Those Thrifty, Nifty Dover Classics
For those of us who splurge and buy books to hoard on our shelves so we always have a lovely bit of paged delight at our fingertips, probably don’t consider the paperback, easy-on-the-pocketbook editions of Dover as ones we trot out and buy. Yet, I imagine most of us Book Boosters, really and truly appreciate that Dover does provide under $6.00 editions of classics. As a teacher on a tight budget, I’m thrilled I can get a class set of Hamlet for under $40.00.
What is Dover all about? Well, the good folks at School Library Journal took time to find out by interviewing their editor-in-chief, M.C. Waldrep. One of the takeaways from the interview is that among the top four classics that sell are Frankenstein, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and The Adventures of Huck Finn. Shakespeare is right up there, of course.
For more Dover insights check out the interview.
BtW: Dover is more than providing classics for the economic minded. They have a ready collection of coloring books for that new trend (or old trend renewed). They have initiated the first National Coloring Book Day which you can anticipate by sharpening up your Crayolas when August 2 arrives. More on the coloring craze is found here.
What Dover classics are roaming your shelves, backpack, or are fondly remembered from your school days?
Better yet, which Dover classic would you slip in as a stocking stuffer?
Pam Webb 
When I used to buy these as a student, I always also thrilled, not only with the content, but with their well designed (sometimes very striking) covers. In fact as your two examples show.
I wasn’t familiar with Dover until in a US bookshop where I picked up Journal of a Plague Year and then I received The Rights of Man as a Christmas present. At this time of year there is only one book that is a definite and that would be A Christmas Carol, Dickens was at his finest there.
What would a library look like if all were Dover? They are so thin they barely take up any shelf space!
Some of the library could be taken up with a coffee machine, I quite like the thinness it makes the bigger books seem less daunting.
I’ve actually set aside a few Dover editions to remove from my collection (including Frankenstein)! Either I have multiple copies of the book or I have anthologies that I don’t plan on keeping the extra books! Although, maybe I should get rid of my Norton Anthology of Shakespeare (which is nearly three times the size of a Bible) and only keep the Dover editions of the plays I like? Hmm…
Get rid of Shakespeare!?!
I know, I know! It’s not a thought I enjoy! Okay, I’ll keep the anthology but donate the individual plays. There’s someone out there who might enjoy a more compact edition of Shakespeare. 🙂
As a librarian, I found many Dover titles to fill gaps in and enhance my collection at a more than reasonable price (as little as $1; a cup of coffee can cost more!). Thank you for spreading the word and for liking my latest marigold blog post.