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The Penguin Modern Classics Book
The essential guide to twentieth-century literature around the worldFor six decades the Penguin Modern Classics series has been an era-defining, ever-evolving series of books, encompassing works by modernist pioneers, avant-garde iconoclasts, radical visionaries and timeless storytellers.This reader's companion showcases every title published in the series so far, with more than 1,800 books and 600 authors, from Achebe and Adonis to Zamyatin and Zweig.It is the essential guide to twentieth-century literature around the world, and the companion volume to The Penguin Classics Book.Bursting with lively descriptions, surprising reading lists, key literary movements and over two thousand cover images, The Penguin Modern Classics Book is an invitation to dive in and explore the greatest literature of the last hundred years.
621 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2021
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512 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 17, 2023
This is a drop dead gorgeous book and people like us can easily waste a whole hour checking out all these great books that we know we will never get round to reading.
It’s really quite insane reading about books when you could be reading the actual books you’re reading about, but we do it anyway.
Some names that Penguin could never get rights to - Gunter Grass, Doris Lessing, Toni Morrison, Sylvia Plath. But they did get the rights to a whole bundle of authors I never heard of, leading to the sadly unanswered question
Who decides that these books are classics anyway?
I know it’s a tough question but it hangs in the air over enterprises like this and you may have thought Henry Eliot could have devoted one little page out of the 604 to attempting to formulate a response. No such luck.
But still, who’s carping.
Had we but world enough and time,
This catalogue, Penguin, were no crime.
We'd read every volume in this list.
Not even Morrissey (page 162) would be missed
My bibliophilic love should grow
Vaster than libraries and more slow;
But at my back I always hear
Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Our TBR shelves, until we die
It’s really quite insane reading about books when you could be reading the actual books you’re reading about, but we do it anyway.
Some names that Penguin could never get rights to - Gunter Grass, Doris Lessing, Toni Morrison, Sylvia Plath. But they did get the rights to a whole bundle of authors I never heard of, leading to the sadly unanswered question
Who decides that these books are classics anyway?
I know it’s a tough question but it hangs in the air over enterprises like this and you may have thought Henry Eliot could have devoted one little page out of the 604 to attempting to formulate a response. No such luck.
But still, who’s carping.
Had we but world enough and time,
This catalogue, Penguin, were no crime.
We'd read every volume in this list.
Not even Morrissey (page 162) would be missed
My bibliophilic love should grow
Vaster than libraries and more slow;
But at my back I always hear
Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Our TBR shelves, until we die
March 21, 2022
You can say what you like about the NYRB or Fitzcarraldo or whatever other arty publisher is in vogue at the moment, but there is no imprint that brings me half as much joy, to look at or to read, as Penguin Modern Classics. It's obviously a behemoth of a company, but they don't feel production-lined in the way that, for instance, Vintage editions sometimes do, and they all just seem so beautifully crafted. They're lovely objects to own. (I personally liked the matt white editions they had in the 2000s and 2010s best; annoyingly in 2017 they switched back to the classic ‘eau-de-nil’ blue-green.)
So this big beautiful wishlist-fest outlines all 1800+ titles published in the series since it started in 1961, including those which subsequently (because of rights conflicts) moved to other publishers. It's arranged by country, which is good for me as I tend to read authors in clusters around places I'm interested in – although this does make it clear that some geographies have been pretty neglected. (The North Africa section contains only one book, Tayeb Salih's Season of Migration to the North.)
If you don't have at least a few of these scattered on your shelves, are you even a reader? Certainly for anyone with a bibliographic bent, or who just likes to dream about what to read next, this compendium is a delirious joy to flick through.
So this big beautiful wishlist-fest outlines all 1800+ titles published in the series since it started in 1961, including those which subsequently (because of rights conflicts) moved to other publishers. It's arranged by country, which is good for me as I tend to read authors in clusters around places I'm interested in – although this does make it clear that some geographies have been pretty neglected. (The North Africa section contains only one book, Tayeb Salih's Season of Migration to the North.)
