Books in Akasha Classic series

Little Men, by Louisa May Alcott - Akasha Classics, AkashaPublishing.Com - Please, sir, is this Plumfield? Asked a ragged boy of the man who opened the great gate at which the omnibus left him. "Yes. Who sent you?" "Mr. Laurence. I have got a letter for the lady." "All right; go up to the house, and give it to her; she'll see to you, little chap." The man spoke pleasantly, and the boy went on, feeling much cheered by the words. Through the soft spring rain that fell on sprouting grass and budding trees, Nat saw large square house before him a hospitable-looking house, with an old-fashioned porch, wide steps, and lights shining in many win-dows. Neither curtains nor shutters hid the cheerful glimmer; and, pausing a moment before he rang, Nat saw many little shadows dancing on the walls, heard the pleasant hum of young voices, and felt that it was hardly possible that the light and warmth and comfort within could be for a homeless "little chap" like him.

Mark Twain's first foray into historical fantasy is a witty and satirical tale of switched identities. Tom is a beggar in 16th-century England. A chance meeting with Edward, the crown prince, results in an instant friendship and a wild scheme. The two boys, almost identical in appearance, decide to take each other's place in society. The escapade that follows opens the eyes of both the prince and the pauper. But when the situation threatens to spiral out of control, will they be able to get back to the lives they knew? A thrilling adventure peppered with sharp criticism of class inequalities, The Prince and the Pauper has inspired countless imitators but remains an unmissable original.

From the author of The Jungle Book comes the tale of one man’s life-changing summer on the high seas. When a fishing schooner rescues a young man from the ocean off Newfoundland, they don’t believe his wild tales of being a millionaire’s son, nor do they appreciate his spoiled and lazy manner. But Harvey Cheyne is in fact a pampered rich kid whose fall off the deck of a luxury liner has turned his world upside down. Forced to become one of the crew until the boat finishes its expedition, Harvey finds there is more to life than getting everything you want. Rudyard Kipling’s fascination with the hard and often dangerous life of New England fishermen shines through in this adventure story, which will delight readers of all ages.

Siddhartha is Hermann Hesse’s classic account of one man’s search for enlightenment. Siddartha is a young man born into a Brahmin family during the time of the Buddha. Rather than take up the mantle which his advantages of birth have afforded him, he begins a lifelong journey through the very extremes of existence. From asceticism and spiritual devotion to immersion in physical pleasure, Siddartha finds that life’s meaning continues to elude him. A chance encounter at the river may hold the key. Hesse’s allegory, while steeped in the religion and philosophy of the East, is a highly personal look at the world and our place in it.

Jack London reveals the secrets of surviving as a hobo in the late-nineteenth century. Before he became a best-selling author, London spent time traveling on the railways of North America - catching trains, dodging conductors, spending time in jail, lying his way into meals and out of trouble. His experience formed the basis of his storytelling skills, and gave him an enduring compassion for the underdogs in society. The Road is a collection of essays and tales which chronicles this formative period in his life. Sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, but always compelling, The Road will take you to a forgotten chapter of North American life.

Rose in Bloom, by Louisa May Alcott - Akasha Classics, AkashaPublishing.Com - Three young men stood together on a wharf one bright October day awaiting the arrival of an ocean steamer with an impatience which found a vent in lively skirmishes with a small lad, who pervaded the premises like a will-o'-the-wisp and afforded much amusement to the other groups assembled there. "They are the Campbells, waiting for their cousin, who has been abroad several years with her uncle, the doctor," whispered one lady to another as the handsomest of the young men touched his hat to her as he passed, lugging the boy, whom he had just rescued from a little expedition down among the piles.

Join Alice in another trip to the outlandish world of Wonderland. When Alice idly wonders what life is like on the other side of her mirror, she suddenly finds that she can pass through the glass and see for herself. Once there, she meets an array of nursery rhyme characters and other fantastic creatures, all displaying the odd lack of sense (as we know it) that is the rule in Wonderland. But Alice finds she can hold her own - even against the daunting Red Queen. An absurd and delightful foray into the mind of Lewis Carroll, containing such famous poems as 'Jabberwocky' and 'The Walrus and the Carpenter', Through the Looking Glass is one of the classics of children's literature.

An Old Fashioned Girl, by Alcott, Louisa May - Akasha Classics, AkashaPublishing.Com - "IT'S time to go to the station, Tom." "Come on, then." "Oh, I'm not going; it's too wet. Shouldn't have a crimp left if I went out such a day as this; and I want to look nice when Polly comes." "You don't expect me to go and bring home a strange girl alone, do you?" And Tom looked as much alarmed as if his sister had proposed to him to escort the wild woman of Australia.

The Time Machine, by H. G. Wells - Akasha Classics, AkashaPublishing.Com - The Time Machine was first published in 1895 and later directly adapted into at least two theatrical films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. Considered by many to be one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written, this novella is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. The term "time machine", coined by Wells, is now universally used to refer to such a vehicle. The book's protagonist is an amateur inventor or scientist living in London who is never named; he is identified simply as The Time Traveller. He details the experience of time travel and the evolution of his surroundings as he moves through time. While traveling through time, his machine allows him to observe the changes of the outside world in fast motion. He observes the sun and moon traversing the sky and the changes to the buildings and landscape around him as he travels through time and finds himself in a.d. 802,701.

Walden is a timeless record of one man's inner journey in the great outdoors. In 1845, Henry David Thoreau set out on a personal experiment that was as simple as it was profound. For two years, two months, and two days he would live apart from civilization, both seeking a better way of life and a better understanding of the life he left behind. He built a rudimentary cabin in some woodland owned by his friend Ralph Waldo Emerson, and set about living simply and independently. Walden is the record of his time in the woods and the insights he gained while there. A highly readable combination of philosophy, natural history, and autobiography, Walden is widely regarded as one of the classics of American literature.

Paradise Lost is a tale of good and evil on the grandest scale - the struggle between God and the Devil for the soul of humankind. Beginning with Satan's fall from heaven, the poem then follows Adam and Eve's temptation and ultimate expulsion from the Garden of Eden. John Milton wrote Paradise Lost to "justify the ways of God to men", particularly the concept of free will. To many, it is most notable for its lively anti-hero, Satan, who despite Milton's piety comes off as an almost romantic character. One of the most famous poems in the English language, Paradise Lost is a must-read for all those who are interested in our literary heritage, as well as lovers of good poetry.

From the master of the western comes a tale of love tested by the rugged life of the American Southwest. Glenn Kilbourne returned from World War I a changed man. Suffering from shell shock and disillusioned by what he witnessed, he can no longer stomach his high-flying former life in New York City. In the canyons of Arizona he finds a kind of peace with himself, and has no desire to go back to his old life. Where does this leave his glamorous fiancé Carley? Can she too grow to love life in the Wild West, far away from the high society she is used to? Zane Grey is one of America’s favorite authors, with a love of the West that shines through in his many novels.