Best Selling Books by Rebecca West

A collection of Rebecca West''s critical thought, essays, and reviews that sparkles with her wit and intelligence Throughout her life, West worked as a journalist and critic, and in this collection readers will discover her vibrant voice, which is at times frank and frequently humorous. Whether considering her escapades in Prohibition-era New York or her own path to writing fiction, West''s essays offer captivating stories and apt reflections on human foibles—as well as her own personality. That same honesty is evident in her reviews, in which West tackles subjects such as Winston Churchill''s memoir and Brave New World, but never shies away from either a critical or playful tone. A wonderful introduction to the author''s nonfiction writing, and a veritable goldmine for fans, The Essential Rebecca West brings the writer, her voice, and her times to life.

“Rebecca West’s magnum opus . . . one of the great books of our time.” —The New Yorker Written on the brink of World War II, Rebecca West’s classic examination of the history, people, and politics of Yugoslavia illuminates a region that is still a focus of international concern. A magnificent blend of travel journal, cultural commentary, and historical insight, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon probes the troubled history of the Balkans and the uneasy relationships among its ethnic groups. The landscape and the people of Yugoslavia are brilliantly observed as West untangles the tensions that rule the country’s history as well as its daily life. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Cicely Isabel Fairfield is de pseudoniem van Rebecca West.

From the time that George Bernard Shaw remarked that “Rebecca West could handle a pen as brilliantly as ever I could and much more savagely,” West’s writings and her politics have elicited strong reactions. This collection of her letters—the first ever published—has been culled from the estimated ten thousand she wrote during her long life. The more than two hundred selected letters follow this spirited author, critic, and journalist from her first feminist campaign for women’s suffrage when she was a teenager through her reassessments of the twentieth century written in 1982, in her ninetieth year. The letters, which are presented in full, include correspondence with West’s famous lover H. G. Wells and with Shaw, Virginia Woolf, Emma Goldman, Noel Coward, and many others; offer pronouncements on such contemporary authors as Norman Mailer, Nadine Gordimer, and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.; and provide new insights into her battles against misogyny, fascism, and communism. West deliberately fashions her own biography through this intensely personal correspondence, challenging rival accounts of her groundbreaking professional career, her frustrating love life, and her tormented family relations. Engrossing to read, the collection sheds new light on this important figure and her social and literary milieu.

In the final installment of Rebecca West''s Saga of the Century trilogy, family, marriage, and love alter the sisterly bonds that have seen them through poverty, war, and scandal In the years after the war, Mary and Rose Aubrey have found success as accomplished pianists. In spite of their travels and material rewards, they remain apart from society. When their cherished cousin Rosamund surprises them by marrying a man they feel is beneath her, the sisters must reconsider what love means to them and how they can find a sense of spiritual wellbeing on their own, without the guidance of their family. Filled with thoughtful observations on romantic and filial love, West''s final chronicle of the Aubreys deftly draws readers into her endearing characters'' most intimate story yet.

West''s acclaimed examination of traitors, this gripping profile takes readers inside World War II spy rings and gets to the heart of what it means to betray one''s country Throughout her career, Rebecca West dug into psyches, real and fictional, to try to understand the meaning of betrayal. In the aftermath of World War II, West was incensed when several wartime turncoats were tried with seeming indifference—and worse, sympathy—from the British public. In exploring these traitors'' origins, crimes, and motivations, West exposes how class division, greed, and discrimination can taint loyalties and redraw the relationships between individuals and their fatherland. A fascinating book, The Meaning of Treason combines the intrigue of a spy novel with West''s classic, careful dissection of man''s moral struggles.

In ''The Judge'', Rebecca West constructs a narrative that is both a penetrating character study and an intricate examination of the societal and familial influences that shape individual destiny. West employs eloquent prose with a discerning eye for psychological detail, weaving through the early 20th century''s cultural milieu. Her literary prowess is on full display as she delves into themes of personal autonomy versus societal expectations, and the complex interplay between justice and compassion in human relationships. This DigiCat edition ensures that West''s nuanced exploration of moral and ethical ambiguities finds its place in the continuity of world literature''s conversation. Rebecca West, a formidable intellect and a stalwart of feminist literature, brings to ''The Judge'' a confluence of her own life''s observations and experiences. Known for her incisive social commentary and unwavering commitment to exploring the complexities of the human condition, West''s body of work often reflects her contemplation of gender dynamics and the pursuit of justice within a patriarchal society. It is through this personal lens that she offers the reader a profound commentary on the forces that govern human behavior. The timeless nature of Rebecca West''s ''The Judge'', resurrected by DigiCat Publishing in both print and ebook formats, makes it an essential read for both aficionados of modernist literature and contemporary readers seeking to understand the interplay of personal and societal forces. The book''s restoration for a new generation of readers ensures that its legacy as a classic piece of literature will be preserved, further establishing West''s place in the pantheon of great literary minds.

A "compelling . . . oddly intriguing" psychological thriller set in fin-de-siècle Paris from the New York Times–bestselling author of Black Lamb and Grey Falcon ( The New York Times). During early revolutionary stirrings in Russia, after an unexpected turn of events, Laura Rowan, the coddled granddaughter of an exiled British nobleman, becomes her grandfather''s sole companion on a fateful train ride. In France, a young revolutionary approaches Laura and her grandfather with information that will turn her world upside down, and their travels become a thrilling journey into the heart of the struggle against Tsarist Russia. In this suspenseful novel, West brings to life a battle between entitled imperials and the passionate, savvy communist revolutionaries who dare to face them.

This account of Mexico was never completed by its author, but has been rescued from oblivion in this present edition.