Chiltern Classics

Chiltern creates the most beautiful editions of the World’s finest literature.
Your favourite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile layers, fine details and beautiful colours of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf.

The Secret Garden opens by introducing us to Mary Lennox, a sickly, foul-tempered, unsightly little girl who loves no one and whom no one loves. At the outset of the story, she is living in India with her parents. A dashing army captain and his frivolous, beautiful wife, but is rarely permitted to see them. They have placed her under the constant care of a number of native servants, as they find her too hideous and tiresome to look after. Mary’s circumstances are cast into complete upheaval when an outbreak of cholera devastates the Lennox household, leaving no one alive but herself.

She is found by a group of soldiers and, after briefly living with an English clergyman and his family, Mary is sent to live in Yorkshire with her maternal uncle, Archibald Craven. Misselthwaite Manor is a sprawling old estate with over one hundred rooms, all of which have been shut up by Archibald Craven. A man whom everyone describes as “a miserable hunchback,” Master Craven has been in a state of inconsolable grief ever since the death of his wife ten years before the novel begins. Shortly after arriving at Misselthwaite, Mary hears about a secret garden from Martha Sowerby, her good-natured Yorkshire maidservant. This garden belonged to the late Mistress Craven; after her death, Archibald locked the garden door and buried the key beneath the earth.

Mary becomes intensely curious about the secret garden, and determines to find it. This curiosity, along with the vigorous exercise she takes on the moor, begins to have an extremely positive effect upon Mary. She almost immediately becomes less sickly, more engaged with the world, and less foul-tempered. This change is aided by Ben Weatherstaff, a brusque but kindly old gardener, and a robin redbreast who lives in the secret garden. She begins to count these two “people,” along with Martha, Dickon Sowerby, and Susan Sowerby, as the friends she has had in her life. Her curiosity is whetted when she hears strange, far-off cries coming from one of the manor’s distant rooms.

Chiltern creates the most beautiful editions of the World’s finest literature.
Your favourite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile layers, fine details and beautiful colours of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf.

This book has a matching lined journal (sold separately). They make a great gift when paired together but are also just as beautiful on their own.

Dorian Gray is the subject of a full-length portrait in oil by Basil Hallward, an artist impressed and infatuated by Dorian’s beauty; he believes that Dorian’s beauty is responsible for the new mood in his art as a painter. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, and he soon is enthralled by the aristocrat’s hedonistic world view: that beauty and sensual fulfilment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Newly understanding that his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses the desire to sell his soul, to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. The wish is granted, and Dorian pursues a libertine life of varied amoral experiences while staying young and beautiful; all the while, his portrait ages and records every sin.

Chiltern Publishing was formed in 2018 with a vision to create the most beautiful classics. Jane Austen’s original books (particularly Pride and Prejudice) from the 1800s were our inspiration. So, using a perfect mix of tradition and the very latest in printing techniques, 19th Century quality has met 21st Century technology. The specification of our books reflects the size and format of the original Jane Austen books, and this is maintained throughout all of our editions. With wonderfully detailed covers, sparkling gilt edges, creamy pages, and stitched binding they are the most beautiful classics ever published.

This book has a matching lined journal (sold separately). They make a great gift when paired together but are also just as beautiful on their own.

Emma by Jane Austen tells the story Emma Woodhouse, a rich, clever, and beautiful young woman, has just seen her friend, companion, and former governess, Miss Taylor, married to a neighbouring widower, Mr. Weston. While the match is suitable in every way, Emma cannot help sighing over her loss, for now only she and her father are left at Hartfield. Mr. Woodhouse is too old and too fond of worrying about trivialities to be a sufficient companion for his daughter. The Woodlouse’s are the great family in the village of Highbury. In their small circle of friends, there are enough middle-aged ladies to make up card tables for Mr. Woodhouse, but there is no young lady to be a friend and confidant to Emma. Lonely for her beloved Miss Taylor, now Mrs. Weston, Emma takes under her wing Harriet Smith, the Parlor boarder at a nearby boarding school. Although not in the least brilliant, Harriet is a pretty seventeen-year-old girl with pleasing, unassuming manners, and a gratifying habit of looking up to Emma as a paragon. p>

Chiltern Publishing creates the most beautiful editions of the world’s finest literature. Your favorite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile layers, fine details and beautiful colors of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf.

The Phantom of the Opera tells the tale of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the Paris Opera House. Mesmerized by the talents and beauty of the young soprano Christine, the Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her. One of the most well-known and well-loved gothic horror stories, Leroux’s suspenseful tale of unrequited love, passion and tragedy is both dark and moving in its portrayal of Erik, the anti-hero in his yearning for Christine. The novel has been adapted into several formats, most notably a 1925 silent film directed by Rupert Julien and a 1986 musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the most successful theatrical show of all time.

Chiltern creates the most beautiful editions of the World’s finest literature.
Your favourite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile layers, fine details and beautiful colours of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf.

This book has matching lined and blank journals (sold separately). They make a great gift when paired together but are also just as beautiful on their own.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein tells the story of scientist Victor Frankenstein’s creation of a monster and the disaster and woe that result. Victor Frankenstein, telling his story to explorer Robert Walton, explains that he assembled a creature out of body parts, brought it to life, and fled in terror. The creature was rejected by humans and came to realize the horror of his existence, blaming Victor. The creature began to hunt down and kill Victor’s loved ones and pursued Victor to the Arctic. Victor dies on Walton’s ship. The creature wanders into the Arctic alone after Victor’s death and plans to end his life there.