Persephone Books - a textile designer's treat

I'm not one to ever follow the saying 'you can't judge a book by its cover' , (or a horse by its name, or a wine by its label etc.) and these titles by Persephone Books are a case in point. Displayed on a stand together they are a wonderful sight for a textile designer's eyes; it was a difficult decision to choose just one.

Persephone Books (according to their website) contain mainly neglected fiction and non fiction by women, for women. The range includes novels, short stories, diaries and cookery books. They are all carefully designed with a clear type-face, a dove-grey jacket, and most strikingly the beautiful fabric end-paper and bookmark.

Here are a few of the end-paper designs:

Treetops' fabric designed by Marianne Mahler in 1939, from 'There Were No Windows' written by Norah Hoult in 1944.


Printed cotton designed by Margaret Simeon for John Lewis in 1946, from 'The Village' written by Marghanita Laski in 1952.


Printed dress fabric design by Madeleine Lawrence 1932, from 'Cheerful Weather for the Wedding' written by Julia Strachey in 1932.

Available from Readings in Melbourne, or mail order from Persephone Books here.