The Floating Press imprint: 2252 books

Fleeing big-city life in the aftermath of a tumultuous romance, a beautiful young woman retreats to the quiet country house of her uncle to recuperate and seek a new path in life. But when her scorned lover shows up to win her back with a few clever tricks up his sleeve, her resolve to live a solitary life begins to falter.

Irish master of gothic horror Sherdian Le Fanu does it again with the two stories collected in this volume. Though both are distinct tales that will leave your spine tingling, they share a common theme: an ordinary person is doggedly pursued by a strange being. Are the hauntings supernatural, or merely the byproduct of a diseased psyche?

At first glance, this tale of an ill-fated romance between a coast guardsman and a poor fisherman's daughter set in Scotland appears to be far removed from Bram Stoker's horror masterwork Dracula. But the moody setting, grim story line and Gothic flourishes throughout reveal this story's kinship with its better-known counterpart.

Henri Bergson, the French philosopher known for a series of lighthearted but rigorous studies of human behavior, such as Laughter, tackles the subject of dreams in this volume. Bergson traces the significance of dreams throughout human history and ponders their deeper meaning and significance. A must-read for dream-interpretation buffs and students of epistemology.

Russell H. Conwell was an influential Baptist thinker and theologian whose famed lecture "Acres of Diamonds" gained worldwide acclaim in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The funds the speech garnered allowed Conwell to start Temple University, as well as other philanthropic and civic...

Ghost stories aren't always the province of creaky old Victorian hotels and medieval palaces. This fascinating collection brings together some traditional tales of the supernatural from China. If you're a horror buff who's looking to expand your horizons a bit, Some Chinese Ghosts is a must-read.

Interested in learning more about the religious rites, beliefs and practices of different cultures around the world? Check out W. H. Davenport Adams' Curiosities of Superstition. This important early work of comparative religious study highlights similarities and differences of sacred practices throughout history and around the globe.

Losing your focus? Feeling frazzled? Unable to work on a task for more than a few minutes at a time? This guide from famed mentalist Theron Dumont will help you to extend and enhance your powers of concentration through a series of simple, easy-to-understand exercises and techniques.

British writer and educator Arthur Christopher Benson possessed a wide-ranging intellect and published prodigiously throughout his entire life. This eclectic selection of his most popular essays runs the gamut from literature to philosophy, with some discussion of pedagogy and educational theory along the way.

The self-esteem fetishists who populate today's self-help circuit often contend that pleasure and unconditional self-regard are the keys to a happy life. But in this series of classic sermons, renowned Unitarian pastor and theologian John Mather Austin asserts that it is the structure supplied by self-imposed...

British-born Baptist minister Clement Bailhache was a prolific thinker, writer, and theologian whose sermons touched on a broad range of topics, both timely and timeless. This collection brings together a wide-ranging cross-section of his best works, providing plenty of food for thought for believers, as well as those interested in the development of Christian belief over time.

Over the course of his remarkably varied literary career, Swedish writer August Strindberg produced plays, poetry, novels, essays, and memoirs. In the short stories collected in Fair Haven and Foul Strand, Strindberg's unparalleled skill as a creator of memorable characters shines through.

Swedish polymath August Strindberg delivers a fascinating volume in Historical Miniatures. Just as the title implies, these are short vignettes drawn from history and presented in narrative form. You'll learn about day-to-day life in past eras -- without the boredom and drudgery of dry textbook-style takes on history.

William Morris was an English writer, architect, and artist and was integral to the birth of socialism in Great Britain. He founded the Socialist League in 1884, but later broke away from it over differences in methods and goals. Signs of Change is a collection of his essays on art, politics and socialism, including 'Useful Work versus Useless Toil'.