Aldous Huxley

A Hollywood millionaire with a terror of death, whose personal physician happens to be working on a theory of longevity-these are the elements of Aldous Huxley's caustic and entertaining satire on man's desire to live indefinitely. With his customary wit and intellectual sophistication, Huxley pursues his characters in their quest for the eternal, finishing on a note of horror. "This is Mr. Huxley's Hollywood novel, and you might expect it to be fantastic, extravagant, crazy and preposterous. It is all that, and heaven and hell too.... It is the kind of novel that he is particularly the master of, where the most extraordinary and fortuitous events are followed by contemplative little essays on the meaning of life.... The story is outrageously good."-New York Times. "A highly sensational plot that will keep astonishing you to practically the final sentence."-The New Yorker. "Mr. Huxley's elegant mockery, his cruel aptness of phrase, the revelations and the ingenious surprises he springs on the reader are those of a master craftsman; Mr. Huxley is at the top of his form." -London Times Literary Supplement.

Atomic and biological warfare have already destroyed most of the earth when, in the twenty-second century, an expedition is sent forth from New Zealand to explore North America

Includes twenty-one stories, including "The Gioconda Smile," "Little Mexican," and "Chawdron"

Dreißig Jahre nach seiner Alptraumvision "Schöne neue Welt" zählt "Eiland" ebenfalls zu den großen utopischen Romanen unseres Jahrhunderts. Huxley entwirft darin eine Gemeinschaft, die die Prinzipien des Guten und der Freiheit konsequent anwendet.

"A bore is a person who drills a hole in your spirit... through and through till he pierces to the very quick of your being."-Aldous Huxley, Two or Three Graces and Other Stories (1926)Two or Three Graces and Other Stories (1926) by Aldous Huxley is a collection of four stories including the aforementioned title as well as Half Holiday, The Monocle, and Fairy Godmother. The story Two and Three Graces comprises most of this edition and follows the life of Grace Wilkes who attaches herself to, not two or three as the title suggests, but four different men. More of a novel than short story, the title story offers insights into the human experience as only Huxley can detail and features one of Huxley's most intriguing characters. This collection is for fans of early twentieth century literature and the inimitable Aldous Huxley.

"A bore is a person who drills a hole in your spirit... through and through till he pierces to the very quick of your being."-Aldous Huxley, Two or Three Graces and Other Stories (1926)Two or Three Graces and Other Stories (1926) by Aldous Huxley is a collection of four stories including the aforementioned title as well as Half Holiday, The Monocle, and Fairy Godmother. The story Two and Three Graces comprises most of this edition and follows the life of Grace Wilkes who attaches herself to, not two or three as the title suggests, but four different men. More of a novel than short story, the title story offers insights into the human experience as only Huxley can detail and features one of Huxley's most intriguing characters. This collection is for fans of early twentieth century literature and the inimitable Aldous Huxley.

"Money brings no satisfaction if one has to work for it; for if one works for it one has no time to spend it."-Aldous Huxley, Those Barren Leaves (1925)Those Barren Leaves (1925) is a satirical novel by Aldous Huxley, the title of which comes from William Wordworth's poem The Tables Turned (1798): "Enough of Science and of Art; Close up those barren leaves; Come forth, and bring with you a heart; That watches and receives." The plot centers on protagonist Mrs. Aldwinkle, who invites guests to a Renaissance-like soiree, only to have her desire for the perfect event dashed. Reminiscent of Huxley's Crome Yellow (1921, also available from Cosimo Classics), the author's skewering of the superficial and pretentious is witty and engaging no matter the time period.

"Money brings no satisfaction if one has to work for it; for if one works for it one has no time to spend it."-Aldous Huxley, Those Barren Leaves (1925)Those Barren Leaves (1925) is a satirical novel by Aldous Huxley, the title of which comes from William Wordworth's poem The Tables Turned (1798): "Enough of Science and of Art; Close up those barren leaves; Come forth, and bring with you a heart; That watches and receives." The plot centers on protagonist Mrs. Aldwinkle, who invites guests to a Renaissance-like soiree, only to have her desire for the perfect event dashed. Reminiscent of Huxley's Crome Yellow (1921, also available from Cosimo Classics), the author's skewering of the superficial and pretentious is witty and engaging no matter the time period.

"Every day he made the discovery of something which seemed to him exquisitely beautiful..."-Aldous Huxley, Young Archimedes and Other Stories (1924)Young Archimedes and Other Stories (1924) by Aldous Huxley is a collection of six stories considered to be semi-autobiographical and originally published under the title of Little Mexican and Other Stories. The collection includes the aforementioned titles as well as Uncle Spencer, Hubert and Minnie, Fard, and The Portrait and diverge from his well-known dystopian writing. All are set in Europe and offer thoughtful discourse on childhood, love, life, death, and society. This anthology is a must-read for lovers of short stories, early twentieth century literature, and Huxley's writing.

"Grief doesn't kill, love doesn't kill; but time kills everything, kills desire, kills sorrow, kills in the end the mind that feels them; wrinkles and softens the body while it still lives, rots it like a medlar, kills it too at last."-Aldous Huxley, Antic Hay (1923)Antic Hay (1923) is one of Aldous Huxley's early novels and takes a satirical look at post-World War I London. The author pokes at the stuffy British society of the time and the protagonist, Theodore Gumbril's struggle for approval amidst gossipy, bohemian characters. Gumbril even goes so far as to disguise himself in order to overcome his shyness. Deemed immoral by some because of its discussion of sex, the book has been banned and burned. Readers who are fans of Huxley's work and thought-provoking satire will enjoy this comedic tale set in the early twentieth century.

"Grief doesn't kill, love doesn't kill; but time kills everything, kills desire, kills sorrow, kills in the end the mind that feels them; wrinkles and softens the body while it still lives, rots it like a medlar, kills it too at last."-Aldous Huxley, Antic Hay (1923)Antic Hay (1923) is one of Aldous Huxley's early novels and takes a satirical look at post-World War I London. The author pokes at the stuffy British society of the time and the protagonist, Theodore Gumbril's struggle for approval amidst gossipy, bohemian characters. Gumbril even goes so far as to disguise himself in order to overcome his shyness. Deemed immoral by some because of its discussion of sex, the book has been banned and burned. Readers who are fans of Huxley's work and thought-provoking satire will enjoy this comedic tale set in the early twentieth century.

"I can sympathize with people's pains, but not with their pleasures. There is something curiously boring about somebody else's happiness."-Aldous Huxley, Limbo (1920)Limbo (1920) by Aldous Huxley is a collection of short fiction which includes five short stories, a play, and a novella entitled The Farcical History of Richard Greenow. Written early in Huxley's career and mostly satirical, these works reflect the themes, wit, and style for which he is famous. From rich character study in the novella to a comedy of manners in the short story, Happily Ever After, this edition has something for anyone looking for an engaging reading experience.

"I can sympathize with people's pains, but not with their pleasures. There is something curiously boring about somebody else's happiness."-Aldous Huxley, Limbo (1920)Limbo (1920) by Aldous Huxley is a collection of short fiction which includes five short stories, a play, and a novella entitled The Farcical History of Richard Greenow. Written early in Huxley's career and mostly satirical, these works reflect the themes, wit, and style for which he is famous. From rich character study in the novella to a comedy of manners in the short story, Happily Ever After, this edition has something for anyone looking for an engaging reading experience.