Penguin Classics

My painting instructor, Shannon, and other students in her class, share a great love of reading in addition to our interest in learning to paint. Shannon was excited to show us her new collection of classic literature by Penguin Books. As readers of my blog may remember, my goal in 2010 was to read all the great literary classics and although the year has passed, I am still on my quest to read them all.

The newest classics collection of great literary reads such as Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, The Picture of Dorian Gray and many others have been reprinted with hardcover cloth bound covers designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith.

I was thrilled when I saw Shannon's growing collection of these cloth bound books; somehow the new covers make the books even more fitting of their title as 'classics'. I plucked one of Shannon's bookshelf but didn't open it because I didn't want to break the spine. Shannon urged me to flip through it, but I declined- she should have the honour of breaking the spine when she reads the book.

According to the Penguin website, "Penguin Classics presents seven more beautiful hardcover editions of the world's favorite books. Featuring gorgeous patterns stamped on linen cases, colored endpapers, and ribbon markers, these are rich and sumptuous volumes that continue what will be one of the most coveted sets of books ever produced."

The books are truly beautiful and any booklover would be proud to display these classics on their bookshelf or give them as gifts to the booklover on your birthday or Christmas list.

 Not all the classic literature titles are available at the moment but new ones are being produced. Selected titles are available online through Chapters Bookstore, Amazon Books, and directly from Penguin Books.

Shannon advised that it is easier to track down some of the titles with the ISBN number and suggested the following site for the ISBN numbers:

CB Smith

If you are interested in obtaining some of these cloth bound classic books, visit the following websites for more information.

Penguin Books (USA)

Amazon (US)

Amazon (Canada)

Chapters Bookstores (Canada)
(Search by ISBN number)

Thanks to Shannon for sharing her great book find.
Happy reading!