Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations is the first book of modern political economy, and still provides the foundation for the study of that discipline. Along with important discussions of economics and political theory, it mixes plain common sense with large measures of history, philosophy, psychology and sociology.

Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel depicts the great clashes between capital and labour, which arose from rapid industrialisation and problems of trade in the mid-19th century. Mary Barton was published in 1848, at a time of great social ferment in Europe, and it reflects its revolutionary moment through an English lens.

This Side of Paradise was Fitzgerald's first novel, and its instant success made him famous. The Beautiful and Damned was Fitzgerald's second novel, and describes the beginning of what became known as 'The Jazz Age'.

Tender is the Night is a story set in the hedonistic high society of Europe during the 'Roaring Twenties'. Even in its incomplete state The Last Tycoon remains the greatest American novel about Hollywood and contains some of Fitzgerald's most brilliant writing.

Morris David Hume (1711-1776) was the one of the important philosopher ever to write in English, as well as a master stylist. This title contains his major philosophical works.

From the dark, mind-expanding imagination of H P Lovecraft, Wordsworth presents a third volume of tales penned by the greatest horror writer of the 20th Century.

Better known as the writer of pioneering social novels, Elizabeth Gaskell also wrote some fascinating tales of the supernatural and the macabre, which are collected here in this volume.