The lonely one offers his hand too quickly to whomever he
encounters.
Thus Spake Zarathustra by German thinker and writer
Friedrich Nietzsche is a path-breaking philosophical
novel, crafted in four parts. It features the fictitious
travels and speeches of Zarathustra – whose namesake
is the founder of Zoroastrianism. Nietzsche creates his
own version of Zarathustra in the book, overturning
accepted conventions and questioning traditional
notions of morality.
The first three parts of this seminal work were first
published separately, and later published in a single
volume in 1887. The fourth part remained inaccessible
to the public at large after Nietzsche wrote it in 1885.
It was in March 1892 that the four parts were printed
as a single volume. The four parts delve into concepts
such as the ‘eternal recurrence of the same,’ the parable
on the ‘death of God,’ morality, and the ‘prophecy’ of
the Übermensch. Thus Spake Zarathustra is considered to
be Nietzsche’s magnum opus.

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844–1900) was a notable German philosopher who remains one of the most influential modern thinkers. He is renowned for writing on the concept of the “Superman”, the end of religion in a modern society as well as his exploration of the concepts of good and evil. Some of his major philosophical works are Thus Spake Zarathustra (1883), The Antichrist (1885) and Twilight of the Idols (1889). Many major thinkers of the 20th century such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Sigmund Freud and Albert Camus, among others, were deeply influenced by Nietzsche’s ideas.
After his death, the misappropriation of his works by the Nazi Party in the 30s and 40s of the last century to further their fascist activities resulted in a negative reputation for generations whereas Nietzsche himself was steadfastly against anti-Semitism.
Nietzsche died on 25 August 1900, aged 55.

Franz Kafka’s short stories—shocking, complex, intriguing, and unsettling—show him at the height of his writing prowess. Kafka takes on universal themes such as guilt, isolation, alienation, self-expression, cruelty, judgement, shame, sin, and redemption in them. Hovering between dream and reality, his dark and brilliantly crafted stories are populated by both humans and animals. They are intense, enigmatic, filled with generous doses of irony and horror that inspire the reader to search for meaning in the world’s maze. This collection features an impressive clutch of his short stories including In ‘The Penal Colony’, ‘The Hunger Artist’, ‘The Metamorphosis’, ‘The Burrow’, ‘The Judgment’, ‘Before the Law’, ‘A Country Doctor’, and ‘ The Great Wall of China’. ‘ The Penal Colony’ is seeped in the dehumanising horror of WWI and it mixes the dazzle of modern technological advances with the barbarism of archaic, absolute law. ‘The Metamorphosis’ in which the alienated hero turns into an insect is an exquisite study of the human condition. The characters in Kafka’s stories are hunted and haunted, wandering in a world governed by forces beyond their control.

Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was born into a German-speaking Jewish family in Prague, Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic). His father was a middle-class businessman, an extremely domineering parent who disapproved of Kafka’s fondness for literature. His mother Julie was better educated than his father. Kafka obtained the degree of Doctor of Law in 1906 and worked for a year as a law clerk for the civil and criminal courts. From 1908–1922, he worked with the Worker’s Accident Insurance Institute for the Kingdom of Bohemia. His influential works (originally written in the German) such as the novels The Trial (1925) in which a man is charged with an unnamed offence, and The Metamorphosis (1915) in which the hero is transformed into an insect, mirror the alienation and anxiety experienced by many in the 20th century. Kafka allowed very few of his writings to be published while he was alive. Most of his critically lauded novels and stories appeared in print only after his death. He became an important figure of German and world literature when his close friend and literary executor, Max Brod, refused to destroy his novels, diaries and letters upon his death, as was instructed by Kafka.

British author E.M. Forster’s novel, A Passage to India (1924) is based on the author’s impressions of India. He started writing the novel soon after his first visit to the country. The story, set in the 1920s, plays out against the backdrop of the Indian independence movement. The title of the novel is inspired by American icon Walt Whitman’s 1870 poem, A Passage to India.
The novel revolves around four main characters—Dr. Aziz, his British friend Mr. Cyril Fielding, Mrs. Moore, and Miss Adela Quested. During a day trip to Marabar Caves, Adela mistakenly believes Dr. Aziz is trying to assault her. Dr. Aziz’s ordeal after being falsely accused, the run-up to his trial, and its consequences highlight the underlying tensions between Indians and the British rulers of India of the time.
Though Foster managed to shine a light on race relations and power imbalances in India during the British Raj, he did not directly condemn colonialism and imperialism in A Passage to India.

