I'm currently going through a collection of classic literatur (Tolstoy, Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo…) . I recently picked up the Penguin Classics edition of Anna Karenina, the one designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. While the translation was fantastic and the design was beautiful, I was really disappointed with how quickly the ink on the clothbound cover started to fade, even though I’m extremely careful with my books.
I like to reread classics over the years, so durability matters. I also put a big emphasis on quality translations (any advise here is welcome!).
The other day, I got my hands on the new 2025 Penguin Classics Vintage series—specifically Dracula with cover art by Romy Blümel. The artwork and marbling looked nice, and the hardcover felt solid. But the paper quality inside was a big letdown—for what’s supposed (?) to be a premium edition.
I’m willing to pay more for hardcovers with good translations. Nice art is not a priority, but I really want it to last. Ideally, I’d love to collect from the same series or publisher for consistency, but I’m open to mixing if the quality is there.
What’s your go-to publisher(s) for this?
by Raffajel
2 Comments
I’ve heard Everyman Library editions are really good quality!
I’m obsessed with the penguin clothbounds, definitely agree the print can wear off quickly though. I got a fabric book cover on etsy to protect them while I read them! I’m also considering sacrificing one for science and spraying it with mod podge to see if that helps. They’re just so pretty, no other collection compares.