Discover everything you ever wanted to know about the world’s greatest novels!From medieval romances and tales of chivalry through the realist novels of the 19th century to experimental modernist works and today’s explorations of the self, Great Novels explores the finest novels from around the world and through time.Tilt at windmills with Don Quixote, experience heartbreak with Tolstoy, discover the society in which Jane Austen lived, and delve into the complex rites of passage experienced by characters in modern novels. Find out what inspired writers to create their masterpieces, what their aims were, and how they set about writing them.Dive deep into the pages of this inspiring book to discover: – Paintings, photographs, and artifacts help to tell the story of each novel and what inspired their authors– Features superb images of first editions and manuscripts– Quotations and extended extracts offer a flavor of each nove l“Character maps” show how characters relate to each otherOver 20 percent of the novels profiles are by female writers, and organized chronologically covering the whole range of literary styles, Great Novels takes you into the pages of the world’s seminal novels, ranging from the entertaining adventures of Cervantes’ errant knight through classics such as Great Expectations and Madame Bovary, to modern novels such as To the Lighthouse, The Outsider, Beloved, and Wolf Hall. Stunning images of the original manuscripts, first editions, and authors are complemented by extracts and quotations, while illustrated features set the novels in their literary and historical context. Essential for everyone of all ages who loves books of all genres – Great Novels provides a fascinating overview of how the genre has developed through the ages and celebrates the perennial, life-affirming pleasures of reading.