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Take A Seat On Your Favorite Novels With BookBenches

Rest your weary feet on one of these unique book-shaped benches, crafted in the image of literary giants.

Some literary giants—from Barrie to Flemming to Seuss—are getting a sleek new coat of paint through a public art series in London called Books About Town. Peter Pan, James Bond, and The Cat in the Hat are popping up all throughout the city in the form of BookBenches, flamboyant furniture pieces that capture the essence of many classic fables and tales. They're even shaped just like wide open books, with illustrations vividly displayed on the open "pages"

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Books About Town is a collaboration between the National Literary Trust and Wild in Art, a group which helps communities create meaningful, high quality public art. There are 50 benches spread throughout London, and people are already tweeting their favorites with the hashtag #BookBenches.

The illustrations are courtesy of both established and up and coming local artists. Freyja Dean, for example, is responsible for the intricate James Bond BookBench pictured above. She's studied at Lancaster University and Central St. Martins, two schools respected for their art programs, and has a portfolio that spans a variety of styles and purposes. On the other hand, the BookBench celebrating the works of Charles Dickens was decorated by the students of Hillside High School in Liverpool. Both are beautiful odes to masters of their craft, and the diversity of the project illustrate how great books can inspire a myriad of creative projects.

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, Design by Paraig O'Driscoll, @theprintersrow

If a bench really reflects your love of an iconic author, you can bid on it at an Oct. 7 auction benefiting literacy programs for disadvantaged children. We might make a couple bids on gorgeously illustrated 1984 bench illustrated by Thomas Dowdeswell—though taking a selfie on the thing might be too ironic to resist.

Images via, via

h/t City Lab

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