Harperperennial imprint: 267 books

Within their refuge from a terrible plague called the Red Death, Prince Prospero and his court hold an opulent masquerade ball. But one uninvited guest means death for everyone. A pioneer of the short story genre, Poe’s stories typically captured themes of the macabre and included elements...

When an eclectic group of pilgrims take turns telling tales while on the road to Canterbury Cathedral, the Wife of Bath, an older woman who has been married and widowed five times, tells her tale . . . eventually. But first she shares her opinions on marriage and the role of women with her fellow...

When an eclectic group of pilgrims take turns telling tales while on the road to Canterbury Cathedral, the Miller is determined to tell the best story and win the free dinner. He regales his fellow pilgrims with the best tale he knows—a rude and raunchy tale that would be considered scandalous even...

When an eclectic group of pilgrims take turns telling tales while on the road to Canterbury Cathedral, the Knight tells the tale of Arcite and Palamon, two young aristocrats from Thebes who are captured in battle by Theseus. When the captives spy the beautiful maiden Emily from their prison window,...

When an eclectic group of pilgrims take turns telling tales while on the road to Canterbury Cathedral, the Pardoner begins his tale with a confession—that he preaches against greed but swindles churchgoers by pressuring them into buying fake religious relics. However, he claims that despite his...

When an eclectic group of pilgrims take turns telling tales while on the road to Canterbury Cathedral, the Clerk of Oxford, a learned man, sets out to tell a moral and educational story for his fellow pilgrims. He tells the tale of Griselda, a beautiful young peasant girl chosen by the marquis to...

Olga seems to be the perfect woman: plump, pretty and friendly, and those around her consider her to be a darling girl. However, as over the years and through several spouses, Olga’s true character becomes increasingly evident. "The Darling" reflects author Anton Chekhov’s criticism of...

A despondent young man without connections is trapped at a menial job running a small, remote train station. On New Year’s Eve he shares a bottle of champagne with his wife, and when he drops it, she warns him that he has suffered an omen of ill-luck. HarperCollins brings great works of literature...

In the waning weeks of his life, a renowned bishop reflects on his past and his priorities. Written during the period when Anton Chekhov was gravely ill with tuberculosis, “The Bishop” reflects the author’s feelings about his own imminent death, and is considered one of his finest works. HarperCollins...

When the White family comes into the possession of a monkey’s paw that magically grant wishes, they do what many people would do—they wish for money. But every wish has a consequence, and the White family finds they are completely unprepared for what comes next. The Monkey’s Paw is a classic...

After getting held up on his way to work, Ed Fletcher worries about the repercussions he will face when he reaches his office. Little does he know that his late arrival will give him a glimpse behind the very fabric of human existence and put him at odds with powers he cannot comprehend. Philip...

The DCA is a government agency tasked with tracking down humans born with superhuman mutations, all of whom are considered a threat to the continued survival of the human race. But even seasoned veterans of the DCA worry that one day they will encounter a mutant that they cannot best—the mutant...

Henry Harris, an army doctor, is startled when a solider returns from a mission on an asteroid claiming to be a plant. When several more men return from the same asteroid also claiming to be plants, Harris travels to the asteroid himself to investigate the strange phenomenon. Philip K. Dick...

Peterson, a crew member from a spaceship visiting Mars, purchases a giant, pig-like creature called a wub. Although Captain Franco means to make a meal of the strange beast, the wub proves to be likeable and intelligent by discussing the travels of Odysseus and the impact of myth on the human spirit. Philip...