Secondhand Classic Literature Bargain Book Box SP2354

Secondhand Classic Literature Bargain Book Box

Curate a distinguished library with this collection of fifteen secondhand hardcover classics. Bound in matching black faux-leather with elaborate gold tooling, this set features some of the most enduring works of English literature. From the romance of Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë to the biting satire of Thackeray and the Australian adventure of Rolf Boldrewood, these volumes represent a wide spectrum of 19th-century literary achievement. Each book is secondhand and may show signs of wear.

1. Villette by Charlotte Brontë Lucy Snowe leaves England to teach at a boarding school in the fictional town of Villette. There, she navigates isolation, unrequited love, and a complex relationship with the fiery professor Paul Emanuel in this psychologically deep masterpiece.

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The sparkling comedy of manners that defines the genre. Elizabeth Bennet clashes with the proud and wealthy Mr. Darcy, leading to a journey of self-discovery where first impressions are overturned by true love.

3. Erewhon by Samuel Butler A satirical utopian novel about a traveler who discovers a hidden land where sickness is a crime and criminals are treated as patients. It is famous for its prophetic "Book of the Machines," which explores the idea of artificial intelligence developing consciousness.

4. Robbery Under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood An Australian classic told by bushranger Dick Marston as he awaits execution. It recounts the exploits of the charming Captain Starlight and his gang as they roam the wild Australian bush, stealing cattle and robbing coaches.

5. The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler A scathing attack on Victorian hypocrisy. This semi-autobiographical novel follows four generations of the Pontifex family, focusing on Ernest Pontifex's struggle to free himself from his domineering parents and religious dogma.

6. The Romany Rye by George Borrow The sequel to Lavengro, this semi-autobiographical novel continues the narrator's journey through England. It explores the culture and language of the Romany people, blending philology with picaresque adventure.

7. Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley A swashbuckling historical adventure set during the reign of Elizabeth I. It follows Amyas Leigh as he sails the Spanish Main, battles the Inquisition, and fights against the Spanish Armada.

8. Vanity Fair by W.M. Thackeray A "novel without a hero" that satirizes British society during the Napoleonic Wars. It follows the fortunes of two women: the passive Amelia Sedley and the ruthless, climbing socialite Becky Sharp.

9. Coningsby by Benjamin Disraeli A political novel written by the future Prime Minister. It follows the career of Harry Coningsby and explores the political landscape of the 1830s, advocating for the ideals of the "Young England" movement.

10. The Cloister and the Hearth by Charles Reade A sweeping historical romance telling the story of Gerard Eliassoen, a young scribe who falls in love but is forced into the church. His journey across medieval Europe paints a vivid picture of the era and the parents of the scholar Erasmus.

11. Windsor Castle by W.H. Ainsworth A historical romance centered on the court of Henry VIII. It weaves together the story of the King's courtship of Anne Boleyn with the supernatural legend of Herne the Hunter, a horned spirit said to haunt the forest.

12. Cranford by Mrs. Gaskell A charming and humorous portrait of life in a small English country town dominated by spinsters and widows. It chronicles the everyday events, small economies, and gentle social rules of a vanishing way of life.

13. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe The picaresque autobiography of a woman who survives by her wits. Born in Newgate Prison, Moll lives a life of "continued variety" as a thief, a wife (five times), and a penitent, offering a gritty look at 17th-century society.

14. Cranford by Mrs. Gaskell (Duplicate Copy) A second copy of Elizabeth Gaskell's beloved novel about the ladies of Cranford, perfect for sharing or keeping as a spare.

15. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot The tragic story of siblings Tom and Maggie Tulliver, who grow up at Dorlcote Mill. Their close bond is tested by family feuds, bad debts, and Maggie's romantic entanglements, culminating in a powerful and devastating conclusion.