Benjamin Briggent Books

Tales of the Alhambra is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories by Washington Irving. Shortly after completing a biography of Christopher Columbus in 1828, Washington Irving traveled from Madrid, where he had been staying, to Granada, Spain. At first sight, he described it as "a most picturesque and beautiful city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever seen." Irving was preparing a book called A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada, a history of the years 1478–1492, and was continuing his research on the topic. He immediately asked the then-governor of the historic Alhambra Palace as well as the archbishop of Granada for access to the palace, which was granted because of Irving's celebrity status. Aided by a 17-year old guide named Mateo Ximenes, Irving was inspired by his experience to write Tales of the Alhambra. Throughout his trip, he filled his notebooks and journals with descriptions and observations though he did not believe his writing would ever do it justice. He wrote, "How unworthy is my scribbling of the place." Irving continued to travel through Spain until he was appointed as secretary of legation at the United States Embassy in London, serving under the incoming minister Louis McLane. He arrived in London by late September 1829. -- from Wikipedia

Originally published in The Cornhill Magazine in 1878 and in book form in 1879, Daisy Miller brought Henry James his first widespread commercial and critical success. The young Daisy Miller, an American on holiday with her mother on the shores of Switzerland’s Lac Leman, is one of James’s most vivid and tragic characters. Daisy’s friendship with an American gentleman, Mr. Winterbourne, and her subsequent infatuation with a passionate but impoverished Italian bring to life the great Jamesian themes of Americans abroad, innocence versus experience, and the grip of fate. As Elizabeth Hardwick writes in her Introduction, Daisy Miller “lives on, a figure out of literature who has entered history as a name, a vision.”

Jane Austen's famous novel about Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy finding love against all the odds of misunderstanding, scandal and family interference is brought to life in a brand new adaptation coming to cinemas this Autumn.

Featuring selected stories from Lovecraft's renowned Cthulhu mythos, this elegant gift edition showcases his extraordinary imagination through classic tales like "The Call of Cthulhu" and "The Shunned House." Readers will encounter terrifying rituals, grotesque comedies, and chilling narratives that delve into themes of insanity. The book is beautifully designed with a silver embossed cover and stenciled page edges, making it a striking addition for fans of pioneering science fiction.

The narrative explores the satirical voyages of its protagonist, highlighting the absurdities of human nature through encounters with various fantastical societies. Each voyage, from Lilliput to the land of the Houyhnhnms, critiques contemporary politics and social norms. Jonathan Swift employs a sharp, ironic style that has influenced the genre of satire, making this work a cornerstone of English literature. The new edition includes an introductory chapter by George Edward Woodberry, enhancing the reader's understanding of Swift's impact and legacy.

Everyone has a dark side.Dr Jekyll has discovered the ultimate drug. A chemical that can turn him into something else. Suddenly, he can unleash his deepest cruelties in the guise of the sinister Hyde. Transforming himself at will, he roams the streets of fog-bound London as his monstrous alter-ego.It seems he is master of his fate.It seems he is in complete control.But soon he will discover that his double life comes at a hideous price ...

Heart of Darkness has been considered for most of this century as a literary classic, and also as a powerful indictment of the evils of imperialism. It reflects the savage repressions carried out in the Congo by the Belgians in one of the largest acts of genocide committed up to that time. Conrad's narrator encounters at the end of the story a man named Kurtz, dying, insane, and guilty of unspeakable atrocities.