Word Cloud Classics Series

Fiction’s master of parkour swings into the Word Cloud collection! John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke, is marooned on the west coast of Africa as an infant, and is adopted by a tribe of apes. A feral child, he matures into Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, with the ability to climb, jump, and swing from vines, while maintaining flawless ethics and judgment whenever he is thrust back into the bonds of society. Edgar Rice Burroughs's stories of this preternatural hero will inspire readers to examine their own morality and their relationship with the great outdoors.

“Man is not truly one, but truly two,” —Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde A book so iconic that its title is synonymous with split personalities, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, was first released in 1886. The story of a virtuous Dr. Jekyll who mistakenly creates an alter ego of unadulterated evil serves as an examination of the duality of human nature and the battle between good and evil.    Full of mystery and fright, this story has remained popular for more than a century and has been adapted countless times—over 132 in film alone. An instant success and popular with students of morality, this thrilling tale is now available as part of the Word Cloud Classics series, making it a chic and affordable addition to every library. 

All the "muchness" of Wonderland captured in one book! Follow Alice down the rabbit hole to Wonderland and enjoy tea with the Mad Hatter, find your way with the Cheshire Cat, and play croquet with the Queen of Hearts. On the other side of the looking-glass, meet Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the White Queen, and a host of other characters that share a different reality. 

A stunning collection of works by Stephen Crane, whom H.G. Wells called “the best writer of our generation." The best-known work by famed American writer Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage is a compelling exploration of human emotion in the midst of battle. The book is revered for its pioneering style, and it explores themes of maturation, cowardice, and nature’s cruelty. One of the most innovative writers of his generation, Crane’s other notable works include “The Open Boat,” “The Blue Hotel,” “The Brides Comes to Yellow Sky,” and “The Upturned Face.” All of these stories are now available in one chic and affordable edition as part of the Word Cloud Classics series from Canterbury Classics.   

Brighten the season with tales from the master of Christmastime fiction. Most famous in the realm of holiday literature for his 1843 publication, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens was in fact a prolific writer in the yuletide genre and a great contributor to many now-prevalent traditions of the holiday itself. In the year following the release of A Christmas Carol, Dickens released The Chimes: A Christmas Story of Some Bells That Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. This story combined his usual sympathy for the poor with the notion that we must always strive to live in nobler ways. In 1845 came The Cricket on the Hearth, a novella that, in its time, surpassed even A Christmas Carol in popularity for stage productions. The years 1846 and 1848 respectively saw published The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain. Given this wealth of Christmas-themed works, it is no wonder that Dickens is sometime referred to as “the man who invented Christmas.”   Perfect for both fans of Dickens’ work and those who just find special pleasure in the holiday spirit, these five Christmas stories are now available as part of the Word Cloud Classics series, providing a chic, inexpensive introduction to timeless tales.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”—Frederick Douglass Born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland, Frederick Douglass became a champion of the abolitionist movement after escaping to the North in 1838. Douglass later remarked upon his arrival in New York, “I have often been asked how I felt when I first found myself on free soil. And my readers may share the same curiosity.” Readers did indeed share in this curiosity and Douglass became a much-admired orator and writer, active in both the abolitionist and the women’s suffrage movements.  Douglass is best remembered through his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written By Himself. This, My Bondage and My Freedom, and several of Douglass’ speeches offer important glimpses into American history and are now available in a chic and affordable edition as part of the Word Cloud Classics series from Canterbury Classics.   

A collection of charming and enduring stories that convey morals to young and old alike. Aesop was a slave and storyteller who lived in ancient Greece around 620–564 BC. No writings by him exist (if they ever existed at all), yet numerous stories and tales have been credited to him and have been shared through oral tradition throughout the world.  Many of these use animals as the main characters to convey deeper meanings and morals that have become ingrained in our cultural--and personal--belief systems. For example, in “The Goatherd and the Goat” we learn that there is no use trying to hide what can’t be hidden. In “The Ass and the Purchaser” we find that people are known by the company they keep. In “The Boys and the Frogs,” one person’s pleasure may be another person’s pain. “The Dogs and the Fox” show how easy it is to kick a man when he’s down. And misery loves company, as we see in “The Fox Without a Tail.”  * The widely popular collection of stories has sold millions of copies and has been translated into countless languages and dialects. Aesop’s Fables have been one of the world’s most charming collections of stories that have influenced thousands of other literary works.

