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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Books Plus in Penzance changes hands

Books Plus in Penzance has been sold to new owners and will soon change its name to The Edge of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The rise of sexy books

Erika Leonard laughs a lot, a deep wheezy chortle. And why wouldn't she? Leonard, a 49-year-old overnight publishing sensation, is laughing all the way to the bank. In the past few months the former TV executive has had her first novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, dominate the New York Times... Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2012-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book review: 'At Home on the Range' by Margaret Yardley Potter

The cookbook has been republished after an initial run in 1947, and her great-granddaughter Elizabeth Gilbert ('Eat Pray Love') reintroduces Potter in the forward. The cookbook is insightful and funny, weaving together practical advice and recipes.At Home on the Range Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book review: Peter Beinart's 'The Crisis of Zionism' sounds call

The author wants American Jews to force changes in Israeli policy to protect the democratic legacy of Labor Zionism. He also explains why that's unlikely to happen.Nearly all the considerable attention generated by Peter Beinart's "The Crisis of Zionism" has focused on its final 81/2 pages.... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New book 'festival' for Charing Cross Road

Foyles and Blackwell are teaming up for the first time to organise a joint Charing Cross Road... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time magazine breastfeeding cover: A shocking 'stroke of genius'

Time magazine's breastfeeding cover story asks: "Are You Mom Enough?" But it might as well ask: "Who Says Print Is Dead?" Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Alohomora! Free Harry Potter books coming to Kindle

Harry Potter has joined the Kindle lending library.Amazon.com announced Thursday that on June 19, the ebook editions of J.K. Rowling's seven Potter novels will become part of the Kindle service available to Amazon Prime subscribers. Members can download a book for free once a month. Amazon's... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2012-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Weinstein Books Rises, Again, With New Team

It might not have had as many lives as your average cat, but Weinstein Books has gone through more than a few reincarnations. The publishing unit tied to Bob and Harvey Weinstein was unveiled in 2001, when the independent film-producing brothers were intent on creating a mini–media empire,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Goldsmith Row Book Market set for Sunday launch

Booksellers including Foyles, Newham Books, Pages of Hackney and The Book Box will be among those... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Collingridge joins Safari Books Online

Enhanced Editions co-founder Peter Collingridge is to join digital learning library Safari Books... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book review: A father and son find common ground in 'Along the Way'

Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez examine the nature of their relationship and the ways it's shaped their lives in their loving, candid new memoir.Martin Sheen was a struggling 21-year-old stage actor when his first son Emilio was born. Sheen, seventh of 10 children in a family that knew him as... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Avengers, Comic Books and the Future of Storytelling

The Avengers may have racked up more than $200 million in box office receipts during its weekend opening, but the comic books on which the movie is based may tell us more about the future of storytelling. Continue reading at Knowledge@Wharton

[ Knowledge@Wharton | 2012-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What Will Become of the Paper Book?

The change has come more slowly to books than it came to music or to business correspondence, but by now it feels inevitable. The digital era is upon us. The Twilights and Freedoms of 2025 will be consumed primarily as ebooks. In many ways, this is good news. Books will become cheaper and more... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2012-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Review: “Not Extinct Yet”

If you’re more than 50 years old, you will either think this story was coincidentally familiar to your own unpredictable publishing odyssey, or immediately upon finishing “Not Extinct Yet,” you’re going to call ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt Book Fair features Kiwi authors

Kiwi authors such as Patricia Grace and Lloyd Jones are seeing increased interest in their books being translated into German ahead of this year's Frankfurt Book Fair. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2012-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Seven-book fantasy series for Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury has bought world English rights in the first three books in a seven-book fantasy... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Announcing the Return of the Audio Book Club

In the May issue of the Slate Book Review, Meghan O’Rourke writes about Are You My Mother?, cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s therapy-fueled exploration of her relationship with her mom. Writes O’Rourke: Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2012-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Target Closes the Book on Kindle

Target, the first brick-and-mortar store to sell the Kindle, will soon pull Amazon’s popular e-reader from its shelves. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book sales grew by 54% in 2011

Digital book sales have gone up 54% in the past year to £243m but total book sales have fallen by 2%. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2012-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital 8% of 2011 book sales value, says PA

Consumer ebook sales increased by 366% to £92m in 2011, with sales across all digital... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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