101 Mystery & Detective Classics You Should Read Before You Die' curates a seminal collection that encapsulates the golden era of mystery and detective literature. Spanning continents and centuries, this anthology showcases the multifaceted nature of the genre, from the gothic suspense of Poe to the intricate plots of Christie, and the psychological depth of Dostoyevsky. The range of literary styles within this volume is as diverse as its authorship, reflecting a period when this genre was not merely entertainment but a sophisticated exploration of the human psyche, societal norms, and the concept of justice. This collection stands out for its inclusion of pioneering works that have defined and expanded the boundaries of the mystery and detective genre. The contributing authors, from Jules Verne to F. Scott Fitzgerald, and beyond, bring a kaleidoscopic view of society through the lens of their cultural and historical contexts. Collectively, their backgrounds span the tumultuous transitions of the 19th and early 20th centuries, infusing the anthology with a rich diversity of perspectives on crime, morality, and the human condition. The works included align with various literary movementsromanticism, realism, the gothic, and modernismoffering a comprehensive overview of the evolution of the genre and its capacity to reflect contemporary anxieties and critiques. For enthusiasts and newcomers alike, '101 Mystery & Detective Classics You Should Read Before You Die' provides a unique window into the evolution of mystery and detective literature. It is an invitation to explore the depths of human nature, the complexities of societal structures, and the perennial allure of the unknown. This anthology promises not only a tour through the labyrinthine plots and unforgettable characters that have captivated readers for over a century but also a deeper appreciation of the genres contributions to literature as a whole. Delving into this collection is to embark on an unparalleled journey across time and imagination, guided by some of the most iconic voices in literary history.

A classic work of American literature that has not stopped changing minds and lives since it burst onto the literary scene, The Things They Carried is a ground-breaking meditation on war, memory, imagination, and the redemptive power of storytelling. The Things They Carried depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and the character Tim O’Brien, who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three. Taught everywhere—from high school classrooms to graduate seminars in creative writing—it has become required reading for any American and continues to challenge readers in their perceptions of fact and fiction, war and peace, courage and fear and longing. The Things They Carried won France's prestigious Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger and the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize; it was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

First published in 1928, "Coming of Age in Samoa" is Margaret Mead's classic sociological examination of adolescence during the first part of the 20th century in American Samoa. Sent by the Social Science Research Council to study the youths of a so-called "primitive" culture, Margaret Mead would spend nine months attempting to ascertain if the problems of adolescences in western society were merely a function of youth or a result of cultural and social differences. "Coming of Age in Samoa" is her report of those findings, in which the author details various aspects of Samoan life including, education, social and household structure, and sexuality. The book drew great public interest when it was first published and also criticism from those who did not like the perceived message that the carefree sexuality of Samoan girls might be the reason for their lack of neuroses. "Coming of Age in Samoa" has also been criticized for the veracity of Mead's account, though current public opinion seems to fall on the side of her work being largely a factual one, if not one of great anthropological rigor. At the very least "Coming of Age in Samoa" remains an interesting historical account of tribal Samoan life during the first part of the 20th century. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

A young captain Nathaniel Drinkwater is given command of an old ship, the Virago, to be sent to the Baltic as a bomb vessel. Drinkwater’s ambition is to turn the Virago back into a fighting ship, but his plans are thwarted. At the same time, Drinkwater’s brother appeals for help in his desperate attempt to escape the gallows. As Sir Hyde Parker’s fleet approaches the Danish coast, the Virago joins the battle. Amid gales and ice, Drinkwater strives to save his ship and his brother. It is 1801 and Napoleon is reaching supreme power in France and has allied himself with Tsar Paul of Russia. Against this hazardous backdrop, Drinkwater’s actions in the complex and bloody battle of Copenhagen are crucial.

Italo Calvino's beloved, intricately crafted novel about an Emperor's travels—a brilliant journey across far-off places and distant memory. “Cities, like dreams, are made of desires and fears, even if the thread of their discourse is secret, their rules are absurd, their perspectives deceitful, and everything conceals something else.” In a garden sit the aged Kublai Khan and the young Marco Polo—Mongol emperor and Venetian traveler. Kublai Khan has sensed the end of his empire coming soon. Marco Polo diverts his host with stories of the cities he has seen in his travels around the empire: cities and memory, cities and desire, cities and designs, cities and the dead, cities and the sky, trading cities, hidden cities. As Marco Polo unspools his tales, the emperor detects these fantastic places are more than they appear.

From one of Korea’s literary stars, a novel about two orphans from the streets of Seoul: one becomes the head of a powerful motorcycle gang, and the other follows him at all costs In South Korea, underground motorcycle gangs attract society’s castoffs. They form groups of hundreds and speed wildly through cities at night. For Jae and Dongyu, two orphans, their motorcycles are a way of survival. Jae is born in a bathroom stall at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal. And Dongyu is born mute—unable to communicate with anyone except Jae. Both boys grow up on the streets of Seoul among runaway teenagers, con men, prostitutes, religious fanatics, and thieves. After years navigating the streets, Jae becomes an icon for uprooted teenagers, bringing an urgent message to them and making his way to the top of the gang. Under his leadership, the group grows more aggressive and violent—and soon becomes the police’s central target. A novel of friendship—worship and betrayal, love and loathing—and a searing portrait of what it means to come of age with nothing to call your own, I Hear Your Voice resonates with mythic power. Here is acclaimed author Young-ha Kim’s most daring novel to date.