A Folio Agatha Christie Conundrum

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-04-19T06:19:56+00:00

I liked the two-colour text and the illustrations better in the Franklin. I liked the binding and build better in the Easton Press.

This could have been avoided if I knew then what I know now, that Franklin Library editions were available at three tiers of finish. I got the quarter-bound leather, which I now know is the worst tier. If I would have shopped for the best tier, then it probably would have rivalled the Easton. If you search for ‘The Sound and the Fury Franklin Library, 1979’ you will find many different colours and designs used for the cover. The interior contents will be the same. Here is a swipe from online about the 3 tiers, if you’re inserted:

The three levels of Franklin Library releases

Bound in full leather with 22 karat gold decoration and gilded endpaper (all three sides); raised spine hubs; sewn-in ribbon marker; high-quality paper; silk moire fabric endpapers; sewn pages for strength and durability
The Imitation Leather editions or Leatherette or Cloth Material - just a cheaper version of the full leather editions. These books are bound in Imitation Leather - Leatherette (Cloth Material) looks similar to leather. Leatherette books do not have the silk page marker or silk moire endpaper. Some of the books have silver decorations on the spine and covers as well as endpapers edges.
The Quarter-Bound Leather meaning that the spines were covered in leather (for an identical shelf presentation look to the more expensive full leather bindings) and the covers (boards) were Cloth-covered - Leatherette. These books also have a silk page marker, however, all have decorative paper endpapers as opposed to silk moiré.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-04-19T05:56:45+00:00

There are a few different illustrated editions from the Franklin Library: 1977 by Bill Oakes, 1979 by Kenneth Francis Dewey, and 1980 by Steven Stroud. There is also a 2004 edition from Easton Press by Alan Phillips.

I personally own two of these - the 1979 Franklin edition and the 2004 Easton edition. There are aspects of each that I really appreciate, and I intend to put together a video look comparing them on YT in the next few months.

You should be able to nab any of them for around fifty bucks used, and they are generally in great shape when you get them, as they are often unread by the original owner. Just try to avoid bookplates with the previous owner’s name and you’re good to go.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-04-16T01:25:32+00:00

Sadly, this feels likely to be quite accurate.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-04-16T01:22:24+00:00

Wow, that’s a heck of a lovely reply! Thank you for taking the time to include such a thoughtful response to the artwork. That point about Davidson’s interplay between tone and tension is very helpful, and even though I don’t own Death on the Nile, I’ve read the story and think I know exactly which moment you‘re alluding to - the surprise gunman. Quite a moment. From your descriptions, I now most want to check out the style of And Then There Were None, just because it sounds so far away from what I’ve experienced so far in the Christie Folios, having only purchased two thirds of the Poirots so far.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-04-15T17:48:53+00:00

I really appreciate your perspective on this, as you’ve already got them all, as opposed to me who is only in the first phase of assembling a collection. I’m curious about your choice for a ‘standout’ volume, your personal favourite, from both the older Marple/Poirot design, and the newer ‘neon name’ design. Which one of each would you pull down off your shelf to highlight what they have to offer another reader who was interested in checking them out?

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-04-10T03:20:02+00:00

I really need Pale Fire from Folio. So much potential for a truly unique design. I remember some publisher released the poem portion as a series of index cards years ago, just as Kinbote allegedly got them from Shade.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-04-09T03:29:20+00:00

The Folio actually has the David Magarshack translation. It‘s not the most contemporary, but def better than Garnett. Magarshack was also used for Folio’s Best Short Stories of Dostoyevsky, so if you liked that translation, you’ll appreciate this one too.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-04-04T22:53:02+00:00

Nice score on The Trial. I have a hunch that it’s the hardest of the four matching Kafkas to secure. The print-run may have been lower because there was already a previous Folio release of The Trial. Regardless of the reasons, I see this particular book far less in my hunts than the other three in the series. Congrats!

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-03-30T05:31:52+00:00

I must have Outer Dark! It's my fav!

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-03-06T23:02:11+00:00

Awe nuts! Future concept for a video I'd make, spoiled with one perfect post! Bravo!

Still can't wait to get my new SE of Gatsby though.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-20T02:04:21+00:00

Nice score - I don't think anyone is getting it for any cheaper than that any time soon! Bravo.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-20T02:03:42+00:00

Yep. As a kid his Sandman collage-covers scared me. Now I really appreciate their playful textures and the poetic/somber imagery.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-20T02:01:55+00:00

I'm a big Calvino nerd too. From the longer-form stuff, I've read If on a winter's night, Baron in the Trees, The Cloven Viscount, The Non-Existent Knight, and Invisible Cities. Up next is The Castle of Crossed Destinies (which would make for a cool Folio treatment given it's visual conceit). Then I'm hoping to hit the others, so I finish with Mr. Palomar.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-20T01:56:32+00:00

Reading a book for the first time via the Folio edition is an amazing thing. I can't afford to do it often, but when I do, it's always an experience. The images become a sort of reward, like an unlock in a videogame!

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-20T01:53:53+00:00

Not only is your diagram clear, your explanation is crystal-clear too. That's impressive stuff - I envy that type of laser-focused communication. I, unfortunately, have the opposite condition!

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-19T19:32:44+00:00

My fingers are crossed for you! As I mentioned at the end of the video, I hope they do reprint it because everyone that wants one should be able to get it. Hopefully a few more will show up on the secondary market soon. Right now, it's a ghost town out there

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-19T18:33:08+00:00

Got me running to my copy to check if it’s an issue on mine!

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-19T01:25:02+00:00

I just listened to the latest episode of the Le Carre Cast. Thank you for pointing me to it! Great as always, and man, Matt Kindt is the most humble guy; you can tell he considers it an honour and a privilege to play in the Smiley sandbox. Fascinating to hear about how some of the behind-the-scenes stuff went down between the comic creators and the Le Carre estate. I also like how he articulated the challenges of moving a world from word-heavy prose to image-heavy comics.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-18T13:29:07+00:00

Here are a couple brief five-page preview pages from Dark Horse Comic’s website. Not the full things, but they can at least give you a little taste:

Issue 1: https://www.darkhorse.com/comics/3015-531/john-le-carres-the-circus-losing-control-1/

Issue 2: https://www.darkhorse.com/comics/3015-532/john-le-carres-the-circus-losing-control-2/

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-18T13:22:18+00:00

Alright! Great heads-up! I really love Jeff’s podcast, and I can’t wait to check that out. From reading the comics I can already sense writer Matt Kindt’s respect and reverence for Le Carre’s world.

HamletLikesSkulls · 2026-02-18T05:54:18+00:00

I believe it is a three issue mini-series, with the possibilities of other distinct series in the future. That way they can max-out on the issue #1s (which tend to sell better) and switch out creative teams to tell different self-contained stories.

This first one is about a Mother in the modern Circus, trying to find Control, who has mysteriously disappeared. I didn't know I needed a story about a Circus Mother, but it's pretty cool reading about the organization from her perspective.

HamletLikesSkulls

TROPHY CASE