Colonel Pyncheon does well in denouncing Old Matthew: he founds a New England dynasty and builds a remarkable mansion; but on its opening day he is found dead, slaked in his own blood. By 1840, that dynasty is almost spent; amid the dust and decay of the Seven Gables, Clifford and Hepzibah believe in their own continued nobility as much as they believe in the mysterious curse still tracking the Pyncheons. After 30 years in prison for a murder he did...

Presents an annotated text of the saga of the hero Beowulf, slayer of the monster Grendel, and includes backgrounds and sources, as well as critical commentary.

The story of three very different brothers following the murder of their barbaric father.

Norton's third edition (previous editions, 1972 and 1993) based on Austen's 1816 edition, has a background section with letters to Austen's sister, Cassandra; an excerpt describing a country ball from "The Watsons" (a novel fragment); V. Woolf's commentary on "The Watsons"; and two biographical sketches of Austen by family members. Reviews and criticism include 16 assessments of the novel and critical overviews by Sir Walter Scott, George Henry Lewes,...

"Wuthering Heights, the only novel by Emily Bronte, traces the passionate relationship of Catherine and Heathcliff. Their affair ripples across the moors as it determines the fate of two generations of lovers. The "Background and Contexts" section includes selections of Bronte's diary entries, devoirs, and poetry. Readers will also find a selection of letters from Charlotte Bronte, as well as reviews of the 1847 and 1850 editions of Wuthering Heights....