From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read.Amy Judith Levy (10 November 1861 10 September 1889) was a British essayist, poet, and novelist best remembered for her literary gifts; her experience as the first Jewish woman at Cambridge University and as a pioneering woman student at Newnham College, Cambridge; her feminist positions; her friendships with others living what came ...

In "A London Plane-Tree, and Other Verse," Amy Levy masterfully intertwines vivid imagery with rich emotional depth, creating a collection of poems that explores the complexities of urban life in late Victorian London. The work is characterized by Levy's use of natural imagery as a juxtaposition to cityscapes, reflecting her internal struggles and societal observations. Her verses demonstrate an acute awareness of both personal and collective experiences, revealing themes of isolation, ide...

"The Romance of a Shop" tells the story of four orphaned sisters—Fanny, Gertrude, Lucy, and Phyllis Lorimer—who are left to fend for themselves after the death of their father. Instead of succumbing to the typical path of dependence on relatives or marriage, the sisters decide to open a photography business in London. This decision allows them to take control of their own destinies, challenging the norms of Victorian society, where women’s roles were often restricted to domesticity.The nov...

Centring on the Lorimer sisters, who open a photography business after the death of their father, The Romance of a Shop offers a vivid portrait of women determined to achieve independence in a society that offers them few options.Set in late Victorian London, the story explores work, friendship, ambition, and financial survival, presenting a thoughtful examination of the lives of the ‘New Women’ and the challenges they faced. Levy combines social realism w...

The Complete Works, Novels, Plays, Stories, Ideas, and Writings of Amy LevyThis Complete Collection includes the following titles:--------1 - A London Plane-Tree, and Other Verse2 - A Minor Poet and Other Verse3 - The Romance of a Shop4 - Miss Meredith

The Romance of a Shop written by Amy Levy was a British essayist, poet, and novelist best remembered for her literary gifts. This book was published in 1888. And now republish in ebook format. We believe this work is culturally important in its original archival form. While we strive to adequately clean and digitally enhance the original work, there are occasionally instances where imperfections such as missing pages, poor pictures or errant marks may have been introduced due to either the...

Miss Meredith centers on the life of its eponymous protagonist, Miss Meredith, a young woman navigating the complexities of Victorian society. The novel delves into her experiences and struggles as she deals with the expectations placed upon her by her social class and gender.Miss Meredith faces various challenges and conflicts, including societal pressures, personal desires, and the limitations imposed on women of her time. The story often focuses on her inner life and personal developmen...

In "The Romance of a Shop," Amy Levy weaves a rich narrative that captures the struggles and aspirations of four sisters navigating the complexities of late Victorian society. The novel unfolds in a unique blend of realism and romanticism, as Levy employs a poignant and often ironic style to explore themes such as gender roles, female autonomy, and the commodification of art. Set against the backdrop of London's bustling marketplace, the story delves deeply into the sisters' pursuit of ind...

Amy Levy’s The Romance of a Shop (1888) follows the four Lorimer sisters in the wake of their father’s death.Penniless and reliant on each other, they decide to open a photography studio at 20B Baker Street, offering the citizens of London quality portraits. It’s the 1880s and photography is not only growing in popularity and accessibility, but those with a critical eye are elevating the medium associated with quick and steady cash into a true art form.

The language of Poetry is an art that most of us attempt at some point in our lives. Although its commonplace exposure has been somewhat marginalised in today’s often fast-paced lives we all recognise good verse that can empathise with our thoughts or open us up to experience new things in new ways, to better understand and to enjoy the many strands of our lives.But finding a starting point can be overwhelming, even off-putting, so in this series we offer up our Top 10 classic poet...

Sleep. That most mysterious of times. The unconscious hours.Everyone needs it. Whether it’s the recommended eight hours, forty winks, cat naps, power naps or other shades of blissful slumber.Sleep offers a respite from the rigors and challenges of the day. A chance for the brain to process what has happened and bring rest and recuperation before the cycle of daytime activity begins again.Also, perchance to dream or, if we are unlucky, the visitation of nightmares.

This vast and teeming metropolis that many of us call home sits astride a small river on a small island anchored off the north-west shores of Europe. Yet its very name ‘London’ is famed, admired and known worldwide. Its growth from hamlet, town, fortification, city and centre of Empire is one of rich reward. Within its ever-changing borders that are forever moving outwards are gems of architecture across cultures, times and influences that exist in very few other places. Its diaspora of pe...