The Revival & Reprinting of Underrated Classics
By Briana Wilvert
Edited by Sherriece Hughes
If your TikTok algorithm looks anything like mine, you might have started to notice an interesting trend in the book space—the rise of classics. Whether they're pitched as unsung, anti-brain rot, or perfect for thought daughters, recommendation lists of decades are growing more and more popular. But that's not all, publishers too are leaning in, reprinting both popular and relatively unknown old books with beautiful new covers suited for a modern eye.
Why are out-of-print books so trendy?
It makes sense why readers might be drawn to such books, but what makes them so appealing on the business side of things? There seem to be a few compelling answers. First, it's faster and easier to put a reprint out in the market—if anything, the only production work to be done is making a new cover and finding someone to write a new foreword. Second, in a tough publishing market, reprints are a pretty risk-averse bet. There's no big advance to pay to an author, not a ton of marketing to do, no career management. You can put it on a shelf and hope for the best.
As readers, we're really reaping the benefits of what's essentially a no-brainer for publishers. Here are some of the publishers reviving both beloved and forgotten gems:
McNally Editions is dedicated to bringing neglected books and authors back to life. They have some of the loveliest art-forward covers and a catalog of treasures to dive into.
New York Review Books appear to be everywhere at this point, with the most recognizable spines in the game. You can find everything from translated fiction to nonfiction in their collection.
Hagfish feels like the cool little sister of the bunch. They reissue out-of-print books, but also work to bring contemporary neglected writers forward.
Persephone Books is based in the UK and focuses almost entirely on women writers from the twentieth century. They've got everything, from short stories to memoirs to gardening books, and they’re all beautifully designed.
The Modern Library focuses on classics, translations, and rediscoveries of forgotten works. Their Torchbearers series in particular has some incredible feminist reads to dive into.
Reprint recommendations
Finally, here are a few book recommendations to get you started on your reprint journey.
Plum Bun by Jessie Redmon Fauset
A classic from the Harlem Renaissance about a white-passing young Black woman living in New York in the 1920s and her journey to self-acceptance.
The Awakening by Kate Chopin, with an introduction by Carmen Maria Machado
An early feminist work, this 1899 masterpiece follows a young wife and mother on her quest for self-discovery.
My Death by Lisa Tuttle
An uncanny little novella following a writer who decides to write the biography of her favorite artist and finds things going sideways once she meets her muse.
The revival of old and out-of-print books is a trend expanding the world of available reads. There are so many out there to discover whatever your taste might be.