The western democracies are disintegrating, scarred by violence and gripped with fear of terrorist attacks. Trying to find solutions to today's problems, Julia Stretton and other specialists at the Wessex Project have created a virtual reality projection of a utopian future where all current issues have been resolved - how did they achieve it? But on entering Wessex, they lose all memory of their 'real' lives outside, and as they move back and forth the lines between dream and reality become obscured. When Julia's ex-lover, the sadistic Paul Mason, joins the project, he has a sinister plan to take the Wessex projection to a new and terrifying level . . . Christopher Priest's fifth novel, A Dream of Wessex (1977), is a classic of science fiction that will keep readers guessing until the startling, mind-bending conclusion. Priest's novels The Space Machine, The Affirmation, and The Separation are also available from Valancourt. '[An] excellent and intriguing novel ... the characters and their emotions are real, the concepts fascinating, and the sense of foreboding almost unbearable.' - Library Journal 'This fine novel about time-unravellers has hallucinatory powers ... Priest is a novelist of real distinction.' - The Times (London) 'Christopher Priest is one of our most gifted young writers of science fiction. I recommend A Dream of Wessex. I can best convey its quality by saying that I think not only H.G. Wells but Thomas Hardy himself would have enjoyed and approved of it.' - John Fowles, author of The Magus 'It is a strange novel, technically very assured in its shifts of time and handling of place-in-time, sketching in the edges of the dream with considerable vividness. A fine, exciting novel - SF if you want a label, but an enrichment not only of the sub-genre, but the whole genre too.' - The Guardian

By discussing the work of Thomas Hardy, Richard Jefferies, John Cowper Powys and Mary Butts, Mapping the Wessex Novel imaginatively maps and excavates various districts of the 'west country' so as radically to redefine the 'parochial'; while being keenly aware of their own status as natives locked into complex histories of self-exile and return, estrangement and ardent identification. Contributing to the growing research on space and place in Victorian and Modernist writing, Radford uses the analysis of these writers as a lens through which to inspect the relationship between rural periphery and metropolitan centre; contested ideologies of 'Englishness' and the form of the national past.

The Love of Romance - 50 Books in One Collection' traverses the vast and verdant landscapes of romantic literature, presenting an unparalleled anthology that celebrates the genre's multifaceted nature. Comprising a pantheon of literary titans such as Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and Leo Tolstoy, alongside the distinct voices of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Virginia Woolf, and E.M. Forster, this collection spans centuries, cultures, and literary movements. From the classical to the contemporary, the tragic to the comedic, it offers a compendium of styles and narratives, featuring standout pieces that have significantly influenced the genre of romance. This anthology is a testament to romance's enduring appeal and its capability to explore the depths of human emotion, societal norms, and the complexities of love and relationships. The contributing authors, hailing from diverse backgrounds and epochs, bring an array of perspectives and literary techniques to the theme of romance. Collectively, their works reflect the evolution of romantic literature, touching upon the ideals, challenges, and social contexts of their times. From the Regency elegance of Austen and the Brontës' gothic passion to the existential musings of Woolf and the jazz age disillusionment of Fitzgerald, these authors' contributions underline the thematic diversity and the dynamic evolution of romantic literature. Whether set against the backdrop of societal upheaval, the quest for personal identity, or the intricate dance of courtship and love, their narratives collectively offer a rich tapestry of the human experience. This anthology is an essential compendium for readers seeking to immerse themselves in the luxuriant world of romantic literature. Offering not just stories of love, but also windows into different eras and cultures, 'The Love of Romance - 50 Books in One Collection' curates a dialogue between the past and present, tradition and innovation. It is a journey that promises to enchant, educate, and inspire, making it an invaluable addition to the libraries of literary aficionados, scholars, and casual readers alike.

DigiCat presents to you this unique collection of the most exhilarating romances ever written, book which are sometimes with a happy ending, sometimes with a tragedy of the true heartbreak and sometimes lighten with the comedy of everyday: Romeo & Juliet (Play & Prose Version) Evelina & Camilla (Fanny Burney) Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen) Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) Emma (Jane Austen) Persuasion (Jane Austen) The Sorrows of Young Werther (Goethe) Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) Villette (Charlotte Brontë) Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) The Red and the Black (Stendhal) Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) Dangerous Liaisons (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos) The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) Adam Bede (George Eliot) Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) Tess of the d'Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) The Age of Innocence (Edith Wharton) Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) An Old-Fashioned Girl (Louisa May Alcott) The Lady of the Camellias (Alexandre Dumas) The House of a Thousand Candles (Meredith Nicholson) Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) The Phantom of the Opera (Gaston Leroux) A Room with a View (E. M. Forster) The Beautiful and Damned (F. Scott Fitzgerald) Jennie Gerhardt (Theodore Dreiser) Ann Veronica (H. G. Wells) The Enchanted Barn (Grace Livingston Hill) The Girl from Montana (Grace Livingston Hill) The Miranda Trilogy (Grace Livingston Hill) Marcia Schuyler Phoebe Deane Miranda The Agony Column (Earl DerrBiggers) The Bride of Lammermoor (Walter Scott) Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) Affairs of State (Burton Egbert Stevenson) Jill the Reckless (P.G. Wodehouse) The Black Moth (Georgette Heyer) The Transformation of Philip Jettan (Georgette Heyer) And Both Were Young (Madeleine L'Engle) Penny Plain (O. Douglas) The Awakening (Kate Chopin)

This work presents a comprehensive guidebook offering readers an insight into the history, culture, and landscape of the English county of Wessex. The book features illustrations and detailed descriptions of the region's towns, villages, and landmarks, making it an excellent resource for anyone interested in exploring the area's rich heritage and natural beauty.

Examines how portrayals of families in Hardy's novels are used to comment on the socio-historical changes in Victorian England.