This special edition includes nineteen letters from the novel written in the character’s own hand. Each letter is hand-folded and removable.
Pride and Prejudice
By Jane Austen
Curated by Barbara Heller
Reviews
"And finally, for the letter lover with a touch of class, you must get the forthcoming edition of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" curated by Barbara Heller. This exquisite book presents the novel's full text along with 19 letters "handwritten" by Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Caroline Bingley and others. Their notes, complete with appropriate postmarks, are dropped into pouches placed at just the right moments in the story. More than a gimmick, it's a dramatic way to experience the central role that correspondence plays in the novel. "The post-office has a great charm at one period of our lives," Austen wrote, and Heller's inventive edition does much to reclaim that. " - The Washington Post
"Fans of the original, even particularly exacting fans, will likely be impressed with Heller's achievement...Even beyond the minute care taken in the handwriting, the letters in Heller's edition of Pride and Prejudice are painstakingly detailed, from the style of folding (letters didn't have envelopes, so they served as their own containers) to the postal markings and wax imprints indicating price, mileage, date, etc.... These letters, with the various character traits that their appearances indicate, can bring 21st-century readers closer to Austen's world." - Smitshsonian Magazine
"Now, readers can get an impression of how Miss Bennet would have felt when she read his [Darcy's] note after an Austen devotee created meticulous mock-ups of 19 of the novel's letters in period handwriting." -The Times (London)
The concept has been so well executed that the inclusion of the "real" letters brings a completely unexpected quality to the novel - an element of surprise and delight that emphasizes the importance of letter- writing in the 18th century and cleverly echoes Jane Austen's own mastery of the art of correspondence. - Regency Magazine
I did not think it was possible to heighten this Janeites' P&P experience, however, this new edition blew my bonnet off...If you are as much of a Pride and Prejudice geek as I am, it will only take about five seconds for you to realize that this book is a brilliant, eye-popping expansion of the beloved classic that makes you feel one step closer to the characters. It was a total thrill for me. Enjoy! - Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose.com
Behind the Book
I was re-reading Pride and Prejudice for the gazillionth time, savoring my favorite passages in Mrs. Gardiner’s “long, kind, satisfactory” letter to Elizabeth, when a sudden desire to have that letter in my hand came over me. To hold the very letter that Elizabeth Bennet once received - ink faded, paper yellowed - would be utterly satisfying. In truth, I wanted to possess the originals of all the letters in Pride and Prejudice. A vision of myself at a flea market, happening upon the letters, was so real that I experienced the twin electric thrills of discovery and possession. I became determined to transform reverie into reality. Read More
Barbara Heller’s career in film and television encompasses finding furnishings and props for many shows including The Americans and When They See Us; location managing films for Francis Coppola, Nancy Meyers, and Barbet Schroeder; and directing award-winning short films that have played at festivals around the world (Cannes, Berlin, Sundance). To satisfy her curiosity, she reported on why hotels fold the end of the toilet paper into a point for NPR. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in English Literature and lives with her son in New York City.
Meet the Artists
CHAVELLI TSUI
Scribe
chavelli.com
Chavelli Tsui (Jane Bennet,Caroline Bingley) is a New York City based designer and calligrapher from Hong Kong. Enamored with letterforms and the history and evolution of our alphabet, she specializes in using the traditional art of calligraphy for the needs of contemporary clients. In addition to crafting commissions, she works with brands and businesses around the world; collaborating with the likes of Instagram, American Express, WeWork and Jimmy Choo.
ELINOR HOLLAND
Scribe
harmonyofline.net
Elinor A. Holland (Mrs. Gardiner) is a calligrapher of Arabic and Latin scripts. She teaches at colleges, art centers, and museums in the United States and Canada, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian. Her work has been exhibited in Kuwait, Sharjah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and throughout the United States.
ANNA PINTO
Scribe
annapintocalligraphy.com
Anna Pinto’s (Elizabeth Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Cover Title) work is included in The Calligraphy Revival: 1906–2016 by Jerry Kelly and Calligraphy Studio: The Ultimate Introduction to the Art of Hand Lettering by Christopher Calderhead, among other publications, and in the collections of the San Francisco Public Library, the Dana and Alexander libraries at Rutgers, and the Beinecke Library at Yale.
BARRY MORENTZ
Scribe
barry.morentz
Barry Morentz (Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Gardiner) creates hand-lettered manuscripts, awards, books, and custom boxes. He has been the calligrapher for The Museum of Modern Art and Cartier for over thirty years, and teaches workshops throughout the US and abroad. His work is featured in 100 New York Calligraphers and The World Encyclopedia of Calligraphy. He is especially known for his evocative renderings of passages from Shakespeare and Danté.
ALEXANDRA MORRILL
Graphic Artist
alexandramorrill.com
Alexandra Morrill has a background in Fine Arts and twenty years of art, graphic, and illustration experience for companies such as Barney’s NY, J. Crew, Artisan Publishing, MAC Cosmetics, the Center for Fiction, and ESP Trendlab, to name just a few.