If you don't have at least a few of these scattered on your shelves, are you even a reader? Certainly for anyone with a bibliographic bent, or who just likes to dream about what to read next, this compendium is a delirious joy to flick through.
May 13, 2025
I'm not sure you can ever say you've read this book, but you can say you've browsed and admired it.
A beautiful compendium of beautiful book covers and interesting information and history on the Modern Penguin Classics brand.
A beautiful compendium of beautiful book covers and interesting information and history on the Modern Penguin Classics brand.
January 14, 2024
I love this book! It’s big, it’s beautiful. It takes you around the world and zooms in on countries, authors and their work. Only the works published as Penguin modern classics. So it’s not about all their work, but still, this book covers a lot of ground and gives plenty of inspiration. You can also explore a decade in the publications timeline or consult any of the miniature reading lists (by theme) which can be a lot of fun if you want to read a novel, for instance, about dysfunctional families, Hollywood or universities.
Disclaimer: This book is not for people who are trying to shrink their TBR pile! Consider yourself warned.
—————————
Quote:
T.S. Eliot compared the modern age to a waste land and W.H. Auden dubbed it the ’Age of Anxiety’, but as readers we can be more positive. The last 100 years or so have been one of the most tumultuous periods of history, but they have also been a glorious proliferation of literature around the world, literature that is more experimental, more disquieting and more diverse than humanity has ever before produced. With each new decade and its associated anxieties, writers take up the challenge to face the conditions of life and express new aspects of what it means to be human. As Marinetti declared at the end of his manifesto:
Standing tall on the roof of the world, yet again, we hurl our defiance at the stars!
Disclaimer: This book is not for people who are trying to shrink their TBR pile! Consider yourself warned.
—————————
Quote:
T.S. Eliot compared the modern age to a waste land and W.H. Auden dubbed it the ’Age of Anxiety’, but as readers we can be more positive. The last 100 years or so have been one of the most tumultuous periods of history, but they have also been a glorious proliferation of literature around the world, literature that is more experimental, more disquieting and more diverse than humanity has ever before produced. With each new decade and its associated anxieties, writers take up the challenge to face the conditions of life and express new aspects of what it means to be human. As Marinetti declared at the end of his manifesto:
Standing tall on the roof of the world, yet again, we hurl our defiance at the stars!
December 2, 2021
I went through it in one sitting and I was enjoying it immensely until I saw that its Western Asia section had only five books (Edward Said, Adonis, Kahlil Gibran, Azar Nafisi and one other) and dear me, the North Africa section had ONE book - Seasons of Migration to the North
Really Penguin?!
Really Penguin?!
November 21, 2021
A great book for gifting, perfect for the type of person who will enjoy expanding their library.
Read
June 8, 2022is this basically a glorified book catalogue? yes.
do i regret buying this? not at all!
decked out in penguin's iconic eau-de-nil look, this massive tome is a comprehensive list of every penguin modern that's ever been published and frankly, a joy to own for anyone with bookhoarding collecting tendencies (and adores the penguin moderns series). while the introduction does alert readers to the wide racial disparities in the publishing industry, seeing how few authors of colour were being published (a problem that persists today) was quite depressing. for instance, the section on georges simenon is five times longer than the section on chinese authors (!!).
as lovely as it is to look at, the act of even creating a mini-canon here brings up questions to do with how we define a 'classic', the relevance of the often exclusionary and tokenistic literary canon in today's world and what modern day books will be lauded in the future as 'classics'.
do i regret buying this? not at all!
decked out in penguin's iconic eau-de-nil look, this massive tome is a comprehensive list of every penguin modern that's ever been published and frankly, a joy to own for anyone with book
as lovely as it is to look at, the act of even creating a mini-canon here brings up questions to do with how we define a 'classic', the relevance of the often exclusionary and tokenistic literary canon in today's world and what modern day books will be lauded in the future as 'classics'.
November 24, 2022
A history of Penguin Modern Classics with a long list of authors, with brief biographies, and books with brief plot summaries and review snippets. Fascinating. A lot of European authors had challenging lives, wars and holocausts and all, and plenty of all authors had problems with drink and drugs and relationships. But they did write some good books but I do wonder how many are still read today or will be read over the coming decades and centuries. Probably not many.
