Free eBooks: Vook Classics

In September, Vook made many of their Kindle-only Enhanced Vook Classics available for free on Amazon.com. Heading into October, they've made another batch of Enhanced Vook Classics free for Kindle, bringing me to a total of 37 free classics. The "enhancements" in these editions appear to be the inclusion of illustrations and photographs, as well as the formatting and editing standard in print editions but usually lacking in free digital editions of classics.

Read on to see the 21 free Vook classics I've snagged this month, with book descriptions from the sites and links to purchase them. (Find the descriptions for last month's Vook classics here.)

Please Note: While all of these books were free at the time of my purchase, that does not guarantee that they are still free or that they will remain free. Make sure you check the price listed before purchasing any books.

Enhanced Vook Classics (Kindle)

The Raven
by Edgar Allen Poe

One of the most famous and widely read poems, "The Raven" was first published by Edgar Allan Poe in 1845. With its trademark, musical verse and repetitive language, Poe's narrative poem sees a distressed lover and his mysterious avian visitor, all the while building tension and dread as the poem progresses. Quoth the raven, "nevermore!"


The Jungle Book
by Rudyard Kipling

First published in book form in 1894, The Jungle Book is a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling. Born and raised as a young boy in India, Kipling returned there for work as an adult. Although these stories were written while Kipling resided in New England, they are clearly inspired by his time abroad—and a good deal of imagination. Since adapted for films and theater, the stories of The Jungle Book continue to enchant readers of all ages through timeless characters such as the heroic Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the elephant-handler Toomai, the lovable Baloo, and the "man-cub" Mowgli who calls the jungle home.

The Prince
by Machiavelli

Since its publication in the 16th century, Machiavelli’s The Prince has endured as an invaluable resource for those seeking influence, power, or a deeper understanding of human nature. Efficient, practical advice drives The Prince, making it an indispensable primer on political science, from the mailroom to the corner office and everywhere in between. Machiavelli’s most famous work remains a staple for political scientists, statesmen, and leaders of all spheres. Now Vook's Bookshelf Classics Series brings this timeless collection of essays together in an easy-to-digest package, complete with arresting visuals lending context to Machiavelli's famous treatise.

The Fairy Godmothers and Other Tales
by Margaret Gatty

This short book by Mrs. Alfred Gatty contains four moralistic tales, each drawing on the fairy genre. The first, "The Fairy Godmothers," has what one might consider a humorous discussion between five fairies, in their role as fairy godmothers, on what fairy gift is the best. Other tales are "Joachim the Mimic," "Darkness and Light," and "The Love of God."


The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar Wilde

In this classic gothic fiction novel, a young man, Dorian Gray, lets a picture of himself change his life forever. Dorian Gray wishes to sell his soul in order to keep his beauty. This wish comes true when the picture begins to age while Dorian remains youthful. As a result, Dorian starts down a path of destruction and surprises.


The War of the Worlds
by H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells' 1898 novel, The War of the Worlds, made people start to look at the sky in a whole new way—from over their shoulders. Written in a journalistic style, blending fantastic events with real-life locations and actual science of its day, Wells' novel chronicles the sudden Martian invasion of our planet Earth. The War of the Worlds, and its realistic approach, launched a new, chilling genre of fiction and went on to inspire numerous variations and adaptations for radio, television, comics and film.


The Iliad
by Homer

One of the oldest written works of Western Civilization, Homer's Iliad and its "sequel"—The Odyssey—remain cornerstones of the humanities as well as fascinating experiences for modern readers. The epic poem The Iliad tells of the great deeds and battles of the Trojan War, from heroes such as Achilles, Ajax and Hector to legendary intercession from the Greek gods.


The Scarlet Letter
by Nathaniel Hawthorne

With its austere Puritan influence, rich imagery and unflinching exploration of the human soul, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter has endured as a living classic since its first publication in 1850. Set in 17th century, Puritan New England, the novel chronicles the judgment and hardships of Hester Prynne as she endeavors to redeem her name and her child from her branded status as an adulteress. Authority, religion, patriarchy and groupthink are examined as Hawthorne slowly unveils the secrets and designs of a would-be moral village.

The Velveteen Rabbit
by Margery Williams

The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real is a children's novel written by Margery Williams and illustrated by William Nicholson. Vook has enhanced this classic children's story with videos of adorable rabbits. The story chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit and his quest to become real through the love of his owner. The book was first published in 1922.


