When Lithuanian publisher LAPAS decided to publish Ayn Rand’s classic novel The Fountainhead, they not only chose the translator with care, they also put a lot of thought into the paper. To make the 785-page novel easy to read and not too heavy to carry, they chose one of Holmen’s bright and light book papers.
First published 80 years ago
LAPAS in Lithuania mainly publishes books on art and architecture. With their beautifully designed covers, what all their books have in common is that the content is authentic, topical and sometimes controversial. LAPAS recently published the modern classic The Fountainhead by Russian-American philosopher and author Ayn Rand in Lithuanian. The book centres around architect Howard and his battle to be creative on his own terms. Although it is almost 80 years since this novel of ideas was first published in English, the publisher thinks that Ayn Rand’s ideas about conflict between the individual and the collective are still relevant and interesting today.
A hefty 785 pages
Translating the novel proved something of a challenge for the translator and it took two years for the work to be completed. In an interview, the translator said it was the most unusual book he had ever translated. The book became even longer in Lithuanian than it was in English and the end result came in at a hefty 785 pages. For reading comfort, it is important that a book isn’t too heavy to hold or to read. LAPAS, which always chooses its book paper with care, therefore wanted to print the novel on a lightweight, natural and bright paper with good opacity.
Thin paper often becomes transparent but choosing a paper made from fresh fibre with high bulk means it is possible to obtain both low grammage and good readability.
Thin paper often becomes transparent but choosing a paper made from fresh fibre with high bulk means it is possible to obtain both low grammage and good readability. The choice made was therefore Holmen BOOK Fine, bulk 1.4, 65 grammes. This book paper is known for its smooth surface and high brightness.
“Its high bulk makes Holmen BOOK very popular among Baltic publishers and it has all the properties a high-quality book paper demands – low grammage, good printing properties and a natural feel,” says Daiva Mažvilaitė-Varnienė at Antalis, Holmen Paper’s Baltic partner.
More than the physical parameters
When it comes to choosing book paper it isn’t just about the physical parameters, it’s also about the feel and the smell as you turn the pages. Many publishers and printers are also starting to factor sustainability aspects into their choice of paper. This is something that Holmen Paper, whose paper mills are counted among the most sustainable in the world, welcomes.
Daiva Mažvilaitė-Varnienė is delighted that reading books has recently enjoyed a resurgence in Lithuania.
“And whether you relax with a non-fiction book packed with facts or a captivating novel, reading it shouldn’t be a weightlifting exercise. Thanks to LAPAS’ choice of a paper with high bulk and low grammage, the Lithuanian version of The Fountainhead weighs no more than a little over 800 grammes. That can be compared with the English version, which weighs more than a kilo.”