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What Easton Press book are you reading now?

Easton Press Collectors

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1tames
Nov 22, 2008, 9:53pm Top

Come now, they are beautiful books, but they are meant to be read!

From the Greatest 100 series:

Just finishing up Tess of the D'Ubervilles
Just starting A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

2billiejean
Nov 25, 2008, 5:23pm Top

I have the Easton Press Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible and for Advent I am starting to try to read the entire Bible -- which I have never done before. I ordered some commentaries to help me on my way and I am just waiting for them to arrive. :)
--BJ

3caitemaire
Dec 10, 2008, 6:26am Top

Read them? But that would mean they would not be perfect anymore...lol

4Django6924
Dec 10, 2008, 10:42am Top

Re #2: An ambitious undertaking. You might find it's best to skip through the interminable sections --Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, etc., and concentrate on the books that aren't devoted to genealogy or legalistic concerns. (But you may in fact be interested in those--I'm mainly concerned with the literary aspects--and the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus and the prophets.)

Which translation does the Easton Press use? For me the KJV is still the one to read, but I keep the beautifully poetic translation by Msr. Knox handy when I encounter a "hard reading."

5billiejean
Dec 10, 2008, 2:34pm Top

My translation is the New American Bible. I believe that EP also has the KJV. And I think that FS does as well.

I was planning to start with the Gospels; however, after reading a plan for reading the Bible, I am reading the Penatateuch followed by the Gospels. Previously, I have gotten stuck in just those sections that you mentioned. If I get stuck again, I will break it up with the New Testament books. I am planning to take it slowly.
--BJ

6Django6924
Dec 10, 2008, 4:34pm Top

Genesis and Exodus are fine places to start, but before delving into the Gospels, you may want to skim through Isaiah. Much of the Gospel writers' concerns were in showing how Jesus' coming was in fact fulfillment of the sayings of the prophets (Isaiah and Jeremiah in particular). Also, the story of the rise and fall of the House of David, I & II Samuel, Kings, Chronicles are full of interest and contain an interesting mix of history and legend. And of course the books Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jonah, and Ruth are indispensable for literate Westerners.

7billiejean
Dec 10, 2008, 5:38pm Top

Thanks for the suggestions! :) I have read Job and Ruth before, but not for a while. I have been wanting to spend time on both Isaiah and Psalms, too. I am hoping that I can find some commentaries on these, just in case. My Bible has both a preface to each section and book and notes at the end of each book. Sometimes, though, a commentary can provide even more insight into what else was going on at the time the book was written.
--BJ

8tames
Aug 6, 2009, 6:54am Top

Thought I would bring this thread back to life.

I have been reading out of my Easton books lately. I enjoy just looking through them from time to time. I am getting the itch to buy some - I already subscribe to the 100 greatest. Can't decide what to buy to satisfy that itch.

Recently I was surfing, and did not realize that Easton had published a series by an author. Of course, right now I cannot remember who that was :(, but the set of three books was going on ebay for about $500. They were in mint "unread" condition. I thought that was sad. It would have made it more interesting if they were read; that the person who originally bought it, enjoyed it. I guess I am weird.

Currently reading stories out of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from the 100 greatest book series.

I have the entire Hornblower series, but have only read one of the books so far. I think I may start on book 2 (as published)

9kalypso219
Aug 6, 2009, 8:16am Top

I just received the Victorian Ghost Stories volume that Easton Press released and plan to start on that this weekend. Looks to be another great volume.

10boldface
Aug 11, 2009, 6:07pm Top

I am part way through Churchill's memoirs of WWI, 'The World Crisis'.

11Goran
Aug 12, 2009, 1:28pm Top

I subscribe to their Signed First Editions of Science Fiction series. I've got about 10 of these (aside from other individual and set purchases). I'm currently going through The Devil's Eye by Jack McDevitt. I've never had a complaint about any of their offerings.

12tames
Sep 4, 2009, 1:25pm Top

In addition to the Sherlock Holmes, I am reading though poems by Robert Frost also from the 100 greatest series.

13Goran
Sep 4, 2009, 6:19pm Top

Now reading through Starship: Rebel by Mike Resnick, also signed first edition series. Second book so far from him, nice easily Scifi novel, quite enjoyable.

14tames
Edited: Dec 5, 2009, 1:50pm Top

Reading Vanity Fair from the 100 Greatest series. This edition has many and wonderful illustrations!

Someday I will get a new camera :(



15Goran
Dec 5, 2009, 9:37pm Top

>14 tames:
That looks outstanding!

Currently reading Diamond Star by Catherine Asaro, part of the signed 1st editions of science fiction. I should be getting The Kelmscott Chaucer delux decision pretty soon (did any of you know there was a "normal" edition that EP produced?)

16acidneutral
Dec 6, 2009, 12:44am Top

I'm tempted to e-mail them to go ahead and send Vanity Fair my way. its one of my favorite novels and why I haven't asked them before is beyond me. They've been so great with sending things out as I ask. If its not available, they always tell me when it will be.

17TTCdevote
Dec 6, 2009, 5:50am Top

This message has been deleted by its author.

18TTCdevote
Dec 6, 2009, 5:53am Top

Tames
thank you for the nice pics
How was you able to post a direct image in your message? I'm willing to post some of my fav EP pics myself but cant menage to add the pics as you did
Thank you in advance

19tames
Edited: Dec 6, 2009, 1:30pm Top

You have to house the image somewhere. I have my own server, but you can house them on many internet photo sites. Copy the image link and place it in a standard html img tag.

Below is an example:

<img src="http://trames.com/images/LibraryThing/VanityFairIlls01.jpg"></img>

20tames
Dec 6, 2009, 1:33pm Top

You will also want to be sure the image is not too large. Use photo editing software and make it smaller. The images above are 576px × 768px.

21TTCdevote
Edited: Dec 6, 2009, 6:39pm Top

Thank you very much tames!

I'm reading "The fifteen decisive battles of the world", the book itself is a marvel, is a very tall volume (29 cm; 11.8 inches) is also pretty wide (23 cm; 9.4 inches)
Is part of the "famous editions" library.
The engraving on the plates is deep and detailed - sorry for the poor quality of the images -
I've uploaded only one sample of the full color illustrations (I may add them all if someone may find interesting to see), in total the book contains 15 such illustrations.
Here a book description I read before to pull the trigger on it:
"Undoubtedly the most famous work of military history of the nineteenth century, Edward S. Creasy’s Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World has been read and re-read for close to 150 years. It is not only the authoritative account of each battle that makes Creasy’s work such a classic—it is his command of narrative, his interest in human struggle, his profound deductions as to effects of the battles, and his striving after truth. Furthermore, his selections seem as wise and well-considered today as when Fifteen Decisive Battles first appeared in 1851: Nobody since has made better ones, nor given us better accounts. Apart from the scholarship and literary skill of Creasy’s book, there is another reason it has endured: Creasy was essentially fair-minded. He had been a judge, and when he became England’s great military critic and historian, he maintained a thoroughly judicial attitude. He was not a British partisan, nor French, nor German—he was a cosmopolitan observer of great events. Out of 2300 years, Creasy only found fifteen battles which he called decisive in the highest sense. He chose them not for the number of killed and wounded, nor for their status in myth and lore, but because they fundamentally changed the course of world history. In doing so, he made his book a miniature military history of the western world, a classic that will repay continued study for generations to come, as it has for generations."











22astropi
Jan 1, 2010, 10:31am Top


Hey, it's 2010... so I'm going back to the Roaring Twenties :P
I just started reading:

Tender is the Night (just got in a trade, thanks elmaynard :)

as for my queue, well there's always tons of stuff I've been meaning to read! Will update later... what are others reading these days?

cheers,

-astropi

23tames
Jan 1, 2010, 10:42am Top

I have put Vanity Fair on hiatus since I am reading many things about photography right now. Gotta get back to it!

24acidneutral
Jan 1, 2010, 12:09pm Top

I'm about half way through The Bell Jar. I had to stop for a bit because I was reading if before Christmas. Anyone familiar with this tome know its not conducive to happy times of the year.

25miser109
Jan 1, 2010, 6:02pm Top

Currently reading DISCOURSE ON METHOD by Rene Descartes. Loving this wonderful book. Small but very powerful.

26acidneutral
Jan 9, 2010, 8:49pm Top

H. Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines.

27boldface
Jun 14, 2010, 10:41am Top

I'm just about to start on Asimov's Foundation's Edge, having read the Foundation Trilogy a couple of times over the years.

Does anyone have an opinion on which is the best of the Foundation stories?

28sludgetrough
Jun 14, 2010, 11:28pm Top

I am just finishing up the last book in the Foundation Trilogy tonight! Let me know how Foundation's Edge is, it might be my next purchase (if i can find it!)

29jacquehammer
Jun 15, 2010, 8:56pm Top

From the Masterpieces of Science Fiction collection: Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling. It's a must for anyone who enjoys cyberpunk!

