Cakes and Ale is the novel that William Somerset Maugham said he wished to be remembered for. Published in 1930 and written in the first person singular, Maugham’s narrator (and alter-ego) Ashenden exposes the disapproving, moral judgement made by conservative society on the character of Rosie Driffield and opines that it is unjustified.

Her openness, honesty, and sexual freedom are eventually understood by Ashenden, who himself becomes party to her lifestyle, attitudes, and seeming promiscuity. Partly autobiographical, it was highly controversial in its time.

The premise of the novel is based in the literary and arts world, which Somerset Maugham inhabited and contains many of his observations of literature and authors.

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“The following Tales are meant to be submitted to the young reader as an introduction to the study of Shakespeare, for which purpose his words are used whenever it seemed possible to bring them in; and in whatever has been added to give them the regular form of a connected story, diligent care has been taken to select such words as might least interrupt the effect of the beautiful English tongue in which he wrote: therefore, words introduced into our language since his time have been as far as possible avoided.” (Charles and Mary Lamb from The Preface—“Tales from Shakespeare,” 1807).

This collection includes twenty of Shakespeare’s plays which are uniquely and faithfully re-told as prose stories. Over the years it has become invaluable as a resource for Students, Actors, and those who are simply interested in initially familiarizing themselves and understanding the plots of Shakespeare’s work.

Originally published in 1807.

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The Man Within is Graham Greene’s first published novel (1929). The story is set on England’s South Coast and concerns Francis Andrews, who reluctantly became embroiled with a gang of smugglers. The novel opens with Andrews desperately fleeing over the downs and eventually reaching an isolated cottage. He finds it’s the home of a young woman, Elizabeth, who is alone and recently bereaved of her guardian, protector, and possible abuser. She helps Andrews but is considered by her neighbors a woman of loose morals. It is revealed that Andrews betrayed the gang of smugglers by writing to the customs officials letting them know where and when they would be landing a cargo. A fierce battle ensued in which a customs officer was shot dead. Three of them got away and are pursuing Andrews, out for revenge, while they too are fugitives of the law. One of these is Carlyon, the smugglers’ leader, who Andrews both loves and fears. From this point on, Greene crafts a story woven with romance, drenched in psychological, religious, and Freudian themes while creating suspense. All the while he reveals the turmoil and conflict between Andrews and the man within him.

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Let’s follow the adventures of Lulu the Moon Dog. A brave and curious little dog who lived on the Moon and went exploring with her best friends Robbie the Robot and played with Benji, her little puppy friend that her parents brought to the moon for her.

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Join Lulu, the brave and curious Moon Dog, on a thrilling journey that takes her from the Moon to the red landscapes of Mars. Accompanied by her new Martian friend, Hudson, as well as her old friends Robbie the Robot and Benji. Follow Lulu as she makes incredible discoveries on the Red Planet.

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas is a classic science-fiction novel by French author Jules Verne. First serialized in 1870, the plot is straightforward. There is believed to be a monster terrorizing ships on the oceans of the world and an expedition is organized to hunt it and eradicate it from the seas. At the first encounter, marine biologist M. Arronax and his servant Conseil along with a Canadian harpooner (Ned Land) are washed overboard and are picked up by the submarine vessel Nautilus, which is the actual perpetrator of the terrorizing incidents. The Nautilus is the brainchild and product of Captain Nemo who keeps them on board as virtual prisoners, seemingly without a chance of release. This is the story of their journey on board the Nautilus. The novel was first translated into English in 1873 by Revd. Lewis Page Mercier, who made a swathe of translating errors, some of which are addressed in this version (including mistranslating the title as “under the Sea,” rather than “under the Seas,” “contrivances” rather than “devices,” and “cork-jacket” as opposed to “diving suit” and others). However, Mercier’s text became the standard English translation and forms the basis of this text.

The title refers to the distance traveled under the various seas, not the depth achieved: a 20,000-league journey. Also, the hunting of whales was a simple fact of life in Vernes’s time and he refers to it in a matter-of-fact way which can seem barbaric to the modern listener, but is not intentionally cruel.

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Published in 1907 and dedicated to H.G. Wells, The Secret Agent by (Polish-born) Joseph Conrad is set in London in 1886 and is one of his later novels. In this period, he moves away from seafaring tales to political themes. This novel is inspired by an actual event.

