Comparing 12 classic literature editions - Which one to buy?

[@EdwardTheMedievalist]

Hi Emily! I have only have the the Penguin Classics that you mention. One that you didn't mention which I was surprise about are the Oxford Classic editions (which is a great set). Most of my classic however are from Barnes & Noble different series; there are a number of editions' series they did: There's the Barnes & Classics editions published in the 2000s and use variant color for each classic work. They include the basics like introduction and footnotes/endnotes (and appendices, indexes, maps and illustrations if added). But the real treat of these editions are the other things they also include. There's a dedicated page(s) of powerful quotes of the classics when opening the book. There's a timeline chronology of the author's life, his/her published works, and historical context. At the back of the book there's a section of inspiration; popular books, movies, and plays inspired by the work. There's a Comments & Questions section are classic authors and news publications giving their thoughts on the classic work and/or the author (e.g. a section on Tolkien's essay on Beowulf); follow by questions given to the reader regarding these authors' thoughts and some questions regarding the author's intent in writing a shorten way. Lastly includes a section on further reading, pretty much a bibliography on scholarship regarding the classic work. These editions are my favorite! There's the Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading, which are pretty basic for what they also include (introduction, foot/notes, bibliography, etc.) The many less known classic works/author that aren't included in the Barnes & Classics editions can be found in that set. There's the Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Writers, which are hardcover omnibuses. Each book in this set tries to include a bunch of well know (sometimes less known) works by one famous author. E.g. the Leo Tolstoy book they have includes The Cossacks, War and Peace, and Anna Karenina. These great for anyone who wants the essentials works by one classical author. The only downside is that they only have an introduction as the only helpful scholarly info; I don't think these versions have any footnotes/endnotes, so it may not be completely casual friendly. Also, the paper they use in these hardcovers feels dirty in the hands hands And lastly there's the Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions, which are the most popular. These hardcover editions are beautiful hardcovers. They include classic works and brink collections of tales. They have an introduction and illustrations (usually by a classic artist who drew illustrations for a published classic at some point). They are similar to the Canterbury Classics if you know them.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

Hi Edward! Thank you for this wonderful comment, this is going to be useful for many readers. The reason I didn't mention them is because I do not own any of these editions. I would love to one day order one of those Oxford Classics, because I adore their cover artwork. The B&N editions also look wonderful 🥰

[@martasgreatlibrary]

i love the penguin black spines although i must admit that the vintage classics editions are also always chef kiss

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

They're both lovely, yes! 🥰

[@voz805]

I own a fair number of classics in paperback that I haven't read yet and found recently that I'm grateful to have bought them over the past ten years or so. I recently went into a bookstore and browsed some classic books including Penguin and I was disappointed to see that they not only went up between 25-50% in price but that they've been printed on acidic paper, the kind that yellows in a few years along with fading ink. I found some top classics offered on acid free paper but you'll then need to pay another 25-50% on top of that. What a shame.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

Yes, it's a shame indeed. Everything is going down in quality and I hate it. I try to buy my books secondhand. Thank you for stopping by!

[@t0dd000]

My two favorite premium book series are Everyman and Library of America. Library of America is a different kind of publishing format, but I love it. Everyman, though, I think is the, hands down, highest quality format you can buy. Of the luxury-format publishers, I have several Folio Society books, Easton Press, and the old Franklin and Heritage Press books. They are all rather fantastic. Canterbury Classics (leather bound) are pretty good quality for mid-tier premium. And there are a bunch of others … Thumbprint, and more.

[@tine272]

i needed a specific translation of anna karenina and im so relieved to see the font of the vintage classics is looking great, i'm gonna order it now! thanks for the help 💞

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

I'm glad it was helpful! You won't regret it :)

[@wolandbegemotazazello]

I make my choice based primarilly on the quality and accuracy of the translation. Penguin, OW, Pushkin Press, and Alma are at my top.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

That's great!

[@skeller61]

Thank you so much for detailing the font size, how they wear, and the wide variety of publishers you review. I hate going to classic book reviews on, like, Amazon, and having everyone review the content, rather than the form. I know, generally, what I’m getting, but I want to know if this edition is well made, or not. Thanks again!

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

You're so welcome. I'm glad it was helpful!

[@spedcuber178]

Thank you for making this, this is exactly what I was looking for

[@andrewuk4813]

Thank you for your review really well presented. Not sure if this is of any use to anyone but I have covered my Penguin Classics paperbacks and Oxford World's Classics paperbacks in 198mm clear plastic paperback book covers. These have been really good at protecting the books as I read them and also make a battered second hand copy look nice again if they already have some damage on the spines. They look good on the shelf as well. Liked your video 😀

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

This is great advice, thank you Andrew.