The pen is mightier than the sword, and this pen helped bring about the American Revolution. Thomas Paine is one of history’s most renowned thinkers and was indispensible to both the American and French revolutions. The three works included, Common Sense, The Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason, are among his most famous publications. Paine is probably best known for his hugely popular pamphlet, Common Sense, which swayed public opinion in favor of American independence from England. The Rights of Man and The Age of Reason further advocated for universal human rights, a republican instead of monarchical government, and truth and reason in politics. The works of this moral visionary, whose ideas are as relevant today as ever, are now available as part of the Word Cloud Classics series, providing a stylish and affordable addition to any library.

“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union . . . ” — The U.S Constitution The U.S. Constitution and Other Key American Writings is part of the Word Cloud Classics series and a collection of the crucial documents that established the United States. In addition to the Constitution, readers can study supplementary texts like the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Federalist Papers, and even important speeches by early presidents. The Founding Fathers’ inspirational and revolutionary ideals are all included in these doctrines, and this is a perfect volume for anyone who finds the history of America to be a fascinating and enlightening journey.

“…for there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men.”--Herman Melville, Moby-Dick “Call me Ishmael” is the iconic opening line of Herman Melville’s classic American novel, Moby-Dick. Ishmael is a seaman aboard the whaling vessel, Pequod, under the vengeful captain, Ahab. Maniacally seeking retribution from the great white sperm whale called Moby-Dick--the whale responsible for the captain’s missing leg--Ahab leads the crew on a quest to kill the infamous beast. A fictional work based on actual events, Moby-Dick is a classic that has been enjoyed for generations, and it’s now available as part of the Word Cloud Classic series, making it a stylish and affordable addition to any library.

“It doesn't matter if you're born in a duck yard, so long as you are hatched from a swan's egg!”—Hans Christian Andersen, “The Ugly Duckling.” Fairy tales are timeless treasures passed from generation to generation, and few are as beloved as those of Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen. From the princess so sensitive she is discomforted by a single pea beneath a tower of mattresses to the unfortunate-looking duckling who matures into a stunning swan, these are the stories that stay with us long after we leave childhood behind. First published in 1835, Andersen’s tales continue to delight the modern audience. Now part of the Word Cloud Classics series, Hans Christian Andersen Tales is a chic and affordable collection of these wonderful stories, complete with classics like “Thumbelina” and “The Little Mermaid,” plus some wonderful lesser-known gems to discover anew.

“We can't behave like people in novels, though, can we?” —Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence In a society where people “dreaded scandal more than disease,” passion was a force of ruin. Winner of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize, Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence is set amidst the pre-World War I “Golden Age” of upper-class society in New York, and is framed by society’s strict moral code. When soon-to-be-wed Newland Archer finds himself enraptured by his bride-to-be’s code-flouting cousin, he faces a turbulent battle between passion and social value. One of the great masterpieces in American literature, The Age of Innocence is now available as part of the Word Cloud Classic series, making it a chic and affordable addition to the libraries of literature lovers everywhere.

Anne of Green Gables has been one of the world's most charming coming-of-age stories for more than a century. Best-selling Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery published the first book in her charming series in 1908, making it a literary favorite for more than a hundred years. Published as a children's novel, the story of Anne Shirley, an orphan, was inspired by the author's childhood adventures on rural Prince Edward Island. It follows Anne's journey as she moves to a farm on Prince Edward Island to live with a middle-aged brother and sister who had intended to adopt a boy to help them with farming chores. The story follows Anne as she makes a home and comes of age on the island. * The widely popular novel has sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into more than twenty languages since its first publication.   Anne of Green Gables has been one of the world's most charming coming-of-age stories for more than a century.  

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” —J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan Join Peter, Wendy, Tinker Bell, and a cast of other familiar characters on a fantastical journey in the Word Cloud Classics’ Peter Pan. Included in this volume are the famous novel—Peter and Wendy (1911)—about the “boy who never grew up” and his adventures in Neverland, as well as a lesser-known prequel entitled Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906), which tells the story of Pan’s early years in London. This lively volume weaves a tale that is universally relatable and wildly popular for adults and children alike.

