An immersive, gently unsettling but essentially magical experience, Sophie’s World celebrates the natural curiosity we experience on the cusp of adulthood. Gaarder distils the works of the greatest philosophers into a fascinating historical timeline that propelled the book onto bestseller lists around the world.
While 14-year-old Sophie Amundsen receives a brown envelope with an introduction to the enigmatic Alberto Knox and the first module of his philosophy course. A beautiful coming-of-age tale threaded with metaphysical wonder, Sophie’s World charts the enlightenment of an adolescent girl through the history of western philosophy, each module delivered by Knox’s faithful dog Hermes. However, as postcards begin to arrive from Lebanon for a girl named Hilde, Sophie realises that she is part of a much bigger story.
Designed to create a unique edition, each part of the tale ihas been set to reflect the two narrative threads: the philosophy course is indented in a soft red typeface, while Sophie’s narrative continues in black in a more standard layout.
The primary colour carries into Sandra Rilova’s ethereal illustrations. Rilova uses a restrained duotone palette to brilliant effect.
In his preface for The Folio Society edition, author Jostein Gaarder writes: “Not until this special edition of Sophie’s World by The Folio Society does the written duality between Sophie’s and Hilde’s worlds also emerge visually.”
The Folio Society edition of Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World, introduced by the author and illustrated Sandra Rilova, is available exclusively from The Folio Society.
