The Great Wall of China


This publication of The Great Wall of China by Franz Kafka was produced to mark the centenary of the author’s death in 1924. Written in 1917, the short story was not published until 1931. It first appeared in the German literary magazine Der Morgen and a year later was included by Max Brod in Beim Bau der Chinesischen Mauer, the first posthumous collection of short stories by Kafka.
          This edition is designed, typeset, letterpress printed and bound by Ellen Martin-Friel. Printed on a Western style Double Crown proofing press and a FAG Swiss Proof 40 while in residency at Distillers Press, Dublin. The text is set in twelve point Magister Roman and Italic designed by Aldo Novarese in 1966, with headings in Monotype Grotesque Bold Extended from 1923. Visual elements are printed from quadrats built up to type high.
            The cover and endpapers are 90 gsm Zerkall Ingres supplied by John Purcell, London. The interior is 110 gsm Munken Pure Rough. The book employs the French fold technique with Japanese stab-stitch binding. Housed in a solander box lined with 90 gsm Zerkell Ingres, handcrafted by Elize de Beer at her studio in Cork City, Ireland.
          With thanks extended to Ian Johnston for kindly granting the use of his translation. Special gratitude to Jamie Murphy at The Salvage Press for his continued guidance and generosity of time, spirit and type.

Edition of 100, 30 pages
160 x 240mm            
€185 — Currently discounted to €149

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