In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are transported to the fantasy world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe. Once there, they find themselves in a battle between good and evil, as the the wicked White Queen strives to keep the kingdom under her control. The siblings end up defeating the queen and become rulers of Narnia themselves. The book is an allegory, with the lion Aslan representing God and the Queen representing evil.
Robert Frost: Poems is a collection of works highly concerned with nature and isolation. Many of the poems are written in the voice of a lone narrator wandering in solitude; the contrast of loneliness and the society of others is a recurring theme, as is the contemplation of death. These poems are not despairing or Gothic, however; the poet uses a very naturalistic and simple style to convey the idea of communion with nature and the inevitability of death. Major themes include youth versus age and a connection with nature.
Robert Browning: Poems condemn Victorian social standards, often in purposely shocking ways. One of the more well-known poems concerns a man and the woman he loves; after describing her youth and beauty, the narrator strangles her. Another relates the adventures of Roland, a medieval knight on a mysterious quest in a dark wasteland. These poems are dark, often using nature and the concept of futility to explore the themes of passion and sexuality, death, and the de-humanizing aspects of modern life, particularly urbanization and industry.
A Man for All Seasons is the story of Thomas More, Chancellor to King Henry VIII of England. The story, written as a production for the stage, charts More's refusal to support Henry's attempt to divorce his wife, Katherine of Aragon, and the conflicting emotions this produced in his contemporaries. More occasions admiration, frustration, rage, and love in those around him before eventually paying the price for his principled stance.
All the King's Men is a political thriller and a powerfully symbolic tale about action, consequence, and political cynicism. Jack Burden, strong right arm of populist politician Willie Stark, whose nature as a cynical manipulator of the masses emerges over the course of the story until his career is cut short by assassination. The story deals heavily with a worldview Stark calls The Great Twitch, a nihilistic theory that all action is meaningless because human biology dictates behavior.