The Birth of Classic Booklovers

by Bill Weger, Founder and President

Classic Booklovers opened this year on January 19 — Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday — celebrating the famous Maryland poet and author. We opened the online store with 50 plus titles — with many more on the way. I started the company sparked by my lifelong love of books. For 17 years, during college and beyond, I worked part-time as a bookseller. My favorite section — the classics.

Classic Booklovers was a way to connect the dots and bring classic books to life through art and fashion. I hope we can promote a love of classics for people of all ages.

I designed the first 50 titles for Classic Booklovers, and during my career I have earned more than 60 national awards for my design, marketing and communications work. I’m also a former journalist, the author of a middle-grade novel, “Marshmallows over Manhattan” and a nonfiction book, “Inspire Good: Nonprofit Marketing for a Better World,” which won a top Hermes Creative Award.

Through its Read Write Be Bright initiative, Classic Booklovers will donate books to charities that promote the joy of reading and writing.  The company’s mission is to inspire a love of the classics through creative fashion and accessories, while also increasing access to books and literary resources.

The Classic Booklovers tagline is Lit to Live By. You know what humorist Mark Twain said:  “Classic – a book which people praise and don’t read.”