30wailofatail
Jun 16, 2010, 9:30am Top

The Sea Dogs: Privateers, Plunder and Piracy in the Elizabethan Age by Neville Williams, published by Easton Press as part of the Library of Nautical Classics. From the sounds of it, it is a wonder anything ever made it to it's intended destination.

31JJRothwell
Jun 24, 2010, 9:52am Top

I just finished A Tale of Two Cities, and Les Miserables arrives TODAY!!! I'm set up to get 2 books a month from the 100 Greatest Books collection, as opposed to 1. I'm not sure I could wait a month at a time for the next Easton Press book.

Wuthering Heights is the one coming in a couple weeks.

32sludgetrough
Jun 24, 2010, 9:34pm Top

Whoa, didn't know you could do that and get 2 a month! Do they give you a discount or at least a break on shipping? Either way, it's a deal because you'll complete your collection in 5 years instead of 10. :)

33wailofatail
Edited: Jun 26, 2010, 5:44pm Top

JJRothwell: 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Les Miserables' are two of my all time favorites! 'A Tale of Two Cities' may have been #3. You are definitely in a literary sweet spot!

34acidneutral
Jun 27, 2010, 12:28pm Top

I'm in the middle of "Jane Eyre", which I haven't read in about 25 years. I never imagined I would upgrade from my tattered "Signet Classics" edition from high school so this is a real treat. The font is just right for my older eyes, too.

35acidneutral
Jun 27, 2010, 12:29pm Top

You can actually have them send even more, I've found. Whenever I had the extra money, I would just e-mail them and ask to increase the number a month.

36JJRothwell
Jun 28, 2010, 12:03pm Top

Hey sludgetrough;
Nope no break on the shipping as they send one ever 2 weeks or so (as opposed to 2 at once).

Yes it is awesome to be able to get the collection in 5 years (or less since I opted out of about 6 or 7) instead of 10.

waliofatail....definitley in a literary sweet spot...LOL. I usually end up calling Easton Press about a week before I know they are shipping as I'm excited to find out whats coming next. usually they can tell me the next to in line

37SilentInAWay
Jun 28, 2010, 6:34pm Top

Yeah, the folks at EP can do all kinds of wonderful and accomodating things. I once asked them, however, if they had a running count of how many volumes I had ordered to date -- for my current account, that is (my "subscriberships" have waxed and waned a few times over the last three decades -- right now, it's definitely "wax on!!"). Oddly, although they don't keep a running count, they can quickly quote the cumulative total of how much one has spent on EP books...Ouch!! As for me--well, let's just say that it was easily (and frighteningly) into the five figure range...

38Katsin
Jul 9, 2010, 11:30am Top

#29

If you haven't read it yet and like cyberpunk, try Gibson's "Neuromancer" which Easton Press also sells.

39Goran
Jul 12, 2010, 10:23pm Top

>37 SilentInAWay:

Jesus, in the five figure range?.......wow......You know, there's a show in TV called Intervention..........:)

40SilentInAWay
Jul 12, 2010, 11:27pm Top

I've been told that my intervention will be when my second-floor library collapses into the kitchen below it.

41wailofatail
Jul 12, 2010, 11:51pm Top

Depending on how serious you are, SilentInAWay, consider that most residential floor systems are designed for 40 psf of live load, i.e. the structural members would hold up if you placed 40 pounds on every square foot of the floor area. Most people have more here and less there and it all averages out. Book collectors, on the other hand, tend to stack, which can lead to extra concentrated loads that easily exceed 40 pounds per square foot. Get too many of those too close together and your library may very well be moving to the first floor.

42SilentInAWay
Jul 13, 2010, 2:18am Top

(repeats to self)

"I will not do the math, I will not do the math, I will not do the math"

43acidneutral
Jul 25, 2010, 10:24pm Top

Currently reading "To Kill a Mockingbird".

44mujahid7ia
Jul 27, 2010, 3:20am Top

I have just started "The Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman. Love the Easton Press edition! I recently acquired "All Quiet on the Western Front", also beautifully produced.

45tames
Aug 1, 2010, 4:45pm Top

Currently reading "She" by H.R. Haggard. Received it recently as a Reader's Choice selection. I took it out of it's plastic prison and started reading... that is very dangerous because then I neglect other books that I am reading... sigh...

46sageboy
Aug 1, 2010, 6:52pm Top

Just finished At Play in the Fields of the Lord by Peter Matthiessen in paperback. Liked it so much that I went on line and ordered the 2001 Easton Press version in like-new condition for my library.

47acidneutral
Aug 1, 2010, 8:54pm Top

>45 tames: I LOVE that book, tames! I actually have the Haggard set that Easton still has available as well. I was introduced to Haggard by a dear friend. I read an OUP edition of She and am glad to now own the same copy as yours. I will look forward to reading it again.

I have trouble reading more than one novel at a time, but I keep trying! :-)

48MoTown
Aug 2, 2010, 6:53pm Top

I've been reading a lot of books from the "golden era" of science fiction lately. Just finished 2001 and Ringworld and am currently reading Stand on Zanzibar. I'll probably re-read either Childhood's End or The Mote in God's Eye after that.

I didn't realize EP published a version of Neuromancer, but I will have to keep an eye out for it on eBay. Sadly, EP has not published Snow Crash which has always been my favorite cyberpunk novel.

49acidneutral
Aug 2, 2010, 9:34pm Top

In the category of "and now for something completely different" I pulled "Portnoy's Complaint" off the shelf.

50tames
Aug 3, 2010, 6:47pm Top

Anybody have the Le Guin Earthsea Tetralogy? I have never read them before, but I did read the first 16 pages on the Amazon preview of the first book - I liked it.

51SilentInAWay
Edited: Aug 3, 2010, 6:59pm Top

I do -- a very attractive set (although I have not read them yet). Each book has the same cover design, but is bound in a different color leather.

You can view my cover scans of these books by clicking on this link and then switching the catalog to display in Cover view.

52astropi
Aug 3, 2010, 7:50pm Top

51: the Earthsea Tetralogy has only a frontispiece, is that correct? No other illustrations?

53tames
Aug 3, 2010, 8:51pm Top

>51 SilentInAWay: Yep those be them. Hey we share 200 books in common. Mostly E.P. - imagine that! :)

I see you have Foucault's Pendulum. Have you read it yet? I did last year, just wondering what you thought of it.

54SilentInAWay
Aug 3, 2010, 9:07pm Top

>52 astropi:: I'll check when I get home tonight and let you know.

>53 tames:: Unfortunately, I read Foucault's Pendulum over 20 years ago, so I don't remember specifics. I do remember liking it, but not as much as I liked The Name of the Rose.

55SilentInAWay
Aug 4, 2010, 12:41am Top

>52 astropi:

You're mostly right.

The first volume (A Wizard of Earthsea) has a frontispiece, a small illustration at the beginning of every chapter, and 4 full-page hand-drawn maps.

The other three volumes have only frontispiece art.

56tames
Edited: Sep 8, 2010, 8:31pm Top

Finished She a couple weeks ago, and just finished Tom Sawyer today. Yes I read the EP version. I also have the HP version. It was a toss-up. I went with leather :) The Rockwell illustrations are just wonderful.

I have been working on Vanity Fair for several months now. I AM going to finish it!

57Katsin
Sep 9, 2010, 9:20am Top

>41 wailofatail:, 42

A good article on heavy aqauriums:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/aquarium_weight.php

Some of the tips are pretty good. I think the aqaurium hobbyists spend more time thinking about the weights caused by their hobby than do book collectors.

58tames
Sep 27, 2010, 7:11am Top

Oh my. It took me 10 months to read Vanity Fair. I finished it last night. The book was serialized like many in the period and I think that took 18 months.

Since Tom Sawyer is still fresh in my mind, I have started Huckleberry Finn.

59indigosky
Sep 27, 2010, 5:24pm Top

You must have not enjoyed Vanity Fair much?

I'm currently making my way through The Mysterious Island. I'm almost done. While I like the book & enjoy it, I really wish Verne would have condensed it a bit. I could do without the details of everything they ate, how they cooked it, how they caught it, etc. I could do without a lot of other details, also. Half the time I feel like I'm reading a survival manual. It really picked up pace at the end of part 2, though, and particularly in part 3. All things considered, a good book.

60ironjaw
Sep 27, 2010, 7:47pm Top

I think you have to take into consideration the time it was written, no tv, no radio. I guess those novels were those days blockbuster like Avatar and jurassic park

61hamletscamaro
Sep 27, 2010, 10:01pm Top

I just finished Of Mice and Men and am reading both Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as well as Victorian Ghost Stories. Halloween is coming up after all.

62tames
Sep 27, 2010, 10:17pm Top

>59 indigosky:
Ha! Yes I did enjoy Vanity Fair! At around 759 pages, other books caught my interest so I would set it aside for a while. It was not a difficult read, but not exactly easy either. I can whip through a 800 page Harry Potter pretty fast, but that is easy prose and a lot more action going on.

