There’s nothing like turning the faded pages of a classic, and embarking on a journey into the life and times of your favourite protagonist. Be it Jane Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet, Oliver Twist or Great Gatsby’s Nick Carraway. That’s what Henry Eliot, creative editor, Penguin feels might be the reason for a revival of those worn out pages in the era of e-books. The good news, Eliot, says is that you might travel with that ebook, but human beings love the whole romance of treasuring a book in one’s hand, and turning its enticing pages. To this end comes the Classics Festival in the city being held at Blossom Book House with Penguin Random House India. It is the first-ever classics festival, and the month-long festival (till November 30, 2018) is happening across five cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai. It will see a revival of those stories that made us bookworms. Eliot who is also co-creator of CuriocityMag, will be in the city today, and interact with book lovers about the festival and its
rich history.
From 1,200 unique titles including genres like vintage, modern, and Murty classical library, the selection spans 4,000 years from the legends of Ancient Mesopotamia to the poetry of the First World War, with Greek tragedies, Icelandic sagas, Japanese epics, Indian mythologies and much more — 500 authors and 5,000-8,000 unique titles. A treat of gargantuan proportions. Henry Eliot, creative editor Penguin speaks of this revival of the classics, putting it into perspective. “The publishing world was terrified when ebooks appeared: there were fears that the printed book was doomed! But it hasn’t happened: print book sales continue to rise, and if anything, ebook sales have plateaued. This is partly because publishers responded to the challenge by producing better quality books, and because it turns out that the two formats are compatible: ebooks are convenient for travelling, but the physical aspect of reading a book is a large part of the experience for many people. And you can’t put ebooks on your bookshelves.
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From perennial classics in the UK include Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, there’s much to read at this festival.
Browsing book stores is a passion for many, And Eliot adds, “Online algorithms can be narrowing, because they tend to suggest books based on your previous preferences: a book store can surprise you and expand horizons. And always remember to ask the bookseller’s advice! Their passion is infectious and they will introduce you to new worlds of literature.” Well said.
Mayi Gowda, proprietor, Blossom Book House is among the few city entrepreneurs who have stood dogged through the test of ebooks. Mayi explains, “We are privileged to be associated with Penguin Random House. Classics have always been very close to our hearts and our customers. Penguin was the publisher which introduced the Classics 75 years ago. The first book we sold at the start of our business 25 years ago had been a Penguin Classic.”
As bookworms like Anugya Prakash aver, “There is something deeply soulful about rummaging through a book shop, and looking for your favourite authors. I, for one, love classics.” The agenda is simply to submerge oneself with the classic repertoire and also meet likeminded people, and celebrate the written word the way history meant it to be... through meetings, interactions, books and stories. Algorithms be damned!