November 11, 2025
Okay. I’m here for Penguin history and cover art, always. Honestly? A LOT of the books featured are lost to the ages for a reason: They’re NOT GOOD. Some of these authors are pretty scummy and morally perverse. Bleh.
September 9, 2023
Great reference for my shelves
November 21, 2021
This is a beautifully designed and packaged book. There are 100s and 100s of books, descriptions, covers, details of authors lives and much more to be found there in.
It's also a companion to the Penguin Classics volume.
This is a wonderful book to browse and find new authors and rediscover old favourites.
It's also a companion to the Penguin Classics volume.
This is a wonderful book to browse and find new authors and rediscover old favourites.
October 4, 2024
"The Penguin Modern Classics Book" is a comprehensive celebration of the Penguin Modern Classics series, which has been a significant part of literary culture since its inception in 1961. This analysis will explore the book's themes, its structure, and its significance in the context of modern literature.
Eliot defines a modern classic as a work that responds to contemporary issues and resonates with the ongoing human experience. He emphasizes that these texts challenge readers and invite them to engage with complex themes that remain relevant today. This definition underscores the series' commitment to showcasing literature that not only reflects its time but also continues to provoke thought and discussion across generations.
A significant aspect of "The Penguin Modern Classics Book" is its focus on the visual design of the series. Eliot discusses how the covers have evolved over time, reflecting changes in artistic trends while maintaining a cohesive identity. The book features illustrations of the first covers for each title, providing a visual history that complements the literary journey. The design choices made by various art directors, such as Germano Facetti's introduction of the Marber Grid, showcase how visual elements can enhance the reader's experience and connection to the text.
The book meticulously catalogs over 1,800 titles from the Penguin Modern Classics series, organized by geographical regions and countries rather than alphabetically by author. This unique approach allows readers to explore literature through a global lens, encouraging connections between different cultures and literary movements. The inclusion of thematic sidebars and mini-lists further enriches the reading experience, guiding readers toward related works and fostering a deeper understanding of literary contexts.
Eliot's work evokes a sense of nostalgia for readers familiar with the Penguin Modern Classics series. By presenting each title alongside its original cover, the book invites readers to reminisce about their past encounters with these texts, creating a personal connection to literary history. This aspect resonates particularly with avid readers who view books as companions throughout their lives.
"The Penguin Modern Classics Book" serves as both a reference guide and a celebration of literary heritage. It highlights the importance of preserving classic literature while also adapting to contemporary tastes and sensibilities. As readers increasingly seek diverse voices and perspectives, this compilation reinforces Penguin's role in promoting inclusive literary discourse.
Moreover, by showcasing works that address timeless themes—such as identity, love, conflict, and societal change—the book emphasizes literature's power to reflect and shape cultural conversations. It encourages new generations of readers to engage with classic texts while recognizing their relevance in today's world.
Henry Eliot's "The Penguin Modern Classics Book" is an essential tribute to one of the most influential literary series of our time. By exploring themes of modernity, design evolution, organization, and nostalgia, Eliot provides readers with a rich understanding of what constitutes a modern classic. The book not only serves as a valuable resource for literary enthusiasts but also reinforces the enduring significance of classic literature in contemporary society. Through its careful curation and celebration of artistic expression, it invites readers to rediscover beloved texts while exploring new literary landscapes.
Eliot defines a modern classic as a work that responds to contemporary issues and resonates with the ongoing human experience. He emphasizes that these texts challenge readers and invite them to engage with complex themes that remain relevant today. This definition underscores the series' commitment to showcasing literature that not only reflects its time but also continues to provoke thought and discussion across generations.
A significant aspect of "The Penguin Modern Classics Book" is its focus on the visual design of the series. Eliot discusses how the covers have evolved over time, reflecting changes in artistic trends while maintaining a cohesive identity. The book features illustrations of the first covers for each title, providing a visual history that complements the literary journey. The design choices made by various art directors, such as Germano Facetti's introduction of the Marber Grid, showcase how visual elements can enhance the reader's experience and connection to the text.
