Do you prefer Oxford or Penguin for classic lit?

[SirJazzHands]

I've wanted to get into classics before, but the biggest reason I've stayed away is because the print is so ****ing small in the copies my high school library, I don't understand the logic behind that.
Oxford and Penguin, from what I've seen, though, has a more readable font, a bit larger.

Which is your favorite? And also is either more beneficial for say annotations or anything like that?

[Charles Darnay]

I prefer Penguin.

1. The font is better - I think
2. They're more aesthetically pleasing (no this is not what I base anything on, but still...
3. Better annotations
4. Usually have better translations of works in translations
5. Much better introductory and supplementary essays


Although when it comes down to it, I think Barnes & Noble Classics series beats both.....but Penguin is still great

[JBI]

Oxford. They have more scholarly intros and notes, in my opinion. With Penguin I just seem to get the text, and a 1 page intro.

[aeroport]

I've been reading Penguin Classics almost exclusively for a while now. Maybe that will change someday; maybe not. I would take either of these, though, over the Modern Library editions. Those have probably the largest print, but only 2-3 pages of intro and scanty notes. I could never figure out why they're usually the most expensive...


Oxford. They have more scholarly intros and notes, in my opinion. With Penguin I just seem to get the text, and a 1 page intro.

I can see that being irritating, but I haven't encountered a lame introduction yet.

[kandaurov]

For me it's a almost a tie between Penguin and Wordsworth, Wordsworth wins only thanks to its unbelievable price: 2€ per book (in Portugal; strangely enough, in England and the US it's slightly more expensive)

Why I like Wordsworth better than Penguin:
1) Blue looks better on my shelf
and now the serious ones:
2) Just as cheap, but print slightly better
3) Has always very useful introductions, with plenty of references to intertextuality (which is great when you aspire to major in comparative lit)

[CognitiveArtist]

Oxford is my preference. On the whole I find Penguin overrated. Although Penguin is rather good with their ancient classics, Aeschylus, Sophocles etc. But that's just because they got the most capable and eminent Robert Fagles to do a lot of work. The best option though is to just do a little research on the internet on the scholars involved with each individual book.

p.s. I just counted and realised I have a lot more penguin then oxford lol. But Oxford are nonetheless my preference as all my Oxford books have been noticeably more enjoyable books (lovely translations, informative notes, useful introductions). Penguin are just the version of books I mostly come across. Strange isn't it, how the Penguin books seem to flood the second hand stores? :)

[waryan]

I'm a HUGE HUGE Norton Critical Editions nut- I'll look at other versions if I don't first find it in Norton- they have footnotes at the bottom of each page rather than in the back of the book, as well as critical essays, many times letters by the author concerning the writing of the book, and a lot of times they're much cheaper- i.e. Frankenstein by Shelley was 9.50. (Though their prices fluccuate very often- at times buying straight from wwnorton.com is cheaper than amazon or brick stores, and vice versa.)

Anyway sorry about that I just thought I should recommend them for classics if you haven't checked them out already or aren't already opposed to them.

I agree with Cognitive- each house is going to have great scholars associated with their versions of whatever text so no need to be loyal to one side or the other. As far as classics I've used Oxford, for books on Balzac, Boccaccio, Navarre, de Sade, etc. For more contemporary stuff like Steinbeck, S. Anderson or Dickens, I've liked to use Penguin.

I also agree about Wordsworth- I enjoy their collected works of authors like Lawrence- which can be found a lot of times at Half Price books for rather cheap.

Rather odd reasons for choices include Penguin (though sometimes the very oppisite) has good loose binding- as the book is very "floppy" and opens very easily. Oxford is sort of inbetween from my experiences. I hate creasing spines and I've creased more Oxford than penguin- also penguin has a nice sleek look, but anywho these are only rather feckless variables.

good luck!

[mortalterror]

In my mind they are roughly equivalent, but on my shelf the Penguins outnumber the Oxfords ten to one. Both have great scholarly introductions and good translations. I think the text has been a little small for some of my Oxfords, but other than that I can't complain. Modern Library always has beautiful text and better paper than either, except their selection can be somewhat lackluster. As for Wordsworth, I don't have many Wordsworth. They are very cheap, but it shows in all kinds of ways: the ink, the paper (like newspaper), the covers. I try to stay away from them, but sometimes they are just the best deal. Then I guess I'd go with Norton and Signet.

