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When the White family come into the possession of a supposedly mystical talisman – a mummified monkey's paw – they are at first sceptical. According to the previous owner, the paw can grant three wishes, but only with a hellish cost. Mr. White, following encouragement from his son, flippantly wishes for £200, which will enable him to pay off the mortgage for his house. But when Mr. White's innocent wish comes true, a series of tragic and horrifying events ensue, changing the family forever.

The humble yet shrewd Father Brown returns in a series of epic mysteries that see him use his gift of human understanding to solve the crimes at play. After all, it is not just logic and rational thinking that can get to the root of these crimes – but moral reasoning too. In these twelve tales, we see a man seemingly disappear from a locked room, a staged robbery, a fatal love triangle and much more. Rather than mere criminal tricks, these stories offer profound psychological and spiritual truths.

'Madmen do not rebel against logic – they merely use it where it is not applicable.' A brilliantly unique collection of short stories, The Poet and the Lunatics was originally published in Nash's Magazine in 1921. Today, it remains a masterpiece of detective fiction. Gabriel Gale, an eccentric poet, often finds himself acting as detective when he becomes entangled in a series of bizarre and psychologically challenging events.

The Pilgrim’s Progress is a tale of faith and perseverance. It follows Christian, an ordinary man burdened by sin, as he leaves his home and embarks on a perilous journey to the Celestial City. Along the way, he faces fearful temptations, dangers and trials – from the Slough of Despond to the Valley of the Shadow of Death – meeting vivid characters like Evangelist, Faithful and Hopeful who help him stay true to the right path.

Part spy novel and part allegory, The Man Who Was Thursday centres on Gabriel Symes, a poet who was recruited by Scotland Yard to secretly infiltrate an anarchist group. During his first meeting with the anarchists, Symes is unexpectedly elected as a new delegate to the central council. Each member is named after a day of the week, and so Syme becomes ‘Thursday’. As he begins to unmask the other council members, he discovers that all is not what it seems: one by one these supposed anarchists are unveiled to be working undercover too. That is until Syme gets to man called ‘Sunday’…

The Return of Don Quixote centres on the character of Michael Herne, a gentle, quiet librarian. When Michael finds himself cast as a king in a medieval play, he reluctantly fulfils the role. But after the play's end, peculiar things start to occur: Michael begins donning armour, adopts chivalric ideals and boldly questions the hypocrisies of modern society. As Michael rallies for a movement that tackles misplaced power and dishonour, it's clear that a new Don Quixote is in town…

The year is 1984. The British government has become impersonal and apathetic, not run by a particular party or corresponding ideology, but by the random selection of a new figurehead each year. When the eccentric Auberon Quin is chosen to lead the country, the nation begins to take a whimsical turn. In an attempt to liven up London, Auberon transforms the city into a mock-medieval town, complete with crests, flags and costumes. Everything is a joke–that is until Adam Wayne, a young man claiming to be the Napoleon of Notting Hill, begins to take it seriously.

Originally published in 1927, The Secret of Father Brown sees our wise and moral amateur detective navigate more tales of crime and violence. Although quiet and unassuming, Father Brown has sharp skills of deduction and – most importantly – a deep, empathetic understanding of human nature, putting himself into the minds of the criminals he faces. From a mistaken suicide and a potential culprit with two faces, to a missing aristocrat and a remorseful killer, this brilliantly unique collection of short stories cement G.K. Chesterton as a master of the mystery genre.

Squire Vane, a noble man from Cornwall, has three 'peacock trees' in his local village, imported by his ancestors. However, a sinister legend hovers around these trees: it is said that they are destined to spread disease and bring severe misfortune to those who cross them. A rationalist to his core and allergic to any form of superstition, Squire dismisses these rumours as nothing but foolish whispers. But when some local village people raise the topic with Squire, he can take no more – angered, he insists on spending the night sleeping beneath the trees to prove their harmlessness.

Meet Basil Grant — former judge, occasional philosopher, and full-time eccentric — as he stumbles into a secret society unlike any other. In this exclusive club, the only rule of entry is that each member must invent a brand-new profession. The more bizarre, the better. When Basil's skeptical brother and a skeptical ex-detective friend get caught in a series of baffling encounters — including duels in flower gardens, poetry-as-business, and suspiciously polite assassins — they soon uncover a world where the line between genius and madness is dangerously thin.

