There are a few books that I have that I would absolutely love to get a special edition of. These books are favorites of mine and the special editions make such timeless pieces.
Here are a few books I want to upgrade:
(Click any picture or title to see more info.)


The Last Unicorn
I own and love the original book, but I am so excited about this deluxe edition. The illustrated comic rendition has me in awe. Peter S. Beagle is a fantasy author who also wrote the screenplay for the animated film version of “The Hobbit.” Looking at the preview of it, I can only imagine how stunning the rest of the art work is going to be! The story is so beautifully enchanting. I hope to one day add this visually rich book to my personal library.

The Princess Bride
An Illustrated Edition of S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure. One of my all time favorite books. So of course I want this beautifully illustrated edition. This books was created as the 25th anniversary. This book is such an amazing story, and now it gets illustrations! I hope I get to own this book in all it’s quirky swashbuckling glory.
The Chronicles of Narnia
Full-Color Oversize Gift Edition Box Set: The Magician’s Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Amazon doesn’t even offer a preview of this editions, but I have no doubt that it’s contents are brilliant. Narnia is such a beautiful place and C.S. Lewis created such enchanting and magical things. Illustrating those creations further is a perfect extension of his work. I only hope it lives up to the brilliance of Lewis. One day I will own this book, I am over the moon at the very idea of it.
There are many other books I’m sure that have great illustrated editions, but for now this is my eminent wishlist. These books are true treasures, and I would be so lucky to be able to add them to my library one day.
Two other books I’m on the fence about:

T
he Hobbit
AN ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE FANTASY CLASSIC. The Hobbit was also adapted into a fully painted graphic novel, a classic in its own right


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The Illustrated Edition (Harry Potter, Book 1) Illustrated by award winning artist Kate Greenaway.
These are two books which I love, and these editions both look intriguing and well made. However for one reason or another I’m not necessarily ecstatic about them. I would be happy to own them, but they do not share the excitement I have for the other three books.
What Illustrated novels do you own, know of, and/or wish you had?
I have my own mini library with so many books I can’t count 😀
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That is the best kind! 🙂
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When I saw the title of the book, it reminded me of the 1980s animated movie, The Last Unicorn. Have you seen it? It’s a classic. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084237
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Yes 🙂 The movie was based off of this book. If you haven’t read it, I would recommend it!
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I had no idea, I will check it out!
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The book I have listed on this post is an adaptation of the novel, this one is a comic edition. Here is the original: http://amzn.to/1ZrpoMS
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My sis used to own The Last Unicorn on VHS. I had no idea it was based on a book.
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It’s a great movie. It’s on netflix right now. I highly recommend the book too though!
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Oh! So, The Last Unicorn definitely deserves top-billing! It’s a Christmas read in my book, seeing as the movie would play early mornings on Christmas Day when I was little. 🙂 I got off the fence and got my sister the illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I expect she’s going to adore it. XD
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It sure does. 🙂 I hope she loves it. I need to get to a bookstore and look through it, I think that would give me a better idea.
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I agree! I sort of got sold on some of the pages with little central graphics, right off.
(In case you consider this Spoilers, here’s the warning!) There’s a pic of Harry and the Mirror of Erised on 171 that just made me go ‘Wow’. There are other portraits, like of Hermione and Harry, and a one-page with Malfoy, that are really great, and all of the two-page spreads are worth seeing. I hope you find the one of the unicorn as you flip through! It’s really good and atmospheric. 🙂
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Sound awesome, I may jump over the fence!
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If you see it in a bookstore, give it a looking-at. If found most of the pictures are really atmospheric, and only a few were interruptions. I expect people’s opinions will be mixed! Good for an opinion poll, this book!
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the last unicorn made me ugly cry!
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🙂
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Looking forward to following your posts. I love books – so I have come to the right place.
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Glad to have another book lover!
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I’m a Narnia fan as well. I was given a copy that is a reproduction of the original. It’s a saver.
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What a treasure.
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What!!! Not an Opher Goodwin among them!!!
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Which do you suggest? 😉
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I don’t know why the title was changed in the States but to the rest of the English speaking world it is “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” Just wondering if why it was changed. Charles
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I heard that. I wonder that myself.
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See the paragraph ‘U.S. Publication and Reception’ here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Philosopher's_Stone
Also see this interview with JK: https://web.archive.org/web/20131214105613/http://www.mugglenet.com/books/bbcchat1.shtml
“Does it bother you that in America they changed the names of your books?
They changed the first title, but with my consent. To be honest, I wish I hadn’t agreed now, but it was my first book, and I was so grateful that anyone was publishing me I wanted to keep them happy… “
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Thanks for the info. 🙂
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Ohs! No problem, Abbie Lu. 🙂 Thanks for the interesting thread!
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🙂
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Does anyone reading this have any idea why the name was changed in the U.S,?
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CS Lewis…I was listening to his books on tape but it screwed me up. Awesome author.
And until I got here I didn’t realize that the Princess Bride was based on a book.
That will be a great read. “My name is Iniego Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!”
-show hand. All’s good.
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Awesome book and movie, Inigo is my favorite character. 🙂
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Princess Bride is a favorite story of my husband and I, both in book and movie format. Thanks to this post, I’ll be looking for the anniversary edition. 🙂
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Me too! It is such a great story, and the movie is the best!
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Great choices.
Merry Christmas !
Marie
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Thank you 🙂 Merry Christmas to you as well!
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I cherish an old-fashiones Swiss book I have since my early childhood, beautifully illustrated and set in rhymes: Schellen-Ursli by Selina Chöz and Alois Carigiet
https://www.google.com/search?q=schellen-ursli&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#imgrc=8zh5T-m_Y_gBMM%3A
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Sounds lovely!
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I have hundreds of illustrated novels. Many of these are Folio Society editions. Many years ago, a readers’ survey asked for suggestions of combinations of writers and illustrators. I suggested Charles Keeping and Dickens. They did the set.
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That’s great!
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Lovely choices.
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Alan Lee, best known for his Tolkien covers, is a superb artist by any measure. I would love to see a compilation of his work if such a thing exists. Off to the googles!
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Interesting I’ll have to look in to his stuff. Thank you for sharing.
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If you haven’t already read it, “The Nightingale” is tremendous ! 🙂
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It was on my Christmas list! I got a gift card to B&N, so that is the book I’m buying! I can’t wait. 🙂
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The book of Kells would be nice. The Princess Bride, classic movie. I’ll have to get around to reading the novel one day. Happy New Year!
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The Book of Kells looks beautiful.
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Book of the Kells as in the Latin / New Testament version? Whoa! That’s some serious reading chops! 😀
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Yeah, would love to have a gander at the original. It would be an experience indeed. Thank you. Best wishes!
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It’s funny you ask about illustrates books because until Harry Potter came out none of them appealed more than the originals. But with Harry Potter I was so drawn I bought both the standard and delux versions. So pretty!
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That’s great, I haven’t really seen it except online, but amazon doesn’t show a preview. Next time I’m in a book shop I’m going to check it out.
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Having seen them both now, they are very similar except for the actual cover
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