[aabbcc]

My Penguins outnumber my Oxfords, yet I prefer Oxford for some reason. Usually, however, I do not read classics in English (unless they're anglo-lit), so I've got most of other cheap editions.

[amalia1985]

I love Penguin, Oxford, and Wordsworth, but I lean towards Oxford because of the notes, and the introductions.

[DapperDrake]

As a rule I don't go for the penguins - that isn't a judgement on the intro/annotation/font etc. because I never get past the fact that the binding quality is so poor. - still, a pound a book isn't to be sneezed at :)

Wordsworth is superb, Only yesterday I picked up the 900 page collection of Hardy's poems - only £4! no complaints about it at all, excellent value and quality for a cheap paperback. (the paper is lower quality than Oxford or Penguin though)

Oxford is great because I can pick up some more obscure texts cheaply, plus the binding isn't too bad and you usually get a decent if stuffy into.

Everymans Library is my favourite, these books are "keepers", good quality hardback with excellent quality paper that will last forever. Most of my collection is Everymans library.

Modern Library is also good, the hardbacks are nicely put together though the paper is of a slightly lower quality than the Everymans library. The paperbacks are excellent quality for a paperback but very expensive for a paperback to boot - usually the same price as a hardback! I try to avoid them for that reason but I have about 8 modern library paperbacks in the book case.

[sprinks]

On our booklist this year all they are all Penguin, for Sophocles I actually used 2 Penguin versions, one was older and given to me from a family member, the other was the one on the booklist; and the older one was so much better in many ways... But anyways, therefore the majority of the classics I have delt with have been Penguin, purely due to that being what the school requested.

[DapperDrake]

Having arrived at home I've found that I've got more penguin books that I thought I had. I was only identifying the Penguin popular classics titles with penguin, where as of course Penguin also have the Penguin classics range which is better quality.
In total I have 4 Penguin popular classics, 5 Penguin classics, and 5 Oxford world's classics. I also have 10 further Oxford books but from different ranges and 3 more Penguins from different ranges. The different ranges have different paper and binding quality so its hard top compare unless you're more specific what ranges you're referring to, even then you've got to be specific - I have books from the original Oxford World's classics range 1928 which is quite a different story quality wise to the current range.

[Erichtho]

I only have around 20 anglophone books, and the majority is from Penguin, since this is what the local bookstore offers. It's true that the paper and binding quality is rather bad, but for so little money (3€) one cannot demand more.

[Nossa]

I like them both. But I normaly buy Oxford if it's for college, I love its introductions and analysis. If the reading is for pleasure, I love Penguin :D Overall, I think I like Penguin more.

[Virgil]

I'm not sure we see that many Oxford paperbacks here in the US. Perhaps I've just missed them. Aren't Penguins cheaper too? At least here I think.

[Nossa]

I'm not sure we see that many Oxford paperbacks here in the US. Perhaps I've just missed them. Aren't Penguins cheaper too? At least here I think.

They're cheaper here too. And to tell you the truth, not many people I know like them. But I love Penguin paperbacks, we have them here in certain bookstores though, not everywhere (and so is Oxford, but I've been to almost all the bookstores in Cairo so I know where to find my stuff :D). There are other good editions there too. I like Wordsworth Classics, and there's an edition called York Classic that's also great for college work. However, I still love Penguin more.

[Virgil]

I think we may have Wordsworth Classics here in the US, but I have never seen nor heard of York Classics. Actually the editions I like the best are Norton's. Do you have those there?

[thelastmelon]

I both buy Wordsworth Classics and Penguin, but I usually prefer Penguin more. :) It's probably got something to do with the layout of the covers and the size of the book, since Wordsworth is usually a tiny bit larger and sometimes it has smaller text inside.

[Nossa]

I think we may have Wordsworth Classics here in the US, but I have never seen nor heard of York Classics. Actually the editions I like the best are Norton's. Do you have those there?

I have one Norton Anthology. But we don't have them a lot. I had to look hard for the one I have. Normaly these books are specially ordered, and you get double charged for them cuz of the shipping fees and everything (which is why I don't normaly buy stuff of the internet). I couldn't find any websites for York Classics either, but they're everywhere here...lol...and Wordsworth Classics are great too, but not for college cuz they have no introductions, just the text and maybe a page at the beginning that's talking briefly about the author.
Here's the link to the official site: http://www.wordsworthclassics.com/
Actually, I LOVE Wordsworth Classics cuz it was probably the only publishing company that had the fairy tales of Brothers Grimm, and not too expensive, so thanks for them I finally have the book :D:D

[Virgil]

Thanks Nossa. Actually the Norton's are very limited in the diversity of books. I guess they only pick special ones and then the include a great introduction and a bunch of critical essays in the back.

