A-Level

Newland Archer, son of a wealthy New York family, has become engaged to pretty, naive May. But as he tries to get their wedding date moved up, he becomes acquainted with May's exotic cousin, Countess Olenska, who has returned home after dumping her cheating husband. At first, the two are friends, but then they become something more.

It is 1914 and a group of German schoolboys are persuaded by their schoolmaster to troop off to the 'glorious war'. With the fire and patriotism of youth they sign up, but soon they are experiencing the horror and disillusionment of life in the trenches.

When Rosalind is banished by her uncle Duke Frederick, who has usurped her father's throne, she flees to the forest of Arden. There, dressed as a boy to avoid discovery, she encounters the man she loves - Orlando, similarly forced into exile by his older brother Oliver - and resolves to remain in disguise to test his feelings or her.

In this delightful autobiographical novel, Dannie Abse skilfully interweaves public and private themes, setting the fortunes of a Jewish family in Wales against the troubled backcloth of the times - unemployment, the rise of Hitler and Mussolini, and the Spanish Civil War.

In 1914 boys as young as thirteen were caught up in the tide of patriotism sweeping the country, and enlisted for active service. Many were to serve in some of the bloodiest battles. Here their stories are told using diaries, letters and personal testaments from some of the last survivors.

In the shadow of the war in Europe Calum and Neil gather pine cones in the grounds of a Scottish estate. They come into conflict with Duror, the gamekeeper, when Calum releases two rabbits from a snare. In retaliation Duror sets a trap for the cone gatherers.

A new collection of prose poems and translations from Seamus Heaney. It offers resistance as the poet gathers his staying powers and stands his ground in the hiding places of love and excited language.

A physician discovers a drug by which he can create a separate personality with terrifying results.

Emily Dickinson is one of America's greatest writers. This selection includes 147 of her best-known poems and is a perfect introduction to her unique voice.

Tired of the glitter and glamour of St Petersburg society, aristocratic dandy Eugene Onegin retreats to the country where idealistic young poet Vladimir Lensky is happy to introduce him to his fiancee, Olga. But when Olga's sister Tatiana becomes infatuated with Onegin, his cold rejection of her love brings about a tragedy that engulfs them all.

The author, and ‘Son’ of the title, was brought up as a member of the Plymouth Brethren, a strict religious sect. In this emotional portrayal of his Victorian family he questions the faith rigidly enforced on him and his relationship with his father.

Selected poems by the 19th century English Poet.

Compelling story set in modern India. Twins, Rahel and Estha fashion a childhood for themselves in the shade of the wreck that is their family and learn that things can change in a day. Man Booker Prize Winner. Contains some violence.

The intractable experience of the First World War is digested by Graves' poetic imagination into literature. At the same time, it is one of the most candid self portraits ever drawn, while containing vivid portraits of his close friends.

Everybody who is anybody is seen at Gatsby's glittering parties. None of the socialites understand Gatsby. He seems to always be watching and waiting, though no-one knows what for. But as the tragic story unfolds, Gatsby's destructive dreams and passions are revealed.

In 1960s Nigeria, a country blighted by civil war, three lives intersect. When the shocking horror of the war engulfs them, their loyalties are severely tested as they are pulled apart and thrown together in ways that none of them imagined… Orange/Baileys Prize. Richard & Judy Bookclub

Murder and treachery at the court of the King of Denmark where the young Prince Hamlet seeks to avenge his father's murder at the hand of his brother Claudius.

Lady Brenda Last is bored with both her seven year marriage and country living. As she drifts into an affair with a young socialite she becomes involved with the glamorous Belgravia set.

Thomas Gradgrind sees himself as an exponent of Utilitarianism, and uses the philosophies of facts and statistics to bring up his two children, resulting in unhappy consequences.

Maya Angelou grew up in Arkansas during the 1920's. She and her brother were brought up by their grandmother at the centre of the black community, but were all too aware of the 'whitefolks' who ruled from the other side of the town.

If you're trying to hunt down a top grade, you're on the right track. This brilliant Text Guide contains everything GCSE English students need to write simply marvellous essays on J.B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls'.

It's packed with crystal-clear, easy-to-read notes on the plot, characters, themes, writer's techniques and context - plus quick warm-up activities, in-depth exercises and realistic exam-style questions at the end of sections, alongside challenging questions for students aiming for Grades 8-9.

As riots and arson spread all over South Africa, Bam and Maureen Smales take up their servant July's suggestion and drive with their children to his remote home village. For fifteen years July has been the decently-treated black servant living in their yard. Now he becomes their host, their saviour - their keeper.

King Lear unwisely decides to divide his Kingdom among his three daughters, but treachery and greed lead to tragedy.

Exhilarating story of hardship and resilience told with the clarity and eloquence of a born leader whose struggle against Apartheid changed South Africa.

A portrait of life in Manchester in the Hungry Forties of the 19th century, and also a grippingly told love story and murder plot enlivened by the author's genius for making her characters so individually human.

In the Duke's absence from Vienna, his strict deputy Angelo receives an ancient law forbidding sex outside marriage. The young Claudio, whose fiancée is pregnant, is condemned to death by the law. His sister Isabella, soon to become a nun, pleads with Lord Angelo for her brother's life.

In this romantic comedy, Hermia is promised to Demetrius but is in love with Lysander. Helena is in love with Demetrius. The lovers flee to the forest, followed by Demetrius and Helena, where they meet the merry Puck with his magic love juice.

Maggie Tulliver and her brother Tom are very close but, as she grows into womanhood, she comes into conflict with his bourgeois standards and the result is tragedy.

Through a mist of decay and opium, Dickens weaves a tale of murder and mystery in this, his last novel. Set in the fictional cathedral town of Cloisterham, John Jasper, the choir-master, takes an obsessive interest in his nephew Edwin Drood and his fiancée Rosa Bud. But when young Edwin disappears on Christmas Eve, has Jasper killed him? Alas, we’ll never know as Dickens died before completing the novel.

This collection spans twenty years of Carol Ann Duffy's poetry. It takes us across continents and into the minds of babies, psychopaths and giggling schoolgirls, amongst others. It is a world that is both strange yet familiar.

After being horribly disfigured during the First World War and sent to a hospital on the outskirts of Paris, Officer Adrien F. Forms a special bond with the other soldiers dealing with pain and reconstructive surgery.

This is the story of Jeanette, adopted and brought up by her mother as one of God's elect. Zealous and passionate, she seems destined for life as a missionary, but then she falls for one of her converts.

At sixteen, Jeanette decides to leave the church, her home and her family, for the young woman she loves. Innovative, punchy and tender, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a few days ride into the bizarre outposts of religious excess and human obsession.

CONTENT WARNING: contains scenes of a sexual nature

A tale of love, betrayal, secrets and intrigue. Psychology and wit pit strength and virtue against jealousy and evil agendas. The results leave no winners, only tragedy in the lives of the jealous Moor Othello, and his wife, Desdemona.

Dorian Gray is an extremely good-looking young man., who has his portrait painted. One evening he realises that soon his beauty will fade and he makes a deal with the devil that he will retain his youth and his portrait will grow old.

The first collected edition of Fleur Adcock’s poetry, which displays her conversational style, psychological insight and unsentimental view of personal relationships.

The story of a group of working men who are joined one day by Owen, a journeyman-prophet with a vision of a just society. Owen's spirited attacks on the greed and dishonesty of the capitalist system rouse his fellow men from their political quietism.