Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire is the tale of a catastrophic confrontation between fantasy and reality, embodied in the characters of Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski. This Penguin Modern Classics edition includes an introduction by Arthur Miller.'I have always depended on the kindness of strangers'Fading southern belle Blanche DuBois is adrift in the modern world. When she arrives to stay with her sister Stella in a crowded, boisterous corner of New Orleans, her delusions of grandeur bring her into conflict with Stella's crude, brutish husband Stanley Kowalski. Eventually their violent collision course causes Blanche's fragile sense of identity to crumble, threatening to destroy her sanity and her one chance of happiness.Tennessee Williams's steamy and shocking landmark drama, recreated as the immortal film starring Marlon Brando, is one of the most influential plays of the twentieth century.Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) was born in Columbus, Mississippi. When his father, a travelling salesman, moved with his family to St Louis some years later, both he and his sister found it impossible to settle down to city life. He entered college during the Depression and left after a couple of years to take a clerical job in a shoe company. He stayed there for two years, spending the evenings writing. He received a Rockefeller Fellowship in 1940 for his play Battle of Angels, and he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1948 and 1955. Among his many other plays Penguin have published The Glass Menagerie (1944), The Rose Tattoo (1951), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955), Sweet Bird of Youth (1959), The Night of the Iguana (1961), and Small Craft Warnings (1972).If you enjoyed A Streetcar Named Desire, you might like The Glass Menagerie, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.'Lyrical and poetic and human and heartbreaking and memorable and funny'Francis Ford Coppola, director of The Godfather'One of the greatest American plays'Observer Read more

'We don't live alone ... We are responsible for each other'A policeman interrupts a rich family's dinner to question them about the suicide of a young working-class girl. As their guilty secrets are gradually revealed over the course of the evening, 'An Inspector Calls', J. B. Priestley's most famous play, shows us the terrible consequences of poverty and inequality. The other powerful plays in this collection - 'Time and the Conways', 'I Have Been Here Before' and 'The Linden Tree' - explore time, fate, free will and the effects of war. 'A vastly talented and exceptionally versatile and wise writer' Iris Murdoch'Priestley was volcanic, fertile ... and never dull' Anthony BurgessIf you enjoyed An Inspector Calls, you might like Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, also available in Penguin Modern Classics. Read more

International bestseller Bill Bryson brings us this brilliantly readable biography of the world’s greatest playwright, William Shakespeare.Join Bill as he takes you on a journey through Elizabethan England, tackling the myths, half-truths and downright lies to make sense of the man behind the masterpieces.Revel in this glorious celebration of the life of Shakespeare from the much-loved author of ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’ and ‘Notes from a Small Island’. Read more

A Liverpudlian West Side Story: twin brothers are separated at birth because their mother cannot afford to keep them both. She gives one of them away to wealthy Mrs Lyons and they grow up as friends in ignorance of their fraternity until the inevitable quarrel unleashes a blood-bath. 'Willy Russell is less concerned with political tub-thumping than with weaving a close-knit story about the working of fate and destiny ... it carries one along with it in almost unreserved enjoyment" Guardian One of the longest-running and most successful ever West End musicals, Blood Brothers premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse in January 1983. Read more

The delightful romcom from the bestselling author of Rivals'Absolutely brilliant' 5 STAR reader review'Such good fun!' 5 STAR reader review'I couldn't put it down . . . one of the best books I've read!' 5 STAR reader reviewAs a librarian, Imogen read a lot of books, but none of them covered what she was to experience on the Riviera.Her holiday with tennis ace, Nicky, and the whole glamorous coterie surrounding Nicky, was a revelation - and so, ultimately, was she. A wild Yorkshire rose among the thorny model girls, Cable and Yvonne, with a rare asset that they'd mislaid years ago...But the path of a jet-set virgin in that lovely, wicked world was a hard one.Imogen began to wonder if virtue really was its own reward...'There is no one else like Cooper' Guardian'The Jane Austen of our time' HARPERS & QUEEN'The funniest and sharpest writer there is' Jenny Colgan'Flawlessly entertaining' Helen Fielding[cover may vary] Read more

'So funny - Nabokov meets Spinal Tap.' STEPHEN MERCHANT'Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.' TIM KEY'Absolutely miraculous.' JESSE EISENBERG'A brain-swirlingly funny quest.' ROBERT POPPERRichard Ayoade's fictional quest to rescue Harauld Hughes - the almost mythical mid-century playwright - from obscurity.The gifted filmmaker, corduroy activist and amateur dentist, Richard Ayoade, first chanced upon a copy of The Two-Hander Trilogy by Harauld Hughes in a second-hand bookshop. At first startled by his uncanny resemblance to the author's photo, he opened the volume and was electrified. Terse, aggressive, and elliptical, what was true of Ayoade was also true of Hughes's writing, which encompassed stage, screen, and some of the shortest poems ever published.Ayoade embarked on a documentary, The Unfinished Harauld Hughes, to understand the unfathomable collapse of Hughes's final film O Bedlam! O Bedlam!, taking us deep inside the mind of the most furious British writer since the Boer War.This is the story of the story of that quest.Readers love The Unfinished Harauld Hughes:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Buy it, it's hilarious.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Intelligent humour at its best.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Terrific, funny, nuts!'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I was snorting with laughter.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Very clever, very funny.' Read more

