Virago has announced the launch of a fresh design for its beloved Modern Classics list in January 2025 as part of it’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Drawing inspiration from the iconic 'green spines' that have become synonymous with Virago, this new design is set to breathe new life into the collection.

The new covers for the Modern Classics list will feature a vibrant palette of greens, blending photography and illustration to pay homage to the unique essence of each title. With a focus on showcasing the individuality of each work.

To commemorate this redesign, Virago will be releasing ten selected titles that showcase the diversity and depth of the Modern Classics list. From the timeless works of Muriel Spark to the powerful narratives of Gayl Jones and Patricia Highsmith, this selection aims to captivate readers with its range of voices and perspectives.

Nico Taylor, Literary Art Director, said: ‘Such a fantastic project throws up interesting challenges: is it possible to create a set of covers that compete in a vibrant and competitive classics market, can they have enough flexibility for such a broad list, and can we create a unifying style that says timeless and contemporary all at once. We had a fantastic starting point to ground these designs; the Virago ‘green’. But, as we found when looking back over decades of VMC covers, there is no singular ‘green’, and this provided our eureka moment – rather than fixing on one, we decided to celebrate a vibrant palette of greens which can be paired with photography or illustration to really honour each title’s individuality. I was keen each title stood confidently on their own but ultimately came together as a set to reinforce the Virago Modern Classics as confident, arresting and dressed with a touch of class

See all the covers here