the 18th century, offering a timeless exploration of human folly, resilience, and the search for meaning. The story follows Candide, a naïve young man raised in...

Dive into the life of one of America's founding fathers with "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: Adapted for Modern Readers." This refreshed edition breathes new life into Franklin's timeless narrative with clean formatting and contemporary typography, making it accessible to today’s readers. We've retained Franklin's original tone and themes, while lightly clarifying the language for a smoother reading experience, allowing you to appreciate the wit and wisdom of this visionary thinker without barriers. Set in the vibrant era of American independence, Franklin’s journey from humble ...

Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn brings his epic two-volume series The Hand of Thrawn to an explosive conclusion with a discovery that rocks the New Republic to its foundations--and threatens to resurrect the Empire. The Empire's master plan is under way. The New Republic is on the verge...

Shadows of the Empire illuminates the shadowy outlines of a criminal conspiracy that exists in the background of the events in the movies, ruled by a character new to us. Prince Xizor is a mastermind of evil who dares to oppose one of the best-known fictional villains of all time: Darth Vader...

Step into the timeless world of "Jane Eyre," now adapted for modern readers. This refreshed edition retains Charlotte Brontë's captivating narrative while offering a more accessible reading experience with contemporary typography and lightly clarified language. The enduring tale of resilience and self-discovery is now easier to navigate, making it perfect for both first-time readers and those revisiting a classic with a modern twist. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century England, "Jane Eyre" explores themes of love, independence, and morality with emotional depth and intensity. Follow ...

News of the World is one of Queen’s most powerful and important albums — a bold, direct, hard-edged record that proved the band could change their sound without losing their identity. After the ornate grandeur of A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races, Queen returned in 1977 with something leaner, tougher, and more confrontational. Opening with the immortal pairing of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions,” the album gave rock music two of its greatest public anthems. But beyond those legendary songs lies a record full of variety, tension, humour, aggression, ...

M. le chevalier de La Graverie has constructed his life around one principle: never feel anything again. Some past tragedy destroyed his capacity for attachment. His closest friend's death completed his withdrawal. Now he lives in provincial Chartres, following meticulous routines, pursuing no ambitions, maintaining no meaningful relationships. His existence is self-sufficient, sterile, carefully defended against disruption. Then he encounters the dog. A stray spaniel to whom he offers a lump of sugar. The animal begins appearing wherever the chevalier goes. And something about this ...

Denis Diderot's Rameau's Nephew (Le Neveu de Rameau) stands as one of the most provocative and psychologically penetrating works of 18th-century French literature. Written around 1761-1774 but not published until after Diderot's death, this philosophical dialogue presents a fascinating encounter between two contrasting worldviews through the conversation between a rational philosopher (representing Diderot himself) and the eccentric, amoral nephew of the famous composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. The work takes the form of a dramatic dialogue set in a Parisian café, where the narrator ...

Dive into the whimsical world of Alice like never before with "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Adapted for Modern Readers." This refreshed edition presents Lewis Carroll's beloved tale with clean formatting and contemporary typography, making it a breeze for today's readers to follow Alice's extraordinary journey. Lightly clarified language ensures the story remains true to Carroll's original tone, while offering an accessible and engaging experience for new and returning adventurers alike. Experience the timeless themes of curiosity, imagination, and identity against the vibrant backdrop...

Lucrezia Floriani has retired from the Italian stage at the height of her fame. She has loved, and had children by different fathers, and lived according to feeling rather than convention, and she is not apologetic about any of it. She has settled into a life centered on her children and on the genuine richness that her nature requires. She is, in any honest accounting, a woman of extraordinary moral seriousness — which is precisely what the moral vocabulary available to her time has no category for. Prince Karol arrives and loves her with an intensity she initially receives as the ...