Edward Gorey, Bibliotherapy in the Bronx, and Mark Twain: May Books Roundup
From Ted to Tom: The Illustrated Envelopes of Edward Gorey edited by Tom Fitzharris
Our ongoing look at new books that have recently caught the eye of our print and online editors this month.
The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World by Selena Wisnom
Not as fixed in the public consciousness as much as Alexandria's, the clay tablet library of Assyrian's great king Ashurbanipal was nevertheless a remarkable project. Wisnom tells its story enthrallingly from its rise and fall through fire to its resurrection, offering her expert close analysis of the library’s tablets to offer a picture of Mesopatamian daily life.
From Ted to Tom: The Illustrated Envelopes of Edward Gorey edited by Tom Fitzharris
A lovely look at Gorey's original illustrations on the envelopes of correspondence sent to his friend Tom Fitzharris, also including selections from dozens of the letters themselves featuring titbits from Gorey's life, sketches, fake stamps, and jokes. Published by The New York Review of Books.
The Wisdom of the Romantics by Michael K. Kellogg
Published by Prometheus Books in its Wisdom series, Kellogg focuses on writers working within the vaguely-defined Romanticism movement, turning his gaze on the likes of Jane Austen, Goethe, Balzac, and Wordsworth, in what he admits is necessarily "a highly subjective enterprise".
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzerald
A new edition to mark the book's century since publication from the Folio Society, with illustrations by Yuko Shimizu and an afterword by Chuck Palahniuk, and in a limited print run of 500 copies, full bound in goatskin leather.
The Law The Lawyers Know About by Hilary Pepler
From fine press publisher Incline Press and inspired by its recent experiences of relocating to Scotland, its latest pamphlet is a poem first published in 1923 by handpress printer Hilary Pepler of St. Dominic’s Press contrasting the laws of lawyers with curiosities to be found in nature. It features nine wood engravings by artist and printer Andy English. Available in 180 sewn copies, with another 60 available for others to bind.
Gilgamesh
Hot on the heels of Arion Press's marvellous Fables of Aesop comes this fine press edition with original woodcuts by Barry Moser, and an introduction by Nick Basbanes, the first Arion title printed entirely in the Fort Mason location. Look out for a related program at the Grolier Club in September.
Jim: The Life and Afterlives of Huckleberry Finn’s Comrade by Shelley Fisher Fishkin
The first of three Mark Twain-related books this month, Fishkin's volume focuses on Jim from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the various controversies surrounding him, including his leap from page to screen, in translation, and in the modern classoom. From Yale University Press.
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow
A biography of the author himself, making good use of Twain’s archives, many letters, and copious unpublished manuscripts. Published by Penguin.
A First-Class Fool: Mark Twain and Humor edited by Susan Jaffe Tane
And finaly, hard on the heels of Grolier's exhibition of the same name this year is this collection of essays (John Bird, Julie Carlsen, James Caron, Mark Dawidziak, Kerry Driscoll, Gabriel Mckee, Kevin MacDonnell) about Twain, concentrating in particular on the humor in his work, and very nicely illustrated using rare materials from Susan Jaffe Tane’s private Mark Twain collection, including many previously unpublished items.
Working with Manuscripts: A Guide for Textual Scholars by Liv Ingeborg Lied and Brent Nongbri
An accessible handbook looking at best practices - ethics, provenance, practicalities, publication, case studies - for students and textual scholars, especially useful for those starting on their journey in this field, which argues for the key importance of manuscripts in the study of ancient texts. From Yale University Press.
Bibliotherapy in the Bronx by Emely Rumble
A heartfelt look at the power of books to change lives drawn from psychotherapist Rumble's first-hand experience in marginalized communities and her more than a dozen years working in the Bronx using books to help people deal with a wide range of challenges. Published by Row House Publishing
Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World by Irene Vallejo, translated by Charlotte Whittle
Recently out in paperback, this is an excellent look at the early history of the written word, published by Knopf
