By George Meredith (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

At the heart of One of Our Conquerors is the story of Victor Radnor, a self-made, successful businessman who embodies the energies of commercial Victorian England. Victor is a man of formidable charm, ambition, and benevolence, yet he is ensnared in a socially precarious position due to his relationship with his beloved partner, Nataly, with whom he has lived for years as husband and wife without formal marriage. Their union, socially illegitimate though personally devoted, becomes the focal point for much of the novel’s tension. Victor’s desire to legitimize their relationship and secure a respectable position for their daughter Nesta in society serves as the narrative’s driving conflict.
Meredith, ever the ironist, does not present Victor uncritically. Victor is a man of immense energy, imagination, and generosity, but also prone to illusions—particularly about the power of charm, wealth, and personal will to override the deeper currents of social judgment. His belief that society can be bent to his personal desires reflects both the optimism of the self-made man and the hubris that often accompanies unchecked ambition. In this sense, the title One of Our Conquerors carries a double edge: it acknowledges Victor’s triumphs in commerce and his conquest of circumstances but also points to the broader critique of conquest itself—whether in business, society, or personal relationships.
One of Our Conquerors is a profound exploration of the tensions between private morality and public life, between individual will and social constraint, and between the old moral orders and the emerging complexities of modernity. It challenges readers to consider the costs of social conformity, the meaning of success, and the possibilities for human integrity in a world increasingly driven by commerce, appearance, and social performance. As with Meredith’s other major works, it is a novel whose rewards are commensurate with the patience and thoughtfulness brought to it—a work that continues to resonate with readers interested in the enduring struggles between the personal and the public, the ideal and the real.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2025. 291p.

By George Meredith (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

Evan Harrington, first published in 1861, represents a crucial early milestone in the literary career of George Meredith. While not as formally experimental or philosophically dense as his later masterpieces like The Egoist or Beauchamp’s Career, this novel nonetheless displays in fully developed form the sharp social satire, psychological acuity, and probing concern with class, identity, and social performance that would become hallmarks of Meredith’s mature work. More overtly comedic than much of his later fiction, Evan Harrington occupies a unique place in his canon as both a sparkling social comedy and a pointed critique of the hypocrisies embedded within Victorian class structures.
At its most basic level, Evan Harrington is a novel about a young man’s struggle with the question of identity — specifically, the tension between his personal merit and the social stigma attached to his family’s occupation. Evan is the son of Melchisedec Harrington, an exceedingly proud and flamboyant tailor whose death leaves his family facing financial and social crisis. Although Evan has received a gentleman’s education and possesses the manners and intellect of the upper classes, he is forced to reckon with the fact that in the rigidly stratified world of mid-19th century England, the mere fact of being “the tailor’s son” is enough to exclude him from the ranks of polite society.
Evan Harrington remains a vital and compelling work not only because it provides insight into Meredith’s literary evolution but also because its central concerns continue to resonate. The tension between personal integrity and social expectation, the arbitrariness of class distinctions, and the enduring question of what it means to live authentically within a society structured by appearances — these remain pressing questions in any era.
In sum, Evan Harrington is both a sparkling social comedy and a profound moral fable. It combines the pleasures of sharp character portraits, witty dialogue, and romantic intrigue with a serious exploration of identity, class, and the painful comedy of human vanity. It is a work that delights the reader while also challenging them to reflect on the enduring absurdities of social life and the courage it takes to live truthfully in the face of them. As such, it stands as a worthy introduction to the genius of George Meredith and a foundational text within the broader tradition of the Victorian social novel.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2025. 332p.

By George Meredith (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

Diana of the Crossways, first published in 1885, represents a pivotal achievement in George Meredith’s literary career. It stands apart not merely as his most commercially successful novel during his lifetime but as a mature and sophisticated exploration of some of the most pressing social, psychological, and philosophical dilemmas of the Victorian age. This novel synthesizes his longstanding thematic concerns—gender relations, the constraints of marriage, the struggle for individual autonomy, and the social mechanisms of hypocrisy and surveillance—into a narrative that is at once accessible, profoundly ironic, and deeply analytical.
At its center is the figure of Diana Merion Warwick, a woman of exceptional beauty, intellect, and vivacity, whose struggle is emblematic of the tensions between the individual, particularly the intellectually aspiring woman, and a society structured to suppress her independence. Diana’s trajectory is not merely the story of a woman’s personal fate but a dramatization of the larger structural impediments to female agency in a patriarchal world that equates female virtue with silence, obedience, and domestic confinement.
The novel’s contemporary relevance is striking. Its exploration of gendered power dynamics, the politics of reputation, the policing of women’s voices, and the ethical failures of institutions built on inequality continues to resonate with modern readers. It anticipates many of the concerns that would later be taken up by feminist literary critics, particularly in its portrayal of how systemic power operates through language, marriage, and social surveillance.
Diana of the Crossways thus stands not merely as a compelling work of Victorian fiction but as a profound literary experiment in social critique, psychological realism, and moral philosophy. It is a novel that challenges the reader to think deeply about the structures of power that govern intimate relationships and public life, and about the costs of pursuing truth and autonomy in a world designed to punish those who do. Through its combination of narrative wit, philosophical depth, and emotional intensity, it remains one of George Meredith’s most enduring and significant achievements.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2025. 275p.

