"The Federalist Papers" is a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, and, to a lesser extent, James Madison, and John Jay. The essays were originally published in the New York Independent Journal between October 1787 and August 1788. Eventually, a compilation of all of them was published as "The Federalist" in two volumes in […]
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is a short story that was published in 1820 by American author Washington Irving. The story was originally included in a collection of his essays and short stories called "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent". The story was a standout in the collection and has since been adapted many, […]
The Picture of Dorian Gray
In July 1890, Lippincott's Monthly Magazine a censored version of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" written by Oscar Wilde appeared. Even edited, the story stirred up such a moral outrage that many reviewers wanted him persecuted. In 1891 Wilde released a longer version in book form with a preface defending the book. In it he […]
The Republic
"The Republic" is a Socratic dialogue written by Plato somewhere around 380 BC. There has been much debate over when the dialogue might have taken place. It has been said that it may have taken place around the Peloponnesian War (460 BC). "The Republic" is Plato's best-known treatise and has been shown over time to […]
Fahrenheit 451
"Fahrenheit 451" is a dystopian novel written by Ray Bradbury in 1953. His book is about a far away future where books have been banned and firemen are tasked with burning any that they find. In this future, knowledge is controlled. In order to keep the people not questioning their government, the only information they […]
The Prince
"The Prince" is a 16th Century how-to book on running a country written by Niccolo Machiavelli. Published five years after his death in 1513,"The Prince" was written as a satire by Machiavelli while he was exiled from his home country of Italy after he was accused of being against the ruler of the then Florentine […]
Little Women
"Little Women" is a novel written by Louisa May Alcott and published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, respectively. Alcott wrote the book in response to a request from her friends and family to write a book for young girls. The first novel was a huge success with readers and Alcott was inundated with […]
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was published by J. K. Rowling in 1997. It was her first novel and it was brilliant! The book sold off the shelves leading to more books in the series. Children couldn't wait to see what happened to Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermoine Granger in the next year […]
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is a novel written in 1962 by the author Ken Kesey. Kesey wrote the novel while working as an orderly in a psychiatric ward and participating in experimental LSD trails. The novel was a huge success and has since been adapted into a Broadway play in 1963 and a […]
Gone With the Wind
In 1936 Margaret Mitchell published her one and only book, "Gone With the Wind". It was such a sensation that it almost immediately developed a cult following. Hollywood grabbed it and made a movie in 1939. The movie is still considered one of the greatest films ever made, and it was just a taste of […]
Hound of Baskervilles
"The Hound of the Baskervilles" was serialized in The Strand Magazine Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from August 1901 through April 1902. It is a brilliantly written mystery set on Dartmoor in Devon in England's West Country. In the story, a mythical beast is terrorizing the Baskerville family. The story begins with the mysterious death of […]
Atonement
"Atonement" is a novel written by the British author Ian McEwan and published in 2001. The book was an immediate success and was made Time magazines list of the 100 greatest English-language novels since 1923. In 2007, the book was made into a critically acclaimed film of the same name that was nominated for both […]
Cyrano de Bergerac
"Cyrano de Bergerac" is a play written by Edmond Rostand that was originally performed in December of 1897. The play in it's original French is written entirely in rhyming couplets. The play was first performed at the Theatre de la Porte Saint-Martin in Paris, France. It was an instant success and the play went on […]
Love in the Time of Cholera
Published in 1988, Love in the Time of Cholera is a love story. It is based in the "City of the Viceroys" which, from descriptions is probably around Cartagena. The story takes place from around 1880 to 1930. Florentino Ariza is a young man who is popular with the ladies and works as a delivery […]
Great Expectations
Published in weekly installments from December 1, 1860, to August 3, 1861. "Great Expectations" is a story of a young boy growing into adulthood, who learns that his "great expectations" of wealth and power do not lead to virtue and happiness. The book spans thirty years in the life of Phillip Pirrip, or Pip, the […]
The Red Badge of Courage
