Miscellany 13: Lost Causes
Steve Hare read the entire Penguin editorial archive as part of his research for Penguin’s 60th anniversary celebratory volume (Penguin Portrait). While these files related to books published, occasionally correspondence relating to abandoned books or series was kept, more or less by accident in random files. From these clues it was possible to piece together the hugely ambitious plans for postwar expansion. While projects like Penguin Classics, and the Buildings of England thrived, at least two major undertakings had to be abandoned: the World Atlas project, and the definitive Natural History of Britain. To these are added a beautifully produced treatment on vernacular architecture, by Margaret and Alexander Potter; and one series actually published, but almost immediately and cynically abandoned, Grace Hogarth’s exquisite Porpoise Books.
In addition to the ‘Introduction’ by Steve Hare, the contents are as follows:
‘Porpoise’ by Steve Hare
‘A Natural History’ by Steve Hare
‘Allen Lane: A Wrong Decision?’ by Richard Chopping
‘The Pasque Flower’ by Frances Partridge
‘Fish’ by Bernard Venables
‘Local Building Styles’ by Steve Hare
‘Atlas’ by Steve Hare
Perfect bound with 4 colour plates and b&w illustrations.
Designed by Fred and Val Price
Printed by Octoprint; print run 600
Steve Hare read the entire Penguin editorial archive as part of his research for Penguin’s 60th anniversary celebratory volume (Penguin Portrait). While these files related to books published, occasionally correspondence relating to abandoned books or series was kept, more or less by accident in random files. From these clues it was possible to piece together the hugely ambitious plans for postwar expansion. While projects like Penguin Classics, and the Buildings of England thrived, at least two major undertakings had to be abandoned: the World Atlas project, and the definitive Natural History of Britain. To these are added a beautifully produced treatment on vernacular architecture, by Margaret and Alexander Potter; and one series actually published, but almost immediately and cynically abandoned, Grace Hogarth’s exquisite Porpoise Books.
In addition to the ‘Introduction’ by Steve Hare, the contents are as follows:
‘Porpoise’ by Steve Hare
‘A Natural History’ by Steve Hare
‘Allen Lane: A Wrong Decision?’ by Richard Chopping
‘The Pasque Flower’ by Frances Partridge
‘Fish’ by Bernard Venables
‘Local Building Styles’ by Steve Hare
‘Atlas’ by Steve Hare
Perfect bound with 4 colour plates and b&w illustrations.
Designed by Fred and Val Price
Printed by Octoprint; print run 600
Steve Hare read the entire Penguin editorial archive as part of his research for Penguin’s 60th anniversary celebratory volume (Penguin Portrait). While these files related to books published, occasionally correspondence relating to abandoned books or series was kept, more or less by accident in random files. From these clues it was possible to piece together the hugely ambitious plans for postwar expansion. While projects like Penguin Classics, and the Buildings of England thrived, at least two major undertakings had to be abandoned: the World Atlas project, and the definitive Natural History of Britain. To these are added a beautifully produced treatment on vernacular architecture, by Margaret and Alexander Potter; and one series actually published, but almost immediately and cynically abandoned, Grace Hogarth’s exquisite Porpoise Books.
In addition to the ‘Introduction’ by Steve Hare, the contents are as follows:
‘Porpoise’ by Steve Hare
‘A Natural History’ by Steve Hare
‘Allen Lane: A Wrong Decision?’ by Richard Chopping
‘The Pasque Flower’ by Frances Partridge
‘Fish’ by Bernard Venables
‘Local Building Styles’ by Steve Hare
‘Atlas’ by Steve Hare
Perfect bound with 4 colour plates and b&w illustrations.
Designed by Fred and Val Price
Printed by Octoprint; print run 600