By George Meredith. Designed and Edited with an Introduction by Colin Heston.

More than any other of his novels, Beauchamp’s Career embodies Meredith’s philosophical worldview: that the highest human calling is the continual pursuit of greater consciousness. For Meredith, the “Comic Spirit” serves as an ethical guide—illuminating human folly, deflating pretension, and inviting self-correction through laughter rather than dogma.

Yet Beauchamp, ironically, lacks the flexibility of the Comic Spirit. He is too earnest, too driven by absolute convictions, to fully participate in the comic self-awareness that Meredith idealizes. In this sense, Beauchamp is both a hero and a warning: a figure of immense moral courage whose tragedy lies in his refusal to accept that the world operates not by ideals but by compromises.

While Beauchamp’s Career was never Meredith’s most popular work during his lifetime, it has come to be recognized as one of his most ambitious and profound novels. Its examination of the dilemmas of idealism, political integrity, and personal sacrifice remains strikingly relevant in an era of political polarization and disillusionment.

The novel speaks to anyone who has struggled with the tension between moral conviction and the messy realities of human society. Its insights into the nature of political life—the seductions of populism, the compromises demanded by coalition, the frustrations of advocacy in an indifferent world—resonate just as powerfully now as they did in the 19th century. Beauchamp’s Career stands as one of George Meredith’s greatest achievements: a work that challenges as much as it enlightens, a moral and political fable wrapped in the ironic garb of the Victorian social novel. It demands much of its readers—patience, attentiveness, and a willingness to engage with ambiguity—but it rewards that effort with a deeply moving meditation on the costs and the dignity of living according to one’s principles.

In an age when the struggle between ideals and pragmatism remains as urgent as ever, Beauchamp’s Career offers both a mirror and a guide—one that reflects the frailty of human institutions, but also the enduring power of conscience.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2025. 383p.

By Joseph C. Lincoln (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

In Shavings, published in 1918 at the peak of his literary success, Joseph C. Lincoln again turns his familiar eye and pen toward Cape Cod—its people, its rhythms, and its moral heart. Like much of Lincoln’s fiction, this novel offers more than light entertainment; it is a nuanced exploration of human decency, community obligation, and emotional transformation, wrapped in a quietly humorous and affectionately drawn setting.
Set in the fictional village of East Wellmouth, Shavings centers on a seemingly unremarkable character: a middle-aged man named Lemuel “Shavings” Keziah, a gentle and eccentric resident who works as a handyman and caretaker of sorts at the local ship-chandlery. What begins as a portrait of a quiet, solitary man becomes a deeper meditation on compassion, guardianship, and the power of unassuming kindness to transform lives. In this novel, Lincoln refines his formula of New England coastal fiction, combining rich local detail, deft character sketches, and moral clarity in a story that both reflects and transcends its setting.
The title Shavings is rich in metaphor. At the surface level, it refers to wood shavings—fragments trimmed away in the process of building or shaping. But on a deeper level, it suggests themes of smallness, modesty, and the overlooked. Lemuel Keziah is, like his namesake shavings, a figure that most would pass over without a second thought. He is plain, odd, physically unimposing, and considered somewhat simple by his neighbors. Yet within that uncarved block of humility lies a figure of enormous quiet integrity, and Lincoln’s triumph is in showing how such a man can become a pillar of his community and a redeemer in the lives of others.
Lincoln gives us a novel that blends humility with heart, modesty with moral insight. It is a story of redemption through quiet persistence, of fatherhood without blood, and of character tested not by fame or fortune but by the daily demands of decency. For those who cherish gentle fiction with real emotional weight, Shavings is a touchstone. It evokes a vanished New England but leaves in its place timeless lessons on love, trust, and the power of doing good without seeking reward. In Lemuel Keziah, Lincoln offers a model of quiet heroism whose relevance has only grown with time.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2025. 229p.

By Joseph Crosby Lincoln . Designed and Edited with an Introduction by Colin Heston

Joseph C. Lincoln's 1920 novel The Portygee holds a unique place in his body of work. Known for his warm-hearted Cape Cod tales celebrating small-town life, moral decency, and New England character, Lincoln here expands his focus to address questions of heritage, identity, and belonging in a changing America. While retaining the gentle humor and richly textured settings that made him popular with early 20th-century readers, The Portygee engages more directly with themes of cultural difference and assimilation—offering a nuanced portrayal of prejudice, generational misunderstanding, and the search for personal integrity.

The novel’s title refers to the derogatory local slang for “Portuguese,” used to identify individuals of Portuguese descent who had settled along the Massachusetts coast in significant numbers by the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Through this lens, Lincoln examines not only the resilience of the American immigrant but also the sometimes unspoken tensions that lie beneath the surface of even the most tight-knit communities. It is a story of collision—between old and new, native and newcomer, tradition and ambition.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2025. 262p.

