Books From University Presses

If you're drawn to classic Gothic novels that push boundaries, you might find "Zofloya, or The Moor" compelling because of its exploration of forbidden desires and complex morality. Charlotte Dacre offers something quite provocative with Victoria di Loredani's character: a woman whose challenging journey from privilege into debauchery contradicts the traditional, virtuous depictions of women in literature of that time. It's a story that won't just entertain; it'll provoke thought about the societal norms and the dark corners of human psyche.

"The Mysteries of Udolpho" offers an immersive dive into the world of gothic literature. If the idea of a young woman battling against insidious forces in a daunting castle stirs your imagination, Ann Radcliffe's classic will keep you ensnared with its atmospheric tension and psychological depth. It's a definitive piece for fans of the genre looking to explore its historical roots.

Ranging from macabre fantasies to fairy tales and tales of crime, these stories from the author of The Nutcracker create a rich fictional world. Hoffman paints a complex vision of humanity, where people struggle to establish identities in a hostile, absurd world."The editors have made an excellent selection, and the result is a book of great distinction."—Denis Donoghue, New York Review of Books"The translators have proved fully equal to all the challenges of Hoffmann's romantic irony and his richly allusive prose, giving us an accurate and idiomatic rendering that also retains much of the original flavor."—Harry Zohn, Saturday Review

One of the earliest major American novels, Wieland (1798) is a thrilling tale of suspense and intrigue set in rural Pennsylvania in the 1760s. Based on an actual case of a New York farmer who murdered his family, the novel employs Gothic devices and sensational elements such as spontaneous combustion, ventriloquism, and religious fanaticism. Also included is Memoirs of Carwin the Biloquist , the unfinished sequel to Wieland , in which Brown considers power and manipulation while tracing Carwin's career as a disciple of the utopist Ludloe.About the For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a gripping tale for anyone intrigued by the price of eternal youth and beauty wrapped in a Victorian horror story. Oscar Wilde masterfully weaves wit with a chilling descent into depravity, making it a fascinating read for those who appreciate sharp social commentary and psychological depth. Through Dorian's journey, Wilde explores themes of vanity, morality, and the very nature of the soul, presenting a story that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

If gothic tales enthrall you, you're in luck. "The Monk" delves into the dark corridors of the human soul with a fervor that's hard to find in modern novels. With its gripping narrative of inner turmoil and moral decay, it will captivate you if you have a taste for the macabre and are intrigued by the psychological battles between virtue and vice.

A sensational story of murder and pie-making, Sweeney Todd is a classic of British horror writing, widely adapted in print and on stage, most famously by Stephen Sondheim, whose unlikely "musical thriller" won eight Tony awards. This edition offers the original story with all its atmospheric Victorian trimmings. The story of Todd's murderous partnership with pie-maker Margery Lovett--at once inconceivably unpalatable and undeniably compelling--has subsequently set the table for a seemingly endless series of successful dramatic adaptations, popular songs and ballads, novellas, radio plays, graphic novels, ballets, films, and musicals. Both gleeful and ghoulish, the original tale of Sweeney Todd, first published under the title The String of Pearls, combines the story of Todd's grisly method of robbing and dispatching his victims--by way of Mrs. Lovett's meat pies--with a romantic sub-plot involving deception, disguise, and detective work, set against the backdrop of London's darkand unsavory streets. Editor Robert Mack 'fleshes' out the story with a fascinating introduction touching on the origins of the tale, the growth of the legend, and a history of its many retellings. Mack also includes explanatory notes that point out interesting aspects, plus a full chronology of the many versions of Sweeney Todd.Since Sweeney Todd first entered the public imagination in the mid-nineteenth-century, his exploits have chilled and fascinated audiences around the world. This new edition allows modern readers to savor the ghastly original in all its gruesome glory.