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| French edition, published by Bragelonne |
Different publishers have different visions for their cover
artwork and different markets have different demands. I am perfectly aware that
marketing analyses and the business side of publishing have something important
to say in the construction of a book cover, but strictly from a reader point of
view and even that from a very personal perspective I must say that I like the book
covers to be striking. Minimalist or flamboyant, colorful or basic, I love when
a book cover speaks to me and triggers immediately the thought: “look at this
beautiful artwork, I wonder what the book is about”. I also love when after finishing
a book I discover new dimensions for its cover artwork based on the reading
experience. Covering all these sides of my predilection for cover artwork is Sarah Pinborough’s “Mayhem”. Not only that, but as often it happens for a book to have
a beautiful cover on a certain edition and rather dull ones on others Sarah
Pinborough is very lucky in this sense, I discovered no less than four striking
artworks for the cover of “Mayhem”. The UK edition released by Jo Fletcher Books, the first to be published, has a simple and yet very effective concept,
the US edition, released by the same publisher, has a more in the face cover,
but full of significance nonetheless. And with the addition of the map in the
background things are getting even more interesting. The Spanish edition,
published by Colmena Ediciones under the title “El Segundo Asesino” in December last year and with a cover by Alejandro Colucci, highlights the same
elements in a different manner, without losing power or appeal in the process. The
fourth is the French edition, due to be released by Bragelonne next week under
the title “Whitechapel”, with a
cover by Fabrice Borio. And I must admit,
if you ask me which one I like more, I’d push the French cover on the first
place at photo finish. The anatomical drawing together with the map, the man on
the bridge together with the silhouette of London in the background, the colors
and the title lettering (that reflects magnificently on a certain duality
within the story) are as many elements that resonate with me and put together
create an admirable final result. If only all the books are treated with four
excellent cover artworks as Sarah Pinborough’s “Mayhem” is. Or at least with one.
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| UK edition, published by Jo Fletcher Books |
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| US edition, published by Jo Fletcher Books |
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| Spanish edition, published by Colmena Ediciones |
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