Books in "Chosen" Classics series

An Outcast of the Islands is Joseph Conrad's second novel, first published in 1896 and inspired by Conrad's time as mate of the steamer The Vigar. Fleeing from scandal in Singapore, the disreputable Peter Willems hides out in a native village, only to betray his protectors in his lust for the daughter of the chief. The story features Tom Lingard and other characters who are also in Conrad's Almayer's Folly of 1895 and The Rescue of 1920.

Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr (March 29, 1831 – March 10, 1919) was a British novelist She was born on March 29, 1831 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England as Amelia Edith Huddleston to Reverend William Huddleston. In 1850 she married William Barr, and four years later they migrated to the United States and settled in Galveston, Texas where her husband and three of their six children died a sad death from yellow fever in 1867. With her three remaining daughters, Mrs. Barr moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey in 1868. She came there to tutor the three sons of a prominent citizen, William Libby, and opened a school in a small house. This structure still stands at the southwest corner of Van Dien and Linwood Avenues. Amelia Barr did not like Ridgewood and did not remain there for very long. She left shortly after selling a story to a magazine. In 1869, she moved to New York City where she began to write for religious periodicals and to publish a series of semi-historical tales and novels