Penguin’s ‘TikTok-ified’ Covers for Jane Austen’s Novels Spark Outrage
Publishers have long been accused of designing book covers with specific demographics in mind, and it seems that Penguin is the latest to face criticism for its new approach. The company has announced that it will be re-releasing all of Jane Austen’s novels under its children’s imprint, complete with introductions by "leading YA authors." The covers, designed to appeal to young "BookTok" fans, have been met with widespread disdain.
A "TikTok-ified" Take on Classic Literature
The new covers, part of Penguin’s First Impressions series, feature bright colors, bold fonts, and illustrations that seem more suited to a social media platform than a literary classic. The blurb for the series reads, "Fall head over heels for First Impressions, Puffin’s boldly designed new YA Jane Austen collection. Like all the best romcoms, Austen’s novels are full of meet-cutes, missed connections, and drama; they are masterclasses in the lost arts of stolen glances and breath-taking gestures."
A Critique of the Covers
But not everyone is convinced by Penguin’s approach. Reddit users have taken to the platform to express their disappointment and frustration with the new covers. "It feels a little bit patronising," one user wrote. "When I was young, back in the stone age, I used to hate it when things were written to be ‘cool’ and ‘let’s appeal to the kids’. I always felt I was being talked down to, and it made me cringe. In this case, I can’t help but feel that readers with absolutely no prior knowledge of Austen are going to feel a bit deceived. The vibe given by the cover of Mansfield Park is so radically different from the actual novel."
A Dumbing-Down of Austen’s Work?
Others have taken issue with the blurb’s framing of Austen’s novels as mere rom-coms. "It feels like a dumbing-down to encapsulate Austen within the confines of a ‘rom-com’," one Redditor said. "She in fact wrote partly as a reaction against excessive sensibility. Honestly, I think they do Austen herself a disservice, when she wrote about some of the most pressing issues of her day. She hints at patriarchy, the economic dependence of her sex, slavery, and so on; reducing them to ‘stolen glances and breath-taking gestures’ is to negate and ignore so much of her writing."
Conclusion
While it’s true that getting more people to read Austen can only be a good thing, the cynicism behind Penguin’s approach is undeniable. By rebranding Austen’s classics as TikTok-friendly rom-coms, the publisher is not only disrespecting the author’s work but also ignoring the complexity and depth of her writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of Penguin’s new covers?
A: The new covers are designed to appeal to young "BookTok" fans and rebrand Austen’s classics as TikTok-friendly rom-coms.
Q: What is the reaction to the new covers?
A: Many readers have expressed disappointment and frustration with the new covers, feeling that they are patronizing and disrespectful to Austen’s work.
Q: Are the new covers effective in getting more people to read Austen’s classics?
A: While getting more people to read Austen can only be a good thing, the cynicism behind Penguin’s approach is undeniable, and the new covers may not be effective in encouraging readers to engage with the complexity and depth of Austen’s writing.