Edward Morgan Forster (1879–1970), British novelist, essayist, short story writer and critic, was born at Marylebone, London. His architect father died when Forster was very young and he was brought up by his mother. Forster’s celebrated works include the novels A Room with a View (1908), Howards End (1910), A Passage to India (1924), and Maurice (1971) as well as a large corpus of criticism.
Forster broke new ground by departing from the elaborate, flowery style of his predecessors and adopted a freer, more colloquial style in his books. His novels were seeped in social commentary, which was based on his in-depth observations of middle-class lives. He also had a deep-rooted interest in Mediterranean “paganism,”
which called for humans to maintain their connection with the natural world and live a life attuned to the earth’s rhythms.

Scottish political economist and philosopher Adam Smith (1723–1790) is considered the father of modern economics. His influential book, The Wealth of Nations, is the first great work in political economy. In it, Smith argues against regulations on commerce and calls for a limited role of the government. The market economy is to be kept open and free if nations are to prosper, and the government’s core functions must be to maintain law and order, defence, build infrastructure, and promote education. Smith is critical of government control, but not an advocate of laissez-faire. He believes that the market economy can function only when rules are adhered to. Hence the government’s role in maintaining the rule of law is critical.
The Wealth Of Nations, written before the Industrial Revolution transformed the world, resonates with readers in modern times and offers valuable lessons in solving the economic conundrums of the day.

Scottish political economist and philosopher Adam Smith (1723–1790) was the son of the Comptroller of the Customs at Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. He attended University of Glasgow and Oxford University and was deeply influenced by Francis Hutcheson, the well-known professor of Moral Philosophy. In 1751, Smith was appointed Professor of Logic at University of Glasgow where he lectured on Ethics, Rhetoric, Jurisprudence, and Political Economy. Smith is the author of the seminal works, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), The Wealth of Nations (1776), and the posthumously published Essays on Philosophical Subjects (1795). The Wealth of Nations has played a significant role in creating the subject of political economy and developing it into an autonomous and systematic discipline.

The Divine Comedy, (original name La Commedia), is an epic poem written by celebrated Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Divided into three main sections— Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso—the basic structural unit of The Divine Comedy is the canto. Each canto consists of about 136–151 lines. The poem’s rhyme scheme is the terza rima (aba, bcb, cdc, etc.). So, the divine number of three is present throughout The Divine Comedy.
The poem traces the journey of a man (thought to be Dante himself) who visits the souls in Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. He has two guides by his side—Virgil who accompanies him to Inferno and Purgatorio, and Beatrice who introduces him to Paradiso. Dante uses this fictional journey as an effective device to grapple with the larger questions of existence—morality,
sin, redemption, the fall of mankind—as well as to wrestle with his personal demons and Italy’s political dilemmas.

Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) was a renowned Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, philosopher, and political thinker. His epic poem, La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy), is one of the most celebrated works of world literature. His other notable works include La Vita Nouva, The Banquet, and Literature in the Vernacular. Dante started writing poetry at a very young age and dedicated most of his poems to Beatrice, a girl he met when he was nine years old. Facing execution in his hometown of Florence due to his political activities, he moved to Ravenna, Italy,
where he remained till his death in 1321.

“A loss that can be repaired by money is not of such very great importance.” when king Shahryar discovers that his wife has been unfaithful to him, he kills her and resolves to marry a virgin every day and behead her the next morning. Scheherazade, his next bride, uses her wits to stay alive. She starts to tell the king an intriguing story each evening, but withholds the ending to sustain his interest in the next evening tale. A thousand and one nights later, the king spares the storyteller life forever. Tales from the Arabian Nights presents a fine selection of the stories that saved Scheherazade’s life. It includes some of the world’s best-known adventure tales such as the exploits of Sindbad the sailor, alaeddin, or the wonderful lamp, and Ali Baba and the forty thieves. The collection is replete with intrigue, satire, murder, mystery, romance, magic, horror, and even touches of science fiction. The cast of characters includes djinns, monsters, spirits, sorcerers, kings, queens, and commoners. Innovative in form and content, tales from the Arabian Nights features tragedies, comedies, erotica, historical events and more.