63MashedPotatoes
Edited: Sep 28, 2010, 6:43am Top

Hamletscamaro: How do you like Victorian Ghost Stories and how are the stories? I've been wanting to buy it for a few months (mainly because of my love for the Victorian era) but I don't know what to expect. Are the stories based on true life stories or are they made up? Are the stories only mildly scary or am I not going to be able to sleep for a few weeks? I'm intrigued...

64hamletscamaro
Sep 28, 2010, 9:21am Top

>63 MashedPotatoes: MashedPotatoes, I like the Victorian Ghost Stories. It is a compilation of a bunch of different stories from several authors. I like that I can read one or two at a time, enjoy the period language and just enjoy the story. This is not an example of today's slasher stories, and not all of them are terrifying by today's standards. Actually, this is a reprint of the Oxford compilation; you can see the Amazon reviews here:
http://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Ghost-Stories-Anthology-Paperbacks/dp/0192829998...

I would recommend it.

65astropi
Sep 28, 2010, 9:38am Top

64: are there illustrations? Also, from which series is Dr. Jekyll and is that volume also illustrated? Thanks in advance (and feel free to post pics of any illustrations move you)!

66tames
Sep 28, 2010, 9:29pm Top

Dr Jekyll is in the Greatest 100 series, and I also see it in the Horror Classics. Illustrated by Edward A Wilson. There are b&w illustrations along with those that have a pink background with black sketching. Too lazy to photograph right now :)

67hamletscamaro
Sep 30, 2010, 10:23pm Top

>65 astropi: Astropi, here are some photos of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Illustrations range from full page monocrome drawings to partial page black and white illustrations. There are several, this is just a sampling (sorry for my fingers, I never stress teh spines enough for them to lay flat by themselves):





68hamletscamaro
Sep 30, 2010, 10:28pm Top

And since we are somewhat off topic anyway, here are some pictures from Victorian Ghost Stories. These are not as plentiful as other books, there are probably only 10 pictures in the book, but they are nice pencil drawings that add to the mood of the book.






69acidneutral
Oct 1, 2010, 12:13am Top

What color is the Victorian Ghost Stories? It looks like plum on my monitor.

70hamletscamaro
Oct 1, 2010, 9:27am Top

>69 acidneutral: I think the color variation may be the cheap Camera I used for these shots. I noticed that the colors were off and meant to make a comment on that. The Dr. Jekyll Mr Hyde is actually a brown color, and the Victorian Ghost Stories always looked black to me. I'll try to replace those with shots from a better camera and see if that works.

71DanMat
Edited: Oct 1, 2010, 4:15pm Top

>14 tames:

If I'm not mistaken those illustrations are Thackeray's.

Here's a site:

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/thackeray/ch1-15_file...

I'm reading The Book of Snobs right now which has that characteristic delivery I so admire in Thackeray's writing. It's not a guide for becoming a snob per se (I seem to be getting ribbed for that when people see it in my hands) but instead classifies, in discrete chapters, the different varieties of snob found in society (a process Thackeray readily admits is itself a form of snobbery yet parrys that accusation, as well as other remonstrances, in an arch, playfully conciliatory tone that borders on hyperbole). Anyway, as you might guess, about everyone under the sun is guilty of some form of snobbery (the implication being it's part of the human condition) and this net encompasses all customs and manners of British life eventually. I think he's done the illustrations for this as well and there is a quite amusing depiction of two young girls and their mother dutifully studying the peerage as it were some elementary school primer.

(Not to carry much further, as plot wasn't nessecarily Thackeray's strongest suit, yet he could turn those character sketches out as effortlessly as old Boz and a marvellous display of it is contained in this work.)

72Wootle
Nov 21, 2010, 10:47pm Top

I just finished The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, from the Masterpieces of Science Fiction series. I really enjoyed it, first book of hers that I have read. It actually made me interested in the plague, so I went to Borders and bought a couple about it. So now I'm reading about the Black Death in non Easton books.

73indigosky
Nov 21, 2010, 11:21pm Top

72: Is The Doomsday Book currently available through EP? I've seen it sell for higher on ebay, not that that means anything, but I thought it might be OOP. I read it in mass market & came upon it because I like historical fiction, particularly the medieval era. I agree, it was a very enjoyable book.

74Wootle
Nov 21, 2010, 11:57pm Top

73- I don't know if it is still shipping. I bought it off ebay for $50, in pretty nice condition. I had started reading it a couple of years ago but got side-tracked. Glad I made time for it. I read the reviews on Amazon for it. Seems like people either love it or hate it, not many in between. I will definetely read her other titles, I really enjoy the time travel idea.

Like you, I like reading about the medieval era. I also recently bought the six volume set of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that I am looking forward to reading. That will have to wait until next year though.

75Wootle
Nov 21, 2010, 11:59pm Top

73- Also, talking about historical fiction, have you read the Allan Eckert Frontiersmen series? They are very enjoyable. They would be nice to have in Easton editions.

76indigosky
Nov 22, 2010, 6:57pm Top

75: No, I haven't read those. I'll look them up on Amazon. Thanks for the suggestion!

74: Have you also read Michael Crichton's Timeline? If not, you'd probably like it. A similar idea to The Doomsday Book.

77Wootle
Nov 22, 2010, 7:26pm Top

76- I heard about Timeline, haven't had time yet though. I'll put it on the list.

78iluvbeckett
Nov 22, 2010, 10:25pm Top

Just finished "Heart of Darkness" from the "100 Greatest..."

79acidneutral
Nov 23, 2010, 12:32pm Top

Currently reading Sinclair Lewis' Babbitt. Its rather amazing how timely this book is with the current political environment in the U.S. right now.

80tames
Nov 23, 2010, 10:53pm Top

>77 Wootle:
I read Timeline 6 years ago. I remember enjoying it, and one small part sticks in my skull when they first arrive in the past - oops don't want to spoil it. I think it is worth your "time".

81indigosky
Nov 23, 2010, 11:36pm Top

80: I think I know which part you're talking about.

82LonghornRancher
Feb 17, 2011, 2:23am Top

Just finished Waterloo: The One Hundred Days and I am about to start Mr. Midshipman Hornblower.

HaHa... I wonder if Billyjean ever finished the Bible.

83Highgate
Feb 17, 2011, 1:15pm Top

Finished the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, now on to the Silmarillion...

84tames
Feb 17, 2011, 10:27pm Top

Recently finished Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Now tackling The Count of Monte Cristo and its a big'un

85Arknight
Feb 17, 2011, 11:27pm Top

I just finished "In a Glass Darkly" and "The Talisman". I'd like to start something else but I think I'll hold off as I know for sure "Arabian Sands" should be arriving any day now.

86Wootle
Feb 17, 2011, 11:32pm Top

I'm also awaiting Arabian Sands. I thought it would arrive today, but no show. So, I went ahead and started The Two Towers, since I finished Fellowship last week. I always enjoy re-reading Tolkien.

87iluvbeckett
Feb 17, 2011, 11:45pm Top

Just started the "Fahrenheit 451" LE that arrived today (yes, I un-shrinkwrapped it). I've also been plodding along through Livy's "History of Early Rome" from 100 Greatest, but I seriously doubt I'll finish it...very dry stuff indeed, especially his numerous recitations of the interminable battles and wars between Rome and her neighbors during the first few centuries. Even tho' I generally love to read history, I'm having no problem putting this book down!

88Wootle
Feb 17, 2011, 11:48pm Top

I read the 451 Limited yesterday. I was kinda dissapointed, it's not as good as I remember it from many years ago. I thought being older now, along with big brother growing bigger, it would have had more meaning to me than it did. Just a little slow going I think, at least the first third. I still made it all the way through, just a different perspective today than before.

89Arknight
Feb 17, 2011, 11:54pm Top

>86 Wootle:

Don't you hate that huge letdown when you've been waiting for the mail all day and you're just sure that it must the day your book will arrive....and then, nothing.

90Wootle
Feb 17, 2011, 11:58pm Top

Especially the days my regular carrier has the day off and the substitute doesn't come until late in the day when I am used to 11AM delivery.

Arabian Sands showed up on my CC about a week ago, but 451 still hasn't. I received 451 days ago and have already read it, but am still awaiting the other.

91LucasTrask
Jul 9, 2011, 3:56pm Top

>68 hamletscamaro:-70

I just found this thread while I was looking for photos of books for flyers I have posted on my Lucas' (and other's) Easton Press Flyers thread so I could link to them. Anyway, I have Victorian Ghost Stories and when I took it off the shelf and looked at it in the sunlight the binding is definitely a deep plum. There are also 16 b&w illustrations along with the color frontispiece.

92acidneutral
Jul 14, 2011, 9:17am Top

Reading "Master and Commander". Challenging but fascinating read for sure.

93iluvbeckett
Edited: Jul 15, 2011, 12:33pm Top

A bit off topic, but does anyone know which title in the "100 Greatest" corresponds to item #001-066? (Assuming 001 designates the series and 066 the individual title.) Thanks.

