
BEACH BOOKS Boxed Set: The Greatest Romance Classics Of All Time (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Classic Romance Anthology of Courtship, Gothic Passion, and Social Class LoveBy Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charlotte Brontë, Henry James, Emily Brontë, Anne Brontë, William Shakespeare, Fanny Burney, Stendhal, R.D. Blackmore, Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, Nathaniel Hawthorne, George Eliot, Leo Tolstoy, Thomas Hardy, Elizabeth Gaskell, Edith Wharton, Alexandre Dumas, Meredith Nicholson, Charles Dickens, Gaston Leroux, E. M. Forster, Theodore Dreiser, H. G. Wells, Grace Livingston Hill, Earl Derr Biggers, Walter Scott, Virginia Woolf, Burton Egbert Stevenson, P.G. Wodehouse, Georgette Heyer, Madeleine L'Engle, O. Douglas, Kate ChopinLength763h 23m
About this audiobook
BEACH BOOKS Boxed Set: The Greatest Romance Classics Of All Time gathers an expansive canon of romantic literature, tracing love as courtship, transgression, social contract, moral trial, and imaginative liberation. Its range extends from Shakespearean drama and eighteenth-century epistolary intrigue to Victorian realism, Gothic intensity, modernist inwardness, popular mystery, comedy of manners, and twentieth-century romantic adventure. The collection's significance lies in its breadth: drawing-room wit, tragic passion, domestic aspiration, psychological ambiguity, and social critique appear side by side. The contributors represent some of the most influential voices in Anglophone and European literary history, including major figures of the novel's rise, Romantic and Victorian culture, realist and naturalist fiction, modernism, and popular genre writing. Together, these authors reveal how romance has been shaped by class, gender, inheritance, empire, religious feeling, and changing ideals of personal freedom. Their varied historical positions illuminate the evolution of desire from aristocratic codes to modern self-fashioning. This boxed set is ideal for readers seeking both pleasure and perspective: a portable library of love's literary transformations. It offers a rare opportunity to compare styles, periods, and moral worlds within one volume, fostering a rich dialogue among works that continue to define romantic imagination and cultural memory.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- An Introduction draws the threads together, discussing why these diverse authors and texts belong in one collection.
- Historical Context explores the cultural and intellectual currents that shaped these works, offering insight into the shared (or contrasting) eras that influenced each writer.
- A combined Synopsis (Selection) briefly outlines the key plots or arguments of the included pieces, helping readers grasp the anthology's overall scope without giving away essential twists.
- A collective Analysis highlights common themes, stylistic variations, and significant crossovers in tone and technique, tying together writers from different backgrounds.
- Reflection questions encourage readers to compare the different voices and perspectives within the collection, fostering a richer understanding of the overarching conversation.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics, Romance
Length763 hrs 23 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJun 17, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
169Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 11)
2Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare(Play) (pt. 1)
170Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 12)
3Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare(Play) (pt. 2)
171Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 13)
4Romeo & Juliet (Prose Version) (pt. 1)
172Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 14)
5Romeo & Juliet (Prose Version) (pt. 2)
173Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 15)
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6Romeo & Juliet (Prose Version) (pt. 3)
174Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 16)
7Romeo & Juliet (Prose Version) (pt. 4)
175Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 1)
8Romeo & Juliet (Prose Version) (pt. 5)
176Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 2)
9Evelina (Fanny Burney) (pt. 1)
177Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 3)
10Evelina (Fanny Burney) (pt. 2)
178Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 4)
11Evelina (Fanny Burney) (pt. 3)
179Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 5)
12Evelina (Fanny Burney) (pt. 4)
180Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 6)
13Evelina (Fanny Burney) (pt. 5)
181Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 7)
14Evelina (Fanny Burney) (pt. 6)
182Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 1)
15Evelina (Fanny Burney) (pt. 7)
183Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 2)
16Evelina (Fanny Burney) (pt. 8)
184Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 3)
17Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 1)
185Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 4)
18Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 2)
186Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 5)
19Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 3)
187Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 6)
20Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 4)
188Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) (pt. 7)
21Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 5)
189North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 1)
22Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 6)
190North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 2)
23Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 7)
191North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 3)
24Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 8)
192North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 4)
25Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 9)
193North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 5)
26Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 10)
194North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 6)
27Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 11)
195North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 7)
28Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 12)
196North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 8)
29Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 13)
197North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 9)
30Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 14)
198Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 1)
31Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 15)
199Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 2)
32Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 16)
200Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 3)
33Camilla (Fanny Burney) (pt. 17)
201Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 4)
34Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) (pt. 1)
202Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 5)
35Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) (pt. 2)
203Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 6)
36Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) (pt. 3)
204Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 7)
37Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) (pt. 4)
205Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 8)
38Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) (pt. 5)
206Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 9)
39Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) (pt. 6)
207Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 10)
40Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen) (pt. 1)
208Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 11)
41Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen) (pt. 2)
209Wives and Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) (pt. 12)
42Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen) (pt. 3)
210The Age of Innocence (Edith Wharton) (pt. 1)
43Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen) (pt. 4)
211The Age of Innocence (Edith Wharton) (pt. 2)
44Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen) (pt. 5)
212The Age of Innocence (Edith Wharton) (pt. 3)
45Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen) (pt. 6)
213The Age of Innocence (Edith Wharton) (pt. 4)
46Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) (pt. 1)
214The Age of Innocence (Edith Wharton) (pt. 5)
47Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) (pt. 2)
215Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 1)
48Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) (pt. 3)
216Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 2)
49Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) (pt. 4)
217Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 3)
50Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) (pt. 5)
218Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 4)
51Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) (pt. 6)
219Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 5)
52Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) (pt. 7)
220Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 6)
53Emma (Jane Austen) (pt. 1)
221Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 7)
54Emma (Jane Austen) (pt. 2)
222Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 8)
55Emma (Jane Austen) (pt. 3)
223Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 9)
56Emma (Jane Austen) (pt. 4)
224An Old-Fashioned Girl (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 1)
57Emma (Jane Austen) (pt. 5)
225An Old-Fashioned Girl (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 2)
58Emma (Jane Austen) (pt. 6)
226An Old-Fashioned Girl (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 3)
59Emma (Jane Austen) (pt. 7)
227An Old-Fashioned Girl (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 4)
60Persuasion (Jane Austen) (pt. 1)
228An Old-Fashioned Girl (Louisa May Alcott) (pt. 5)
61Persuasion (Jane Austen) (pt. 2)
229The Lady of the Camellias (Alexandre Dumas) (pt. 1)
62Persuasion (Jane Austen) (pt. 3)
230The Lady of the Camellias (Alexandre Dumas) (pt. 2)
63Persuasion (Jane Austen) (pt. 4)
231The Lady of the Camellias (Alexandre Dumas) (pt. 3)
64The Sorrows of Young Werther (Goethe) (pt. 1)
232The House of a Thousand Candles (Meredith Nicholson) (pt. 1)
65The Sorrows of Young Werther (Goethe) (pt. 2)
233The House of a Thousand Candles (Meredith Nicholson) (pt. 2)
66Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 1)
234The House of a Thousand Candles (Meredith Nicholson) (pt. 3)
67Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 2)
235The House of a Thousand Candles (Meredith Nicholson) (pt. 4)
68Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 3)
236Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) (pt. 1)
69Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 4)
237Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) (pt. 2)
70Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 5)
238Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) (pt. 3)
71Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 6)
239Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) (pt. 4)
72Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 7)
240Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) (pt. 5)
73Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 8)
241Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) (pt. 6)
74Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 9)
242Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) (pt. 7)
75Villette (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 1)
243Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) (pt. 8)
76Villette (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 2)
244Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) (pt. 9)
77Villette (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 3)
245The Phantom of the Opera (Gaston Leroux) (pt. 1)
78Villette (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 4)
246The Phantom of the Opera (Gaston Leroux) (pt. 2)
79Villette (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 5)
247The Phantom of the Opera (Gaston Leroux) (pt. 3)
80Villette (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 6)
248The Phantom of the Opera (Gaston Leroux) (pt. 4)
81Villette (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 7)
249A Room with a View (E. M. Forster) (pt. 1)
82Villette (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 8)
250A Room with a View (E. M. Forster) (pt. 2)
83Villette (Charlotte Brontë) (pt. 9)
251A Room with a View (E. M. Forster) (pt. 3)
84Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) (pt. 1)
252A Room with a View (E. M. Forster) (pt. 4)
85Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) (pt. 2)
253The Beautiful and Damned (F. Scott Fitzgerald) (pt. 1)
86Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) (pt. 3)
254The Beautiful and Damned (F. Scott Fitzgerald) (pt. 2)
87Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) (pt. 4)
255The Beautiful and Damned (F. Scott Fitzgerald) (pt. 3)
88Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) (pt. 5)
256The Beautiful and Damned (F. Scott Fitzgerald) (pt. 4)
89Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) (pt. 6)
257The Beautiful and Damned (F. Scott Fitzgerald) (pt. 5)
90The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) (pt. 1)
258The Beautiful and Damned (F. Scott Fitzgerald) (pt. 6)
91The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) (pt. 2)
259The Beautiful and Damned (F. Scott Fitzgerald) (pt. 7)
92The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) (pt. 3)
260Jennie Gerhardt (Theodore Dreiser) (pt. 1)
93The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) (pt. 4)
261Jennie Gerhardt (Theodore Dreiser) (pt. 2)
94The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) (pt. 5)
262Jennie Gerhardt (Theodore Dreiser) (pt. 3)
95The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) (pt. 6)
263Jennie Gerhardt (Theodore Dreiser) (pt. 4)
96The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) (pt. 7)
264Jennie Gerhardt (Theodore Dreiser) (pt. 5)
97The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë) (pt. 8)
265Jennie Gerhardt (Theodore Dreiser) (pt. 6)
98The Red and the Black (Stendhal) (pt. 1)
266Ann Veronica (H. G. Wells) (pt. 1)
99The Red and the Black (Stendhal) (pt. 2)
267Ann Veronica (H. G. Wells) (pt. 2)
100The Red and the Black (Stendhal) (pt. 3)
268Ann Veronica (H. G. Wells) (pt. 3)
101The Red and the Black (Stendhal) (pt. 4)
269Ann Veronica (H. G. Wells) (pt. 4)
102The Red and the Black (Stendhal) (pt. 5)
270Ann Veronica (H. G. Wells) (pt. 5)
103The Red and the Black (Stendhal) (pt. 6)
271The Enchanted Barn (Grace Livingston Hill) (pt. 1)
104The Red and the Black (Stendhal) (pt. 7)
272The Enchanted Barn (Grace Livingston Hill) (pt. 2)
105The Red and the Black (Stendhal) (pt. 8)
273The Enchanted Barn (Grace Livingston Hill) (pt. 3)
106The Red and the Black (Stendhal) (pt. 9)
274The Enchanted Barn (Grace Livingston Hill) (pt. 4)
107Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 1)
275The Girl from Montana (Grace Livingston Hill) (pt. 1)
108Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 2)
276The Girl from Montana (Grace Livingston Hill) (pt. 2)
109Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 3)
277The Girl from Montana (Grace Livingston Hill) (pt. 3)
110Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 4)
278The Miranda Trilogy (Grace Livingston Hill)
111Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 5)
279Marcia Schuyler (pt. 1)
112Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 6)
280Marcia Schuyler (pt. 2)
113Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 7)
281Marcia Schuyler (pt. 3)
114Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 8)
282Marcia Schuyler (pt. 4)
115Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 9)
283Marcia Schuyler (pt. 5)
116Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 10)
284Phoebe Deane (pt. 1)
117Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 11)
