Books in Classics Collection series

Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth exemplify the country gentry in Regency England in Jane Austen's endearing tale.Anne Elliot is a young woman of perfect breeding and unwavering integrity. Seven years after she is persuaded to reject Captain Wentworth's offer of marriage, her feelings for him are still strong. By the time she realizes this, Wentworth seems to only have eyes for the attractive, though flighty, Louisa Musgrove.Set against the world of the country gentry in Regency England, Persuasion critically portrays the many aspects of proper society—its failings and humor—as well as presenting a tender story of determination and enduring love.This novel is part of Brilliance Audio's extensive Classic Collection, bringing you timeless masterpieces that you and your family are sure to love.

Originally published in monthly installments between 1852 and 1853, Bleak House has been hailed as one of Dickens' finest novels.From the highly acclaimed author of novels such as A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield comes the story of a long-drawn-out court case and the people whose lives are altered by it.The case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce has ground its way through the courts for generations. At its heart are Ada Clare and Richard Carstone, who find love—and terrible loss—through their involvement in the endless battle.Meanwhile, Ada's friend Esther Summerson, who believes she is an orphan, gradually discovers the truth of her identity. The court case throws out a web ensnaring all who come near it, including Lady Dedlock, the menacing lawyer Tulkingham, Detective Bucket, and tragic little waif Jo.Secrets emerge, crimes are committed, and love affairs bloom. But will anyone ever benefit from the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce?This novel is part of Brilliance Audio's extensive Classic Collection, bringing you timeless masterpieces that you and your family are sure to love.

Utopia is the name given by Sir Thomas More to an imaginary island in this political work written in 1516. Book I of Utopia, a dialogue, presents a perceptive analysis of contemporary social, economic, and moral ills in England. Book II is a narrative describing a country run according to the ideals of the English humanists, where poverty, crime, injustice, and other ills do not exist. Locating his island in the New World, More bestowed it with everything to support a perfectly organized and happy people.The name of this fictitious place, Utopia, coined by More, passed into general usage and has been applied to all such ideal fictions, fantasies, and blueprints for the future, including works by Rabelais, Francis Bacon, Samuel Butler, and several by H. G. Wells, including his A Modern Utopia.

The funny and heartwarming story of a young lady whose zeal, snobbishness, and self-satisfaction lead to several errors in judgmentEmma takes Harriet Smith, a young woman previously unknown to good society, under her wing, scheming for her advancement through an advantageous marriage. Her efforts to find Harriet a suitor occupy all of Emma's time. However, in the midst of her often fumbled attempts, she settles on a most unlikely union with her own constant critic: Mr. Knightly.This novel is part of Brilliance Audio's extensive Classic Collection, bringing you timeless masterpieces that you and your family are sure to love.

Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel of camaraderie which brought us the resounding cry: “All for one and one for all!”The young and headstrong D’Artagnan, having proven his bravery by dueling with each, becomes a friend of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, members of the King’s Musketeers. At the urging of the woman he loves, he and his friends head for England to reclaim two diamond studs that the Queen imprudently gave to her lover, the Duke of Buckingham. However, the chief minister of King Louis XIII will resort to anything to stop the Musketeers from interfering with his plan to ruin Queen Anne’s reputation…even murder.The Three Musketeers is one of the world’s greatest adventure stories, and its heroes have become symbols of youth, daring, and friendship. Behind the flashing blades, Dumas explores the eternal conflict between good and evil.This novel is part of Brilliance Audio’s extensive Classic Collection, bringing you timeless masterpieces that you and your family are sure to love.

2013 Audie Award Nominee, Short Stories/CollectionsUniversally acclaimed from the time it was first published in 1968, Slouching Towards Bethlehem has been admired for decades as a stylistic masterpiece. Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton (Annie Hall, The Family Stone) performs these classic essays, including the title piece, which will transport the listener back to a unique time and place: the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco during the neighborhood’s heyday as a countercultural center.This is Joan Didion’s first work of nonfiction, offering an incisive look at the mood of 1960s America and providing an essential portrait of the Californian counterculture. She explores the influences of John Wayne and Howard Hughes, and offers ruminations on the nature of good and evil in a Death Valley motel room. Taking its title from W. B. Yeats’ poem "The Second Coming," the essays in Slouching Towards Bethlehem all reflect, in one way or another, that "the center cannot hold."Slouching Towards Bethlehem is part of Audible’s A-List Collection, featuring the world’s most celebrated actors narrating distinguished works of literature that each star had a hand in selecting.

The magic unfolds from the first lines of Water Rat's soliloquy about messing about in boats in this captivating version of Kenneth Grahame's classic.Although it's generally considered a children's book, get a copy for yourself as well as the child in your life, as you won't want to give this away. Ralph Cosham's performance is a study in characterization without over-dramatization. His Ratty is breezy and lighthearted, his Mole shy and considerate. His Badger sounds just like that gruff old man you once knew who had a heart of gold. And his Toad—well, his Toad is perfectly insufferable. Cosham sounds as if he is reading his favorite work of fiction, and his affection is contagious.

Take a walk around the Secret Garden. Experience boarding school with A Little Princess. See life through a horse’s eyes with Black Beauty. Be enchanted by charming and hot-headed Anne of Green Gables. Carefully retold in clear contemporary language, and presented with delightful illustrations, these favourite classic stories will capture the heart and imagination of young readers. By retelling the story in a shorter, simpler form, children will find these books highly engaging, and the color illustrations help with both comprehension and interest level.

Sara Crewe is the happiest girl at Miss Minchin’s school. Her doting father sends her lavish gifts from India and her kindness makes her a favourite with the other pupils.But when her father dies, Sara is left with nothing and Miss Minchin turns against her. Hoping she won’t spend the rest of her days in poverty, Sara uses her gentle nature to try and turn her fate around.The Classic Collection seriesCarefully abridged texts, retold in clear contemporary language, these titles are perfect for any English learners and can be enjoyed by all readers.Each page of writing is accompanied by a charming illustration on the facing page, so these well-loved classics will capture the readers’ heart and imagination. By condensing such classics into 48 pages as these, children are encouraged to one day read these stories in their original form.

Run along the Mississippi with Tom Sawyer. Confront the Lilliputians in Gulliver’s Travels. Fight the evil sheriff of Nottingham with Robin Hood. Discover how Robinson Crusoe survived on a deserted island.QEB has chosen four fantastic adventure stories for boys to continue our successful series Classic Collection! Carefully retold in clear contemporary language, and presented with delightful illustrations, these favorite classic stories will capture the heart and imagination of young readers.By retelling the story in a shorter, simpler form, children will find these books highly engaging, and the color illustrations help with both comprehension and interest level.