"I was born in Tuckahoe. I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it. By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs, and it is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant."So begins the now-classic personal account of Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), who was born into slavery in Maryland and after his escape to Massachusetts...

"Great Expectations is among the most masterful of Charles Dickens's novels. Displaying extraordinary tragicomic range, Dickens blends an atmosphere of brooding violence and guilt with sharp and often disturbing humor to create a drama charged with the thrilling intensity of a detective story and the poignancy of a spiritual autobiography. Much of the novel's power comes from Dickens's unequaled skill at making even the most wildly eccentric of characters...

Eerie illustrations enhance a blood-curdling edition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most-celebrated Sherlock Holmes mystery, bringing its delicious shivers to a new generation of readers. Is it true that a hellish hound is haunting the lonely moors, hunting down the hapless Baskervilles through the generations? If anyone can put this chilling legend to rest, it's Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. It seems the body of the latest owner of the Baskerville...

This beloved historical satire, played out in two very different socio-economic worlds of 16th-century England, centers around the lives of two boys born in London on the same day: Edward, Prince of Wales, and Tom Canty, a street beggar. During a chance encounter, they realize they are identical and, as a lark, decide to exchange garments and roles -- a situation that briefly, but drastically, alters the lives of both youngsters. Brimming with gentle...

When a mysterious stranger with a scar on his cheek dies, young Jim Hawkins ends up with a mysterious map of an island. He imagines that he is off to a wonderful sea adventure that will lead to a huge treasure. But once he sets sail with Dr. Livesey and the one-legged Long John Silver, the dream turns out to include greed, mutiny, and murder. - Back cover. To help students experience the joys and benefits of reading, Townsend Press presents the Townsend...

A young orphan, Pollyanna Whittier, is sent to live with her wealthy and stern Aunt Polly. Yet rather than letting her seemingly gloomy situation get her down, the high-spirited girl is dtermined to see the best in everything. Playing what she and her father used to call "The Glad Game," Pollyanna always finds something to be happy about. Her hopeful outlook brings joy to the dour New England town she now calls home, and even to Aunt Polly - inspiring...

The Return of the Native, by Thomas Hardy, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: • New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars • Biographies of the authors • Chronologies...

"Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are looking to adopt a boy to help out on their farm - so when the orphanage delivers a red-haired eleven-year-old girl named Anne instead, they are determined to fix the mistake. However, as Anne's vibrant character and vivid imagination brighten up their home, the Cuthberts soon realise Anne must stay at Green Gables. The inimitable Anne Shirley is fanciful, talkative and dramatic, and this charming novel describing...

Born and raised in the appalling deprivation of a Victorian-era London workhouse, the orphan Oliver escapes the drudgery of apprenticeship only to fall into the hands of the notorious Fagin and his gang of child thieves. But Oliver is an innocent at heart and the attempts by Fagin and the impudently witty Artful Dodger to teach the boy the trick of the pick-pocket's trade lead only to his almost immediate capture. Oliver's rescue by the kindly Mr....

From the Publisher: As a colt, Black Beauty lives happily with his mother on a farm. Then he is sold to a country gentleman whose family uses him as a riding and carriage horse. He is then passed on to other owners, some of whom are kind while others are negligent and cruel. At times he is whipped, forced to haul heavy loads, or otherwise abused. Throughout, Black Beauty desires considerate treatment, close companionship, and a permanent home. Will...