A LOVE LETTER TO 67 YEARS OF ACTING ON STAGE - THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA witty, insightful journey through the plays and tales of our beloved Shakespeare‘Wonderfully inspiring. A delightful spell in the company of one of our greatest actresses’ Daily Mail, Books of the Year‘Gloriously entertaining. Reading it feels like a chat with an old friend’ Observer‘A magical love letter to Shakespeare’ Kenneth Branagh----For the very first time, Judi Dench opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played in her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra.Here, she reveals her behind the scenes secrets; inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humour and striking honesty.This is Judi's love letter to William Shakespeare – the man who pays the rent.----Praise for The Man Who Pays the Rent'This book is pure enchantment’ Daily Mail'This is a gloriously entertaining tour through the canon in the company of perhaps the most experienced living Shakespearean actor' Observer'An utterly delightful book. An unstoppable stream of anecdotes, recollections and asides' Telegraph‘Companionable and compelling, mischievous and convivial – it genuinely feels like you’re sitting at her kitchen table with Judi Dench’ Guardian‘Gorgeous’ Literary Review‘A wonderful mixture of appreciation and anecdote’ Financial Times, Books of the YearInstant Sunday Times bestseller, November 2023 Read more

128,000 letters.Over 20,000 cows.Can you find them all?Welcome to the word search that tests just how much you really like cows.From the first page to the last, the cows multiply, starting with a single 'COW' on page one, two on page two, and so forth, leading up to a staggering 200 cows on page 200. In total, over 20,000 cows are hidden within this legendairy puzzle challenge. Part unclimbable mountain, part mindful word search, this book offers a unique way to blend cognitive exercise with relaxation. Craving a serene but stimulating getaway from life's chaos? 20,000 Cows provides just the right balance of calm and complexity.200 Pages of Puzzles: Each page increases the cows you need to find, making each puzzle progressively more challenging.Fun for All Ages: Perfect for kids, adults, and seniors looking to enhance their pattern recognition and concentration skills.Unleash your Cow-petitive Side: Compete with friends and family to see who can spot the most cows. It's an un-bull-ievably addictive way to spend an afternoon!Soothing Moo-indful Fun: Dip into the book when you need time alone from the hustle and bustle of daily life.Whether it's for a lazy Sunday, a family game night, or a quirky gift for that puzzle lover in your life, this book promises hours of entertainment. Read more

Pride and Prejudice is an 1813 novel of manners by Jane Austen. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.Mr. Bennet, owner of the Longbourn estate in Hertfordshire, has five daughters, but his property is entailed and can only be passed to a male heir. His wife also lacks an inheritance, so his family faces becoming poor upon his death. Thus, it is imperative that at least one of the daughters marries well to support the others, which is a motivation that drives the plot.Pride and Prejudice has consistently appeared near the top of lists of "most-loved books" among literary scholars and the reading public. It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, with over 20 million copies sold, and has inspired many derivatives in modern literature. For more than a century, dramatic adaptations, reprints, unofficial sequels, films, and TV versions of Pride and Prejudice have portrayed the memorable characters and themes of the novel, reaching mass audiences. Read more

Arthur Miller's classic parable of mass hysteria draws a chilling parallel between the Salem witch-hunt of 1692 - 'one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history' - and the American anti-communist purges led by Senator McCarthy in the 1950s. The story of how the small community of Salem is stirred into madness by superstition, paranoia and malice, culminating in a violent climax, is a savage attack on the evils of mindless persecution and the terrifying power of false accusations.A depiction of innocent men and women destroyed by malicious rumour, The Crucible is also a powerful indictment of McCarthyism and the 'frontier mentality' of Cold War America. Read more

No Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of Romeo and Juliet on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right. Each No Fear Shakespeare contains: The complete text of the original play A line-by-line translation that puts Shakespeare into everyday language A complete list of characters with descriptions Plenty of helpful commentary. The famous tale of star-crossed lovers. Read more

CompleteUnabridgedBeautifulMacbeth, or The Tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare is one of the most influential works of world literature. Enjoy it again or for the very first time in this stylish new paperback edition. Read more

The gripping novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone and The Family Upstairs._____________Lydia, Robyn and Dean don't know each other - yet.They live very different lives but each of them, independently, has always felt that something is missing.What they don't know is that a letter is about to arrive that will turn their lives upside down.It is a letter containing a secret - one that will bind them together, and show them what love and family and friendship really mean..._____________Reader's can't get enough of The Making Of Us . . .***** 'Really gripping. Couldn't put it down.'***** 'Truly a great read for just about everyone.'***** 'Lisa Jewell is becoming one of my favourites. This is the third book of hers that I absolutely loved.'***** 'I loved the characters and the way the author unravel their stories.'***** 'I loved this book from the beginning.' Read more