Adolf Verloc is a secret agent who provides information and takes care of arriving undercover agents of an un-named government through their embassy. He also runs a shady business selling pornography, comic books, contraceptives, and the like. As well as this, he’s a confidential informant to Chief Inspector Heat of the London police. His family consists of his wife, Winnie, her Mother, and his (presumably) autistic brother-in-law, Stevie. His circle of friends is a group of anarchists (Ossipon, Yundt, Michaelis, and explosives expert, “The Professor”). They are known to the police and are kept under observation by them. For the most part, they publish anarchist literature, mainly “The FP” which stands for “The Future of the Proletariat”. When a bombing occurs at the Greenwich Observatory, it goes wrong, and the bomber is blown to pieces. Chief Inspector Heat and the Assistant Commissioner are called upon to investigate. They begin their inquiries with the usual Anarchist suspects.

Conrad writes this tale with amazing fluidity and use of the English language. His psychological style, cleverness of plot, and storytelling are rarely surpassed in English Literature. The effect he achieves is surprisingly cinematic.

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This Misery of Boots is the expansion of a 1905 essay by H.G. Wells. He presents a very interesting view of society based on Wells’ observations on boots and the misery they cause to those unable to purchase well-fitting and well-designed boots. He advocates socialism as a way to solve this and other problems. He puts forward arguments that add a voice of support to working-class people of his time. Wells was an avowed socialist.

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First published in 1905, H. G. Wells’s Kipps is an appraisal of society and class framed in a “rags to riches” style plot. The protagonist, Arthur Kipps, is an orphan who, from an early age, is entrusted to his Aunt and Uncle who own a shop in New Romney on the Kent coast in Southern England. Educated poorly at a cheap, middle-class seminary boarding school, he is later apprenticed for seven years to a draper in Folkstone. Before he leaves home, however, Arthur becomes enamored by Ann (his best friend’s sister). As a token of their love, they cut a sixpence in half and keep one half each.

After a difficult apprenticeship and a drunken night out, he’s dismissed from his job. But his friend Chitterlow (an actor and playwright) points out an article in a newspaper whereby Kipps is shocked to learn that he is, in fact, the grandson of a wealthy gentleman and is heir to a fortune. His life is totally changed as he is thrown into British upper-class society. He struggles to master the manners and rules that accompany his change of social status. But as he soon discovers, becoming a ‘true gentleman’ is not necessarily a good thing and certainly not easily achieved.

In Kipps, H. G. Wells achieves a work on a par with Dickens for observation of place, class, and society. It has been adapted often for stage, (the Musical Half a Sixpence is loosely based on it) film, and television.

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The story of a little girl who, despite tragedy and supported by love, achieved her dream. A tale for all those who dare to dream.

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This is Dickens’s third novel and was originally published as a serial from 1838 to 1839. It’s a wonderful example of Dickens’s ability to weave plots within plots and portray the most glorious characters. Both theatrical and prosaic, Dickens magnetically and majestically pulls the reader (or listener!) into his unique and inimitable world. The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby tells the story of a young man who must support his mother and sister after his father dies leaving the family impoverished. Mrs. Nickleby takes them to London to appeal to the rich brother of her deceased husband, the uncaring and unscrupulous Ralph Nickleby. Through Ralph’s shameless, corrupt, and underhanded treatment, the family finds themselves facing trials and tribulations that threaten them with complete desolation. Taking on villains, rogues, and crooks who continually try to take advantage of them and those they care about, they are led by Nicholas’s moral rectitude, courage, and determination through all their difficulties. But not without anxiety, distress, and countless obstacles to be faced and overcome.

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This is Charles Dickens’s second novel and regarded as one of his best. It was originally published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and titled; Oliver Twist, or; A Parish Boys Progress. As a book, it first appeared in 1838 in three volumes. The story follows the title character Oliver Twist, who, being born and raised in a workhouse for the first ten years of his life, runs away to nearby London. Here, he falls in with a gang of young thieves and pickpockets controlled by Fagin, an elderly criminal. Through various quirks of fate, he is rescued (twice) by kindly people who eventually realize he is connected to them both through family and historical ties. But his life is also threatened by a long-lost brother and the criminals he has associated with, who fear he will betray them.

It is an example of a Social Novel, which was a particular feature of much of Dickens’s work. Thought to be partly inspired by his own experience of life in the workhouse at the age of twelve, it exposes and satirizes the awfully cruel treatment of the countless orphans in London in the mid-19th century, along with the rampant crime that existed then. The alternative title, The Parish Boy’s Progress, alludes to Bunyan’s The Pilgrims Progress and Hogarth’s paintings; The Rake’s Progress and The Harlot’s Progress.

Originally published in 1838.

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