At the edition launch on the morning of 26/7 in Ho Chi Minh City, artist Tran Dai Thang, director of Dong A company, stated that the books received significant investment in their physical presentation to honor the value of these classic works. The books feature cloth-bound hardcovers, clamshell boxes, gold-gilded edges, high-quality paper, and a large format of 25 x 30 cm.

The special edition of "Luc Van Tien", released by Fahasa in collaboration with Dong A, commemorates Fahasa's 50th anniversary. Photo: Minh Chau

The special editions are limited to 500 copies per work, priced from 2,2 million to 2,4 million VND each, individually numbered, and will not be reprinted. Additionally, the collection includes a premium general edition, priced lower, with 1,000 copies printed.

According to the publisher, the book set underwent six months of production. "The Godfather" uses the renowned translation by Ngoc Thu Lang and includes 15 new illustrations by American artist Art Werger. The publisher had to contact the publishing house holding the copyright for Art Werger's illustrations to secure permission for their use.

"Luc Van Tien" features annotations by Associate Professor Nguyen Thach Giang and 19 illustrations by artist Nguyen Cong Hoan. "How the Steel Was Tempered" utilizes the translation by Huy Van and Thep Moi, which has been edited, revised, and standardized. "The Tale of Kieu" was the final work completed by the team, featuring 16 illustrations by artist Dang Xuan Hoa, along with textual research and annotations by Associate Professor Nguyen Thach Giang. "We made every effort to complete this book set with maximum focus, because even a single error would require redoing the entire publication," said Tran Dai Thang.

Illustration from "The Tale of Kieu". Photo: Minh Chau

According to a representative from the publishing unit, this collection targets collectors of rare books. Tran Dai Thang noted that globally, the trend of purchasing special editions is common in many countries, with some bookstores specializing in limited editions. In Vietnam, historically, many sought publications made from do paper, silk paper, or paper imported from France. Over the last 20 years, this market has become increasingly promising.

"The number of buyers is growing. Some editions, if we only printed 100 copies, would not meet demand, so we have to increase it to 500," Thang stated. The company plans to create more special editions for classic works from other countries, such as England, France, Japan, and China.

"The Tale of Kieu" is a renowned work by the great poet Nguyen Du, based on the prose novel "Kim Van Kieu Truyen" by Thanh Tam Tai Nhan (China). The story is set in China during the reign of Emperor Gia Tinh of the Ming dynasty (1521-1567), with the protagonist, Nang Kieu, forced to sell herself to save her father, enduring deceit, falling into a brothel, and experiencing 15 years of wandering. The work is considered "the pinnacle of national classical literature". Its language and verses are richly applied in cultural life, such as: lay Kieu, vinh Kieu, boi Kieu, tro Kieu.

"Luc Van Tien" is a Nom verse narrative by poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu, composed in the luc bat meter in the 1850s. The plot revolves around the conflict between good and evil, upholding the spirit of humanity and justice, and expressing the author's and contemporary people's idealistic aspirations for a better society.

The special edition collection displayed at the event. Photo: Mai Nhat

"How the Steel Was Tempered" was written by author Nikolai Alekseevich Ostrovsky during his days of blindness and bedridden illness. The work centers on the stubborn character of Pavel Korchagin. Pavel grew up during wartime and became a resilient, steadfast revolutionary soldier. He sacrificed love and youth, prioritizing the interests of his country. The book has been beloved by generations of readers, reprinted over 40 times in two years.

"The Godfather" (original title "The Godfather") is a famous novel by author Mario Puzo, first published in 1969. The work tells the story of a mafia family in the US, trained and led by a figure known as "The Godfather" - Don Vito Corleone, set between 1945 and 1955. In 1972, the novel was adapted into a film of the same name, achieving resounding success with 134 million USD in revenue, winning three Oscars and four Golden Globes.

Mai Nhat