I was first introduced to Virago Modern Classics back in the 1980’s. There seemed to be displays of them in bookshops at the time, and I am quite a sucker for a nice display. My sister was reading the Women’s Press books at the time, but they didn’t really appeal to me in the same way. I remember reading some Rebecca West, and Miles Franklin books as well as other well-known Virago authors. And although I became very fond of Virago books and Virago authors – I didn’t quite succumb to a Virago obsession back then. I did own quite a number of lovely green spines, however in 1993 I moved to a very small flat – where I lived for ten years. I had two bookcases in my flat – which were over filled the whole time I lived there – but it meant that during those years I did have to be very ruthless about which books I kept. So I got rid of some of those old green Virago books and had no idea that I would curse my book culling in the future (some books stayed living with my parents –otherwise they may have had the same fate). So then fast forward … a few years : ) and I was encouraged to join the Libraything Virago Group – a message board on Libraything for lovers of Virago books. It’s a wonderful online community and has fully encouraged me in an old long buried interest. I suppose that over the last few years, I have gradually begun to read more and more – older books – twentieth century women writers, a fairly broad category, are among my favourite type of writers and have been for many years, but I have found myself reading more and more of them, and far fewer newer books. Therefore the books published by Virago Modern Classics fit perfectly with my idea of what makes a good read.
The Virago Modern Classic green spines may have disappeared from new bookshop shelves – but they can be found in huge numbers in second hand bookshops – and via the wonderful world of the online bookshop. Wonderful for obsessive collectors because there are certainly a lot of them to collect and it is so lovely to have something to collect now isn’t it? Virago of course still does publish their modern classics – as well as other new authors. I have to admit to not really liking the new cover art quite as much. The new Virago Modern Classic editions are pretty, bright and breezy and very attractive, I have a few I think are really very nice indeed, however they sometimes look a bit – dare I suggest frothy and frivolous? which don’t always suit the contents. I think the design of the original VMC green spines from the 1980’s were really inspired, and it’s no wonder that so many of us are s till seeking them out and snapping them up whenever we can.
Do you like Virago? Is it just me or is there something even in the feel of a Virago book? Do you have a favourite publisher?
I will be blogging about more of my favourite books in the next few weeks.
Sounds like me – when I think of those original green spined Viragos that I used to own but culled for some move or other…
I know – I could kick myself : )
I never culled my green books – though I regret losing a Virago edition of The Vet’s Daughter that came free with a magazine. And I think wistfully of the carousel of Virago green in my university bookshop when I didn’t have the budget – and of course I didn’t know then what I know now!
I hate it (love it) when I go into a charity bookshop and there is a whole shelf – I mean which to buy – how much to spend? Such a dilemma!
They’re just lovely, aren’t they? I never had that many originally as I couldn’t really afford many in the early days, but I did keep hold of all the ones I have. I rather wish they had stuck with the original designs as I feel personally with the modern covers that there is not much to distinguish them from (whispers) a lot of chick-lit on the shelves. I thought this particularly about the Barbara Pym new covers which seemed too slick and modern for the contents.
I *do* like collecting particular publishers – obviously have a weakness for Persphones, but Hesperus Press and Alma/Oneworld Classics are rather lovely too!
Ah lovely lovely Persephone, I will be talking about those particular beauties soon.
oh and glad you said that about the covers being a tad chick lit like sometimes – because I nearly used that exact phrase in my post but deleted it incase it seemed a bit snotty/harsh – but they are a bit aren’t they : )
What a nice post – and gorgeous walls of green books! I wish I had more of the older style (and I agree that the new look doesn’t always hit the mark contents-wise).
Culling? *shock horror*
Seriously, I only discovered these recently and have been joyfully accumulating them. My only regret is that I didn’t know about them when I lived in the UK and had access to the excellent charity shops!
Oh no – that is a regret : ) Maybe a good enough excuse to come back and visit? : )
Oh I’d love to! My daughter is hoping to spend the next academic year on a study abroad program at Exeter, so I may have another and possibly more legitimate excuse to visit.
[...] have recently enthused about my love of Virago books, especially when they come in an original shade of dark green – such is the collector’s [...]
I split my fiction bookcases into male authors and female authors and love the green spines liberally sprinkled through the female case. I’m quite surprised by some of the older choices that VMC reprinted, titles that I managed to track down in rarer hardback I could have got in iconic green if I’d had a list about five years ago!
[...] been thinking about my favourite kinds of books, with posts about beautiful classics and lovely Virago books. I have just been waiting to celebrate what are quite probably my favourite books of all. I [...]
I’m reading a Virago now, Rebecca West’s The Judge. It’s an old style cover but it’s in black, as are a few others I own. Love Viragos. Favorites include Taylor and Lehmann/
: ) I too adore Taylor and Lehmann