JA Bookcovers

[Christina]

Joy or Christopher--any information about this edition? The name of the publishing house would be great! I don't live anywhere near SF, but would love to replace my worn out P&P, and like this cover the most of any I've seen lately. TIA!

[Joy]

It is a Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.

"An iconic novel dressed in a fierce design by acclaimed fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo. See the other titles in the couture-inspired collection: Wuthering Heights and The Scarlet Letter.

Ruben Toledo’s breathtaking drawings have appeared in such high-fashion magazines as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Visionaire. Now he’s turning his talented hand to illustrating the gorgeous deluxe editions of three of the most beloved novels in literature. Here Elizabeth Bennet’s rejection of Mr. Darcy, Hester Prynne’s fateful letter “A”, and Catherine Earnshaw’s wanderings on the Yorkshire moors are transformed into witty and surreal landscapes to appeal to the novels’ aficionados and the most discerning designer’s eyes."

Here is a link to the site:

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/Bo...

Enjoy!

[Christina]

Thanks, Joy!

[Shaun]

There was another thread that discussed the Twilight inspired "classics" cover. I had said that I felt that it was being youthanized. If it looks like Twilight, it might be good! There were some other covers that were being printed out with a beautiful cloth cover that was really making my wallet itch! Sigh.

[SarahC, Austen Votary & Mods' Asst.]

Shaun, I have been seeing those cloth covers and I know what you mean! How do we resist? ha ha

[Shaun]

I know! If I buy the books, I need to have the perfect bookshelf! It starts a bad spending trend!

[Joy]

I haven't seen the cloth covered ones...But it is probably a good thing, because otherwise I would have bought them!!

[Lushbug]

random houses specialise in pretty editions of books.

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/vintage/...

love this gothic cover for the tenant of wildfell hall as well
http://www.rbooks.co.uk/product.aspx?...

[Lushbug]

ive got this cute colleciton on my bookshelf and they look so pretty with their colourful bindings-light and fresh- just like the content

[[deleted user]]

Lushbug wrote: "

ive got this cute colleciton on my bookshelf and they look so pretty with their colourful bindings-light and fresh- just like the content"

That's a pretty cover! :)

[Rachel, The Honorable Miss Moderator]

Lushbug wrote: "

ive got this cute colleciton on my bookshelf and they look so pretty with their colourful bindings-light and fresh- just like the content"

Yes, that's pretty! That Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition from earlier in the thread is COOL, too! When I replace my copy of P&P, I'm going straight for one of these!

[Lushbug]

pretty bookcovers make me so happy!!!

[Shaun]

Lushbug wrote: "random houses specialise in pretty editions of books.

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/vintage/...
I really liked those! Thanks for sharing! Wish we could get those over here in Hawaii!

love this gothi..."

[Usako]

Awwww! I think that's so adorable, Lushbug!!! Thanks for sharing!!

I think I may collect a leather bound set of Austens and later do a cute collection.

[[deleted user]]

I have one, big, black leather-bound book with all of Austen's works in it. It has gold lettering and gold-edged pages and one of those little ribbon bookmarks! Not too pretty and hard to lug around. I may have to buy a few of those pretty paperbacks.

[Lushbug]

im addicted to buyng books from the vintage collection at ramdom house-currently trying to get the complete dickens set. However I am also trying to save money and have agreed not to buy any more books till i have read all the ones i already have... been three days and im getting withdrawel symptoms!

[P.]

Jeannette wrote: "I have one, big, black leather-bound book with all of Austen's works in it. It has gold lettering and gold-edged pages and one of those little ribbon bookmarks! Not too pretty and hard to lug aro..."

Mine is a paper back. Seriously 6 inches thick, OK only 2 but it seems like 6. It's the way I read all my Austen, all the while knowing she deserved better. As did I. This has gotten me thinking.....

[[deleted user]]

Buy yourself some of those pretty cover editions, P. The big, black book was a gift from my husband. Very nice, but not practical in a waiting room, for example. :)

[SarahC, Austen Votary & Mods' Asst.]

