Edward Gorey: cover star of book design

The author and illustrator is much revered for his own weird and wonderful books, yet his 200-plus jacket designs are virtually ignored. Steven Heller celebrates his contribution to a unique era of publishingDeliciously and subversively cryptic, Edward St John Gorey’s books, plays, postcards, toys, stage sets and costumes – indeed an entire lifetime of utterly sublime, mockingly apprehensive artistry and authorship – are celebrated and critically acclaimed by everyone from cultural pundits to goth cultists. The rare front-page New York Times obituary, on 17 April 2000, is testament to Gorey’s eclectic narrative range. “In creating a large body of small work, he made an indelible imprint on noir fiction and on the psyche of his admirers,” Mel Gussow wrote.Yet, understandably, less attention is devoted today to the 200-plus illustrated paperback covers and hardcover jackets that Chicago-born, Harvard-educated Gorey (known to his friends as Ted) created while working as a staff artist, art director, editor and freelance illustrator at various American publishing houses for a large portion of his career. In two brief sentences, his obituary tossed aside this impressive output: “After graduation he remained in Boston, illustrating book jackets. Then he went to New York and worked in the art department at Doubleday, staying late in the office to create his own books.” Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Templar starts digital picture book releases

  Templar is readying its first ebook picture book releases for this autumn, as it... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Best of prize' for book awards

Britain's oldest literary prize is to make a special award later this year for the best ever winner. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2012-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Young-adult books by Fiona Paul, Eric Greitens and others this fall

YA promises diversity with historical fiction, paranormal romance, murder mysteries and thrillers.YA promises diversity with historical fiction, paranormal romance, murder mysteries and thrillers. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Bookscore: the new Rotten Tomatoes for books?

The website The Bookscore rounds up book reviews, assigns a ranking, and lets readers discuss literary news. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Livrada Tries Its Luck with E-book Gift Cards

Livrada is hoping to create a niche for itself in a market that until now has been largely ignored: ebook gift cards. Its goal—to make ebook giving a more personal and streamlined experience—makes sense considering that gift card spending exceeded $100 billion in 2011 and, according to a Bowker... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New stock focus boosts HMV book sales

HMV has seen a 16% rise in book sales year on year after refocusing its core offer back onto... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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My favourite book titles

What makes you pick up a book from the bookshelf (either physical or online)? Is it the cover, the blurb or the title? Perhaps a combination of all three? Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2012-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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W H Smith reports high street book sales increase

W H Smith has announced that it expects full-year results to be at the top end of market... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book sales surge in first quarter, says B&N

US retailer Barnes & Noble has reported a 46% rise in digital content sales for its fiscal... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ICM Partners Turns Books into Film and TV

Bestselling authors Cormac McCarthy, Walter Isaacson, the late Nora Ephron, and Jennifer Egan are among the many authors represented by ICM Partners, whose book sales are boosted by the adaptation of their work to film and television, all under the watchful eyes of agents Ron Bernstein, Josie... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book sales slump during Olympics

Printed book sales in the UK slumped 7% (£1.8m) to £24.5m week on week in the second... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Transworld scoops Pro Cycling insiders book

Transworld has acquired a book which promises to lift the lid on doping in the world of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Make That E-Book a Venti

Got an email from a “fan” outraged that a novel I’ve been working on for two years, six days a week is $13 in ebook. Enjoy your $4 coffee. – Author Brent Weeks, via Twitter Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book festival 'Olympics of mind'

The Edinburgh International Book festival is beginning its 16-day residence in the city's Charlotte Square Gardens. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2012-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Big boost for sports books

Retailers say sport could play a major part in the Christmas market, as publishers hasten to sign... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Fifty Shades of Grey' is bestselling book ever in Britain

'Fifty Shades of Grey' has passed the 'Harry Potter' books and 'The Da Vinci Code' to become the country's bestselling book. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Olympic boost for sports books

Retailers say sport could play a major part in the Christmas market, as publishers hasten to sign... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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OUP to launch digital picture books

Oxford University Press children’s books is entering the digital picture book market as the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book revenue up 250% at HarperCollins UK

HarperCollins UK has described its annual performance as "strong", despite the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Books case tests the limits of copyright law

The Authors Guild is seeking more than $2 billion in damages from Google Books – which may make this one of the most expensive copyright damages cases in litigation history. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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