One of James' best-known and most acclaimed longer tales follows an un-named narrator as he goes to almost any lengths to obtain a dead poet's papers and letters from his widow. James lovingly creates a Venice where the unexpected seems an everyday occurrence and the unrelenting tension mounts until the final page.

The Bleak House is Dickens' satire of a decaying society. Its story draws together a group of disparate people through the interminable suit of Jarndyce vs Jarndyce at the Court of Chancery. Often described as a savage, though also comic, critique of Victorian society.

1865 Best Seller.

The story of Hans and his sister's participation in a skating competition is interwoven with their class reading of _The Hero of Haarlem_ (the boy who saved his country by plugging a dike with his finger). Somehow poplular myth has transferred Han's name to the dike boy.

1864 Best Seller.

Southworth considered Ishmael to be her best work. It's inspirations to wisdom and goodness were drawn from the real life examples of the heroes and statesmen of the American Revolution. The novel tells the story of Ishmael, born into poverty and virtuously climbing to success.

1871 Best Seller.

The second of the 'Little Women' / 'March Family Saga' trilogy, follows the progress of Jo Bhaer and her students of Plumfield Estate school.

1874 Best Seller.

In his day E. P. Roe was a bigger seller than Mark Twain.

"In the Opening of a Chestnut Burr, Mr. Roe has made a marked advance upon his two previous stories. He has already exhibited a remarkable power of description, which in this volume he uses with good effect in the scenes of fire and shipwreck. It is thoroughly religious, thoroughly Christian both in tone and teaching." -- Harper's Magazine. (a contemporary review)

1864 Best Seller.

The sequel to Ishmael.