Arcturus Epic Classics
Introduction
This is a lovely series of gift quality hardback editions of classic stories that feature strikingly designed sprayed page edges, gold-embossed cover designs, decorative endpapers, and artwork by acclaimed golden age illustrators.
The texts are clearly laid-out on ivory colored paper, although the font may be overly small for some readers. Internal illustrations are typically black and white, which is authentic to the original artwork.
The first books were released in October 2024, and they have proven very popular. The publisher is cannibalising their own sales a bit, with these titles in direct competition with the publisher's own other series like Arcturus's Gilded Classics (e.g. for volumes like the Poe collection, the contents are identical and the price point similar, and newer titles in the Gilded Classics also feature sprayed page edges), so I guess it remains to be seen whether booklovers are going to prefer gilded page edges or sprayed ones!
List of Books in the Arcturus Epic Classics Series
Jump to:
2026: Voyage of the Beagle | Compleat Angler | Victorian London | Illustrations of Gustave Doré | Classical Mythology | Leonardo da Vinci | Iliad | Norse Mythology | Culpeper's Complete Herbal | History of the Classical World | Alice in Wonderland | Legend of King Arthur: Idylls of the King
2025: Grimm's Fairy Tales | Canterbury Tales | Origin of Species | Gray's Anatomy | Audubon's Birds of America | The Odyssey | Dickens' Christmas Stories | Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
2024: Edgar Allan Poe | Paradise Lost | Divine Comedy | Scenes from the Bible
Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links for which I may be compensated (this does not affect my reviews nor cost you any money, but helps support my site hosting costs). I deeply appreciate your support of my site if you use these links, but warmly encourage you to buy from your local Indie bookshop if you have the opportunity.
2026
The Voyage of the Beagle - Charles Darwin
Sirius (US), Nov 4, 2026; 9781398874015. UK edition TBC.
“In 1831, Charles Darwin embarked on an expedition that, in his own words, determined my whole career. The Voyage of the Beagle chronicles his five-year journey around the world and especially the coastal waters of South America as a naturalist on the H.M.S. Beagle. “
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The Compleat Angler - Charles Cotton and Izaak Walton
Sirius (US), Nov 3, 2026; 9781398873902. UK edition TBC.
“The Compleat Angler inspires readers from all walks of life to go in search of the countryside that Walton recreates with such vivid and loving writing.”
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Victorian London: Reflections of a Great City - Gustav Doré
Sirius (US), Nov 1, 2026; 9781398873995. UK edition TBC.
“A showcase of all of Doré's London illustrations alongside carefully selected texts of the period..”
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The Illustrations of Gustave Doré - George Davidson
Sirius (US), Nov 1, 2026; 9781398873957. UK edition TBC.
“Reproduces all of Doré's London illustrations alongside carefully selected texts of the period.”
Includes illustrations from Doré's Paradise Lost, The Divine Comedy and The Bible.
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Classical Mythology: Myths and Legends of the Ancient World
Sirius (US), Oct 6, 2026; 9781398873841. Arcturus (UK), Oct 1, 2026; 9781398866386.
“More than 40 spellbinding tales of classical mythology, beautifully presented with classic illustrations,.”
Includes stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne, F Storr, V C Turnbull, H P Maskell, Guy E Lloyd, M M Bird, Hope Moncrieff, and Thomas Bulfinch.
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The Genius of Leonardo da Vinci: A Selection of His Greatest Work
Sirius (US), Oct 6, 2026; 9781398875128. UK edition TBC.
“Presents extracts from Leonardo da Vinci's famous notebooks, richly illustrated with more than 100 full-color facsimile images.”
Includes an extended biographical introduction adapted from Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Painters, Sculptors and Architects (1568).
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The Iliad - Homer
Sirius (US), Oct 1, 2026; 9781398873858. Arcturus (UK), Sep 1. 2026; 9781398866393.
“After nine years of war, the Greeks are still fighting to reclaim the beautiful Helen and it is hardly the time for their supreme warrior, Achilles, to drop out of the fighting. But he does, in revenge against the overlord Agamemnon for seizing his concubine, Briseis. Only the death of his best friend, Patroclus, persuades Achilles to return to battle and confront the Trojan leader Hector in single combat.”
Translated by Samuel Butler with neoclassical illustrations throughout.
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Norse Mythology: Tales of the Gods, Sagas and Heroes
Sirius (US), Oct 1, 2026; 9781398873865. Arcturus (UK), Oct 1, 2026; 9781398866409.
“This thrilling collection of tales, retold from the Icelandic Eddas and Viking Sagas, will transport readers to the realms of Asgard and Midgard, meeting gods such as Thor, Odin and Freya. These dramatic tales are told by a variety of story tellers and are filled with dark deeds, cunning and war, as well as love, compassion and humour.“
Includes stories by Mary Litchfield, Sarah Powers Bradish, Abbie Farewell Brown, William Morris, and Edward Ernest Kellett, with illustrations throughout.