Oh you know what's really cheap here, Dover Publications. They have no introduction or anything, just the bare work. http://www.doverdirect.com/by-subject-18-18b-18b2.html.

[Nossa]

Thanks Nossa. Actually the Norton's are very limited in the diversity of books. I guess they only pick special ones and then the include a great introduction and a bunch of critical essays in the back.

Oh you know what's really cheap here, Dover Publications. They have no introduction or anything, just the bare work. http://www.doverdirect.com/by-subject-18-18b-18b2.html.

Yeah, I think Nortons only stick to anthologies. But there's that one book that I bought at the book fair, and it turned out to be a Norton paperback! It's called 'Guide to Musical Styles' by Douglas Moore. It's an amazing book, but it's nothing like the normal Norton books. It's on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0393002004/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link
If you click on the little arrow on the right, you'll see the first page of the book and it says Norton Paperback.

I'll look for the Dover Publications, maybe I can find them here. I actually have tons of different editions in my bookcase, esp. when I go to used bookstore, it has the canceled books of libraries like the British Council's and the American Embassy and all...so it's got lots of different versions for like half the price or so.

[waryan]

I'm not sure we see that many Oxford paperbacks here in the US. Perhaps I've just missed them. Aren't Penguins cheaper too? At least here I think.

From my experiences Ive seen Oxford classics at both B&N and Borders but a lot more at Borders, but you're right I imagine they're more standard elsewhere.

[Virgil]

Yeah, I think Nortons only stick to anthologies. But there's that one book that I bought at the book fair, and it turned out to be a Norton paperback! It's called 'Guide to Musical Styles' by Douglas Moore. It's an amazing book, but it's nothing like the normal Norton books. It's on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0393002004/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link
If you click on the little arrow on the right, you'll see the first page of the book and it says Norton Paperback.

I'll look for the Dover Publications, maybe I can find them here. I actually have tons of different editions in my bookcase, esp. when I go to used bookstore, it has the canceled books of libraries like the British Council's and the American Embassy and all...so it's got lots of different versions for like half the price or so.

That music book looks like a realy good book.

[Nossa]

That music book looks like a realy good book.

It's amazing! And the best part is that it's made for listeners, and not professional musicians. It's for people who listen to music for pleasure, and want to know more about the musical styles and the difference between them and all. It has examples on everything, symphonies and sonatas...ect, it even has the music sheets printed and everything. It's really awesome!

[mortalterror]

I love Dover thrift additions. Pick 'em up used and they're like 30-55 cents. Buy them new and they don't cost more than $3. It makes so much sense to me. Why are our English language classics costing so much, when the copyright expired centuries ago and publishers don't need to pay royalties to anybody?

[Nossa]

I love Dover thrift additions. Pick 'em up used and they're like 30-55 cents. Buy them new and they don't cost more than $3. It makes so much sense to me. Why are our English language classics costing so much, when the copyright expired centuries ago and publishers don't need to pay royalties to anybody?

Actually, here in Egypt, classics are pretty cheap compared to modern books. Some classics however are more expensive than others. I guess it's got to do with the number of editions and all. Like for instance, the complete works are normaly expensive. Some novels aren't published as much as some others, so they're expensive when you buy them, and so on.

[Virgil]

It's amazing! And the best part is that it's made for listeners, and not professional musicians. It's for people who listen to music for pleasure, and want to know more about the musical styles and the difference between them and all. It has examples on everything, symphonies and sonatas...ect, it even has the music sheets printed and everything. It's really awesome!

I may have to pick that up. :D

[Nossa]

I may have to pick that up. :D

You should. You're gonna love it. And esp. since you already have a very good musical background, you won't struggle as much as I did. You can imagine me, sitting in my room, holding the book, having headsets on my ear, and rewinding all the time to get what is being said in the book :lol: It was enjoyable though, and it did help me a lot, it's in a very easy langauge too so it fits anyone :D

[John Goodman]

I love the Penguin Deluxe Classics, durable and interesting covers (not for everyone) but not many are in that series. I usually just prefer Penguin in general, incredible translations (at least for French novels) and they're normally very practical in all aspects. The critical essays and such are just uneeded extras in the Oxford versions, in my opinion.

