Books in "Chosen" Classics series

Christie Johnstone is an 1853 romantic drama novel by the British writer Charles Reade. It follows the adventures of the young and wealthy aristocrat Viscount Ipsden who falls for a woman named Christie Johnstone. It is set in Newhaven near Edinburgh and may have been based on the real life experiences of Reade. It followed up his first major literary success Peg Woffington, released earlier the same year.

Plain Tales from the Hills contains 40 stories written by Rudyard Kipling, the author of The Jungle Book and Kim. Published in 1888, this was the first short story collection by Kipling. With the geographical meaning of "Plain" contrasted with "Hills", the title's pun hints at both the cleverly simple narrative style of the stories, and that many of the them are situated in the Hill Station of Simla, which served as the British Raj's capital during the hot months.

It is hardly fair to Mr. Kipling to call American Notes first impressions, for one reading them will readily see that the impressions are superficial, little thought being put upon the writing. They seem super-sarcastic, and would lead one to believe that Mr. Kipling is antagonistic to America in every respect. This, however, is not true. These Notes aroused much protest and severe criticism when they appeared in 1891, and are considered so far beneath Mr. Kipling's real work that they have been nearly suppressed and are rarely found in a list of his writings.