Three delightful stories inspired by a painting of Henri Matisse—from the Booker Prize-winning author of Possession and “a writer of dazzling inventiveness" (Time).
"[An] exquisite triptych.... Richly drawn and touches upon things that matter to people." —People

These stories celebrate the eye even as they reveal its unexpected proximity to the heart. For if each of A.S. Byatt's narratives...

Sponsored by Trinity College of the University of Cambridge, The Clark Lectures have a long and distinguished history and have featured remarks by some of England's most important literary minds: Leslie Stephen, T. S. Eliot, F. R. Leavis, William Epsom, and I. A. Richards. All have given celebrated and widely influential talks as featured keynote speakers.n important milestone came in 1927 when, for the first time, a novelist was invited to speak:...

"Advised by her doctor to have a change of scene, the elderly Sophonisba moves from her home to take up lodgings in London. Immediately intrigued by the permanently vacant 'house to let' opposite, she charges Trottle - her trusted, yet philandering, servant - and long-time suitor Jabez Jarber, to unearth the secret behind its seeming desertedness. Rivals to the end, they each seek to outdo the other to satisfy the old lady's curiosity. Whilst Jarber...

Grand Union explores a wide range of subjects, from first loves to cultural despair, as well as the desire to be the subject of your own experience. In captivating prose, she contends with race, class, relationships, and gender roles in a world that feels increasingly divided. "Zadie Smith has established herself as one of the most iconic, critically respected, and popular writers of her generation. In her first short story collection, she combines...

Overview: Death comes to everyone eventually on Discworld. And now he's come to Mort with an offer the young man can't refuse. (No, literally, can't refuse since being dead isn't exactly compulsory.) Actually, it's a pretty good deal. As Death's apprentice, Mort will have free board and lodging. He'll get use of the company horse. And he won't have to take any time off for family funerals. But despite the obvious perks, young Mort is about...

"For film buffs and literature lovers alike, this is an essential guide to 52 great reads, and the cinema classics they inspired"--

The beautiful town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, tucked between glitzy Monte Carlo and the plush red carpets of Cannes, is home to Theresa, Carol, William, Benjamin, and Sally: five retired expats who have pooled their resources to set up La Mosaïque, a divine little restaurant. But there is trouble in paradise: the friends are desperately struggling to make ends meet. It will take every bit of their talent and gumption to save La Mosaïque. With fussy customers,...

"New York City in 2012, the sweltering summer before Hurricane Sandy hits. Kate, a young woman newly arrived from England, is staying in a Manhattan apartment while she tries to figure out her future. She has two unfortunate responsibilities during her time in America: to make regular Skype calls to her miserable boyfriend back home, and to cat-sit an indifferent feline named Joni Mitchell. The city has other plans for her. In New York's parks and...

"In the tradition of ONE DAY, a wryly romantic debut story about two strangers who meet briefly as teens in Florence and whose paths cross again many times over the course of the next sixteen years, until they're finally brought back together"--

Una novela sobre la soledad y la incomunicación, el amor y la sexualidad, la muerte y los problemas políticos. Martín Santomé, viudo con tres hijos, en las vísperas de su jubilación comienza a registrar en un diario su vida gris y sin relieve. La vida cotidiana de la rutina en la oficina y la de un hogar desunido y crispado se verán alteradas cuando irrumpe en su rutina la joven Laura Avellaneda, su nueva empleada. Y este hombre, casi sin proponérselo,...