Alessandro Gallenzi and Elisabetta Minervi, husband and wife, are the latest to try their hand at the classics. Earlier this year, they founded Hesperus Press in London, to publish classic literature in paperback: 30 titles this year and 50 in 2003. Named for the evening star, Hesperus takes as its motto et remotissima prope (to bring near what is far).
With their heavy paperback covers, French flaps and arresting cover designs, Hesperus books are anything but formulaic. Gallenzi is very careful about what he publishes. "We are trying to make great authors accessible to a wide audience. We've published two French, two Italian, one German, one Russian and four American authors," he told PW. "We will add a Spanish author and some poetry next year." Gallenzi is also acutely aware of both price and length. Each book on the inaugural American list, which Trafalgar Square will begin distributing in January, is priced at $12; endnotes are minimal, as are the page counts: most are just over 100.
The list features several new translations, including Emile Zola's For a Night of Love. "A classic needs to be retranslated constantly," said Gallenzi. Each Hesperus title also has a new foreword or afterword by a well-known writer, such as John Updike on Mark Twin's The Diary of Adam and Eve or Germaine Greer on Gustave Flaubet's Memoirs of a Madman.
Gallenzi and Minervi first developed their passion for the classics as literary translators in Italy. They relocated to England five years ago, because "we thought the English world would be a better opportunity for a global market," Gallenzi said. In the intervening years, Minervi gained experience in academic marketing by working with Continuum, while Gallenzi worked with Grant and Cutler Booksellers and later set up the London office for Jordan-based academic distributor Kasha. In fact, Gallenzi persuaded Kasha to provide financial backing for Hesperus, and has yet to quit his day job for the distributor.
So far, Hesperus's star appears to be shining brightly. The British press has called it "smart" (The Guardian) and "an exciting new venture" (the Daily Mail).
