<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>A is for Austen. Penguin DropCaps is a new series of collectible hardcover editions with gorgeous type created by celebrated artist Hische to cover each letter of the alphabet. The series debuts with Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice."<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><b>From A to Z, the Penguin Drop Caps series collects 26 unique hardcovers--featuring cover art by type superstar Jessica Hische </b> <p/> It all begins with a letter. Fall in love with Penguin Drop Caps, a new series of twenty-six collectible and gift-worthy hardcover editions, each with a type cover showcasing a gorgeously illustrated letter of the alphabet by superstar type designer Jessica Hische, whose work has appeared everywhere from Tiffany & Co. to Wes Anderson's film <i>Moonrise Kingdom</i> to Penguin's own bestsellers <i>Committed </i>and<i>Rules of Civility</i>. A collaboration between Jessica Hische and Penguin Art Director Paul Buckley, the series design encompasses foil-stamped paper-over-board cases in a rainbow-hued spectrum across all twenty-six book spines and a decorative stain on all three paper edges. Penguin Drop Caps debuts with an "A" for Jane Austen's <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, a "B" for Charlotte Brontë's <i>Jane Eyre</i>, and a "C" for Willa Cather's <i>My Ántonia</i>, and continues with more classics from Penguin. <p/><b>A is for Austen.</b> Few have failed to be charmed by the witty and independent spirit of Elizabeth Bennet in Austen's beloved classic <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>. Elizabeth's early determination to dislike Mr. Darcy is a prejudice only matched by the folly of his arrogant pride. Their first impressions give way to true feelings in a comedy profoundly concerned with happiness and how it might be achieved.<p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>Winner of the 2012 Fifty Books/Fifty Covers show, organized by Design Observer in association with AIGA and Designers & Books <p/>Winner of the 2014 Type Directors Club Communication Design Award <p/><b>Praise for Penguin Drop Caps: </b> <p/>[Penguin Drop Caps] convey a sense of nostalgia for the tactility and aesthetic power of a physical book and for a centuries-old tradition of beautiful lettering.<br>--<i>Fast Company</i> <p/>"Vibrant, minimalist new typographic covers.... Bonus points for the heartening gender balance of the initial selections."<br>--Maria Popova, <i>Brain Pickings</i> <p/>The Penguin Drop Caps series is a great example of the power of design. Why buy these particular classics when there are less expensive, even free editions of <i>Great Expectations</i>? Because they're beautiful objects. Paul Buckley and Jessica Hische's fresh approach to the literary classics reduces the design down to typography and color. Each cover is foil-stamped with a cleverly illustrated letterform that reveals an element of the story. Jane Austen's A (<i>Pride and Prejudice</i>) is formed by opulent peacock feathers and Charlotte Bronte's B (<i>Jane Eyre</i>) is surrounded by flames. The complete set forms a rainbow spectrum prettier than anything else on your bookshelf.<br>--Rex Bonomelli, <i>The New York Times</i> <p/>Drool-inducing.<br>--<i>Flavorwire</i> <p/>Classic reads in stunning covers--your book club will be dying.<br>--<i>Redbook</i><br><p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br><b>Jane Austen</b> (1775-1817), the seventh child of a parish rector, is one of the most celebrated writers in the English language. <p/><b>Jessica Hische</b> is a letterer, an illustrator, a typographer, and a web designer. She currently serves on the Type Directors Club board of directors, has been named a <i>Forbes</i> magazine "30 under 30" in art and design. She lives in San Francisco, California, and Brooklyn, New York.