In this revealing and highly entertaining look at the great book jackets of the 20th century from around the world, author Alan Powers tells the story of the book jacket from its early days, via the advent of the paperback, to the most eye-catching covers produced today. With over 300 illustrations, including first editions by famous artists, jackets by key designers and artists, groundbreaking series from major publishing houses, and classic pulp-fiction jackets, this unique and fascinating insight into the world of the front cover will appeal to anyone with a passion for books and graphic design.

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After considering the 300 colorful illustrations in this book, readers will find it difficult to avoid taking a more discerning look at the designs on hardbacks, paperbacks, and wraparound paper covers. These paper book jackets (more commonly known to Americans as dust jackets) have often been discarded as temporary, resulting in the loss of graphic designs characteristic of their times. While the purpose of any cover design is to serve as a marketing device to catch a potential buyer's eye, British author Powers (Univ. of Greenwich Sch. of Architecture and Landscape) discusses the importance of cover design in visually conveying (or not) the book's essence. An introduction giving historical context starts with the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Powers then groups his examples into four categories: the impact of modernism (1920s and 1930s), the creation of style (1940s through 1960s), a revolution in print (1960s and 1970s), and design in the digital age (1980s and 1990s). Within each, he insightfully discusses genres, individual books, designers, and publishing houses. The lists of designers and publishers at the end, however, do not include all those he refers to in the text. Nevertheless, the book is definitely recommended for both academic and public libraries. Anne Marie Lane, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie

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