National Network for Equitable Library Service

Falling in Love Again is set amongst the castles and woodlands of 18th-century England. Born into wealthy family, heiress Mallory Edwards honorably marries John Barron to fulfill a family obligation. Although he seems charming at first, she soon discovers that he is a beast of a man. Abandoned on her wedding night, she survives by her wit and resourcefulness until her errant husband's debts became too much for her to overcome. Facing debtor's prison, Mallory won't rest until she finds John and nullifies their marriage. But he may not be the villain she believes him to be.

Written over the course of four decades, this collection of 12 stories centers around Depression-era Texas. Characterized by small-town strife, political corruption and frontier-style justice, each tale is a testament to the struggles of the working poor. Also among the stories is a retelling of the myth of Bonnie and Clyde.

In a steamy retelling of the well-known fairy tale, the beautiful courtesan Coco Wilde is famous for her ability to keep the wealthiest men in 19th century London hanging on her every smile. But she maintains a careful emotional detatchment from all admirers. When she meets Sir James Stoker, however, Coco is attracted by his radiant smile and dangerous eyes.

Hardy’s most charming novel uses the four seasons of the Wessex year as a backdrop for the delightful romance of the young tranter Dick Dewy and Fancy Day, the local school mistress. The story of the ups and downs of their courtship is set alongside the story of the rustics who form the Mellstock church choir.

Henry Jones, an insurance clerk, knows that his uncle has disinherited him. The will, made out at the last minute in favour of Henry's charming cousin, lies neatly folded in a volume of sermons in the uncle's book-room. Only Henry knows where it is - and he stands to lose everything if he makes the knowledge public.

Three men down on their luck in Tahiti agree to ship out on a vessel whose officers have died of smallpox. Their desperate venture inspires them to a further idea: they will steal the schooner and its cargo of champagne, sell them, and live a plentiful life. The thought is intoxicating... and so is the cargo, which they sample. Inattention nearly brings them to grief in a sudden storm. This sobering experience is followed by another - apparently the dead officers had a similar ambition! - and their dreams of riches vanish.

A collection of short stories centering on Mariposa, a fictional Mid-West American turn-of-the-century town. This is a gentle journey through a past era, filled with quiet humour and insightful observations of the human condition.

Mr Polly is a middle-aged man, tired of his wife's nagging and his dreary job as a gentleman's out fitter in a small town. Facing bankruptcy, he concludes that the only way to escape his frustrating existence is by burning his shop to the ground, and killing himself. Unexpected events, however, conspire to lead him to a bright new future.

After a rather dissolute youth and having been disowned by his father, John Caldigate sets sail for Australia with his friend Dick Shand hoping to make his fortune in the goldfields in New South Wales. On the voyage, he meets Euphemia Smith and they conduct an indiscreet affair aboard. After various problems, Caldigate literally strikes gold and returns to Sydney where he meets Euphemia again and they settle, living as man and wife. After a time, they quarrel and Caldigate returns to England.

Elfride is the daughter of the Rector of Endelstow, a remote sea-swept parish in Cornwall based on St. Juliot, where Thomas Hardy began the book during the first days of his courtship of his first wife Emma. Blue-eyed and high-spirited, Elfride has little experience of the world beyond, and becomes entangled with two men: the boyish architect, Stephen Smith, and the older literary man, Henry Knight. The former friends become rivals, and Elfride faces an agonizing choice.