Secondhand Classics Bargain Book Box SP2230

Secondhand Classics Bargain Book Box

Embark on a journey through literary history with this collection of essential classics, spanning centuries and continents, from ancient epics to modernist masterpieces. Featuring celebrated works of Victorian realism, Romantic tragedy, satirical dystopia, and the sharp wit of Jane Austen, this box provides a comprehensive foundation in world literature. Explore the definitive works of Dickens, Hardy, Fitzgerald, and Joyce, alongside enduring tales of adventure and philosophical depth. This is a must-have for any reader seeking the foundational stories that have shaped our cultural landscape. Each book is secondhand and may show signs of wear.

1. Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
   Set against the glamorous yet decadent backdrop of the French Riviera in the 1920s, this novel follows the tragic arc of American psychiatrist Dick Diver and his wealthy, beautiful, and deeply disturbed wife, Nicole. As Dick’s professional life unravels and their marriage descends into mutual destruction, the novel masterfully captures the intoxicating allure and inherent emptiness of the Jazz Age elite. It remains a poignant study of love, ambition, and decline.

2. The Epic of Gilgamesh (Author Unknown)
   Considered one of the earliest surviving works of literature, this ancient Mesopotamian epic recounts the heroic journey of King Gilgamesh of Uruk, a powerful but arrogant ruler. After the death of his companion Enkidu, Gilgamesh embarks on a desperate quest for the secret of eternal life. The text explores profound universal themes of mortality, friendship, and humanity's eternal struggle against fate.

3. Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
   The novel follows the contrasting emotional temperaments of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they navigate love, loss, and societal expectations after their family's sudden impoverishment. Elinor embodies "sense," prioritizing duty and reserve, while Marianne represents "sensibility," surrendering to romantic passion. Their paths illustrate Austen’s witty critique of early 19th-century English society and the difficult balance between prudence and genuine feeling.

4. Othello by William Shakespeare
   A devastating tragedy centered on the distinguished Moorish general Othello, whose great love for the Venetian beauty Desdemona is destroyed by the malice of his ensign, Iago. Driven by a vengeful jealousy, Iago manipulates Othello with insidious lies, leading the noble hero into a tragic spiral of suspicion, rage, and murder. The play is a terrifying exploration of the corrosive power of envy and deception.

5. Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott
   This sequel to Little Women continues the story of the four March sisters as they transition into young womanhood, facing the practical realities of marriage, career, and personal development. The sisters navigate the challenges of their adult lives, striving to maintain their ideals while building lives separate from their childhood home. It remains a celebrated portrait of domestic life and female ambition in 19th-century America.

6. Adam Bede by George Eliot
   Set in the rural English Midlands around 1799, the novel follows the intersecting lives of several distinct characters, dominated by the earnest carpenter Adam Bede and the beautiful, self-centered Hetty Sorrel. The narrative centers on a tragedy resulting from the clash between community standards and individual moral failures. Eliot uses detailed realism to explore themes of social responsibility, justice, and the far-reaching consequences of sin.

7. The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene
   Set in a West African colony during World War II, the novel centers on Major Scobie, a deeply compassionate and rigidly moral police officer whose rigid sense of duty leads him to a series of devastating personal betrayals. Trapped between his wife, his mistress, and his Catholic faith, Scobie’s desperate attempts to alleviate suffering only lead to profound moral compromise and tragedy. The book is a stark exploration of pity and despair.

8. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
   The story of an innocent orphan boy who escapes the brutal workhouse system only to fall into the clutches of a London criminal gang led by the villainous Fagin and the menacing Bill Sikes. Oliver's journey through the dark underbelly of Victorian London exposes the brutal social injustices and hypocrisies faced by the poor. The novel is a powerful indictment of poverty and child exploitation.

9. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
   The novel opens with Michael Henchard, a desperate hay-trusser, drunkenly selling his wife and child at a country fair, a reckless act that haunts his entire life. Years later, having become the successful Mayor of Casterbridge, he attempts to right his past wrongs, but his impulsive, flawed character repeatedly leads him back to ruin. It is a bleak, powerful study of fate, character, and consequence.

