Jane Eyre follows the life of an orphaned girl who faces hardship and mistreatment. After a difficult childhood with her cruel aunt, she is sent to Lowood School, where she endures harsh conditions but receives an education. As an adult, Jane becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the mysterious Mr. Rochester. They…
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is a timeless tale of friendship, adventure, and home. Set in the English countryside, it follows the lives of Mole, Ratty, Badger, and the eccentric Mr. Toad. Mole discovers a new world above ground, befriending the river-loving Ratty and the wise Badger. Together, they face Toad’s reckless…
The Art of War by Sun Tzu is an ancient Chinese military treatise emphasizing strategy, leadership, and tactics. It offers timeless principles applicable to warfare, business, and personal conflicts. Key themes include understanding the enemy, leveraging strengths and weaknesses, and adapting to changing circumstances. Sun Tzu stresses the importance of preparation, deception, and knowing when…
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas tells the story of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor falsely accused of treason and imprisoned in the Château d’If. After years of imprisonment, he learns of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. Escaping, he assumes the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo and…
Amoretti by Edmund Spenser is a collection of 89 sonnets celebrating the poet’s courtship and eventual marriage to Elizabeth Boyle. Written in the Petrarchan tradition, the sonnets chronicle themes of love, longing, and devotion, blending passionate desire with spiritual reverence. Spenser portrays love as both a trial and a source of transcendent joy, often drawing…
Your Invisible Power by Genevieve Behrend is a guide to harnessing the power of visualization to achieve one’s desires. Behrend emphasizes the importance of focused thought, belief, and the law of attraction in manifesting goals. By consistently visualizing what you want, aligning your thoughts with your desires, and maintaining a positive mindset, you can attract…
Walden by Henry David Thoreau is one of the best-known non-fiction books written by an American. Published in 1854, it details Thoreau’s life for two years, two months, and two days around the shores of Walden Pond. Walden is neither a novel nor a true autobiography, but a social critique of the Western World, with…
Kidnapped is set in Scotland just after the Jacobite rebellions and is narrated by the teenager David Balfour. The recently orphaned David leaves rural Essendean to seek his fortune with his relatives, the Balfours of the House of Shaws. He meets his uncle Ebenezer and immediately suspects the shifty and miserly man of trying to…
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde tells the story of a young man, Dorian Gray, who becomes obsessed with his own beauty. After artist Basil Hallward paints his portrait, Dorian wishes to remain youthful forever, while the painting ages in his place. Influenced by Lord Henry Wotton’s hedonistic philosophies, Dorian pursues a life…
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare is a whimsical comedy set in Athens and a magical forest. It follows four young lovers and a group of amateur actors who wander into an enchanted wood. There, mischievous fairy Puck and his master, Oberon, the Fairy King, create chaos with a love potion, causing characters to…
