It all begins with a letter. Fall in love with Penguin Drop Caps, a new
series of twenty-six collectible and hardcover editions, each with a
type cover showcasing a gorgeously illustrated letter of the alphabet.
In a design collaboration between Jessica Hische and Penguin Art
Director Paul Buckley, the series features unique cover art by Hische, a
superstar in the world of type design and illustration, whose work has
appeared everywhere from Tiffany & Co. to Wes Anderson's recent film
Moonrise Kingdom to Penguin's own bestsellers Committed and Rules
of Civility. With exclusive designs that have never before appeared on
Hische's hugely popular Daily Drop Cap blog, the Penguin Drop Caps
series debuted with an 'A' for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, a
'B' for Charlotte Brönte's Jane Eyre, and a 'C' for Willa Cather's My
Ántonia. It continues with more perennial classics, perfect to give as
elegant gifts or to showcase on your own shelves.
S is for Steinbeck. Unburdened by the material necessities of the
more fortunate, the denizens of Cannery Row discover rewards unknown in
more traditional society. Henry the painter sorts through junk lots for
pieces of wood to incorporate into the boat he is building, while the
girls from Dora Flood's bordello venture out now and then to enjoy a bit
of sunshine. Lee Chong stocks his grocery with almost anything a man
could want, and Doc, a young marine biologist who ministers to sick
puppies and unhappy souls, unexpectedly finds true love. Cannery Row is
just a few blocks long, but the story it harbors is suffused with
warmth, understanding, and a great fund of human values. First published
in 1945, and drawn from Steinbeck's memories of real inhabitants of
Monterey, California, Cannery Row focuses on the acceptance of life as
it is--both the loneliness of the individual and the exuberance of
community.
