Books in Thrifty Classic Literature series

The Canterbury Tales recounts the stories told by pilgrims to one another as they make their way from London to Canterbury Cathedral. This volume contains the introduction to those tales by describing the characters who are embarking upon that pilgrimage. The facing page contains Chaucer’s original text as it was written in fourteenth century Middle English. Alongside, there is room in the wide outer margins for students to write their own notes on The General Prologue, or perhaps, to define unfamiliar key words. The reverse side of each page contains a new translation into modern English. The translation into modern English differs only slightly from those found elsewhere. Here, the key difference is that lines are translated separately, thereby avoiding the problem seen in some translations that words are borrowed from adjacent lines to help maintain Chaucer’s rhyming structure. Accordingly, this translation adheres more closely to Chaucer’s own words; although, in doing so, it may occasionally contain rather more descriptive explanations than is usual in translated works. Nevertheless, this ‘word for word’ approach will greatly assist those new to Chaucer’s middle English. Parents will be pleased that The General Prologue contains no lewdness or vulgarity as can be found in some of the other Canterbury Tales. In this regard, it may appropriately be studied at Middle School level. This volume contains the complete and unabridged text (with line numbers), a helpful translation and a personal study notebook - which means it offers excellent value for money. This revised edition contains several textual and stylistic modifications to improve the accessibility of the text for all readers, but without sacrificing its academic integrity. The translator was educated at St Chad’s College Durham, Warwick, Exeter and De Montfort Universities. Lately, he was both a Hardwicke and Sir Thomas More scholar of Lincoln’s Inn, London. His publications include works on English law and literature.

Silas Marner, a gentle linen weaver, is falsely accused of theft in his home of Lanterns Yard. He is exiled by the community and establishes himself in the village of Raveloe - where he lives as a recluse caring only for hoarding money gained from his work. Eventually, the embittered Silas Marner finds personal redemption after he takes in Eppie, the unacknowledged child of the Squire’s eldest son. This larger format edition is ideal for school or college students. Here, there are ten ruled pages for writing personal notes, chapter summaries and points for further thought. This volume contains the complete and unabridged text in addition to a personal notebook - which means it offers excellent value for money.

Luciento falls in love with Bianca, who is prettier and much more charming than her feisty and rebellious elder sister, Katherina. Unfortunately, Katherina has vowed never to marry, and their father has decided that Bianca cannot be wed before her sister. Bianca’s path to matrimony is opened by Petruchio’s ardent pursuit of Katherina, but first the ‘shrew’ must be tamed… This larger format edition is ideal for school or college students. Here, the main benefit is the very wide margins which provide plenty of extra space to add explanatory notes, translations of unfamiliar words and points for further thought. This volume contains the complete and unabridged text in addition to a roomy personal notebook - which means it offers excellent value for money.

Prince Hamlet returns from Germany to attend his father’s funeral. However, he is shocked to find his mother, Queen Gertrude, has already married the dead king’s brother. Prince Hamlet’s protest of ‘foul incest’ is worsened by his suspicion that the king was murdered to rob him of inheriting his father’s crown. Although these suspicions are confirmed during the appearance of his father’s ghost, Prince Hamlet’s hesitancy about seeking revenge sets in motion events that lead to unexpectedly dark consequences … This larger format edition is ideal for school or college students. Here, the main benefit is the very wide margins which provide plenty of extra space to add explanatory notes, translations of unfamiliar words and points for further thought. This volume contains the complete and unabridged text in addition to a roomy personal notebook - which means it offers excellent value for money.

Escaping from his drunken and violent father, 13-year-old Huckleberry Finn fakes his own death and journeys across the Deep South in search of freedom. There, he meets Jim, an escaped slave, and they experience many adventures whilst travelling together down the Mississippi River. Here, Twain’s ‘coming of age’ novel delivers a timeless account of the bigoted and hypocritical world in late nineteenth century America, and remains one of the greatest American novels ever written. This larger format edition is ideal for school or college students. Here, there are ten ruled pages for writing personal notes, chapter summaries and points for further thought. This volume contains the complete and unabridged text in addition to a personal notebook - which means it offers excellent value for money.

Three witches foretell that Macbeth will become king of Scotland. Encouraged by his ambitious wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan – but soon finds himself plunged into a world of terror as the dead come back to haunt him … This larger format edition is ideal for school or college students. Here, the main benefit is the very wide margins which provide plenty of extra space to add explanatory notes, translations of unfamiliar words and points for further thought.

This classic tale involves Othello, a Moorish general employed in the Venetian army; Desdemona, his beloved wife; Cassio, his loyal lieutenant; and Iago, his trusted but unfaithful ensign. Here, themes of love, jealousy, revenge, repentance and racism mean Othello remains relevant to the modern world, and helps explain the play’s enduring popularity. This larger format edition is ideal for school or college students. Here, the main benefit is the very wide margins which provide plenty of extra space to add explanatory notes, translations of unfamiliar words and points for further thought. This volume contains the complete and unabridged text in addition to a roomy personal notebook - which means it offers excellent value for money.

The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan wars, and as such is paired with the Homer’s sequel, The Odyssey. Although Homer wrote The Iliad in the form of an epic poem, this edition contains Butler’s translation into prose. This larger format edition is particularly well-suited for school and college students. Here, each page has wider outside margins for adding explanatory notes, summaries and points for further thought. This volume contains the complete and unabridged text in addition to a personal study notebook - which means it offers excellent value for money.