The Persephone Collection

We’ve all heard that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but is it possible that you can judge 119 books by their covers? Normally, one browsing the shelves for their next read might be gripped by a splash of color or an interesting title. But what’s compelling about a nondescript cover in cool, grey elegance with a standard cream-colored label to announce the book’s title? Open one up and you will soon find out.

Discover the Persephone Book collection, opens a new window. Persephone Books, opens a new window are reprints of often neglected, and nearly lost or out-of-print titles that include diaries, novels, poetry and cookbooks by mostly women authors dating from early to mid-twentieth century. The collection consists of 102 books, opens a new window – distinctive, grey paperbacks with patterned endpapers inside. The artwork on the endpapers is as carefully selected as the works themselves, chosen especially to match the date and mood of each book.

OPL introduced this collection to Omaha and Douglas County residents by incorporating it into the system’s collection in June 2013. The Library had received several requests for works by Persephone authors, opens a new window and decided to offer the collection as a whole to library users. As indicated by the collection’s namesake, the selections slant more toward female readers. With titles ranging from How to Run Your Home without Help, opens a new window to Cheerful Weather for a Wedding, opens a new window, this eclectic series presents thought-provoking and beautifully written prose for a variety of audiences.

Are you ready to begin reading? Browse the collection in OPL’s catalog by searching for Persephone Books, or simply click here, opens a new window. Learn about a new title each day by following OPL on Twitter, opens a new window. Enjoy this collection in numerical order or by categories, opens a new window defined on the collection’s website, opens a new window.