Best books by genre: Literature & Fiction » Literary

Henry VIII was wishing to get a divorce from his life and marry Anne Boleyn but this was against the rules of the church. Therefore the king stirred up a conflict with the church opposing its power which caused religious, political and social disorder in the 16th-century Europe. Mantel makes a brave endeavor to depict the destructive intrigues of that time from the point of view of Thomas Cromwell who was born in a poor family but rose to an advisor of Henry VIII. Cromwell's beginnings are somewhat doubtful as he is described as being often beaten by his father, fighting for the French, studying law, mastering French, Latin and Italian. In this novel facts and fiction are entwined. The atmosphere of that time is described very precisely. Mantel introduces famous historic personalities like Henry VIII; his wife, Katherine of Aragon; the charming Boleyn sisters; and conflicting Thomas More. However, the novel contains a number of unnecessary details of all Henry's political victories and failures which outshine the personal story of Cromwell and his role in the epoch of the creation of the Church of England.

The Adventures of Mabel is a remarkable children's novel created by Harry Thurston Peck and was first published in 1896-1897. It is a kind and interesting book with a bright cover and wonderful pictures. The characters of The Adventures of Mabel include not only humans but also different animals. Here you meet spiders, giants and other magic creatures which are so interesting for children. The New York Times put the story in the list of the 20 best children's books. Not only children but also their parents when reading it to their kids will be carried away.

Written quite a time ago about the middle of last century, this wonderful novel is still topical nowadays.
Twenty two year old Skeeter has graduated from school and wants to proceed education, but according to the principles and traditions of that time her mother first of all wants to see her married. Girl used to find comfort in talking with her maid Constantine, but while Skeeter being away at school Constantine left and no one would tell sad girl where. Aibileen is a new maid, black clever woman, but with sorrow in her heart – she lost her son because of carelessness of his bosses . The third woman is Minny - Aibileen’s best friend. She is fat, small and very sassy. She is a cook who got her talent from God, but because she can’t mind her business and keep her tongue she is fired from place after place. Finally she finds a job, her new employer has come to the town not a long time ago and doesn’t know her reputation yet.
They are so different, but what unites them is one common thing – mysterious and risky project. They have grown from their time and their town, they suffocate in that atmosphere… and they cross the lines society and time created for them. They take a step and change the town they live in and the way women view each other.
The Help tells us a story about the lines to which we keep and the ones that we cross.

"Memoirs of a Midget" by Walter de la Mare is a fictional memoir of Miss M, a diminutive young woman, who was brought-up in an orphanage. Eventually she falls in love with a full-sized woman even as she is courted by a male dwarf. Everyday life of Miss M, with the unique difficulties presented by her size difference, lead to her resolve to claim independence by offering herself as a spectacle in a circus. This book opens the door to the world that is unimaginable by most of people – the world of a tiny, delicate midget, whose heart and soul are large, although she is so small. This enigmatic, mysterious and haunting story is the perfect example of high fiction. This book will not just take your breath away opening you a wonderful fairyland, but also make you look at many things with different eyes.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar is a wonderful collection of stories which are almost as popular as the detective stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. Arsene Lupin is not a simple burglar, he is a real gentleman who is constantly chased by Inspector Ganimard but is never caught. His character is very popular in France and some cartoons devoted to Lupin even appeared. The book is very adventurous and funny in many places so it is definitely worth reading.

A collection of "Kiltartanese" versions of Irish myths, produced by Lady Gregory, an Irish folklorist of the late 19th and early 20th century. To be more exact, this is a retelling of the first and third cycles of the mythic history of Ireland: the Mythological and the Fenian. A gathering of the legends of the earliest inhabitants of Ireland, it is also a key to the understanding of the way of thinking and perception of the world of ancient tribes.

Miss Lulu Bett was written by 1American writer Zona Galein 1920. At that time it was a bestseller and it still has not lost its actuality. The main character of the novel is Lulu. She has a miserable life living with her sister's family and practically plays the role of a servant there. Then her brother-in-law's brother, Ninian, visits them and there is a certain chemistry between these two people. Somehow they get married because of the weird state laws and the fault of the officer. When they find out that they are a husband and a wife, they decide not to change anything in such a situation. But it is not possible to imagine a love story without some problems. In a month Lulu gets to know that Ninian already has an official wife. They fell apart after two days since their wedding but they did not officially divorce. At first Lulu does not think that it is an obstacle but her brother-in-law, Dwight, persuades her not to forget about it as this can humiliate the whole family. He wants her to tell everybody that Ninian left her. Lulu does not understand the logic and tries to ask somebody for an advice. She gets closer with other members of her sister's family, especially with her teenage niece who is unhappy and who wants to get married as soon as possible.Lulu helps her to understand that wedding is not the right solution and Di moves out and starts living alone as an adult. Readers should know that there are two endings for the play. So be prepared for some unexpected events.

Herminie Templeton Kavanagh is a famous author of books for children. Old as Ireland itself, the eccentric and weird folktales in this companion volume to "Darby O’Gill and the Good People" will open you the door to the world of men and magical creatures who walk the lanes of the Emerald Isle by day and wander its fields by night. Henpecked husbands scheme to get rich; ghosts wander the land trying to find rest. There are fortune-tellers and fairies, leprechauns and laggards straining their wits to contain the strange disturbance of it all and to bring to their charmed land a measure of order and peace. Haunted abbeys, mournful ghosts, enchanted gold, dangerous bandits, and a host of fairies and leprechauns. Add to them Darby O’Gill and his wife Bridget, and you will be definitely amazed and astonished by exciting adventures!

In this novel it goes about five young people (a female governess, a doctor, a law student, and two young middle class ladies) and their intricate love affairs. The persecution of four of the five by the novel's villain has dramatic and extreme consequences. Three of the five characters are suicidally depressed for a rather big part of the book. But always in every chapter there is some social satire or some comic turn that balances out the character's melancholy. The children in the novel are particularly realistic and add lots of humor to the book. The true obstacle caused by the villain's persecution (as well as by genuine social ills) makes the characters to overcome their depressions and become better people. Their choice to choose love and honesty is celebrated and ultimately rewarded in this tale of village life. Martineau periodically inserts mini-essays of a paragraph or two on various issues ranging from what activities drive away depression to the impact of near-death experiences that are nice little pieces.