I’m really surprised that I’ve never posted this before, as it is easily one of my favorite covers. Not something I could justify in a debate, I just love the illustration and the way it all came together. Having read the book (meh) it encapsulates the mood perfectly. It’s sullen and it takes itself seriously, but only with a touch of mischief and comedy thrown in for good measure.
The paperback just came out. I don’t know for certain that Mr. Buckley designed it as well, but that certainly appears to be the case.
Also note the really horrible UK cover for this, which is so misleading as to be criminal.
Beyond the fact that I think it’s just plain ugly (sorry), the UK cover makes the book out to be a girlish frolic out in the garden. Which simply isn’t the case. It’s a weighty book full of dementia, adultery, and yes, the devil. Yes, it’s got a lighter side to it, but certainly not so much as to completely dominate one’s impression of it as this cover seems to want to convey.
I really love the rythm created by Mr. Buckley’s type. The small line/long line aesthetic is prominent is many 19th century advertising posters (though usually with the addition of 5-10 extra typefaces). I wonder if the designer also created that great little illustration?
Love the illustration, but not the type treatment. The difference in leading between the title and author text ruins any rythm for me – feels tight at the bottom, open at the top.
Mr Buckley was an illustrator so it wouldn’t surprise me to find out he created the art too – great work.
Yeah it’s good ugly. Sullen is a great word to describe it, insolent would be another good word. I really like it. I am such a sucker for little scribbly pen + ink drawings. At first I thought the vignetted, yellowed paper effect was a bit much but I think it actually achieves what a vignette is supposed to do, draw more attention to the centre. Well done. I don’t know why Penguin felt the need to repeat it three times though…
I don’t see what’s “girlish” about Satan and a man in the woods on the UK cover. The pink leaves? I think the image is playful (in a mischievous way), but I don’t see it as overwhelmingly “light.” Besides, Satan’s most famous meeting of all time happened in a garden.
I like the UK cover better – clutter and all. The black-on-cream cover is a tad too underwhelming. What’s with those uncomfortably hard gradients at the edges? That tiny text along the length of the cover, with a graphic in center, on a bland background has been done to death… In fact, it’s on its 9th life.
I’m really surprised that I’ve never posted this before, as it is easily one of my favorite covers. Not something I could justify in a debate, I just love the illustration and the way it all came together. Having read the book (meh) it encapsulates the mood perfectly. It’s sullen and it takes itself seriously, but only with a touch of mischief and comedy thrown in for good measure.
The paperback just came out. I don’t know for certain that Mr. Buckley designed it as well, but that certainly appears to be the case.
Also note the really horrible UK cover for this, which is so misleading as to be criminal.
— Ben Pieratt, 2008-03-31 06:35:00
Having not read the book, what’s so horrible about the UK cover? Looks pretty good to me.
— Neil M., 2008-03-31 07:13:00
i agree, i like the UK cover. whats to hate? I own this book but have not read it. hmmmm
— neil, 2008-03-31 07:14:00
Beyond the fact that I think it’s just plain ugly (sorry), the UK cover makes the book out to be a girlish frolic out in the garden. Which simply isn’t the case. It’s a weighty book full of dementia, adultery, and yes, the devil. Yes, it’s got a lighter side to it, but certainly not so much as to completely dominate one’s impression of it as this cover seems to want to convey.
— Ben Pieratt, 2008-03-31 08:07:00
I really love the rythm created by Mr. Buckley’s type. The small line/long line aesthetic is prominent is many 19th century advertising posters (though usually with the addition of 5-10 extra typefaces). I wonder if the designer also created that great little illustration?
— nate s., 2008-03-31 08:20:00
Love the illustration, but not the type treatment. The difference in leading between the title and author text ruins any rythm for me – feels tight at the bottom, open at the top.
Mr Buckley was an illustrator so it wouldn’t surprise me to find out he created the art too – great work.
— Sebastian, 2008-03-31 10:01:00
This is one of those covers that is appreciated more in person, too. And I’m gonna go on a limb and say I bet Mr. Buckley prefers being called Paul.
— Auguste, 2008-03-31 12:32:00
Yeah it’s good ugly. Sullen is a great word to describe it, insolent would be another good word. I really like it. I am such a sucker for little scribbly pen + ink drawings. At first I thought the vignetted, yellowed paper effect was a bit much but I think it actually achieves what a vignette is supposed to do, draw more attention to the centre. Well done. I don’t know why Penguin felt the need to repeat it three times though…
— Nick, 2008-03-31 18:04:00
About the repeated illustration on the cover, I’m puzzled by the no pupils, one pupil, two pupils motif…
— dave, 2008-04-01 07:31:00
the original is certainly best. i like it. tiny type = always pretty
— zach, 2008-04-01 12:05:00
nice and simple. Looks like a fun read. Like the UK version equally…
— Ian Shimkoviak, 2008-04-01 16:23:00
I don’t see what’s “girlish” about Satan and a man in the woods on the UK cover. The pink leaves? I think the image is playful (in a mischievous way), but I don’t see it as overwhelmingly “light.” Besides, Satan’s most famous meeting of all time happened in a garden.
— Tom Flynn, 2008-04-03 05:03:00
I like the UK cover better – clutter and all. The black-on-cream cover is a tad too underwhelming. What’s with those uncomfortably hard gradients at the edges? That tiny text along the length of the cover, with a graphic in center, on a bland background has been done to death… In fact, it’s on its 9th life.
— C-Dog, 2008-04-03 15:12:00
The UK cover reminds me of the art on some of the Angela Carter books.
— hsweet, 2008-04-18 18:48:00