The book meticulously catalogs over 1,800 titles from the Penguin Modern Classics series, organized by geographical regions and countries rather than alphabetically by author. This unique approach allows readers to explore literature through a global lens, encouraging connections between different cultures and literary movements. The inclusion of thematic sidebars and mini-lists further enriches the reading experience, guiding readers toward related works and fostering a deeper understanding of literary contexts.
Eliot's work evokes a sense of nostalgia for readers familiar with the Penguin Modern Classics series. By presenting each title alongside its original cover, the book invites readers to reminisce about their past encounters with these texts, creating a personal connection to literary history. This aspect resonates particularly with avid readers who view books as companions throughout their lives.
"The Penguin Modern Classics Book" serves as both a reference guide and a celebration of literary heritage. It highlights the importance of preserving classic literature while also adapting to contemporary tastes and sensibilities. As readers increasingly seek diverse voices and perspectives, this compilation reinforces Penguin's role in promoting inclusive literary discourse.
Moreover, by showcasing works that address timeless themes—such as identity, love, conflict, and societal change—the book emphasizes literature's power to reflect and shape cultural conversations. It encourages new generations of readers to engage with classic texts while recognizing their relevance in today's world.
Henry Eliot's "The Penguin Modern Classics Book" is an essential tribute to one of the most influential literary series of our time. By exploring themes of modernity, design evolution, organization, and nostalgia, Eliot provides readers with a rich understanding of what constitutes a modern classic. The book not only serves as a valuable resource for literary enthusiasts but also reinforces the enduring significance of classic literature in contemporary society. Through its careful curation and celebration of artistic expression, it invites readers to rediscover beloved texts while exploring new literary landscapes.
December 27, 2021
A beautifully produced gift book that is a joy for book lovers who have grown up with Penguins as one of their literary foundations.
This was a present to myself this Christmas, and makes for nostalgic Proustian reveries about the enjoyment of past reading, as well as minor surprises, such as that:
• The edition of Ulysses that I read was the first “B” format PMC, which is now the standard size for paperbacks
• The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, which I first read in a King Penguin edition, is not published as a PMC, probably due to copyright (similar for Milan Kundera’s books, which I first read as King Penguin)
• Even more surprisingly, Olivia Manning’s The Levant Trilogy is published as a PMC, but the preceding The Balkan Trilogy isn’t, again probably due to copyright
• The surprising number of books that I read which have now been published in a PMC edition, some of which I was surprised had not been PMC editions when I read them, such as Sartre’s Road to Freedom trilogy
The book also makes me realise the provincialism of my reading, with many of the British authors read, a smattering of Europeans, (with only multiple books read by de Beauvoir, Mann, Kafka, Calvino), no Asian titles, in Africa only Alan Paton, no Australasia other than Katherine Mansfield.
When I reached the Americas, I found that I had read many titles now published as Penguin Modern Classics, but I had not necessarily read the Penguin edition.
Looking at my bookshelves now, I see a good number of Penguin Modern Classics, including books seminal to broadening my literary taste, de Beauvoir, Kafka, Steinbeck, Capote, McCullers and Borges.
A lovely “coffee table”book for older book lovers.
This was a present to myself this Christmas, and makes for nostalgic Proustian reveries about the enjoyment of past reading, as well as minor surprises, such as that:
• The edition of Ulysses that I read was the first “B” format PMC, which is now the standard size for paperbacks
• The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, which I first read in a King Penguin edition, is not published as a PMC, probably due to copyright (similar for Milan Kundera’s books, which I first read as King Penguin)
• Even more surprisingly, Olivia Manning’s The Levant Trilogy is published as a PMC, but the preceding The Balkan Trilogy isn’t, again probably due to copyright
• The surprising number of books that I read which have now been published in a PMC edition, some of which I was surprised had not been PMC editions when I read them, such as Sartre’s Road to Freedom trilogy
The book also makes me realise the provincialism of my reading, with many of the British authors read, a smattering of Europeans, (with only multiple books read by de Beauvoir, Mann, Kafka, Calvino), no Asian titles, in Africa only Alan Paton, no Australasia other than Katherine Mansfield.
