A new American classic from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Gilead "and "Housekeeping"Marilynne Robinson, one of the greatest novelists of our time, returns to the town of Gilead in an unforgettable story of a girlhood lived on the fringes of society in fear, awe, and wonder. Lila, homeless and alone after years of roaming the countryside, steps inside a small-town Iowa church--the only available shelter from the rain--and ignites a romance and a debate that will reshape her life. She becomes the wife of a minister, John Ames, and begins a new existence while trying to make sense of the life that preceded her newfound security. Neglected as a toddler, Lila was rescued by Doll, a canny young drifter, and brought up by her in a hardscrabble childhood. Together they crafted a life on the run, living hand to mouth with nothing but their sisterly bond and a ragged blade to protect them. Despite bouts of petty violence and moments of desperation, their shared life was laced with moments of joy and love. When Lila arrives in Gilead, she struggles to reconcile the life of her makeshift family and their days of hardship with the gentle Christian worldview of her husband which paradoxically judges those she loves. Revisiting the beloved characters and setting of Robinson's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Gilead "and "Home," a National Book Award finalist, "Lila" is a moving expression of the mysteries of existence that is destined to become an American classic.

Ruth, a young girl struggling to overcome haunting family memories in a town which will not ler her forget, gradually grows close to Sylvie, the sister of her dead mother

Product Description: The Awakening, originally titled A Solitary Soul, is a novel by Kate Chopin, first published in 1899. This Brand New Complete Edition includes the following: The Awakening - Beyond the Bayou - Ma'ame Pelagie - Desiree's Baby - A Respectable Woman - The Kiss - A Pair of Silk Stockings - The Locket - A Reflection...read more

WINNER OF THE ORANGE PRIZE 2009A 2008 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALISTWINNER OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZEA New York Times Bestseller A Washington Post Best Book of the Year A Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the YearHailed as "incandescent," "magnificent," and "a literary miracle" (Entertainment Weekly), hundreds of thousands of readers were enthralled by Marilynne Robinson's Gilead. Now Robinson returns with a brilliantly imagined retelling of the prodigal son parable, set at the same moment and in the same Iowa town as Gilead. The Reverend Boughton's hell-raising son, Jack, has come home after twenty years away. Artful and devious in his youth, now an alcoholic carrying two decades worth of secrets, he is perpetually at odds with his traditionalist father, though he remains his most beloved child. As Jack tries to make peace with his father, he begins to forge an intense bond with his sister Glory, herself returning home with a broken heart and turbulent past. Home is a luminous and healing book about families, family secrets, and faith from one of America's most beloved and acclaimed authors.

A selection of writings by one of the leading figures in the Protestant Reformation offers excerpts from his sermons, commentaries, tracts, and letters that address such topics as his belief in universal education for both boys and girls, the sanctity and freedom of individual conscience, and his theology of the 'elect.' Original. 15,000 first printing.

As the Reverend John Ames approaches the hour of his own death, he writes a letter to his son chronicling three previous generations of his family, a story that stretches back to the Civil War and reveals uncomfortable secrets about the family of preachers. Reader's Guide available. Reprint.

Ten essays explore a range of social, political, religious, and cultural issues of the present day, sharing the author's thoughts on Darwinism, McGuffey readers, and the religious right. Reprint.

Looks at Sellafield, a radioactive waste processing plant in England, discusses its environmental impact, and examines Britain's economic history in order to explain its continued operation.