Don your Lincoln green and prepare for merriment! What could be merrier than joining Robin Hood's band of Merry Men for adventures in the English countryside? Pirates of the trees rather than the seas, Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, and many others ensure that Robin's clever schemes relieve the rich of their excess treasures and redistribute the wealth to those most in need. Howard Pyle was an accomplished author and illustrator; his original images, published with the stories in 1883, appear throughout the book. You will leave no leaf unturned in this latest addition to the Word Cloud Classics series.

The epic story of Odysseus’ journey home. The story of Odysseus' perilous journey home after the fall of Troy relates allegorical tales of goddesses and sirens, capture and escape, and maneuvering between Scylla and Charybdis. After ten years of travel, Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca to find his family in turmoil. The saga of his efforts to make things right is one of the oldest works of Western literature, and still offers powerful lessons for modern times.

No home library is complete without the classics! Little Women is a keepsake to be read and treasured. When Little Women was first published in 1868, it became an instant bestseller. The book’s gentle lessons and charming story of four adventurous sisters coming of age in Civil War-era New England was originally written as a children’s book, but quickly captured the hearts and attention of readers of all ages. Now part of the Word Cloud Classics series, Little Women is a must-have addition to the libraries of all classic literature lovers.

A testimony of personal strength and a telling portrait of American slavery in the pre-Civil War South. When Solomon Northup, born a free black man in Saratoga, New York, was offered a short-term job with a circus in Washington, D.C., in 1841, he jumped at the opportunity. But when he arrived, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana. Finally, with the help of a Canadian abolitionist, he was rescued and reunited with his family in New York. In this memoir published in 1853, Northup tells the incredible story of his twelve years as a slave.

“If an injury has to be done to a man, it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.”--Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince One of the foremost examples of modern philosophy, Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince is notorious for the morality it expounds, often summarized by the phrase, “The end justifies the means.” With The Prince, Machiavelli’s intent was to provide practical advice for rulers and politicians, especially in regard to the unification of Italy. The Prince and Other Writings is an important book for those interested in history, politics, ethics, and human nature, and is now available as part of the Word Cloud Classics series, providing a chic and affordable addition to any library.

No home library is complete without the classics! Great Expectations is a keepsake to be read and treasured. One of the most popular novelists ever, Charles Dickens wrote about what he saw in 19th century London: orphans, child labor, and the crime that was rampant in the city at the time. In the 1861 bestseller Great Expectations, he wove all of these themes into a tale of mystery and personal development. The story of a young orphan boy--poor and alone, but whisked away to London by an anonymous benefactor--is a fantastic tale, complete with plot twists and a love story that puts many modern novels to shame. To this day, Great Expectations remains one of Dickens’s greatest achievements. Now available as part of the Word Cloud Classics series, the novel is a must-have addition to the libraries of all classic literature lovers.

The classic story of a dangerous love triangle set in an 1890s Paris opera house. Rumored to be haunted, the Palais Garnier opera house in nineteenth-century Paris is the setting for this story of a dangerous love triangle involving a young Swedish soprano, her mysterious “Phantom” tutor, and her childhood friend. When Carlotta, the lead soprano, takes ill and Christine Daaé’s understudy performance is a rousing success, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny falls in love with Christine. Meanwhile, her tutor, “the Angel of Music,” whom she believes has been sent by her deceased father, is also coveting Christine’s affections. But the Angel is no phantom as everyone believes, and his fears of Christine’s rejection due to his masked disfigurement prompts him to abduct her and extract a promise of marriage born of wild jealousy. This latest addition to the Word Cloud Classic series will have you burning the candles low to reach the dark, gothic ending.

No home library is complete without the classics! Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a keepsake to be read and treasured. One of the most popular books of all-time, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been both venerated and vilified since it was first published in 1885. The story of a young abused boy on the run and his friendship with a runaway slave is about loyalty, compassion, and doing what is right, and it remains one of Mark Twain’s greatest achievements. Now available as part of the Canterbury Classics series, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a must-have addition to the libraries of all classic literature lovers.   About the Word Cloud Classics series: Classic works of literature with a clean, modern aesthetic! Perfect for both old and new literature fans, the Word Cloud Classics series from Canterbury Classics provides a chic and inexpensive introduction to timeless tales. With a higher production value, including heat burnished covers and foil stamping, these eye-catching, easy-to-hold editions are the perfect gift for students and fans of literature everywhere.