The sage does not accumulate (for himself). the more that he expends for others, The more does he possess of his own; The more that he gives to others, The more does he have himself. Written over 2000 years ago, Tao Te Ching, that roughly translates to “the way of integrity,” remains one of the most translated philosophical books in the world. A series of aphorisms and parables, this central text of Taoism, believed to have been written by its founder, Lao Tzu, invites the reader to follow the Tao or the way, through sound political advice, and the practice of peace, humility, modesty, morality, generosity, virtue, self-knowledge, self-restraint, and balance in order to exist in harmony with the universe. To date, Tao Te Ching remains a relevant guide in many spheres of life for its practical, simple and grassroots wisdom.

Lao Tzu, meaning “Old Master,” was a Chinese philosopher, who was believed to be an older contemporary of Confucius, and the founder of Taoism, one of the three great religious and philosophical traditions of China. A record keeper in the court of Zhou in the 6th century b.c., Lao Tzu has been credited as the author of Tao Te Ching, though the identity of this seminal Taoist treatise’s author(s) or compiler(s) is still widely debated. In the tradition of most ancient Chinese philosophers, Lao Tzu often takes recourse to paradox, analogy, repetition, symmetry, rhyme, rhythm, and appropriation of ancient sayings, to explain his ideas. James Legge (1815-1897) was a Scottish sinologist, scholar and missionary, who translated Classical Chinese texts into English. He served as a representative of the London Missionary Society in Malacca and Hong Kong (1840-1873) and was the first Professor of Chinese at Oxford University (1876-1897). In association with Max Müller, he prepared the monumental Sacred Books of the East series, published in 50 volumes between 1879 and 1891.

All human wisdom is contained in these two words: Wait and Hope.
On his wedding day, Edmond Dantès, a sailor, is arrested for treason. Charged with being a Bonapartiste, he is wrongfully imprisoned without trial in the dreaded Château d’If. Dantès has been betrayed, concludes his fellow prisoner and mentor, Abbé Faria.
After a dramatic escape from prison, Dantès acquires a fortune at the Island of Monte Cristo, and returns to France as the mysterious and sought-after Count of Monte Cristo. With steely resolve, he sets about wreaking vengeance on those who conspired his ruination. And with devastating consequences.
Set in France, Italy, and the islands in the Mediterranean during the historical events of 1815-1839, this literary classic by Alexandre Dumas, père, originally published between 1844 and 1845, is an exploration of universal themes like romance, hope, loyalty, betrayal, vengeance, forgiveness, and justice.

Born as Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie on 24 July 1802, in Villers-Cotterêts, Picardy, France, AlexAndre dumAs was one of the most prolific authors of his time.The last name Dumas was adopted from his grandmother, a former enslaved Haitian woman. His father,Thomas-Alexandre, assumed the name Dumas when he enlisted in Napoleons army. Here, he was given the dubious nickname Black Devil.
Popular for his historical adventure novels like The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers (initially published as serials), Dumas immersed himself in literature after he moved to Paris in 1822. During the 1830 revolution, he worked as a scribe for the Ducd Orléans (later named King Louis Philippe), and began writing dramas and comedies. Dumas had a penchant for writing volumes of essays on some of the most infamous cases in history. It is believed that his published works totalled 100,000 pages and his works have been translated into more than 100 languages.
A household name and a celebrity in France and across Europe, Dumas founded the Théâtre Historique in Paris in the 1840s.
Dumas died on 5 December 1870, in Puys, France. He was buried at his birthplace of Villers- Cotterêts in the department of Aisne.
In 1970, as a mark of honour, the Alexandre Dumas Paris Métro station was named after
the author. His country home outside Paris, the Château de Monte-Cristo, has been restored as a museum.

This hobble of being alive is rather serious, don’t you think so?
Thomas Hardy’s magnum opus, Tess of the d’Urbervilles first appeared in book form in 1891. It initially received mixed reviews and was censored due to the challenges that it presented to the sexual morals of Victorian society.
However, through the subtitle of the novel, A PureWoman Faithfully Presented, Hardy sympathises with the working class woman who becomes a hapless victim of the rigid Victorian society. Tess of the d’Urbervilles was later considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. Through Tess Durbeyfield, Hardy skilfully shows the social injustices that are deeply rooted in gender. A moving tale of loss, unrequited love and condemnation, the novel has one of the most tragic endings of all time.
Adapted to film, theatre and television several times over, the novel is a timeless classic.

