Signature Editions

In 1851 Father Jean Marie Latour comes to serve as the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico. What he finds is a vast territory of red hills and tortuous arroyos, American by law but Mexican and Indian in custom and belief. In the almost forty years that follow, Latour spreads his faith in the only way he knows-gently, all the while contending with an unforgiving landscape, derelict and sometimes openly rebellious priests, and his own loneliness. Out of these events, Cather gives us an indelible vision of life unfolding in a place where time itself seems suspended.   Willa Cather (1873–1947) was an American novelist and short story writer. Cather received the Pulitzer Prize for her novel One of Ours. Her distinguished regionalist writing includes her Great Plains trilogy (O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark, and My Ántonia).

Born on a Maryland plantation, Frederick Douglass-born Frederick Baily-doesn't know the year of his birth. Separated from his mother in infancy, he sees her only a few times, always at night, before she dies. At the age of seven or eight, Frederick's mistress starts teaching him to read, until her furious husband forbids it. Frederick realizes then that reading is his path to freedom and determines to run away to the Northern United States-whatever the cost.   In addition to the original text, this volume also includes eleven selected essays and speeches, among them the famous "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" (1852) Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) was an African American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writings.

Discover the story of Oil! with this striking collector's edition from Union Square & Co.'s Signature Editions series! The classic texts that shaped our culture feature exclusive cover art by distinguished artist Malika Favre. Her bold, graphic style gives each classic literature book a small masterpiece for a jacket. Collect the set or prize this Oil! special edition as your showpiece literary classic.   Oil! follows James Arnold Ross and his son, James Arnold Ross Jr., as they do whatever it takes to run their very own oil well. Ross's son-nicknamed Bunny-provides an idealistic counterpoint to his father's avaricious dealings. Their story intertwines with that of Eli Watkins, a revivalist preacher who seeks spiritual power. As the stories of the Ross and Watkins families intertwine, the struggle between the material and the spiritual sharpens. Literary history and meaning: Oil!, by Upton Sinclair, was first published in 1927. Set in California during the early twentieth century, the novel tells the story of the oil industry's rise to power and its impact on society, politics, and the environment. It is a searing indictment of capitalism and corporate greed, echoing Sinclair's earlier works, such as The Jungle. Its importance as a classic literature work lies in its unflinching portrayal of the human cost of industrialization and its exploration of themes such as corruption, social justice, and the struggle for economic equality. Its relevance today is evident in its commentary on the ongoing tensions between industry and the environment, as well as its exploration of the ethical dilemmas surrounding unchecked corporate power and wealth inequality. Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. (1878 –1968) was an American writer, muckraker, political activist and the 1934 Democratic Party nominee for Governor of California. Sinclair wrote nearly 100 books and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1943.

Discover the story of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein with this striking collector's edition from Union Square & Co.'s Signature Editions series! The classic texts that shaped our culture feature exclusive cover art by distinguished artist Malika Favre. Her bold, graphic style gives each classic literature book a small masterpiece for a jacket. Collect the set or prize this Frankenstein special edition as your showpiece literary classic.   For years, Dr. Victor Frankenstein labors to create a new race of intelligent beings. He spends his nights scavenging body parts from graveyards, slaughterhouses, and hospital dissection rooms. By day, he experiments in his secret laboratory, perfecting the creature who, he believes, will worship him as a god. But when he succeeds, Frankenstein is horrified by the ugly brutishness of the patchwork being he has brought to life-and abandons his creation to dramatic ends … Literary history and meaning: Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, was first published in 1818. It is often regarded as the first science fiction novel and a seminal work of Gothic literature. Its importance as a classic literature work lies in its exploration of the human condition and the ethical dilemmas raised by scientific innovation. Frankenstein has had a profound impact on popular culture, inspiring numerous adaptations in literature, film, and other media, and its themes of creation, identity, and alienation continue to resonate with modern audiences. Its relevance today is evident in its exploration of ethical issues surrounding emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, as well as its enduring commentary on the human quest for knowledge and the pursuit of power at any cost. It is a terrifying story about how monsters-of all kinds-are made. Mary Shelley (1797–1851) was the author of five novels and numerous works of short fiction, though she is best known for Frankenstein. The daughter of feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, Shelley was steeped in the progressive ideas of the early-19th-century British Romantic era.

