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If you’re a fan of this blog, you probably like to read. A lot. And you probably have your own favorite book jacket designs. Go ahead and drop ‘em in the comments so we can build on this admittedly subjective list. Oh, and if you have a book jacket you just find revolting, let us know about that one, too. We’ll be doing a follow-up post in the coming week about really awful book jacket designs.
1. The Great Gatsby
Born in Spain in 1893, artist Francis Cugat couldn’t have known what history had in store for him when he was commissioned by Charles Scribner’s Sons to create the cover for this monumental 1925 novel. As the story goes, Cugat finished the artwork way before F.Scott Fitzgerald finished the manuscript. When the publisher shared the design with Fitzgerald, he was so enamored of it, so inspired, he is thought to have worked the design into the fabric of the narrative. Where? Well one hypothesis is often cited in Nick Carraway’s description of Daisy, as the girl whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs. Another possible influence may been seen in the symbolic billboard eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg. From the novel: But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift end¬lessly over it, you perceive, after a mo¬ment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic — their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but instead from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nose.
Whether Fitzgerald was influence by the artwork or not, we may never know. And this is hardly the only mystery associated with the novel. For instance, no other Cugat book jacket has ever been identified, other than The Great Gatsby, and no one knows when or where the mysterious artist died. Sounds like Hollywood material, no?
2. Darkness at Noon
Arthur Koestler’s most famou novel was first published in 1940 and reflects the author’s bleak view of Communism in the late ‘30s. It was originally published in German. This Scribner reprint came out in 2006 and was designed by the Office of Paul Sahre. It’s the kind of cover that’s so bright, it makes you squint, literally.
3. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Bob Pepper created a lot of amazing artwork for some of the most famous Philip K. Dick books, including A Scanner Darkly and We Can Build You. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was first published in 1968 as a hardcover by Doubleday. The Pepper paperback version came out a year later. For some more cool Bob Pepper sci-fi designs, check out this link.
4. Norwegian Wood
John Gall is Art Director for Vintage and Anchor Books an imprint of Alfred A Knopf, which is a publishing group within Random House Inc. He and his team are the brilliant designers behind all those amazing Haruki Murakami book jackets (the English translation versions). In an interview I read with Gall, he said his team generally has 6-8 weeks to come up with cover designs for about 70 books! Makes me all the more appreciative of those Murakamis.
5. The Last Lonely Saturday
No list would be complete without mentioning Jordan Crane, writer, graphic novelist, comic cartoonist, and brilliant designer. For a look at a bunch of other covers he’s designed, check out his site here.
6. Jurassic Park
Likewise, no list would be complete without author, editor, and graphic designer, Chip Kidd, who has been responsible for some of the book industry’s best designs in recent years. This classic 1990 cover for Jurassic Park was so successful, Universal stole it when they put together the artwork to market the film of the same name. Kidd’s designs for his own books are no less memorable. Check some more of them out here.
7. Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck’s classic tale about George Milton and Lennie Small was first published in 1937. The great, original jacket design was created by artist Ross MacDonald, not to be confused with the pseudonym of Kenneth Millar, the famous crime fiction novelist.
8. Catch-22
Paul Bacon is like the Quincy Jones of book jacket design. He’s designed covers for Ernest Hemingway, William Golding, Norman Mailer, Kurt Vonnegut, E.L. Doctorow, Phillip Roth, Michael Crichton, and Joseph Heller, among scores of others. This 1961 cover for Simon & Schuster’s original Cath-22 has always been a favorite.
9. One Red Paperclip
You may have read the blog already but if not, this is the story about a guy who changes his life, starting with a paperclip, and trading up. In just fourteen trades, he’s able to acquire a home. The book was published by Three Rivers (a trade paperback imprint of the Crown Publishing Group). The brilliant design was created by Kyle Kolker. You might expect a house on the front cover, or some of the other 12 things he traded for. That’s the beauty of this beauty: simple, simple, simple.
