This critical publication explored and analysed the role of illustrative authorship within special edition illustrated books. Firstly, I briefly laid out an understanding of these books within a capitalist context: with an emphasis upon how views of proccessual engagement with narrative, aids an understanding of illustrative authorship beyond ‘product’ based assessments of success.

Following this, I critically analysed examples of special edition illustrated books using concepts of ‘augmenting’ texts (staying true to the narrative) and ‘appropriating’ narratives with illustration.

• I first considered two ‘augmenting’ examples from the Folio Society: The Handmaid’s Tale and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

• Following this, I considered two special editions of Frankenstein, considering the authorship displayed by different illustrators who take a non-narrative ‘appropriating’ approach to illustrating the classic, and their influence over the reception of the tex.

The Cover Design for this publication was inspired by a variety of The Folio Society’s Special Edition Books

It was designed with a Book Sleeve in mind (as seen by the silhouette cutout showing through the colour of the book underneath)

All gold typographic elements were designed to function either in the colour as seen or with debossed gold leaf

The internal design directly references the folio society’s internal layout for “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, an edition closely studied within the critical publication.