The Floating Press: 2252 books

Athalia Hall, 34, is a spirited, independent and mercurial whirlwind of a woman whose patient, indulgent husband tries his best to understand her. But when her behavior puts Lewis at odds with his religion, he finds himself being forced to make a difficult choice.

Fans of nineteenth-century novels should flock to Mary Cholmondeley's Red Pottage. This novel takes an unflinching look at the social conventions and strictures that dictated so many women's life trajectories in the era -- often with less-than-ideal outcomes for everyone involved. Following the lives...

H. Rider Haggard's Dawn offers something for everyone: thrilling action sequences, tender romance, and a fascinating glimpse into the social forces that governed courtship in the nineteenth century. If you prefer your tales of star-crossed lovers to be served up with a whole lot of page-turning suspense and excitement, put this novel on your must-read list.

There is a rich body of folklore that has sprung up around the central events that are said to have occurred in the life of Jesus. This volume, originally written in Swedish, collects a number of charming versions of these tales. It's an inspiring collection that would also be a good choice to read aloud to children.

What do hard-living cowboys and daredevil airplane pilots have in common? According to B.M. Bower's Skyrider, these groups share an inborn craving for adventure that sets them apart from the rest of the world. Johnny Jewel, a cowhand given to daydreaming, is determined to pursue his hope of becoming a pilot at all costs.

Orphaned and abandoned, young Renee de Longueville has been passed between relatives and family friends. Traveling from France to the new world, she meets her grouchy grandfather, who gives her a less than pleasant welcome. But even though it grew out of tragic circumstances, Renee cherishes her trip to the American city of St. Louis and drinks in the bustling burg's many charms.

This eclectic collection of stories from American author Bret Harte highlights his skill with characterization and ingenious plot construction. "Unser Karl," an espionage tale set in Germany, has a surprising twist ending. "The Passing of Enriquez" is the final episode in a series of tales recounting...

One of Bret Harte's chief strengths as an author was his ability to focus on the outcasts of society and find a way to make them sympathetic. In this short story, the despised Elijah Martin escapes from a brush with death only to find his whole life transformed.

Only a storyteller as preternaturally gifted as action-adventure master H. Rider Haggard could turn a story about a legal battle over publishing rights into a gripping page-turner. Mr. Meeson's Will offers a fascinating glimpse into the legal rights of authors in the nineteenth century -- and a swashbuckling maritime misadventure that comes with a plethora of unpredictable consequences.

H. G. Wells' A Modern Utopia is a fusion of fiction and philosophy. In it Wells' explores his ideas for social change, the creation of a world state and of what would be needed to facilitate increases in overall human happiness. The people of this utopia have to plan for "a flexible common compromise,...

Sail away for nautical adventure and romance in this tale from Robert Barr. A British officer en route to America via cruise ship has an unexpected encounter with a fellow passenger, an American woman, and soon finds himself head-over-heels in love. But messy romantic entanglements lead to larger problems that threaten to end the budding relationship before it really begins.

Once a promising up-and-comer in the field of horror fiction, the tumult of World War I prompted Robert W. Chambers to turn his attention to more realistic matters of love, politics, and social clashes. His novel Barbarians follows a torrid romantic entanglement that develops amongst a group of political operatives living abroad.

Although he is well liked in his community, many members of which remember him fondly as a young man, Richard Blake's stint in the Canadian military is shrouded in a miasma of mystery -- and according to some, dishonor. Will he be able to restore his good name and win back the good graces of his friends and loved ones?

Best known for his essays and poetry, physician and Harvard professor Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. delved into the domain of biography with his 1876 John Lothrop Motley: A Memoir. This work presents readers with an encyclopedic account of the life and accomplishments of the renowned American historian, novelist and diplomat.