Asya is a tragic story of two Russians abroad who are in love but conceal it from each other. Constance Garrett and Isabel Hapgood translated Asya in antiquated style approximately 100 years ago. Despite the story's superb character portrayals, it has rarely been available since. This translation is based on the Russian text published in 1961 in Moscow by the Government Publishing House of Artistic Literature.

    Also included is An Enemy of the People (1883), whose central character was the actor Konstantin Stanislavski's favourite role. Michael Meyer's translations are 'crisp and cobweb-free, purged of verbal Victoriana' (Kenneth Tynan)

    Doctor Thorne carries the Barchester Chronicles sequence of novels away from the Church, where the earlier volumes had been set, and towards social commentary and even comedy of manners.