94Tom41
Jul 15, 2011, 12:46pm Top

Politics by Aristotle according to my info.

95iluvbeckett
Jul 15, 2011, 3:17pm Top

>94 Tom41: Thanks, Tom.

96Ooshie
Jul 30, 2011, 8:38am Top

I'm just about to start Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - it will be the first time I have read it since I was a child, so I am both really looking forward to it and apprehensive that it won't live up to my memories!

97Jerry317
Aug 1, 2011, 4:27pm Top

Sadly, None! I currently don't own any :{ Going to soon though....hopefully. I feel like I'm really missing out!

98Jerry317
Edited: Aug 1, 2011, 9:07pm Top

84----EP has a version of Tom Sawyer??

99Jerry317
Aug 1, 2011, 9:08pm Top

78--Did you enjoy Heart of Darkness?

100AnnieMod
Aug 1, 2011, 9:11pm Top

>98 Jerry317:

There is at least the one in The Famous Editions list - not sure if there had been another.

101wailofatail
Aug 1, 2011, 10:16pm Top

The version from the 'Famous Editions' is the one you are likely to see most often. At one time E/P did issue companion volumes of the Rockwell illustrated The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. I happened to purchase the set from E/P when it was offered. I have never seen either edition of the companion set come up on eBay. Each edition has the title character gilded on the cover.

102Django6924
Aug 1, 2011, 10:27pm Top

wail, did EP ever reprint the LEC Tom Sawyer with Tom Benton's illustrations? I know they did Benton's Huckleberry Finn, which was an LEC and never Heritage Press (despite LECCOLLECT's assertion that "the Easton Press owns reprint rights only to HP books").

Incidentally, LECCOLLECT also claims "Easton books are bound in leather, but the lowest grade of leather. They use leather scraps more or less molded together much as plastic is. This is the only way they can produce an all leather book at the price they charge for their books." I wonder about the validity of this claim. I'm certainly not an EP expert, but the EP volumes I have do not seem to be stitched or molded or pieced together, but of a single piece of leather. Anyone have any more knowledge about this?

103busywine
Aug 1, 2011, 10:52pm Top

>102 Django6924:, I agree, would like to know actual facts. Plenty of the EP's I have seem and feel pretty top notch. Yes, a few feel thrown together (unfortunately a lot of reader's choice fall into this category)...but still this is based on impressions, not actual knowledge. Would like to know what they actually use in most cases.

104SilentInAWay
Edited: Aug 2, 2011, 3:51am Top

I know that, in the early days (pre-1980), some of the books in EP's Masterpieces of American Literature series proudly stated on the title page that they were bound in "bonded leather." These books not only had interesting textures, but were also more "perfect" than today's covers (where the "flaws" in the grain of the leather lend character to each book).

It's like comparing a strand of Majorca pearls to a strand of genuine oyster pearls. The man-made pearls are all perfectly matched, whereas each of the more valuable natural pearls has its own unique imperfections.

As far as the Macy reprint rights go, both the LEC and HP were sold to Boise Cascade Corp. who sold them to Ziff-Davis Publishing, who sold them to Cardavon Press. Cardavon then sold HP to The Danbury Mint, which itself is owned by the same parent company as Easton Press. As you can see, those Macy companies have sure been around the block (when they haven't been "on the block", that is).

If I understand all this correctly, then Easton Press has (for the last 30+ years) owned the reprint rights to any book for which Heritage Press owned similar rights at the time it was sold. The LEC continued to publish new editions after HP had been sold off, so EP would definitely not own the rights to those books. It is likely, however, that HP owned the reprint rights to a number of older LEC books that it simply chose not to republish. EP would now own the right to print those same editions (although they may also have also chosen not to republish many of them).

George Macy aficionados like to look down their noses at Easton Press collectors. From their perspective, EP has slapped leather covers of suspect quality onto low-quality reproductions of the LEC originals (not to mention that the originals were typically signed by the illustrator, where as the EP reprints must always be unsigned). Given EP's poor track record (over the decades) at reproducing color illustrations, these Macy collectors are not entirely wrong.

What the Macy people don't recognize, however, is that, over time, as you accumulate Easton Press books, you gradually build a wall (or several walls) of literary leather that collectively feels more like a venerable library do than any number of those beautiful slipcased books--with their animal, vegetable and mineral covers--that are put out by LEC, HP or even the Folio Society. Or perhaps the Macy mavens (and those with Folio fixations) do recognize this and their constant need to dismiss EP books as inferior products is just an example of leather envy.

105astropi
Aug 2, 2011, 4:05am Top

102: I don't know all the details behind EP's leather. I do know that certainly some books use higher-grade leather than others. A normal EP book is obviously not bound in high-quality Nigerian goatskin leather as the FS Limited Editions. However, a normal EP book does not cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. My experience is that the quality of an EP book is very high, especially for the cost. I have to admit, I find myself rather skeptical at the claims made by LECCOLLECT. To this end, I sent an email to EP costumer service requesting any information they can provide about the leather they use. I'll let people know what I hear.

106LucasTrask
Aug 2, 2011, 9:13am Top

SilentInAWay wrote:
What the Macy people don't recognize, however, is that, over time, as you accumulate Easton Press books, you gradually build a wall (or several walls) of literary leather that collectively feels more like a venerable library do than any number of those beautiful slipcased books--with their animal, vegetable and mineral covers--that are put out by LEC, HP or even the Folio Society. Or perhaps the Macy mavens (and those with Folio fixations) do recognize this and their constant need to dismiss EP books as inferior products is just an example of leather envy.


I collect both E/P and FS books and I think the FS books collectively feel more like a venerable library. It has nothing to do with leather envy and more to do with thinking books can and should have beautiful bindings regardless of what material is used. In fact, I think my E/P DLE of Fahrenheit 451 has a fantastic binding and the leather enhances it, but I find many E/P bindings nice but boring. I really like the covers of the six volume OZ set with embossed covers when compared to the current four volume set with gilded covers. However, I prefer the original covers as reproduced by Charles Winthrope & Sons for The Bradford Exchange Press over the six volume set. I also very much dislike the new E/P DLE Slaughterhouse-Five binding and I’m glad I own the FS edition.

On the subject of whether E/P books are inferior, I don’t agree, but it has been noted that in many titles the illustrations are poorly reproduced. Furthermore, most titles I own have reproduced images of the text from an earlier edition instead of being newly typeset, as the Folio Society does for all except facsimiles. For me this gives the impression of being inferior, as in many of these books the text is not clean and crisp. Among the E/P books I own I find the MoSF titles to be the ones I prefer the best. Each one I own appears to have been newly typeset, have well-reproduced illustrations and have some of the more interesting bindings.

107astropi
Aug 2, 2011, 9:22am Top

Much of it comes down to a matter of taste. It is true that some EP illustrations are not reproduced to the same standards as their original LEC productions. However many other EP volumes (such as the Masterpieces of Science Fiction) do include original illustrations and are very beautiful, while other books such as the DLEs are simply top notch all around! I personally appreciate all these fine presses, and think any and all can be beautiful. I will say that I have noticed substantial snobbery from FS members (not all certainly, but some members). To which I say, their loss.

108LipstickAndAviators
Aug 2, 2011, 10:35am Top

I can to some point understand the snobbery. It does seem that sometiems EP rest on their laurels and don't really 'try' whereas the Folio Society are pretty creative and work hard to eb original even on their 'cheapest' books (even if they do sometimes miss the mark or leave things out).

That said if every publishing company was the same it'd be a boring world and we'd have a lot less to talk about on this site.

I appreciate EP for many reasons, such as printing things most other fine presses wouldn't touch (e.g. a lot fo the sci-fi series) and making affordable versions of fantastic editions from the past (much more affordable than the facsimiles of other companies). Not to mention the smell and feel of leather!

Anyway, I'm about to read Gulliver's Travels.

109Django6924
Aug 2, 2011, 11:33am Top

>104 SilentInAWay:
Being a longtime collector of Heritage Press and LEC books, I have no ill-will at all toward the Easton Press--let alone leather envy. I also own several EP books, the 39 volume reprint of the LEC Shakespeare set, the 17 volume Arabian Nights set, the complete Hemingway (in the earlier, far more attractive and better-designed bindings), the Faulkner set, and several individual volumes. I do feel that the clarity of the printing in the EP volumes (as well as the reproduction of the illustrations), could be better. And I'm not saying the LEC standards are the benchmark--anyone who has compared the print and reproduction quality of the earlier, New York-based Heritage Press editions with the corresponding EP version knows that the HP is superior. Were the EP books printed with the same attention to quality (and a few of them definitely are), I'd have no quibbles. But I also understand those for whom the bindings are the principal attraction, and the bindings certainly have the greater visual impact.

110astropi
Edited: Aug 2, 2011, 11:46am Top

I got an email from costumer service. They say that the majority of their books use Cromwell Saderra genuine leather. Cromwell is a leather company in NY, and Saderra is their pigskin leather. Some books are cowhide (such as most of the DLEs) but otherwise it's Saderra. EP sent me a pdf from Cromwell that describes their leather. Sounds like high quality. Perhaps not kosher, but high quality nonetheless :)

Also, Cromwell does apparently make bonded leather, but the EP books are genuine leather.