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Culpeper's Complete Herbal - Nicholas Culpeper
Sirius (US), Oct 1, 2026; 9781398873926. Arcturus (UK), Oct 2026; 9781398867154.
“Introduces the reader to hundreds of medicinal plants and their traditional uses. Culpeper, in keeping with the wisdom of his time, often aligns those plants to astrological signs, blending medicine and astrology. Each plant entry typically includes descriptions, growing advice, and instructions for preparation and use.”
Includes an introduction by Diana Vowles.
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A History of the Classical World: The Story of Ancient Greece and Rome - Elizabeth Wyse
Sirius (US), Oct 1, 2026; 9781398874145. Arcturus (UK), Oct 1, 2026; 9781398866416.
“This richly illustrated hardback chronicles the rise and fall of the ancient Greek and Roman empires, accompanied by full-color images of artefacts, artwork, maps and more.”
Includes insights into the architectural, artistic and cultural impact of early Greece and Rome and vignettes of key political and cultural figures.
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Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll
Sirius (US), Jul 7, 2026; 9781398867505. Arcturus (UK) Jul 1, 2026; 9781398865884.
“First published in 1865, this perennially popular tale follows the tale of curious Alice and her fall through the rabbit hole into a fantasy world filled with anthropomorphic and peculiar creatures, including the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts.”
Illustrated with John Tenniel's iconic original drawings.
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The Legend of King Arthur: Idylls of the King - Alfred Lord Tennyson
Sirius (US), Jul 7, 2026; 9781398869967. Arcturus (UK), Jul 1, 2026; 9781398866348.
“Tennyson's epic retelling of the legends of King Arthur is full of timeless magic. Covering the rise and fall of Camelot and the exploits of the knights of the Round Table, his verse captures all the mythical grandeur of these enduring tales, from the illicit passion of Lancelot and Guinevere and the confusion of the Last Battle, to the heroism of King Arthur himself, the legendary founder of England.”
Tennyson specialist Valerie Purton has set episodes from the poem alongside the exquisite illustrations of Gustave Doré.
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2025
Grimm's Fairy Tales - Brothers Grimm, illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Sirius (US), Nov 25, 2025; 9781398860797. Arcturus (UK), Nov 30, 2026; 9781398849181.
“A collection of 80 of the best-known stories of the Brothers Grimm, such as ‘Briar-Rose' (aka as ‘Sleeping Beauty'), and ‘Little Red-Cap' (‘Little Red Riding Hood'), as well as some slightly lesser known tales, like ‘The Goose-Girl' and ‘King Thrushbeard'.”
Translated by Margaret Hunt, with classic b&w illustrations by Arthur Rackham.
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The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer, illustrated by William Morris & Edward Burne-Jones
Sirius (US), Nov 25, 2025; 9781398860827. Arcturus (UK), Nov 25, 2025; 9781398849211.
“An enduringly fascinating work – both an enjoyable romp through the lives of a cast of engaging characters and a window on the world of everyday life in 14th-century England.”
In this edition, the stories are presented in a modern English verse translation by Frank Ernest-Hill which succeeds in retaining the charm of the original while ensuring the text is accessible to a general readership. The b&w illustrations by Burne-Jones and Morris are sublime.
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On the Origin of Species - Charles Darwin
Sirius (US), Nov 25, 2025; 9781398860810. Arcturus (UK), 30 Nov 2025; 9781398849204.
“The controversial theory of natural selection proposed in this book made Darwin internationally famous and put the issue of evolution at the center of a fierce debate. The text used for this edition was the last to be published during Darwin's lifetime and is considered to be the definitive version.” Includes a preface by George Davidson, and over 100 delicately detailed and informative contemporary illustrations, many of them relating to Darwin's discoveries on H.M.S. Beagle.
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Gray's Anatomy - Henry Gray, illustrated by Henry Carter
Sirius (US), Nov 25, 2025; 9781398860803. Arcturus (UK ), Nov 25, 2025; 9781398849198.
“Gray's Anatomy is widely considered to be the ‘Bible' of the human body. First published in 1858, this book has been repeatedly reprinted and remains a national and international treasure.” Note: this is an abridged version of the classic text.
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Audubon's Birds of America - John James Audubon
Sirius (US), Nov 4, 2025; 9781398859197. Arcturus (UK), Nov 1, 2025; 9781398850866.
“Includes all 435 of Audubon's images, presented with printed edges and gold blocking. The birds are arranged in their modern taxonomic order as agreed by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC). The set of plates is accompanied by a full index of the birds, including the name given by Audubon, their modern name and scientific name.”
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The Odyssey - Homer, illustrated by John Flaxman
Arcturus (UK), Oct 30, 2025; 9781398854239. Sirius (US), Nov 4, 2025; 9781398862487.
