The Floating Press imprint: 2252 books

The String of Pearls is the first installment of the Sweeney Todd penny part serial. It introduces the homicidal barber who became a staple of Victorian melodrama. In his barber shop on Fleet Street, Sweeney Todd murders his clients by tipping them down a chute and cleaning them off afterward with his...

The Power of Mesmerism is a classic Victorian erotic novel that was originally published in 1891. It contains graphic sexual descriptions and themes. This risqué fictional foray into the nineteenth-century boudoir will finally put to rest the age-old presumption that the period was frumpy and repressed. A must-read for fans of steamy Victoriana.

Pirkei Avot, which is most commonly translated as "Chapters of the Fathers," is one of the most important collections of ethical teachings in the tradition of Judaism. Believed to have been compiled in the period between 200 B.C. and 200 A.C., this compendium of ancient wisdom remains just as relevant and inspirational thousands of years later.

This classic erotic novel recounts the sensual adventures of Maudie, an experienced and insatiable young lady who flouts the strict mores of the age in which she lives and makes the most of her encounters with her paramour Charlie, as well as many other men. From intimate one-on-one flings to wild orgies, Maudie never turns down a chance to be naughty.

Immerse yourself in one of the most significant documents ever penned. Originally enacted in 1215, some sections of the Magna Carta remain on the books as legally enforced statutes in parts of the U.K. today. Legal and political scholars have detailed the Magna Carta's far-reaching influence on the development...

Looking for a quick but engrossing read? In "Hunted Down," master storyteller Charles Dickens makes an uncharacteristic foray into quasi-detective fiction, and creating an idiosyncratic protagonist whose strange interests and preoccupations make him a natural when it comes to tracking down criminals.

Born in Exile is an 1892 novel by George Robert Gissing, a prominent realist author of late-Victorian England who wrote twenty-three novels between 1880 and 1903.

William Morris is most famous for his textile design, but he was also a passionate and active socialist. News From Nowhere explores his socialist ideals in soft science-fiction. A man returns from a socialist meeting and falls into a sleep from which he wakes in a utopian, socialist future.

Every person is born with their own unique set of strengths, abilities, and talents, but few find a way to translate those abilities into income. In How to Turn Your Ability into Cash, renowned New Thought expert Earl Prevette provides readers with practical advice on how to capitalize on their unique...

Scottish writer and thinker Mary Hamilton was a staunch early supporter of equal rights for women. In her bestselling novel, Munster Village, Hamilton imagines a utopian community which opens its arms to women and children who have suffered as a result of society's strict mores and constraints.

Hankering for a transporting read that will take you back to a simpler time? Settle in with Christmas Eve on Lonesome and Other Stories from renowned Kentucky author John Fox Jr. Whether you're a homesick Southerner who desperately needs a dose of way-back-when nostalgia or a true-blue Yankee who's curious about this one-of-a-kind culture, this collection is a fascinating read.

Brilliant pianist Madame Okraska and her adopted daughter Karen have a tight-knit relationship. When Karen finds herself falling for wry and sardonic attorney Gregory Jardine, Madame Okraska -- who is used to unquestioning deference from her adoring fans -- isn't particularly pleased. Can love flourish amidst these trying circumstances?

Effective spoken communication is a fine art. Brush up your speaking skills with this timeless treatise on talking from Yale public speaking instructor Grenville Kleiser. Brimming with practical tips on how to get your point across, this book is a must-have for anyone who wants to be a better communicator.

This charming collection brings together dozens of popular newspaper columns written by acclaimed essayist Sara Willis (pen name Fanny Fern). On topics ranging from marriage to friendships between women, Fern dispenses her trademark brand of wit and wisdom.