Chiltern Publishing is a relatively recent publisher, with their first
volumes released only in 2018. but they are already achieving their mission to
create beautiful editions of the classics.
The famous 1800s "peacock
edition" of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a clear inspiration for
their designs, and it's fitting that they have started by printing some beautiful
Austen novels. I am mostly going to let the images speak for themselves in this
video because the classics are so well known, but it is worth noting a few
things about the series. The books are small, which reflects the size and format
of the original books when they were printed in Jane Austen's time. They all
feature wonderfully detailed and textured covers with spot varnish, raised
designs and rich colors. Each volume has sparkling gilt edges in gold or silver,
and thick creamy glossy pages. They're very robustly made, with strong stitched
bindings and they feel surprisingly weighty in your hands due to the quality
materials. They're a real joy to read, and due to their size and construction I've
found them easy to bring with me when I travel. The majority of the books are not
illustrated, with the exception of two of the slimmest volumes: The Little Prince,
which fortunately has the author's iconic illustrations, and The Art of War,
which is decorated with period art and designs. But the layout of all the books
is really thoughtful, with blank pages between sections and plenty of white
space around the text - which definitely helps with readability in a small volume
like this. The publisher seems to have taken pains to keep this series of
children classics relatively affordable - particularly given the attention to
detail and the high quality materials and construction - which I certainly
appreciate. However, because they are a British publisher, it can be harder to get them
in the US - particularly the newer volumes. I've added in links below if anyone
would like help tracking down the individual volumes. Popular editions like
Little Women do occasionally go out of print, but I understand from the publisher
that they will be reprinted at some stage, so be patient if the one you're
looking for isn't available right now. Also it's important to note that the
stickers you can see on the back of some of the volumes here do come off easily
without leaving a mark. I left them on so I could keep the ISBNs
for making this video, but you'll see on the last book that I had no trouble
taking them off afterwards. Overall I highly recommend these books if you're
looking for some beautiful editions of the classics, that you want to know will
last and bring you joy. The volumes I'm showing in this video were released in
2018 and 2019. I'll add the 2020 releases which will be out soon at the end of the
video. as well as a heads up on the future of titles too.
So, due out in late 2020 are The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Hound of
the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by
Lewis Carroll, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Dracula by Bram Stoker, Madame
Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, and A
Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Future titles have been hinted at and I
expect them to include the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn, The Call of the Wild, The Jungle Book, Black Beauty, Heart of Darkness,
The Secret Agent, Phantom of the Opera, The Scarlet Letter, Kidnapped, Oliver Twist,
Moll Flanders, Gulliver's Travels, and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
Thanks so much for watching! If you're new to my channel and you like learning
about beautiful books, please do subscribe. If you're a regular viewer,
welcome back! And if you're one of my lovely patrons, thanks so much -
you're awesome! (And do keep an eye on patreon as I have a surprise gift planned
for you soon.) Either way, please come and chat with me in the
comments about your favorite classics, and whether you prefer the floral
designs or the patterns for these beautiful editions. Until next time, bye!