This first collection of Emerson's essays has influenced a host of thinkers and intellectuals since its first appearance in 1841. 'Self-Reliance' is undoubtedly the collection's most famous essay, a piece in which Emerson argues that one must put a wholehearted trust in the power of one's own intuition, and not hold to orthodox opinions merely because the mass of people believe them to be true. But the prestige surrounding this work has tended to obscure the breadth of Emerson's vision: in the twelve essays in 'Series One' he invites us to consider a wide range of topics, from the true nature...

The Island of Dr Moreau is both an exciting adventure story, and H G Wells' prescient critique of the dangers of Science shorn of all emotion, of research driven only by a cold intellectual curiosity. Written over a hundred years ago, the book's themes are especially relevant today, when genetic manipulation of both plants and animals has turned the authors concerns from fantasy to disconcerting reality.