[SirJazzHands]

Hmm, Nossa, a question. The book you linked to.. I am addicted to music of all eras, but don't know the first thing about it.. G chord and D chord, what the hell are those? :)
Is it truly in easy to understand terms or did you already have a decent background in music theory?

[Trystan]

I don't own any Oxford classics but Penguin is pretty good. Most of the classics I own are published by Wordsworth Classics - they very cheap and I've picked up The Idiot, War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, Frankenstein, and Dubliners all for £1:99 each.

[LadyWentworth]

I probably own more Signet Classics than anything else. That is mainly because when I was really getting into reading there was this HUGE sale going on with them! :p

Anyway, for anything that I bought after that, I probably would have to say that my collection of Penguin is greater than my Oxford. I know that I do like Wordsworth, too, though. When I can find it. :)

[Nossa]

Hmm, Nossa, a question. The book you linked to.. I am addicted to music of all eras, but don't know the first thing about it.. G chord and D chord, what the hell are those? :)
Is it truly in easy to understand terms or did you already have a decent background in music theory?

I didn't know a thing..lol...the book is really easy, and it takes you step by step to understanding everything. You're gonna like it :D

[Niamh]

I have a lot of the Punguin Popular Classics, (old creamey cover and one with the new cheepy green and white cover) Only cost between €2 and €3, i've some of the other Penguin Classics, a few Wordsworth Classics but i dont have any Oxford. I believe its mainly Penguin and Wordsworth here. I dont have a preference. Once i have a book to read thats all that matters.

[waryan]

hey nossa does that book come with an audio cd or something? i play around on piano and ive been looking for something to help me understand styles, theories and general music concept for a while and that sounds like it might be a good start- any more details on the book would be great, thx

[Nossa]

hey nossa does that book come with an audio cd or something? i play around on piano and ive been looking for something to help me understand styles, theories and general music concept for a while and that sounds like it might be a good start- any more details on the book would be great, thx

No, there are no audio CDs with the book. But the author provided examples on everything, with the music sheets of everything he discusses. For instance, if he was discussing the classic sonata (which was one of the first things I read in the book), he gave three examples one for Mozart, one for Beethoven and another for Haydn. He explained each movement in each sonata and provided its the music sheet. It's not hard to download the music online, I can send you a couple of links to websites from which I download my classical music :D I downloaded each one of them and listened to them while reading the book, it's easy but needs lots of listening (same as if you had a CD with the book).

[Hank Stamper]

I tend to buy the Penguin Classics... although I like the new Vintage classics range for aesthetic reasons, although if I were buying a classic for academic purposes then Norton comes first, then Oxford...

[moose gurl]

Penguin. Oxfords seem to smear and while they're cheaper, I don't like the style.

[stlukesguild]

I tend to seek out the best edition within my price range for a given book. For foreign literature the quality of the translation is of the prime importance and so I will seek out outside critical input. If the work is English-language then I tend to look at the quality of the actual book: the paper quality, binding, printing, introduction, notes, etc... I tend to dislike Penguin for older British literature as I am not of their editorial practice in standardizing/modernizing spelling, etc... I expect my Spencer or Donne or Herrick or Blake to not read as if they were written in the 20th century. I also must admit that Penguin can be quite bad with some translations... although they seem to be improving in that department. having said that much, I must admit that I do have a goodly amount of Penguin books... but I also have a lot of Everyman, Library of America, Modern Library, and Oxford... but also a good many works from other academic and commercial presses.

[waryan]

Thanks Nossa!

Oh also in accordance with stlukesguild, I also prefer older translations (if that's what you were saying). Anyway, Norton editions usually use the original or revised edition of a book's text. I have a Norton copy of Malory's LE MORTE DARTHUR using the unabridged Winchester Manuscript- the actual book reads as so... "And than com forth Dame Lyones arayde lyke a prynces.."

[kelby_lake]

penguin definitely for modern classics. the covers are just so beautiful

[Walter]

Egad! From Madrigal to Modern Music is still around! I used an earlier edition way way back in college! And yes it is great.
Great catch, Virgil!