10. In Cold Blood
Vintage published Capote’s account of the now-famous quadruple murder case in 1966. The original jacket was designed by S. Neil Fujita, who also once served as the art director for CBS Records, and designed such iconic graphics as the Godfather logo. Speaking about the book jacket experience, Fujita said, “I showed Truman Capote my ideas for In Cold Blood. I thought of a red hat pin that I stuck into the title of the book to suggest death or something like that, but he didn’t like the color. ‘It can’t be red, because it wasn’t a new death, it didn’t just happen,’ so I changed the color to purple and added a black border to suggest something more funereal. Capote loved that.
So does this blogger.
How about you all? What are some of your favorites?
Comments (41)
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Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins
posted by Becki on 8-12-2009 at 8:09 am
Terry Goodkind’s series “The Sword of Truth” (11 books), has incredible artwork on the jacket. The first book, “Wizard’s First Rule” caught my attention and was hooked. It’s an excellent series.
posted by Phyllis on 8-12-2009 at 9:47 am
i skipped work this spring to see chip kidd speak at the art school i graduated from…he puts on a great show :) absolutely love his designs.
posted by brittany on 8-12-2009 at 9:54 am
I’ve always loved the cover to Catcher in the Rye…the white one with the rainbow stripes in the top corner. simple and classic
posted by andy on 8-12-2009 at 10:00 am
Stephen King’s ‘The Gunslinger’ from the Dark Tower series.
‘Choke’ by Chuck Palahniuk (hope I got the spelling on that one…)
‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ by Douglas Adams
posted by Kate on 8-12-2009 at 10:01 am
Bernard Malamud’s The Assistant
posted by Dena on 8-12-2009 at 10:39 am
The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide, by Douglas Adams
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hitchhikers-Guide-Douglas-Adams/dp/0517149257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250087967&sr=8-1
posted by Danielle on 8-12-2009 at 10:40 am
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe
http://www.amazon.com/Bunnicula-Rabbit-Tale-Mystery-Deborah-Howe/dp/1416928170/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250088153&sr=8-1
posted by Danielle on 8-12-2009 at 10:43 am
I’ll second Kate’s suggestion, the first hardcover edition of Stephen King’s ‘The Dark Tower’ – book 7 in the series. Illustrated by Michael Whelan, published by Donald Grant/Scribner.
But my own personal favorite still remains The Good Doctor, Hunter S. Thompson’s ‘The Curse of Lono’. The new edition, 2005 large-format book published by Taschen and illustrated by (who else?) the great Ralph Steadman.
posted by Adam on 8-12-2009 at 10:45 am
Atlas Shrugged, but not the original jacket with the train tunnel. I got a paperback copy in a library once, it had a face and these three orbs, i think its from the 70s?
posted by maxiebob on 8-12-2009 at 10:48 am
I heard something close to the gatsby one, except I heard F. Scott absolutely hated it. He thought it was the ugliest cover he ever saw and wanted it changed. Then something clicked and he used the eyes for the Dr. and wrote a letter back saying ‘don’t change the cover! I worked it into the story’.
posted by chris on 8-12-2009 at 11:58 am
I adore the series books for Stephen King’s “The Green Mile”. The pictures are in that fantastically brilliant neon (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n0/n1780.jpg) and really brought the story home for me. I would *love* to get the covers blown up and framed, but I guess that’s what dreams are for.
Thanks for mentioning Great Gatsby – awesome post:)
posted by OkieMelissa on 8-12-2009 at 12:23 pm
The Body in the Library – Agatha Christie (UK First Edition cover: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Body_in_the_Library_First_Edition_Cover_1942.jpg)
I love how the title is spelled out using books on a bookshelf, especially how the “A” in “Library” is formed by two books leaning against each other.
