You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Mantel and Martin among authors in Folio Society's Christmas collection
This Folio Society is releasing its Christmas collection featuring 14 editions spanning fantasy to non-fiction from the likes of Hilary Mantel and George R R Martin.
Each title is bound and accompanied by newly commissioned illustrations and specially sourced photography bringing the story to life.
Mantel’s Wolf Hall (£85) is illustrated by artists Igor Kozlovsky and Marina Sarapova. The late author was heavily involved in the process of creating this edition, ensuring the illustrations captured the story. There are also 250 signed copies available as special collectors’ editions (£200)
Readers can also pick up Peter Benchley’s Jaws (£39.95) with cinematic illustrations by Hokyoung Kim. The late author’s wife, Wendy Benchley, provides a new introduction exploring the fragility of marine life and the novel’s impact nearly 50 years on from its original publication.
Thor (£95), selected and introduced by former Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas, is the latest in the Marvel Heroes series and celebrates the superhero’s 60th anniversary.
Martin’s A Dance With Dragons (£160), illustrated by Jonathan Burton, is presented in a two-volume set, enabling readers to own the full series of books from the 21st-century’s most celebrated fantasy series.
Editions with new author introductions include Michael Palin’s Pole to Pole (£49.95), published 20 years after his travel documentary series aired, and Michio Kaku’s Parallel Worlds (£49.95), whose exploration of the multiverse has had a significant impact on pop culture in recent years.
History lovers will enjoy Judith Herrin’s Byzantium (£75), with a new preface by the author, and Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (£44.95), introduced by poet and literary critic Kwame Dawes.
Books from other iconic series include Ursula K Le Guin’s The Farthest Shore (£44.95), illustrated by David Lupton, Ian Fleming’s For Your Eyes Only (£46.95), illustrated by Fay Dalton, and Philip Pullman’s The Secret Commonwealth (£60.00), illustrated by Peter Bailey.
Meanwhile, popular Folio illustrators Gérard DuBois and Sally Dunne return for Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian (£49.95) and Georgette Heyer’s Arabella (£47.95) respectively.
Tom Walker, publishing director, said: “This year’s Christmas Collection of Folio books is an epic celebration to honour 75 years of bookmaking. The breadth of titles is electric, from Hilary Mantel’s masterpiece of historical empathy, Wolf Hall, to Peter Benchley’s fiercely thrilling Jaws. With George R R Martin, Philip Pullman and the incomparable Ursula K Le Guin we have three of the most exciting fantasy writers of the past 75 years. We also feature deeply relevant thinkers (and brilliant writers) on the non-fiction side as well, from Frederick Douglass’ timeless autobiographical account of slavery to Michio Kaku’s guide to the universe in Parallel Worlds. Throw in some historical romance from Georgette Heyer and some entertaining journeying with Michael Palin, the range really is quite breathtaking.”
The Folio Society will also publish a special edition of The Neverending Story by Michael Ende to mark its 75th anniversary.
The title was chosen by readers from over 100 suggested titles in a public poll. The title is emblematic of changes to The Folio Society over the last decade, moving away from just publishing classic literary texts by the likes of Tolstoy, Shakespeare and Voltaire. In 2022 fantasy is now the publisher’s most wide-ranging and highest grossing genre, with recent editions including Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere and a "Heroes" series in collaboration with Marvel.
The Folio Society said it worked with the Ende estate, managed by his editor, to ensure that this edition of The Neverending Story is what he would have wanted, embracing the “story within a story” that is central to the book. The Folio edition matches Ende’s physical description of the book: the binding is made of copper-coloured silk with two snakes on the cover biting each other’s tails, with intricate chapter headers. The only deviation from Ende’s description of the book is the addition of eight colour illustrations by the French artist Marie-Alice Harel.
Walker said: "The Neverending Story is the ultimate book-lovers’ book, because it celebrates the power of reading and the imagination, making it the perfect choice for our anniversary. As a book-within-a-book, we have been able to be especially playful with the design of the edition, which we hope adds a little extra magic to this enchanting story.”
Joanna Reynolds, chief executive officer, added: “At The Folio Society we are proud of our past, our present and, importantly, a progressive and inclusive future. Our track record of publishing beautifully illustrated and produced books from Marvel to Mansfield Park, The Color Purple to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and A Game of Thrones to The Godfather becomes ever more important in a digital age when bookshelf space is dedicated to having the best edition of a favourite author’s work. The selection of our 75th anniversary title shows fantastic taste among Folio Society readers and we thank them for their engagement in this exciting anniversary.”
