Note: Deidre Gilbert has a wonderful essay entitled "From Cover to Cover: Packaging Jane Austen from Egerton to Kindle" that was published in the Winter 2008 edition of Persuasions. Follow this link to jasna.org to learn more about the history of Jane Austen cover designs.
I don't actually own this Everyman's Library edition (hardback) of Northanger Abbey and have been unable to determine where the artwork came from but the naivety of Catherine Moreland is well represented by the young lady pictured. This might be what she looked like when she first arrived in bath, before updating her wardrobe with Mrs. Allen
I love the cover of The Modern Library Classics edition of Sense and Sensibility. While I'm not crazy about the repetition of the main image behind the title field the picture is so prefect it overrides that complaint. This is exactly how I picture Elinor and Marianne (probably influenced by Kate Winslet's portrayal of the latter). The picture is entitled The McEven Sisters and was painted by the American portraitist Thomas Sully.
This Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition of Pride and Prejudice designed by Ruben Toledo is on my wish list. I love the use of period silhouettes (just like the beautiful opening credits for the BBC's new Emma) and the wonderful tension between the two figures, nicely capturing the dynamic between Elizabeth and Darcy. It sort of reminds me of Aubrey Beardsley, whose work I adore.
The Arcturus Paperback Classic cover of Mansfield Park appeals to me for a number of reasons. The approaching storminess of the sky seems to invoke the more troubling content of this novel. In regards to the stylized trees, I can almost hear Fanny exclaiming, "The evergreen!-How beautiful, how welcome, how wonderful the evergreen!-When one thinks of it, how astonishing the variety of nature!" The picture used is entitled The Manor House and is attributed to an unnamed artist of the English School.
I don't exactly love this cover but as I can't find an Emma with a cover I do love I thought I might as well throw out the Vintage Classics's version. I am generally drawn to their Austen covers, all of which are done in this same style, reminiscent of period watercolors (like the one Cassandra did of Jane from behind). You can see all the covers in this series at the Adventures in Reading blog.
I really adore the cover of this Barnes & Nobel Classic Series edition of Persuasion. Again, I don't own the book and haven't been able to learn where the artwork came form but the standing lady seems to me a perfect Elizabeth Elliot, in all her haughtiness, while the seated figure could easily be the long-suffering Anne. I can't say I am as fond of the back of the book, which I could access online. The blurb is the first paragraph of the introduction by Susan Ostrov Weisser in which she says that "Persuasion has often been seen as the thinking reader's Pride and Prejudice." Can this be true? Despite the fact that Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel, I find this sentiment rather offensive. The entire intro is available on the Google Books preview for this edition. While Ms. Weisser makes a wonderful argument for the complexity of Persuasion, I believe the intricacies she highlights are found in all of Austen's work, not just her "autumnal" novel.
I look forward to seeing your cover when it's ready!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to see what covers you like and why. Will your cover be similiar to what you like here in this post?
Thanks! My cover is kind of a cross between the Everyman's Library and Modern Library styles. I'm using two pictures, both engraving that have been toned for depth: on the front will be two period ladies and on the back a small town scene. I know you know how exciting it is to see a book come to life. I'll share the design as soon as it's finalized.
ReplyDeleteA very nice post! I too look forward to your design, and am very glad my dear Everyman's Library got a shout out. I am not a huge fan of the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition, partly because I think tis too spidery and I wants some color, but mostly because they cut out all the introductions and notes and upped the price by about 5 bucks. I'd rather get the Keira Knightley film cover, as it's cheaper. But really, I just have all normal Penguins and all Everyman's.
ReplyDeleteDo you know where the picture came from for Everyman's Library Northanger Abbey? I'm rather jealous that you have the entire collection.
ReplyDeleteRegarding cheap publications, I'm a big fan of the Barnes & Nobel Classics. They're good quality and usually between $6 and $9.
I always resist books with film covers. Even when I really like the film, it just bugs me to have the book advertising the movie. It feels symbolic of the deterioration of culture in our society (not to take it too seriously or anything).
Well, I have the 96 covers, which don't have the same covers. I can check next time I go to the store, if I remember, though!
ReplyDeleteI think film covers can be nice - though if they ever advertise MP with a film cover, I will hit someone. The film should at least respect the book it's adapting, which MP didn't have any that do that at all. :-(
I might be opening up another can of worms but I really love the '83 Mansfield Park, especially Angela Pleasance as Lady Bertram. However, the '99 and '07 versions are definitely the products of those who don't like Fanny Price, a phenomenon I never really understood. I love Mansfield Park and adore Fanny - it really irritates me that people don't give her credit for how incredibly difficult, especially in her situation, it is to say no to Henry Crawford. Everyone applauds Elizabeth Bennet for saying no Mr. Collins just because he's a buffoon but then wants Fanny to capitulate to a morally corrupt scoundrel because he happens to be charming. It's infuriating. On the other hand, I was never a big fan of Edmund Bertram, my least favorite Austen hero. There are too many points in the novel where I'd like to smack him - the way he lets Mary Crawford treat him is pretty unmanly.
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