I know, it's only Halloween, but the holidays are rolling up quickly and if you have a writer on your gift list, you might want to browse the Persephone Books Web site for the perfect book-gift.

Persephone Books reprints what it calls "neglected classics" written in the 20th century—mostly by women. The books include novels, short stories, diaries and cookbooks by authors such as Frances Hodgson Burnett, Noel Streatfeild and Judith Viorst, among others. These are the kinds of books you'd find in a serious reader's home library; all are beautifully bound in dove-grey jackets with unique endpapers that look like a rich fabric or wallpaper. (They even come with a bookmark that matches the endpaper. How's that for classy?)

Persephone's Web site offers a detailed description of each of the 86 books in its catalog. Each book description includes a synopsis of the plot, a glimpse of the endpaper, and a photo or drawing of the author or book subject.

Considering that Persephone Books is located in London, the cost for a book and shipping is very reasonable: £10 ($16.54) for the book, plus shipping for £4-£6 (another $6.62-$9.94). Gift-wrapping is available, too. For those fans of "fruit-of-the-month"-type gifts, Persephone also offers six- and twelve-month book subscriptions at a discounted price. One bonus over the usual fruit-of-the-month club? You can choose which books appear in the recipient's mailbox!

Need some other gift ideas? Take a look at our December issue! Ligaya Figueras offers several fun options in her article, "Cheer your writer friends with these holiday stocking stuffers" in the Take Note department.

--Martha Lundin, editorial associate

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