Origami Books

Unusual Origami Books

      This week, I am taking a break from discussing the design of Mein Kampf and writting about unique books. Helen Friel designed this unusual edition of Edgar Allen Poe's the "the Imp of the Perverse." In order to read this copy, the reader has to tear and fold the book, following instructions included.  Friel says that she designed it in this way to challenge the traditional feelings surrounding books, that they need to be unwritten in and preserved. She claims that she wants the reader to find within him or her an Imp, mischievously ripping and tearing.
     Friel is a "paper engineer" and challenges herself to come up with unique ways to deal with paper.  The origami book is one of my favorite book designs, forcing the reader to become involved in the story. They become the Imp, working fervently to discover the progression of the plot.  I would love to own a copy!

                                                                         Until Next Week!
 Alexis Smith

Book Personality

Book Personality

     For this class, I decided to study the 1936 copy of Mein Kampf from our special collections in Morrow Library. The first question you will have is "why Mein Kampf?" This may be fueled by outrage, and I understand why. This book carries with it many emotions, each edition, each copy has its own feelings attached to it. Now, it is taboo to call this book beautiful due to the feelings of devastation and fear that still permeates our minds from WWII. After all, we aren't very far removed from the atrocities that stole millions of lives. Today, Germany has laws against the publication and sale of Mein Kampf, and many other countries strongly condemn any publisher that decides to print copies.  
     But this book has character because of all the feelings surrounding it.  Copies from the peak of Nazi power were elaborate, signed, loved. They were bound with unique book plates and carry marks of history on their pages.  Each copy has a German print, a unique topography.  I am excited to research how Morrow came into its copy and explore the beauty of each copy of a book surrounded in fear, mystery, and taboo.  
      Mein Kampf was originally published on July 18, 1925 in two volumes; it was written by Adolf Hitler during his time in prison. At the height of Nazi popularity, thousands of copies were printed, personalized, and signed. Most people, due to the culture, were in some way actively involved in the party.  By 1936, over 5 million copies were printed, and it was translated into 11 different languages (Encyclopedia Britannica.)   Max Amann first published the book on Nazi Party presses (History Learning Cite.)            

               

 Signature in the 1936 copy from Morrow.

       The first thing that I noticed about this particular copy from Morrow was the signature which looks like the signature of Adolf Hitler himself underneath his photo.  I am very excited to be able to dig deeper into this book, how it was put together, how Morrow got it, what makes this and the other copies beautiful.

      Until Next Week!
      Alexis Smith                               

"Max Amann". HistoryLearningSite.co.uk. 2014. Web."Mein Kampf". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 24 Jan. 2015<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/373362/Mein-Kampf>.

Hello!

     My name is Alexis Smith. I am a Junior at Marshall University. I am writing this blog about my journey through my honors class "The Book Beautiful." At Marshall University, I am very lucky to be able to study my two passions, language and International Affairs. 
     As an assistant librarian and a lover of books, I will learn the small components of a book that make it a thing of beauty in and of itself, from its pages to the type of binding used. As a linguist, I am passionate about the words on the pages. This class will help me see that the book can be judged more deeply than just the words printed upon its pages! I am very excited and nervous for this journey into uncharted territory! 

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" --Lau Tzu 

 Thanks for Reading,  

 Alexis Smith