Griffin & Sabine - 6 Volume Deluxe Boxed Set

by Nick Bantock

The Griffin & Sabine saga has sold over 3 million copies worldwide, led to 12 international editions, and spent over 100 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. Both longtime fans and new readers will be thrilled to see the series in an exquisite boxed edition. The entire six-volume Griffin & Sabine series is being presented together in a limited collector's A wooden box decorated with original artwork holds a treasure trove of all six of the illustrated novels People magazine calls "surreal picture books for grown-ups." This magical collection also includes an exclusive print of Griffin & Sabine's iconic parrot image, initialed by Nick Bantock himself and ready for framing. A fantastic gift for lovers of art, mystery, and romance, here are two essential purchases for both new and tried-and-true Nick Bantock fans everywhere.

Genres: Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2004

About the author

Nick was schooled in England and has a BA in Fine Art (painting). He has authored 25 books, 11 of which have appeared on the best seller lists, including 3 books on The New York Times top ten at one time. Griffin & Sabine stayed on that list for over two years. His works have been translated into 13 languages and over 5 million have been sold worldwide. Once named by the classic SF magazine Weird Tales as one of the best 85 storytellers of the century. He has written articles and stories for numerous international newspapers and magazines. His Wasnick blogs are much followed on Facebook and Twitter. His paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages and prints have been exhibited in shows in UK, France and North America. In 2010 Nick's major retrospective exhibition opened at the MOA in Denver. His works are in private collections throughout the world. Nick has a lifetime BAFTA (British Oscar) for the CD-ROM game Ceremony of Innocence, created with Peter Gabriel's Real World, featuring Isabella Rossolini and Ben Kingsley. He has two iPad apps, Sage and The Venetian and is working on a third. Three of his books have been optioned for film and his stage play based on the Griffin & Sabine double trilogy premiered in Vancouver in 2006.

Produced artwork for more than 300 book covers (including works by Roth and Updike), illustrated Viking Penguin's new translation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. He's designed theater posters for the London plays of Tom Stoppard and Alec Guinness.

For 20 years Bantock has spoken and read to audiences throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Given keynote and motivational speeches to corporations and teachers state conferences. He's given dramatic readings on the radio and the stage and has been interviewed (way too many times) for TV, radio and print.

Bantock has worked in a betting shop in the East End of London, trained as a psychotherapist, designed and built a house that combined an Indonesian temple and a Russian orthodox church with an English cricket pavilion and a New Orleans bordello. Between 2007 and 2010 was one of the twelve committee members responsible for selecting Canada's postage stamps.

Among the things Bantock can't do: Can't swim, never ridden a horse, his spelling is dreadful and his singing voice is flat as a pancake.

Source: Nick Bantock - profile

Reviews

[Nikki Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for the second trilogy only: for some reason Goodreads lists the Griffin and Sabine trilogy all together, but not the Morning Star one, and since each of these books takes between 30 and 60 minutes to read, I don't want to ratchet up my number of "read" books by including each of these individually. I loved this trilogy: where the first one ended with Griffin and Sabine possibly meeting, possibly not meeting, this series leaves it to the reader to surmise what happened to them (I know I have my theories) while hinting at alchemy being at work. I've been working on a series of novels as the editor (The Alchemists' Council) so perhaps I have alchemy on the brain, but it's certainly the most appropriate explanation for what happens in this series of novels, especially since it takes place mostly in Alexandria, the place where the largest collection of alchemy books has ever existed. A new couple steps in — Isabella and Matthew — and undergo a similar transformation of self and soul as they write to each other. Unlike Griffin and Sabine, they've actually met before and have been lovers, but now are separated by physical space, and in these three books they discover things about themselves, their connection to Griffin and Sabine, and their place in the mythological universe. It's a brilliant series and like many others have said, unlike anything else I've ever read. The artwork is as gorgeous as ever (I could be stuck for several minutes on a single page of artwork, trying to take in every detail of the postcard). Nick Bantock is a national treasure.