Born on 2 June 1840, THOMAS HARDY was an English novelist, poet and dramatist from Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England. He was known for his genial nature and the ability to sensitively portray human sufferings and injustices in his works. Some of his major novels are Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) and Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891).
Hardy was known for his regionalised plots that represented a rural way of life which was fast declining. He often challenged Victorian morality and was often sympathetic to the working classes in his novels. Today, he holds the unique distinction of being a renowned nineteenth century novelist and a twentieth century poet.
He died aged 87

Depend upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace.
221B Baker Street. The most beloved fictional detective is in pursuit of the absolute truth.
Dr. Watson, his sidekick and biographer, cannot help but marvel at his friend's impeccable logic, and what he deems elementary, Watson finds extraordinary.
The Adventures and Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes has some of the earliest as well as greatest Sherlock Holmes short stories ever written by the master of detective fiction, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Amongst his personal favourites are The Adventure of the Speckled Band', 'The Red-Headed League', 'A Scandal in Bohemia', 'The Five Orange Pips', and 'The Final Problem'.
A keepsake edition.

Born on 22 May 1859 in Edinburgh, SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE started writing stories as a student. With a repertoire of over 30 books, 150 short stories, essays, plays, and poems, he earned the distinction of being one of the greatest short story writers ever, since Edgar Allan Poe. A master of all literary genres, his memorable creation is the invincible sleuth Sherlock Holmes whom the readers are introduced to in his first novel, A Study in Scarlet (1887). Such was the charisma of this Great Detective that after the author killed Holmes in ‘The Final Problem’ (1893), he was compelled to bring Holmes back after vociferous demands from readers.
A war correspondent, a spiritualist, an athlete, and a historian, the author was knighted for his contribution to Literature in a South African field hospital during the Boer War in 1902. He died on 7 July 1930 in Crowborough, Sussex.

"Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are. Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince—a book on the ruthless acquisition of power and governance of the State—with the intention of appeasing Lorenzo de’ Medici, the ruler of Florence, in the hope of resuscitating his political career. Often referred to as Machiavelli’s ‘job application’ in disguise, The Prince foregrounded the contrasting aspects of virtue and vice: virtue is not always an admirable trait and vice is not always detrimental to society. He presented an ‘unsentimental’ analysis of human behaviour and justified acts of immorality, deceit and deviousness to control a State. Written in 1513, shortly after Machiavelli was exiled from Florence, The Prince was posthumously published in 1532. Prohibited by the Court of Rome, The Prince was also banned by the Catholic Church. By early 1600s, William Shakespeare used ‘Machiavel’ as a term to describe an unscrupulous, devious and scheming person in his works. Even today, ‘Machiavellian’ means everything evil."


Born on 3 May 1469 in Florence, Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was a historian, diplomat, politician, philosopher, humanist, and writer. Regarded as the founder of modern political science, Machiavelli lived in the turbulent times of power struggles among European states and the Holy Roman Empire.
The young Machiavelli became a diplomat after the temporary fall of Florence’s ruling Medici family in 1494. From 1498 to 1512, he served as secretary to the Second Chancery of the Republic of Florence. Between 1503 and 1506, Machiavelli was responsible for the Florentine militia. In 1509, under his tutelage, Florentine citizen soldiers defeated Pisa. After his plans to organise a Florentine militia against the return of the Medici family to power in 1512 were unearthed, Machiavelli was banished from politics and thrown into prison. It was during this time that he earned the reputation for being shrewd and ruthless. In fact, the term ‘Machiavellian’ is often associated with deviousness and political deceit.
After the death of Pope Julius II in 1513, the son of Lorenzo de’ Medici became Pope Leo X. Machiavelli hoped that by dedicating his most renowned work— The Prince—to Lorenzo de’ Medici, he would obtain an office that would help him return to public life. Alas, that was not to be.
Machiavelli’s other seminal works include On the Art of War (1521), ‘The Mandrake’ (1524) and Discourses on Livy which was published posthumously in 1531. He also wrote carnival songs, comedies and poetry.
Following a period of illness, Machiavelli died on 21 June 1527, aged 58.

