Best Pride and Prejudice book covers… continued

When I first started sharing some of my favourite Pride and Prejudice book covers, I thought I’d get to a list of 10, and leave it at that. However, after my Top Ten Pride and Prejudice Book Covers, I got to Top Ten Foreign Pride and Prejudice Book Covers and the Top Ten Borders covers (sadly the images are no longer available as, obviously, Borders has ceased to exist). And yet, I still come across a huge number of covers I love, and that I want to share with you – particularly as online portals continue to grow and our access to a number of editions, re-issues and brand swanking new copies grows with it.

Which ties into this constant conversation at my workplace, and with my friends – is print dead? Is there ever going to be a role for it again? I was discussing with my girlfriend my want for a Jane Austen-themed book shop in Australia, and how I wanted to start one. Perhaps in retirement (anything more typical?). I really believe that when it comes to books there’s still something romantic about the feel of the paper, the material of the cover (I have certain types ofpaper stock I can’t help but touch when I see them on a book) and, when secondhand, the discovery of someone else’s notations halfway through the story. In saying that, it’s the story that matters and no matter how pretty the binding, if the content is crap, we’ll never want it. For this reason, I’ve never been against eReaders (I have a Kindle… somewhere… and an iPad, which is now my constant companion for all things reading related), and I understand why they’re a practical consideration. But I do think the design of eBooks needs to be stepped up – just because you don’t see the ‘cover’ of the eBook as often, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be gorgeous! I’m happy to say that in the list below, some of the versions are eReader covers – it’s good to see nice design in the digital format picking up a bit more.

But enough of my rambling… on with the list!

Pride and Prejudice’s 200th anniversary – Australian news roundup

The Pride and Prejudice 200^th anniversary was a public holiday in Australia (a day in lieu for the Australia day on the Saturday), and when I came back to work on Tuesday my sub-editor handed me Page 6 and Page 7 of The Sydney Morning Herald’s weekend ‘Spectrum’ (you can see some of it here).

A new favourite Pride and Prejudice cover! Splinter, from Sterling Publishing

I can hardly contain my excitement (no seriously – I can’t) at this new copy I just picked up about two hours ago. I was in Newtown with my folks shopping for vegan food (I’m holidaying down to Ulladulla for the next few days and I’m not sure what their situation is with Notzarella and Cheezly, and I have a huge pizza craving) when I found this beauty. From ‘Better Read than Dead‘ (but also seen in Art on King’s bookshop ‘Modern Times’) on Newtown’s King Street, and at the brilliant price of (AU)$9.99 I was absolutely chuffed with this purchase. It’s whimsical, elegant and abstract enough that it doesn’t alter how you view the novel. It shall be coming with me to the beach tomorrow!

From Sterling Publishing‘s Splinter imprint (New York) I was surprised to see it as I had only just been talking about the company the other day (I work for Sterling Publishing Australia – which is something quite different indeed!). You probably know them best as non-fiction publishers, and owners of the imprint SparkNotes. As promised from now on – ISBN: 978-1-4027-8530-6 (paperback).

The top ten P&P Borders Covers

As many of you know, I am picky when it comes to books and their covers.  If a book is ugly, I will generally refuse to buy it.  I’ve previously presented my “Top Ten Pride and Prejudice book covers” as well as the “Top Ten Foreign Pride and Prejudice Book Covers” however I was looking through the Borders website the other day, and I found some new ones (I almost squealed the house down).  And yes, I went through all 874 results for this!  I have endeavoured not to include eBooks when it is clear (but sometimes they are listed wrongly) and I have not included books from the previous lists, at least not to my knowledge.

10.)  This pink and purple cover is girly enough to make me grin, but not too sugar-plum-fairy.  I like the little understated illustration, and I think it would be perfect for a first copy for a 14 year old or similar age.  It’s a US Penguin Edition from the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition series.  Ahh, Penguin, how much do I love thee…

Tea with the Bennet sisters?

You have to love sitting down with a good book, and a nice cup of tea (or coffee if, y’know, you haven’t had much sleep or something).  So why not do this proper Pride and Prejudice style?  It seems as though the latest literary trend is related crockery… so I’m bringing to you here the best dressed of the Pride and Prejudice themed cups and tea-related goodies so you too can enjoy your Earl Gray or your English Breakfast in true Regency-fan comfort!  (Perhaps even treat your Mum for Mother’s Day?)