10. The Trumpet-Major by Thomas Hardy
    Set during the threat of Napoleon's invasion in the early 1800s, the novel explores a complicated romantic rivalry between three suitors—a dashing soldier, a handsome miller, and a steady, reliable Trumpet-Major—all vying for the heart of the beautiful heroine, Anne Garland. Hardy masterfully contrasts the quiet rhythms of Dorset rural life with the dramatic, looming presence of war and military service.

11. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
    The tragic story of Jude Fawley, a working-class stonemason who yearns for a life of learning and intellectual aspiration at the revered University of Christminster. His pursuit of education and his unconventional relationship with his intellectual cousin, Sue Bridehead, are brutally thwarted by rigid social class systems and Victorian moral conventions. The novel remains Hardy's most profound and bitter protest against the cruelty of his era.

12. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
    A dark and passionate novel centered on the doomed, obsessive love between the brooding foundling Heathcliff and the spirited Catherine Earnshaw on the isolated Yorkshire moors. Their volatile relationship, marked by social constraint and savage jealousy, sets the stage for a tragic cycle of revenge that spans two generations. It is a powerful, untamed exploration of love, loss, and the devastating power of the landscape.

13. A Passage to India by E. M. Forster
    Set against the tensions of colonial India, the narrative explores the difficulty of friendship between the English rulers and the native population. When a liberal Englishwoman accuses the amiable Indian Dr. Aziz of assault during a trip to the mysterious Marabar Caves, the ensuing trial exposes the deep-seated prejudices and cultural chasms between the two groups. It is a critical examination of imperialism and misunderstanding.

14. Kipling by Rudyard Kipling
    This volume contains a selection of the diverse and celebrated works of Rudyard Kipling, known for his vibrant tales of British colonial India and his powerful poetry. The collection showcases his extraordinary storytelling range, exploring themes of duty, empire, and the relationship between man and nature, solidifying his place as a master of short fiction and verse.

15. Bleak House by Charles Dickens
    A sweeping indictment of the notorious delays and injustices of the English legal system, centered around the seemingly eternal lawsuit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The story involves multiple characters whose lives are destroyed by the litigation and includes a powerful, dark mystery involving the virtuous Esther Summerson and the enigmatic lawyer, Tulkinghorn. Dickens provides a panoramic view of London society, from the highest levels to the most impoverished slums.

16. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
    The classic coming-of-age story of Pip, a poor orphan who suddenly receives a mysterious fortune from an unknown benefactor, leading him to abandon his simple life for the sophisticated world of London society. Pip pursues the beautiful, cold Estella while navigating the secrets of his past, including the terrifying escaped convict Magwitch. The novel is a profound examination of wealth, ambition, and true self-worth.

17. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
    A modernist masterpiece detailing the intellectual and spiritual awakening of Stephen Dedalus, an alter ego for Joyce, as he moves from a restrictive Catholic upbringing toward artistic independence. The narrative traces Stephen’s rejection of the constraints of Irish society, religion, and family, culminating in his dedication to forging his own path as an artist and free thinker.

18. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
    A chilling satirical dystopian novel set in a future World State where stability and happiness are achieved through genetic engineering, behavioral conditioning, and a dependency on the drug Soma. The story follows Bernard Marx, an outsider who struggles with the shallow artificiality of the World State, leading him to introduce a “Savage” from a reservation, challenging their controlled society. It is a profound warning about the dangers of technological control.

19. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
    The quintessential novel of the Jazz Age, narrated by Nick Carraway, who becomes fascinated by his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, on Long Island. Gatsby's lavish parties and immense wealth are all designed to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, highlighting the destructive nature of unattainable romance and the decay lurking beneath the American Dream.

20. Poetical Works of Henry Lawson by Henry Lawson
    A comprehensive collection of the works of one of Australia’s most celebrated poets and short story writers, often capturing the harsh realities and quiet heroism of bush life. Lawson’s poetry is known for its strong sense of Australian identity, its compassion for the working man, and its vivid portrayal of life in the unforgiving outback.

21. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
    The thrilling swashbuckling adventure of young d'Artagnan, who travels to Paris to join the King's elite Musketeers and quickly befriends the legendary trio: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together, they pledge "all for one, and one for all," becoming embroiled in dangerous court intrigues, duels, and espionage involving the powerful Cardinal Richelieu and the wicked Milady de Winter.