111busywine
Aug 2, 2011, 12:10pm Top

>110 astropi:, could you PM me the pdf?

112LucasTrask
Aug 2, 2011, 12:37pm Top

The binding for the DLE of Lincoln: A History is made from genuine Saderra pigskin by Cromwell Leather. Wootle posted a picture (fifth one down) of the DLE limitation and information page on the DLE Abraham Lincoln: A History by Nicolay & Hay thread he started. Since it's a ten volume set it makes sense that the binding would be closer to or the same as the standard binding E/P uses.

113astropi
Aug 2, 2011, 2:09pm Top

111: I certainly don't mind, but I don't know how to attach files in a pm. Is that possible?

114LucasTrask
Aug 2, 2011, 2:27pm Top

Others might like to see the pdf as well so may I suggest uploading it to WikiThing and linking to it in a post?

115iluvbeckett
Aug 2, 2011, 5:26pm Top

>99 Jerry317:: Sorry for the delayed reply, Jerry. I found "Heart of Darkness" to be a fairly quick read, but I don't think it's my sort of thing, literature-wise. A bit too abstruse for my taste.

116wailofatail
Aug 2, 2011, 6:25pm Top

>102 Django6924:: "... did EP ever reprint the LEC Tom Sawyer with Tom Benton's illustrations? I know they did Benton's Huckleberry Finn, which was an LEC and never Heritage Press (despite LECCOLLECT's assertion that "the Easton Press owns reprint rights only to HP books").

I'm going to say 'no'. The two editions I referenced above, i.e. the 'Collector's Library Of Famous Editions' and the special presentation 'Collector's Edition', are both illustrated by Norman Rockwell. I'm surprised no one has noted my omission of the edition of Tom Sawyer from the 'Mark Twain Library'. I am not sure who the illustrator is for this edition but if I had to bet I would bet Norman Rockwell too. If anyone has this edition please confirm.

117Quicksilver66
Aug 3, 2011, 9:14am Top

> 110

That's very useful infomation, thanks.

I agree that the clarity of reproduction on some EP texts could be improved. However, I am thankful that these classic editions are still in print in a relatively affordable format. Much as I adore the individuality of many FS bindings I can't help loving leather bound books. Leather is so practical - I can read a leather bound EP book on the train without fear of damaging it (which is not the case with some of the more delicate FS paper and cloth bindings).

EP leather feels of good quality to me. If it was bonded leather you would know instantly (bonded leather is smoother, shinier, more perfect in appearance - such as on the Barnes and Noble de luxe editions). The best leather of all is found on both the EP and FS limited editions - the binding on the Romance of King Arthur is totally exquisite.

Paradise for me is a room full of FS and EP volumes.

118astropi
Edited: Aug 3, 2011, 10:54am Top

When I asked about the quality of leather, they told me it was genuine leather, as I indicated, and they sent me a flyer from Cromwell describing their leather. Some of you asked for a copy, so what I did was take the pdf and convert it to a jpg and upload it here.



The conversion slightly truncated things, which is why some of the wording might seem less than perfect, but otherwise here is all the info.

cheers,

-astropi

If anyone still wants me to send them the original PDF, drop me a PM with your email address.

119SilentInAWay
Aug 3, 2011, 1:53pm Top

Bear in mind, folks, that this refers to books currently in production. Books from the 70s, 80s & 90s may well have been bound using a different "genuine" leather (did Cromwell Saderra even exist back then?). And although EP has always (to my knowledge) primarily published books bound in genuine leather, they definitely offered some books bound in bonded leather in the past. In fact, they at one time offered the Masterpieces of American Literature series in two different formats, with the main difference being bonded vs. genuine leather covers. I own a couple of these books--the title page even says that they are bound in bonded leather!!

I'm pretty sure, however, that all books published by EP since the mid 1980s have genuine leather covers. So keep your eyes open when buying some of those older books on ebay!!

120LucasTrask
Edited: Aug 3, 2011, 2:22pm Top

According to the Cromwell Leather Group website Our History page the company was founded in Germany in 1898 and the headquarters were established in New York in 1946. According to information on Zibb.com Cromwell filed Saderra as a registered trademark for "Tanned and Untanned Leather and Imitation Leather" on 18 December 1985.

121SilentInAWay
Aug 3, 2011, 3:51pm Top

Interesting.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure that EP has switched both providers and binders a couple of times over the decades.

astropi: Did EP's letter mention when they first started using Cromwell leather (or, more interestingly, when Cromwell became their primary provider)??

LucasTrask: Same question from Cromwell's perspective. Do they mention the start of their relationship with EP? Any dates?

I'm curious because some of the most beautiful* leather in my EP collection comes from when I first started collecting (a few years before Cromwell registered their trademark for Saderra). I'm not knocking Saderra -- it's fine stuff (I suspect that over 75% of my EP books are bound in it). I'd just like to better understand some of the "older" editions.

In fact, I seem to remember that EP once advertised that their books were bound using a variety of quality leathers. It was back in the early or mid 80s, I think -- do any other long-time collectors remember this, or am I imagining it? That certainly would explain not only why different books have aged differently (some becoming glove-soft with time), but also why the covers of most recently-printed books have a more consistent (textured, yet hard and shiny) feel to the leather.

*I realize that we all tend to fall in love with the production qualities of books from the time when we first started collecting--when we would admire each new book that we receive for hours on end!! So it is, I hope, understandable that I am particularly enchanted by EP books from the late 70s and early 80s. It's certainly not a knock on the leather used for later editions...

122astropi
Aug 4, 2011, 7:07am Top

121: they did not. However, you can email either Cromwell or EP and ask. I imagine Cromwell might not respond (due to privacy reasons and all)...

123LucasTrask
Aug 4, 2011, 8:02am Top

Cromwell has a general page for customers, but it doesn’t mention any by name.

124Jerry317
Aug 6, 2011, 8:55am Top

116-
I'm almost positive that Tom Sawyer from the Mark Twain Library is illustrated by the original illustrator...I forget his name, sorry.

125Fionnsboy
Aug 7, 2011, 10:28pm Top

Hi Everyone, just joined the group. So glad I've found you! I stumbled across this site while doing a search on (what else?) Easton Press books with buying on my mind, specifically Middlemarch, having recently (re)discovered George Eliot.

The back story: in the Spring of 2010, a client of mine had a bookshelf full of EP editions, and it was love at first sight. Having collected International Collectors Library books when I was a kid, one look at her EP books and that long-dormant volcano erupted again ten-fold. Shortly thereafter the lust kicked in. I was fortunate enough to find someone on my local Craigslist (I live outside Boston, USA) who was relocating and looking to move her 56-volume, more or less unread, partial set of the 100 Greatest-- which I of course started calling 'The 56 Greatest Books of All Time.' I got them for a steal, $1000, or $17.86 a book. I still remember the day I picked them up, with the same fuzzy wistfulness and misty sighs one recalls the special days of one's life: we met in a parking lot, the books were in about eight different plastic bins, lined with towels. Our transaction ("bring cash," I was told) had all the appearances of a drug deal-- and in retrospect I suppose it was! I couldn't even wait to get home, but pulled over at a small conservation area and began to do worship-- fawning, pawing, sniffing-- the whole deal. I picked one from the bins at random and took it with me into the woods, the way one would go 'out walking' with a sweetheart-- in this case James Joyce and his Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Anyway, have been working my way through them slowly (along with other stuff) so as to let this linger, and my collection has now swelled to about 100 books (not all from the 100 Greatest).

I have an Adventures of Sherlock Holmes still in shrink wrap that I'd be willing to swap for Middlemarch in fine condition. Started with Silas Marner, then went on to Adam Bede (an old ICL copy-- Easton Press hasn't done Adam Bede, I presume-- ) and now have just began my latest (ebay) acquisition, The Mill on the Floss. My my, can she nail character!

126busywine
Aug 7, 2011, 11:08pm Top

>125 Fionnsboy:, Welcome, looks like you have a great start! I love Eliot also, good luck in your search!

127Fionnsboy
Aug 8, 2011, 7:42am Top

Thanks, Busy Wine!

128hamletscamaro
Aug 8, 2011, 2:14pm Top

>125 Fionnsboy:, "Our transaction ("bring cash," I was told) had all the appearances of a drug deal"...

Yup, once reeled in, you will become dependent fairly quickly. It starts with that small voice calling out to you that you need just one more volume, and before long you feel yourself plunged into a never ending pit of need and desire that only EP leather can fulfill.

You will also need to start getting the EPAA meetings on your calendar. See Silent's thread here:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/98012#2479770

Do yourself a favor, and stay away from any thread marked "DLE". That represents the seventh level of EP hell from whence no man returns...

