Company tries turning literature into art

The entire text of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is printed on this poster

December 1, 1999
Web posted at: 12:14 p.m. EST (1714 GMT)

(CNN) -- Are you one of those people who decides what book to read based on the number of pages? The One Page Book Company may have just the thing for you.

The company is hoping to redefine the notion of publishing by putting the works of great authors, playwrights and musicians on single page editions.

The finished works can framed and hung so that the work functions as not just literature, but as art. Twelve complete Shakespeare plays have been reproduced by One Page; each is 45 inches tall and 32 inches wide.

"The potential for expanding the product range beyond Shakespeare is enormous," says company president and partner Richard Laidler. "We intend to stay true to the integrity and format of the original works, both in the typographic treatment and the graphical design of the prints."

He says he is always asked if the finished produce includes the entire play. "Yes," he replies strongly. "We don't abridge the author's work. What you see is what they wrote."

When standing away from the poster you cannot really read the words, but there is a graphical effect. As you move closer, the type becomes clearer and the dramatic structure of the play becomes apparent with acts and scenes in identifiable patterns.

"We want these pieces to look equally appropriate in the office environment as they do in the home. They're works of art in their own right, even if they're never actually read -- like you'd read a book -- yet they have all the functionality of a work of reference for those who need to understand how a play is structured, where plot points occur and so on," Laidler says.