World literature in an elegant, contemporary setting and an ambitious presentation of classics from all cultural languages and eras - Manesse has been publishing books of the highest world literary standard for almost eight decades.
Founded in Zurich in 1944, Manesse is today the most important German-language publisher of classics in individual editions and the last publisher of classics of any kind. In the attractive Manesse Library series and in large-format editions, canonised works of world literature from Homer and Plato to Virginia Woolf and George Orwell appear alongside discoveries on the fringes of the canon such as Sei Shōnagon's "Pillow Book" or Gwendolyn Brooks' "Maud Martha".
This broad understanding of the classics and the idea of ambitious literary mediation are what make the Manesse programme so appealing and special. The year 2022, for example, was dedicated to female writing with the motto "More female classics".
In addition to its literary aspirations, Manesse is valued above all for the profound mediation quality of the published works (editorial standard, translations, commentaries, epilogues), for the bibliophile aesthetics and fine design of the volumes (design, materials, workmanship, format).
Founded in Zurich in 1944, Manesse is today the most important German-language publisher of classics in individual editions and the last publisher of classics of any kind. In the attractive Manesse Library series and in large-format editions, canonised works of world literature from Homer and Plato to Virginia Woolf and George Orwell appear alongside discoveries on the fringes of the canon such as Sei Shōnagon's "Pillow Book" or Gwendolyn Brooks' "Maud Martha".
This broad understanding of the classics and the idea of ambitious literary mediation are what make the Manesse programme so appealing and special. The year 2022, for example, was dedicated to female writing with the motto "More female classics".
In addition to its literary aspirations, Manesse is valued above all for the profound mediation quality of the published works (editorial standard, translations, commentaries, epilogues), for the bibliophile aesthetics and fine design of the volumes (design, materials, workmanship, format).
