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 (1924). Written in 1917, the short story was published posthumously by Max Brod in 1931.

This edition is designed, typeset by hand, letterpress printed and bound by Ellen Martin-Friel. Printed on a Western style Double Crown proofing press and a FAG Swiss Proof 40 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. The book features visual elements printed from quadrats built up to type high as well as reversed paragraph indents, both nodding to the wall structure discussed in the text.

The cover and endpapers are two shades of 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.

Edition of 100, 30 pages, 160 x 240mm