First published in 1906, The Four Million consists of twenty-five moving short stories based in New York. Each tale showcases the lives of seemingly ordinary people – clerks, waiters, con artists and more – with irony, humour and warmth. From a charming exploration of love with 'The Gift of the Magi' to a tragic tale of friendship in 'After Twenty Years', The Four Million compellingly conveys the unique breadth of the human experience. A brilliant collection of character sketches, O. Henry reminds us how everyone has a story worth telling.

The American Claimant is a comedy of mistaken identities and multiple role switches - fertile and familiar Mark Twain territory. Its cast of characters include an American enamored of British hereditary aristocracy and a British earl entranced by American democracy. A unique melange of science fiction and fantasy, romance, farce, and political satire, Twain's least-known comic novel is both thought-provoking and entertaining.

The year is 1896 and the nation is in turmoil. After a shocking election – in which political order is upended as an outsider is chosen to be the next president – New York is thrown into chaos. Mobs of protestors swarm the streets, the economy shakes and whispers of various conspiracies echo through the blocks of the city. As the new president, Mr. Bryan, takes office, powerful, unseen forces begin to sinisterly shape America's future. Fast-paced and an unnerving portrayal of misplaced power, 1900; or The Last President is a chilling reminder of how quickly fear can unravel a republic.

Baron Trump – a clever, endlessly inquisitive, albeit rebellious young man – sets off on an extraordinary journey guided by curious artefacts, ancient manuscripts and long-lost legends. With nothing but a thirst for adventure and his loyal dog, Bugler, by his side, Baron ventures into hidden worlds, encounters strange peoples and unravels enchanting mysteries. Packed with daring exploits, magical landscapes and thrilling quests, this Victorian-era romp invites readers of all ages to discover the limitless possibilities that await those brave enough to explore the unknown.

Following in the footsteps of other key children's books from the Victorian era, Lockwood's vibrant novel centres on restless aristocratic youth, Wilhelm Heinrich Sebastian Von Troomp, otherwise known as Baron Trump, as he searches for adventure. Bored of his life of luxury in the Trump family home, Baron stumbles across a magical portal which transports him to the Russian Arctic, where he finds a curious underground world beneath his feet. As he journeys downward, Baron discovers strange new settings, and even stranger inhabitants.

Charles Dickens: The Short Stories Collection contains all of Charles Dickens' major published works of short fiction - written between 1836 and 1841. Narrated by award-winning readers David Timson, Nicholas Boulton, and Matt Addis, these stories take us from the hilarious to the heartbreaking, and give a deeper insight into Dickens' life and London in the mid-1800s.

Dickens wrote into life some of the most beloved and well-known characters in the history of English literature, introducing us to Pip, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Little Nell, Scrooge, Nicholas Nickleby, Miss Haversham, and many more who have lived in the imagination of generations of readers and listeners. In this definitive and beautifully curated collection, you discover not only Dickens’s most loved classics, but also hear a short introduction to his life and body of work from Dr Pete Orford.

The Complete Charles Dickens Collection: Part One contains all of Charles Dickens' major published works from 1836 to 1849. From the short stories by 'Boz' which began Dickens' journey as an author, to the great works of literature that have inspired generations - including Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, and more - and essays that give us a deeper insight into his life, opinions, and travels, this collection is an essential addition to your library.

The first of eleven thrilling novels that comprise Edgar Rice Burroughs' most exciting saga, known as The Barsoom, or Martian, series, this is the beginning of an incredible odyssey in which John Carter, a gentleman from Virginia and a Civil War veteran, unexpectedly finds himself on to the red planet, scene of continuing combat among rival tribes. Captured by a band of six-limbed, green-skinned savage giants called Tharks, Carter soon is accorded all the honour of a chieftain after it's discovered that his muscles now give him a decided advantage in strength.

Published as a single novel in 1880; the story of Little Women has never lost its appeal. The semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story follows four sisters growing up in rural 19th-century New England, and the independent and outspoken main character is based on the author herself. 150 years later, the feminist leanings of the female-led narrative still resonate.