Where to start reading the Penguin Archive collection
It’s easy to forget that before Penguin Books was established in 1935, there was no tradition of publishing quality fiction and classics in affordable paperback editions.
To celebrate Penguin’s 90th birthday, 90 classic works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry have been dusted down and given new life in a handsome new collection: Penguin Archive.
The aim of the series, says Penguin Classics publishing director Jessica Harrison, was to show the range of Penguin books that have been published since 1935. “It was fun” putting the series together, she adds. “You could really see the history of Penguin and different trends.”
The full collection offers an overview of many of the writers who have become Penguin Classics in the last 90 years, with each title sporting its own unique cover design in red foil, described by Penguin Classics art director Jim Stoddart as a “love letter” to Penguin’s design heritage.
But with 90 books to choose from, where’s the best place to start? Below, we've provided a selection of some of our favourites.
