The Folio Society – Everest and Mythical Beasts
No matter how much one subscribes to the notion that one should not judge a book by its cover, if you feel passionate about the arts – whatever medium they may be channelled in – the packaging and overall presentation offers an opportunity to extend, elevate and celebrate the story at its core by putting emphasis on craftmanship and meticulous attention to detail, with the result being not only a feast for the eyes but a tangible experience.
Enter The Folio Society.
Founded in the old world nigh to eight decades ago, the central tenet of The Folio society has always been firmly set on the creation and publishing of carefully crafted editions of carefully curated heavyweights of what the world of literature has to offer.
No matter what your favourite work of fiction or non-fiction is, chances are that if there is a Folio Society edition of it, the enjoyment you get from their highly imaginative and timeless editions and choice of materials will augment your enjoyment exponentially, with the common denominator of Folio Society’s editions being the quality of the product and the focus on variety as far as the aesthetic is concerned: While there is no cookie-cutter formula as far as their approach to design elements is concerned, I can guarantee that if you ever experienced one of the illustrious cloth-bound Folio Society versions of a tome, you will recognize their other releases from a long way off during your next bookstore visit as they stand out as works of art.
Each release is unique in that it features uniquely commissioned artwork that either zeroes in on elements of the story / subject matter or characters and events depending on the respective theme, giving each book the third dimension representation it deserves and making it an ideal thoughtful gift for any bibliophile.
Given the abovementioned, stating that I was thrilled when I learned that Folio Society was going to dedicate a book on Mount Everest would be an understatement par excellence.
With its 8,848m, Mount Everest has fascinated me for the longest time and after a visit to Tibet and a trek up to the base camp, my ambition to one day scale it solidified: I finally managed to secure a permit for the ascent in May 2020 but then Covid hit and plans have been put on the backburner indefinitely.
The Folio Society’s two-volume edition Everest: From Reconnaissance to Summit is a veritable heavyweight both in the literal as well as metaphorical sense: The first part is a wonderfully illustrated selection of close to three hundred mountain photographs with the focus set on the beauty and immense proportions of the mountain, shedding light on 360 degree panoramas, pinnacles, iced plateaus and other visually appealing aspects.
Produced in collaboration with the Royal Geographical Society, the second part is dedicated to the history and accounts of eyewitnesses, embedded in essays, official reports, private communiques and contextualising commentary by authorities in the field of mountaineering and Mount Everest expeditions.
As far as historical depictions are concerned, it is specifically interesting how political agendas played part over the years.
Bound in printed and blocked cloth with silver tops and housed in a pictorial slipcase, a truly well-produced release that is bound to excite both the uninitiated as well as the aficionado of mountaineering.
Another recent intriguing Folio Society release is Mythical Beasts – a telling name as the focus is set on the protagonists and creatures that infuse myths and folklore with colourful incarnations and motifs. Needless to say, given the subject matter, it proves to be a perfect release for The Folio Society to go to town in terms of design to add its idiosyncratic enriching facets.
With a fact based and borderline scientific approach, the opulently illustrated tome travels through time from antiquity to the present day to shed light on the origins of half-human creatures, gods, demons, dragons and everything in between.
Contextualised and embedded in carefully researched essays by subject matter experts, the focus is on lending a voice to a variety of sources to paint a comprehensive picture of how mythical beast have played an integral role in the shaping of some cultures and it expertly identifies their appeal, backed by imagery, artistic interpretations and depictions, culminating in a glossary detailing alphabetical references.
