The Beauty of Literature: F Scott Fitzgerald Penguin Collection

Mar 8, 2011 | Stuff I Like | 10 comments


“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.”   
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

I’ve always loved F Scott Fitzgerald. Within a few short beautifully written paragraphs, he transports you to a more glamorous time, when men wore suits as a matter of course and women smoked long filtered cigarettes whilst making wry, witty retorts to gentlemen suitors.  What I like about Fitzgerald is that often in his stories, you initially witness the surface of these beautiful characters – incredibly slick, their lives seemingly charmed, but underneath the gloss, his characters are ultimately flawed, often leading to their downfall.

Oh, sorry, no, you haven’t stumbled upon the wrong blog.  Yes, this is still about interiors.  Stay with me here.

Oh yes, feast your eyes upon the equally glamorous collection of hardbacks from Penguin Books, marking the 70th anniversary of Fitzgerald’s death. The 6 books include The Great Gatsby, Tender is the Night, This Side of Paradise, The Last Tycoon, The Beautiful and Damned and Flappers and Philosophers, Fitzgerald’s collected short stories.

Individually, they are just as beautiful…

Each book is presented in a stunning art deco style foil jacket.  They would just look so beautiful glimmering softly on a shelf… I’m so very close to purchasing the entire collection.

You can purchase the books from Amazon here or directly from Penguin here. (Although they are cheaper on Amazon at the moment!)


10 Comments

  1. Meera @ firstsense on March 8, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    Ooh works of art for a bookshelf, I want! In fact I want ALL the books whose covers have been designed by <a href="http://www.cb-smith.com&quot; rel="nofollow">Coralie Bickford-Smith</a>. It&#39;s lovely that she is making book covers so pretty. <br /><br />Meera xx

  2. Redlilocks on March 8, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    Oooh I didn&#39;t even realise it was Coralie Bickford-Smith! Of course… my readers are so bloody clever. Thank you :)

  3. Michele on March 9, 2011 at 12:19 am

    SHUT UP. these are gorgeous. omg that chevron one! these are amazing and worth eating noodles for a month.<br /><br />i kno what yer sayin about the strewn shoes thing. it&#39;s like you have to be a fashion designer to get away with it.<br /><br />michele :)

  5. Moderncountrystyle on March 10, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    They are lush! I&#39;d have to create a little shrine for them in the corner of my front room. Yep. That&#39;s my Scott Fitz-Gerald shrine. Feel free to light a candle.<br /><br />Okay, the sugar-high from the pancakes is still effecting me. ;-)<br /><br />Sarahx

  6. Stephie on March 11, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    I have only just read The Great Gatsby and I loved it! The wonderful Baz Lurhman is making it into a movie here in Australia as we speak. I can&#39;t wait to see it. <br /><br />I think that these books look amazing. I just love the Art Deco flavour. I think I need to invest in the set so that I can read them all.<br /><br />Have a great weekend, Stephie x

  7. Redlilocks on March 11, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    Great Gatsby is fantastic, I didn&#39;t know it was being made into a film! Thanks for the insider info!!<br /><br />They are beautiful aren&#39;t they :)

  8. Redlilocks on March 11, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    Hahaha! You are too funny Sarah!

  9. Joi on March 15, 2011 at 3:05 am

    Um, these are beyond fabulous. I&#39;m in love! Thanks for sharing!

  10. Tracy on March 15, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    I love the quote, so true. It is lovely.<br />The covers are gorgeous.

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