The Rose and the Ring

The Rose and The Ring is a satirical work of fiction written by William Makepeace Thackeray, originally published at Christmas 1854 (though dated 1855). It criticises, to some extent, the attitudes of the monarchy and those at the top of society and challenges their ideals of beauty and marriage. The plot opens on the royal family of Paflagonia eating breakfast together, consisting of King Valoroso, his wife, the Queen, and their daughter, Princess Angelica.

The Virginians

The Virginians: A Tale of the Last Century (1857-59) is a historical novel by William Makepeace Thackeray which forms a sequel to his Henry Esmond and is also loosely linked to Pendennis. It tells the story of Henry Esmond's twin grandsons, George and Henry Warrington. Henry's romantic entanglements with an older woman lead up to his taking a commission in the British army and fighting under the command of General Wolfe at the capture of Quebec. On the outbreak of the American War of Independence he takes the revolutionary side.

The Seven Poor Travellers

In this remarkable work, Dickens shows that no matter how hard the times, Christmas is bound to bring back warmth and love. “The Seven Poor Travellers” is a selected piece from Dickens’ Christmas writings that confirms his lasting influence upon our idea of Christmas spirit: that Christmas is a time for celebration, charity, and memory.

The Trumpet-Major

The Trumpet-Major is a picturesque tale by Thomas Hardy. The protagonist, Ann Garland who likes men in uniform, is pursued by three suitors in the backdrop of Napoleonic Wars. Harper's New Monthly wrote that its scenes "abound in the picturesque descriptions of scenery and still-life, and the subtle delineations of widely contrasted character and manner, that are the characteristic charms of his style and methods."

Belying Hardy's diversity, the book is divided into four very different sections: "Time Laughingstocks," a collection of bleakly tragic verses unflinchingly showing Hardy's signature pessimism; "More Love Lyrics," which is self-explanatory and contains some of Hardy's best writing on a subject he excelled at, though the depiction is unsurprisingly dark; "A Set of Country Songs," ballads and ballad-like poems set in Hardy's customary Wessex; and "Pieces Occasional and Various," a catch-all section with both personal and philosophical poems.