posted by Kathryn on 8-12-2009 at 12:56 pm
I own two editions of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables in English. One has the close-up of Cosette with the French flag blue, white and red which was used in the poster and promotional material for the musical. This image was adapted from an illustration in the original edition, apparently: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Ebcosette.jpg
So from the earliest printing of the novel, to the stage and then back on the cover of the book, its an easily recognizable, powerful image that summons the story’s history. Also, when you can look at an image an it a. fills you with emotion b. you suddenly hear music, you know it’s doing a good job.
posted by Lynnie on 8-12-2009 at 1:57 pm
Also, Farentheit 451 with the burning pages that make the shape of a man/man on fire created from the pages of books. Powerful, artfully simplistic and imbued with symbolism: perfectly compliments the novel itself :)
posted by Lynnie on 8-12-2009 at 2:02 pm
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, hands down.
The photo of the Bird Girl statue was so popular they had to remove the statue from Bonaventure Cemetary so it wouldn’t be damaged by tourists.
posted by Rob on 8-12-2009 at 2:17 pm
I know its a children book but what about the cover of The Giving Tree?
posted by Jenn the Hen on 8-12-2009 at 2:26 pm
@Rob – True about “Midnight”! When you go to Savannah, the birdgirl statue is for sale *everywhere*. It’s a town that really knows how to push their darlings (see: Paula Deen, Ghosts and Midnight)
posted by OkieMelissa on 8-12-2009 at 2:44 pm
@Becki – The cover of Still Life With Woodpecker was great. It made it really hard for me to quit smoking.
posted by Joe on 8-12-2009 at 2:48 pm
Im weeding out the library I work at now. And I’ve seen alot of these original covers on the shelves. We have books going back to the 40’s. Of course they are jewels, but a high school library needs to be updated every 10 years or so… I have 60 years of weeding to do.
I’ve taken some of these books home because I couldn’t bear to see them thrown away.
posted by Chrystani on 8-12-2009 at 4:12 pm
Oh my gosh I can’t believe nobody has talked about the Harry Potter books! They’re the only ones that pop into my head when someone says “unforgettable designs”. Instantly recognizable and classic, the American covers are so beautifully done that each one can tell a story but keep you in the dark about the plot at the same time. Each book has it’s own piece of art attached to it.
posted by Tricia on 8-12-2009 at 5:09 pm
I have to second and third Still Life by Tom Robbins. So awesome.
Also, although it gained much negative publicity about the authenticity of it’s content, A Million Little Pieces has a great cover.
posted by Zoé on 8-12-2009 at 5:13 pm
The covers for all of Chuck Klosterman’s books have been great, particularly for Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. The imagery just stays with you. If you haven’t seen it, check out Michael Chabon’s nonfiction collection Myths and Legends, with a layered cover featuring gorgeous artwork.
posted by Christian H. on 8-12-2009 at 5:16 pm
I love the simplicity of the cover for “A Million Little Pieces” James Frey – the hand covered in sprinkles. I’ve never read the book, but the picture is memorable…
posted by skye on 8-12-2009 at 5:29 pm
I have to admit, I really hate the cover designs of most of Vonnegut’s books. I think they’re totally boring, and If I were the type to judge a book by it’s cover, I would never have picked one up.
I agree with Lynnie about Farentheit 451, I have always thought that the cover art was a stunning representation of the novel, much better than other Bradbury novel covers.
Chuck Palahniuk covers are always great too!
Great post! I spend way too much time thinking about the art on the covers of books, It’s secretly my dream to design book covers one day. :)
posted by Lindsey on 8-12-2009 at 7:30 pm
One cover that sticks in my memory is Memoirs of a Geisha – I must have seen those red lips a million times on the train to work.
I love the covers for ‘Everything is Illuminated” by Jonathan Safran Foer and “The Contortionist’s Handbook” by Craig Clevenger. I suppose it helps that I actually enjoyed the novels as well.
posted by dangermouse on 8-12-2009 at 8:03 pm
Well, I don’t have any greats to add to this list. I just wanted to say this was a great post! I loved seeing all these great books. I do happen to judge a book by it’s cover, and it has often let me down. haha. ;)
posted by Sarah on 8-12-2009 at 8:12 pm
pkd books always had superb cover art. the finnish version of ‘the man in the high castle’ has always struck me as rather brilliant
http://www.philipkdick.com/covers/maninthehigh1-finnish.jpg
posted by Paul on 8-13-2009 at 12:02 am
maxiebob, I HAVE that cover of Atlas Shrugged on not one, but both copies in my household!
