Howdy, y’all! I was recently reminded that the Harvard Classics collection is a thing that exists, and it vexes me on two accounts. One, it annoys me that nothing by Alexandre Dumas seems to merit inclusion in the collection, and two, I can’t seem to find an affordable paperback version of the collection.

There’s loads of pretty leatherbound books available online, and tons of partial runs of the collection on ebay, but there simply doesn’t seem to be a version that’s affordable for the average reader to purchase and own.

It’s almost like you have to take out a loan for all of those tomes.

On the flipside, there’s a Kindle version available for less than a dollar. I’m not a huge fan of e-readers, but I may have to go with one of those just so I can access the material more easily.

Any thoughts? Advice? Similar frustrations?

  • RepulsiveLoquat418@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    you can review the names of the books that are in it and find affordable versions of the ones you want to own. why do you want to own the official collection when you believe the official collection is flawed?

  • DevinB333@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I bought the complete collection for kindle a long time ago and only started reading through them a couple years ago. It’s not the best formatted ebook, but it’s not the worst. If affordability is your major concern, just get the ebook.

  • chemwizard99@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I bought a hardback complete set off of eBay several years ago, I think it ran about 60 bucks. I would check out Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, eBay etc you can usually find someone who’s literary eyes were bigger than their stomach

  • Deliiciouss@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    The Harvard Classics collection is indeed well-known and respected. It is worth mentioning that the selection of works included in the collection is subjective and based on the editors’ criteria, which may explain the absence of Alexandre Dumas’ works.

    As for finding an affordable paperback version, full sets of the Harvard Classics can be quite expensive due to their quality and collectability. However, you can explore secondhand bookstores, online marketplaces, or library sales for potential bargains.

    Alternatively, the Kindle version offers a more affordable option, which could be worth considering if convenience and cost are major factors for you. While your personal preference may lean towards physical books, the digital format allows for easy access to the collection’s material.

    PS, excuse the self plug, but I copy pasted and searched your entire post in Thought Portals (my site) (https://thoughtportals.com), and the most similar thought on there was: ‘Bookstores, a happy chaos of stories waiting to be unraveled’. It’s basically a site where you can type any thought and find similar thoughts from others, but I’m adding heaps of different features to make it more suited towards keeping track of and growing your thoughts. Can be good to find people who are in similar situations to you in a direct manner. All the best.

  • Cornflake1981@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I just inherited my grandfather’s collection, minus book 19 and 40. I remember seeing it fairly available on abebooks if I’m not mistaken

  • The-literary-jukes@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Such collections were meant to be not only something to read but to show off on your shelves - that’s why they are so nicely bound. I doubt they ever made a paperback version of the collection since it was a made to be shown.

  • buffettmo@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I bought the Kindle version for around a buck and have been reading the collection this year. As another user commented, it’s not the best formatted ebook, but it’s passable.

  • Zikoris@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I bought the Kobo version (the full 71 volume one) for a couple of bucks and the formatting seems fine, though I haven’t read much yet.