We’re certain everyone has at least once picked up a Penguin Classic paperback, characterised by their typical orange covers. Whether it was in a secondhand bookshop, during class, or in one of your grandparents’ bookshelves, the orange hue has become synonymous with great literature. Penguin Books has paid particular attention to the design of its books since recruiting German typographer Jan Tschichold in 1947. The early minimalist designs were modernised by Italian art director Germano Facetti, who joined Penguin in 1961. Now to celebrate the publishing company’s 80th anniversary, they’ll release 80 seminal novels for a mere 80p each. For this series, the iconic orange covers have been painted black and are entitled the ‘Little Black Classics‘. 

A slick website dedicated to the collection has been published and designed by Mathieu Triay. Viewers can control the circular interface with their computer mouses or touchscreens to discover renowned authors such as John Keats, Walt Whitman, Emily Bronte, Karl Marx & Fredrich Engels, Edgar Allen Poe, Elizabeth Gaskell and many more. For only 80p it might be an idea to buy the lot and have a wonderfully matching collection of classic literature. The collection is available as of February 26.