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'How much of living is really just forgetting?’The family home is more than a building. It’s a destination of pilgrimage, an inherited investment, a repository of memory or magic. But, for brother and sister Stephen and Billie, home is all they’ve got. Mucking along in their decaying farmhouse, they’re doing just fine.That is, until the arrival of an ex-clergyman uncle with an unscrupulous plan, a sister-in-law seeking a miracle, and a prodigal brother hell-bent on trouble…An entrancing tale of fate, family and unseen forces in 1980s Ireland, The Brightening Air was the winner of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. It was first performed at The Old Vic, London, in 2025, directed by the playwright. Read more

“Engrossing...The Pact is compelling reading.”—PeopleIn this heart-rending tale of love and friendship, Jodi Picoult brings to life a familiar world, and in a single terrifying moment awakens every parent’s worst fear: We think we know our children . . . but do we ever really know them at all?The Golds and the Hartes, neighbors for eighteen years, have always been inseparable. So have their children—and it’s no surprise that in high school Chris and Emily’s friendship blossoms into something more. But the bonds of family, friendship, and passion—which had seemed so indestructible—suddenly threaten to unravel in the wake of unimaginable tragedy.When midnight calls from the hospital come in, no one is ready for the truth. Emily is dead at seventeen from a gunshot wound to the head. There’s a single unspent bullet in the gun that Chris pilfered from his father’s cabinet—a bullet that Chris tells police he intended for himself. But a local detective has doubts about the suicide pact that Chris describes.This extraordinary, poignant novel paints an indelible portrait of two families in anguish . . . and creates an astonishingly suspenseful courtroom drama as Chris is put on trial for murder. Read more

From the iconic Number One bestseller Ian Rankin, comes one of the must-read books of the year: A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES 'Genius ... Only great novels capture the spirit of the age. This is one of them.'THE TIMES* * * * *'He's gone...'When his daughter Samantha calls in the dead of night, John Rebus knows it's not good news. Her husband has been missing for two days.Rebus fears the worst - and knows from his lifetime in the police that his daughter will be the prime suspect.He wasn't the best father - the job always came first - but now his daughter needs him more than ever. But is he going as a father or a detective?As he leaves at dawn to drive to the windswept coast - and a small town with big secrets - he wonders whether this might be the first time in his life where the truth is the one thing he doesn't want to find...PRAISE FOR A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES:'Magnificent ... utterly unputdownable and an immersive pleasure' MARIAN KEYES'This is Rankin at his best, Rebus at his best, storytelling that meets the moment and transcends all genres and expectations' MICHAEL CONNELLY'An outstanding addition to one of the finest bodies of work in crime fiction' MICK HERRON'Rankin remains the king of the castle' THE TIMES'Typically compelling' DAILY TELEGRAPH'Masterly storytelling' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Excellent' LIZ NUGENT'The best that the crime genre can offer' FT'Rankin grows better with time . . . Rebus grows ever more compelling' DAILY MAIL* * * * *PRAISE FOR THE ICONIC NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER:'Ian Rankin is a genius'LEE CHILD'A master storyteller'GUARDIAN'Rebus is one of British crime writing's greatest characters: alongside Holmes, Poirot and Morse'DAILY MAIL'Great fiction, full stop'THE TIMES'One of Britain's leading novelists in any genre'NEW STATESMAN'Rankin is a phenomenon'SPECTATOR'Worthy of Agatha Christie at her best'SCOTSMAN'The king of crime fiction'SUNDAY EXPRESS**** Ian Rankin's SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 5th October 2020 Read more

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a poignant novella set during the Great Depression. It tells the story of two displaced ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, who dream of owning their own piece of land. George is small, sharp-witted, and protective, while Lennie is large, strong, and mentally disabled, often getting into trouble due to his lack of understanding and immense strength.The pair finds work on a ranch in California, where they meet various characters, including Candy, an aging handyman; Crooks, a black stable hand; and Curley, the boss’s aggressive son, along with his lonely wife. Despite the harsh conditions and challenges they face, George and Lennie’s dream of a better future keeps them motivated.However, their plans are shattered when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife while trying to stroke her hair, not realizing his own strength. Fearing for Lennie’s safety and knowing that he cannot control his actions, George makes the heartbreaking decision to kill Lennie mercifully before an angry mob can lynch him. Read more

Afghan-American Nadia Hashimi's literary debut novel is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate, and the freedom to control one's own fate that combines the cultural flavor and emotional resonance of the works of Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lisa See.In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can only sporadically attend school, and can rarely leave the house. Their only hope lies in the ancient custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until she is of marriageable age. As a son, she can attend school, go to the market, and chaperone her older sisters.But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-great grandmother, Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life the same way.Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl the Broke Its Shell interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century who share similar destinies. But what will happen once Rahima is of marriageable age? Will Shekiba always live as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive? Read more

NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES. WE ALL HAVE SECRETS...'I wanted to finish it so fast so I could learn the truth about what really happened' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Right from page one this is a real pageturner' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Adam Price has a lot to lose: a beautiful family, a big house, a good job - a perfect life.But then he meets a stranger in a bar and learns a shocking secret about his wife.With the mirage of perfection shattered, Adam finds himself caught up in something far darker than his wife's deception.And if he doesn't make the right moves, the conspiracy he's stumbled into will not only ruin lives - it will end them. Read more