285Phoebe Deane (pt. 2)
118Lorna Doone (R.D. Blackmore) (pt. 12)
286Phoebe Deane (pt. 3)
119Dangerous Liaisons (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos) (pt. 1)
287Phoebe Deane (pt. 4)
120Dangerous Liaisons (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos) (pt. 2)
288Phoebe Deane (pt. 5)
121Dangerous Liaisons (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos) (pt. 3)
289Miranda (pt. 1)
122Dangerous Liaisons (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos) (pt. 4)
290Miranda (pt. 2)
123Dangerous Liaisons (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos) (pt. 5)
291Miranda (pt. 3)
124Dangerous Liaisons (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos) (pt. 6)
292Miranda (pt. 4)
125Dangerous Liaisons (Pierre Choderlos de Laclos) (pt. 7)
293The Agony Column (Earl Derr Biggers) (pt. 1)
126The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 1)
294The Agony Column (Earl Derr Biggers) (pt. 2)
127The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 2)
295The Bride of Lammermoor (Walter Scott) (pt. 1)
128The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 3)
296The Bride of Lammermoor (Walter Scott) (pt. 2)
129The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 4)
297The Bride of Lammermoor (Walter Scott) (pt. 3)
130The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 5)
298The Bride of Lammermoor (Walter Scott) (pt. 4)
131The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 6)
299The Bride of Lammermoor (Walter Scott) (pt. 5)
132The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 7)
300The Bride of Lammermoor (Walter Scott) (pt. 6)
133The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 8)
301Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) (pt. 1)
134The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 9)
302Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) (pt. 2)
135The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 10)
303Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) (pt. 3)
136The Portrait of a Lady (Henry James) (pt. 11)
304Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) (pt. 4)
137The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) (pt. 1)
305Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) (pt. 5)
138The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) (pt. 2)
306Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) (pt. 6)
139The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) (pt. 3)
307Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) (pt. 7)
140The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) (pt. 4)
308Night and Day (Virginia Woolf) (pt. 8)
141The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) (pt. 5)
309Affairs of State (Burton Egbert Stevenson) (pt. 1)
142The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) (pt. 6)
310Affairs of State (Burton Egbert Stevenson) (pt. 2)
143The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) (pt. 7)
311Affairs of State (Burton Egbert Stevenson) (pt. 3)
144The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) (pt. 8)
312Jill the Reckless (P.G. Wodehouse) (pt. 1)
145The Wings of the Dove (Henry James) (pt. 9)
313Jill the Reckless (P.G. Wodehouse) (pt. 2)
146Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) (pt. 1)
314Jill the Reckless (P.G. Wodehouse) (pt. 3)
147Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) (pt. 2)
315Jill the Reckless (P.G. Wodehouse) (pt. 4)
148Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) (pt. 3)
316Jill the Reckless (P.G. Wodehouse) (pt. 5)
149Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) (pt. 4)
317Jill the Reckless (P.G. Wodehouse) (pt. 6)
150Adam Bede (George Eliot) (pt. 1)
318The Black Moth (Georgette Heyer) (pt. 1)
151Adam Bede (George Eliot) (pt. 2)
319The Black Moth (Georgette Heyer) (pt. 2)
152Adam Bede (George Eliot) (pt. 3)
320The Black Moth (Georgette Heyer) (pt. 3)
153Adam Bede (George Eliot) (pt. 4)
321The Black Moth (Georgette Heyer) (pt. 4)
154Adam Bede (George Eliot) (pt. 5)
322The Black Moth (Georgette Heyer) (pt. 5)
155Adam Bede (George Eliot) (pt. 6)
323The Transformation of Philip Jettan (Georgette Heyer) (pt. 1)
156Adam Bede (George Eliot) (pt. 7)
324The Transformation of Philip Jettan (Georgette Heyer) (pt. 2)
157Adam Bede (George Eliot) (pt. 8)
325The Transformation of Philip Jettan (Georgette Heyer) (pt. 3)
158Adam Bede (George Eliot) (pt. 9)
326And Both Were Young (Madeleine L'Engle) (pt. 1)
159Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 1)
327And Both Were Young (Madeleine L'Engle) (pt. 2)
160Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 2)
328And Both Were Young (Madeleine L'Engle) (pt. 3)
161Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 3)
329Penny Plain (O. Douglas) (pt. 1)
162Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 4)
330Penny Plain (O. Douglas) (pt. 2)
163Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 5)
331Penny Plain (O. Douglas) (pt. 3)
164Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 6)
332Penny Plain (O. Douglas) (pt. 4)
165Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 7)
333Penny Plain (O. Douglas) (pt. 5)
166Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 8)
334The Awakening (Kate Chopin) (pt. 1)
167Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 9)
335The Awakening (Kate Chopin) (pt. 2)
168Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) (pt. 10)
336The Awakening (Kate Chopin) (pt. 3)