First published in 1895, "The Red Badge of Courage" written by Stephen Crane is a story about an idealistic young man who comes of age during a horrific battle in the Civil War. Henry Fleming has always dreamed of being a hero. He can't wait to be old enough to join the army and fight […]
The Art of War
"The Art of War" was written originally in 500 BC. At that time, one of the greatest minds for military strategy, Sun Tzu, wrote down a few notes to help his clients. The book lists important information to consider when planning a military action. Sun Tzu first advised avoiding war. It isn't cost effective, and […]
The Secret Life of Bees
"The Secret Life of Bees" is a novel written in 2001 by Sue Monk Kidd. The novel was an immediate success, quickly attaining the New York Times bestseller list and staying there for two years. It won the 2004 Book Sense of the Year award and was made into a film starring Dakota Fanning and […]
The Lottery and Other Stories
"The Lottery and Other Stories" is a collection of short stories published in 1949 by Shirley Jackson. It is a collection of stories that show short glimpses into modern life. Twenty-Five stories are included in the collection including "The Lottery". Originally, Jackson toyed with the idea of naming the collection, "The Lottery", or "The Adventures […]
The Hunger Games
"The Hunger Games" is a Young Adult dystopian novel written by Suzanne Collins and published in 2008. The novel was an instant success and has since been awarded Publishers Weekly's 'Best Book of the Year Award', the New York Times "Notable Children's Book of 2008" award and the California Young Reader Medal in 2011, among […]
As I Lay Dying
"As I Lay Dying" is a 1930 novel by William Faulkner. The novel was one of the first of its kind to utilize the narration of multiple point-of-view characters. Each of the 59 chapters is told through the eyes of a character and named after them. Faulkner claimed to have written the book over the […]
Uncle Tom's Cabin
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" is a novel written by a schoolteacher named Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852. The novel was an immediate success and became the best-selling novel of the 19th century. It is widely credited with helping to encourage the abolitionist cause and starting the American Civil War, which began only 9 years […]
The Hobbit
In 1937, J. R. R. Tolkien published The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. It was an instant success as a children's book but has captured the hearts of generations ever since. The story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who likes to stay home and live a quiet life. One day his world is shaken […]
Cry, the Beloved Country
"Cry, the Beloved Country" is a wonderful story of the struggles of apartheid in South Africa written by Alan Paton first published in 1948. It is a story of the deep love of a country. It tells of the decay of tribal culture and the overcrowding in the cities, that can lead to crime. The […]
The Lovely Bones
'The Lovely Bones' is a fictional novel written by Alice Sebold and published in 2002. The novel was an immediate success after it's release and sold over one million copies and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year. It was also chosen as an official book club book for the ABC […]
The Glass Menagerie
"The Glass Menagerie" is a 1944 play by the famous American playwright Tennessee Williams. The play was Williams' first big success and was praised by critics of the time as a triumph. Williams' coined the term 'memory play' in honor of The Glass Menagerie in order to describe it's specific format which was supposed to […]
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
"One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" is a Russian novel written by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and published in 1962. It was originally published in a Soviet literary magazine called Novy Mir (New World). The books release was a first in Russian literary history. At no point before had such an account of Stalinist repression been so […]
Native Son
"Native Son" is a groundbreaking novel written by Richard Wright and published in 1940. The book is one of the first American books to explore the topics of race relations and the oppression and segregation that black people face in their daily lives. The book has won several awards since it's release and has been […]
A Separate Peace
"A Separate Peace" is a coming-of-age novel published in 1959 and written by John Knowles. The novel is Knowles first and best-known published work. It is based on a previous short story of his titled, 'Phineas'. The book received many awards, including the William Faulkner Foundation Award and the Rosenthal Family Foundation Award in 1961. […]
A Tale of the Two Cities
From April to November, 1859, Charles Dickens wrote "A Tale of Two Cities" in weekly installments. This method of writing a novel was genius. The suspense kept the readers excited about the next installment and it made a lot of money. Also, the regular person could read it. At the time most books were owned […]