The Floating Press imprint: 2252 books

Think all poetry is fussy, ponderous and pretentious? If so, you definitely need to spend some quality time with this deliciously dark book of humorous poetry from English writer Henry Graham. From the very first page, you'll be suppressing chortles of pure glee.

What should a brilliant, independently wealthy young man with a predilection for solving problems do with his life? Adrian "Average" Jones decides to help people by going into business as an "Ad-Visor," a specialist who aids his clients in determining whether classified advertisements are genuine or fraudulent. Each of the short stories in this creative collection stems from one of Jones' cases.

In this engaging volume of theological and philosophical essays and anecdotes, British writer A. C. Benson relates the views of his longtime mentor, an Anglican lay clergyman that he refers to as Father Payne. Although it's not exactly clear where Payne's opinions leave off and Benson's begin, there is definitely a great deal of thought-provoking insight to be gleaned from this collection.

In Margaret Deland's most popular novel, a sleepy little town finds itself rent asunder by religious controversy when hard-line Calvinist preacher John Ward begins praying publicly for the salvation of his independent, free-thinking wife, who harbors some rather unorthodox beliefs about Christianity.

Readers with an interest in ancient times will love John Gibson Lockhart's Valerius, a carefully researched tale that follows the son of a high-ranking Roman officer and his British bride as they take a holiday to Rome and get a first-hand look at that culture's customs and mores.

We often look upon poised and polished individuals as possessing some inborn trait that allows them to sail through any situation with grace and ease. But in truth, poise can be consciously cultivated, just like any other good habit. In this guide, the author sets forth a series of simple and easy-to-follow...

"Edith Van Dyne" is the pseudonym under which L. Frank Baum penned a popular series of novels for younger audiences. In this tale, indefatigable heroine Mary Louise finds out that her beloved grandfather has been accused of treason and works tirelessly to clear his name and restore his reputation.

Sleep disorders can be devastating to the health and well-being of those afflicted with them. In this nineteenth-century medical text from William A. Hammond, America's first neurologist, a range of topics pertaining to sleep are discussed, including sleepwalking, nightmares, and insomnia.

Drawing on his own experience as an American diplomat in Venice, William Dean Howells' gripping novel Ragged Lady pits a Venetian vice-consul against a network of influential foes when he takes up the cause of a young woman who has been wrongfully denied her inheritance.

In this perplexing science-fiction short story, an intrepid interplanetary explorer named Kaiser suddenly comes to his senses after a scouting mission has gone horribly awry -- only to discover that his messages back to the mother ship have become garbled and incoherent, as if someone else was sending them. Who is this mysterious interloper?

A seven-year-old boy suffers a near-fatal injury, after which he lingers for days between life and death. In this liminal period, the young protagonist undergoes a bizarre experience wherein he feels as if he has become untethered from his physical body. Filled with both hopeful wonderment and bursts...

Orphaned as toddlers, sisters Gwynette and Jeanette were adopted by two very different families and spent most of their childhoods separated. A series of circumstances conspire to bring the pair together, but will they ever find out that their relationship runs much deeper than friendship?

Stammering and stuttering are speech disorders that often cause those who suffer from them a great deal of pain and embarrassment. Although modern medicine has devised its own take on the issue, author Benjamin Bogue offers his own homespun program to help reduce stammering in Stammering: Its Cause and Cure.

Writing under the pseudonym "Susan Coolidge," author Sarah Chauncey Woolsey produced a number of notable literary works, including a series of well-regarded children's novels, several books of poetry, and numerous collections of short stories. This collection of some of her best poetry showcases Coolidge's mannered, lyrical style.