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‘When people go to Johannesburg, they do not come back.’ Cry, the Beloved Country is the moving story of two families in South Africa – one black and one white – who are brought into violent contact. From a remote valley in Natal, Reverend Kumalo sets off for the city of Johannesburg in search of his younger sister and his son.

Anna Karenina, one of world literature’s greatest novels, tells the story of a beautiful young woman who is unhappily married to a man much older than herself. When she falls in love with a handsome young soldier, life suddenly seems wonderful. But real happiness is not so easily found ...

Emma Bovary is a dreamer. She escapes from her boring life with her father by marrying Charles, a doctor, but married life does not bring her the love and excitement she expected. She looks for love outside her marriage, and one of literature’s great tragedies begins to unfold.

The Moonstone is an ancient Indian diamond which brings disaster and tragedy to everyone who owns it. Rachel Verinder's uncle gives it to her as a birthday present but the same night it is stolen. Published in 1868, this is now seen as the first, and one of the best, detective novels ever written.

Pip is a poor orphan whose life is changed forever by two very different meetings – one with an escaped convict and the other with an eccentric old lady and the beautiful girl who lives with her. And who is the mysterious person who leaves him a fortune?

His mother is dead, so little Oliver Twist is brought up in the workhouse. Beaten and starved, he runs away to London, where he joins Fagin’s gang of thieves. By chance he also finds good new friends – but can they protect him from people who rob and murder without mercy?