Publishing next month, the Penguin Women Writers series will feature a set of four reissued titles, with colourful covers designed by US artist and illustrator, Martha Rich.

The first books in the series are Birds of America by Mary McCarthy, Lifting the Veil by Ismat Chughtai, The Lark by E Nesbit and Meatless Days by Sara Suleri. Introductory texts are provided by Penelope Lively and Kamila Shamsie.

Penguin approached Lively and Shamsie to select two books that they felt were neglected classics by women writers – and the set of four will be published to coincide with the centenary of the Representation of the People Act which, in 1918, gave women who were over 30 the vote.

Alison Flood wrote about the series in an article for the Guardian at theguardian.com. The books will publish in February (£8.99 each)