When I saw this new edition of Pride & Prejudice, my favorite book of ALL TIME, I knew I had to have it. I hadn’t realized there were two other classics illustrated in the same manner by artist Ruben Toledo for Penguin Classics, so I bought them too. It’s part of Penguin’s “deluxe editions with graphic covers” collection, and I must say it’s a brilliant marketing move! I already have half a dozen editions of Pride & Prejudice, bought for their varying typefaces and literary commentary, and several of editions of Wuthering Heights. So I totally bought these books for their covers.
Edward Gorey if he were still alive would have been an excellent choice to illustrate these classics too. Can you imagine his cover for Jane Eyre? Goosebumps! I hope JE is next on their list.
I’ve never read The Scarlet Letter. In high school I was in the English class that got saddled with David Copperfield, which ruined me from all things Charles Dickens for a very, very long time. But we did read Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables and the only thing I got out of that book was what a “gable” was. And that New England sounded intriguingly bleak (I grew up Atlanta). Perhaps now with this spiffily illustrated cover – and a full appreciation for New England’s bleak winters – I will be able to enjoy Hawthorne’s writing more, heh.
(As an interesting side note, Toledo’s wife is fashion designer Isabel Toledo, who designed Michelle Obama’s lemongrass shift dress and overcoat for the inauguration. I wonder what their house looks like.)
So for 2010 I plan to do “Things I Like” posts on a regular basis with things that I…uh like. And things that inspire me. This is number 1!
Lady, you and I have similar book tastes. P&P and JE are two of my FAVS!
Hey, I was in that David Copperfield class. Not only did it turn me off of Dickens, it turned me off of literature. Not a fan of reading someone who is paid by the word. But I am a fan of these covers!
how cool — i like…i like!
Having grown up in the south as well, I thought the winters were rather bleak and long when I first moved to Massachusetts… but after I had lived there a few years, there was something comforting about it – I know – strange – but I miss the snow and the quiet it brings… love the post — looking forward to more of your favorite things… Cheers!
While I can’t understand why you enjoy Pride and Prejudice, I can understand the whole David Copperfield thing. Boy was that a yucky book! I was so mad at the ending too. Why on earth would he marry that ridiculous girl?!
Haha, anyway, I also think these covers are great though! I love them. A lot more fun than these book’s typical covers. Looking forward to seeing more of your favorite things!
I love Dame Darcy’s illustrated edition of Jane Eyre! She has illustrations throughout the book, not just covers.
Here it is on Amazon. Hardcover is out of print, but paperback is still available.