Lushbug wrote: "im addicted to buyng books from the vintage collection at ramdom house-currently trying to get the complete dickens set. However I am also trying to save money and have agreed not to buy any more b..."

Lushbug, I hadn't checked into the Vintage Dickens. I just looked that up. If they are the ones that say UK edition, I love those cover illustrations. I have never had pretty editions of Dickens, usually just older used copies that I pick up or have had for years. I love those, but like you, I made a book commitment to only buy a new book if it directly related to a book discussion and I needed it quickly enough to spring for a new copy.

Those Vintage Dickens will go on my wish list though.

I love the Hard Times Cover




and the Bleak House.





I wonder if they have Our Mutual Friend yet?

[SarahC, Austen Votary & Mods' Asst.]

Oh, do the Vintage editions have annotations, end notes or anything?

[Lushbug]

Sarah wrote: "Oh, do the Vintage editions have annotations, end notes or anything?"

yeah there the Dickens ones i want. got the Oliver Twist one which is nice. The dont seem to have all the dickens stories in print yet-gives me time to save! The Hard times cover is beautiful. Their version of the Count of Monte Cristo is to die for as well!!!

No they dont have anything any introductions or anything like that- Just the novel which is a bit of a pain as i do like to read the introductions/ analysis.

[Lindsey]

My favorite book cover is from The Annotated Pride and Prejudice. It can be found here: http://www.borders.com/online/store/T...

The drawing on the cover was actually done by Austen's sister Cassandra and is of their niece Fanny. In addition to the cover being nice, David Shapard extensively annotated the story, the annotations appear next to the page they refer to and after reading this version it made me realize some things about P&P that I hadn't caught on to before. The only drawback is that it isn't cheap, (or as cheap as the Barnes&Noble $5.00 editions) but when it comes to Austen I spare no expense! Shapard is supposed to have an annotated version of Persuasion coming out in the fall, which I can't wait for!

[Usako]

Beautiful designs! I like the annotated P&P and also the Vintage Dickens!!

[Lushbug]

This is a good article from the guardian about the importance bookcovers have on booksales.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/books...

[Lushbug]

oooh u all might find this article interesting too..
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blo...

[Usako]

Thanks for sharing, Lushbug! I found the first article VERY intriguing!

[[deleted user]]

Tanja wrote: "Thanks for sharing, Lushbug! I found the first article VERY intriguing!"

It fits right in with the earlier discussion of "Twilight-themed" JA covers, doesn't it?

[Lushbug]

Jeannette wrote: "Tanja wrote: "Thanks for sharing, Lushbug! I found the first article VERY intriguing!"

It fits right in with the earlier discussion of "Twilight-themed" JA covers, doesn't it?"

yes it does-those twilight themed books were almost mirror images of each other...kinda makes u feel daft that u fall into their trap but u cant help being drawn to covers that are similar to other ones u enjoyed.

[[deleted user]]

I hate to think about the books that have lured me in with a pretty cover and a terrific "blurb" from a gushing author. It is true: you can't judge a book by it's cover.

[Patricia]

My JASNA newsletter just arrived and there was a review for The Gothic Perils Of Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough. It didn't bode well with the reviewer, and since these reviews take up a whole page, it detailed the reasons it didn't like it. Think Darcy and Bingley are now tyrants. Interesting.
I've read Illusions and Ignorance-Mary Bennet's Story by Eucharista Ward and found it rather satisfying with the description of Mary in P&P.
Another continuation of Mary's life in The Plight of the Darcy Brothers was to say the least ODD.
Patg

[Usako]

Thanks for the heads up, Patricia! I'll hold off until Gothic is much cheaper or at the library.

And now I'll have to read the dust jackets more often despite that the cover may scream RUNAWAY!

[Usako]

Found another new set of Austen covers.

[Usako]

Because we simply love book covers that show portions of gowns, hands or feet only. Right? ;)