[@ArthurKain]

Though books in digital and audio form have amazing, practical advantages, the ability to feel and smell a hard copy print book will always make it worthwhile to have as many as I can.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

I feel ya. The smell and feeling of a book is the best... :)

[@QuirkyGirl10]

Re the Penguin Clothbound Classics - if you’re afraid to touch a book, it is not worth collecting. I’ve heard so many similar complaints about these editions. It’s obvious they didn’t spend a lot of time on making the quality better.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

The Penguin Clothbounds are indeed not worth collecting. :)

[@t0dd000]

Yeah. I avoid them. I have one. That will be the only one.

[@Tasha9315]

Thank you for this. I love seeing comparisons of various classic editions. My favorite is the Everyman's Library. May I please ask what the cover material of the Chiltern Classics are made of? Is it hard paste?

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

You're welcome! Oh, that's difficult to say... I think it's hard cardboard and the designs/prints look like a hard, shiny material. I've never had any issues with the quality. Hope it helps.

[@Tasha9315]

@@ProseAndPetticoats Thank you very much:)

[@einnorw]

thank you for showing font size!

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

You're welcome 😘

[@nicolycoutinho9338]

Hi 👋🏻 These are great recommendations. Thank you for all the details. 😊

[@therick7505]

Hey, I'd recommend you to try reading the fingerprint classic edition...they have a decent font size,look great and are quite affordable...their books are very popular here in India...

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

I have never heard of those. They are pretty!

[@july3817]

I usually try to get the clothbound edition just because I love the designs and that they are hardbacks. I have to agree on the cover fading easy though which is sad. I usually lay them on the table or on a pillow and only touch the pages when I read them to minimize the issue. Other editions I have are the penguin black spine, vintage red spine and oxford classics. I don't really care for the introduction and mostly go by cover design. I did start with the collins classics just because they were cheap and I didn't know if I actually like reading classics but man are they stiff!

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

The fading of the covers really bothers me, which is why I don't collect them. I take my books everywhere I go, so I want to be able to read them without being scared to ruin them haha. Oh I love introductions! I always read them after I finished the book. Thank you for stopping by & happy reading :)

[@BrandonsBookshelf]

Honestly, I love the Penguin Black Spines. Also, can we talk about how bad some of the covers for Wordsworth classics are, like laughable! Also love Everymans Library! This was a fun video idea!

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

Omg yes, in general the covers are horrible 😅 SO TRUE.

[@Talesandtexts]

I made the mistake of buying the same War & Peace edition you showed here. I absolutely hate the font. Its soooo tiny. I honestly don't know who they've used this font for. I read a few pages, got a major headache and set the book aside - that was five years ago and I haven't touched W&P after that. Which translation & publisher do you currently have of W&P? (Also, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is also one of my favourite books ever! 🙂)

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

It's the worst! I have the stunning Everyman's Library boxset in three volumes. It was such a joy to read. Wow, I almost never hear other readers say that Notre-Dame is a favourite! I already like you 😏🤭

[@ashekhar10]

Is the Penguin Hardback Collection also known as Puffin Clothbound Classics? If so, can you please tell me if the binding is smyth sewn?

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

I'm sorry for my late reply. I have looked online and I think they're different. Puffin is by Harper Collins, the other ones by Penguin classics. The book I have from the Penguin collection isn't sewn, but glued. Hope this helps.

[@shehryarkhan3646]

Please can you tell which is better Red Fox UK Publishing or Vintage UK? I wanna buy Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

I'm really sorry, but I'm not familiar with Red Fox. Never heard of it. 🤔

[@shehryarkhan3646]

@@ProseAndPetticoats Yeah, I think it's not that famous. But u can search it up

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

Oh, I wish I had seen this before I went out and bought 3 wordsworth classics. I found an actual typo in my copy of war and peace--I am not kidding, (pg 803), does your copy have it too?. And I think I may have gone a bit blind.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

I have already sold my copy 🫢 Too bad about the typo. Wish you had seen this video sooner haha.

[@chise6303]

Sorry for asking but I'm looking a model for my english pronunciation and I would like to know; Where is your accent from?