The Last of the Mohicans
by James Fenimore Cooper

Set against the backdrop of the French and Indian War, James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans represents one of the first truly American novels. Although part of a pentalogy, it is by far the most famous of the series and one of Cooper's most popular books.


The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
by Washington Irving

First published in 1820, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow remains one of the most well known pieces of early American fiction still read today. Set in a quaint, New York village in the years following the Revolutionary War, Washington Irving's groundbreaking ghost story is at times chilling and delightfully conspiratorial in its dark humor. Ichabod Crane, a preciously fey school master competes with local tough Brom Bones for a wife only to succumb to a headless, supernatural rider... Or does he? Nothing is at it seems in this classic of American fiction.

The Art of War
by Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu's The Art of War is an ancient treatise on military strategy dating back to late-sixth century B.C. China. Its 13 chapters provide enumerated reflections and lessons on practical tactics to give readers an edge over their adversaries. While The Art of War has served military figures throughout history, from Napolean to General Douglas MacArthur, in the 20^th century it gained notoriety outside of actual combat. It is now considered one of the most inspirational and informative texts for business management throughout the world.

The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas

First published in serial form in 19th century France, The Count of Monte Cristo remains a staple of Western literature and a favorite of readers craving adventure, intrigue and thrilling locales. Equipped with knowledge of a secret treasure, a young man wrongly imprisoned escapes from jail to exact revenge on his betrayers. Rich in historical context, Dumas' novel explores themes of loyalty, redemption, revenge and mercy. Along with The Three Musketeers, it is his most famous novel.


The Game
by Jack London

Jack London captivates us with a young bride as she watches her fiancé box in a prizefight on the eve of their wedding. Jack London wrote, "I have had these experiences and it was out of these experiences, plus a fairly intimate knowledge of prize-fighting in general, that I wrote The Game."


The Republic
by Plato

The Republic is Plato's best known written work, structured as a Socratic dialogue between the great teacher, his students and other citizens of Athens. A seminal investigation into philosophy, political science, the nature of justice, government, spirituality and the role of art in society, The Republic remains hugely influential.


Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island is the father of any tale of pirates and buried treasure. Originally published in book form in 1823, the Scottish author's adventure stories introduced readers to quintessential characters like Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver while single-handedly reinventing the genre. One of the original and most popular tales of adventure on the high seas is back as Stevenson's swashbuckling classic is enhanced by original illustrations from George Roux.


The Three Musketeers
by Alexandre Dumas

Since its serialized publication in Le Siecle magazine in 1844, Dumas' tale of courageous feats and expert swordsmanship has endured as an exciting classic. Follow the adventures of Athos, Porthos and Aramis as they strike "all for one, one for all!"


The Time Machine
by H.G. Wells

With this 1895 novella, the father of science fiction, H.G. Wells, single-handedly invented the time traveling genre, along with the now ubiquitous term, "time machine." Following the exploits of the Time Traveller, Wells' novel kicked off the "dying earth" theme now popular throughout science fiction. At turns thrillingly imaginative as well as curiously predictive, "The Time Machine" remains an uncontested classic.


White Fang
by Jack London

Widely read and adapted numerous times for comics, television and film, Jack London's White Fang is one of the most popular works of American fiction from the dawn of the 20th century. In the untamed wilderness of the Yukon, the rule of law is kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, yet here men come to make their fortunes. Mirroring the themes explored in London's renowned The Call of the Wild, White Fang follows the slow transformation of a feral wolf into a domesticated companion whose outsider's eyes provide an unflinching look into the nature of man.

Ulysses
by James Joyce

Regarded as the zenith of modernist fiction, James Joyce's masterpiece continues to attract, enthrall and baffle critics as it manages to fit religion, death, culture, politics metaphysics, epistemology, and the history of human progress into a single day. Joyce structured his revolutionary novel to mirror the Greek myth, emphasizing the wandering quest "back home" undertaken by his protagonist on a summer day in Dublin. Layered, heady and often irreverently comical, Ulysses remains unparalleled.


The Scarlet Pimpernel
by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Set against the backdrop of France's Reign of Terror, Baroness Orczy's most famous novel blends adventure, intrigue and playful humor to form one of the first secret identity superhero. Foppish Percy Blakeney seems to stumble his way through the upper crust of post-Revolution France, but could this bumbling dimwit conceal a secret even those closest to him could never guess?