Well-Read Women - by Samantha Hahn (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A treasure of a gift for the well-read woman, this collection brings together 50 stirring portraits, in watercolor and in word, of literature's most well-read female characters. Anna Karenina, Clarissa Dalloway, Daisy Buchanan...each seems to live on the page through celebrated artist Samantha Hahn's evocative portraits and hand-lettered quotations, with the pairing of art and text capturing all the spirit of the character as she was originally written. The book itself evokes vintage grace reimagined for contemporary taste, with a cloth spine silkscreened in a graphic pattern, debossed cover, and pages that turn with the tactile satisfaction of watercolor paper. In the hand and in the reading, here is a new classic for the book lover's library.

Review Quotes

"Absolutely stunning." - Bust.com

"Exquisite." - Entertainment Weekly

"Gorgeous...exquisite in every way.... I can't take my hands off of this book - I seriously love it and will definitely be buying copies to give to my friends" -- Decor8

"Gorgeous." - Redbook

"Richly illustrated and exquisitely hand-lettered, Well-Read Women is the perfect convergence of literature and art-and a wonderful gift for any passionate reader. I have devoured it already several times over." - Lisa Congdon, artist and illustrator

"Samantha Hahn has a knack for capturing the fluidity of a costume and the gloss of an eye or lip." - New York Times Book Review

"Samantha Hahn's exuberant watercolors paired with sharply chosen quotes feel at once nostalgic and modern, stylish and genuine. All qualities befitting the complex women she renders." - Stella Bugbee, editorial director, New York magazine/thecut.com

"Samantha Hahn's lush and dreamy illustrations capture the hearts of literature's most adored heroines. They're all here-Clarissa Dalloway, Dorothea Brooke, Nancy Drew-and each one is drawn so magnificently that their authors would rejoice as we rejoice, and tear the pages from this book to hang on their walls." - Emma Straub, author, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures

"Samantha Hahn's Well-Read Women: Portraits of Fiction's Most Beloved Heroines (Chronicle) is absolutely gorgeous and has inspired me to read some new titles. I'm still deciding which is my favorite spread; it changes each time I open this book." - LibraryJournal.com

"The perfect collection of our favorite fictional heroines brought to life in gorgeous illustrations by the immensely talented Samantha Hahn-it's destined to become a classic and inspire readers and artists alike." - Christiane Lemieux, CEO, DwellStudio, and author, Undecorate

"The portraits are breathtaking - sometimes tender, sometimes intense, always thoughtfully evocative of each heroine's persona and sensibility." - Brain Pickings

"These women are important. They illuminate the world. So read, read, read their words. And learn what life is." -Maira Kalman, artist, author And the Pursuit of Happiness

About the Author

Samantha Hahn is a New York-based painter known for her ethereal watercolors and fashion illustrations. Her work has been exhibited internationally.