The Europeans, by Henry James

Eugenia, the daughter of American expatriates, is the morganatic wife of a German prince, who is being urged to divorce her in favor of a state marriage. She and her artist brother, Felix, travel to Boston to meet distant cousins relatives, partially in hopes of making a wealthy marriage.

Its wit, gaiety, and what Rebecca West calls its “clear sunlit charm” have made this masterly short novel one of the most popular of James’s novels.

( courtesy of GoodReads,  173 pages )

Herodotus, The Histories

One of the masterpieces of classical literature, the “Histories” describes how a small and quarrelsome band of Greek city states united to repel the might of the Persian empire. But while this epic struggle forms the core of his work, Herodotus’ natural curiosity frequently gives rise to colorful digressions – a description of the natural wonders of Egypt; an account of European lake-dwellers; and far-fetched accounts of dog-headed men and gold-digging ants. With its kaleidoscopic blend of fact and legend, the “Histories” offers a compelling Greek view of the world of the fifth century BC.

( from the sleeve,  716 pages )