I can't help you I'm afraid but I was recently comparing a new printing of a Pearson textbook with the same one from 5 years ago and the difference was shocking. I've also seen some bad printing quality from Routledge as well but that's been hit and miss for years in my experience.

The Crocodile is a short story by Dostoevsky and it's absolutely hilarious.

Conrad does it really well, Lord Jim is another good example.

It's a short book but it was very influential at the time in how people conceptualised the economic aspect of imperialism. Hobson's Imperialism is also worth a read - and he draws on Lenin's data and analysis even though his political views were very different.

I find be the recommendations awful- it almost exclusively recommends me books by authors I've read one book by and given 2* to. Maybe it's just me.