Publishers Weekly #1 Best Seller for 1914.

Set in the world of authors, artists, and their patrons this novel explores the conflict between art for art sake and art for profit and fame. It was quite controversial in it's day; some accusing Wright of preaching and others supporting his observations.

Publishers Weekly #1 Best Seller for 1913.

It is important to note that the author is not the famed English politician and author, but an unrelated American writer.

"masterly grip of detail and rare psychological insight" - Henry Davies from letters to the New York Times 1913.

Publishers Weekly #1 Best Seller for 1915.

Tarkington was a widely read and prolific multiple Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and dramatist. The story uses a tale of two families following different trajectories but linked by romance to provide a glimpse of the changes induced by industrialization and urbanization.

Publishers Weekly #1 Best Seller for 1918.

An epic novel set against the construction of the Union-Pacific Railroad between 1864 and 1869 and the introduction of the telegraph. Full of wonderfully drawn characters and a central romantic thread.

A defence of one's life presents an autobiographical account of his religious development as a defence against an attack by novelist Charles Kingsley. Newman had begun as an Anglican theologian and later converted to Catholicism, this conversion was very disturbing for many people and marked a turning point in the history of the Church of England and the Catholic Church in England.

In Dialogues Hume explores the question 'What can we infer about the nature of God using reason?' using a dialogue between three characters. All believe in the existence of God but disagree on his nature and relationship with mankind. These issues and augments are still at the centre of debate and conflict today. For example, Hume explores the issue of an Intelligent Designer and the argument from design that is convulsing the US school system.

Orphaned early in life, Jane Eyre endures life with a cruel aunt, harsh boarding school and generous lashings of cruelty. From this grew Jane's strength of character and quest for freedom and equality. Jane eventually secures a job as a governess and falls in love with the owner of the manor, Edward Rochester. Despite her plainness, she captures his heart. But can they overcome differences in social status, age and experience? Will a secret he has come between them? Will she follow her convictions even if it meant losing her true love? Will love conquer all? Jane Eyre is a sensational love story Bronte style with truckloads of gutsy character building material to boot.