“The most enduring classic of western civilization, telling the story of Ulysses and his eventful voyage home after the Trojan War.” Translated by Alexander Pope, illustrations derived from John Flaxman's neoclassical designs, introduction by George Davidson, and commentary by Emma Woolerton
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Christmas Stories - Charles Dickens, illustrated by John Leech & John Tenniel
Arcturus (UK), Oct 30, 2025; 9781398854246. Sirius (US), Nov 4, 2024; 9781398862876.
“This collection contains five of Dickens' best-loved Christmas stories: The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life, The Haunted Man, The Chimes, and the best-known and most-treasured of all, A Christmas Carol.” It also includes over 40 classic illustrations by John Leech, John Tenniel and others, as well as a detailed introduction to Dickens' life and Christmas stories, written by George Davidson.
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The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Edward Gibbon, illustrated by Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Arcturus (UK), Oct 30, 2025; 9781398861213. Sirius (US), Nov 4, 2025; 9781398862869.
“The original publication of Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall was an exhaustive, six-volume account of a ‘revolution which shall ever be remembered and is still felt by the nations of the earth'. Here, this celebrated work of historical scholarship has been abridged to a more digestible length, complete with scabrous and entertaining footnotes detailing the decadence that led to the fall of Rome.”
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2024
Tales of Mystery and Imagination - Edgar Allan Poe, Illustrated by Harry Clarke
Arcturus (UK), Nov 30, 2024; 9781398848962 | Sirius (US), Apr 1, 2025; 9781398848979.
“This title brings together Poe's most haunting and celebrated short stories, including ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’ and ‘The Cask of Amontillado’. It includes an introduction by Poe specialist Brook Haley, and 27 full-page illustrations by celebrated Irish art nouveau artist Harry Clarke, whose striking and fantastical illustrations perfectly capture the spirit of Poe’s uncanny tales.”
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Paradise Lost - John Milton, Illustrated by Gustave Doré
Arcturus (UK), Nov 30, 2024; 9781398848757 | Sirius (US), Mar 4, 2025; 9781398848955.
“John Milton's Paradise Lost is considered one of the greatest works in the English language, narrating the familiar Christian myth of the fall from grace. Influencing such writers as Tolkien and Pullman, this epic poem explores the darker side of the human soul through the struggle for ascendancy between God and Satan. This edition includes a faux-cloth binding, and 50 engravings by legendary French artist Gustave Doré.“
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The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso - Dante Alighieri, illustrated by Gustave Doré
Arcturus (UK), Nov 30, 2024; 9781398848740 | Sirius (US), Mar 4, 2025; 9781398848948.
“Dante's Divine Comedy is regarded as a masterpiece of medieval literature, telling the story of Dante's descent into hell, his journey through purgatory and eventual ascent into heaven, with Virgil as his guide. Along with stirring adventures and boundless imagination are Dante's reflections on spirituality and the nature of faith and reason in the world. This edition includes 135 full-page engravings by Gustave Doré.” Translated by Henry Longfellow; introduction by Anna Amari-Parker.
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Scenes from the Bible - Illustrated by Gustave Doré
Arcturus (UK), Nov 30, 2024; 9781398892934 | Sirius (US), Apr 1, 2025; 9781398848986.
“Containing over 180 of Gustave Doré's most arresting illustrations that offer illuminating evocations of man's struggles – in battle, against disease, hardship, death and ultimately himself – and his redemption through love. The images have been carefully selected to afford the reader insights into the most famous or dramatic incidents in the Bible. Each image is accompanied by a short quote from the King James version of the holy book together with a vivid narrative to provide a context for each scene.“
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8 Comments
Benjamin Tibor Yaary · 15 February 2026 at 10:17 am
Is it possible that these books may be in a bundle deal of some sort? Indigo (CAN) sells some of these books for 25 each but not all of them. They are gorgeous and I was hoping to buy the whole collection. These are the kind of books you pass down through generations.
Daisy · 18 February 2026 at 4:29 pm
You could try contacting the publisher directly? https://arcturuspublishing.com/pages/contact
Anthony · 7 December 2025 at 1:34 am
I love your gilded epic versions of Paradise Lost and the Divine Comedy. Is there any chance you will make a version of William Blake’s poetry (and art)?
Pita · 8 May 2025 at 12:50 pm
You guys are amazing! I bought Paradise Lost and I’m in love. Every detail is so well thought and executed! I’m planning to complete the collection soon. (I also bought Divine Comedy, but Amazon cancelled my order and now much more expensive than when I ordered it the first time.)
Chase · 10 January 2025 at 7:22 am
Hi there! When will “The Divine Comedy” and “Paradise Lost” be in stock again?
Daisy · 19 January 2025 at 3:30 pm
They are still in stock in some places (e.g. Amazon UK), so hopefully it’s only a temporary supply issue where you are.
Anna · 4 December 2024 at 11:30 pm
Discovered these thanks to you. Purchased the Divine Comedy to start, to see the quality as I never had anything from Arcturus. Absolutely stunning!!! The prettiest book ever! Thank you!
Daisy · 7 December 2024 at 7:06 pm
So glad you’re enjoying it! 💕 Dx