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

Oh no, I hope it isn't too bad xD I'm from Belgium ;)

[@dandelves]

Have 60 penguin clothbound classics, but tbh the book quality isn't that great, so I will be replacing them over time with chiltern.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

It's really such a shame... Glad I only have one. :)

[@verschaffeltii]

I love the russian vintage classic edition... but they are not floppy?!?!? I dont wanna crack the stunning spine😢

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

I feel you! Haven't read it yet, so no idea how much effort it will take to prevent damage. :)

[@marinepigneur7252]

Hi, I think you unfortunately miss very good editions here: vintage, Oxford classics and penguin modern classics. You focused on the art design of the cover but I don't think that's the most relevant for classics: the introduction and notes are significantly affecting the reading experience. Another really important point is the translation: everyman's library, penguin and Oxford can be translations from different people and one should be careful (for classics such as Don Quixote, the count of Monte Cristo, the tale of Genji, Ovid's metamorphoses etc...). Also, as you have Notre dame is all these nice covers, it would have been nice to check if it is the same translation. These beautiful hard covers are sometimes lesser translations and in the end, the books are just for show. We have this with the french translation of Austen: beautiful book, hateful translation. It's important because the translation can make a big difference between loving and hating a same book. Sorry if that sounds negative: I know the video is one year old and you certainly evolved a lot since then. I don't like criticising people brave enough to face public exposure and publish high quality content so please be warmly assured this is intended as a constructive criticism ❤

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

@@marinepigneur7252 Hi! Yes, this is an old video and at that moment I didn't have any of the editions you mention. I love the Oxford editions and I have a bunch of them now. My editions of Notre-Dame are different translations - I even compared them! I agree it's not about the cover, and it's strange that it felt like I pick my editions because of the cover 🤭 I think I also mentioned the introductions (I love those so much). I do appreciate a beautiful book though. :) I have never read a "bad translation" - I think Oxford, Penguin, and Everyman do a great job! 🙏 Thanks for your comment. Perhaps I should do an updated video.

[@marinepigneur7252]

@@ProseAndPetticoats Sorry I missed the comparison on translations for Notre Dame. I fully understand collecting various editions of a favorite book and what can be more suited than Hugo

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

@marinepigneur7252 Oh I didn't compare them in this video! I intend to do a big in depth video on Notre-Dame this year 👀 I usually like all translations (no bad experiences yet), but I am extremely picky and careful with the ancient classics, so I understand what you mean! 🥰 can make a big difference. Si tu préfères parler en Français avec moi, n'hestitez pas. 😘 Merci pour la conversation! (Je pense que tu aimeras ma vidéo concernant la littérature Française!)

[@rhix970]

Thanks for the info!!!

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

You're welcome!

[@danielkemmet2594]

Are you aware of any publishers that publish first editions or direct translations without commentary or modifications to the stance of the text?

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

I have no idea, actually. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

[@EliasKhananovEnglish]

Come think about it, I have yet to meet a single living soul who says: "Well, I like my paperbacks to be battered and tattered and cheesy" :)

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

Haha the horror! :D

[@Frenchie1116]

Do you have any Vintage red spine?

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

Yes, one. I forgot to mention it in the video! Do you have any questions about these? I recently did a video showing this one (The Name of the Rose book review) :)

[@Frenchie1116]

@@ProseAndPetticoats I was wondering about the quality of this edition, the font etc. Thanks, I'll look at that video :)

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

@@Frenchie1116 I haven't had any issues with it and the font size is perfect, very easy on the eyes! :)

[@Frenchie1116]

@@ProseAndPetticoats many thanks!

[@lovenature7823]

Not "font", the book are printed in TYPE! Other than that mistake, I enjoyed the theme of your video.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

Hello! I'm glad you enjoyed. Would you mind explaining further? English is my third language and I'm not quite sure I understand the difference. This is what Google tells me: "The word font refers to a set of printable or displayable typography or text characters in a specific style and size. Font styles are used in both print and digital text."

[@t0dd000]

Well. Printed with a specific _typeface._ "Font" though is just fine.

[@ryokan9120]

You missed one of the best editions, i.e. Oxford World's Classics that are renowned for their scholarly supplementary material, though they are designed to be read rather than mentally masturbating over their aesthetic appearance.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

Hello. I didn't miss it, I just don't own any editions yet, which is why I couldn't review them at that time. They seem great, but somehow I always end up picking the Penguin edition.

[@suzannebousquet2710]

I will choose Oxford World Classics over Penguin.

[@ryokan9120]

@@suzannebousquet2710 I think it's a bit of a mixed bag. Usually, I find Oxford World's Classics are better than Penguin for their supplementary material, but sometimes the reverse is true, especially when it comes to translated literature. However, when it comes to translated literature, I'll often buy both the Oxford and the Penguin Classics versions of the same book to compare translations.