So yes, the Gladstone Press edition of The Great Gatsby is now available, and it is gorgeous! I must admit that it was a daunting task to redesign this classic: the original cover by Francis Cugat is so iconic that Fitzgerald altered his text to include a reference to the image of Daisy floating in…
The Gladstone Name
This past weekend, a Toronto culture and news site posted about William Ewart Gladstone, revealing that in his early years he supported slavery. As a young politician he spoke against emancipation of enslaved people, mainly because his father was one of the largest slaveowners in the British Empire. When emancipation was finally enacted, he helped…
#DallowayDay 2020
Today is the third Wednesday in June, also known as Dalloway Day! This is a great opportunity to plunge out your door and explore your own community, and let your mind wander. Perhaps even pick up the flowers yourself? I’m out and about in Toronto, live posting as I try to recreate 1923 London (or,…
Errata
Oops. When I was finishing up production on my two latest titles (Pride and Prejudice and The Good Soldier), I decided to include a separate colophon (a page describing the production of the book in your hand). And that’s when I saw an error that has been reproduced in every book up to now. You…
Finally shipping this week!
Unless there are any new pandemics developments, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford will be shipping this week! Any preorders placed through my website will be out the door the minute they arrive at the office (complete with your complimentary tote bag, because thank you!), and my…
Free tote with any preorder
These are strange times indeed, and booksellers as well as publishers are feeling the pinch of (the absolutely necessary) lockdowns to prevent Covid-19 from overwhelming our society. Please, please, please: support your indie bookstore by placing an order with them. Many indies in Canada now have easy online ordering, and many more will fulfill your…
The joy of reading Mrs Dalloway during lockdown
Reading during self-isolation and quarantine seems like a no-brainer: there’s plenty of time on your hands, and what better use of your time? In reality, it’s not always easy to find the right book for the, um, mood. Many readers have been turning to books that either reflect some part of their current situation or…
Giving back during social distancing
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented circumstances, where my city has all but shut down to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Like you, I’m self-isolating. I also wanted to reach out somehow. One of the few outdoor activities sanctioned by Toronto Health is to walk (but keep your distance from others!). And there…
On representation
Over the past few weeks there have been some important conversations about representation in the Western canon of literature. To be honest, there is always a reason to question what we consider a ‘classic,’ especially as each work ages into (or out of) our society. And let’s face it, the canon is traditionally very white…
New year, new stores
Happy New Year! (This will be the last time I start any message that way. Until next year. I promise.) Over the past few months, the number of stores now stocking Gladstone Press titles has exploded, so I haven’t been able to keep up with it in the News section here. So if you have…