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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Media Decoder: For ProPublica, More E-Books

ProPublica and Open Road Integrated Media will release several ebooks based on ProPublica's investigative journalism, beginning in February. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2012-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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War Horse UK's bestselling book for second week

Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse (Egmont) was once again the bestselling book in the UK last... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Agile' publishing at Digital Book World

Publishers may be falling out of love with apps, but they need to fall in love with their... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tablet and E-book reader Ownership Nearly Double Over the Holiday Gift-Giving Period

The share of adults in the United States who own tablet computers nearly doubled from 10% to 19% between mid-December and early January and the same surge in growth also applied to ebook readers, which also jumped from 10% to 19% over the same time ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Abrams made director of Jewish Book Week

Journalist and TV researcher Hester Abrams has been appointed to the role of director of literary... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Move to Digital: Lose Your Unwanted Books

Want to replace your traditional library with ebooks? Here are some sites and tools that can help you make your physical books disappear. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Decoder: 'Hunger Games' Book Sales Bode Well for the Film

The actress Jennifer Lawrence in a scene from the movie adaptation of "The Hunger Games." Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2012-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital Books: ‘Enhanced’ — But for Whom?

Today's Wall Street Journal takes a look at a new lineup of "enhanced" digital books that incorporate music, video and high-tech graphics. But as one Wharton expert notes, the market for these elaborate productions remains to be seen. Continue reading at Knowledge@Wharton

[ Knowledge@Wharton | 2012-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ammo Books: Publishing in Small, Medium, and Large

For an indie publisher to launch its first line with a $300 art book takes guts and vision, but that’s what Ammo Books’ founders Paul Norton and Steve Crist did in 2006 when they published 3,000 copies of Gonzo by Hunter S. Thompson and sold out in less than a year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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V&A teams with Vintage for Designer Classics

Vintage Classics is working in association with the Victoria & Albert Museum to re-issue... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Appleton to head fiction at Hodder Childrens Books

Jon Appleton has been appointed to the newly-created post of editorial director for fiction at... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jones to leave The Book Depository

The Book Depository’s IT director Will Jones is departing the company after four years.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Viking: early book sales ‘promising’

Stationery retailer Viking has reported a “promising” start to its bookselling... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Germany joins World Book Night

World Book Night is continuing its international spread, with Germany now set to join the UK... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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War Horse UK's bestselling book

Michael Morpurgo's War Horse (Egmont) was comfortably the bestselling book in the UK last... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstones launches 'book club' promotion

Waterstones has launched a "book club" promotion, with the strapline: "Books you... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German book retailer to restructure to face digital challenge

The earnings of German book retailer Thalia's parent group Douglas Holding will be hit by the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Saqi Books launches non-fiction imprint

Independent publisher Saqi Books is to launch a new non-fiction imprint, with plans to publish... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US book sales hold up, despite Borders collapse and ebook growth

Print books sales in the US fell 9% in 2011, with strong growth in digital sales appearing to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chinese Writers Sue Apple for Allegedly Hosting Pirated E-books

A group of Chinese writers has filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company's App Store sells pirated versions of the authors' works. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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