129Quicksilver66
Aug 8, 2011, 3:04pm Top

> 125

Great post that evokes that mad and inexplicable and unreasonable rush of excitement that we all get about new books. I get it when my wife calls me at work and says the postman has dropped of a single EP or FS parcel that day. With 56 volumes I don't think I would be able to control myself.

130Jerry317
Aug 8, 2011, 7:35pm Top

I tried putting this in a new post but website wouldn't let me for some reason!
My question is how do you care for your EP books regarding dust buildup on the gold or leather? How do you safely remove the dust without damaging the paper or leather?

131wailofatail
Aug 8, 2011, 7:39pm Top

>130 Jerry317:: A very light feather duster frequently enough to prevent thick dust build-up. Once dust has sat long enough to soil or adhere to the gilding there is no good way to get rid of it.

132hamletscamaro
Aug 8, 2011, 10:09pm Top

>131 wailofatail:, a cheese grater will remove that built up dust, most of the gilt edging, and leave you with a rustic, well worn leather book look.

133SilentInAWay
Aug 8, 2011, 10:44pm Top

Why mess up your cheese grater when coarse sandpaper does the job just fine...

134Arknight
Aug 9, 2011, 9:33am Top

I prefer a Dremel tool; this also allows one to "customize" the gilding on the cover and spine.

135Fionnsboy
Aug 9, 2011, 10:15pm Top

Thanks, Hamletscamaro! I see you know the feeling. I fully admit that sometimes I go to extreme lengths in my Easton Fever: I introduce the new volume to the existing family....oi. I will also occasionally come up with a Top Ten List, in which I rank my faves, based on how much I enjoy the book itself (meaning its contents) and beauty, and illustrations, and color, etc.....I got it BAD!

136Fionnsboy
Aug 9, 2011, 10:19pm Top

It was truly a baptism by friendly fire, Quicksilver. I do the FS thing too occasionally via ebay-- have maybe a dozen in the collection, and just added Rosemary Sutcliff's Eagle of the Ninth, a lovely volume. What's your favorite FS?

137Quicksilver66
Aug 10, 2011, 10:36am Top

> 136

That's a tough question Fionnsboy.

Of the FS Limited Editions that I have, my favourite is Canterbury Tales illustrated by Eric Gill.

Of FS "regular editions", I think its Legends of the Grail in the Myths and Legends series - a really beautiful volume with a mystical look and feel to it.
A close second is Seven Pillars of Wisdom (maybe because it was the first FS book I bought).

138testadura
Aug 13, 2011, 2:57am Top

I've just subscribed to the 100 Greatest, and have vowed to work my through each book in order, so I am just finishing up Huck Finn, and look forward to moving on to Treasure Island this week.

139UK_History_Fan
Aug 13, 2011, 12:22pm Top

> 137

I have the Legends of the Grail, and many of the other titles in that series. I agree with Quicksilver66's comments on the high quality of Grail. Though not my favorite FS book, it is in the top quartile.

Was probably going to pass on the LE Canterbury Tales, given the price and the multiple other copies of this book that I own in Easton and Franklin edition. Maybe I should re-consider.

I love this site, but it is going to be expensive to keep up with you guys!

140Tom41
Aug 19, 2011, 8:52pm Top

I just finished The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. It is a riveting book from start to finish.

141SilentInAWay
Aug 19, 2011, 8:56pm Top

I enjoyed that book too; unfortunately, I read it when it first came out--so my EP edition will probably never get read!!

142UK_History_Fan
Aug 19, 2011, 9:15pm Top

> 138
Testadura: when you say you are going to read them "in order," to which order do you refer? The order in which you received them, the order in which they were published by EP (good luck determining that!), the order in which they were originally published, alphabetical order, titular order, OH THE POSSIBILITIES!!!!

BTW, I realize I have contributed a few times to this thread and never actually posted on topic.

So, I am currently reading the Easton Press series The Second World War Leaders. Speaking of order, I had no idea which order to read these in, so I decided on the following order, given that I just finished the 5-volume The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich set, and needed a break from the always maddening Herr Hitler:

Stalin: Breaker of Nations - Robert Conquest (finished last week)
Mussolini: A Biography - Dennis Mack Smith (work in progress)
Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Rendezvous With Destiny - Frank Freidel
Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan - Herbert P. Bix
Hitler: A Study In Tyranny - Allan Bullock

The final title in the series is Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert, the one-volume abridgment. But since I also fortunately own the complete 12-volume Gilbert biography published by Easton Press in 1994 (I think), I will try to plow through that next. That will complete my over one year "deep dive" into 19th and 20th century European history, my weakest area of knowledge. Then I believe it is on to the home country where I will likely begin the 16-volume Page Smith History of America series.

Will I have to change my name to US_History_Fan then?

If anyone cares, the Stalin biography was disappointing. While there was some decent analysis of Stalin's motives and a lot of focus on his inconsistencies (saying one thing, doing another), it was rather spotty in its treatment of periods of his life (I would have liked more time spent on his rise to power as that was far less certain than his ability to perpetuate evil once he attained the pinnacle of it). Mr. Conquest warns the reader up front that it is not his intent to capture in detail the narrative history of Stalin's life (gee, silly me, what is the purpose of a biography again?) and he certainly lives up to his promise. Ok, I am not going to really write a full review, I don't feel like it...let's just say I was disappointed.

The Mussolini biography is also rather slow-going for some reason. My reading dedication and speed has slackened considerably lately (inversely related to the number of HOURS I spend reading and responding to posts in this group which is a quite recent discovery). That is the only downside I can find in these pages however!

143SilentInAWay
Aug 19, 2011, 10:08pm Top

>138 testadura:

I too started off reading the books in the 100 Greatest series in the order that I received them. I loved doing that!!

It worked out great, while it was one book a month...but then I had to go and subscribe to the Collector's Library of Famous Editions, the Masterpieces of American Literature (not to mention all the "special order selections" that were not a part of a series)--before you know it, I had a serious backlog and I began to pick and choose.

Then, having finished my B.S. (computer science) and my B.A. (music history and theory), I went on to get a master's in Comparative Literature (with a dual focus in Latin American Literature and Critical Theory). I was also in a PhD program in Comparative Literature for several years (realizing only after I had finished with all the coursework and testing, that I didn't really have much drive to become a professional scholar--it was the give and take in the seminars that had fueled my interest all along!!). By then, I had already been working as an engineer for over 15 years (and I didn't hate my job all that much)...so...

At any rate, by the time all this education stuff was over (a bit over a decade ago), I found that reading was not as simple as it had been before. Not only could I no longer approach a book 'innocently', as I had done before all that academic exposure, but I could also no longer be fully satisfied with the relatively narrow canon exemplified by most of EP's literary series.

Nowadays, about 15% percent of the books that I read are from Easton Press. Unfortunately, I continue to buy these books at about ten times the pace that I actually read them. I no longer intend to read them all--hopefully I'll manage to get through the ones I want to read the most!!

There are definitely times when I wish I could once again approach books with the simple joy of someone discovering great literature for the first time. My first exposure to Boccaccio, Dante and Milton (to mention three authors that I recently called out in another topic, in another thread) are all thanks to Easton Press. In fact, for all my life-long love of books, if it were not for Easton Press (and, later Philip Ward), I would probably never have considered pursuing graduate school in literature.

And yet there's no question that I miss those days, a couple of years out of High School, when I would anxiously await the monthly arrival of that white box from Connecticut to see what leather beauty I would be reading next...

144iluvbeckett
Aug 20, 2011, 1:52am Top

>143 SilentInAWay:

When I subscribed to the "100 Greatest" about a year and a half ago, I deliberated on which titles I REALLY wanted to own/read, and narrowed it down to only! eighteen. I then realized that given my generally slow reading pace, I would quickly fall behind at the rate of one title per month, so I asked EP to send them on a quarterly schedule. This is working out well so far.

145WinterGloaming
Aug 20, 2011, 9:26am Top

>144 iluvbeckett:

That is also true for me, I am not subscribing to the series at the moment but I flipped through the titles and picked only the ones I am interested in and it is below 20, so if I do sign up for it I will at least get those first.

146testadura
Aug 20, 2011, 10:38am Top

> 142

I meant the order in which I receive them. I have about a week or two to finish Treasure Island before my next (mystery) volume arrives. I was Jesuit educated, so I read many of the books on the 100 Greatest list as a matter of course, but I am especially excited to read the classics I haven't read yet. Plus, the not knowing which book is coming next is a bit of a thrill as well.

147Fionnsboy
Aug 21, 2011, 10:05pm Top

Hey Folks, a question from a newbie. I've noticed on ebay and Abe Books that Franklin Library books are always less expensive than EP. I have three Franklin books (The Country of the Pointed Firs, short stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Yearling) about a dozen FS, and 85 EP, and can't really discern a difference in quality between EP and Franklin. Can anyone tell me, why the disparity in price?

148UK_History_Fan
Edited: Aug 21, 2011, 11:41pm Top

That is a great question, but I doubt anyone has any real answers, rather just a bunch of speculation. I don't think there is any quality difference between EP and FL in their respective publications during the 1970s and early 1980s (IMHO Franklin volumes are higher quality usually but EP often had the better and more copious illustrations). After around 1984/1985 you start to notice a discernible decline in FL quality, especially as they really started limiting themselves to a Signed First Edition selection.

The normal culprit for these market price disparities is supply and demand. But what puzzles me is that the FL should command higher prices being both more limited (fewer copies sold than most of Easton's major series) and now out of print. It, like nearly everything having to do with EP, is inconsistent and mysterious!

Honestly, the most puzzling thing to me is how poorly the Folio Society books hold their value despite aging quite well. Granted they are overpriced to begin with, sort of like a luxury automobile declines in value more rapidly, but it is ridiculous, sad and frustrating to see currently available titles or recently available titles sell for less than a third of the fS direct cost even still in brand new shrinkwrapped condition!!

149wailofatail
Edited: Aug 22, 2011, 1:10am Top

>147 Fionnsboy:: I would agree that Franklin Library books are generally less expensive than E/P, but certainly not always. My sense is that F/L books are generally less expensive for four major reasons:

1.) There are more variations in quality among Franklin Library books. For many collections there are up to three different classes of quality: Premium, Standard (equivalent to most E/P books), and Value. Many sellers are not aware of the different classes of Franklin Library books and list them without information necessary for buyers to discern for themselves what class they may be buying. This is especially true of Abebooks where you typically don't have the assistance of a visual to aid you. Skeptic that I am, I believe some sellers that are aware of the different classes of Franklin Library books intentionally list the value class editions without detailed information with the hope that unwitting buyers looking for Standard or Premium editions will inadvertently purchase them. The different classes of the same titles from the same collection makes collecting Franklin books much more difficult than collecting E/P books, which, with a few exceptions, tend to be Standard class editions. This has discouraged me from collecting F/L books and I suspect I am not alone.

2.) Franklin Library ceased publishing books in 2000. Consequently, any book you purchase from F/L is going to be, at a minimum, eleven years old. Most will be older than this. If we agree that the older a book is the more wear and greater evidence of aging it is likely to incur, statistically speaking, your chances of getting a more worn or aged edition of a F/L book is greater than that for an E/P book. My limited experience purchasing F/L books has borne this out.

3.) If you believe that more variety from which to choose enhances one's attraction to a particular provider, E/P surpasses F/L hands down. By my count F/L published thirteen (is anyone here superstitious?) major collections. Of these, for at least three, and to a lesser extent four, of these collections substantially duplicate a number of works. If you collect titles rather than collections and don't intend to duplicate, your selection of titles from which to choose is even less. E/P published considerably more collections and supplemented these with hundreds of smaller sets and individual special presentations. Furthermore, for at least four of F/L major collections, E/P offers a nearly identical alternative.

4.) E/P continues to publish books to this day, while the F/L is now defunct. The size of a Franklin Library collector's library, consequently, is capped, whereas, even if you owned every E/P book published to date, (a monumental feat as yet unachieved to my knowledge), you could continue to collect as E/P continues to publish new books. The prospect of a living, growing collection is simply more appealing than collecting solely from a limited catalogue of old books that will never change or grow.

Along a similar line, the old adage "out of sight, out of mind" is applicable. E/P still has a presence in today's market, attracting new customers and potential new collectors. Franklin Library books have, in some respects, been relegated to the back shelf. Readers, book lovers, and potential collectors have to do more homework to discover and become familiar with Franklin Library books, whereas E/P still does a lot of the 'discover me' work for them.

As has been repeated time and again in this group, price is inextricably tied to supply and demand. I think the crux of the answer to your question lies primarily in a greater demand for E/P books and less demand for Franklin Library books.

150Django6924
Aug 22, 2011, 11:12am Top

Although it hasn't been mentioned before, wail's point 4 above does, I believe, constitute a major factor. It is also, I think, partially responsible for the relatively low price of most LEC books considering their exceptional quality--usually more premium than either EP or FL offerings.

Incidentally, I have found one exception to the general adage that FL is priced lower than EP: the Franklin Library books published by the Oxford University Press seem to fetch quite a premium, as I've never been able to win one on eBay despite bidding more than what I though was reasonable!

151Fionnsboy
Aug 22, 2011, 12:49pm Top

Thanks, wailofatail, for the great and thorough answer! I suspected that there might be tiers of quality with the Franklin books-- nice to have that confirmed, and now I'll ask before I purchase. Another thing I've noticed-- although this could only be with the Franklin books I have-- is that they tend to be physically smaller than E/P books. One of the things I like about E/P books is the variety in size.

152Fionnsboy
Aug 22, 2011, 12:54pm Top

Thanks Django--

153EclecticIndulgence
Mar 2, 2012, 8:34pm Top

Ressurecting this thread.

Currently Reading:
The Aeneid by Virgil

Bought last week. :)

154Arknight
Mar 2, 2012, 10:36pm Top

I just acquired a full set of the EP "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" by Gibbon and have begun reading Volume 1.

155EclecticIndulgence
Mar 2, 2012, 11:04pm Top

>54 SilentInAWay:

Ambitious. I have the Everyman's edition - 6 volumes, which I learned today has all the footnotes which is unlike the Folio Society edition.

156UK_History_Fan
Mar 3, 2012, 2:25pm Top

Finally started on the twelfth and final volume in the massive Randolph Churchill / Martin Gilbert biography of Sir Winston Churchill published by EP in 1994. I am pleasantly surprised that the enjoyment of this bio has been sustained over the 8100 pages. I have been at it exclusively since Nov 30th and should wrap up the final volume in a week or less.

The books seem beautiful crafted, a bit better than the EP books of today (thicker boards, better paper, deeper gilt impression in the leather). But they are not holding up well at all to handling. I bought the set used in 2009 so cannot account for its storage or use prior to that but the gold gilt on the covers is rubbing off with only the most minimal holding, the pages are sagging to the point of wearing off the gilt on the bottom fore edge of the pages, the gilt on the page ends is foxing something fierce, and the leather boards seem especially prone to dirt accumulations that will not wipe off (and given the fragility of the gilt I am not applying too much pressure). Nonetheless I am happy to own the set and glad to have read it. Just wish it was aging more gracefully or I had paid a lot less for it.

157Quicksilver66
Edited: Mar 4, 2012, 12:10pm Top

> 156

A bit of gentle wear and tear on a book can add character to a book, Sean.

158wailofatail
Mar 4, 2012, 2:26pm Top

>157 Quicksilver66:: Added character equates to reduced re-sale value. One man's character is another man's eye sore.

159UK_History_Fan
Mar 4, 2012, 2:35pm Top

> 157
I'm rather picky about my book conditions. Some might even say fastidious. I was sorely disappointed by the rubbed off areas of gilt on the covers of most of the volumes. I actually started inspecting very thoroughly as I took the next volume down off the shelf and invariably, no matter how careful I was in reading it, by the time I replaced it on the bookshelf it looked worse for the wear.

160Osbaldistone
Mar 10, 2012, 2:18pm Top

Started Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton this week. It's been in my library since EP published it back in 1979. Time to check off the 'to read' list. Great so far.

Os.

161wailofatail
Mar 10, 2012, 3:34pm Top

>160 Osbaldistone:: "...since EP published it back in 1979." I thought E/P hadn't published this until the first Reader's Choice, circa 2005 - 2006. For what collection was it published back in '79?

162Osbaldistone
Edited: Mar 11, 2012, 12:46am Top

>161 wailofatail:

Ooops. It's the signed, limited edition by Franklin Library, not EP. Sorry to send you down a rabbit hole. I should have looked at the title page again before posting. Don't recall, and it doesn't say what series, if any, it was part of. I will say this, though - Howard Rogers' illustrations are quite fine; somewhat sparse, but quite moving.

Os.

163wailofatail
Edited: Mar 11, 2012, 1:01am Top

>162 Osbaldistone:: That's it ... the Franklin Library 'Signed Limited Editions' collection. This collection was, without question, Franklin Library's crowning achievement ... comparable in some respects to E/P's Signed Modern Classics. The FL 'Signed Limited Editions' has got to be among the few FL collections to have held its value and then some.

164Osbaldistone
Mar 11, 2012, 1:03am Top

>163 wailofatail:
Yep. A quick internet search indicates some think it's worth $150 or more. Unfortunately, back in 1979, I thought putting my embossed nameplate on the cover page was a good idea :-(. Probably worth what I paid for it for that. Glad I didn't do that with my EP Asimov Foundation signed edition. :-)

Os.

165Wootle
Mar 23, 2012, 12:37am Top

American Gods is shipping.

166AnnieMod
Mar 23, 2012, 12:41am Top

Just stopped by to mention the same - just got the notification that it is shipped. :)

167Gallivanter
Mar 23, 2012, 1:51am Top

Got my notification today too!

168UK_History_Fan
Mar 23, 2012, 8:42am Top

Did I miss something? What is American Gods and why are we excited that it is shipping? I feel like I just dropped into the middle of someone else's conversation even though I have been keeping up with this topic (I thought)?