My favorite, though, is the 1990s-ish printing of C.S. Lewis’s Til We Have Faces. It’s a head with two faces, one coming out either side, one of a beautiful woman and the other a shrouded, helmeted face, which we find out in the story is also a woman. The cover is dark red, gold, and white, with the picture drawn in thick, jagged black lines, and the whole thing bordered in black. It’s heavy rendering is a perfect introduction to the relatively dark subject matter of the imperfection of humanity’s love.
posted by LorinJuliet on 8-13-2009 at 8:59 am
“Its,” darnit, not “it’s.” I was not educated in a barn.
posted by LorinJuliet on 8-13-2009 at 9:00 am
I have to say, I was really expecting ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ to be on this list. I’d know that cover art anywhere.
posted by Vera on 8-13-2009 at 9:20 am
Moonlight Becomes You by Mary Higgins Clark, 1st ed hardcover.
The Lord of the Rings series paperbacks from the 1960s with colors that pop and a design like stained glass.
posted by Cassandra Vert on 8-13-2009 at 4:02 pm
I agree with the Harry Potter comments.
Wonderful covers done in pastels.
(The American editions)
I’d also add the paperback covers
of A.J. Orde’s Jason Lynx mystery
series showing an above long view
of neighborhood with dog walker
in the evening. Lonely, mysterious,
perfectly rendered.
MAN WITH SQUIRREL – gorgeous cover.
One of Nicholas Kilmer’s art mysteries.
THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan.
Brilliant cover done in sepias as is
this whole book without words.
posted by Yvette on 8-15-2009 at 12:21 pm
Andy! The white cover of Catcher in the Rye? Really?! I much prefer the burgundy cover with yellow print.
posted by J.Mo on 8-16-2009 at 4:26 am
“Bleak view of Communism”? Are you serious? That’s like saying a bleak view of cancer or a bleak view of serial rapists.
posted by meredith on 8-19-2009 at 1:50 pm
The Lottery or, The Adventures of James Harris by Shirley Jackson.
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1271661910&searchurl=bsi%3D30%26fe%3Don%26kn%3DShirley%2BJackson%26tn%3DThe%2BLottery%26x%3D0%26y%3D0
posted by Joelle on 8-19-2009 at 10:57 pm
Unbearable Lightness of Being (Milan Kundera). most definitely.
posted by tikgirl on 8-20-2009 at 12:50 pm
I’m an illustrator who’s created cover illustrations for HarperCollins, PS Publishing, Pocket Books, Delirium Books, Ballistic Media, American Media, Fort Ross, Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, and others.
I have an online gallery that I think those reading these pages will find of interest: http://duncanlong.com/art.html
posted by Duncan Long on 8-22-2009 at 10:44 pm
ones i love:
harry potter, the american editions
fahrenheit 451 (the man made of paper is just such excellent imagery)
pride and prejudice and zombies — http://mswiley2508.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/510xxfxxxgl_ss500_.jpg
1984, the one with the eye. big brother is always watching, even when you close the book!
posted by lacksmyorganics on 8-24-2009 at 12:40 am
I agree with Jenn the Hen about “The Giving Tree” and would like to add “Where the Sidewalk Ends” as well. As a child I was always drawn to that image.
posted by AbenaC on 8-24-2009 at 11:20 pm
Hard to name a cover among so many favorites, many of which have been mentioned here. But I’ve always loved the late 60s Bantam paperback cover of Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man: this is the one with the naked tattooed man in red desert landscape. You can see it here: http://www.raybradburyonline.com/bibliography/bradillu.htm
posted by Cheryl on 8-27-2009 at 8:18 am