Peter Harness Books

An easy-reading version of Tom Sawyer, appropriate for young readers or ELL students. Twenty-six pages of text and color illustrations.

Dorian Gray was written by the famous Oscar Wilde and has been adapted for Elementary-Level readers. This story is about Dorian Gray who has had a picture of him painted by an admirer called Basil Hallward. Dorian wishes he would never age like the picture as he places it in the attic. But his wish has tragic consequences. Includes an Audio CD.

Referring to "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, " H. L. Mencken noted that his discovery of this classic American novel was "the most stupendous event of my whole life"; Ernest Hemingway declared that "all modern American literature stems from this one book," while T. S. Eliot called Huck "one of the permanent symbolic figures of fiction, not unworthy to take a place with Ulysses, Faust, Don Quixote, Don Juan, Hamlet." The novel's preeminence derives from its wonderfully imaginative re-creation of boyhood adventures along the mighty Mississippi River, its inspired characterization, the author's remarkable ear for dialogue, and the book's understated development of serious underlying themes: "natural" man versus "civilized" society, the evils of slavery, the innate value and dignity of human beings, the stultifying effects of convention, and other topics. But most of all, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is a wonderful story filled with high adventure and unforgettable characters (including the great river itself) that no one who has read it will ever forget. Unabridged Dover (1994) republication of the text of the first American edition, published by Charles L. Webster and Company, New York, 1885. New introductory Note."

Originally published in 1789 and 1794, this is a collection of some of Blake's best-loved poems. Intended for children, the poems were a popular success with adults of the time too.

"We will die in the fire instead of living in chains." For years, 20 million shape-changing Zygons have lived among us in secret. They wear human form, hiding in plain sight. Now a fanatical Zygon splinter group seek to expose their own kind and provoke a conflict that will force both sides to the brink of Armageddon to ensure their own survival. It took three Doctors to broker a fragile peace between Zygons and Humans. Now the 12th must face the fallout alone. With his allies compromised and his companion believed dead, can he stop the world from plunging into war?

Merry, dark or magical, these classic tales never fail to inspire and enthral. From the land of fantastical castles, vast lakes and deep forests, the Brothers Grimm collected a treasury of entrancing folk and fairy stories full of giants and dwarfs, witches and princesses, magic beasts and cunning boys. From favourites such as The Frog-Prince and Hansel and Gretel to the delights of Ashputtel or Old Sultan, all are vivid with timeless mystery.

Gustave Flaubert's novel is a landmark of the nineteenth century, known for its influence and controversy. In this Penguin Classics edition, translated by Geoffrey Wall and featuring a preface by Michele Roberts, we meet Emma Bovary, a beautiful yet discontented woman trapped in a mundane marriage to a mediocre doctor. Longing for excitement, she immerses herself in sentimental novels and seeks escape through extravagant spending and affairs. However, her pursuits lead to disappointment and tragic consequences. Upon its publication in 1857, Flaubert's candid exploration of Emma's desires sparked moral outrage, with many women claiming to be reflections of her character. Flaubert famously stated, "Madame Bovary, c'est moi," asserting a personal connection to his creation. Born in Rouen in 1821, Flaubert turned to writing after an illness disrupted his law career. Although the novel garnered immediate acclaim, its frank depiction of adultery led to a trial for immorality, from which he narrowly escaped conviction. Despite limited success during his lifetime, Flaubert's reputation grew posthumously. If you appreciated this work, you may also enjoy Stendhal's The Red and the Black, available in Penguin Classics. A.S. Byatt praised it as "enchanting and terrible," while Kate Summerscale noted its innovative style.