The Floating Press: 2252 books

Russian authors such as Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky have long been recognized by critics and readers alike as some of the world's most gifted literary artists. However, their complex prose and weighty philosophical ideas can be overwhelming. This in-depth guide to Russian literature is an invaluable...

In this clever, humorous play from the "Dean of American Letters," William Dean Howells, a German florist finds himself caught up in a series of remarkable coincidences. Readers will appreciate Howells' deft touch with dialogue and keen insight into human nature.

Is fear an evolutionary tool that helps us steer clear of danger and death, or is it a stumbling block that keeps us from realizing our full potential? According to essayist A. C. Benson, it is both of these things simultaneously, and many more as well. In a probing series of autobiographical sketches...

Swedish playwright August Strindberg's early works ushered in a new era of gritty realism, but his later works strayed from this style as his personal interests began to veer toward mysticism and the occult. In There Are Crimes and Crimes, what starts out as a portrayal of a complicated love affair soon turns into something much more sinister.

Though putatively geared for younger audiences, these sophisticated and darkly nuanced tales and sketches bear the mark of Anatole France's ironic, detached authorial presence. From original works to re-imagined versions of classic folktales, it's a charming and thought-provoking collection.

We often associate ancient Japanese culture with a complex code of decorum and comportment, but as this volume demonstrates, people in that era also had a keen appreciation for common sense. Famed shogun warrior Yoritomo-Tashi dispenses down-to-earth philosophy and practical advice about how best to maintain poise and careful thought in even the most challenging of circumstances.

Accomplished author, poet, essayist, and memoirist Eleanor Hallowell Abbott dabbled in many different genres over the course of her career. Rainy Week is a hilarious, irreverent account of a New England house party that goes horribly awry. Packed with memorable characters and a series of unforgettably...

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, also known as Seneca, or Seneca the Younger, was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman and dramatist, who also acted as a tutor and adviser to emperor Nero. Seneca spoke of addressing life's issue through practical steps and considered it important that an individual faces their own mortality.

If you find yourself in need of a laugh, this feather-light volume of humorous tales from Canadian writer Stephen Leacock should definitely fit the bill. His all-encompassing satirical lens focuses on targets ranging from murder mysteries to literary figures and everything in between. You'll be beside yourself with merriment and mirth in no time at all.

Lancashire laborer Tim Hibblethwaite has a bad reputation, and employers around town have started to talk about his grumpy disposition and unwillingness to cooperate. Is there anyone who is willing to overlook his past and give him a chance at a fresh start? This short story from The Secret Garden author...

French writer Theophile Gautier dabbled in virtually every literary genre imaginable over the course of his varied career. In this thought-provoking and finely wrought collection of autobiographical essays, Gautier offers some fascinating nuggets about his lifestyle, friends and -- most notably -- his relationship to animals, particularly dogs and horses.

In this action-packed Western from California-based author Jackson Gregory, upstanding cowboy Buck Thornton finds himself wrongfully accused of a heinous crime committed by a mystery man of Buck's build and height. Faced with no other alternative, Buck decides to chase down the real criminal.

In this historical novel geared for younger readers, little Primrose Henry is a kindhearted but fiercely independent orphan who is shuttled back and forth between relatives, many of which are Quakers. But an exciting change is happening, and Primrose gets a chance to explore the cosmopolitan city of Philadelphia.

In this delightful novel, a pair of best friends -- both of whom are named Anne Leavitt -- have just graduated from college and are about to embark on their new lives. But when a letter arrives bearing an unexpected requested, the pair are torn apart and forced to make new plans.