By Joseph C. Lincoln. Designed and Edited with an Introduction by Colin Heston

Published in 1921, Galusha the Magnificent stands as one of Joseph Crosby Lincoln’s most beloved and subtly humorous novels—a story that embodies the author’s signature blend of small-town Cape Cod charm, gently satirical social commentary, and richly drawn characters. Lincoln, often hailed as the “Bard of Cape Cod,” built a prolific career chronicling the lives, habits, and quirks of New England coastal communities. In Galusha the Magnificent, he brings his literary artistry to full bloom by offering readers a delightfully incongruous protagonist: a mild-mannered, absent-minded biblical archaeologist who finds himself entangled in the practical and parochial dramas of a fictional Cape Cod town.

Like many of Lincoln’s novels, Galusha the Magnificent is set in a fictional Cape Cod village—in this case, the town of Trumet. Lincoln’s Trumet is a lovingly detailed and recognizable composite of real Cape Cod communities, built upon generations of seafaring traditions, strong social cohesion, and a lively sense of local identity. For Lincoln, setting is never mere background. The Cape Cod environment—with its salt air, white churches, general stores, and crusty locals—serves as a character in its own right. Trumet is where the genteel values of Old New England meet the changing modern world of the early 20th century, and this dynamic tension is what fuels the plot and humor of the book.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2025. 272p.

By  Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne, Edited by Colin Heston.

“The Ebb-Tide: A Trio and Quartette” is a dark, psychologically complex novella co-written by Robert Louis Stevenson and his stepson Lloyd Osbourne, first published in 1894. Included in Volume XIX of the Swanston Edition of Stevenson’s collected works, this tale marks one of the final literary efforts of Stevenson’s life and reflects his mature style—gritty, morally ambiguous, and deeply engaged with the human condition.

Set in the South Pacific, a region Stevenson had come to know intimately during his later years, The Ebb-Tide follows three disgraced and destitute Europeans—Herrick, Davis, and Huish—who find themselves stranded in Tahiti. When they are offered the chance to captain a cargo schooner, the Farallone, they seize the opportunity, only to discover that the ship is carrying a mysterious and morally troubling cargo. Their journey soon spirals into a tale of greed, betrayal, and existential crisis, culminating in a confrontation with Attwater, a charismatic and enigmatic missionary who lives alone on a remote island.

The novella is notable for its psychological depth and moral complexity. Each character represents a different facet of human weakness—cowardice, cruelty, and self-deception—and Stevenson explores how these traits play out under the pressures of isolation and lawlessness. The tropical setting, far from being idyllic, becomes a backdrop for moral decay and spiritual reckoning. The story’s title, The Ebb-Tide, metaphorically suggests the retreat of moral certainty and the erosion of personal integrity.

Stylistically, the work is lean and intense, with Stevenson’s prose sharpened by his collaboration with Osbourne. The narrative is driven by suspense and philosophical inquiry, raising questions about redemption, colonialism, and the nature of evil. It is often seen as a companion piece to Stevenson’s earlier South Seas fiction, such as The Beach of Falesá, but it is darker and more introspective in tone.

The Swanston Edition provides this novella with critical annotations and historical context, situating it within Stevenson’s broader literary and biographical trajectory. As one of his final works, The Ebb-Tide offers a powerful and unsettling vision of the human soul adrift—both literally and morally—on the margins of empire and civilization.

Read-Me.Org Inc. Australia-New York-Philadelphia. 2025. 216p.

By R. L. Stevenson. Edited by Colin Heston

"The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses" is a historical adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1888. Set during the tumultuous period of the Wars of the Roses in 15th-century England, the story follows the young protagonist, Richard Shelton. Richard is caught in the conflict between the houses of York and Lancaster, and his journey is marked by themes of loyalty, betrayal, and revenge. The novel begins with Richard discovering that his guardian, Sir Daniel Brackley, is involved in treacherous activities. As Richard seeks justice for his father's murder, he joins forces with a band of outlaws known as the Black Arrow. The leader of the outlaws, John Amend-All, becomes a key ally in Richard's quest. Throughout the narrative, Richard faces numerous challenges, including battles, escapes, and romantic entanglements with Joanna Sedley, a young woman disguised as a boy. Stevenson's vivid descriptions and fast-paced plot make "The Black Arrow" a captivating read. The novel seamlessly combines elements of adventure, romance, and historical fiction, offering readers a thrilling portrayal of medieval England and its intricate political landscape.

Volume VIII of the Swanston Edition of "The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson" continues to showcase Stevenson's literary versatility. This volume typically includes a mix of his essays, short stories, and other writings, reflecting his wide-ranging interests and talents. The Swanston Edition is renowned for its comprehensive and authoritative compilation of Stevenson's works, providing readers with an in-depth exploration of his literary contributions. Each volume in this series highlights Stevenson's ability to engage readers with his storytelling prowess across various genres and styles. This volume has been carefully edited and redesigned by Colin Heston, a renowned novelist and storyteller, to make the book more enjoyable and comprehensible to the modern reader.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York, Philadelphia, Australia. 2025. 178p.