The Modern Cranford Collection was launched in Italy, Spain, and France in early 2000. The collection’s initial success in these countries paved the way for its eventual release for English-speaking audiences in 2022, where it has found a dedicated following among collectors. Overall, it’s a carefully curated set of classic literature that strikes a balance between elegance and affordability. Featuring iconic Victorian-era novels, this collection would appeal to readers who appreciate literary heritage presented in a charming, accessible format. 

Despite the incredibly pretty covers, it is worth noting that the books aren’t terribly robust – they are glue-bound, with covers made of textured paper. The binding is a bit flimsy and my copies all arrived with very crushed edges even before I took them out of the plastic wrapping. The books aren’t illustrated, although they do have a pretty period (or period-style) frontispiece and a delightful first page image that reflects the cover design.

The first run of 45 titles uses only 6 designs, which are repeated across titles – sometimes with a different colourway, but other times in an almost identical binding except for the title. Several “limited editions” (limitation not stated) were released in late 2024 and early 2025, which included new titles as well as cover designs for several previously released books, particularly the Jane Austen set.