Books are the gift that keeps on giving.
The stories they contain are not only capable of transporting you to distant lands and through exciting tales, but are also appreciated for their beauty.
You are reading: Classic books with beautiful covers
Yeah, we know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but come on, book covers matter. it is the reason why publishers are constantly releasing new editions of old books. if repackaged correctly, an old book can become just as popular as a new one.
Also, book covers are judged literally. there are contests and prizes for book cover design. so don’t feel bad about swapping an old copy of a classic novel for a newer, fancier edition. we guarantee that you are not the only one doing it and we are here to help you.
We’ve rounded up some of the most amazing editions of classic novels that you should consider adding to your library, because they’re simply too beautiful not to buy. some of them are very limited runs and can be hard to find, but knowing they exist is the first step.
welcome to your beautiful future library.
1. frank herbert dune
This edition of Dune is part of Penguin Random House’s Penguin Galaxy Collection, a celebration of some of the best science fiction novels of our time. Other titles in the series include 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Stranger in a Strange Land.
price: $18
2. harry potter house theme set
if you don’t know, juniper books specializes in taking some of your favorite books and wrapping them in exquisite covers, especially book sets. The Harry Potter sets above are just a few examples of his work. As you can see, all of the Hogwarts houses are represented so you can ensure you get the set that fits your needs. but beware that they are not cheap.
price: $70
3. pride and prejudice by jane austen
the editions of pride and prejudice that exist in the world are innumerable, but this is the only one that matters. The book is part of Penguin’s series of faux fur editions and includes many other classic novels as well.
price: $31.46
4. the beautiful and the cursed of f. scott fitzgerald
if you’re going to read a book about the jazz age, you can also make sure the book looks like it’s from the jazz age. penguin launched a line of hard cover f. scott fitzgerald books all covered in beautiful gold foil designs that truly scream roaring 20s.
price: $16.68
5. the illiada and the odyssey of homer
Perfectly capturing the tumult in both of Homer’s classic tales, this Barnes & The noble collectible edition of both epic poems together makes the stories look as great as they deserve to be. the only downside to this version is how thick it is. while it looks good on the shelf, it can be impractical to read.
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price: $32.57+
6. sense and sensibility of jane austen
this small and stately copy of one of the jane austen classics was designed by mr. Boddington studio. Unfortunately, this particular copy of the book is no longer in production, so if you must have this edition, you’ll need to be willing to pay a high price to a reseller.
price: $285.86+ from amazon
7. 1984 by george orwell
You probably already have a copy from 1984, either from school or because you bought it after the ascension of our new president. but if you still miss this orwell classic in your life, why not get an edition that embodies the hair-raising story itself?
price: $56.95
8. a portrait of the artist when he was young by james joyce
james joyce isn’t everyone’s favorite author, but a cover this beautiful will have no problem ingratiating itself directly onto your shelves. Added bonus: This book is also known as one of Joyce’s most accessible novels, so you should try reading it instead of just looking at it.
price: $11.19
9. heart of darkness by joseph conrad
Joseph Conrad’s classic tale is brought to life in this fully illustrated version of Tin House’s Heart of Darkness. now you can not only read about the horror, but also see it.
price: $17.39
10. twenty thousand leagues under the sea by jules verne
Just one of many superb cloth-bound penguin classics, this solid adventure story gets a more modern makeover with a cute pattern of graceful jellyfish. these will hit shelves in July, but can already be pre-ordered online.
price: $18.82
11. lord of the rings trilogy
It seems that every publisher has their own version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and this makes it difficult for those of us trying to find the best edition of the series, one that appropriately invokes the fantasy of the story and at the same time looking beautiful on the shelf. Look no further than this Juniper Book Set. Together, the spines of the three books join together to form the legendary Gates of Durin. speak friend and buy this game right now.
price: $95
12. sherlock holmes by arthur conan doyle
white’s books released an impeccably crafted set of classic novels in 2010 that included this edition of sherlock holmes. the books became instantly popular with book lovers and were acquired relatively quickly. Now that these books have been discontinued, getting a copy can be quite difficult, and the price you’ll pay varies by third-party seller.
price: $9.89+ on amazon
13. jane eyre by charlotte bronte
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penguin caps, a series of 26 books highlighting a great author by letter of the alphabet, may be the most instagrammable books ever created. the cover of each simply features the first letter of the author’s last name, but each is uniquely designed to fit the tone and context of the book. With a majestic B of Bronte going up in flames, this book is the right way to read Jane Eyre.
price: $13.70
14. american gods by neil gaiman
Just in time for the Starz television adaptation, this collector’s edition of Neil Gaiman’s popular novel puts all other editions of American Gods to shame. illustrator david mckean created 12 incredible illustrations to accompany this version of the book, including three spread pages.
price: $120
15. arabian nights: tales from 1001 nights in a box
Here’s another awesome boxed set that can only be purchased through third-party sellers, because apparently good-looking books are in high demand. This clean and sophisticated set of books for the Arabian Nights is designed by the same person who makes the Penguin cloth-bound classic series and the Fitzgerald series before it.
price: $499.75+ on amazon
16. anne of green gables by l.m. mongomery
Colourful, whimsical and cute, this edition of Anne of Green Gables would be right at home on the shelves of both children and adults. This book is part of the Blooming Puffins series, a collection of four children’s stories, all designed with a similar theme of bright flowers and flowing typography.
price: $14.54
17. the raven by edgar allan poe
embrace the dark with this edition of edgar allan poe’s famous poem, the raven. Not only does it have a compelling cover, but the book is part of the Penguin Horror series that was curated by filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro. if you approved this edition, it’s probably on your shelf.
price: $17.02
18. the count of montecristo by alexandre dumas
As another perfect entry in the Penguins series of cloth-bound classics, this Count of Monte Cristo cover hints at the intrigue and drama this story is all about.
price: $25.37
19. alice’s adventures in wonderland and through the looking glass by lewis carroll
You could probably dedicate an entire bookshelf to different editions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and still not have enough space to accommodate them all. but it’s hard not to want to collect them all because so many of them look so good, like this edition from barnes & noble collectible edition series.
price: $21.48
20. moby dick by herman melville
moby dick is long. Trying to read it is basically the literary version of hunting Captain Ahab’s infamous white whale. but the challenge of reading it seems less daunting if you’re tackling the feat with this edition of the classic.
price: $9.68+ on amazon
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