little women | The Garden of Read-En

LITTLE WOMEN
Hello snowflakes!❄️

Today’s discussion is the seventh post in my “Beautiful Editions” series. In case you’ve missed the previous article in which I mentioned various versions of Frankenstein, I will link it here.

Just a recap of what to expect in my Beautiful Editions series:

I know many people who collect beautiful editions of their favorite books, myself being one of them. I think this “Beautiful Editions” series will be good for those of you searching for the next beauty to add to your ever growing collection. Each post I will discuss a different book.

Today we will explore a novel that is perfect for this time of year. Although not necessarily a Christmas story, today’s pick will totally give you those cozy winter vibes. That book being–Little Women

Let’s get started, shall we?

THE BOOKS

1. Puffin Classics
Buy: Book Depository
Publisher: Puffin Classics
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780141321080

These Puffin Classic editions are some of my personal favorites. There are many different titles in this series and the cover art is always stunning. The actual size of this edition is actually much smaller than your usual book. They also take on an almost square shape at about 5×6 inches. In addition to a beautiful cover, there is also a behind-the-scenes journey, including an author profile, a guide to who’s who, activities and more.

2. Vintage Children’s Classics
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Publisher: Vintage Publishing
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780099572961

In my personal opinion, this edition has one of the most beautiful covers for Little Women yet to be published. I wish I knew who did the illustration on the front because I think it was perfectly executed. I just love when book covers have that hand-drawn, sketchy look.

Inside this paperback edition, there are black and white chapter headings as well as a built in book plate for you to sign your name. Although the cover is light blue, the spine is a beautiful pale peach.

There are many other books in the Vintage Children’s Classics series. Titles range from I Capture the Castle and Black Beauty, all the way to The Railway Children and Peter Pan. In terms of illustrations, I don’t think there are any. Either way, this is still a stunning edition to add to any Little Women collection.

3. Alma Classics LTD
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Publisher: Alma Books Ltd
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781847495877

The pastel color scheme on this paperback edition is my absolute favorite. I also just adore the floral background with the profile silhouette of one of the March girls.

Although there doesn’t seem to be any full page illustrations inside this edition, there is however black and white artwork at the top of each chapter. I think the artist, Ella Bailey did an amazing job at executing this book, and I would love to see more work done by her.

4. BabyLit
Buy: Amazon
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Format: Board book
ISBN13: 9781423643890

Gibbs Smith publishes amazing BabyLit books which are fully illustrated abridged versions of children’s classics. The illustrations in them are always absolutely adorable, and I honestly can’t recommend them enough.

5. The Annotated Little Women
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Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: 9780393072198

These annotated editions come in various titles. They normally feature an introduction and annotations by someone who has studied the said author’s work. This edition of The Annotated Little Women was annotated by John Matteson. There are of 233 full color and illustrations as well as various photographs.One thing to note with these editions is that they run fairly large and square.

6. Puffin Cloth Classic
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Publisher: Puffin Classics
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: 9780141379012

These hardcover Puffin Classics are adorable. Each edition features a different repeating pattern with motifs representing different details from the story. There are unfortunately, no illustrations inside.

Another detail to keep in mind is that these hardcover versions run a bit small. There are many other children’s classics in this collection, all in a range of bright hues. Selected stories span from The Secret Garden all the way to Robin Hood.

7. V&A Collector’s Edition
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Publisher: Puffin Classics
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: 9780141385587

The V&A Collector’s editions are absolutely stunning. These hardcovers were created by Puffin Classics in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum with exquisite cover designs from their William Morris collection.

Now, for those of you who don’t know, William Morris was a famous textile designer back in the 1800s. The patterns you see in the background of each cover were originally wallpaper designs that were pulled from the museum’s William Morris exhibit. I believe that there are eight books in this gorgeous series currently available. Titles range from Anne of Green Gables all the way to Peter Pan.

8. Penguin English Library Edition
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Publisher: Penguin Classics
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780241335130

This paperback edition of Little Women is part of the Penguin English Library collection. Penguin English Library is an imprint of Penguin Books, and was originally created as a sister series to the similarly designed Penguin Classics hardcover versions. Every title in this collection is a classic work of literature whether it be modern or on the more historical side. The cover art always includes a repeating design with motifs that symbolize a certain theme or scene in the said book. Not only is each individual book beautiful on it’s own, but they look great lined up together as well. Unfortunately, there are no illustrations inside.

9. Barnes and Noble Collectible Edition
Buy: Amazon
Publisher: Barnes & Noble
Format: Bonded Leather
ISBN13: 9781435167179

This is a beautiful collectible edition from Barnes & Noble. It includes Little Women, Little Men, and Jo’s Boys. The design itself features gold gilded edges, a ribbon bookmark, and foiling on the cover.

10. Penguin Threads
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Publisher: Penguin Classics
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780143106654

The Penguin Threads editions are some of my favorites. There are other books in this series such as Black Beauty and The Secret Garden. The cover art started off as actual embroidery on fabric, which I personally think is amazing. This paperback features french flaps, deckle edges, and when you open up to the inside cover you can see what the back of the embroidery looked like. Talk about being detail oriented, am I right?

11. Knickerbocker Classics
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Publisher: Race Point Publishing
Format: Paperback (Flexibound)
ISBN13: 9781631060199

Race Point Publishing has two options for their Knickerbocker series. You can choose between a hardcover that comes in a slipcase, or a flexibound like the edition of Little Women pictured above. The flexibound versions have elastic to keep them closed, much like a moleskine journal. This is perfect if you just want to pull out your book real quick while on the go. Not to mention, the patterned covers are absolutely stunning.