“If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man.” —Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience   The oft-quoted transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau is best known for two works: Walden and Civil Disobedience. Walden, first published in 1854, documents the time Thoreau spent living with nature in a hand-built cabin in the woods near Walden Pond in Massachusetts. A minor work in its own time, Walden burgeoned in popularity during the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Civil Disobedience is thought to have originated after Thoreau spent a night in jail for refusing to pay taxes to a government with whose policies he did not agree. Assigning greater importance to the conscience of the individual than the governing law, Civil Disobedience is an internationally admired work that is known to have influenced writer Leo Tolstoy and political activist Mahatma Gandhi, and many members of the American Civil Rights movement.

No home library is complete without the classics! Dracula is a keepsake to be read and treasured. 2013 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Gold Winner in Cover Design - Small Format (Fiction)   Irish author Bram Stoker introduced the character of Count Dracula and provided the basis of modern vampire fiction in his 1897 novel entitled Dracula. Written as a series of letters, newspaper clippings, diary entries, and ships’ logs, the story begins with lawyer Jonathan Harker journeying to meet Dracula at his remote castle to complete a real estate transaction. Harker soon discovers that he is being held prisoner, and that Dracula has a rather disquieting nocturnal life. Touching on themes such as Victorian culture, immigration, and colonialism, among others, this timeless classic is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats! Now available as part of the Word Cloud Classics series, Dracula is a must-have addition to the libraries of all classic literature lovers.

“Where we saw people who loved their neighbors, and were kind to man and beast, we might know that was God’s mark.” —Anna Sewell, Black Beauty Anna Sewell’s 1877 classic, Black Beauty, is considered to be one of the foremost works in animal welfare literature and a leading work in the children’s pony book genre. Narrated by the horse himself, the book follows his trials and tribulations as he passes from one owner to another and experiences the full spectrum of human treatment—from the knowledgeable and kind to the ignorant and cruel. Beloved by children and animal lovers alike, Black Beauty is now available as part of the Word Cloud Classic series, making it a chic and affordable addition to any library.

Curl up with this collection of classic scary stories from the masters of the genre. With dozens of stories of the macabre, fantastic, and supernatural, Classic Horror Tales is sure to keep readers on the edges of their seats. This collection of works by classic writers spans more than a century—from 19th-century trailblazers such as John William Polidori, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Washington Irving to 20th-century masters like Saki, Edith Wharton, and Franz Kafka. The fear of the unknown is a driving force in literature, and the horror genre surpasses all others in bringing this idea to the forefront of the reader's consciousness. A wide range of cultures and classes of society are represented in this volume, reminding us that dark forces lurk all around us—for even in broad daylight, a shadow exists somewhere.

A collection of transformative stories that emphasize women’s roles in society. The works of Kate Chopin were nearly forgotten for much of the twentieth century, but her popularity made a resurgence in the 1970s when readers and scholars turned their attention to early women’s literature. The Awakening, her best-known novel, is set in the Gulf Coast region around New Orleans, and is critically acclaimed for its style and for being ahead of its time in discussing important women’s issues. Also included in this volume are several of Chopin’s short stories, including “Désirée’s Baby” and “The Story of an Hour.”  

Don’t lose your head! The Headless Horseman faces off with Ichabod Crane in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," a ghost story of enduring popularity that takes place at the time of the American Revolution. "Rip Van Winkle," another traditional favorite from the same historic period, tells the tale of man who fell asleep for twenty years and found his small town in the Catskill Mountains much changed by the time he awakened. Both are included—along with many other tales—in this classic collection by Washington Irving.

This classic Russian novel has it all: murder, suspense, passion, struggle, and redemption. Originally published in 1866, Crime and Punishment is a psychological thriller that deals with issues of morality, conscience, and redemption. Widely considered to be one of the greatest novels written in any language, this novel explores the life of Rodin Raskolnikov, a young Russian man who robs and murders a pawnbroker to save himself from a life of poverty. As a consequence, he must deal with the oppressive mental anguish of being a criminal while attempting to maintain relationships with his friends and family.   

You'll be burning the midnight oil to discover the tortured tales of the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights. Discover a passionate tale of love lost, found, and avenged in Wuthering Heights. Lockwood, a wealthy man from England, rents a house from an eccentric gentleman named Heathcliff, who is the tortured master of Wuthering Heights. Through Lockwood and the housekeeper, Nelly, the story of Heathcliff’s adoption, upbringing, revenge, and love for Catherine is told. The unconventional relationships and complex story structure will keep you turning pages long into the night.