Favourite Book Covers

What is the first thing that catches your attention when you are looking for a new book that you’ve never heard of before? For me it’s definitely the book cover, one that not only conveys something about the story revealed inside, but that also embellishes the shelves. Sometimes using the book cover as a reason to choose a new book is not a sensible decision. However, other times, behind a beautifully designed book cover, there is an amazing story that reminds us why we love reading.

One thing that I usually take into consideration when choosing a book from which there are various editions of is if one of them is part of a collection that I already have other exemplars of. That is the case, for example, of the Penguin English Library Editions. The colourful stripes of those classics’ spines are always a desired addition to decorate my bookshelves.

Today I introduce you to some of my favourite book covers, regardless of my enjoyment of the story being told.

 

‘The Miniaturist’ by Jessie Burton

Cover design: Katie Tooke

Publisher: Picador

‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ by Thomas Hardy

Cover design: Coralie Bickford-Smith

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Collection: The Penguin English Library

‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens

Cover design: Coralie Bickford-Smith

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Collection: The Penguin English Library

‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carrol

Cover design: Mary Kate Mcdevitt

Publisher: Puffin Books

Collection: Puffin Chalk

‘Peter Pan’ by J.M. Barrie

Cover design: Dana Tanamachi

Publisher: Puffin Books

Collection: Puffin Chalk

‘Northanger Abbey’ by Jane Austen

Cover design: Leanne Shapton

Publisher: Vintage Classics

Collection: Vintage Classics Austen Series

‘The Dumb House’ by John Burnside

Cover illustration: Liz Myhill

Publisher: Vintage Classics