"The Republic by Plato is a Socratic dialogue, written around 380 BC; it is one of the most influential works of political philosophy. As is the norm in Socratic dialogue, here too, Socrates is the main speaker who engages in dialogue with other Athenians on the idea of justice. The central question that Plato addresses is What is justice? both at the individual and political levels. He supplements his ethical question with the secondary question What is the relation of justice to happiness? He furthers his argument with examples of a just city (Kallipolis) as well as through discussions of different modes of justice, virtues and vices, the importance of a philosophical king, amongst other ideas. Since mid-19th century, The Republic has remained one of Plato's widely read dialogues and continues to influence political thought."


Born c. 428 bc, Plato, amongst the most influential philosophers of Classical Greece, played a major role in shaping Western thought. A student of the famed philosopher Socrates, he was the teacher of the equally influential philosopher Aristotle, a student at the Academy founded by Plato. Considered the world's first university of philosophy, the Academy is where Plato propagated his philosophical ideas.
The first to relate philosophy with polity, Plato is known for his Dialogues, considered to mark the beginning of Western philosophy. Some of his influential works are Republic (380 bc), Apology (399 bc) and Symposium (c. 380-375 bc). His major ideas include Platonic Love, Theory of Mimesis and Plato's Cave.
Plato is believed to have died c. 424 bc, and is buried in the grounds of his Academy.

"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength. Meditations, written by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180), is the common name for a series of personal notes that the Emperor wrote to himself, probably without the intention to ever publish his work. Deeply influenced by Stoicism, the writings were probably a means for self-improvement. The simplicity and wisdom of the quotations make them relatable for the common reader. The series is divided into twelve books, which correspond to different phases of the Emperor’s life. Nevertheless, the central themes of self-reflection and self-discipline run throughout his writings. Aurelius believed in the need to bring the self in harmony with the universe, control rash reactions and look for logical solutions. One of the most influential philosophical books ever written, Meditations paves a way of life that is deeply influenced by teachings of Stoic philosophy."


Born on 26 April 121 CE, Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of Rome from 161-180 CE. Considered the last successor of the ‘Five Good Emperors’, who were from the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he was associated with the Golden Age of the Roman Empire.
Best known for his widely acclaimed philosophical notes, Meditations, the Emperor was a practitioner of Stoicism. Well-versed in Greek and Latin, he chose to record his reflections in Greek. Written at a turbulent time when he was securing the trans-Danubian frontiers against German invasion, the reflections were personal and a means for selfimprovement and guidance for the Emperor-Philosopher.

Celebrated for nobility of character and his philosophical achievement embodied in Meditations, Marcus Aurelius died in 180 CE, marking the end of Pax Romana, the period of peace and stability, for the Roman Empire.

"…to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. The Art Of War is believed to have been written by the Chinese military strategist, philosopher and writer Sun Tzu around 5th century BC. Divided into thirteen chapters, the text is a finely crafted, meticulous guide that deals with military tactics and manoeuvres, which remain relevant and influential even today. Anthologised under Seven Military Classics Of Ancient China, not only has it shaped East Asian warfare, it has also inspired military experts in the West over the centuries. Despite dealing with military stratagem, the text has also inspired experts in the fields of politics, law, sports and business. As a result, The Art Of War has been translated into several languages including English, French, Manchu, Assamese, and other Asian languages."


Sun Tzu, born in the late Spring and Autumn period of China, was a military strategist, philosopher and writer who was most famous for writing the widely influential The Art Of War (5th century bc), the oldest military treatise in the world. While little is known about Sun Tzu’s early life, it is widely believed that he served as a military general under King Helu of Wu, and was a venerated military figure in Chinese and East Asian culture.
His fame spread to the West from 20th century on, when The Art Of War was translated into English and French. The military tactics and manoeuvres
prescribed in the book were applicable to various competitive fields, which led to the increasing importance of both, the text and its author.

"First published in 1886, Beyond Good and Evil by renowned German philosopher and thinker, Friedrich Nietzsche, expands on the philosophical ideas of his Thus Spake Zarathustra. The book presents a sharp critique of morality and the tendency to view morality in binaries of good and evil, thus rejecting the concept of universal morality for all humankind. In this book, divided into nine parts, Nietzsche begins by exposing the deficiencies of the old philosophers, emphasising the need for free spirits, and strongly opposes the ideas of universal morality as propagated by religion, anti-Semitism and feelings of nationalism. The ideas introduced in this book continue to influence and inspire philosophers all around the world."


Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) was a notable German philosopher who remains one of the most influential modern thinkers. He is renowned for writing on the concept of the super-man, the end of religion in a modern society as well as his exploration of the concepts of good and evil. Some of his major philosophical works are Thus Spake Zarathustra (1883), The Antichrist (1885) and Twilight of the Idols (1889). Many major thinkers of the 20th century such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Sigmund Freud and Albert Camus, among others, were influenced by Nietzsche's ideas.
After his death, the misappropriation of his works by the Nazi Party in the 30s and 40s of the last century to further their fascist activities resulted in a negative reputation for generations whereas Nietzsche himself was steadfastly against anti-Semitism.
Nietzsche died on 25 August 1900, aged 55.

"Originally published as Moby-Dick, or, The Whale (1851), Herman Melville's masterpiece, is one of the greatest American novels. The deceptively simple novel of the sea is filled with allegories and is open to interpretation, both religious and agnostic, amongst others. At the simplest level, the novel narrates Captain Ahab's murderous obsession with the titular character, the whale, Moby-Dick after he loses his leg to it on a whaling mission. His quest for revenge drives him insane and deeply affects those around him. Beautifully written, Melville's masterly narrative comes to the fore in his magnum opus, which was dedicated to American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne."


Born on 1 August 1819, Herman Melville, best known for his masterpiece, Moby-Dick, or, The Whale (1851), was an American novelist, poet and short story writer. Considered one of America's greatest writers, he barely won much acclaim during his lifetime.
Melville's novels of the sea such as Typee (1846) and Omoo (1847) are inspired by his own marine adventures. His own struggles and conflicts during his lifetime are manifested beautifully in his artistic vision.
In the latter part of his writing career, Melville's short stories became more dark and complex, and his prose reflected the materialism and moral degradation of American society in the 19th century.
He died on 28 September 1891, aged 72.

"The merit of all things lies in their difficulty. The Three Musketeers originally published in French as Les Trois Mousquetaires (1844) is one of the most famous works by Alexandre Dumas. Set in the 1620s, the story follows the adventures of the youthfully ambitious d’Artagnan as he seeks a place in the prestigious Musketeers of the Guard. However, d’Artagnan loses an important letter of introduction due to a series of misfortunes, and is unable to join the Guard immediately. However, he ends up befriending Athos, Porthos and Aramis, the three valiant musketeers who exemplify loyalty and devotion in friendship, and live by the motto, “all for one and one for all”. What follows is a brilliant tale of political intrigue, espionage, duels, murders, romance and friendship. The success of the novel led to two sequels—Twenty Years After (1845) and The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later (1850). The Three Musketeers has also been adapted into film, television, stage as well as other art forms."


Born as Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie on 24 July 1802, in Villers-Cotterêts, Picardy, France, AlexAndre dumAs was one of the most prolific authors of his time.The last name ‘Dumas’ was adopted from his grandmother, a former enslaved Haitian woman. His father,Thomas-Alexandre, assumed the name Dumas when he enlisted in Napoleon’s army. Here, he was given the dubious nickname ‘Black Devil.’
Popular for his historical adventure novels like The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers (initially published as serials), Dumas immersed himself in literature after he moved to Paris in 1822. During the 1830 revolution, he worked as a scribe for the Duc d’Orléans (later named King Louis Philippe), and began writing dramas and comedies. Dumas had a penchant for writing volumes of essays on some of the most infamous cases in history. It is believed that his published works totalled 100,000 pages and his works have been translated into more than 100 languages.
A household name and a celebrity in France and across Europe, Dumas founded the Théâtre Historique in Paris in the 1840s.
Dumas died on 5 December 1870, in Puys, France. He was buried at his birthplace of Villers- Cotterêts in the department of Aisne.
In 1970, as a mark of honour, the Alexandre Dumas Paris Métro station was named after
the author. His country home outside Paris, the Château de Monte-Cristo, has been restored as a museum.

"First published in 1818, Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley is the foremost gothic novel of the Romantic tradition, and inspired several other works in the horror genre. Shelley was inspired to write the story, often considered the first science fiction story ever written after a visit to the Frankenstein Castle, where, it was believed that two centuries back, an alchemist had conducted experiments. The story traces the life of Victor Frankenstein, a student of sciences at the University Of Ingolstadt, who creates a grotesque humanoid, commonly referred to as 'the monster' in the novel. What follows is a tale of tragedy, isolation, betrayal and absolute horror. Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus has been adapted to film, stage and television, and remains an evergreen classic."


