Shining examples of American literature at its best, these four novels explore timeless themes — adventure, war, sex, and morality — through compelling narratives. An adulteress, a runaway boy, a terrified soldier, and a maltreated sailor — the heroes of these novels have become a part of popular culture. This indispensable volume includes…

• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

• The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

• Billy Budd by Herman Melville With an Introduction by Sandra Newman