When I reached the Americas, I found that I had read many titles now published as Penguin Modern Classics, but I had not necessarily read the Penguin edition.
Looking at my bookshelves now, I see a good number of Penguin Modern Classics, including books seminal to broadening my literary taste, de Beauvoir, Kafka, Steinbeck, Capote, McCullers and Borges.
A lovely “coffee table”book for older book lovers.
March 21, 2024
It has taken me almost a year to read this entire book as I would dip in when the mood took me. For any serious book lover, this and its companion, The Penguin Classics Book are must haves. They are really just enormous shopping catalogues. This one is a bit thicker at 600 pages than its brethren. The book is laid out in countries of origin of the classic works. The author is introduced in a paragraph, then each book published by Penguin amongst his/her works is given a single paragraph of description. There is also a photograph of the cover of each book. About 40% through there is a section of black pages that introduce the over 100 books they’ve published by Georges Simenon, a favorite of mine. There is a green section for Southeast Asia. Of course, the very first part is dedicated to British authors. The Americas are featured at the end of the work, probably as they are the youngest nations. At the very end of the book is a listing of each year beginning in 1875 and up to 2018 with a list of every book selected as a Penguin Modern Classic, regardless of country of origin. Also a list of Noble Prize winners. The index is extremely well done.
This resulted in a great deal of my reading over the past years and a “to-read” list that is all out of proportion to the actual time I have left on this earth. The books I was unfamiliar with were stunning to me. This is a terrific book!
This resulted in a great deal of my reading over the past years and a “to-read” list that is all out of proportion to the actual time I have left on this earth. The books I was unfamiliar with were stunning to me. This is a terrific book!
January 29, 2026
A great companion piece to The Penguin Classics Book. This book features on the Penguin Modern Classics series in its forms from its inception to today. I didn't know the series has gone from several iterations and finally all brought together as 'Modern Classics' 'Penguin Modern Classics' 'Twentieth Century Classics' and finally back to Penguin Modern Classics. Same with how the covers have changed over the years with several re-designs.
Its a nice flick through the history and catalogue, I didn't find it as enjoyable as the Classics book, but found several books of interest.
Its a nice flick through the history and catalogue, I didn't find it as enjoyable as the Classics book, but found several books of interest.
December 23, 2023
Read: Africa’s Tarnished Name, Chinua Achebe. Penguins modern: 28.
A King of Nigerian literature and these essays are no different. “Africa is not fiction. Africa is people, real people. Have you thought of that?”
A King of Nigerian literature and these essays are no different. “Africa is not fiction. Africa is people, real people. Have you thought of that?”
December 27, 2021
A great reference guide to dip into over the years
January 23, 2022
Like Eliot's earlier Penguin Classics Book this is purest design catnip - though it's surely all just a prelude to what would be the undisputed don of them all, a Pelican Books Book.
February 9, 2022
Beautiful book discovered checking in new books at work. Interesting breakdown of the different designs over the years, organized by country.
June 25, 2023
5 stars
January 10, 2024
Took me almost two years, but I have now finished!
May 26, 2025
Another absolute must-have for lit lovers.
December 4, 2023
This extends the scope of The Penguin Classics Book, featuring books past the First World War.
The format is refreshinglly not like the first book, not that I didn't like that format, it's just nice to see a new format for this catalog.
If you like books you're going to love this catalog. You can read it cover to cover or you can do what I do, dip into it from time to time. This is a great cure for a reading slump as well as a wonderful vehicle to discover new books.
Find books that you might love in my book review site
The format is refreshinglly not like the first book, not that I didn't like that format, it's just nice to see a new format for this catalog.
If you like books you're going to love this catalog. You can read it cover to cover or you can do what I do, dip into it from time to time. This is a great cure for a reading slump as well as a wonderful vehicle to discover new books.
Find books that you might love in my book review site
July 31, 2023
The perfect book for me as a lifetime collector of Penguin Modern Classics. Great illustrations of book covers.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews