En Inglés

“A Tale of Two Cities” was written by English author Charles Dickens (1812-1870) in 1859. The book stands out not only for being one of Dickens’ most accomplished and famous works, but also because it was one of the few historical fiction novels he ever wrote. The book narrates the dawn of the French Revolution in the 18th Century, alternating the action between London and Paris, as a way of contrasting the social turmoil produced by the impending conflict. As the majority of the author’s work the novel transcended literary form and has been adapted to various media forms proving to many generations the appeal of Dickens and his stories.

“Dubliners” is a collection of short stories written by Irish author James Joyce (1882-1941) and published in 1914. “Dubliners” was conceived during a very complex time for Ireland and Irish nationalism and Joyce used these 15 stories to stage a sort of moral chapter of Ireland’s history as a way of proposing change, by subverting the stagnation of his countrymen. “Dubliners” offers a look into the city’s everyday life; into the routines of the people affected by the winds of change in the political landscape and public opinion. It shows us how far reaching is the power of new ideas, without becoming a political pamphlet or propaganda.

Dracula is without a doubt one of the most recognizable characters in all Gothic and horror literature. The novel was published in 1897 by Irish writer Bram Stoker (1847-1912). His work was compared by critics to Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley’s in both themes and atmosphere, but Stoker’s style of epistolary storytelling created a more compelling narrative. The name Dracula became a synonym for vampirism and the archetype of the regal and sophisticated vampire. As Bram Stoker did when he first wrote Dracula, this novel has become an inspiration for many dark stories and has been reimagined in countless ways.

“The Importance of Being Earnest” is a comedic play, written by the celebrated Irish author Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). The play is a satirical representation of Victorian society and the lengths a group of friends would go to avoid social responsibilities and obligations. Wilde always had a way with words but “The Importance of Being Earnest” shows us an author on top of his game, where every witty remark was perfectly crafted, where every turn of phrase was just right and ripe with comedic timing. Among all of his plays, “The Importance of Being Earnest” remains a truly timeless classic and his most famous work for the stage.

“Crime and Punishment” is a deep and complex psychological novel by Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky. A man named Raskolnikov kills a woman to prove to himself a philosophical point and the story revolves around him dealing with his crumbling psyche in the aftermath of the crime, the social consequences and the lengths a man could go to escape from himself. Raskolnikov is a strange character that embodies humanity’s fight against society and its rules, but after failing to impart his own brand of justice lacks the valour to accept the consequences of his actions. In the novel, suffering is for the writer the forge of human will. Dostoyevsky is a true writer of the Russian way of life, an undisputed voice of the Russian soul.

“Jane Eyre” was the first novel of English writer and poet Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855). The novel narrates the life of Jane Eyre, the titular character, and her emotional journey to womanhood as a governess in Thornfield Hall. Charlotte Brontë used the story of Jane Eyre as a canvas for emotional discovery and spiritual sensibility, reaching depths previously reserved almost exclusively for poetry. To this day it remains the most important and recognized work of Charlotte Brontë and one of the most famous novels in the English language.

Mary Shelley (1797 - 1851) published “Frankenstein” at the tender age of 20 years old. The novel was born out of a bet between friends, at Lord Byron's residence by Lake Geneva in 1816, on who could write the best horror story. Mary, flaunting her fertile imagination and overpowering intellect, composed an immortal tale that won praise from her competitors and would eventually become her first novel, to the delight of readers all over the world for more than two hundred years. Frankenstein narrates the vicissitudes of a scientist named Victor Frankenstein and the monster he brought to life with his experiments. The novel is considered today as one of the forerunners of science fiction, and with its gothic aesthetics and undeniable influence of romanticism, it continues to captivate the imagination of readers around the world and inspires every day all kinds of artistic expressions in every conceivable medium.

Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925, “The Great Gatsby” is the great novel of the so-called American dream that emerged from the Roaring Twenties. It offers a devastating dissection of the jazz era and at the same time is a seductive story of love, selfishness, wealth, lies and deception. It is one of the masterpieces of American literature written by one of the most famous authors of the Lost Generation, which includes writers such as Hemingway and Dos Passos. F. Scott Fitzgerald certainly made a mark on the world with his alter ego: Gatsby, a character that shared many of his own faults and dreams, and depicted with his story a timeless tale that will live on forever.

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer and poet and one of the most dominant figures of Gothic Literature. He is widely recognized as a master of the short story form, but also delved into poetry, essays and literary criticism. His work often revolved around dark and macabre themes, using death and the human mind’s deepest fears to craft complex stories about a vast array of subjects. The Fall of the House of Usher is a psychological thriller that narrates the descent into oblivion of the last remaining survivors of an old family. The other stories part of this compilation also show us the strengths of Poe as an author, capable of crafting horror out of every aspect of the human experience.

This volume includes the lesser-known works of English writer Jane Austen (1775-1817). The first, a short epistolary novel, “Lady Susan” (1871), was published long after the death of its author, and may have been one of her first complete writings addressing the themes and styles that began to characterize her literary work. The second, “The Watsons” (1804), an unfinished novel famous for the attempts of many writers to finish it, including Austen's niece, Catherine Hubback, who finished it and published it with another title in the mid-19th century. The third and last of these novels, the also unfinished “Sanditon” (1817), continues the author's search for stories and situations that help her examine the society of the England of her time, conservative and impenetrable.

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer and poet and one of the most preeminent figures of Gothic Literature. He is widely recognized as a master of the short story form, but also delved into poetry, essays and literary criticism. His work often revolved around dark and macabre themes, using death and the human mind’s deepest fears to craft complex stories about a vast array of subjects. The short stories selected in this volume are but an example of Edgar Allan Poe’s use of fear and mystery as a literary device for creating dark and immortal tales, and a continued statement of the author’s influential contribution to literature and pop culture.

“Macbeth” is one of William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) most famous and important tragedies. It was written before 1606, the year of its first performance, and was somewhat inspired on the historical accounts of the life of Macbeth, King of Scotland. The play weaves a tale of betrayal, murder and treachery while searching for power, as its protagonist kills and lies his way to the throne of his country. “Macbeth” shares the cultural significance of many of Shakespeare’s works and is an integral part of contemporary theatre and cinema.

“Around the World in Eighty Days” is—perhaps—the best-known work of French writer Jules Verne (1828-1905). The novel narrates the adventures of British gentleman Phileas Fogg and his French valet Passepartout, as they attempt to travel around the world in eighty days to win a wager. The novel was a commercial success and helped Jules Verne achieve worldwide recognition. His work became synonymous with daring adventure, science and futurism.

Hamlet was probably written between 1599 and 1602, and is—along with Romeo and Juliet—perhaps one of the most famous works of William Shakespeare (1564-1616). The tragedy takes place in Denmark and tells the story of the descent into madness of prince Hamlet, in the search for revenge for the death of his father, by the hands of his uncle Claudius. A story of betrayal, conspiracy, moral corruption and rage, Hamlet has been a fertile ground for innumerable adaptations through four centuries. Hamlet’s soliloquies throughout the play have endured as a staple of popular culture and a welcome challenge for actors all around the globe.

“The Island of Doctor Moreau” is the third novel by English writer H. G. Wells (1866-1946). The story follows a man of science named Prendick rescued from a shipwrecked vessel in the Pacific Ocean. Prendick and the crew that saved him end up on a remote island owned by the mysterious Doctor Moreau. In time Prendick learns about the horrendous experiments of vivisection made by the mad Doctor and his efforts to turn animals into humans through science. “The Island of Doctor Moreau” remains to this day a pillar of early science fiction and a great example of how the actions and ideas of man define a literary genre that celebrates the best of us by showing us the worst we are capable of.