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F. Scott Fitzgerald Novels
This pretty collection of F Scott Fitzgerald’s works was the first of Penguin’s foiled cover designs, designed by the brilliant Coralie Bickford-Smith and released in 2011. Coralie designed these delightful Art Deco cover patterns to evoke the elegance and glamour of the jazz age that is depicted in his stories, with the intent of showing a “sense of ornate detail fused with the modernist aesthetic of mechanical repetition”.
Le Carré's Espionage Novels
Five years later, the foiled design style was reinterpreted for a series of espionage titles by John Le Carré. The combination of metallic foil and matt paper feels good in the hand and looks stunning on the shelf. Each book includes a matching bookmark with quote that can be detached from the dust jacket.
Rarities
In 2012, a one-off edition of The Wizard of Oz in a similar style was designed by Coralie and Jim Stoddart (the Art Director at Penguin Press) to be given as gifts at the retirement party of Margorie Scardino (CEO of Pearson at the time). Only a very limited number of these titles were produced (240 copies) so it is a very rare title to find (see more here: @jim_stoddart).
Books in Penguin's Foiled Classics Series
The Beautiful and the Damnedby F Scott Fitzgerald Penguin Classics (2011), isbn 9780141194073
About: The beautiful but damned marriage of Anthony and Gloria, the essence of Jazz Age glamour.
The Great Gatsbyby F Scott Fitzgerald Penguin Classics (2011), isbn 9780141194059
About: The Jazz Age classic, in which Jay Gatsby seems to have everything, but is hiding a silent longing for one thing that will always be out of his reach.
The Little Drummer Girlby John Le Carré Penguin Classics (2016), isbn 9780241385579.
About: Charlie, a brilliant and beautiful young actress, is lured into ‘the theatre of the real’ by an Israeli intelligence officer. Forced to play her ultimate role, she is plunged into a deceptive and delicate trap set to ensnare an elusive Palestinian terrorist.
The Night Managerby John Le Carré Penguin Classics (2016), isbn 9780241291252.
About: Jonathan Pine, ex-British Army soldier, and night manager at a Cairo hotel, helps British Intelligence penetrate the secret world of ruthless arms dealers.
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