The Ramsays spend their summers on the Isle of Skye, where they happily entertain friends and family and make idle plans to visit the nearby lighthouse. Over the course of the book, the lighthouse becomes a silent witness to the ebbs and flows, the births and deaths, that punctuate the individual lives of the Ramsays.   Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) transformed 20th-century literature. Woolf spent most of her life either writing or championing the works of other writers via the Bloomsbury Group or through Hogarth Press, which she cofounded with her husband, Leonard Woolf.

Handsome, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse delights in interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protégée, Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected.  Jane Austen (1775–1817) was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels about the British landed gentry in the Regency era.

In the wake of World War I and the 1918 flu pandemic, Clarissa Dalloway, elegant and vivacious, is preparing for a party and remembering those she once loved. In another part of London, Septimus Smith is suffering from shell shock and is on the brink of madness. Their days interweave and their lives converge as the party reaches its glittering climax.   Over the course of a single day, Woolf achieves an uncanny simulacrum of consciousness, bringing past, present, and future together, and recording, minute by minute, the feel of life itself.     Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) transformed 20th-century literature. Woolf spent most of her life either writing or championing the works of other writers via the Bloomsbury Group or through Hogarth Press, which she cofounded with her husband, Leonard Woolf.

First published in 1903, The Souls of Black Folk is a masterpiece of American literature, a foundational text of sociology, and a deeply personal answer to the question "What is it like to be a Black American?"  Breathtaking, searing, and brilliant, this book invited white Americans to examine how Black culture and labor shaped the United States and how race relations-as well as the consequences of segregation and disenfranchisement-would be the defining problem of the 20th century. Du Bois's prophetic remarks and critical insights have been cited as the intellectual framework for the Civil Rights movement, and they continue to inspire contemporary writers: Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me takes its title from the first line of this book.   William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868 –1963) was an American sociologist, socialist, historian and Pan-Africanist civil rights activist. Born in Massachusetts, Du Bois completed graduate work at the University of Berlin and Harvard, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate. A professor of history, sociology and economics at Atlanta University, Du Bois was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.

The Art of War, by the Chinese general and philosopher Sun Tzu, is one of the most influential books of military strategy ever written. This hardcover edition is packaged distinctively with a beautifully designed jacket by noted illustrator Malika Favre. More than 2,000 years old, this classic of Chinese philosophy lays out a systematic, rational approach to tactics and strategy that leaders worldwide have applied not only to the military, but also to business, law, martial arts, and sports. This edition uses Lionel Giles's classic translation. Giles's extensive annotations and commentary on Sun Tzu's aphorisms and proverbs are also included. Sun Tzu (544–496 BCE) was a philosopher and military strategist. His many aphorisms about combat strategy were later compiled as The Art of War, which has enjoyed international popularity over two-and-a-half millennia.

The spirited daughter of Bohemian immigrants, Ántonia must adapt to a hard existence on the desolate prairies of the Midwest. Enduring childhood poverty, teenage seduction, and family tragedy, she eventually becomes a wife and mother on a Nebraska farm. A fictional record of how women helped forge the communities that formed a nation, My Ántonia is also a hauntingly eloquent celebration of the strength, courage, and spirit of America's early pioneers.  Willa Cather (1873–1947) was an American novelist and short story writer. Cather received the Pulitzer Prize for her novel One of Ours.

When millions suffer under iron-fisted oppression, when anger and resentment boil into bloody insurrection, when triumph leads to savage vengeance-does one individual life matter? In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens interweaves the intensely personal dramas of Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton with the terror and chaos of the French Revolution. The result is a powerful story of love, sacrifice, and redemption amid horrific violence and world-changing events.  Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was the second of eight children in a family beset by financial insecurity. A prolific and popular author, even in his day, Dickens is widely regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.

