The Happy Reader

by19 books in this series
Book cover of #1 - The Happy Reader - Issue 1

#1 - The Happy Reader - Issue 1

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is excitingly simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one Penguin Classics title from an array of surprising and invigorating angles, through fashion, art, lifestyle, history, film and more.

The Happy Reader never patronizes, nor does it seek to baffle its audience with literary name-dropping or pedantry, wearing its bookish curiosity with a playful lightness of touch, delighting in the potential for whimsy and humour.

The magazine is centred on the concept of 'precious print', as embodied by Penguin Classics and Fantastic Man. It explores the myriad advantages of the printed word and image: beautiful typography, high dwell time, the matte charm of ink on paper, the calming luxury of being 'offline'. The magazine is a design object in and of itself.
Book cover of #2 - The Happy Reader - Issue 2

#2 - The Happy Reader - Issue 2

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

The coolest girl in a band, Kim Gordon, graces our spring issue. She talks books, music, writing, art and bad tv habits. While Kakuzo Okakura's The Book of Tea inspires our journey from the tea houses of Japan to the florists of Paris and over to the prisons of England. Read this issue with the perfect brew.
Book cover of #3 - The Happy Reader - Issue 3

#3 - The Happy Reader - Issue 3

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

Our cover star is the comedian-turned-dating-guru AZIZ ANSARI. He talks to us about trying to make time for reading, his new show on Netflix, and love in the age of smartphones.

The book of the summer is Dorothy Carrington's irresistible portrait of Corsica, GRANITE ISLAND. With imagination and adventure, Carrington takes us to a Mediterranean island that offers a lot more than sun, sand and diminutive French military leaders...
Book cover of #4 - The Happy Reader - Issue 4

#4 - The Happy Reader - Issue 4

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

The book of the autumn will be M.P. Shiel's sci-fi masterpiece The Purple Cloud. This cult novel from 1901 involves one man's trip to the North Pole, followed by the death, due to a large poisonous cloud, of everyone on Earth...except for him.

Our cover star will be revealed at publication.
Book cover of #5 - The Happy Reader - Issue 5

#5 - The Happy Reader - Issue 5

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

The book of the winter will be the original 'sex and shopping' novel, Au Bonheur des Dames by Emile Zola. With its vivid portrayal of greedy customers and gossiping staff, its lavish descriptions and sense of theatre, this is a rich and exciting novel about a glittering Paris department store and the capitalist society we live in.

Our cover star will be revealed at publication.
Book cover of #6 - The Happy Reader - Issue 6 by Penguin Classics

#6 - The Happy Reader - Issue 6

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

In our sixth issue we talk to the incredibly talented readerly and writerly actor, Ethan Hawke, and go on a Scandinavian adventure with Selma Lagerlöf's celebrated masterpiece The Saga of Gösta Berling
Book cover of #7 - The Happy Reader - Issue 7 by Penguin Classics

#7 - The Happy Reader - Issue 7

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

In The Happy Reader 7, our summer is Virginia Woolf's ground-breaking novel Mrs Dalloway and we welcome the inimitable genius of the curator, critic and author Hans-Ulrich Obrist as our cover star
Book cover of #8 - The Happy Reader - Issue 8

#8 - The Happy Reader - Issue 8

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

In The Happy Reader 8, we rendezvous with the inimitably cool KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS and consider a timeless work of American fiction in Willa Cather's O Pioneers!
Book cover of #9 - The Happy Reader - Issue 9

#9 - The Happy Reader - Issue 9

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

In The Happy Reader 9, our summer classic is Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island
Book cover of #10 - The Happy Reader – Issue 10 by Penguin Classics

#10 - The Happy Reader – Issue 10

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

In The Happy Reader 10, our winter classic is Yevgeny Zamyatin's We.
Book cover of #11 - The Happy Reader – Issue 11

#11 - The Happy Reader – Issue 11

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.
Book cover of #12 - The Happy Reader – Issue 12

#12 - The Happy Reader – Issue 12

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.
Book cover of #13 - The Happy Reader - Issue 13

#13 - The Happy Reader - Issue 13

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.
Book cover of #14 - The Happy Reader – Issue 14

#14 - The Happy Reader – Issue 14

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.
Book cover of #15 - The Happy Reader - Issue 15

#15 - The Happy Reader - Issue 15

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.
Book cover of #16 - The Happy Reader - Issue 16

#16 - The Happy Reader - Issue 16

For avid readers and the uninitiated alike, this is a chance to reengage with classic literature and to stay inspired and entertained.

The concept of the magazine is simple: the first half is a long-form interview with a notable book fanatic and the second half explores one classic work of literature from an array of surprising and invigorating angles.

The Happy Reader 16's cover star is Moses Sumney, interviewed by Jia Tolentino. Our book of the season is Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali.