Shining examples of American literature at its best

These four novels explore timeless themes—adventure, war, sex, and morality—through compelling narratives. An adulteress, a runaway boy, a terrified soldier, and a maltreated sailor—the heroes of these novels have become a part of popular culture. This indispensable volume includes…

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

Billy Budd by Herman Melville

With an Introduction by Sandra Newman