San Diego-based publisher celebrates 250 years of Jane Austen with new collection

Jane Austen’s collection of beloved titles is getting a refresh thanks to San Diego-based publisher Canterbury Classics. 

Canterbury Classics will unveil a commemorative collection of Jane Austen novels that reflects the modern reader’s love of vibrant design and collectible books. The collection, which will be available beginning Saturday, Aug. 23 at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival, includes “Pride and Prejudice,” “Emma,” “Sense and Sensibility,” and more. It also coincides with the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth.

“Austen’s novels are timeless, and we designed the books to reflect her appeal over centuries,” said publisher Peter Norton. “The covers of the books have a bright and modern color palette.  The book spines have a heat burnished floral design that unifies the six novels on any bookshelf.  Similarly, each of the six novels has a portion of Monet’s “The Artist’s Garden at Giverny” printed on the edges of the books.”

Since 2010, Canterbury Classics has published nearly 100 titles and sold more than 11 million books around the world. Norton said the publishing company aims to offer new editions of classics to cater to an evolving world. 

“Classics are timeless but retail environments and formats of consumption are constantly changing,” Norton said. “We aspire to create something special to help connect timeless authors with contemporary consumers. I hope [readers] are proud to display the works on their bookshelves after they’ve read them.”

For more information about Canterbury Classics or its latest collection of Jane Austen novels, go to canterburyclassicsbooks.com.