This video review barely does justice to this remarkable, cult book. Codex Seraphinianus by Italian artist Luigi Serafini is one of the strangest books you will ever encounter. It’s a window on a bizarre fantasy world complete with its own unique and unreadable alphabet and numerous illustrations that depict an alien world.

It was first published in two volumes by Franco Maria Ricci in 1981. The book in this AbeBooks video are from the 1983 American edition published by Abbeville – 370 pages of the Twilight Zone. There is also a 1993 single volume edition and a revised 2006 Italian edition with new illustrations – this final edition is the most affordable version. Read more about this unusual book.