Discover Meditations with this striking collector's edition from Union Square & Co.'s Signature Editions series! The classic texts that shaped our culture feature exclusive cover art by distinguished artist Malika Favre. Her bold, graphic style gives each classic book a small masterpiece for a jacket. Collect the set or prize this Meditations special edition as your showpiece of Stoic philosophy.   Unhappy am I, because this has happened to me-Not so, but happy am I, though this has happened to me, because I continue free from pain, neither crushed by the present nor fearing the future. For such a thing as this might have happened to every man; but every man would not have continued free from pain on such an occasion. Why then is that rather a misfortune than this a good fortune? – Book IV, 49. Literary history and meaning: Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius, is a collection of personal writings, ruminations, and reflections by the second-century Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, composed during his reign from 161 to 180 AD. Though not formally published during his lifetime, these reflections on Stoic philosophy and the nature of existence have since been compiled into one of the most influential works of ancient philosophy. Marcus Aurelius's teachings on living a virtuous life, accepting the inevitable, and finding tranquility amid chaos have transcended time and continue to inspire readers seeking guidance to navigating life's challenges. Its relevance today lies in its timeless wisdom and practical insights into human nature, making it a perennial source of guidance for individuals striving for inner peace and personal growth. Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) was a second-century Roman emperor and philosopher. The Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus It has been said that the Stoic philosophy first showed its real value when it passed from Greece to Rome. The doctrines of Zeno and his successors were well suited to the gravity and practical good sense of the Romans; and even in the Republican period we have an example of a man, M. Cato Uticensis, who lived the life of a Stoic and died consistently with the opinions which he professed. He was a man, says Cicero, who embraced the Stoic philosophy from conviction; not for the purpose of vain discussion, as most did, but in order to make his life conformable to the Stoic precepts. In the wretched times from the death of Augustus to the murder of Domitian, there was nothing but the Stoic philosophy which could console and support the followers of the old religion under imperial tyranny and amidst universal corruption. There were even then noble minds that could dare and endure, sustained by a good conscience and an elevated idea of the purposes of man's existence. Such were Paetus Thrasae, Helvidius Priscus, Cornutus, C. Musonius Rufus, and the poets Persius and Juvenal, whose energetic language and manly thoughts may be as instructive to us now as they might have been to their contemporaries. Persius died under Nero's bloody reign, but Juvenal had the good fortune to survive the tyrant Domitian and to see the better times of Nerva, Trajan, and Hadrian. His best precepts are derived from the Stoic school, and they are enforced in his finest verses by the unrivalled vigour of the Latin language. Book II 1. Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. But I who have seen the nature of the good that it is beautiful, and of the bad that it is ugly, and the nature of him who does wrong, that it is akin to me; not [only] of the same blood or seed, but that it participates in [the same] intelligence and [the same] portion of the divinity, I can neither be injured by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly, nor can I be angry with my kinsman, nor hate him. For we are

Discover the story of The Great Gatsby with this striking collector's edition from Union Square & Co.'s Signature Editions series! The classic texts that shaped our culture feature exclusive cover art by distinguished artist Malika Favre. Her bold, graphic style gives each classic literature book a small masterpiece for a jacket. Collect the set or prize this The Great Gatsby special edition as your showpiece literary classic.   When Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, Long Island, he has no idea that the lavishly outfitted mansion next to his modest house is home to Jay Gatsby. Eventually, Nick becomes aware of Gatsby's intense interest in his cousin Daisy Buchanan, and when Daisy's brutish husband, Tom, probes into Gatsby's background, he uncovers unsavory truths about his rival's wealth . . . Literary history and meaning: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was first published in 1925. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, New York, it tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy, mysterious, and complex man driven by an obsession with his past, and Daisy Buchanan, a married woman he loved in his youth. Considered one of the greatest novels ever written, it explores themes of love, loss, and the American Dream. The Great Gatsby has been adapted numerous times for film, including the 1974 release starring Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby. While the events of the novel take place during the roaring twenties, the story's relevance today lies in the contrast between the façade the wealthy can portray-on social media, for example-and the dark realities behind the scenes, revealing the fallacy of the American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) was a celebrated author of novels and short stories whose work is synonymous with the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties of the early 20th century.

Booker T. Washington's famous 1901 memoir, Up From Slavery, charts Washington's rise from an enslaved child with a passion for learning to the nation's most prominent Black educator and first president of Tuskegee University. A tireless advocate for Black economic independence, Washington attempted to balance his public acceptance of segregation with behind-the-scenes lobbying against voter disenfranchisement and financing anti–Jim Crow court cases. His memoir is both a crucial American document and an exercise in understanding the "double consciousness" coined by W.E.B. DuBois, himself one of Washington's most vocal critics.   Booker Taliaferro Washington (1856–1915) was born in Franklin County, Virginia. At twenty-five he became the first principal of the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers, now Tuskegee University. He spent his life working tirelessly to advocate on behalf of Black Americans.