[Noam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first book, Griffin and Sabine, and sort of wish it had been left as a stand-alone. The next two books, Sabine's Notebook and The Golden Mean, rounded the series out as a pretty darn good trilogy. I really wish he had ended the series there. After The Golden Mean, the books get a bit tedious. The new characters introduced seem like a less interesting version of Griffin and Sabine. There is Good and there is Evil, and neither is very interesting. The two new Good people occasionally write to each other in French, which is all very nice for them, but a translation for the proles would have been appreciated.

Overall, I give the series three stars, as they start as a high four star, and go steadily downwards. However, if you read the books as a series of artwork, and look at the plot as a nice way to tie the pieces together, you may appreciate the books more.

[Robyn Roscoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started on this one when I recently purchased book 7, The Pharos Gate, published in 2016. I've read this entire series since it started, and so thought I should wrap it up, ticking off item 4 from the list (book published in 2016). But since the book is so short, I thought I would make the task more legitimate by going back and reading the entire series. And I'm glad that I did.

The books use a series of letters and postcards, accompanied by sumptuous art work, to tell the tale of Griffin and Sabine (and also Matthew and Isabella) as a somewhat modern day mythological love story. Separated into the dimensions of the pragmatic and the ethereal, Griffin and Sabine are able to communicate through "extraordinary correspondence" - actual handwritten letters that somehow make it through the normal postal system (even the Royal Mail is somewhat mythological here) between places and times on separate planes of existence. The total story is marvellous and entertaining, and so beautifully told that it is a wonder to read. The books themselves are works of art.

Completing all seven books takes several hours, and is best spread over a few days to luxuriate in the lyrical magic of this tale of wonder. Best enjoyed with quiet music and a glass of exotic wine (or mug of tea if that's your pleasure).

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remains one of the most amazing reading experiences of my life. There is something scandalous about reading another person’s correspondence. However, that is nothing to diving into one of the most amazing stories I’ve ever had the joy to read.

WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommends for everyone!

[Justwinter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books that first introduced me to the wonderful world of Nick Bantock.

Voyeuristic in nature, the reader slowly unravels an epistolary mystery by reading both the letters and postcards sent between Griffin and Sabine. The story deepens as each letter must be opened and removed from its envelope; transforming the act of reading from passive to active.

Heavily illustrated with incredibly dense multi-media collages, as well as gorgeous postcards and hand-written letters, all the books in the series are a feast for the eyes.

All the works of Nick Bantock fall into a much beloved genre of books I call 'visual reads'--books that owe as much to the illustrations to tell the story as the actual words.

Mysterious, romantic, bizarre, seductive and surreal are all words I could use to describe this series. As I could for any of Bantock's artwork. Additionally, this series seemed to spawn an explosion of 'visual-read' books.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seemed easier to add the boxed set, since I think that's the only way to read these. I discovered books 3 and 4 in the series at a used book sale and then I went back and read them all together. I think Griffin and Sabine is a stand-alone classic, and there are elements of the others I don't love, I actually didn't think the second trilogy was necessary, but as a concept (epistolatory storytelling) and a series I love it. These picture books for adults are a pleasure to read - I love the "handwritten" letters, the artwork on the stamps and postcards, the pop-up quality to the envelopes and cards, what fun!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this story. I have read the 6 books several times, and each time I find myself consumed with the romance and mystery of this fascinating tale. The art work is stunning and contributes to the plot. Definitely one of my favorites of all time.

[Missy Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing, beautiful artwork--very satisfying and fun to actually pull letters out of envelopes that are embedded in the book. Alas, the mysterious, metaphysical love story loses a lot of its magic (novelty) after the first two books.

[lynna · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing. it's like you're spying on someone.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful love story told in postcards and pictures. Very unique.

[MaryAnn Hopping · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most unique thing I have ever read. A combination of art, postcards, and a love story. Everyone should read this.

[Jessi Knippel · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my favorite series. the story, the writing, and the artwork are incredible.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories!

[Petalbooks]

Love, we're gonna have to keep an eye in this one.

[Amanda]

Good, but highly problematic. Lots of Orientalist fantasizing by white people.