12. Penguin Classics Edition
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Publisher: Penguin Classics
Format: Hardcover (Cloth bound)
ISBN13: 9780141192413

This hardcover is very similar to the Penguin English Library editions in that there is a repeating pattern on the cover. The big difference though is that this version is cloth bound.

13. Scholastic Classics
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Publisher: Scholastic
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781407145433

Although this paperback edition isn’t my favorite, it is eye catching. The Scholastic Classics series consists of many other titles with paint splattered covers similar to the one above. Volumes range from The Secret Garden, all the way to Oliver Twist.

14. Usborne Young Reading Series
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Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: 9780746067796

This hardcover is an abridged version of Little Women, and was adapted by Mary Sebag-Montefiore. It is perfect for younger readers as it also features full-color illustrations throughout.

15. Virago Modern Classics
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Publisher: Virago Press Ltd
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780349011820

Virago has some of the most gorgeous covers for their classics and this edition of Little Women is certainly no exception. Other titles in this collection range from A Little Princess all the way to What Katy Did. There are unfortunately no illustrations inside.

16. Hesperus Press Edition
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Publisher: Hesperus Press Ltd
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781843915102

This paperback edition is absolutely divine. The cover features teal silhouette artwork of the March girls with a pop of fuchsia. I am unsure if this is an unabridged or abridged version but I want to assume it is the latter as this edition is only 288 pages in length. There are also no illustrations inside.

17. Egmont Books Edition
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Publisher: Egmont UK Ltd
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781405271790

I am obsessed with this hardcover edition of Little Women. Not only is the pastel color scheme to die for, but the front illustration of the March girls is equally as stunning. The spine is cloth bound in a beautiful pink hue with a touch of gold foiling. There are also various black and white illustrations scattered throughout.

Little Women
18. Collector’s Editions
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Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781840227789

Wordsworth just came out with these adorable hardcovers for various children’s classics. Each edition is cloth-bound, with matching colored end papers and an embossed gold headline. Titles range from Black Beauty and Peter Pan, all the way to Treasure Island and The Secret Garden. One last thing to note about these editions is that they run a bit small at around 5 by 7 inches.

19. HarperPerennial Edition
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Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780062870629

This is the Olive edition of Little Women published by Harper Perennial. It features beautiful hand drawn cover illustrations and also comes in other classic titles such as Frankenstein and Gulliver’s travels. One detail to keep in mind though, is that these run a bit smaller than your usual paperback. Unfortunately, these are also only available for a limited time, so get yours now!

20. White Star Edition
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Publisher: White Star
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: 9788854410732

The above hardcover is a highly abridged version of Little Women at around 96 pages. The cover art is totally stunning in my opinion, as I just love the artist’s aesthetic. Inside, there are various illustrations by artist Francesca Rossi as well.

21. Word Cloud Classics
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Publisher: Canterbury Classics
Format: Faux Leather (Flexibound)
ISBN13: 9781607105480

Canterbury’s Word Cloud Classic editions are absolutely beautiful. There are many titles in this series ranging from various Jane Austen novels all the way to Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. Each flexibound book features different beautifully illustrated end papers, as well.

22. Macmillan Collector’s Library
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Publisher: Pan MacMillan
Format: Hardcover (Cloth bound)
ISBN13: 9781509827770

The Macmillan Collector’s Library series includes many stunning editions of classic literature. This hardcover features gold gilt edges, a ribbon marker, head and tail bands, an illustrated dust jacket, and real cloth binding underneath. Also included is the sequel Good Wives as well as an afterword Anna South.

23. Illustrated 150th Anniversary Edition
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Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: 9780316489270

This hardcover is the 150th anniversary edition of Little Women. Inside there are about 40-50 two toned illustrations as well as a forward by J. Courtney Sullivan.

24. Puffin in Bloom Edition
Buy: Book Depository
Publisher: Puffin Classics
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: 9780147514011

The above hardcover was illustrated by Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Company. Bond did the covers for other coming of age stories as well. Titles include Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess, Heidi and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. There is unfortunately no artwork inside.

25. Collins Classics Edition
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Publisher: William Collins
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780008195540

Although I do love the floral artwork on the above paperback, I am not completely taken with the hot pink color. I think this would have looked a lot nicer if the background was a pastel hue. As with most of the Little Women editions I mentioned, there doesn’t seem to be any illustrations inside.

26. Folio Society Edition
Buy: Folio Society
Publisher: Folio Society
Format: Hardcover
ISBN13: N/A

Folio Society publishes some pretty amazing versions of classics. The above Little Women Hardcover was bound in blocked buckram, includes a frontispiece, has 9 full color illustrations, has printed end papers, and comes in a beautiful slipcase. You simply can’t go wrong when purchasing this edition.

27. Modern Library Classics Edition
Buy: Amazon
Publisher: Modern Library
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780375756726

Although not my favorite cover, this paperback edition of Little Women is still eye catching. It also includes notes that offer more description and insight than those of previous editions.

28. 150th Anniversary Annotated Edition
Buy: Amazon
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780143106654

The above 150th anniversary edition is annotated and includes and forward by Patti Smith. The book itself also includes deckle edges as well as french flaps.