Yearning for the latest illustrated Jane Austen novels collection
This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, and to celebrate, The Folio Society is publishing a limited edition of The Complete Novels by the beloved author. Illustrator Sarah Young, a printmaker and illustrator known for her work that merges printmaking and illustration, has been tasked with creating the visuals for this high-quality and thoughtfully produced series of books.
Young has used two traditional methods for the illustrations - woodcut for the full-page frontispieces and linocut for the smaller, more intricate designs. The bolder woodcut serves as a background for the more detailed linocut internal illustrations, ensuring a handmade aesthetic that complements the pattern design on the clothbound covers.
Each book in the set features a woodcut frontispiece, five linocut illustrations, and fifteen vignettes. The text includes introductions from renowned authors such as Elena Ferrante, Sebastian Faulks, Lucy Worsley, Fay Weldon, Val McDermid, and Siri Hustvedt.
The books are printed on Munken Pure paper, with three gilded edges and each book comes with a ribbon marker. The letters within the oval cameos are set to complement the pattern design on the covers. Ruth, the calligrapher, created six hand-lettered monograms for use on the books' spines, referencing copperplate calligraphy and historical monograms from the 1700s. Instead of using a copperplate nib, Ruth worked with a pointed brush to add weight and legibility to the letters.
The limited edition set includes all of Jane Austen's novels and comes encased in exquisitely woven silk and cotton covers. The whole set is encased in a box covered in blocked cloth designed by prize-winning graphic designer Emily Benton.
The set costs £925 and will be available from The Folio Society from 9 September. For those who appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into such a project, this limited edition set is a must-have. Ruth, who worked on the project, found it a privilege to be part of such a high-quality and thoughtfully produced series of books.
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