169Wootle
Mar 23, 2012, 9:21am Top

There are a lot of Gaiman fans these days.

http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/product.asp?code=2820

170iluvbeckett
Mar 23, 2012, 4:12pm Top

>165 Wootle: thru 169: You girls and guys can go ahead and drool over this one; the dystopian/sci-fi genre just doesn't do it for me (though I will admit to having pulled the trigger on Fahrenheit 451).

171Wootle
Mar 24, 2012, 6:45pm Top

Reseller with American Gods for $225, nice markup. It was just announced a couple of weeks ago, not like it has sold out that quick.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/American-Gods-Neil-Gaiman-Leather-SIGNED-Sealed-NEW-East...

172Gallivanter
Mar 27, 2012, 1:16am Top

American Gods arrived today!!

173Goran
Mar 28, 2012, 8:04am Top

>172 Gallivanter:

Could you describe the quality of the book? Does it have any illustrations?

174Gallivanter
Mar 28, 2012, 12:00pm Top

There are no real illustrations to speak of. The only thing is that at each page introducing a new part of the book there is a sort of picture with lightening. It's really more of a simple photograph than an illustration. I wish I had my camera as I'd take pictures but other than these there aren't any illustrations. Also the signatures aren't numbered and it's considerably longer than the originally published American Gods. Evidently, the 10 year anniversary edition has been edited to be more along the lines of Gaiman's original manuscript and in the author's note in the beginning he states that it's the edition that he's most pleased with. It has the typical moire end-sheets but they're in the dastardly orangish color that EP is so fond of. It would be nice if they had mixed it up a bit.

175Goran
Mar 28, 2012, 12:47pm Top

>174 Gallivanter:

Thanks very much for your description.

176EclecticIndulgence
Apr 14, 2012, 4:29pm Top

I tried reading The Aeneid from Easton Press and the translator (John Dryden) started to wear on me before I decided to switch to Robert Fitzgerald.

Some of these old EP translations are starting to irk me.

177Tom41
Apr 14, 2012, 5:40pm Top

I am currently enjoying reading, "How Green Was My Valley."

178Carl64
Apr 28, 2012, 9:14am Top

Just finished American Gods signed by Neil Gaiman now reading The Prince and the Pauper Deluxe Edition by Mark Twain and Life Itself signed by Roger Ebert all great books.

179Goran
Apr 28, 2012, 9:41am Top

>178 Carl64:

I've been waiting not very patiently for my copy of American Gods to arrive. Arg!

180EclecticIndulgence
May 1, 2012, 4:32pm Top

I just finished 'Oedipus the King' by Sophocles, 'Medea, Hippolytus, The Bacchae' by Euripides and Beowulf.

I was most impressed by the edition of Sophocles - with ancient greek text on the left and english on the right. It also had great artwork in the Greek style.

Euripides had nice illustrations, and the plays were my favourite amongst the three famous tragedians.

Beowulf wasn't the most enjoyable read (though, I felt like Tolkien may have borrowed some of the plot lines?), and the illustrations (as someone has already meantioned) were really nice but EP did a poor job in comparison to LEC/Heritage Press. The little pen and ink drawings in between chapters were hit and miss. The intros to each chapter - were they added just by EP or are they in other editions as well?

181Arknight
May 1, 2012, 8:13pm Top

>180 EclecticIndulgence:

If you think Tolkien borrowed from Beowulf, wait until you read "Ring of the Nibelung".

182EclecticIndulgence
May 3, 2012, 1:03am Top

>181 Arknight:

Will check it out - thanks for the suggestion/input!

183Goran
May 3, 2012, 9:24am Top

Finally got my copy of American Gods. Sweet!

184Carl64
May 6, 2012, 8:34am Top

Great hope you enjoy your copy of American Gods it is nicely done by Easton Press.

185Carl64
May 6, 2012, 8:39am Top

Speaking of high quality leather binding my deluxe copy of The Prince and the Pauper is bound in Cortina leather imported from Italy which you can tell from the feel and touch a better quality than the regular Easton Press books. Which with the price I would expect.

186Goran
May 6, 2012, 10:15am Top

I will be the first person to by the first DLE that EP binds in high quality Corinthian leather. Mark my words :)

187Dill_the_Collector
Edited: May 6, 2012, 11:44am Top

Reading Zhivago. I have the older two-volume EP edition (although my reading copy is actually the 1958 Collins release).

Supplementing my read with the online Spark Notes, Irwin Weil's taped lecture released by The Teaching Company, and Tchaikovsky's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (the EMI-Melodyia recording with Robev conducting). Playing the Tchaikovsky piece while I read provides excellent atmosphere -and it's a great performance (wonderful, moody, introspective, Russian Orthodox choral music).

Of course, I've also been watching David's Lean's cinematic interpretation ( I think filmed mostly in Spain and other places with fake snow, lol, nevertheless a great film -even if I did have a problem with some of the subtle 1960's hairstyles and not so subtle strong English accents (Christie)).



188EclecticIndulgence
May 6, 2012, 10:54pm Top

Can you still get Zhivago in two volumes? The work has always been one of my favourites.

Which set did it belong to?

189SilentInAWay
May 7, 2012, 2:56pm Top

I don't think that the two-volume edition was ever part of a set. I purchased the this edition from EP as a special offer (not part of a series) in 1986. We've talked about this before, but nothing firm came up to help resolve this question one way or the other. See messages 196-199 and 203 in the "Questions For Our Resident Experts" thread.

Argh -- rereading that thread, I see that UK_History_Fan asked me a couple of follow-up questions about the book's illustrations -- at least one of which I could answer, were I to have the book in hand. I'll try and remember to post an answer tonight. (I don't own the single-volume edition, so I can't compare the two, unfortunately).

Sorry, UK...better (six months) late than never?

190wailofatail
May 7, 2012, 3:41pm Top

>189 SilentInAWay:: Speaking of better late than never ... how about that story of the three, or was it two, Mobys? I'm still waiting.

191Dill_the_Collector
May 7, 2012, 6:59pm Top

>188 EclecticIndulgence:
>189 SilentInAWay:

Yeah, that previous thread sums it up pretty well. The front of this two volume edition states "Collector's Edition" so I don't think this was part of a series.

I haven't seen the inside of the current single volume edition but I would bet it contains everything (text & illustrations) of the older two volume edition. The book isn't that long (I estimate 170K words) so I don't know why they made it two volumes (maybe to make it look more important).

Those two illustrations that I showed in my photos are pretty much it as far as pictures are concerned. Richard Sparks is one of my favorites too.

192SilentInAWay
May 7, 2012, 8:24pm Top

>190 wailofatail:: Oh, I'll definitely tell that story sometime or other -- I just have to wait until I'm in one of those moods where I don't mind pissing people off...

193wailofatail
May 8, 2012, 1:28am Top

>192 SilentInAWay:: Hmmm ... I never seem to have that problem.

194EclecticIndulgence
May 8, 2012, 11:47am Top

Just finished 'Walden' in a Franklin Library edition - great work. It doesn't specify who did the illustrations though... was wondering if it was Thoreau himself?

195Dill_the_Collector
May 9, 2012, 12:07am Top

Hi Eclectic, I have a Franklin/Walden issue (C. 1976, See below). This states illustrations by Ronald Keller.


196Carl64
May 27, 2012, 8:08am Top

Started reading Roger Ebert"s new book Life Itself which is a signed edition limited to 700 from Easton Press. Always like him as a movie reviewer and his personality also. Should be a great read and I think will sell out soon do to limited copies.

197EclecticIndulgence
Jun 8, 2012, 2:52pm Top

I gave up on Easton's 100 Greatest edition of The Divine Comedy after finishing Inferno. Read Purgatorio in the Franklin edition... and now I'm about to embark on Paradiso in a very large illustrated edition by Grossman Publishers.

198iluvbeckett
Jun 9, 2012, 1:36am Top

The 100 Greatest edition of Melville's "Billy Budd" and "Benito Cereno" (in one volume); I'm finding "Benito" to be the more intriguing/engaging of the two novellas.

199UK_History_Fan
Jun 9, 2012, 10:38am Top

> 195
Dill, I simply love the clock that you are featuring in the background of your photo! Carved wood with a marble-top base?

200wrenegade
Jun 9, 2012, 11:58am Top

Kafka's "The Trial" from the Great Books of the 20th Century

201Gallivanter
Jun 9, 2012, 1:12pm Top

Stockett's "The Help". It just arrived a week ago and I have been meaning to read it for some time.

202Dill_the_Collector
Edited: Jun 9, 2012, 1:14pm Top

>199 UK_History_Fan:

Hi UK, thanks. It's a well made imitation of some antique (not sure what period or origin). I bought it years ago at little shop in Skokie IL (forget the name -now defunct though). I really don't know what it's made from, base or sculpture. It's not pure resin (much too heavy and solid). I would guess some kind of metal coated resin.

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