Mary Shelley (1797-1851) was a renowned English novelist, editor, biographer and short story writer. The daughter of political philosopher William Godwin and feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft, Shelley was highly educated and infused radical political elements in her works. She is best-known for the widely acclaimed gothic novel Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus (1818), which is considered the first true science fiction story. Other major works by Shelley include Valperga (1823), The Last Man (1826) and Lodore (1835). Besides being an accomplished writer, Shelley also edited and promoted the works of her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, the renowned Romantic poet. She died in 1851, aged 53.

"And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be are full of trees and changing leaves. Virginia Woolf’s most autobiographical novel, To the Lighthouse (1927) revolves around the Ramsay family and their life in the summer home situated at a distance from a lighthouse, in the Hebrides, Isle of Skye in Scotland between 1910 and 1920. Enjoying the summer with their eight children, the Ramsays host an assortment of guests—Charles Tansley, an admirer of Mr. Ramsay’s work as a philosopher; Lily Briscoe, a young artist, and William Bankes, an old friend of the Ramsays, among others. Six-year-old James Ramsay wants his father to take him to the lighthouse, but Mr Ramsay keeps delaying the trip. And when the summer ends, war and death alter many realities. The journey to the lighthouse is deferred. A book of childhood desires, conflicting adult relationships, philosophical introspection, and multiple subjectivities, To the Lighthouse, divided into three sections—The Window, Time Passes, The Lighthouse—is about many journeys and an evergreen classic."


Born on 25 January 1882, Virginia Woolf was one of the most influential modernist 20th-century English writers, notable for using stream of consciousness as a literary technique in her works. While writing anonymous reviews for journals, she resolved to ‘re-form’ the novel by experimenting with dreams and delirium. Her novel Melymbrosia, which she completed in 1912 was born out of this determination. Recast and published in 1915 as The Voyage Out, it was about a young woman’s journey of selfdiscovery on her father’s ship in South America. Later, she modelled many of her characters on real-life associates and acquaintances.
At the onset of 1924, the Woolfs moved their residence from the suburbs back to Bloomsbury, where a relationship blossomed between the aristocratic Vita Sackville-West and Virginia. With Sackville-West, she learned to face her anxieties and overcome her nervous ailments. In fact, Orlando, a fantastical biography is partly a portrait of Vita Sackville-West.
One of the most important chapters in her early life was the summer home the family visited in St Ives, Cornwall, where she first beheld the Godrevy Lighthouse. To the Lighthouse (1927) is, therefore, considered one of her most autobiographical novels. Apart from her extremely popular extended essay, ‘A Room of One’s Own’ (1929), her other seminal works include—Mrs Dalloway (1925), Orlando (1928) and The Waves (1931).
In 1941, Virginia Woolf drowned herself in a river, aged 59. Her last work, Between the Acts, was posthumously published later that year.

From the repertoire of William Shakespeare’s most remarkable romantic comedies and classical tragedies, Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb is a keepsake collection for all lovers of literature. From Portia’s spontaneous wit to Desdemona’s untainted innocence; Cordelia’s candour to Romeo and Juliet’s tragic tale of passionate love, Tales from Shakespeare explores all facets of human personality with utmost sensitivity and great finesse. Charles and Mary Lamb promise their young readers a unique rediscovery of the Bard’s 20 phenomenal plays, bringing them closer to the relevance of the revered author’s prose and verse in the 21st century. The language is simple, the literary flavour is intact and the reading experience is exceptionally soul-satisfying. This collection is a perfect companion for all seasons.


CHARLES LAMB (1775-1834), an English essayist and playwright, is best-known for his collection of essays Essays of Elia. His older sister, MARY LAMB (1764-1847) was an English writer Despite his unstable mental state, Charles Lamb enjoyed an active social life, with his London salon as a weekly meeting place for the most eminent authors, artists and actors of the era. However, Mary's mental state was more unstable than her brother's, and in 1976, she suffered from a nervous breakdown, after which she was put in the care of her younger brother In 1807, encouraged by their close friend, novelist and philosopher William Godwin, they both collaborated to write the groundbreaking book, Tales from Shakespeare aiming at simplifying 20 of Shakespeare's plays for young readers. The book is one of the world's leading classics today